Eddie's Reviews Page 2/5

I came to Namba Yasaka Shrine in Osaka to see its famous giant lion-head hall, but unexpectedly happened upon a traditional festival being held that day. It was much livelier than usual. When I looked it up online later, I learned that the event is called the Tsunahiki Shinji, or Rope-Pulling Ritual, a traditional festival held annually at the shrine.

This festival is connected to Japanese mythology and is mainly held to ward off misfortune, pray for peace and good fortune, and wish for a bountiful harvest and thriving businesses in the new year. The event includes a traditional tug-of-war ritual to pray for good luck, and it is said to be one of Osaka's most notable folk traditions.

I came across it completely by chance and hadn't paid particular attention to event information before my trip. Only after looking it up afterward did I discover that it is held every year on the third Sunday of January. If you're planning to visit Osaka around that time, you might want to add Namba Yasaka Shrine to your itinerary. Besides seeing the famous lion-head hall, you may also get the chance to experience the lively atmosphere of the festival.

Travel isn't just about sightseeing and enjoying good food. Sometimes, coming across a local traditional event like this can also be a very special experience. If you get the chance, take in the lively atmosphere and pray for yourself and your family, wishing for peace and good fortune every day of the new year!

When I arrived at Marugame Castle in Kagawa, the first thing that caught my eye was the stone walls. Walking slowly up the slope, the tall stone walls on both sides looked very imposing. The closer I got to the keep, the more I could feel the history of the castle.

Although Marugame Castle’s keep isn’t very large, it has retained its old wooden appearance. From the castle, you can also see the cityscape of Marugame. Compared with some crowded tourist attractions, I prefer places like this where you can walk around and take your time. There weren’t too many noisy crowds, so it was very pleasant to explore.

If you happen to be visiting Kagawa, consider setting aside some time to walk around Marugame Castle, see this historic castle with more than 400 years of history, and experience a different side of Japan.

When I came to Shodoshima, I didn’t plan to visit many specific attractions. Instead, when I saw this view by the sea, I couldn’t help but stop and take a photo.

The water was very calm, and there wasn’t much in the distance, just a large rock sitting quietly in the sea. It didn’t look like anything special, but after standing there and looking at it for a while, I felt that this was what Shodoshima meant to me.

There was none of the bustle of a big city or the pressure of constantly rushing from place to place. Just walking along the shore and taking in the scenery was actually very relaxing.

Sometimes, the photos that stay with you from a trip aren’t necessarily of the most famous attractions, but scenes like this that make you think, “Oh, this looks really nice,” and take a picture. When you see them again after some time has passed, they still bring back memories of that trip.

When I visited Kurashiki, I stopped by Achi Shrine after walking around the Bikan Historical Quarter. I originally thought it would be a quick visit, but first I had to climb a stretch of stairs, and the walk up was actually pretty tiring, haha.

But once I reached the top, it felt completely different from below. It suddenly became much quieter, and the area was surrounded by trees and traditional shrine buildings. As I walked around, I could also see the streets of Kurashiki from above, which was a different view from what I'd just seen in the old town.

I don't think Achi Shrine is especially grand, but it's a nice place to visit while you're in the area. If you're visiting the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, you can spend a little extra time walking up here to enjoy the breeze and take some photos, then slowly make your way back down. Overall, it felt quite relaxing.

I originally thought Okinawa would be cooler in October, but I didn't expect it to still be this hot. It was honestly a little surprising, haha!

When I arrived at Kouri Island, the first thing I noticed was how blue the water was and how clean the beach was. Just standing by the ocean and enjoying the scenery put me in a good mood. Unfortunately, I was on a day tour this time, so we could only stay for about 30 minutes. It was really too short. I only had time to walk on the beach and take some photos, and before I could fully enjoy it, it was already time to leave.

Kouri Island actually feels like the kind of place that's best explored at a leisurely pace. If I could arrange my own schedule, I could probably spend more time by the ocean and enjoy Okinawa's island atmosphere. If I get another chance, I might have to drive here myself so I won't have to keep rushing and can really appreciate the beauty of this place. This visit was just a quick preview—I'll find another opportunity to come back and explore it properly!

