Norton Liang's Reviews Page 3/6

This building features a stylish triangular roof and transparent glass curtain walls. Inside, it combines a cider brewery, a market selling local products, and restaurants, making it an artsy landmark you shouldn't miss when visiting Aomori.

There are several light-meal and dessert shops inside. The most popular items are buckwheat galettes made with local Aomori ingredients and natural Italian gelato from Gelato Natura Due, available in flavors made with various varieties of Aomori apples.

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Must-haves every time:
1. Gelato Natura Due natural Italian gelato in flavors made with various varieties of Aomori apples
2. Apple pie

It would be a shame to visit Japan without checking out a market, and coming to Aomori without visiting the Aomori Gyosai Center is like not coming at all!
It's like buying tickets at a fair and then exchanging them at the stalls for dishes made with fresh seafood. Highly recommended!
Be sure to visit the apple juice stall run by the young guy in a baseball cap. The owner is super friendly and nice, and he'll let you sample every kind until you almost feel bad about it 😬
Thank you to the owner for his hospitality.
It made my early morning in Aomori even better.
A little moment of happiness!

Although it's a little far from the busy area around Aomori Station,
taking the bus is actually convenient, and there are a convenience store, restaurants, and a bakery right downstairs from the hotel.
Very convenient!
The hotel lobby has a refined style and displays works of art showcasing Aomori's traditional craftsmanship. There are also many design books by Yoshitomo Nara. It's family-friendly too, with lots of board games available for children staying at the hotel. Highly recommended.

If you're near Aomori Port, be sure to visit the Seikan Renrakusen Memorial Ship, Hakkoda-Maru. This historically significant Seikan ferry is now permanently docked at Aomori Port and open to the public as a floating museum.
Also, remember to walk around Aomori Port and see the art installations rich in cultural and historical significance.

The connection between Osamu Dazai and the “red ribbon” mainly comes from a commemorative event rather than a direct reference in his literary works or personal life:
The “Red Ribbon Project” monument: In 2009, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Aomori Prefecture and Hakodate and commemorate the 100th anniversary of Osamu Dazai's birth, the two cities jointly organized a commemorative event called the “Red Ribbon Project” (紅絲帶プロジェクト).
Monument design: As part of the project, a bronze monument was installed in the Aomori Port area. Its design was inspired by a scene from Dazai's novel “Memories,” in which he and his younger brother look out over the strait. The bronze statue depicts a boy and a girl with red ribbons tied around their ankles, symbolizing the deep bond and connection between the two cities.
Therefore, the red ribbon was not originally an element in Dazai's works. It was given special symbolic meaning through a local cultural event commemorating the Aomori-born writer.
It's worth mentioning that some tourists who saw the bronze statue with red ribbons tied around the ankles associated it with the rope tied around Dazai and his mistress when they drowned themselves, but this is only a personal interpretation and is unrelated to the original intent of the official commemorative event. Osamu Dazai attempted suicide several times. His final attempt was a double suicide with his lover, Tomie Yamazaki, in the Tamagawa Josui canal.

If you like Yoshitomo Nara, you definitely have to come!
Paying to see the exhibitions is also well worth it. It’s a truly impressive place, and it’s even more spectacular during cherry blossom season!
Yoshitomo Nara is a well-known Japanese contemporary artist who was born in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture. There are several places in Aomori Prefecture where you can see his work, with the main exhibition venues being the Aomori Museum of Art and the Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art.
Main locations featuring his work
Aomori Museum of Art:
The museum has a collection of more than 120 works by Yoshitomo Nara, including paintings and sculptures.
The most famous work is the large outdoor installation **Aomori Dog**, a white dog sculpture about 8.5 meters tall that faces the sky and has become an iconic symbol of the museum.
The museum’s architectural design was inspired by the nearby Sannai-Maruyama Jomon Site and is itself a major highlight.
Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art (formerly the Yoshii Sake Brewery Brick Warehouse):
This contemporary art facility in Nara’s hometown of Hirosaki was converted from a century-old sake brewery warehouse.
The museum focuses on a collection rooted in local history and culture, featuring works by local artists, including Yoshitomo Nara.
Towada Art Center:
Works by Yoshitomo Nara are also displayed in the museum’s outdoor exhibition area.
Yoshitomo Nara’s connection to Aomori
Yoshitomo Nara grew up in rural Aomori Prefecture, and this childhood experience had a profound influence on his artistic style. He has said that because his parents were busy with work when he was young, he was often home alone and would talk to characters in picture books or to his toys. This sense of loneliness and imagination nurtured his artistic sensitivity. To him, Aomori is like his “starting point” (The Beginning Place), and he is happy to exhibit works that represent the beginning of his creative journey in his hometown.
If you’re a fan of Yoshitomo Nara, the Aomori Museum of Art is a must-visit where you can fully experience his deep connection to his hometown.

I came for Yoshitomo Nara, and seeing the Aomori Dog in person was incredibly moving 🥹 I was pleasantly surprised to find that, besides these works, the other exhibitions and the architectural design are also well worth a visit!
Special discovery:
The Aomori Museum of Art's original typeface is called Aomori Font, designed by Tokyo graphic designer Atsuki Kikuchi.
Typeface design features
Simple elements: The typeface is mainly composed of vertical lines, horizontal lines, and 45-degree diagonal lines, giving it a simple, modern look.
Echoes the architecture: The design concept is closely tied to the museum's architecture, and together they create the museum's distinctive visual identity.
Visual identity system: This typeface is used not only on the museum's official website, but also consistently throughout the museum for signs, directions, and explanatory text, creating a distinctive and recognizable identity.
Triangular logo
Inspiration: In addition to the typeface, Atsuki Kikuchi also designed a triangular logo for the museum, inspired by the letter “A,” the first letter of “Aomori,” and the character “木,” meaning tree, which represents Aomori.
Neon design: This triangular logo is made up of countless neon lights. They light up in blue-green 30 minutes before the museum closes, and the repeated patterns and lighting effects together create an image of “Aomori.”

