Norton Liang's Reviews Page 1/6

As soon as I got off the bus 🚌, I was drawn to the massive 24.4-meter-tall vermilion torii gate, an iconic landmark in Kyoto’s Okazaki area 🤩
The surrounding area is also great for an artsy stroll, with the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Tsutaya Books, Nanzenji Temple, and a Blue Bottle Coffee in a machiya townhouse that’s worth visiting.

With its snow-white exterior walls, this cultural heritage site looks like a white heron about to take flight. Himeji Castle itself is absolutely ethereal~
It truly lives up to its reputation.

I especially recommend going up to JR Himeji Station to take a photo of the view from afar,
and following this reminder 🔔 for travelers to slow down
and truly appreciate the beauty of the White Heron Castle 😊:

• Otemae Street, which stretches from JR Himeji Station to the entrance of Himeji Castle, is an outdoor gallery street renovated under Japan’s first implementation of the “Hokomichi” sidewalk utilization system. Along the way, there are many artworks and statues created by renowned sculptors.
One example is “Face of the Moon”:
Its clean lines and metal materials symbolize the universe, encouraging passersby to look up at the sky amid the bustle of the city and appreciate the poetry of nature.
• “I Can Hear It”: This work captures the classic gesture of listening to a conch shell, symbolizing the exploration of nature’s sounds and reminding people to slow down and listen to the whispers of the wind and their inner voice.

At first sight at Kobe Port, I was drawn to this building 🤩
* “Uplifted Land and Eroding Water”
Its rugged, vibrant texture resembles biomimetic rock formations. It turns out to symbolize Kobe’s unique geography, formed through crustal movement between the Rokko mountain range and the Seto Inland Sea.

Historical significance symbolizing “revival” after the Great Hanshin Earthquake
* An architectural language that directly confronts trauma:
The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, which occurred on January 17, 1995, caused devastating damage to Kobe’s port area and the city’s foundations.

This building uses “fault lines,” “uplifted land,” and “torn rock layers” as its design vocabulary. Rather than deliberately forgetting the pain, it boldly confronts the painful memories caused by the shifting earth, symbolizing the city rising proudly again from the trauma of the quake and being reborn from fractured layers of earth.

* A symbol of waterfront regeneration and cultural revival:
In the past, the Shinkocho area of Kobe Port mainly consisted of traditional industrial warehouses and cargo terminals. Following long-term postwar and post-earthquake urban renewal and redevelopment plans, this integrated building combining aesthetics, art, and tourism rose along the waterfront. It symbolizes Kobe’s port area successfully emerging from the shadow of the disaster and transforming into a “new-era urban living room” filled with endless creativity and vitality, demonstrating the powerful resilience of Kobe’s citizens as they rose from the ashes.

The view from the room when you open the window is unbeatable
There’s a Ferris wheel 🎡, and the orange-red light of dawn paints Kobe Port in romance 💕
At night, the lights create an even more colorful atmosphere
A super chill, super romantic harbor-view hotel 🏨
And in November, there are also all-you-can-eat crab legs
Dinner and breakfast 🍳 are unbelievably delicious 😋

This area in Kobe’s Meriken Park mainly commemorates the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake that occurred in #1995.
1. The triangular stones on the ground and the landscape
These large stones scattered across the ground and the tilted streetlights are not simply landscape decorations. They are actual remnants showing how the Meriken breakwater collapsed and the ground shifted during the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. These ruins have been preserved exactly as they were as “living witnesses,” reminding people of the horror of earthquakes and the importance of disaster preparedness, while passing this historical memory on to future generations.
2. Meaning of the “1995” numbers
The “1995” numbers on the wall represent the year when the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake occurred. The disaster struck in the early morning of January 17, 1995, causing tremendous destruction and casualties. These numbers and the memorial park were created so that the lessons of the disaster and the courage of Kobe’s residents in rebuilding could be remembered and passed down.
3. Red structure (Kobe Port Tower)
“Kobe Port Tower.”
*Exterior design: Its distinctive red tubular structure was inspired by the traditional Japanese musical instrument known as a “drum,” earning it the nickname “Beauty of the Iron Tower.”
*Symbolic meaning: Kobe Port Tower opened in 1963 and is a landmark of Kobe Port. After the earthquake, its bright red appearance was often seen as a positive symbol, representing Kobe rising again like a phoenix and demonstrating its strong vitality and spirit of recovery.
In addition, there is another white building nearby with a structure made of multiple intersecting triangles. This is the “Kobe Maritime Museum,” whose design was inspired by a sailboat cutting through the wind and waves.
Together with the earthquake memorial park, these two buildings form important historical and cultural landmarks in Kobe’s port area.

