周黛西's Reviews Page 1/11

Chunichi Building

Chunichi Building, which opened in April 2024, is a mixed-use complex in the Sakae area of Nagoya. From B1F to 5F, it offers a wide variety of shops, including restaurants, cafes, general goods stores, and local product shops, and its greatest appeal is that visitors can enjoy food, shopping, and sightseeing all in one place. Directly connected to the underground mall and easy to access, it is also conveniently located as a base for sightseeing.

• Nagoya
• Commercial Buildings

Drawn in by the “Art Aquarium Exhibition Nagoya 2026” poster at the entrance of the Chunichi Building, I went inside and bought a ticket to see the exhibition combining goldfish, aquarium art, lighting, music, fragrances, and more. It was eye-opening.
After leaving the exhibition, I went up to the observation deck on the 7th floor. I didn’t expect to find such a great view overlooking downtown Sakae and the city streets. Those who aren’t afraid of heights might want to get a little closer to the parapet for a bird’s-eye view.
The building has well-known outdoor brand stores and popular home goods shops, as well as all kinds of restaurants on B1. Before heading home, I walked around, did some shopping, and had a cup of Blue Bottle Coffee, bringing my summer 2026 trip to Japan to a perfect close.

Hisaya-odori Park

Hisaya-odori Park is a long, linear urban park located along Hisaya-odori Avenue, recognized as one of Japan's "100 Best Roads." Combining parkland with commercial amenities, visitors can enjoy shopping and dining amidst lush greenery.

• Nagoya
• Parks & Gardens

A major city needs a park that can breathe, and Hisaya-odori Park in Nagoya not only has trees but also green spaces. The fountain and TV tower also make you want to stop and take them in.

Nagoya Tokyu Hotel

An elegant hotel with European taste and space. The hotel meets a variety of accommodation needs, from standard rooms that are simple yet wonderfully comfortable to various suites that combine European taste with modern essence.

• Nagoya
• Hotels

After finishing our trip to Nanki, we stopped in Nagoya and stayed at the Nagoya Tokyu Hotel in the city center. The European-style lobby has an impressive atmosphere, and the hotel also has restaurants, a piano bar, and several boutiques. For breakfast, you can choose between the buffet on the first floor or Japanese cuisine on the second floor. There is a 24-hour drugstore right next to the hotel. Walk about 5 minutes in the opposite direction and you’ll reach department stores, shopping centers, and underground malls. There are also many restaurants, fast-food places, and convenience stores along the way, making it easy to dine or shop. Overall, it was a very comfortable and convenient stay.

Akafuku-Main store

Founded in 1707, during the early Edo period, this long-established store has been welcoming visitors to Ise Jingu shrine for centuries with its famous "Akafuku Mochi." This traditional Japanese sweet consists of a mochi rice cake topped with smooth sweet bean paste, and its shape is distinctive. The three lines on the bean paste represent the pure flow of the Isuzu River that runs through the sacred grounds of Ise Jingu, while the white mochi symbolizes the pebbles at the riverbed.

• Mie
• Sweets Shop & Desserts Shop

As soon as you enter Okage Yokocho and turn into a side alley, you'll see Akafuku. Their signature "Akafuku Mochi" is chewy mochi covered with red bean paste, similar to Taiwanese red bean mochi. The red bean paste is sweet but not overly so, and it's a perfect match with a cup of hot tea. No wonder there's a constant stream of customers. The matcha shaved ice is also very good, with their signature red bean paste and two pieces of mochi hidden inside. It's perfect for cooling off.
The main store is in the middle of the street and also offers gift boxes to go, but they have a short shelf life, so I recommend enjoying them there for the best taste.

Oharai Machi, Okage Yokocho

In front of the Inner Shrine of Ise Jingu Shrine, there's a street called Oharai Machi that bustles with numerous worshippers every year. From the Edo Period to early Meiji Period, many people called Onshi lived here and performed Shinto dance and music for their worshippers (Oharai), thus, the name Oharai Machi is believed to have come about.

• Mie
• Shopping Streets

Okage Yokocho is next to Ise Jingu and has lots of authentic Japanese food, cafés, and shops. You can enjoy sweets from the traditional Akafuku shop and seafood from Ise while browsing the stores, and the lively atmosphere completely immerses travelers in the experience.

Ise Jingu

Known affectionately as "Oise-san," the shrine is usually called "Ise Jingu-Shrine," but officially, it is called "Jingu-Shrine".

• Mie
• Shrines & Temples

Walking into Ise Jingu, towering trees lined both sides. Listening to the gentle sound of cicadas and walking along the gravel path, I quietly became one of the worshippers. I stopped briefly by the Isuzu River, where the clear water and soft breeze took away the summer heat. It was peaceful and serene. I liked the simple, unadorned atmosphere, and felt that my restless, heat-weary heart found calm here.

