Linda Liao's Reviews Page 37/90

Shirakawa Suigen

The Shirakawa Water Source is one of the Minamiaso Village Spring Water Group where subterranean water from the Aso Caldera gushes out. It is the source of the Shirakawa River, a first-class river that flows through Kumamoto City, and is famous for being selected as one of the "100 best waters" by the Environment Agency (now the Ministry of the Environment).

Kumamoto
Nature Spots

24 Sep 2026 See More

For independent travelers, taking the Aso sightseeing bus not only eliminates the hassle of driving on mountain roads and making transfers, but also provides a smooth connection along the main route between JR Aso Station and the mountaintop. The itinerary covers spectacular sights such as the smoke-shrouded Nakadake Crater of Mount Aso, the lush grasslands of Kusasenri, and Shirakawa Falls. You can take in the magnificent scenery right from the bus and experience the beauty of Aso in depth in the easiest and most comfortable way.

Kuidaore Taro Pudding

The character "Kuidaore Taro" first appeared in 1950 as the signature doll of "Osaka Meibutsu Kuidaore," a restaurant that used to be located in Dotonbori, Osaka's busiest shopping district. After the restaurant closed, he is still charming in front of the amusement building "Nakaza Cui-daore Bldg." in Dotonbori.

Osaka
Snacks

23 Sep 2026 See More

The Osaka specialty “Kuidaore Taro Pudding” is fun just to look at~ Inspired by Kuidaore Taro, the famous mascot of Dotonbori in Osaka, the pudding comes in an adorable bottle that you can keep as a little collectible after finishing it. The pudding has a smooth, delicate texture, and the caramel sauce adds a sweet, fragrant flavor. It tastes rich without being overly heavy. The cute design also makes it a fun gift.

Japan Kokeshi Museum

The museum opened in Naruko Onsen, known as the oldest production area for kokeshi dolls, sparked by the dedication of kokeshi dolls from artisans across Japan and the donation of a collection by poet and children’s story writer Kaname Fukasawa. Naruko kokeshi have been loved as children’s toys since Approx. 200 years ago, and later developed into souvenirs as well as hobbies and display pieces for adults.

Miyagi
Museums

23 Sep 2026 See More

After visiting Naruko Onsen, it’s hard not to be drawn to the adorable kokeshi dolls. It wasn’t until I watched an artisan make one in person that I realized how much meticulous work goes into what looks like a simple wooden doll. From carving and sanding the wood to painting the facial expression and body patterns, every step requires years of practice. The thickness of the lines and the proportions of the designs especially test the artisan’s touch and experience. Each piece has the artisan’s own style and is truly one of a kind. I hope more young people will learn this precious traditional Japanese craft so that the art of making kokeshi can continue to be passed down.

Sendai Bite-sized Zunda Mochi

Zunda mochi, a traditional sweet made from mochi coated with sweetened mashed edamame, is a beloved Sendai specialty alongside sasakamaboko and grilled beef tongue.

Sendai
Snacks

23 Sep 2026 See More

When visiting Sendai, don’t miss the local edamame-themed sweets! Many shops sell edamame mochi as souvenirs, with sweet, smooth edamame filling wrapped in chewy mochi. They’re bite-sized, making them easy to enjoy without feeling too heavy. The small, individually wrapped packages also make it perfect to buy a few boxes and share with friends.

Yakitori Tetchan

At the north exit of Kichijoji Station, there is an area of about 100 shops affectionately called Harmonica Alley or Harmonica Yokocho. Most of these shops are restaurants, and this yakitori restaurant in one corner is a lovely spot to stop into. We are working on the interior design of the Olympic Stadium.

Kichijoji, Mitaka
Izakaya

23 Sep 2026 See More

Located in Harmonica Yokocho by the north exit of Kichijoji Station, Yakitori Tetchan is a skewer izakaya with an old Tokyo feel. The interior is small but full of character, using recycled network cables, acrylic, and other materials to create an artistic design. Combined with the lively alley atmosphere, sitting at the counter with some grilled skewers and a beer is a lovely way to end the day.

Kanazawa Urata "Kaga Hachiman Okiagari Monaka"

"Kaga Hachiman Okiagari Monaka" is produced by Kanazawa Urata, a long-established Japanese confectionery in Kanazawa, which has been in business for more than 80 years. The cute shape of this classic souvenir is based on the motif of "Kaga Hachiman Okiagari," a local toy that was made when Kaga Hachiman-sama, who later became Emperor Ojin, was born, and was a doll with only its face sticking out of a red maternity gown for the celebration.

