みのさん's Reviews Page 1/4

Sennenzake Kikkawa

Located in Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture, Kikkawa specializes in traditional salmon processing. Murakami, a coastal town facing the Sea of Japan, is renowned for its salmon, and its local Miomote River is famously known as the world’s first river where salmon populations were successfully restored through natural spawning.

Niigata
Local Products Center & Souvenir Stores

26 Jun 2026 See More

A long-established shop that makes shiobiki salmon, a local specialty.
Every day, the artisans carefully check, polish, and adjust the salmon hanging inside, taking their time to make delicious salted salmon. The staff also explain the history, how the salmon is managed, and the tools they use.
The traditional Japanese architecture and the sight of so many salmon hanging up are absolutely stunning!

Iyoboya Kaikan

Japan’s first salmon museum, located in Murakami City, where salmon fishing has long been practiced and local life is deeply tied to salmon. It stands beside the Tane River, a branch of the Miomote River that has long been the stage for salmon fishing, within Salmon Park, a relaxing spot filled with seasonal flowers, trees, and playground equipment. “Iyoboya” is the Murakami dialect word for salmon.

Niigata
Museums

26 Jun 2026 See More

A salmon museum where you can learn about salmon farming and fishing. It faces the Miomote River, and you can also observe the ecology of river creatures there.

If you enjoy museums, there’s plenty to see, so I think it’s worth setting aside enough time for your visit.

The design on the salmon can packaging was stylish. I also thought it was cute that the stairway signs were designed to look like salmon swimming upstream.

Akita Station

Akita Station is the gateway to Akita Prefecture, served by the Akita Shinkansen and local train lines. It is the largest station in Akita Prefecture, used by Approx. 20,000 passengers a day, from local residents to tourists. In recent years, the station and its connected buildings have been renewed, creating new appeal.

Akita
Tourist Attractions

26 Jun 2026 See More

Right after exiting the ticket gates at Akita Station, there’s a big Namahage photo spot with red and blue ogre masks, plus an Akita dog photo spot.

At the soba restaurant in the station building, you can also try soba with Akita’s local specialty, the sticky seaweed gibasa. It’s healthy and recommended.

Tokyu Plaza Harajuku Harakado

Doors are wide open at this brand new mega-retailer, opened at the Jingumae intersection between Harajuku and Omotesando in April 2024. Step inside to find nine different floors from basement to 7th floor rooftop terrace, complete with 75 shops and restaurants to browse, plus a public bathhouse, gallery, library, and so much more.

Aoyama, Omotesando, Harajuku
Commercial Buildings

7 May 2026 See More

I recommend the public bath on the basement level. You can rent towels, and amenities like body soap, shampoo, conditioner, and hair dryers are provided, so you can stop by empty-handed.

It’s an easy way to casually experience Japanese sento culture for under JPY 1,000. There’s also a shop, so you can enjoy a beer or ice cream after your bath.

Hachinohe Art Museum

A municipal art museum that reopened after renovations in November 2021 as a core facility in Hachinohe City’s vision of becoming an “art city.” The museum’s biggest feature after the renovation is the “Giant Room” that opens up from the entrance. This huge space, with a ceiling height of Approx. 18 m, can be freely arranged with movable shelves and partitions.

Aomori
Museums

13 Mar 2026 See More

A beautifully designed art museum that has won numerous architectural awards. Its concept centers on encounters and learning, and one of its distinctive features is that the layout can be changed using curtains and movable shelves.

Be aware that it is closed on Tuesdays.

Also, the curry and chai at the curry shop very close to the museum are excellent, so it might be worth stopping by.

Kakegawa Kachouen

Kakegawa Kachouen is a hands-on theme park where you can enjoy interacting with birds in a garden filled with a diverse array of flowers. The large all-weather glasshouses are temperature and ventilation-controlled so that you can have a pleasant time in any weather or season. You can see 1,000 rare birds of about 100 species and flowers in full bloom all year round.

Shizuoka
Zoos & Aquariums

4 Feb 2026 See More

You can get really close to the birds and actually interact with them. It feels like you’re stepping into the birds’ home as a guest.

The flowers are beautifully in bloom too, and there are tons of photo-worthy spots! When I visited, the lotus flowers were blooming and they were gorgeous.

I was especially moved to see a shoebill—famous for barely moving—actually walking around.

Tokyo Opera City

This complex facility is home to offices, a concert hall, an art gallery, theaters, restaurants, and shops, all next to Hatsudai Station, just one stop from Shinjuku Station.

Shinjuku, Okubo, Yoyogi, Yotsuya
Museums

29 Jan 2026 See More

I go to the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery a lot because I really like the exhibition themes and the way everything is curated.

Another nice perk is that with an exhibition ticket, you can also see the permanent collection and the feature corner for emerging artists.

It also seems that if you show your ticket, some of the restaurants in Opera City offer discounts or other deals.

Mori Art Museum

Roppongi Hills is the landmark in the international, sophisticated city, Roppongi. In the Roppongi Hills, Mori Tower’s highest 53rd floor hosts the Mori Art Museum. Roppongi Hills’ concept is “Cultural Center of the City.” This art museum has an important role as a place for people to share the culture of the era.

Akasaka, Roppongi, Azabu-Juban
Museums

29 Jan 2026 See More

I personally love the exhibition themes and the curation, so I come here regularly.
They’re open late, which is great—you can just swing by after work.
Highly recommended for contemporary art lovers.

Himeji Castle

This castle is a World Heritage Site and a Japanese castle masterpiece. The main keep, built by Ikeda Terumasa in the early Edo period, has a five-story exterior, one basement level, and six stories above ground on the inside, making it the largest Edo period castle tower still standing.

Hyogo
Tourist Attractions

29 Jan 2026 See More

This gorgeous castle, also known as White Heron Castle, is absolutely worth seeing!
They even have manhole covers with designs inspired by the castle and the egret orchid (the flower of Himeji City), so keep an eye on the ground too.
In the bar district near the station, I tried the local sake Yukihikoyama.
It’s always fun to taste the local booze when you travel, right? It was delicious.

Kotohiragu Shrine

The head shrine of Kotohira Shrine stands on Mt. Zozu. It is visited by about 4 million worshippers a year. The main deity, Oomononushinokami, has been known since before the Middle Ages as a guardian deity of maritime traffic and a deity that brings a bountiful harvest and prosperity of industry and culture.

Kagawa
Shrines & Temples

29 Jan 2026 See More

Once you make it up all 785 steps, an amazing view is waiting for you. Wear comfortable shoes!

On the approach, there’s a long-established candy shop called Ike Shoten. The owner, Mr. Ike, really knows the history of Konpira-san, so if he happens to be in, you’re lucky—try chatting with him and asking questions. The fruit candy you can eat there is also worth trying. As a souvenir, I recommend Kamiyo-ame (かみよあめ), which comes with a mini mallet so you can take the good fortune home and share it with everyone.

Like the article mentioned, I heard you’ll have some good luck if you can float a 1-yen coin in the water jar near Asahisha, so it’s a good idea to bring a 1-yen coin.

After your visit, I also recommend stopping by Donzo Brewing (呑象ブリューイング) to quench your thirst with a Kotohira craft beer.