BobbyJenny's Reviews Page 32/76

I didn’t expect to find such a large green space for a walk in central Tokyo! This time, I planned a visit to the Imperial Palace East Gardens. After entering from the bustling city, the surroundings suddenly became much quieter, and I couldn’t feel the hustle and bustle of central Tokyo at all.

The garden preserves historic remains of Edo Castle, including stone walls, castle gates, and the ruins of the main keep. Walking around while enjoying the garden scenery, I really felt the blend of history and nature.

In Osaka’s Namba area, after exploring the lively Dotonbori, I made a special trip into Hozenji Yokocho, an alley filled with Showa-era charm. Inside is the distinctive Mizukake Fudo Son. This small temple is tucked away in the alleyways, creating an interesting contrast with the bustling streets around it.

The most distinctive sight is Mizukake Fudo Son, where worshippers have poured water while making wishes for many years. The statue is covered in a thick layer of moss, giving it a very unique appearance. You can also follow the local custom by gently pouring water over Fudo Myo-o and silently making a wish.

Once you enter Hozenji Yokocho, the atmosphere suddenly becomes much quieter. The stone-paved path, traditional shops, and lanterns come together to evoke old Osaka. It’s even more atmospheric when the lights come on at night, making it a nice place for a leisurely stroll and photos.

If you’re visiting Namba or Dotonbori, I highly recommend stopping by Hozenji. It doesn’t take much time, but you can experience a more nostalgic and traditional side of Osaka.

During cherry blossom season, the most relaxing thing to do along the Arakawa River is find a spot under a cherry tree and have a picnic. I didn’t plan anything in particular—just brought some food and drinks I liked, found a place to sit, and took my time eating and enjoying the blossoms. It actually felt especially leisurely.

Sitting on the grass, all you see when you look up are cherry blossoms. When a light breeze blows, the petals gently drift down. Nearby, you can also see many local residents enjoying the blossoms and chatting with their families. The whole atmosphere really feels like spring in Japan.

I ate my picnic while looking at the riverbank scenery, occasionally taking out my phone to snap a few photos of the cherry blossoms, blue sky, and Arakawa River together. Without the crowds of a popular tourist attraction, it was easier to take my time and enjoy the cherry blossoms.

When you’re in Ginza, Tokyo, of course you have to check out GINZA SIX! The entire building has a very modern exterior, and inside there are many luxury boutiques, fashion brands, beauty products, household goods, and restaurants. The overall shopping experience feels very refined.

What I like most is the spacious and comfortable shopping environment. It doesn’t feel as crowded as a traditional department store. Besides browsing the brands, you can take your time appreciating the architecture and art installations inside. Even just walking around and looking is enjoyable.

There’s no need to worry when you get tired from shopping, since there are plenty of cafes and restaurants inside where you can take a break. Ginza itself is a great place for leisurely shopping, so you can combine GINZA SIX with the Ginza shopping district and department stores and browse from the afternoon all the way into the evening.

The last stop on our Tokyo trip was Narita International Airport. Before flying home, of course we had to look around the airport! Narita Airport has plenty of duty-free shops, souvenir stores, and restaurants, so it’s really convenient for picking up some last-minute Japanese souvenirs.

After coming from central Tokyo, I recommend allowing plenty of time at the airport so you’re not rushing to check in after you arrive. There are also lots of shops to browse, selling snacks, sweets, cosmetics, and souvenirs. When you check your shopping list one last time at the end of the trip, you often can’t resist buying a few more things!

We visited quite a few attractions around Tokyo on this trip, and finally organized our luggage, grabbed something to eat at the airport, and slowly got ready to head home. Seeing our suitcases packed with purchases also meant that the trip was coming to an end. Looking forward to the next trip!

My biggest takeaway from visiting New Chitose Airport is that you really should arrive early! I originally thought the airport would just be somewhere to look around briefly before the flight, but once I went inside, I realized there was so much to browse. It has just about every kind of Hokkaido souvenir, food, and dessert, so there’s definitely no shortage of things to buy 😂

Popular Hokkaido souvenirs such as Shiroi Koibito, ROYCE’, Rokkatei, and LeTAO are all available, along with all kinds of limited-edition snacks and Hokkaido specialties. This time, I slowly stocked up before my flight, so I didn’t have to drag my luggage around the city looking for things. It was much more convenient.

Besides souvenirs, the airport also has lots of restaurants and dessert shops, with ramen, seafood, sushi, and ice cream. The advantage of arriving early is that you can take your time browsing and eating without constantly checking the time and rushing to board your flight.

I was really looking forward to taking the cable car up Mount Takao, but I didn't expect it to be even more crowded than I had imagined! The line stretched way out, and I was a little stunned just looking at it. You can really tell how popular the Mount Takao Cable Car is.

Although the wait takes some time, you can also feel everyone's excitement about Mount Takao while standing in line. It's especially crowded on holidays and during peak tourist seasons, so if you want to ride the cable car, I really recommend arriving early. It will be more comfortable if you avoid peak hours.

When it was finally our turn to board, we could enjoy the forest scenery along the way. As we slowly climbed higher, the view became more and more expansive. Riding the cable car itself is a distinctive part of the Mount Takao experience.

On this trip to the Kansai region, I added ICOCA directly to my phone, and it was so much more convenient! I used to have to take out the physical card every time I rode the train, but now I can enter and exit stations just by tapping my phone. It’s one less card to carry, and getting around is easier too.

The most convenient part is that when taking JR trains, subways, or other transportation that accepts ICOCA, you can simply tap your phone. There’s no need to open the app and look for the card every time. You can also use the transit IC card to pay when shopping, buying drinks, or making purchases at convenience stores and some other stores.

Especially when you’re taking trains and making transfers all day while traveling, you can quickly tap your phone since it’s already close at hand. There’s no need to rummage through your bag for change or tickets. It really saves a lot of time for independent travelers, and you don’t have to keep worrying about where you put the physical card.

In Nikko, besides visiting Kegon Falls, I also highly recommend taking the Lake Chuzenji Sightseeing Cruise! Seeing Nikko’s mountain scenery from the lake is completely different from the view on shore, and the entire cruise is very relaxing.

After boarding, my favorite thing was going out on the deck to enjoy the breeze. The expansive Lake Chuzenji stretches out before you, surrounded by Mount Nantai and other mountains. The lake and mountain scenery are really beautiful together. When the weather is good, the sky and mountains are reflected on the lake, and every photo captures the feeling of traveling!

Along the way, you can enjoy the lakeside scenery and occasionally spot shrines, hotels, and natural landscapes along the shore. The pace is very leisurely. Compared with constantly rushing between attractions, sitting on the boat and doing nothing but quietly looking at the scenery feels very soothing.

If you’re planning a day trip to Nikko, I think the Lake Chuzenji Sightseeing Cruise pairs well with Kegon Falls and Futarasan Shrine Chugushi. It’s especially beautiful during the fall foliage season, with the mountains, lake, and sightseeing boat all in the same view. It really captures the distinctive character of Nikko

While traveling around central Sapporo, the Sapporo Streetcar is a very distinctive way to get around the city. Unlike the subway, it travels slowly along the streets, letting you experience the rhythm of daily life in Sapporo up close.

Once aboard, you can watch the scenery outside the window gradually change, from the lively shopping districts downtown to the quieter atmosphere of residential neighborhoods. The streetcar doesn't move very fast, but that gives you time to really take in the city.