Kanazawa
Snacks

23 Sep 2026 See More

Kanazawa Urata’s “Kaga Hachiman Okiagari Monaka” is just so cute. It looks like a small, round roly-poly doll and immediately caught my eye while I was browsing the souvenir shop. The thin, crispy shell is made with glutinous rice from Ishikawa Prefecture and filled with sweet red bean paste made from Hokkaido azuki beans. It’s sweet but not overly so and goes well with hot tea. Its shape comes from Kanazawa’s traditional good-luck toy, the “Kaga Hachiman Okiagari,” which symbolizes wishes for children to grow up safe, healthy, and strong. So, besides being an everyday gift, it’s also often chosen as a souvenir for celebrations such as births and weddings.

Maruichi Shoten “Whole Oyster Crackers”

A signature snack from an oyster specialty shop in Akitsu, Hiroshima Prefecture, packed with local flavor. Its standout feature is the whole Hiroshima oyster baked on top of each cracker. As soon as the package is opened, a savory, briny aroma fills the air, followed by the rich umami of the oyster itself.

Hiroshima
Snacks

23 Sep 2026 See More

Maruichi Shoten’s oyster crackers are striking as soon as you see them! A whole oyster sits in the center of each cracker, retaining its rich ocean flavor after dehydration and drying. Paired with the crispy cracker, it has a lightly salty aroma and the distinctive umami of oysters—savory and salty. Both the appearance and flavor are great conversation starters. If you’re looking for a distinctive and memorable souvenir, these are worth considering.

Kumamoto Ramen Kurotei Main Store

Kurotei, founded in 1957 in Kumamoto City, offers a continually evolving Kumamoto ramen experience. Their creamy, cloudy pork bone soup is paired with fragrant, charred garlic oil, maintaining the tradition of Kumamoto ramen while offering a one-of-a-kind taste. The pride of their soup is the use of low-fat pig's head bones, giving it a rich yet refreshing aftertaste.

Kumamoto
Ramen

23 Sep 2026 See More

If you come to Kumamoto and want to try local ramen, Kurotei is a long-established restaurant that many people know. Its signature Kumamoto ramen has a pork bone broth base with fragrant black garlic oil, giving it a more distinctive flavor than typical tonkotsu ramen. I originally really wanted to try the popular raw egg pairing, but since I’m not really comfortable eating raw eggs, I ended up choosing the chashu ramen. The thick slices of chashu, smooth noodles, and rich broth made for a satisfying and enjoyable meal.

Échiré Pâtisserie au Beurre - Tokyu Food Show Edge Store

A specialty confectionery shop dedicated to pastries made with Échiré, the renowned French A.O.P.-certified cultured butter. Produced in the village of Échiré in western France, a region celebrated for its dairy products, Échiré butter is distinguished by its rich aroma, yogurt-like tang, and creamy texture.

Shibuya
Sweets Shop & Desserts Shop

23 Sep 2026 See More

Échiré butter cookies are affectionately nicknamed the “Louis Vuitton of cookies” by many people. Made with French Échiré A.O.P. cultured butter, they have a rich yet delicate buttery aroma, a crumbly texture, and a subtle milky flavor. In addition to the classic butter cookies, there are also financiers, madeleines, and a variety of other sweets to choose from. They’re hard to resist if you love the aroma of butter.

JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area)

This unlimited ride pass is a great buy for tourists visiting Japan and foreign residents without Japanese nationality. Once in hand take up 5 days of unlimited travels across a number of differing routes including bullet train rides on the Joetsu Shinkansen, specified sections of the Hokuriku and Tohoku Shinkansen, or hop on JR East lines, the entire Tokyo Monorail line, the entire Izu Kyuko line, and the Hokuetsu Express lines running in Niigata.

Kanto Region
Nagano
Niigata
Shizuoka
Tickets & Passes

23 Sep 2026 See More

In winter, I used the “JR East Pass (Nagano, Niigata area)” to explore the region by Shinkansen. The endless, pure white snowy scenery along the way was breathtaking. My most vivid memory is of the beautiful snow country scenery from the train, as well as someone standing quietly with their dog and watching the train pass by, creating a heartwarming winter scene.