When visiting Kyoto’s Higashiyama area, Maruyama Park is a must;
I especially recommend this reasonably priced eatery run by a Michelin-starred restaurant, hidden in a green garden.
The matcha ice cream is also top-notch.
On this trip to Kyoto,
this was the most memorable meal,
along with the unforgettable matcha 🍵
Great value for the money.

#京都東山「無礙山房 #無碍（ #SalondeMuge）」Highlights of the food, attention to detail, and garden scenery at the main location

1. Distinctive dishes and exceptional attention to detail (combining kaiseki cuisine with everyday flavors)
#無礙山房 is a tearoom and dining venue opened by Kyoto’s renowned three-Michelin-starred ryotei, #米其林三星料亭「#菊乃井」. It offers a more relaxed, approachable way to experience master chef Yoshihiro Murata’s dedication to the spirit of Japanese cuisine.

* An exquisite, seasonal menu (Nagatsuki menu)
* Sakizuke (appetizer): Corn tofu served with dashi jelly and shiso blossoms. The smooth corn tofu and elegant dashi jelly create a refreshing, delicate beginning that evokes early fall (Nagatsuki).
* Nimono-wan (soup): A clear soup containing shrimp shinjo, Oji tofu, shiitake mushrooms, knotted ginger, and yuzu. The clear yet deeply savory dashi is the soul of Kikunoi’s cuisine, and the shrimp dumpling is springy and richly textured.
* Kuchitori (hassun platter):
* Presented in an exquisite round lacquered jubako box, it is as impressive as a jewelry box.
* It includes shira-ae (Asian pear, red konjac, and green beans), dashimaki tamago (soft, juicy rolled omelet made with dashi), sea bream chrysanthemum sushi, savory simmered octopus, kuri chakin (a chestnut sweet filled with the feeling of fall), Spanish mackerel miso-an-yaki, hana myoga, deep-fried baby taro with kasumi-ko coating, and duck loin.
* Each small dish uses a different cooking method—grilling, simmering, frying, or pickling—to bring out the ingredients’ natural flavors, with exceptional attention paid to knife work and seasoning.
* Takiawase (simmered dish): Deep-fried and simmered eggplant, savory simmered pumpkin, yuba, country-style simmered lotus root, snow peas, and maple-leaf-shaped wheat gluten. The vegetables absorb the essence of the dashi, becoming tender and flavorful, while the colors reflect the changing season.
* Rice and pickles: Sea bream shigure rice (rice topped with finely minced simmered sea bream), served with yam puree (とろる), miso soup, and refined pickles (shibazuke, chirimen, drizzle-cut kombu, and sesame daikon). Every bite carries the thoughtful warmth of traditional Japanese home cooking.

* Careful attention to tableware and aesthetics
* From the delicate blue-and-white porcelain bowl used for the appetizer and the two-tiered round red lacquer box for the main dishes to the ceramic bowls for rice and soup, every piece of tableware is selected to complement the season and colors of the food, perfectly expressing the idea that “cuisine is a visual art.”
2. Serene and elegant garden scenery
* Borrowed scenery and a Japanese dry landscape/natural-style garden
* Looking out from the seats, large open windows bring the greenery of Higashiyama and the garden scenery fully indoors. The garden combines moss, stones, bamboo fences, and carefully arranged trees such as maples.

* Thick old tree trunks and low green moss create a rustic, composed Zen atmosphere. While dining or enjoying tea by the window, light filters through the leaves, and together with the spacious feeling of the traditional Japanese wooden architecture, it offers rare peace and quiet amid the bustle of Kyoto’s Higashiyama area.

