Holly's Reviews Page 1/9

Whenever I visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, my main reason is always the Tenjin-san Market held on the 25th of each month. If you like kimono, vintage clothing, or kimono accessories, I really recommend checking it out. Kyoto has quite a few antique markets, but based on the several times I've visited, this one has an especially large number of kimono-related stalls. There is a very complete selection, from kimono, haori, and obi to obijime and all kinds of kimono accessories. Some undergarments and consumable items are even sold new, and the prices are much lower than in stores. For anyone who is genuinely interested in kimono, this is a great place to hunt for treasures.

The Tenjin-san Market itself is huge. Besides kimono, there are antiques, old tools, tableware, miscellaneous goods, plants, and all kinds of snacks. The food stalls are mainly concentrated near the main entrance. There aren't many of them, but they're enough to fill your stomach, and trying something new isn't really that important. The food is basically just there to help you recharge, because it's very easy to lose track of time while browsing here. If your main goal is to buy kimono, I recommend coming early because the good items really do get picked over quickly.

Although most transactions at the market are cash only, during my later visits I noticed that some stalls had started accepting credit cards. I usually skip the stalls that accept cards, since they mainly sell antiques and probably only offer card payments because the transaction amounts can be quite high. Still, if you find something you really like, paying by card is quite convenient, since it's hard to carry that much cash around.

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine itself is also well worth visiting. I've been here many times, and each visit feels a little different. If you come in February, you can enjoy the plum blossoms in addition to browsing the Tenjin-san Market. If you happen to visit on the 25th, you can also attend the Plum Blossom Festival. In addition to the festival, there is the Baikasai Nodate Grand Tea Ceremony, an outdoor tea ceremony served by geiko and maiko from Kyoto's Kamishichiken district amid the blooming plum trees. During the Setsubun Festival in early February, geiko and maiko from the Kamishichiken Kabukai also perform a dedication of traditional Japanese dance at the Kagura Hall. If you want to experience Kyoto's traditional performing arts, each of these events has its own distinctive appeal.

I also visited once in April. The cherry blossom season was already almost over, so I didn't have high expectations, but I was very lucky and happened to see a shower of falling cherry blossoms. It was incredibly romantic and ended up becoming one of my strongest memories of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. From Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, you can continue on to Hirano Shrine, which is also one of Kyoto's well-known cherry blossom viewing spots. The two places fit very naturally into the same outing.

I recommend visiting Tsukiji Outer Market together with Tsukiji Hongwanji, since the two are very close to each other. You can visit Hongwanji first and then walk over to the outer market. Tsukiji Hongwanji itself is quite distinctive, so you can look at the architecture first and then head to the market to eat. It makes for a very smooth itinerary.

If you're visiting Tsukiji, I recommend not arriving too late. When I got there a little after 9:00, I could already clearly feel large numbers of tourists pouring in, and the market was quite lively. In particular, quite a few people were pulling luggage around with them. I personally don't really recommend doing that, because the market aisles aren't very wide to begin with, and once it gets crowded, large pieces of luggage really take up a lot of space.

Because I didn't stay very long this time, I wasn't able to fully explore all the food in the market. I just picked a few tamagoyaki shops to try. Once again, it proved that my stomach prefers Kanto-style tamagoyaki, and I had a very enjoyable time eating my way through them.

Although seafood is the first thing many people think of when visiting Tsukiji, once you actually walk into the outer market, you'll find so many choices that it can be a little overwhelming. In addition to fresh fish, sushi, and seafood bowls, there are also tamagoyaki, dried goods, fruits and vegetables, meat, and more. Although the main market has moved to Toyosu, even a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse, and the location is convenient, so there are still many shops operating here. If it's your first visit, I actually recommend looking up several places you genuinely want to try beforehand. There are simply too many choices, and with the crowds, it's easy to see one place you want to try and then another, until you end up not knowing what to eat at all.

Also keep in mind that Tsukiji isn't simply a tourist food street. It's a district of specialty shops that developed out of a working market, so it's better not to eat while walking.

