周黛西's Reviews Page 2/6

Hagi Meirin Gakusha

Built in 1935 on the site of the Hagi Domain’s educational institution, Meirinkan is one of Japan’s largest wood-made school buildings, and heralded launchpad for many Meiji Restoration era leaders. The main building is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan and retains the historic atmosphere of education from that time.

• Yamaguchi
• Museums

The main building has a strong Japanese-Western architectural style, and the interior is clean and beautifully organized. Studying in a place like this must have felt wonderful, so it’s no surprise that it produced many outstanding figures of the Meiji Restoration.

Visiting Meirin Gakusha also brought back memories of many old school buildings in Taiwan, especially elementary schools built during the Japanese colonial period. It would be wonderful if they could also be preserved and managed in a similar way.

Kintai Bridge

Kintai Bridge has been designated as a National Scenic Location of Japan, and it is also one of Japan’s Three Famous Bridges. It is a beautiful and large 5-story arch bridge, with a total length of 193.3 meters and a width of 5 meters.

• Yamaguchi
• Tourist Attractions

If you’re visiting Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, you definitely shouldn’t miss Kintai Bridge, known as one of Japan’s Three Famous Bridges and one of its Three Unique Bridges. This five-arch wooden bridge has more than 300 years of history. Spanning the Nishiki River, it still stands strong today and showcases Japan’s refined traditional craftsmanship with its nail-free and rivet-free construction.

On a nice day, you can see Iwakuni Shrine in the distance on the hillside, or walk down to the riverbed to admire the graceful curves and wooden structure of the five arches from different angles. The surrounding old town, park, and local food also make it well worth another visit!

Itsukushima Shrine

Itsukushima Shrine stands on the island of Itsukushima, which is also known as the island of gods. It is said that the shrine was founded in 593 by Saeki no Kuramoto, and the 3 goddess “Ichikishimahime-no-Mikoto,” “Tagorihime-no-Mikoto,” and “Tagitsuhime-no-Mikoto” are enshrined there. Famous for granting a wide list of benefits, these three goddesses as are worshipped as the goddesses of the sea, transportation, fortune, and art.

• Hiroshima
• Shrines & Temples

It’s such a shame I can only give this 5 stars.
Itsukushima Shrine looks completely different in each moment—the shrine under the clear daytime sky, the shrine at night when the tide goes out, and the shrine floating on the sea the next morning. It feels majestic, solemn, and dreamlike...
At low tide, you can walk down to the tidal flats and get close. At high tide, you can admire the torii gate floating on the water from afar. Absolutely worth the trip!
I quietly promised myself I’d come back again.

Yuda Onsen

Located in Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Yuda Onsen is a historic hot spring town with roots stretching back over 800 years. Its name appears in the ancient "Suō Amidaji Documents" from the 13th century, though the hot spring is believed to have existed even earlier. According to legend, the spring was discovered when a white fox appeared nightly at a small temple pond to soak its injured leg-a story that lives on in the form of white fox statues and monuments scattered throughout the area.

• Yamaguchi
• Hot Springs & Hot Spring Resorts

Yuda Onsen is known as the "White Fox Hot Spring," and the whole onsen town uses the white fox as its mascot. You can spot cute white fox statues all around the area, and in front of the station there's even an 8-meter-tall white fox named "Yutakun" welcoming visitors. It really leaves an impression.
There are footbaths everywhere, so it's super relaxing to stroll around and take your time!

Geibikei Gorge

Kitakami River runs through Iwate north to south and branches into a tributary, Satetsu River, where the gorge stands tall. Water erosion created this 50m-tall, 100m-long bluff dotted with bizarre rocks, caves and waterfalls. The divine scene is counted as one of the 100 Scenic Places in Japan and National Historical Spot and Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument.

• Iwate
• Nature Spots

The Geibikei Gorge boat ride uses a traditional flat boat. The boatman poles it along the stream, carrying visitors while you take in the magnificent gorge on both sides.
The scenery is beautiful, and the cool breeze takes away the summer heat. Looking at the unusual rock formations while listening to the boatman sing feels relaxing and wonderfully carefree.

Michinoku Hydrangea Garden

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of hydrangeas with 40,000 plants covering approximately 150,000 square meters. The garden features around 400 varieties, including mountain hydrangeas, Hokkaido hydrangeas, and Western hydrangeas, making it one of the largest hydrangea gardens in Japan. The garden is open for just one month each year, from late June to late July, attracting numerous visitors from across the country.

• Iwate
• Zoos & Aquariums

Hydrangeas everywhere across the hills—absolutely stunning 🤩! They grow endlessly along the paths and beneath the trees.

Michinoku Hydrangea Garden has several walking routes, so you can stroll and enjoy the flowers at the same time. The shade from the trees also makes it really pleasant to walk around.

Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel

Oirase Gorge is a two-star attraction in the Michelin Green Guide. This resort hotel sits along the gorge, where waterfalls, clear streams, and moss-covered rocks create countless scenic spots. It’s a prime location for enjoying nature’s changing look by season and time of day-not only from the lobby and terrace, but also from the guest rooms. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, you can relax and unwind at your own pace.

• Aomori
• Hotels

If you also love the idea of a water-side getaway, I’d definitely recommend a trip to Oirase Gorge in northeastern Japan and a stay at Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel.
You can listen to the soft rain falling on the leaves and grass, and drift off to sleep with the gentle sound of the stream. It’s incredibly relaxing.
The hotel’s facilities and service were excellent. What stood out most to me, besides the art installation in the lobby, were the welcome apple tea, the apple wall in the restaurant 🍎, and the apple desserts.
The air was filled with phytoncides, the earthy scent of the soil, and the sweet aroma of apples. It was truly healing!

Matsushima

One of Three Great Views of Japan along with Kyoto’s Amanohashidate and Hiroshima’s Miyajima. The grand horizon of the Pacific Ocean and large and small 260 verdant islands have been attracting many visitors since the Heian Period.

• Miyagi
• Nature Spots

Matsushima, one of the "Three Great Views of Japan," is praised as one of those places you should visit at least once in your life, and it truly lived up to the hype.
Taking a sightseeing boat and admiring the many islands resting quietly on the sea was a wonderful experience. The islands are beautifully scattered about. They may look somewhat similar at first, yet each has its own character. It felt like wandering through a landscape painting, with layers of scenery fading into the distance.
Even the haiku poet Matsuo Basho found this beauty hard to capture in words. I highly recommend visiting.

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.

• Aomori
• Nature Spots

Oirase Stream in summer is a famous place to escape the heat, with lush greenery everywhere you look.
The showers the night before made the stream even fuller, and every photo I took with my camera looked like something out of a calendar.
The temperature was cool and comfortable, and the green forest and gently flowing stream made the scenery feel incredibly refreshing.

Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse

Wa Rasse is an eye-catching, modern, red museum close to Aomori Station. It was opened in 2011 to preserve Aomori Nebuta Festival held between 2nd and 7th of August every year.

• Aomori
• Museums

Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse, right next to Aomori Station, has a complete collection of the giant Nebuta lantern floats that have appeared in past festivals. The dazzling exhibits, along with videos and interactive experiences, gave me a deeper understanding of this cultural celebration with 300 years of history. Even if you’ve never actually attended the festival, Wa Rasse is a great place to satisfy your curiosity all at once.
The 2026 Taiwan Chiayi Lantern Festival also invited Wa Rasse to take part. Seeing those vivid, towering character lanterns reminded me of my fun experience in Aomori.