金己田's Reviews Page 3/10

Iwate Bank Red Brick Pavilion

It was built in 1911 as the head office of the Bank of Morioka, designed by Kingo Tatsuno and Manji Kasai Architects. It is the only remaining architectural work in the Tohoku region designed by Kingo Tatsuno, and is also famous for designing Tokyo Station. The red brick with white granite shingles and a dome on the roof gives the building a Tatsuno-like appearance. The Renaissance-style building is a National Important Cultural Property.

• Iwate
• Tourist Attractions

Morioka’s city center still has quite a few retro historic buildings, so I spent half a day leisurely exploring them.

My first stop was the Iwate Bank Red Brick Pavilion, designed by Kingo Tatsuno. Its familiar red-brick exterior reminded me of Tokyo Station.

Inside, the former bank spaces and exhibit materials have been preserved. It’s not very large, but the atmosphere is calm, and it’s a nice place to look around at a relaxed pace.

Atami Heiwa Street Shopping District

Atami City, one of Japan's premier hot spring destinations, is renowned for its abundant natural hot spring water. Located right outside JR Atami Station, this shopping district serves as the city’s welcoming gateway.

• Shizuoka
• Shopping Streets

As soon as you step out of Atami Station, the shopping street is right in front of you. The retro atmosphere feels like stepping back in time. There’s a great mix of shops, from traditional dried fish stores to stylish dessert spots. I bought an Atami pudding and enjoyed it while sitting in the arcade, then finished things off with a footbath before leaving. A perfect ending.

Umikaji Terrace

Senaga Island with a 1.8km circumference is connected to Naha Airport with a marine road. This is where a multi resort facility stands. White buildings line the slope facing the emerald green ocean. It looks like a little town. The beauty was designed after the European resorts such as the Amalfi Coast in Italy and Santorini Island on the Aegean Sea.

• Naha, Shuri, Itoman, Nanjo
• Tourist Attractions

Senaga Island is built along the coast, and the white buildings make you feel like you're on the Mediterranean.
Eating taco rice there, with the sound of planes taking off and landing in the background and an amazing ocean view right in front of you, really puts you in full vacation mode.

Shiba Park

One of the first places designated as a park in Japan in 1873. Adjacent to Zojoji Temple and Shiba Toshogu Shrine, nearby Tokyo Tower can be viewed from anywhere in the park.

• Shimbashi, Toranomon, Tokyo Tower, Hamamatsucho
• Parks & Gardens

Christmas had already passed, so I didn’t expect to still catch the last touch of autumn colors in Tokyo.

I came to Momijidani in Shiba Park early in the morning. It’s one of the latest spots in Tokyo for fall foliage. Even though it was already close to the end of the year, the leaves here were at their peak, creating a uniquely Tokyo scene against Tokyo Tower.

Ushijima Shrine

This ancient shrine is said to have been founded in the 2nd year of the Jogan era (860) when the renowned Buddhist priest Ennin received a divine revelation from the incarnation of Susano-no-Mikoto. The shrine venerates three deities: "Susano-no-Mikoto", known for blessings in bountiful harvests, matchmaking, and warding off evil; "Ame-no-hohi-no-Mikoto", considered the god of the sun and rice ears; and "Sadatoki Shinno-no-Mikoto", governing agriculture and academic improvement. Thus, the shrine is widely respected as a place where a variety of wishes are accepted.

• Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree
• Shrines & Temples

Ushijima Shrine puts up lights in winter, and the view of the bamboo lanterns with Tokyo Skytree in the same frame really captures the feeling of “old meets new Tokyo.” It also adds a lot of romantic atmosphere.

If you’re visiting Tokyo in winter, this shrine is definitely worth adding to your itinerary!

Nikko Toshogu

Nikko Toshogu is a shrine dedicated to the Edo shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa. It is the most visited spot within the World Heritage Site “Shrines and Temples of Nikko,” and here you can see 55 exceptional buildings, including 8 that have been designated as national treasures and 34 that have been designated as Important Cultural Properties.

• Tochigi
• Shrines & Temples

The architectural style of Nikko Toshogu is quite different from the usual image people have of Japanese shrines. The ornate Yomeimon Gate is especially striking, and the carvings throughout the grounds are another highlight. From the "Three Wise Monkeys" to the "Sleeping Cat," each one is worth stopping to admire.
The echoing dragon sound in Yakushido was also unforgettable.
Overall, Toshogu is full of details worth appreciating, so it would be a bit of a shame to just rush through it.

Naritasan Shinshoji Temple

This historic temple, which was established in 940 by High Priest Kanchō, is rooted in prayers for the pacification of the Taira no Masakado revolt.

• Narita Airport Neighborhood
• Shrines & Temples

I took an early morning walk in Narita just after daybreak. The sunlight was falling across the temple grounds, the air was crisp and clear, and with so few people around, it felt especially peaceful.

Naritasan Shinshoji Temple is not far from Narita Airport, so it’s a great first or last stop on a trip. The grounds are fairly large, though, so be sure to allow extra time if you want to explore and pray properly.

Atami Sun Beach

This beach is a swimmers’ favorite in summer with a dozen firework shows above the ocean. The shore is lined with palm trees along 400m with the beautiful white sand against the blue sky and the waves are calm in the shoal. You will fall in love with this exotic-looking beach.

• Shizuoka
• Famous Places

Atami is nestled between the mountains and the sea. Walking along the hillside roads gave me a familiar feeling, like being in Beitou. But the closer I got to the shore, the more it felt like a vacation destination.

Exploring along the coast was so relaxing. The laid-back atmosphere made me want to stop and just sit on the beach, zone out, and listen to the sound of the waves. It was incredibly soothing.

Dotonbori

Crab, octopus, cow, crane….these are just a few of the oversized 3D signboards that make up the look and feel of the bustling Dotonbori Area. Its packed with a number of eateries along the northern Dotonbori River and main street along its southern side.

• Osaka
• Famous Places

Osaka’s nights are lit up by the neon of Dotonbori. Crowds flow through nonstop, and the lively, buzzing atmosphere feels like a city that never sleeps. It’s a symbol of Osaka and the city’s energy.

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

Ise Jingu is said to be a place every Japanese person should visit at least once in their lifetime, and I’ve been there twice!
The first time, I underestimated the travel time and could only rush through the Inner Shrine. This time, I gave it another try and successfully visited both the Inner Shrine and the Outer Shrine.

Travel guides say the proper order is to visit the Outer Shrine first and then the Inner Shrine, so we took the Kintetsu train from Toba to Iseshi Station. As soon as you exit the station, you can see a huge torii gate, and straight ahead is the approach to the Outer Shrine. There are quite a few tasteful shops lining both sides of the path. On the shrine grounds, the irises by Magatama Pond had already started to bloom. Walking along the gravel path surrounded by greenery on both sides, we finally arrived at the main shrine to pray.

After that, we took a bus to the Inner Shrine. The Isuzu River was as clear as ever and left an unforgettable impression. Finishing my visit to the Inner Shrine truly made up for the regret I had carried for years.