Kyoto’s **Keage** area is a historic and scenic district in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, known for its unique industrial heritage and beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons.
Main attractions
Keage Incline: This is the area’s most famous attraction. This abandoned railway was built during the Meiji period to connect two sections of the Lake Biwa Canal with a significant difference in elevation, allowing boats to be transported between them. It is now a popular walking path, especially in spring when the Yoshino cherry trees lining both sides are in full bloom, creating a beautiful “cherry blossom tunnel.” It is also a great place to see the fall foliage.
Lake Biwa Canal Museum: Located near the end of the incline, the museum introduces the history and engineering of the Lake Biwa Canal.
Nanzenji Temple: This famous Zen temple is about a 10-minute walk from Keage Station and is known for its magnificent Sanmon Gate and the distinctive red-brick Suirokaku Aqueduct.
Philosopher’s Path: Beginning near Nanzenji Temple, this walking path follows the canal and is another famous spot for viewing cherry blossoms and fall foliage.
Heian Jingu Shrine: A little farther away, but still near the Okazaki Park area, it features striking vermilion buildings and a beautiful Japanese garden.
Transportation
The most convenient way to reach Keage is via the Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line:
Get off at **Keage Station**, then walk about 3–5 minutes from the station to the entrance of the incline.
From Kyoto Station:
Take the subway Karasuma Line to Karasuma Oike Station, then transfer to the Tozai Line toward Rokujizo and get off at Keage Station. The entire trip takes about 17 minutes.
Alternatively, take JR to Yamashina Station and transfer to the subway Tozai Line to Keage Station, which lets you avoid congestion in central Kyoto.
The Keage area combines historic sites, natural beauty, and cultural attractions, making it ideal for a leisurely stroll. Visiting during cherry blossom season or fall foliage season is especially recommended.

Nanzenji Temple is one of Kyoto’s top spots for fall foliage and fresh green leaves. Every autumn, the brilliant red leaves and the rustic red-brick Suirokaku Aqueduct complement each other, creating a truly striking scene.
• Avoid the crowds: Weekends from noon through the afternoon are usually the busiest. If you want to experience the unique serenity and tranquility of a Zen temple, I strongly recommend coming early in the morning, right when it opens (around 8:40 a.m.).

Kyoto Minamiza is a kabuki theater located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, and is recognized as the oldest theater in Japan. It stands on the east side of Shijo Bridge, where Shijo Street meets the Kamo River, and is operated by Shochiku Co., Ltd. The current building, with four floors above ground and one basement level, was rebuilt in 1929 and designated a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan in 1996.
The main highlights and visitor information for Kyoto Minamiza are as follows:

History and Development

• Origins: The history of Minamiza dates back to the early Edo period, around 1610. At that time, Izumo no Okuni pioneered kabuki performances at Kyoto’s Shijo riverbank, and the Tokugawa shogunate issued an officially authorized business license for this site.
• Architectural style: The ornate exterior is designed in the style of the Momoyama period, while the interior combines traditional kabuki stage features, such as the hanamichi and revolving stage, with Western architectural structures. Extensive seismic reinforcement and facility renovations were completed in 2018.

Affordable prices
Enthusiastic staff
A hotel in an excellent location

The lobby design of Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Sanjo combines modern smart technology with traditional Kyoto aesthetics, in an overall style described as a “modern machiya.”
The main features of the lobby design are as follows:
1. Design concept: Learning from the past
Designed by GARDE, the hotel’s core concept blends elements of Kyoto’s traditional kyo-machiya townhouses with a modern industrial feel.
Entrance and facade: The hotel entrance is built with solid wood and has a fresh woody scent. The exterior incorporates the latticework characteristic of Kyoto machiya, with understated, refined lines.
Contrasting materials: The space combines cool exposed concrete and metal decking with the warmth of century-old wood, such as the large communal table, creating an atmosphere that transcends time.
2. Smart spatial layout
The lobby, restaurant, and check-in area have an open, integrated design that enhances the sense of space and functionality.
Digital map screen: A large interactive digital display near the entrance provides sightseeing and map information for the surrounding area.
Self-service facilities: The lobby is equipped with automated check-in/check-out machines and self-service luggage lockers, emphasizing seamless smart services.
3. Local art and decor
The interior is decorated with works by several artists who have close ties to Kyoto:
Gold leaf and collage art: The walls feature artwork combining gold leaf with modern collage.
Woodblock prints of the Four Guardians: These incorporate motifs of the “Four Guardians” that protect Kyoto in the four directions—the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise.
Kamo River-inspired tiered seating: The tiered seating in the lobby was inspired by the banks of Kyoto’s Kamo River, providing guests with a relaxing space to rest and socialize.
4. Functional facilities
There is an Amenity Bar in one corner of the lobby where guests can pick up items such as pajamas and toothbrushes themselves.
Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Sanjo received an iF Design Award!
The hotel’s interior design, created by GARDE, won an award in the Interior Architecture category of the “iF DESIGN AWARD 2023.”
The hotel has also received other design awards, including:
2022 Kyoto Global Design Awards
Silver Award at the MUSE Design Awards 2023