Holly's Reviews Page 1/3

Tsukannon Temple (Enichizan Kannonji Daihoin)

This historic temple is said to have been founded in 709, and its official name is “Enichizan (Enichizan) Kannonji Daihoin.” Locals have long affectionately called it “Kannon-san.” The principal image, “Sho Kannon Bosatsu,” is known as “Tsukannon,” and is counted as one of Japan’s Three Great Kannon temples alongside Tokyo’s “Asakusa Kannon” and Aichi’s “Osu Kannon.” It is said to bring a wide range of blessings, including good fortune and success in business.

• Mie
• Shrines & Temples

I took a ninja-themed high-speed ferry from Chubu Centrair International Airport to Tsu, then caught a taxi from Tsu Port. The shopping streets around Tsukannon Temple were quite quiet, completely unlike the lively areas around Sensoji Temple and Osu Kannon. Once inside the temple grounds, however, the vermilion five-story pagoda, main hall, Kannon statue, and ceiling paintings were all impressive, lending the temple an even more solemn atmosphere.
The decorations and ceiling paintings inside the main hall are also worth examining closely. The colorful celestial maiden paintings on the ceiling add a gentle, sacred feeling to the space. Other details include a dragon-shaped purification fountain, elements related to devotion to Kobo Daishi, and rubbing stones associated with the pilgrimage. They would be easy to miss on a quick visit.
The biggest surprise for me was the intricate paper-cut goshuin featuring patterns from the five-story pagoda’s murals. Its design draws from paintings and decorations inside the pagoda that are normally difficult to see. It is ornate yet dignified. I usually keep paper mementos from my travels in my journal, but this goshuin felt too special for that, so I chose to display it separately on my desk.
Tsukannon Temple may not be the liveliest temple, but it is where I most strongly felt a sense of peace and solemnity. Of the three major Kannon temples, this was the most personal and memorable stop for me.

KANSAI WIDE AREA PASS

This is a great-value unlimited travel pass available to short-term international visitors to Japan. For five consecutive days, the pass includes unlimited rides on the Sanyo Shinkansen, limited express trains, local trains, and West JR Bus lines within the designated free travel area. Starting from the vibrant Kansai region, you can extend your journey to destinations such as Okayama, Tottori, and Kagawa to fully experience the many charms of Japan.

• Kansai Region
• Okayama
• Tickets & Passes

The KANSAI WIDE AREA PASS is ideal for traveling between cities such as Kyoto, Osaka, Himeji, Okayama, and Kurashiki. However, you should calculate your actual itinerary beforehand to determine whether it will save you money. On this trip, I traveled from Kyoto to Okayama and also visited Himeji and Kurashiki, so the pass did reduce my overall transportation costs.
The most confusing part is the Shinkansen coverage. The pass covers the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Okayama. However, the Tokaido Shinkansen between Kyoto and Shin-Osaka is operated by JR Central and is not included. To travel from Kyoto to Okayama, take a Special Rapid train on the JR Kyoto Line to Shin-Osaka, then transfer to the Sanyo Shinkansen.
There is another important point to keep in mind when visiting Kurashiki. Shin-Kurashiki Station is not the closest station to the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, and the pass's Shinkansen coverage ends at Okayama. Traveling to Shin-Kurashiki requires paying the fare difference, followed by another transfer back to Kurashiki, so it is not any more convenient. The easiest option is to take the Shinkansen to Okayama, then transfer to the JR Sanyo Main Line for Kurashiki Station.
Overall, the pass offers an extensive travel area and access to the Sanyo Shinkansen. The downside is that the route restrictions are not as intuitive as they appear on the map. Once you understand that the Shinkansen between Kyoto and Shin-Osaka is excluded, as well as the difference between Shin-Kurashiki and Kurashiki stations, the pass is quite convenient to use.

Nagoya Castle

One of the largest castles in Japan, built in the early Edo period on the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Edo shogunate, the five-story castle tower is topped with shining two Kinshachi, one male and one female that has become a symbol of Nagoya.

