王小鈞's Reviews Page 10/38

Morinaga Hi-Chew is also one of the chewy candies our family repurchases often!
The grape flavor is sweet and tart, with a chewy, bouncy texture and a strong grape aroma. The kids love it so much that they often finish a whole pack in no time.

Hi-Chew has plenty of fans around the world. Besides grape, there are many different fruit flavors to choose from, each with its own unique character. It's just right as a little snack when you're craving something. If you like chewy candy, give it a try.

A favorite among Japanese matcha snacks—I bring back several boxes almost every time I visit Japan!

My family loves them, so I always restock whenever I go to Japan. The matcha flavor is rich, and the sweetness of the chocolate pairs with it perfectly. One bite is full of Japanese flavor〜

KITKAT is also really good at coming out with new flavors. Besides classic matcha, there are all kinds of limited-edition flavors to discover. Every time I visit Japan, I can't help checking to see what new flavors they've released.

If you're in Okayama and looking for a restaurant with a view where you can enjoy teppanyaki, try Teppanyaki Bisai.

The restaurant is on the 19th floor of Hotel Granvia Okayama. From a window seat, you can look out over Okayama City. The daytime view is expansive, and the overall atmosphere feels quite refined.

The most interesting part is sitting in front of the grill and watching the chef skillfully cook everything right before your eyes. From the moment the ingredients hit the grill until each dish is served, you can experience the appeal of food cooked right in front of you. It was super delicious, and the pace of the meal was also very relaxed.

Okayama Orient Museum looks understated from the outside, but stepping inside feels like being instantly transported to the ancient Eastern world. Its collection of precious artifacts from the Middle East, Iran, China, and other regions is quite extensive. Seeing the Buddha statue excavated in Iran and the replica of the Code of Hammurabi stele especially gives you a real sense of the depth of ancient civilizations.

Photography is prohibited inside, so I could only keep this one photo, but that also made it easier to focus on the exhibits. There weren't many visitors, and the overall atmosphere was very quiet and comfortable.

Admission is only JPY 310, and even the restrooms cleverly incorporate Eastern elements. Unassuming yet full of character, this is a small Okayama attraction well worth remembering!

If you come to Okayama, I really recommend visiting **Okayama Korakuen and Okayama Castle** together!
Okayama Korakuen is one of Japan's three great gardens. Built in 1700, stepping into the garden immediately feels like you've suddenly gone back 300 years.

The entire garden has a strolling layout, with lawns, ponds, small bridges, and teahouses connected along the way. As you walk around, every angle looks like a classical Japanese painting. My favorite part was climbing Yuishinzan Hill for a view over the entire garden, with Okayama Castle visible in the distance. The scenery is really relaxing!

Sawa-no-ike Pond has artificial islands, and water actually flows through the middle of one of the buildings. It's easy to imagine the feudal lord cooling off and composing poetry here in the past—the scene really comes to life.

Each season has its own charm: cherry blossoms in spring, lotus flowers in summer, fall foliage in autumn, and plum blossoms in winter. Chishio-no-Mori Grove is especially unbelievably beautiful in the fall.

If I could visit only one attraction in Okayama, I'd choose this one. If you have enough time, visiting Korakuen and Okayama Castle together is ideal!

Okayama Station is a major transportation hub that is very convenient for traveling around the Chugoku and Shikoku regions. The Sanyo Shinkansen and various JR lines meet here, making it easy to travel to both the San'in and Shikoku regions. There is also plenty to explore around the station, with lots of restaurants, souvenirs, and shops at Sansute Okayama and Okayama Ichibangai. From here, you can take the streetcar to Okayama Castle and Korakuen Garden. For a nearby excursion, you can also take a JR train to the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. If this is your first time in Okayama, it's very convenient to use the station as your starting point!

Okayama Castle is one of Japan's 100 Famous Castles. Its distinctive black exterior has earned it the nickname “Crow Castle.” I highly recommend adding it to your itinerary when visiting Okayama. Take the streetcar to Shiroshita Station, then walk a short distance to the castle. I recommend buying the Okayama Castle and Korakuen Garden combination ticket, which costs just JPY 800. There is an elevator inside the castle tower, so you can take it to the upper floors first and then make your way down. The second floor has a drink shop, a samurai sword experience, and other facilities. The first floor has the ticket counter and a souvenir shop, and you can also collect a commemorative stamp nearby. Overall, it's very easy to explore.

Misawaya in Ouchijuku—when visiting this post town that preserves its Edo-period streetscape, of course you have to try the very distinctive “Takato Soba”! It was my first time seeing soba eaten with a green onion instead of chopsticks, and it was really unique. The cold soba had a lot of grated daikon, and the spiciness became quite noticeable toward the end; the other bowl of soba in hot broth was nice and warming. Personally, I thought the portions were a little large, but the vegetable tempura was delicious, and there was also a very unusual fried red bean bun that wasn’t greasy or too sweet. Overall, it was a very distinctive experience, and I recommend giving it a try when you visit Ouchijuku!

The Aizu Bukeyashiki - Samurai Residence is a museum full of Aizu history. The grounds are larger than expected, and the exhibits are quite extensive. At the bus stop by Aizuwakamatsu JR Station, you can buy a one-day bus pass for JPY 2,000 that includes admission to three attractions: Tsuruga Castle, the Samurai Residence, and Sazaedo. You can also travel around the loop clockwise or counterclockwise, making it easy to plan your day. I recommend allowing about an hour and a half to explore the Samurai Residence at a leisurely pace. There is no shade at the bus stop in summer, so be sure to protect yourself from the sun before heading out!

From the top of Mount Iimori, you can look out over the castle town of Aizuwakamatsu. Besides its pleasant scenery, it is also a sacred mountain filled with historical stories. For JPY 250, you can take the escalator up the mountain and experience Aizu's rich history along the way. The most moving part is the story of the Byakkotai. During the war, about 20 boys between the ages of 15 and 17 mistakenly believed that Tsuruga Castle had fallen and, overcome with grief, took their own lives here. Standing before the monument and offering a stick of incense felt especially heavy, and made the tragedy of this history even more palpable.