黃國棟's Reviews Page 5/10

Chuson-ji Temple, home to the magnificent National Treasure Konjikido, or Golden Hall, is an ancient temple with a history spanning a thousand years. It was also one of the most memorable places on this trip through Tohoku.

Starting from the entrance, I slowly walked uphill, surrounded by tall trees on both sides. Even when visiting in summer, it doesn’t feel too hot. As I strolled along, taking in the ancient temples and forest scenery, my pace naturally slowed down, and I felt much calmer as well. It really felt cleansing and allowed me to clear my mind.

Besides Chuson-ji’s main hall, there are many other distinctive temples and cultural sites throughout the grounds that you can explore at a leisurely pace. Of course, you can’t miss Konjikido. Its magnificent architectural details really convey the rich history of this thousand-year-old temple.

The amulets sold here are also very distinctive, with designs that are a little different from those usually seen at other temples. If you enjoy collecting amulets, it’s well worth choosing one to take home as a souvenir.

And in the fall, Chuson-ji is unbelievably beautiful! The red and golden leaves, ancient temple buildings, and forest paths come together like a Japanese autumn landscape painting.

Lake Gando is acclaimed as one of the most beautiful man-made lakes in Japan.
In winter, when the lake freezes over, you can try the unique experience of ice fishing for wakasagi smelt, while fall offers completely different scenery.

This time, I happened to visit at the peak of the fall foliage season. The mountains were covered in orange-red, golden yellow, and deep green, all reflected on the lake. It was so beautiful that I couldn't stop taking pictures.

Unfortunately, it was cloudy on the day I visited, so the colors weren't as bright as they would have been in the sunlight. But the gray-blue sky actually made the fall colors look calmer and more layered.

Maybe it was because of the weather, but there were surprisingly few visitors that day. The entire lakeshore was very quiet, with only the sound of the wind passing through the treetops and the water gently rippling.

Without the crowds, Lake Gando had a special sense of autumn tranquility. Even on a cloudy day, the mountains, lake, and fall foliage before me still made me feel—this trip was truly worth it.

Coming to Hanamaki, Iwate, and staying at Hanamaki Onsen Hotel Koyokan is perfect for slowing down and fully enjoying a hot spring getaway. Hanamaki Onsen has three hotels:
Hotel Senshukaku, Hotel Hanamaki, and Hotel Koyokan. If you stay at any one of them, you can visit the hot springs at all three hotels. Each one has its own special features, so you can soak in each bath and experience a different atmosphere along the way. It's really satisfying for anyone who loves hot springs! This time, I stayed in a Japanese-style room at Hotel Koyokan. The room had a traditional Japanese design, with a comfortable amount of space and the distinctive atmosphere of a Japanese inn.

During the day, I took a walk nearby and admired the fall foliage. At night, I returned to the hotel and soaked in a steaming hot spring, slowly letting the fatigue from the trip melt away... Staying overnight at a hot spring hotel in Iwate during fall was such a treat!

At Morioka Castle Ruins Park, you can experience the historic ruins of Morioka Castle and the impressive stone walls. Spring is cherry blossom season, while fall brings colorful red maple leaves, with different beautiful scenery in every season.

I especially loved Morioka Castle Ruins Park in the fall this time. The timing of my visit was just right, and the leaves were at their most beautiful. Everywhere I looked, shades of red, orange, and gold blended together, and with the old stone walls and winding paths, the whole scene looked as beautiful as a postcard.

Strolling along while enjoying the fall scenery, with the historic atmosphere and natural beauty coming together, I couldn't help stopping again and again to take photos. Morioka in the fall was truly unforgettable!

If you like old Japanese streetscapes, Tono Furusato Village will be a delightful surprise! Old homes have been carefully preserved and relocated here. As you walk into the village, you see historic wooden houses, quiet streets, natural scenery, and fall colors. The whole scene looks just like a movie set.

It's no wonder that many period dramas, historical dramas, and movies have been filmed here. The park also has a booklet introducing the filming locations, and as you walk around with it, you'll keep spotting familiar scenes: “Huh? I think I've seen this place on TV!” What I liked most was that there wasn't too much modern-day noise. You could hear firewood burning inside the houses, and there was a faint scent of wood in the air. I instantly slowed down.

Walking through the old village and looking at the scenery, you almost feel as if you've really traveled back in time.

This time I stayed at a hotel in Hanamaki Onsen, and before checking out in the morning, I made time to walk behind the hotel and visit the waterfall. Following the riverside trail, you can see two other waterfalls along the way, and the entire loop takes about 40 minutes.