The Former Iwasaki House Garden is a place that I think is well worth taking the time to explore. It was originally the main residence of Hisaya Iwasaki, the third president of Mitsubishi, and was completed in 1896 (Meiji 29). The most interesting thing about the estate is that you can see both an extremely ornate Western-style building and a traditional Japanese-style residence in the same space. This combination of Japanese and Western styles is also a representative feature of upper-class residences from the Meiji era.

The Western-style building is based on the Jacobean style of 17th-century England, with Renaissance, Islamic, and other design elements incorporated into it. Everything from the exterior to the interior details is quite impressive. What particularly stood out to me was the “kinkarakawa-shi” wallpaper inside, which uses washi paper, metal foil, and embossing techniques to create the look of leather wallpaper. It was a very valuable form of interior decoration at the time. Different patterns of kinkarakawa-shi wallpaper can still be seen on the second floor. Unfortunately, photography isn't allowed inside, which was a bit disappointing for me.

The Western-style building was mainly used for receiving guests and social gatherings, while the adjacent Japanese-style building served as the Iwasaki family's more everyday living space. Seeing two completely different architectural styles side by side really gives you a sense of how Japanese homes changed after Japan began widely adopting Western culture during the Meiji era. In addition to the Western-style building and the main hall of the Japanese-style building, the surviving structures include a very distinctive billiards room. It is a wooden building designed to resemble a Swiss mountain lodge and is connected to the Western-style building by an underground passage.

Another thing I really liked here was how distinctive the souvenirs related to kinkarakawa-shi wallpaper were. The bookmarks, card holders, and other items sold on-site aren't exactly cheap, but they may appeal to anyone interested in architecture, paper goods, or historically significant crafts like these. Snacks are also available, so you can take a break while enjoying something to eat.

However, don't underestimate the size of the garden. I felt that it took about five or six minutes just to walk from the ticket booth to the entrance of the residence, and part of the route is uphill. The entire grounds are also much larger than you might imagine from looking at the buildings alone. Although only about one-third of the original property remains today, some elements of a daimyo garden and a large lawn have been preserved.

So, if you want to thoroughly explore the Western-style building, Japanese-style building, and garden, I would recommend allowing at least two to three hours. I was honestly a little tired by the time I finished walking around, but fortunately there is a rest area near the exit. That was very thoughtful for people who have just walked all the way around the grounds.

The main reason to visit Kappabashi Dougu Street, rather than low prices, is the complete and diverse selection of products. You can find everything from knives, cookware, tableware, and baking tools to food models, packaging materials, uniforms, store supplies, and even large commercial kitchen equipment. Simply put, if it's related to the food and beverage industry, you can find almost everything you need here, from the dining area to the kitchen. Even if you're just a tourist, it's easy to find tableware or kitchen supplies you normally wouldn't pay much attention to, which is actually pretty interesting.

If you need tax-free shopping, you can also look for the “Smart Refund Kappabashi Tax-Free Counter” on Dougu Street. Since not every store can process tax exemptions directly, you can get relevant information here to help plan your shopping budget. It also offers luggage and merchandise storage, delivery, foreign currency exchange, and other services, making it very convenient for international visitors.

Another small reminder that's easy to overlook is the restrooms. Kappabashi isn't a department store-style shopping mall, and very few stores allow visitors to use their restrooms. It's best to check the locations of nearby public restrooms before you start shopping instead of waiting until you're halfway through.

If you start at the Niimi Tableware Store, which has a giant chef statue on its roof, I personally think the first part of the street is better suited for regular tourists to browse at a leisurely pace. As you go farther, you'll find more commercial-grade, professional cooking equipment. If you only want to buy tableware, knives, baking supplies, or food models, you really don't have to force yourself to walk the entire street.

One more thing: I really don't recommend coming on a Sunday. Although every store has different closing days, I personally felt that more than half the stores were closed on Sunday. Unless you really can't fit it into your schedule otherwise, it's best to avoid Sundays and national holidays. It would be a shame to make a special trip here only to find that many stores are closed.

