Linda Liao's Reviews Page 19/75

The most moving part of visiting Uwajima Castle in Ehime, Shikoku, was seeing firsthand the rustic beauty of one of Japan's precious twelve original castle keeps. This historic castle, first built by renowned castle architect Todo Takatora and later renovated by the Date clan, perfectly preserves the wooden craftsmanship of the Edo period and exudes an elegance and composure refined over time.

I slowly made my way to the top along the lush stone steps and walked through the old-growth forest of Shiroyama Park, where the gentle breeze helped ease much of my fatigue. Upon entering the three-story castle keep, I was greeted by the scent of wood. From the top floor, there were sweeping views of the streets of Uwajima and the blue waters of the Uwa Sea. The scenery of the mountains and sea together was refreshing and uplifting.

The Sumida River Fireworks Festival is Tokyo's oldest and most iconic summer tradition in the Kanto region. Held every year on the last Saturday of July, the event is divided between two venues and features as many as 20,000 dazzling fireworks. The biggest highlight is seeing the fireworks burst against the historic streets of Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree, creating a perfect blend of the traditional and the modern. People stroll through the streets in traditional yukata and enjoy food from festival stalls. The area is incredibly lively and has the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese summer festival.

After trying the omurice at Hokkyokusei in Osaka, you can truly appreciate this century-old restaurant's dedication to home-style flavors. The lightly salted outer layer of egg is soft and tender, cooked with excellent precision, and wrapped around chicken fried rice with perfectly separate grains. The flavors are richly layered yet still comforting. Paired with a heartwarming fresh soup, every bite reflects the family's time-honored craftsmanship and warmth. It's a classic dish that soothes the soul.

When I was little, I watched the Ikkyu-san cartoon and was especially impressed by the shogun's residence. It wasn't until I visited Kyoto as an adult that I realized it was the famous Kinkaku-ji! Its official name is Rokuon-ji, and the Golden Pavilion is actually the temple's reliquary hall. A phoenix symbolizing good fortune stands atop the roof, and the entire building, covered in glittering gold leaf, looks especially dazzling reflected on the surface of the pond. If you're lucky enough to visit on a snowy day in winter, you'll see another picturesque scene.

Santen Pharmaceutical is a century-old Japanese company specializing in eye care. This eye drop product has a pink liquid rich in vitamin B12 and taurine, which effectively relieves eye fatigue and conjunctival redness, and it has a light rose scent. For daily care, I use it together with another artificial tear product to help relieve dry eyes.

A super popular Okinawa shop specializing in freshly made rice balls~ Its signature item features traditional Okinawan canned luncheon meat (Spam) and a freshly fried thick omelet, sandwiched with fragrant, chewy Niigata-grown Koshihikari rice and specially selected nori. Each one is made fresh after you order, so it’s piping hot when you get it. The outside is crispy, the inside is tender, and the savory, salty flavor really hits the spot. It’s an iconic Okinawan street food that you have to try.

After visiting Todai-ji and Kasuga Taisha and taking lots of photos with the cherry blossoms in full bloom, we felt completely satisfied. By then, our stomachs were already growling, so I took my family to the renowned Shizuka Kamameshi.

Even though it was already well past the peak lunchtime rush, there were still a few people waiting outside. Fortunately, we were seated after about half an hour. When the steaming kamameshi arrived at our table and we lifted the wooden lid, the rich aroma of the broth immediately filled the air.

We ordered the sweet and fresh seafood flavor and the fragrant shirasu (whitebait) flavor. The rice had absorbed all the essence of the ingredients, while the lightly scorched rice at the bottom was truly the highlight, adding layers of texture. The early spring breeze outside still carried a slight chill, so being able to sit in the cozy restaurant and enjoy a refined, steaming pot of kamameshi completely drove away the cold from waiting in line. It warmed both the heart and the stomach.

Before Ghibli Park opened in Nagoya, the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka in Tokyo was definitely a pilgrimage destination for every Hayao Miyazaki fan visiting Japan.

The entire museum was personally designed by Hayao Miyazaki around the concept of “Let’s get lost together.” There is no fixed route through the museum at all. It is filled with curved wooden staircases, stained glass, and geometric windows, creating the atmosphere of a dreamlike castle. The hand-drawn animation exhibit on the first floor recreates an animator’s work desk and displays countless sketches and sources of color inspiration. The exclusive Saturn Theater screens short animated films that can only be seen at the museum, while the giant God Warrior statue standing in the rooftop garden is a classic photo spot.

Even after all these years, what I treasure most is still that one-of-a-kind admission ticket stub! Made from actual 35mm film stock, each ticket has three randomly selected frames, making every one a unique surprise. I was lucky enough to get the classic scene of Yubaba’s office from Spirited Away. When light shines through it, the details are incredibly intricate. This utmost dedication to detail makes it something I can’t bear to put down!

HEP FIVE in Osaka’s Umeda district is a trendy shopping center popular with young people, offering a wide variety of fashion brands, general merchandise, and food. The mall’s most iconic landmark is the eye-catching, giant bright red Ferris wheel on the roof. From the ride, you can look out over downtown Osaka and the bustling streets of Umeda, and its romantic atmosphere has also made it a popular date spot.

Strolling along lively Kokusai-dori in Okinawa at night, SATUDORA is definitely a great place to pass the time and shop to your heart's content. Browsing the drugstore with friends and recommending our favorite health and beauty products to each other, we ended up with baskets filled to the brim before we knew it, and our shopping frenzy went off the charts~ Don’t forget to show your coupon at checkout. In addition to tax-free shopping when you spend the required amount, you can also get an extra discount, making it a super good deal and a fun shopping experience!