Hiroshima Castle
Hiroshima Castle was built in 1589 by Terumoto Mori, known as one of the five dignitaries of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The castle is located in the center of Hiroshima city, famous as a major tourist attraction with easy access.
The autumn leaves here are beautiful, and there’s something to enjoy in every season.
Arakurayama Sengen Park
Arakurayama Sengen Park is famous as a place to view the splendid scenery of the magnificent Mount Fuji with a pagoda dedicated to those who died in battle. Inside the park grounds, about 650 Sakura trees have been planted. In the spring, the picturesque Japanese scenery of cherry blossoms, the pagoda, and Mount Fuji can be seen.
The scenery along the way is beautiful as you slowly climb over 300 steps. Seeing Mount Fuji right in front of you is truly breathtaking!
Oirase Stream
Oirase Stream, a renowned tourist attraction awarded two stars in the Michelin Green Guide, stretches approximately 14 kilometers from the shores of Lake Towada at Nenokuchi to Yakeyama. It's a national Special Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument, celebrated for its waterfalls, clear streams, giant rocks, and steep cliffs.
The untouched forest has waterfalls, fallen trees, and walking trails where you can really breathe deeply and soak up all the phytoncides.
Sarashina
With over 90 years of history since its establishment in 1928, this popular soba restaurant in Gifu is a mere 8-minute drive from both JR Gifu Station and Meitetsu Gifu Station. It's also conveniently located near Gifu City Hall, nestled in a residential area to the west of the main road.
The food is delicious and the prices are fair.
Ozeki Supermarket Asakusa Kaminarimon Store
Nothing but local roots at this supermarket popping up across Tokyo.The Asakusa Kaminarimon branch is located just about 100 meters from the iconic Asakusa Temple Kaminarimon Gate. Check the storefront and just inside for wall-to-wall daily necessities like seasonal vegetables, fruits, fresh groceries and snacks, to seasonings, alcohol, daily necessities, and more! You can always expect an easy energy and bustling vibe from here during open hours.
This supermarket is so much fun to shop at! I bought several boxes of strawberries to enjoy back at the hotel.
Maikohan Arashiyama
Maikohan Arashiyama has opened this second shop, while its main tempura shop is located in Gion Area. Their sophisticated tempura is served in the one-bite size concept that “even a petite mouth of maiko can handle.” The restaurant is located along the river and near the famous Togetsukyo Bridge crossing. Wide window-side seats offer a perfect view of the ambient Arashiyama landscape.
You can pick your favorite veggies for the tempura, and the dobin-mushi is seasoned just right. The seats are tatami-style, which aren’t super comfortable, so it’s not a place to linger for too long.
Nijo-jo Castle
After winning the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 and unifying the country, Tokugawa Ieyasu had Nijo-jo Castle built as his base in Kyoto. It is a historical monument with a history of over 410 years as a castle in the heart of the capital. It was designated a UNESCO world heritage site as a part of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto” in 1994.
The Ninomaru Palace is really well preserved. This is a place where Japanese history changed, so it’s definitely worth a visit.
Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum
Fushimi, located at the south gate of Kyoto City, is one of Japan’s three major areas producing Sake; the others are Nada in Hyogo Prefecture and Saijo in Hiroshima Prefecture. Many brewers’ buildings have white colored-walls around this area, which gives the area a traditional brewer’s atmosphere from the Edo period.
The museum displays the history and stories of early sake making. You can sample some sake during your visit, and there are small souvenirs to take home too.
Tofukuji Temple
This is the head temple of Rinzai School. Kujo Michiie wished to have a temple for his family burial under Reverend Shoichi Kokusi’s ministry, and built seven halls during 19 years beginning in 1236.
Tofukuji Temple is beautiful no matter what season you visit!
Yumura Tokiwa Hotel
Yumura Onsen, the “shingen no motoyu” located in Kofu City, Yamanashi is one of Japan’s leading hot springs towns for over 1,200 years.
The hotel has a huge Japanese garden, and every view from the hotel is stunning. Just for that, it’s totally worth the price.