BobbyJenny's Reviews Page 3/26

Sanrio Puroland

Guests can meet Sanrio characters like Hello Kitty and My Melody at this indoor theme park. Sanrio characters put on authentic performances like shows and parades that mix stories, dances, and songs together.

• Fuchu, Chofu, Tama
• Amusement Parks & Theme parks

Sanrio Puroland is a paradise for Sanrio fans. The park is filled with popular characters like Hello Kitty, My Melody, and Kuromi, and everything from the decorations and shops to the attractions is incredibly cute. What I was looking forward to most on this visit was meeting my favorite characters, and I was really excited to see familiar characters right in front of me.

The atmosphere inside the park is very magical, with great photo opportunities everywhere. You can also buy lots of exclusive merchandise and cute souvenirs. Every corner is filled with Sanrio elements, making it hard to stop taking pictures and browsing the shops. It feels like stepping into a fairy-tale world.

Kyoto City Subway, Bus One-Day Pass

This savvy ticket bundles unlimited rides for one day on all Kyoto City Subway and City Bus lines, as well as on Kyoto Bus, Keihan Bus, and JR Bus routes. Apart from a few excluded sections of the Kyoto, Keihan and JR bus routes, use this pass to get almost anywhere in the Kyoto city limits. Many travelers in the know enjoy using both subway and bus routes with this ticket to get around even the most crowded city spots with ease.

• Kyoto
• Tickets & Passes

The Kyoto Subway and Bus One-Day Pass allows unlimited rides on Kyoto's municipal subway and city buses for one day, making it very convenient for anyone visiting several attractions in a single day. You don't have to keep preparing exact change or buying tickets—just use the pass to board. It can be used to reach places like Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kinkaku-ji Temple, and Fushimi Inari Shrine, and transfers are easy too. After using it, I felt that it saved quite a bit on transportation costs and made my itinerary more flexible. It's very practical for first-time independent travelers to Kyoto.

Cow Brand Red Box

This creamy lathering soap contains milk and squalene to help moisturize. It is a popular, long-selling product that has been on the market since 1928.

• Cosmetics

Cow Brand Red Box is a classic Japanese milk soap. Its simple red packaging is easy to recognize, and it's also an everyday item many people bring home from Japan. The soap has a light milky scent and produces a fine, rich lather. After washing, your skin feels clean and refreshed.

Pocky Chocolate

Pocky was created in 1966 as the world’s first rod-shaped chocolate sweet. It is a rod-shaped pretzel snack covered in a chocolate coating, and it has a very pleasant texture. The combination of that delicious flavor with a way to keep your hands clean after snacking made them into a huge hit.

• Snacks

Pocky Chocolate is one of my favorite classic Japanese snacks. The thin biscuit sticks are generously coated in chocolate, and they look simple yet very appealing. As soon as you open the package, you can smell a light chocolate aroma that makes you want to grab one and eat it right away.

Otaru Canal Cruise

The Otaru Canal, completed in 1923 (Taisho 12) by reclaiming the offshore coast, is lined with historic stone and timber warehouses and remains a popular tourist attraction. A 40-minute tour on a cruise boat around this area is a popular choice among visitors.

• Otaru and Niseko
• Experiences Facilities

The Otaru Canal Cruise is a very popular sightseeing experience in Otaru, Hokkaido. As the boat slowly travels along the canal, you can admire the well-preserved stone warehouses and retro streetscape from a different perspective and experience Otaru's unique port-town atmosphere.

The cruise itself felt very relaxing. Sitting on the boat with a gentle breeze, I listened to the guide while taking in the historic buildings along both banks. Compared with walking along the canal, the view from the water had a different feel, and it was also great for photos.

Fujikyu Express Discount Pass

Fujikyuko Railway opened in 1926 and offers the Otsuki Line connecting Otsuki Station in Otsuki City, Yamanashi to Mt. Fuji Station in Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi, and also Kawaguchiko Line connecting Mt. Fuji Station to Kawaguchiko Station in Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi. It is called "the railway closest to Mt. Fuji." Fujikyu Express Pass allows you to ride any of their local lines between Kawaguchiko Station and Otsuki Station where you can switch to JR Chuo Line.