Kokusai-dori is really lively at night, with people everywhere. Don Quijote in particular was packed, and it would take quite a while to browse the whole store. After walking all evening, my feet were really sore and aching, but even though I was already tired, I still couldn't bring myself to go back to the hotel. I kept thinking I should walk around a little longer. After all, it's not often that I get to visit Okinawa, so of course I wanted to fully experience the lively atmosphere at night too.

I also took a photo of a MOS Burger with a green sign, which was different from the red signs commonly seen in Taiwan. It felt pretty novel when I saw it. That's what travel is like. Sometimes you don't necessarily need to plan any particular attractions. Just walking around the streets, browsing, and seeing different stores and street scenes can leave you with plenty of interesting memories too.

This time I visited Hatogaya Hachiman Shrine. Compared with other, more famous shrines in Japan, it was much quieter here. There weren’t huge crowds, and I didn’t have to keep waiting for people to move out of the way before taking photos. I could take my time walking around and taking pictures, and the whole setting felt very comfortable.

Personally, I think this place is really great for photography. Every angle has a different feel, and every photo comes out looking good. You also don’t have to worry about getting a bunch of strangers in your shots, so you can frame your photos however you want. That’s a big plus! At popular shrines, sometimes you have to wait a long time just to find a good angle, and you still might not get a photo you’re happy with. A quieter place like this lets you really appreciate the surroundings instead.

It was really nice to come across a place like this during the trip. There was no need to rush or squeeze through crowds. I could just walk around and take photos slowly at my own pace. If you also like quieter shrines and want to take some good photos, you’ll feel very comfortable exploring here and can come away with plenty of photos you like.

I visited Shurijo Castle before the pandemic, and I never expected to hear on the news not long afterward that it had been damaged by a fire. I felt truly saddened at the time.

When I returned to Okinawa in 2025, of course I had to visit this familiar old friend again. Seeing Shurijo Castle being rebuilt step by step and getting ready to show its original appearance once more made me really happy, and I’m looking forward to the day it’s completed.

Although I still couldn’t see the fully restored Shurijo Castle on this visit, at least I got to witness the reconstruction process. It seems this little wish will have to wait until my next trip to Okinawa! I hope that when I return in 2027, I’ll be able to see Shurijo Castle shining once again with my own eyes. 🇯🇵

I came to Tokyo in May and originally planned to buy a regular-colored taiyaki, but the moment I saw the black one, I immediately thought, “Oh my gosh, you don’t come across this very often!” 😂
So I switched to the black one right away. The outside had a slight aroma, and the red bean filling inside was very smooth and soft. The sweetness was just right, so it didn’t become too rich after only a few bites. It was unexpectedly delicious.
Since the weather was already getting warm in May, the shop also offered chilled flavors in addition to the original. I couldn’t resist buying the black one first this time, so I didn’t get to try the other flavors. If I get the chance next time, I definitely want to try them all!
The location is also a huge plus. Just take the Ginza Line to G14 Suehirocho Station, and it’s right outside the station, so you don’t have to spend any time looking for it. Afterward, you can take a walk and browse around Akihabara along the way. The location is really great and very convenient!

I visited Yufuin in December and came across a SNOOPY collaboration shop while walking around. It was a nice surprise, and anyone who likes SNOOPY would probably have a hard time resisting stopping to take a few photos. Unfortunately, I was short on time that day, so I couldn't go inside. I just took a few photos at the entrance and left.

After I got back, I looked it up on Google and found out that they not only have all kinds of SNOOPY collaboration merchandise, but also matcha soft serve, which looked really tempting. If I'd known they had all that inside, I probably would have tried harder to make time to look around.

This trip also made me realize that for a place like Yufuin, I really shouldn't join a tour next time. Traveling independently would suit me better. On group tours, you often just get off the bus at an attraction, take some photos, walk around briefly, and then have to rush back to the bus when time is up. There isn't enough time to go into many of the shops you want to see. It was a bit of a shame that I could only take photos outside this time. I'll have to save it for next time and explore at a more relaxed pace.