Tokyo Station itself is a place worth taking some time to appreciate. The station building on the Marunouchi side is the familiar classical red-brick building. It opened in 1914 and features the “Tatsuno style” designed by Kingo Tatsuno. The current Marunouchi Station building is also an important historic structure that has been preserved after restoration. If you like classical architecture, take a good look at the exterior details when passing through the station, and you’ll find quite a few things worth seeing.

Compared with Shinjuku Station, Tokyo Station is somewhat easier to navigate, but the entire station is still very large, especially since the different exits, underground passages, and transfer areas are quite far apart. Just walking from the Yaesu side to another transfer area took me at least five or six minutes. If you’re planning to transfer at Tokyo Station and it’s your first time there, you really should allow extra time to get around and find your way inside the station.

The area around the Yaesu South Exit is a major boarding area for highway buses, including the AIRPORT BUS TYO-NRT to Narita Airport. There are also boarding points nearby for other local and long-distance buses. For first-time visitors to Tokyo, Tokyo Station is not only a major transfer station for the Shinkansen and JR lines, but also an important transportation hub for getting to the airport and other cities.

It happened to be raining when I visited Byodoin this time. Maybe there were fewer visitors because of the rain, so even though it's a popular attraction, it wasn't very crowded. The grounds have gravel paths, so they were still fairly easy to walk on in the rain. My visit also happened to fall during cherry blossom season. Although the rain had already caused some of the blossoms to fall, it also meant there wasn't the usual cherry blossom season congestion. The cherry blossoms, pond, and Heian-period-style architecture in the gloomy rain instead created a more tranquil beauty, making the entire visit unexpectedly pleasant.

It only started raining after I arrived in Kyoto, so I bought a clear umbrella at a convenience store at the last minute. Because of my budget, I chose the cheapest umbrella there, which happened to be clear. I didn't realize how convenient it was until I actually used it. Especially when taking photos under the cherry trees or in front of Byodoin, the clear umbrella didn't block the scenery in front of me. It was only then that I truly understood why clear umbrellas are so common on the streets of Japan.

The grounds of Byodoin were larger than I had originally imagined. Once inside, I found that it wasn't just Phoenix Hall itself that was worth seeing. The surrounding gardens, pond, and views from different angles were also very interesting. The architecture has a very distinctive Heian-period style, especially the sight of Phoenix Hall standing in front of the pond, which easily brings to mind the ideal residences sought by aristocrats at the time. Byodoin was originally created when Fujiwara no Yorimichi converted his villa in Uji into a temple. With that background in mind, it's easy to understand why the entire setting has such a strong atmosphere of Heian aristocratic culture.

If time allows, I also highly recommend visiting the Byodoin Museum Hoshokan. It houses many important cultural properties and precious artifacts from Byodoin, where you can learn historical details that aren't directly apparent from outside Phoenix Hall. Still, this part depends on your personal interest in historical artifacts, since there is an admission fee, but I personally thought it was well worth it.

Byodoin also has a very special meaning for me. I received my first goshuin here, and you could say that visit began my later habit of collecting goshuin.

Overall, although it rained during this visit to Byodoin and some of the cherry blossoms had already fallen, I actually really liked this less-than-perfect spring scenery. It left a completely different impression from a sunny-day visit. On top of that, the clear umbrella unexpectedly became a useful prop for taking photos, adding another interesting memory to this rainy-day trip.

It happened to be raining when I visited the Itohkyuemon Uji store this time. Maybe because of the weather, it wasn't as crowded inside as I had expected. This was also my first time trying a matcha dango parfait. The matcha flavor was quite rich, and it came with a wide variety of toppings that gave it different textures. Overall, it was better than I expected.

Overall, I think Itohkyuemon's matcha desserts are worth trying, especially for people who like a rich matcha flavor. However, the Uji store is a little far from the main attractions in central Uji. If your itinerary is mainly focused around the Uji River and Byodoin, you'll need to set aside some extra time to make a special trip here.

Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple was originally just a place I planned to stop by on my way to Tsukiji Market, but after seeing it in person, its architecture ended up leaving a deep impression on me. The current main hall was designed by architectural historian Chuta Ito, and its exterior has a strong Indian and South Asian Buddhist architectural style. The dome, stonework, and overall silhouette are completely different from what you would normally picture as a Japanese temple.

But what is really interesting is that when you get closer, you notice that it still retains much of the refinement distinctive to Japanese architecture. The animal carvings, decorative details, stained glass, and interior furnishings do not simply copy an Indian style. They incorporate a lot of Japanese aesthetics and craftsmanship, so the building looks very foreign overall, yet very Japanese when viewed closely. This kind of blend is truly uncommon among Japanese temples.

There is also a large pipe organ inside the main hall, which is quite unusual in a Buddhist temple. Unfortunately, photography is prohibited in the worship area. Otherwise, the contrast between the interior and exterior would be even more striking, since the inside of the main hall looks much like many other Hongwanji temples.

The Tsumugi cafe next to Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple is also well known, and its signature offering is the “18-Dish Breakfast,” which lets you try a variety of small Japanese dishes at once. I did not pay much attention to the breakfast hours this time, which was a bit of a shame. If you are planning to continue on to Tsukiji Market for food afterward, I would recommend watching how much you eat, or you may end up full before you even explore the market.

Osu Kannon Temple itself is well worth exploring carefully. Its vermilion main hall is quite striking, and the temple grounds feel more lively and down-to-earth than I had expected, without an overly formal sense of distance. The temple enshrines Kannon Bodhisattva and is one of Nagoya’s most prominent temples devoted to Kannon worship. What impressed me most during my visit was actually the large number of pigeons on the grounds. They often fight over food in front of the main hall, and it can be a little scary when a large flock takes off at once. They are not particularly aggressive, but you should still be careful if you feed them.

Like Sensoji Temple, this temple is often said to be a place where it is relatively easy to draw a bad-luck fortune. Fortunately, I have visited several times and have always drawn good luck, so I am quite grateful for Kannon’s care. In addition to the main hall, the grounds also include a bell tower, Niomon Gate, and purification pavilion. The amulets and other items available here are also distinctive.

Near the bell tower, there is also a mechanical puppet display called “Muneharu Ranman,” which performs automatically every day at 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, and 18:30. It is themed around Tokugawa Muneharu, lord of the Owari Domain. If you are interested, you can time your visit to see it.

Kurashiki Denim Street is located in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. I had seen it featured on a Japanese TV show before, and it is best known for its blue “denim buns” and “denim soft-serve ice cream.” But after seeing the actual color, I suddenly lost my appetite and decided not to try them after all.

Although it is called “Denim Street,” it is actually more like a small alley-style shopping area with denim products from brands based in Kojima. Everything throughout the area, from the signs and decorations to the merchandise, uses a lot of blue, making it stand out sharply amid the white walls and black roof tiles of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter.

What is interesting about this place is that it is not just a “blue photo spot.” It is genuinely connected to Kurashiki’s local industries. Kojima in particular has a long history of developing textile- and denim-related industries and is also an important birthplace of domestically produced Japanese jeans. So the abundance of denim elements in Kurashiki is not a forced tourism theme, but part of the local industry.

Once, while riding the train, I happened to see high school students heading home from school, and their uniform jackets had a denim-like look. That was something I never could have imagined when I was a student. It was really unique to see the local industry blend so naturally into everyday life.

If your itinerary does not leave enough time for a separate trip to Kojima, Kurashiki Denim Street is a good alternative for a simple introduction to denim culture. People interested in jeans, canvas, and fabric products will find more to browse. Even for general tourists, it can be treated as a small, highly distinctive spot within the Bikan Historical Quarter.

As a side note, the public restroom near the back of Denim Street is also very nicely designed and blends harmoniously with the surrounding scenery. Even small details like this make it clear that Kurashiki puts a lot of care into its tourist spaces.