金己田's Reviews Page 5/10

Tsukishima Nishinaka-Dori

Tsukishima is a relatively new city, established on reclaimed land next to Tokyo Bay between 1882 and 1893. Tsukishima Nishinaka-Dori runs through the center of the city, and it is also a popular tourist stop known as “Monja Street.” Presently, you can find around 85 monjayaki restaurants here.

• Ryogoku, Ningyocho, Kiyosumi-Shirakawa, Kinshicho
• Shopping Streets

Tsukishima Nishinaka-Dori is basically a whole street dedicated to monjayaki, where you can try this classic Tokyo shitamachi dish.
We visited the famous restaurant Moheji. Seating inside is limited, so if you don’t book ahead, you might not get the chance to try their delicious monjayaki!
We ordered their signature mentaiko mochi monjayaki. It was fun watching the staff cook it, and the amazing aroma kept drifting up from the griddle and making us even hungrier. Every bite was packed with mentaiko, and it turned out to be such a unique dining experience. If you have the chance, I definitely recommend trying monjayaki in Tsukishima during your trip to Tokyo!

First Avenue Tokyo Station

"First Avenue Tokyo Station (Tokyo Station Ichibangai) " is directly connected to "Tokyo Station", the gateway to Japan.A wide variety of stores are gathered here, including ramen, local gourmet foods from all over Japan, Japanese and Western confectioneries from famous and long-established stores, and popular character goods.

• Tokyo Station, Nihonbashi, Marunouchi
• Shopping Streets

There’s never enough time whenever I go to First Avenue Tokyo Station!
There are even more shops now in Character Street, and Tokyo Okashi Land has gotten even better!
They’ve got limited-edition items from favorite brands like Glico, Calbee, Kameda Seika, and Morinaga. If I’d had more time, I definitely would’ve wanted to try the freshly made Happy Turn!

The Maple Mania: "Maple Butter Cookie"

"The Maple Mania" is a dessert brand that offers sweets made with maple sugar, including financiers, pie sandwiches, and baumkuchen. The "Maple Butter Cookie" has been the brand's number one best-seller and has been beloved for over 10 years since its inception.

• Tokyo
• Snacks

As soon as you open the package, you get a rich maple aroma. The crispy cookies are filled with cream, and they do run on the sweet side. Overall, it’s basically a maple version of Shiroi Koibito.

Kohfukuji Temple

This temple was first built as a private residence of Fujiwara no Kamatari in Yamashina-suehara of Yamashiro-no-kuni (current Kyoto prefecture) and named Yamashina-dera, and later, Fujiwara no Fuhito decided to relocate to the current place at the time of the establishment of the Heijo Ⅽapital in 710, and the temple was renamed Kohfukuji.

• Nara
• Shrines & Temples

In the ancient city of Nara, one bright vermilion building really stands out. After looking it up and learning about the history of the Central Golden Hall, I appreciated even more how remarkable it is.

Although there is an admission fee, I think it’s well worth it.

Toji Temple

This temple was built in 794 along with Sai-ji Temple two years after the capital city was moved to Heiankyo. Although Sai-ji turned into a ruin by the end of Heian Period, Toji kept being rebuilt after each fire damage. The Kondo (Golden) Hall built by Toyotomi Hideyori and the five-storied pagoda gifted by Tokugawa Iemitsu still remain to this day, designated as national treasures.

• Kyoto
• Shrines & Temples

Toji Temple is absolutely one of the most worthwhile temples to visit in Kyoto!
It may not be as famous as Kiyomizu-dera, and it may not have flashy flower water displays, but at Toji you can experience a 3D Buddhist world and see Japan’s tallest five-story pagoda!

Shoyeido Kunjyukan

Kunjyukan, operated by Shoyeido, is a hub for information on incense with over 300 years of history. On the first floor is Koh-labo "Exploring Incense", offering a variety of interactive fragrance experiences.