Kashikojima

Kashikojima, where the Ise-Shima Summit was held in 2016, is an island floating in Ago Bay in the southern Shima Peninsula, with the unique location of being just Approx. 10 m from the mainland of Honshu. It is also widely known for having Kashikojima Station, the terminal station of the Kintetsu Shima Line. Beloved as one of Japan’s leading resort destinations for its calm sea views, this compact island of Approx. 0.68 sq km is dotted with a variety of leisure facilities.

• Mie
• Tourist Attractions

Cute otters can be seen everywhere at Kashikojima Station. Next to the platform is the “Shima no Kaze” mailbox, which is also cute and eye-catching.
Kashikojima feels like a sparsely populated, slow-paced little town. Without the noise of tourists, you can enjoy the tranquility of the seaside, which is really nice!
Besides the pearl shops around town, what left a strong impression on me was the “Ago Kashikojima Post Office.” I picked out a pearl-oyster-shaped postcard there and mailed it to myself, leaving me with a beautiful and precious, pearl-like memory of the trip.

Kashikojima Espana Cruise

The cruise boat departs from Kashikojima and cruises around Ago Bay for about 35 minutes, visits a pearl model factory, and returns to Kashikojima Port. The entire tour will take about 50 minutes.

• Mie
• Experiences Facilities

When visiting the Ise-Shima area of Mie Prefecture, you absolutely shouldn't miss a ride on the Spanish-style sightseeing ship Esperanza at Kashikojima. Modeled after a 16th-century carrack from the Age of Exploration, this sightseeing ship has a magnificent retro design. Once aboard, it feels like you've stepped into the anime world of One Piece, and you can't help wanting to shout, “海賊王かいぞくおうにおれはなる！”
During the 50-minute voyage, the ship cruises slowly and smoothly around Ago Bay, which has more than 60 islands. You can enjoy the scenery while learning about pearl rafts and the submerged coastline. Feeling the sea breeze on the deck or watching the sunset from the open-air seating is still romantic.
Before or after the cruise, the many modern, diverse, and traditional pearl shops around Kashikojima Station are also great spots for taking commemorative photos, making this cruise a beautiful and precious memory, like a pearl.

Ama hut Osatsu Kamado

Kamado is a hut where ama divers rest after a hard day's work. Ama divers welcome tourists to talk about their stories, while having fresh seafood and snacks. It is a great opportunity to learn authentic ama culture.

• Mie
• Experiences Facilities

When visiting Toba, stepping into an ama hut, the most direct experience is sitting by the charcoal fire and enjoying local seafood. Fish, turban shells, octopus, and other shellfish are served one after another, slowly grilled over charcoal by the ama divers. With little seasoning needed, you can taste the seafood's natural sweetness and the subtle saltiness of the sea. After the meal, there is also sea urchin rice made by the ama divers and miso soup with grilled mochi, simple but flavorful.
More than the seafood itself, what left the strongest impression was the warm, friendly interaction with the ama divers and experiencing this traditional fishing culture through them. Seeing how they treasure every ingredient also gives you a better understanding of the hardships of their work and the value of marine resources. After the meal, stepping outside to enjoy the sea breeze and look at the clear water, this visit to the ama hut was not just about tasting seafood, but also gaining a deeper understanding of the local culture.

Onigajo

A scenic spot designated as a National Natural Monument and also registered as a World Heritage Site. Massive rock walls, shaped by natural phenomena over tens of thousands of years including seismic uplift, weathering, and wave erosion, stretch for Approx. 1.2 km, and their overwhelming scale is sure to impress everyone. A promenade has been developed along the rock walls, allowing visitors to admire the scattered caves and unusual rock formations up close.

• Mie
• Nature Spots

Onigajo in Kumano is a magnificent natural wonder sculpted over tens of millions of years. Crustal uplift, prolonged weathering, and coastal erosion created massive rock walls stretching about 1.2 km, with layers of raised rock shelves, sharp and rugged formations, and sea caves of all sizes. They look as though they were carved by demons wielding giant axes, making for a visually stunning sight.
It is also one of the component sites of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range World Heritage Site and is designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument. Walking along the coastal trail, the deep blue Kumano Sea contrasts sharply with the dark gray rock walls. Waves crash against the shore with heart-pounding force, the sea breeze carries a salty scent, and beneath my feet are rocks worn down over the years. I carefully made my way along, gripping the rock wall as if walking on thin ice.
From the Oni-no-Miharashidai lookout, you can gaze out over the expansive rock terrace known as Senjojiki and other sights. With the sea and sky blending into one, you can feel the immense power of nature even more, inspiring a sense of awe. The legend of Sakanoue no Tamuramaro defeating pirates adds another layer of mystery and a rugged sense of history to this unusual rocky coastline. Exploring the entire area takes about 90 minutes round trip, so come and fully enjoy the extraordinary beauty created by nature.