周黛西's Reviews Page 3/7

Otaru Sakaimachi Dori Shopping Street

Located just one street away from the main thoroughfare facing the Otaru Canal, Sakaimachi-dori flourished during the Meiji and early Showa periods, becoming Otaru's main street.

• Otaru and Niseko
• Shopping Streets

Otaru’s shopping street has more than just famous sweets and souvenir shops like LeTAO, Rokkatei, and Kitakaro. There are also glass shops and music box stores where you can really feel the art and culture.

Walking around the streets of Otaru and checking out all the well-known shops, you’re bound to come across a souvenir or keepsake you’ll fall in love with at first sight.

Since it was a holiday, there was a long line at the kerosene lamp café, so I took a photo by the sign as a little souvenir of my visit.

Otaru Canal

Otaru Port, which developed as a gateway for Hokkaido's settlement, saw an increasing volume of cargo over the years. To streamline its transportation, the "Otaru Canal" was completed in 1923 (Taisho 12). The canal, created by reclaiming the offshore coast, is characterized by its gentle curves rather than a straight line.

• Otaru and Niseko
• Tourist Attractions

The Otaru Canal flows gently, like an old man slowly telling stories of its once lively and prosperous past. The stone warehouses lining both banks stand as witnesses to those abundant, thriving days.

Standing on the stone bridge, watching the calm water and the crowds of visitors, it feels as if everyone is traveling through time together and experiencing the glory of that era.

Otaru Aquarium

About 20 minutes by bus or sightseeing boat from JR Otaru Station, the aquarium showcases approximately 250 species and 5,000 marine organisms, primarily from Hokkaido and polar regions.

• Otaru and Niseko
• Zoos & Aquariums

When you visit Otaru Aquarium, you can buy a ticket and head inside to explore. In addition to the many displays of marine life, there’s also a dolphin show. After watching the dolphins’ clever performance, you can walk over to the seaside park. With the clear sky and the deep blue Sea of Japan, it feels incredibly refreshing.

Shikisai-no-Oka

Shikisai-no-Oka is a cherished flower park destination seated in the scenic hills of Biei, Hokkaido. From spring to autumn, dozens of flower varieties blossom vividly, blanketing the hillsides with a brocade of hues. Peak season between June and September brings a natural stripe of colors, with blooming lavender, salvia, marigold, and cockscomb lined up as if almost painted in by a brush.

• Furano and Biei
• Nature Spots

Shikisai-no-Oka in Hokkaido is a must-visit spot in Biei. The colorful flower fields are absolutely stunning!

With so many flowers in bloom, all competing in beauty, visitors walking through the patchwork-like fields look like tiny flower fairies. Just remember to follow the rules and not step into the flower beds.

You can also ride the park cart, a cute vehicle converted from a tractor. The driver will briefly stop at great photo spots so everyone can take pictures and capture beautiful memories.

On the first floor of the visitor center, there’s a souvenir shop, and on the second floor, a restaurant. If you sit by the window, you can enjoy a distant view of the flower fields. The atmosphere is comfortable and relaxing, and it’s definitely worth visiting again.

Farm Tomita

Located in Nakafurano Town, Hokkaido, this tourist farm is famous for its large-scale, elegant lavender fields. In addition to the grand lavender fields, the farm is known for its "Irodori Field," a canvas of gently sloping hills adorned with vivid bands of flowers such as purple lavender, white baby's breath, and red poppies.

• Furano and Biei
• Tourist Attractions

Farm Tomita has flower fields stretching as far as the eye can see, rolling across the hills like a beautifully crafted patchwork quilt.
Walking through the sea of flowers, with a light floral scent in the air, felt incredibly relaxing.
The lavender ice cream and melon desserts were so satisfying!

Mojiko Retro

Moji Port was opened in the early Meiji Period and prospered in international trade. Nostalgic architecture, built from the Meiji into early Showa Periods, are still standing today. It is a fun area to meander.

• Kitakyushu
• Tourist Attractions

The wooden interior of Mojiko Station has a romantic, retro Taisho-era vibe. I was taking side shots of the station restroom 😁 and got distracted by the water fountain next to it. There’s also a Starbucks inside the station where you can take a break.

The banana man in Mojiko is a must-photo spot. I heard it has some connection to Taiwanese bananas. One black and one yellow, they look super cool in the sunlight.

This place is full of the unique charm of a port city. You can also stroll through the nostalgic streets and visit European-style buildings like the former Moji Mitsui Club and the International Friendship Memorial Library.

Kanmon Bridge

Opened in 1973, Kanmon Bridge is a suspension bridge connecting Moji in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, with Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Spanning the Kanmon Straits, the bridge measures 1,068 meters in total length and was the longest bridge in Asia at the time of its completion. It forms part of an expressway linking Mojiko IC and Shimonoseki IC, and is open only to motor vehicles (excluding vehicles not permitted on expressways).

• Yamaguchi
• Fukuoka
• Tourist Attractions

Kanmon Bridge was wrapped in clouds and mist. It's a key transportation link connecting Honshu and Kyushu, and the Kanmon Straits run below it. There's also an undersea tunnel you can walk through.

Shimonoseki is the hometown of former Prime Minister Abe, and I unexpectedly came across his authentic calligraphy while dining at a restaurant.

Karato market

This fish market welcomes both professionals and tourists alike for shopping. Known for Shimonoseki's specialty Fugu, as well as a market for Sea Bream and Yellowtail, it offers a variety of fresh fish caught by local fishermen. The popular weekly event "Ikiiki-bakangai" also draws crowds every weekend.

• Yamaguchi
• Shopping Streets

When I got to Shimonoseki, my first stop was Karato Market. The fresh fugu sashimi was sliced paper-thin, and there was also nigiri sushi and a huge variety of seafood on display.

But honestly, all I really wanted was a photo with the fugu.

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.

Kikuya Yokocho Alley

A historic alley that remains in the castle town of Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The gridded townscape is lined with residences once occupied by middle- and lower-ranking samurai, and the street still preserves its original layout, offering a glimpse of the past. The alley takes its name from the Kikuya family, wealthy merchants of the domain, whose residence once stood along Onarimichi, the road used by the shogun. Nearby are other alleys named after prominent merchants, such as Edoya and Iseya, which also reflect the origins of the castle town.

• Yamaguchi
• Famous Places

If you also love traditional Japanese architecture, you have to visit the Kikuya Family Residence in Hagi—one of Japan’s oldest and best-preserved merchant homes.
The black roof tiles, white walls, diamond-pattern details, and wooden latticework are beautifully crafted. The simple facade has a nostalgic charm, and even after six centuries, it still feels elegant and captivating!
As you wander through the little alleys outside the walls, you’ll see all kinds of light and shadow playing across them. And if you look down, you might even spot little crabs leisurely walking in the canal. The Kikuya Family Residence in Hagi is such a wonderful place!