Pork Tamago Onigiri – Makishi Market Branch
If you’re visiting Okinawa, don’t miss the chance to try Pō-tama-a beloved local specialty served up at this dedicated shop.
This is a famous local Okinawan rice ball. It looks simple, but the first bite pleasantly surprised me. The chewy white rice is paired with thick slices of meat, tender egg, fried shrimp, and seaweed. Every bite is layered with savory flavors and incredibly satisfying.
Menya Inoichi
A popular ramen shop that has earned the Bib Gourmand title in the Michelin Guide multiple times, recognized for offering quality food at good value. The restaurant takes pride in its 100% seafood broth, meticulously prepared by blending several types of fish flakes, including carefully selected bonito flakes from Kyoto's established "Kyoto Katsuobushi," and extracting the flavors at a low temperature.
Kyoto’s popular ramen shop Menya Inoichi left me with wonderful food memories. The interior is simple and comfortable, with a warm Japanese atmosphere. There was a wait, but the anticipation of enjoying delicious ramen made it worthwhile.
The ramen broth was crystal clear with a delicate aroma. It was savory and smooth without being too rich, allowing the ingredients’ natural flavors to shine. The fine noodles, tender chashu, fragrant green onions, and other toppings created layers of flavor in every bite. The care put into the ingredients and presentation was especially impressive, making each bowl feel less like a simple dish and more like a thoughtfully crafted work of art.
VESSEL HOTEL CAMPANA OKINAWA
Located in the seaside area of central Okinawa within the vibrant, international atmosphere of American Village, VESSEL HOTEL CAMPANA OKINAWA is a city resort hotel offering a perfect blend of comfort and oceanfront relaxation. Just a one-minute walk from the beach, it boasts an exceptional location. On the rooftop, guests can enjoy a panoramic public bath with a sauna, where they can soak while taking in spectacular views of the East China Sea. From late March to the end of October, the sky pool opens, offering a breathtaking ocean-view experience under Okinawa’s blue sky.
I had a wonderful stay at VESSEL HOTEL CAMPANA OKINAWA. The hotel is right next to American Village, making it incredibly convenient. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, and attractions nearby, so it’s easy to enjoy shopping and dining on foot. It’s a great place to stay while exploring the area.
The room was clean, comfortable, spacious, and well equipped, making it easy to relax. My favorite part was the beautiful ocean view. The sunset reflecting on the water was especially captivating, and I couldn’t help but stop and take it all in.
Vessel Hotel Campana Susukino
Vessel Hotel Campana Susukino is located just at a four-minute walk from the subway Namboku Line’s Susukino Station. With a parking facility, it is convenient as a base for tourism or business.
The thing I was most excited about at Vessel Hotel Campana Susukino was the breakfast. As soon as I entered the restaurant, I saw an impressive buffet spread with fresh salads, bread, hot dishes, Japanese side dishes, miso soup, and a variety of drinks. There were so many choices that I didn’t know where to start.
I tried several Hokkaido specialties, and every dish was fresh and delicious. The ingredients were high quality, and the meal was very satisfying. The restaurant was clean and comfortable, and the staff were incredibly friendly, making the experience even more enjoyable.
Tokyo Character Street
Tokyo Character Street is located in a corner of "First Avenue Tokyo Station", a commercial facility directly connected to Tokyo Station. Located just outside the "Yaesu Underground Central Exit ticket gate", the street is home to a collection of character stores featuring the popular domestic and international characters such as "Pokémon," "Crayon Shin-chan," "Pretty Cure," "Sumikkogurashi," and more. Some items are only available at "Tokyo Character Street", making it an irresistible space for anime and manga enthusiasts.
Tokyo Character Street in First Avenue Tokyo Station is home to many popular character shops, including Pokémon, Chiikawa, Sanrio, Sumikkogurashi, Crayon Shin-chan, Doraemon, and Studio Ghibli. Every store has its own unique charm, and there’s so much to see. It’s definitely worth checking out if you love anime and cartoon characters.
TOKYO Solamachi
With a wide variety of over 300 shops gathered in this retail complex, you can feel the liveliness of Tokyo’s shitamachi downtown.
This shopping complex is located beneath Tokyo Skytree and features many well-known brands, specialty shops, restaurants, and souvenir stores. There’s a great variety of products, making it fun to explore. You can also pick up all the souvenirs you want in one place.
Oyunuma Pond (Niseko Yumoto Onsen)
Oyunuma is a dramatic hot spring pond located along the scenic Panorama Line that runs between Iwanai and Niseko towns. This geothermal feature was formed by a combination of rainfall, inflow from the Yunokawa (Yusanbetsu River), and the continuous release of high-temperature sulfur gases and thermal steam from beneath the pond.
As soon as I arrived at Oyunuma Pond in Noboribetsu, I was captivated by the scenery. White steam constantly rose from the water, while a faint sulfur smell filled the air. You could really feel the power of volcanic geothermal activity. It was my first time seeing volcanic terrain this close, and I was filled with excitement and wonder.
Walking along the trail offered different views of the steam slowly rising against the lush green mountains, creating a truly unique natural landscape. After listening to the guide, I learned how hot the spring water is and gained a better understanding of Noboribetsu Onsen’s abundant geothermal resources. The trip offered not only beautiful scenery but also a fascinating learning experience.
Lake Toya
There is no better attraction than the natural landscape of Lake Toya in Hokkaido. The area around a caldera lake, Lake Toya , and an active volcano, Mt.Usu, was designated as the Toya- Usu Unesco Global Geopark in UNESCO Global Geopark.
The lake is crystal clear and calm, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds like a beautiful landscape painting. Walking along the lakeshore with a gentle breeze and fresh air feels incredibly relaxing and offers a welcome break from the busyness of everyday life.
The lakeside has well-maintained walking paths and rest areas where visitors can leisurely enjoy the views of the lake and mountains. A sightseeing cruise offers an up-close view of Nakajima Island and another perspective on Lake Toya’s natural beauty. At sunset, the warm light shimmers across the water, making the scenery even more enchanting and hard to leave behind.
Susukino
Susukino is one of the most famous entertainment districts in Sapporo. Along with Kabukicho in Shinjuku and Nakasu in Fukuoka, Susukino is called one of the "three central entertainment districts in Japan.
Susukino, Sapporo’s liveliest district, showed me a completely different side of the city from the daytime. Neon lights illuminated the streets, which were lined with restaurants, shops, and local snacks. The vibrant atmosphere drew plenty of visitors for shopping and dining, filling the night with energy.
I strolled around while sampling Hokkaido specialties like ramen, jingisukan grilled lamb, and fresh seafood. Every dish was memorable. The beautiful signs and bustling streets also made for great photos and wonderful memories.
Kitakaro Sapporo Main Store
Originally built as the Hokkaido Prefectural Library, this historic Western-style building was transformed into the Kitakaro Sapporo Main Store in March 2016. The eye-catching, retro-modern architecture is designed by world-renowned architect Tadao Ando, seamlessly blending the old with the new for an exterior and interior that’s stirs with sleek elegance.
I made a special trip to try the famous sweets at Kitakaro. As soon as I walked in, I saw an incredible selection of cakes, cream puffs, baumkuchen, and cookies. Everything looked so beautifully made that I wanted to take it all home.
Kitakaro’s sweets have a delicate texture and rich, milky flavor without being overly sweet. You can really taste the freshness of Hokkaido dairy products.