• Nagoya
• Tourist Attractions

I wasn't particularly interested in Nagoya Castle until I learned that the city had faithfully reconstructed Honmaru Palace—including spaces such as Jorakuden Hall and Yudono Shoin—using surviving prewar plans, photographs, measurements, and wall paintings. In other words, Nagoya Castle offers more than just a castle keep; you can also visit the shogun's residence. Once I learned that, I was determined to go.
Honmaru Palace was what I looked forward to most, and it was every bit as breathtaking as I expected. From the entrance and Omote Shoin to Jorakuden Hall, there was a succession of gold-leaf wall paintings, carved transoms, decorative metalwork, and elaborately designed ceilings. It was so lavish that my neck started to ache from constantly looking up. I could also hear other visitors gasping in amazement.
Yudono Shoin was equally fascinating. This was the shogun's private bathing and relaxation area. Rather than a bathtub, it featured a steam bath. The craftsmanship of the woodwork was exquisite, and even the bathing area had the refinement expected of a facility reserved for the shogun.
Because the palace contains almost no furniture or household items, some rooms can look similar, making it difficult to immediately imagine how they were used. However, by closely observing differences in floor height, the subjects of the wall paintings, ceilings, transoms, and seating arrangements, you can still see how each space reflected status and hierarchy.
If time allows, I highly recommend visiting Nagoya Castle and the Tokugawa Art Museum together. Honmaru Palace showcases the architectural spaces and formal order of the samurai class, while the museum preserves armor, tea utensils, paintings, calligraphy, and everyday objects from the Owari Tokugawa family. Together, they provide a much clearer understanding of daimyo culture and daily life at the time.
I used to have low expectations for Nagoya Castle, but now I feel that simply being able to walk through such a meticulously reconstructed palace makes the visit worthwhile—even without access to the castle keep.

Museum Meiji Mura Village

This open-air museum first opened its doors in 1965, the artistically and historically valuable buildings, including 11 important cultural properties, mostly from the Meiji period, were relocated, preserved, and exhibited here.

• Aichi
• Museums

Museum Meiji Mura is much larger than I expected. I strongly recommend arriving right when it opens, or it will be difficult to explore everything thoroughly in one day. I arrived after 11:00 a.m. Even with the village bus saving me some walking, I only managed a quick look around three of the five districts and never reached the other two.

The museum preserves a huge collection of Meiji-era buildings, including churches, schools, hospitals, prisons, and the main entrance hall of the Imperial Hotel. Every building is worth exploring in detail. If you enjoy modern architecture, history, or photography, even a full day may not be enough.

You will also need to choose your visit date carefully. Weekends generally offer more activities, dining options, and transportation, making them better for riding the steam train or Kyoto streetcar. Weekdays are quieter and ideal for taking your time, but some restaurants and facilities may be closed. I had hoped to enjoy dessert inside the Imperial Hotel, but the tearoom happened to be closed that day. Be sure to check the hours for any restaurants and transportation you want to use before visiting.

I wore a Taisho-era-inspired kimono that blended Japanese and Western styles. Staff members complimented me from the moment I reached the ticket booth, which made getting up early to change completely worthwhile. Walking among the historic buildings in vintage clothing truly felt like stepping back in time. If you do not have your own outfit, I highly recommend the museum’s paid costume experience.

Meiji Mura is somewhat remote, so pay attention to transportation for the return trip. Evening departures can get crowded, and each form of transportation within the museum has its own last departure time. If you plan to stay until closing, calculate how long it will take to return from the far end of the grounds to the exit.

Overall, Meiji Mura is much more than a collection of old buildings. It is an incredibly rich open-air museum. One day is barely enough if you only want to see the major buildings. If you want to explore at a relaxed pace, take photos, ride the trains, dress up, and enjoy a meal, even two days might not be enough.

Okayama Momotaro Airport

An airport conveniently located 18 km from central Okayama City, Approx. 30 minutes by car to the city center and Approx. 10 minutes from the nearest interchange. Direct domestic flights operate to three cities: Tokyo, Sapporo, and Okinawa, while direct international flights serve four cities: Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, and Kaohsiung. Convenient as a gateway for access within Japan and overseas, it is used by many travelers not only from Okayama Prefecture but also from outside the prefecture.