• Kyoto

Shoyeido, Kyoto’s long-established incense maker, created Kunjyukan to promote Japan’s incense culture. The space isn’t very large, but the modern design gives this traditional culture a fresh new look. The three Kaori Boxes especially had an unexpectedly futuristic feel!

If you’re new to incense, I definitely recommend trying the incense capsule machine and seeing what kind of scent you get. It might just make you fall in love with incense.

ShinPuhKan

The ShinPuhKan, a commercial facility in Karasuma Oike, reopened in 2020, blending historical architecture with new construction. The brick-built "Preserved Building" is a renovated structure of the old Kyoto Central Telephone Office from 1926, designated as Kyoto City’s first registered cultural property.

• Kyoto
• Commercial Buildings

While casually wandering through Kyoto’s side streets, you’ll definitely be drawn to ShinPuhKan. I happened to walk over from the Ace Hotel side, and Kengo Kuma’s distinctive architectural style made me recognize it right away—“This is the place!”
The entrance to ShinPuhKan is also super stylish, and once inside, I was surprised to find a lush green courtyard. There aren’t that many shops, but they all feel thoughtfully curated. The one I highly recommend is BEAMS JAPAN, where you can find lots of affordable yet beautifully made Japanese goods. The staff were also warm and friendly. If your itinerary takes you nearby, I definitely recommend stopping in!

The Head Temple of the Tendai Sect, Mt. Hiei (Hieizan) Enryakuji Temple

It is a vast temple whose precincts are the area around Mt. Hiei (Hieizan) at the altitude of 848 meters and was built in 788 by Saicho, who opened the Tendai sect. Filling a role as a comprehensive Buddhist university, it has been called "the mother mountain of Japanese Buddhism" and has had a great influence on the history of Japan. Moreover, it also played a role in protecting Kyoto, which was the capital for 1000 years. It was registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1994.

• Shiga
• Shrines & Temples

Enryakuji on Mt. Hiei is divided into three areas: Todo, Saito, and Yokawa, with Todo serving as the main center.
Although the Konpon Chudo is undergoing a major 10-year renovation, it remains open for worship during construction, and visitors can also observe the restoration work.
Saito is smaller in scale and has an overall peaceful atmosphere, and its buildings reflect a strong sense of history.
Yokawa is the most remote area, and its Chudo was designed based on a ship used by envoys to Tang China. Seen from a distance, it looks like a boat floating in the mountains.

Kasugataisha Shrine

At the beginning of the Nara period, Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto is said to have ridden on sacred deer from Kashima in Ibaraki Prefecture to Mt. Mikasa to protect Heijo-kyo and promote national prosperity.

• Nara
• Shrines & Temples

From the moment you step onto the approach to Kasugataisha Shrine, you're surrounded by lush forest and weathered stone lanterns. At the end of the path, the vermilion corridor appears. If it weren’t for all the tourists around, it would almost feel like traveling back in time!
Following the visitor route, we came to Fujinami-no-ya. It’s a small, completely dark space lit by the glow of countless lanterns. I can only imagine how much more spectacular it must be during the Mantoro festival.

Sightseeing Limited Express "AONIYOSHI”

Debuting in April 2022, this new sightseeing limited express train operated by Kintetsu connects the three capitals of Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto without changing trains. The train's name, "AONIYOSHI," is a pillow word Japanese waka poem that refers to the ancient capital Nara.

• Osaka
• Kyoto
• Nara
• Trains & Subway

The AONIYOSHI color scheme is mainly purple with gold accents, giving it an atmosphere of ancient nobility. The seating layout is open, but it still feels private. The seats are nicely cushioned and very comfortable, and the interior is full of thoughtful details. From the lighting to the decorations on the luggage racks, the whole train has a retro yet stylish feel.
There’s also a dining car where you can buy limited-edition sweets and Daibutsu Pudding, and this is also where you pick up the commemorative boarding certificate.
Overall, a lot of care clearly went into both the hardware and the service, which made this a fantastic ride. The trip from Nara to Kyoto is only 30 minutes, and it honestly left me wanting more.