Lin's Reviews Page 1/2

Zuishinin Temple

The head temple of the Zentsuji school of Shingon Buddhism, it is said to be the place where Heian-period poet Ono no Komachi spent her later years. The current halls were rebuilt after the Keicho era, and the main hall, built in the shinden-zukuri style, enshrines the principal image, a seated Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu statue designated as an Important Cultural Property, a seated Kongosatta statue by Kaikei, and a seated Amida Nyorai statue said to be the work of Jocho.

Gion, Higashiyama, Yamashina
Shrines & Temples

22 Aug 2026 See More

Zuishinin Temple isn't located in Kyoto's busiest tourist area, so many first-time visitors to Kyoto skip it altogether. But because of that, it has retained a quieter atmosphere. The scenery is especially beautiful during the fall foliage or spring plum blossom seasons, making it a great place for people visiting Kyoto for the second or third time.

Toganoo-san Kosanji Temple

An ancient temple standing deep in the mountains of northwestern Kyoto City, founded in the early Kamakura period by the monk Myoe at the imperial request of Retired Emperor Go-Toba. It is designated as part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto” and its grounds are also registered as a National Historic Site. The temple also houses more than 10,000 National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. One of Kosanji Temple’s most famous treasures is the National Treasure “Choju Jinbutsu Giga.”

Arashiyama, Sagano, Nishiyama
Shrines & Temples

30 Jul 2026 See More

It was my first time visiting Toganoo-san Kosanji Temple, and what I liked most was the peaceful atmosphere. The path is lined with trees and old buildings, which feels completely different from the bustle of central Kyoto.

Oya History Museum

Oya stone was mined from the area near Oyamachi, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, and was also used as a building material for the former Imperial Hotel. The "Oya Museum" is the one that passes on the history of mining.

Tochigi
Museums

15 Jul 2026 See More

The scale of the underground space is truly impressive. The lighting against the stone walls creates such a mysterious atmosphere.
Oya History Museum is especially comfortable to visit in the summer. It stays cool inside year-round, and walking through the spacious underground area feels wonderfully refreshing.

Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Tokyo

Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Tokyo is one of only five Starbucks Roasteries worldwide and the only one in Japan. It houses an on-site roastery within its 2,966-square-meter space. This special venue brings together a passion for coffee, Japanese craftsmanship, and the spirit of hospitality. The building, designed by architect Kengo Kuma, is also a highlight.

Nakameguro, Daikanyama
Cafés

25 Jun 2026 See More

I was really surprised after visiting the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo. It's completely different from a typical Starbucks! The moment you step inside, you're surrounded by the aroma of coffee beans. The huge copper roaster is an impressive sight, and it's fascinating to watch the beans move through the copper pipes. Each of the four floors has a different style, and the wooden interior designed by Kengo Kuma feels warm and refined. You can also see the Meguro River in the distance from the third-floor terrace.
The baristas are incredibly skilled, and the freshly roasted beans have such a rich aroma. You can watch the entire process as the coffee goes from green beans to a finished drink. The overall experience is fantastic, and coffee lovers should definitely make a pilgrimage here!

Mitsui Outlet Park Tama Minami Osawa

Located in Hachioji, Tokyo, Mitsui Outlet Park Tama Minami Osawa offers excellent accessibility by both car and train. It's about a 35-minute train ride from Shinjuku Station, and just a 2-minute walk from the nearest station, making it a convenient shopping destination.

Tachikawa, Hachioji, Machida
Commercial Buildings

26 May 2026 See More

There aren’t that many stores, and it wasn’t crowded at all—just a handful of people. It feels like mostly locals from the area come here.

Nakajima Park

Located at the heart of Sapporo, Nakajima Park offers a verdant space. many tourists flock to this popular park to see ever-changing scenery through four seasons.

Sapporo Station, Odori, Susukino
Parks & Gardens

11 May 2026 See More

Nakajima Park during ginkgo season was even more beautiful than I expected. The sunlight made everything glow golden, and the whole place had such a lovely atmosphere.
With the lake right next to it too, having scenery like this in the middle of Sapporo is a huge plus.

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

11 May 2026 See More

I was originally just planning to stop by, but I ended up really liking Kohfukuji Temple. The buildings are very well preserved, and the Buddhist statues in the National Treasure Museum were especially stunning. It was amazing to see the details up close.

Ashikaga Flower Park

At Ashikaga Flower Park, you can enjoy the sight of all kinds of seasonal flowers, which adorn the park according to eight themes: "Early Spring", "The Spring Flower Festival", "A Tale of the Wisteria", "Rainbow Garden", "Blue and White Garden", "The Flower Faeries Who Float By the Water", "Purple Garden", and "The Garden of Illuminated Flowers". The park is a popular location, enjoying not only local visitors, but those from abroad.

Ashikaga
Parks & Gardens

8 May 2026 See More

Even though it gets really crowded during flower season, the space inside is bigger than I expected, so it didn’t feel too cramped. I was still able to enjoy the flowers at a relaxed pace.

Kamikochi

Kamikochi offers one of Japan's most spectacular mountain sceneries. Its magnificent landscape is designated as a Special Natural Monuments along with Special Places of Scenic Beauty. Walter Weston, a British Anglican missionary praised Kamikochi in his writing “Mountaineering and Exploration in the Japan Alps” in 1896 which made Kamikochi an internationally well-known mountain area.

Nagano
Nature Spots

8 May 2026 See More

Even if you’re not usually an outdoorsy person, it’s easy to fall in love with nature here in Kamikochi. The whole area is very well maintained, and it really makes you want to come back again.

Fuji Shibazakura Festival

The weeks from mid-April to late May each year bring Fuji Shibazakura Festival, the largest spring flower event in the Tokyo metropolitan area to Fuji Motosuko Resort at the foot of Mt. Fuji. The season rings in with 500,000 moss phlox plants bloom in a stunning shimmy of color that frames perfectly with Mt. Fuji just behind. The festival designs a unique theme each year to showcase the vibrant hues of all seven varieties of shibazakura, including McDaniel Cushion and Autumn Rose.

Yamanashi
Spring festivals & Events

8 May 2026 See More

I originally thought it would just be flower viewing, but it was even more beautiful in person than in the photos. Especially on a sunny day, Mt. Fuji with the shibazakura in full bloom looks absolutely dreamy.