It was truly beautiful in the fall! The forest was covered in intertwined shades of red, yellow, and orange, while the clear stream wound through the trees. Walking slowly to the sound of the waterfalls made me feel completely at peace.

However, the trail is fairly rugged and narrow, and about half of it consists of stairs, so you need to watch your step. There are also quite a few signs warning you to watch out for bears, which adds a little sense of adventure.

If you're staying in Hanamaki Onsen, I highly recommend getting up early and walking the loop. It doesn't take much time, and you can enjoy the beautiful combination of the autumn forest and waterfalls. Kamabuchi Falls in the fall is truly beautiful, with so many layers of color. Strolling through the red maple forest while listening to the gentle sound of the water, this morning walk became one of my favorite scenes from the trip.

As soon as you enter the gorge, you see unusual rock formations carved over the years by water and stone. Clear water rushes between the massive rocks, taking on a beautiful emerald-green color. In the fall, the trees along both banks turn red, yellow, and orange, instantly filling the valley with color and depth.

We happened to have great weather that day. Sunlight fell across the gorge and maple leaves, making the scenery especially beautiful. Strolling slowly along the trail, feeling the mountain breeze and listening to the flowing water, was really relaxing.

You can enjoy this natural scenery without paying an admission fee, and when you get tired from walking, you can also try the very famous Kakko Dango. Eating sweets while enjoying the view is another little pleasure of visiting Genbikei Gorge.

The only thing to keep in mind is that the fall foliage season is extremely popular, so there are lots of visitors! But even with the crowds, seeing the gorge surrounded by fall colors still makes the trip feel worthwhile.

When visiting Geibikei Gorge in Iwate Prefecture, the most unique thing to do is board a traditional boat and let the boatman slowly pole it along while enjoying the changing seasonal scenery between the towering cliffs on both sides. The entire trip takes about an hour. There’s no rushed itinerary—you simply sit in the boat, drift slowly along the stream, and take in the tranquility of the forest and water.

The most entertaining part was the boatman’s commentary and singing along the way. Although I couldn’t really understand the Japanese, it was still fun watching the Japanese passengers on the boat burst into laughter. The boatman poled the boat while singing, creating a very relaxed atmosphere. This kind of travel experience is truly hard to find in the city.

I visited in early fall, when the maple leaves had not yet fully turned red, so I didn’t get to see the fall foliage I had been looking forward to. I also missed the winter scenery, when snow falls and blankets the valley in silvery white. But looking at it another way, Geibikei Gorge has its own quiet beauty even without the fall colors. Sitting in the boat, listening to the boatman sing and looking at the cliffs and stream on both sides, with no need to rush anywhere—the leisurely feeling alone made it worthwhile.

Located at the foot of Mt. Ureira, Ryusendo Cave is one of Japan's three largest limestone caves. Its currently known total length is about 4,088 meters, of which around 700 meters are open to visitors.

The first time I stepped inside, I was truly amazed! Along the way, you can see stalactites in all kinds of shapes, and the lighting around the underground lakes gives the entire cave a mysterious, dreamlike atmosphere. It was so beautiful that I couldn't stop taking pictures. Water drips down from time to time along the route, but the overall visitor environment is very well maintained. Some areas have protective covers, and the floors have also been treated to prevent slipping, which makes walking around feel much safer.

The most impressive features are the underground lakes inside the cave. Under the lights, the crystal-clear water takes on captivating colors, blending with the naturally formed stalactites all around it. It's so beautiful it almost doesn't look real. And the temperature inside the cave is only about 7°C!
In summer, this place is basically a natural air-conditioned room. If it's hot and humid outside, the instant coolness when you enter makes you not want to leave. There's more to see here than just stalactites—the underground lakes, rock walls, and unusual landforms along the way are all well worth seeing.

Obihiro has quite a few famous butadon restaurants, and Butadon Ichiban is also a very popular local spot where people line up. The moment it arrives at the table, the white rice is completely covered with grilled pork, and just looking at it makes your mouth water. The pork is charcoal-grilled, giving it an enticing charred and smoky aroma. Paired with the rich, slightly sweet sauce, the sweet and savory flavor goes perfectly with the rice. However, the seasoning is fairly strong, so it may start to feel a little heavy toward the end. That’s when you can use the sansho pepper, shichimi spice, or black pepper on the table to change up the flavor and keep each bite satisfying!

One bite of tender, flavorful pork, then one bite of white rice—this is the taste of happiness in Obihiro. Overall, it was quite delicious and had a distinctive local flavor from Tokachi, Hokkaido.