• Yamanashi
• Tickets & Passes

The Fujikyu Express Discount Pass is very convenient when traveling around Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi, allowing you to use designated Fujikyu trains and other transportation according to your itinerary. With the pass, you don't have to buy a ticket each time, which saves a lot of hassle for travelers visiting multiple attractions and makes the trip smoother.

The biggest benefit I noticed while using the pass was the convenience. I didn't have to keep waiting in line to buy tickets or prepare change; I just used the transportation according to the rules.

Chunichi Building

Chunichi Building, which opened in April 2024, is a mixed-use complex in the Sakae area of Nagoya. From B1F to 5F, it offers a wide variety of shops, including restaurants, cafes, general goods stores, and local product shops, and its greatest appeal is that visitors can enjoy food, shopping, and sightseeing all in one place. Directly connected to the underground mall and easy to access, it is also conveniently located as a base for sightseeing.

• Nagoya
• Commercial Buildings

This time, I went shopping at the Chunichi Building in Nagoya. Besides enjoying the lively city streets, I made a point of stopping by mont-bell. The store has a wide variety of outdoor gear, including clothing, shoes, and hiking and camping equipment. The products are practical and well-designed, making it easy for outdoor enthusiasts to keep browsing without wanting to stop.

Odawara Castle

Odawara Castle once served as the base of the Hojo clan during the Sengoku period before becoming the Okubo clan residence during the Edo period. Today this beloved symbol of Odawara keeps a revamped castle grounds that’s redeveloped as a park centered around the reconstructed main keep.

• Kanagawa
• Tourist Attractions

Odawara Castle is one of Kanagawa Prefecture's most iconic historic attractions. Its white main keep looks elegant and has plenty of old-castle charm. Inside, you can see historical exhibits, learn about Odawara Castle and the Sengoku period, and get a strong sense of its history.

On this visit, I took a leisurely walk along the paths inside the castle grounds, admiring the stone walls, gates, and surrounding greenery. The overall environment was quite pleasant. From the top of the main keep, you can also look out over Odawara and the distant scenery. The view is very expansive.

Kumamoto City Tram

Operated by the Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau, this streetcar system has long been a familiar form of public transport connecting the city center with key areas. It consists of two lines-the A Line and B Line-covering a wide range of destinations including the area around Kumamoto Castle, downtown shopping districts, Suizenji, and residential neighborhoods. For visitors, it’s an easy-to-understand and convenient way to get around the city.

• Kumamoto
• Trains & Subway

The Kumamoto City Tram is a very important means of transportation in central Kumamoto. It's convenient and takes you to many popular attractions, such as Kumamoto Castle, Kumamoto Station, and the downtown shopping district. The trams run through the streets, giving the city a distinctly Japanese feel.

Riding the Kumamoto City Tram this time was very relaxing. Sitting on the tram and looking out at the streets, I could enjoy Kumamoto's cityscape along the way without constantly rushing around, while also getting a feel for the rhythm of local residents' daily lives.

I really like this way of slowly exploring a city. Riding the tram through the streets, I saw different scenery along the way, with a little surprise on every stretch. This ride on the Kumamoto City Tram also became a very special memory from my trip.

Hakodate Morning Market

Hakodate Asaichi is a huge market of about 33,000㎡. Some 250 stores, including about 150 member stores of the federation and 100 other stores, sell and serve Hokkaido foodstuffs. Member stores display a sticker of "Asaitchan ," the mascot of the Hakodate market, as their recommended store sign.

• Hakodate and Matsumae
• Shopping Streets

Hakodate Morning Market is a well-known morning market in Hakodate, and its biggest attractions are the fresh seafood and lively market atmosphere. As soon as you walk in in the morning, you'll see all kinds of seafood vendors and can also try Hakodate's famous seafood rice bowls. The bowls are piled high with seafood and look incredibly appetizing.

What I was most looking forward to on this visit was eating a bowl of fresh seafood over rice. It had a generous variety of fish with a fresh, slightly sweet flavor, and paired with piping-hot miso soup, it was really satisfying. Besides enjoying the food, you can also buy crab, dried goods, and all kinds of Hokkaido souvenirs.