* Integration of architecture and nature
* Outside, a stone path and traditional Japanese lanterns (wooden andon lamps) welcome guests, blending the character of a machiya townhouse with modern minimalist aesthetics. Whether it is the lush greenery outdoors or the calm wooden tones indoors, the setting offers a high level of privacy and comfort while dining.

The Ine Funaya are located in Ine, on the Tango Peninsula in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. This distinctive group of traditional buildings is known as one of “Japan’s most beautiful small fishing villages.” Facing the calm waters of Ine Bay, the village developed a unique style of two-story wooden buildings—the first floor serves as a boathouse for mooring fishing boats and storing fishing gear, while the second floor is used as living space. Viewed from a distance, the entire row of houses seems to float on the sea, creating the romantic and rustic atmosphere of a fishing village.
* Unique architecture: The first floor of each funaya is directly connected to the sea, allowing fishermen to bring their boats indoors for repairs or mooring, fully demonstrating the wisdom of people living in harmony with the sea.
* A wide range of sightseeing experiences: Visitors can take an Ine Bay sightseeing cruise or rent a bicycle to explore the town, watching flocks of seagulls fly over the water along the way. You can even stay at a guesthouse converted from a funaya and enjoy the peaceful bay scenery at dawn and dusk.

Popular shops and spaces that artsy types shouldn't miss

• TRAVELER'S FACTORY KYOTO: The Kyoto branch of the popular stationery store from Nakameguro, Tokyo, selling a variety of planners, washi tape, notebooks, and Kyoto-exclusive items, with customization services also available.
• Café Kitsuné: A hugely popular, stylish fox-themed café from Paris, located on the first floor of ShinPuhKan, with a refined blend of French and Japanese aesthetics.
• LE LABO: A New York artisanal fragrance brand known for its vintage laboratory style, with an exceptionally sophisticated store design.
• (THISIS)SHIZEN: A multipurpose space centered on nature, craftsmanship, and art. Its best-known signature item is edible-flower ice cream that looks like an elegant bouquet.
• Ace Hotel Kyoto: A trendy boutique hotel brand that originated in Seattle, making its first entry into Japan. The public lobby and overall design are filled with art and music.
• アップリンク京都 (UPLINK Kyoto): An intimate independent movie theater on the first basement floor, popular with film buffs and artsy types.

The core design concept of teamLab Biovortex Kyoto is “Biovortex,” which combines “life” and “vortex.” It emphasizes that “the environment gives rise to phenomena, and phenomena create existence,” creating an art experience filled with sensory perception where visitors can fully immerse themselves, interact with the works, and co-create a world that is “boundaryless, selfless, and eternal.” It also cleverly echoes Kyoto’s garden culture, exploring the themes of “existence” and “environment.”
Core design concepts:
Biovortex: The exhibition is presented as a continuously flowing and changing field of energy, symbolizing the cycle of life and allowing visitors to sense the interconnectedness of all things.
Environmental phenomena: The works are not fixed objects, but dynamic phenomena produced through the environment—light, sound, scent, and interaction—challenging our perception of “existence.”
Boundarylessness and immersion: The boundaries between the artworks and visitors are blurred, allowing visitors to become part of the art and experience and create through all their senses.
Once-in-a-lifetime encounter: The works change in real time through interactions among time, space, people, and the environment, creating a unique experience in each moment.
Universal design: With no national or language barriers, everyone can enjoy the art intuitively.
Connection to Kyoto:
Garden concept: The entrance is modeled after a Kyoto garden and planted with Kitayama daisugi and other plants, blending digital art with the natural landscape.
Cultural dialogue: Modern technology is used to interpret Kyoto’s historical depth and vitality.
Presentation methods:
Non-material sculptures: Soap bubbles form and spheres of light float, presenting art forms with no fixed boundaries that can repair themselves.
Interactive co-creation: For example, visitors’ footsteps connect to form a massive living organism in Traces of Life, with their actions directly generating the work.
Large-scale new works: Large interactive installations such as Flow of Life and Eternal Universe of Words are displayed, creating a grand sense of life.