• Okayama
• Airplanes & Airport

Okayama Momotaro Airport is not very large, but the layout is easy to navigate. The airport buses to and from Okayama Station and Kurashiki are also straightforward. Buses heading toward Okayama may adjust their departure times depending on how quickly international passengers clear customs. On the return trip from Okayama Station, buses may leave early once they are full. Overall, the transportation arrangements are more traveler-friendly than I expected.

Most of the airport’s dining and shopping options are located before security. The second floor has restaurants, cafés, capsule toy machines, and souvenir shops. Restaurant prices are quite reasonable, and the selection of Okayama souvenirs is better than at the duty-free store in the departure lounge. Most importantly, the capsule toy machines are dangerously tempting—I could not resist spending all my spare change! Once inside the international departure lounge, there are very few shops or facilities and no full-service restaurant. I recommend eating, buying souvenirs, and getting drinking water before going through security.

Although this is a regional airport, the customs and baggage inspections are quite strict—even stricter than at some major airports. Do not cut it too close for your return flight. For international departures, arriving about 2.5 hours early is best. One unusual feature is that checked baggage must go through an X-ray inspection before check-in, which can really slow things down.

Overall, Okayama Momotaro Airport is not a place for extensive shopping, but it is easy to navigate, close to the city, and very convenient as a gateway to Okayama, Kurashiki, and western Japan. As long as you eat and shop before security and allow enough time for inspections, it is a genuinely great airport.

Osu Shopping Street

Nagoya‘s biggest arcade is surrounded by Wakamiya, Fushimi, Osu and Minami-Otsu Streets. Almost 1,200 stores and facilities in all kinds of genres are clustered - restaurants, second-hand, general, and appliance stores, etc. are creating a unique atmosphere.

• Nagoya
• Shopping Streets

Osu Shopping Street blends vintage clothing shops, traditional temples, long-established stores, secondhand kimono, subculture, international cuisine, and everyday local life. Alongside tourist-oriented businesses, there are supermarkets and food stores used by residents. What surprised me most was the number of shops selling secondhand kimono, hakama, and vintage clothing. It’s perfect for anyone who enjoys taking their time hunting for unique retro finds. Some of the vintage clothing isn’t cheap, but the pieces are genuinely beautiful, and browsing alone is fun.

Along the way, you can grab a soy sauce-glazed grilled dango from Shinsuzume Honten on Niomon Street. The savory soy sauce and charcoal-grilled aroma make it a great snack while exploring. If you arrive early, you can also have breakfast at the old-school café Hayashi Coffee Il Fiore, across from Osu Kannon Temple. I especially love their scrambled eggs.

Overall, Osu Shopping Street offers a great mix of tourism, local life, and treasure hunting, plus a few attractions to explore. I’d recommend setting aside an entire afternoon. It’s just as enjoyable to browse as the shopping street near Senso-ji.

Tsuruya Yoshinobu TOKYO

This long-standing Wagashi shop first opened in 1803 in Kyoto, known for its yuzu citrus infused yuzu mochi.

• Tokyo Station, Nihonbashi, Marunouchi
• Experiences Facilities

The highlight of Tsuruya Yoshinobu is definitely its Kayu Chaya counter. Guests can sit at the counter and watch wagashi artisans up close as they shape nerikiri into exquisite seasonal jonamagashi. Their movements are precise, and every detail—from the colors and shaping to the final decorations—is carefully considered. It’s essentially a small artisan performance.

Even if you aren’t familiar with wagashi, watching them being made helps you appreciate the thought behind every shape and detail. The freshly prepared jonamagashi is delicate and soft, with a sweetness that pairs beautifully with matcha. It isn’t just visually stunning; the flavor also lives up to the standards of this long-established shop.

