Eddie's Reviews Page 3/5

When visiting Kokura, of course you can't miss Kokura Castle. The castle isn't particularly large, but walking around the castle ruins and gardens, you can still get a sense of an old Japanese castle.

What I liked most was seeing Kokura Castle from different angles. The white walls paired with the dark roof look clean and neat. The surrounding trees and moat also give the whole area a quieter feel, so it doesn't feel like the kind of place where you just come to take photos, check in, and leave after seeing it.

If you happen to be traveling in Kitakyushu, I think it's worth setting aside some time to walk around here. There's no need to rush your itinerary—take your time exploring the area around the castle, look at the streets, and get a feel for how Kokura has a slightly different atmosphere from other big cities.

I arrived at Higurashi-tei in Ritsurin Garden just before evening, as the light in the garden was gradually growing softer, making it especially pleasant to walk around.

The maple leaves had also turned red, and as I walked along the pond, I occasionally saw broad stretches of red reflected on the water. I couldn't help but stop and take a few extra moments to look. Together with the pine trees and traditional buildings in the garden, it naturally created an autumn atmosphere.

I wasn't in any particular hurry to get anywhere, so I just strolled slowly through the garden, took photos, and enjoyed the scenery in front of me. By evening, Ritsurin Garden had become much quieter, which made it even easier to appreciate the character of the garden.

At Fushimi Inari, there were just so many people that it was really hard to take a photo without anyone else in it 😂 Sometimes, just as I found a good angle, someone would step into the frame the next second. I took quite a few photos, but in the end, there were only a handful that I actually wanted to keep.

Still, it was only after walking through it in person that I could truly appreciate the charm of Fushimi Inari. The vermilion torii gates form a long, continuous path stretching into the mountain, and the sight is truly spectacular. I walked slowly along the way. Although it was crowded and I got a little tired after walking for a while, passing between the torii gates still felt very special.

Some places are hard to capture in photos, but seeing them in person can still be breathtaking. Especially when you turn around and look back at that vast stretch of torii gates, you can't help but stop for a little longer. Maybe that's what makes Fushimi Inari so appealing. Whether the photos turn out well isn't really that important. It's only after walking through and seeing it for yourself that you understand why this has always been such a popular attraction in Kyoto.

When I left Osaka in January this year, I watched the sunset at the airport before my flight home and felt a little reluctant to leave. The sunset that day felt so peaceful that I couldn't help telling myself, “I definitely have to come back next time.”

I never expected those words to actually come true this December. I've already bought my plane ticket, and this time I'm ready to fully enjoy Osaka and eat plenty of good food, making up for all the places I didn't get to visit last time.

The airport itself may not be much of an attraction, but sometimes that's how travel is. A sunset you happen to see can stay in your memory for a long time. Watching the sky slowly turn orange-red was so, so beautiful. 🌅

I also really like this feeling—when you're leaving a city, but you're already looking forward to seeing it again.

I came to Yanagawa in December, originally thinking the winter scenery might be a little plain. But as I walked along the river, I was surprised to see how beautifully red the willows on both sides were. It felt a little different from the Yanagawa I had imagined. After boarding the riverboat, it slowly made its way along the waterway. We could see many traditional houses and streetscapes on both sides, and occasionally people walking by would wave at the boat.

Although the weather in December was a little cold, sitting on the boat with the breeze and looking at the red willows on both sides actually felt very comfortable. I wasn't rushing to follow a schedule, so I just sat there, took my time, and enjoyed the scenery. It felt like a very fitting way to experience Yanagawa.

I visited Gyokusendo Cave in Okinawa in October. I originally thought it would just be a place to see some stalactites, but once I went inside, I realized it was much more spectacular than I'd imagined.

The temperature inside the cave was much more comfortable than outside. As I slowly followed the path deeper in, there were stalactites in all kinds of shapes overhead and on both sides. Some looked like stone pillars, while others looked like icicles hanging from the ceiling. I couldn't help stopping again and again to look at them. The Blue Fountain area was especially striking, with the lights shining on the water and creating a completely different atmosphere.

Gyokusendo Cave has been forming for hundreds of thousands of years. Seeing these stalactites made me feel that nature is truly patient, slowly shaping them little by little into what they are today. Okinawa was still fairly hot in October, but inside Gyokusendo Cave, it felt cool and peaceful instead. It was a very special part of this trip.

Seeing this Statue of Liberty in Odaiba was still really interesting. The weather wasn't very good that day—the sky was gray and it was a little windy—but it didn't affect my mood while walking around at all. Standing by the water and looking at the Statue of Liberty, with Tokyo Bay and the cityscape behind it, felt a little different from the Tokyo I had imagined, but it was unexpectedly beautiful.

It was my first time in Tokyo. I took an overnight flight and arrived at Narita Airport a little after 6 a.m. By the time I got to Asakusa, it was already around 9 or 10. I chose to stay in Asakusa because of its more traditional atmosphere. After dropping off my luggage, I quickly headed out, eager to soak up the excitement of my first visit to Tokyo.

I didn't expect the wind and rain to be so heavy that day. Even with an umbrella, I struggled a bit while walking along Shin Nakamise Shopping Street, but it didn't dampen my enthusiasm at all. Seeing Asakusa's lively streets with a touch of old Tokyo for the first time actually made it feel even more like a real trip. Although the weather didn't cooperate, the memory of those first few hours after arriving in Tokyo still feels very special when I think back on it now.

When visiting Shodoshima in November, I was looking forward to Kankakei the most.

As I rode the ropeway up the mountain, I realized the scenery below was even more beautiful than I had imagined. Many of the maple leaves in the valley had already turned red, mixed with yellow and green trees. Together with Kankakei's strangely shaped rock formations, the scenery had a lot of depth. As the ropeway slowly climbed, the view kept changing from different angles.

Once I reached the top, the weather was great, and I could see the Seto Inland Sea directly from the observation deck. The mountains covered in maple leaves were in front of me, with the blue sea and small islands farther away. It felt different from the view I had just seen from the ropeway.

At the top, there's also a place where you can throw small clay discs. I bought a little kawarake and threw it toward an iron ring in the valley. It's said to ward off evil and bring good fortune. It was my first time, so I don't know if I succeeded, but everyone just kept throwing them, and it was unexpectedly fun.

Afterward, I walked around the area for a while. It was already a little cold up on the mountain in November, and there were quite a few fallen leaves on the ground. There really isn't anything complicated to do at Kankakei—just ride the ropeway, look at the maple leaves and the sea, and take a leisurely walk—but I actually found that very relaxing.

If you happen to visit Shodoshima in November, I think Kankakei is worth a visit. It's especially beautiful during the fall foliage season.

Before coming to Tokyo, I really liked the huge red lantern at Kaminarimon, so this time, instead of staying in busy areas like Shibuya or Shinjuku like everyone else, I chose to stay in Asakusa. Rather than spending all my time in a bustling downtown area, I prefer Asakusa's atmosphere—lively, but not so crowded that it feels overwhelming.

Shitaya Jinja was a place I happened to come across during this trip. I was just strolling along the streets without any particular sights planned when I spotted the entrance to the shrine and realized there was such a charming place tucked away here.

Once inside, there were fewer crowds than around Sensoji Temple and a greater sense of quiet. The red torii gates and traditional shrine buildings blend naturally with the surrounding Tokyo streets, giving it an everyday feel. Sometimes that's what travel is like—when you don't plan out your itinerary in detail, you end up discovering small places you never expected