If you’re making a special trip, I recommend prioritizing Kayu Chaya. Rather than simply buying something to go, watching the jonamagashi take shape right before your eyes is the most memorable and worthwhile part of the experience.

Yasui Konpiragu

Located in Kyoto's Higashiyama district, the shrine venerates Emperor Sutoku, Minamoto no Yorimasa, and the major deity from Kotohira Shrine in Sanuki. It has long been affectionately known as "Yasui no Konpira-san."

• Kyoto
• Shrines & Temples

I’ve been to Yasui Konpiragu three times, and I have to say, at least from my own experience, it really does feel quite powerful. Because of that, I think it’s important to be very clear when making a wish here. It’s best to write down exactly what bad ties you want to cut, and what kind of outcome you hope to welcome afterward.

The first two times I visited, I happened to be in situations where I wanted to leave my job but couldn’t seem to make it happen. After visiting the shrine, I was able to resign successfully in about two weeks. Of course, it may have just been a coincidence in timing, but having similar experiences twice in a row left a strong impression on me.

That said, Emperor Sutoku, who is enshrined at Yasui Konpiragu, is also strongly associated with vengeful spirits in Japanese history and legend, so the atmosphere of the shrine definitely feels unique. If you’re sensitive to the energy or atmosphere of shrines and spaces, it may be worth checking in with yourself before visiting.

For me, Yasui Konpiragu is not just Kyoto’s famous “shrine for cutting ties.” It’s also a place to visit when you want to end a relationship, job, or phase of life and open the door to new connections. So whenever I have time in my Kyoto itinerary, I make a point of going there to pray.

Izu Teddy Bear Museum

A museum showcasing teddy bears collected from around the world. Meet rare and adorable bears, including “Teddy Girl,” listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most expensive teddy bear. Popular highlights include the Teddy Bear Factory, where you can make a one-of-a-kind plush, and the long-running special exhibition “My Neighbor Totoro Plush Exhibition Part 3.”

• Shizuoka
• Museums

The most special part of the Izu Teddy Bear Museum is the My Neighbor Totoro-themed exhibit on the second floor, officially licensed by Studio Ghibli. It recreates many classic scenes from the movie. I originally came for the Catbus. The Ghibli Museum also has a Catbus, but only kids can go inside. Here, even adults can sit in it and take photos, which is awesome!
Near the exit, there’s also a whole row of “Teddy Bear Shrine” displays. From the torii gate and worship hall to the shrine maiden teddy bears, everything is really well done. It’s a fun mix of foreign teddy bear culture and Japanese shrine elements.
The first floor mainly introduces the history of teddy bears and displays collections from around the world. The highlight is the “Teddy Bear Train.” The scene inside the train car feels a bit like the banquet in Titanic, just set on a train. At certain times, the bears even dance together. When I visited, it happened to be Girls’ Day, so they also had a teddy bear version of a traditional hina doll display.
The museum isn’t huge, but everything from the indoor exhibits to the outdoor decorations is put together with a lot of care. The ticket price is a little on the high side, but overall, it’s still well worth visiting.

Ohara Museum of Art

Ohara Museum of Art is housed in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter and has on display a collection of modern and contemporary art works. In 1930, Ohara Magozaburo, a local businessman, established this nation’s first private museum for western arts.

• Okayama
• Museums

I originally planned my visit to the Ohara Museum of Art just to see Monet’s Water Lilies. But once I stepped inside, I realized that what makes this museum truly captivating isn’t just its famous collection, but the different feelings each work evokes in person. From Torajiro Kojima’s oil paintings capturing the beauty of kimono, to the quiet, almost absent atmosphere of Little Table at Dusk, the bright and lively colors of Canal in Auvers, and a large painting of death that felt deeply unsettling yet impossible to forget, the Ohara Museum of Art left a much stronger impression than I expected.

The museum building has a classical feel, almost like a Greek temple. Surprisingly, it blends beautifully with Kurashiki’s white-walled streetscape. After visiting, you can also sit down and relax with coffee at the nearby café thoughtfully opened by the founder. For anyone who loves Western art, this museum is absolutely worth a visit.