Linda Liao's Reviews Page 47/90

The Osaka Yodogawa Fireworks Festival is one of Osaka's signature annual summer events. It takes place along the Yodogawa riverbank, roughly between Juso Bridge and Yodogawa Bridge. It attracts large crowds every year, and the dazzling fireworks against Osaka's nighttime cityscape create an incredibly lively atmosphere. I recommend watching from the riverbank on the Juso or Nishinakajima side, where you can experience the impact of the fireworks up close.

Asagaya Station itself has the everyday atmosphere of Tokyo, and in summer, it hosts the lively Asagaya Tanabata Festival. The streets are filled with large Tanabata decorations and colorful ornaments, creating a distinctly Japanese summer atmosphere. If you want to experience local festival culture, consider wearing a yukata and joining everyone in browsing the stalls and soaking up the lively atmosphere. It's also quite convenient to get there by train from central Tokyo, and since it isn't far, it's easy to fit into your itinerary.

The Asagaya Tanabata Festival is a lively annual event in Tokyo’s Asagaya area that attracts many local residents and visitors. During the festival, the shopping street is filled with colorful decorations and large handmade displays, creating a strong festive atmosphere throughout the entire area. There are also many food stalls along the way selling takoyaki, grilled chicken skewers, sweets, and all kinds of Japanese snacks, so you can enjoy the food while exploring the street. The street is constantly bustling with people, and the sounds of laughter blend with the calls of the vendors, capturing the vibrant atmosphere of summer in Japan. It’s a great place to experience the local culture and the charm of a Japanese festival.

This restaurant is known for its Miyazaki brand pork, “Minami no Buta.” The breading isn’t too thick, and the outside is crisp and fragrant. When you bite into it, you can taste the tenderness and juiciness of the pork itself. Tonkatsu may look simple, but careful attention goes into everything from selecting the meat and breading it to controlling the oil temperature. You don’t just taste the fried coating—you can also taste the pork’s natural sweetness. It’s no wonder this place is quite popular in the Kagurazaka area.

BEAMS is one of my personal favorite clothing brands. The Ginza store has a stylish, upscale feel, and the displays are very tasteful. It’s a great place to browse and get a feel for the brand’s style, but if you’re hoping to find a bargain, you might be a little disappointed, as there aren’t many discounted items. BEAMS fans may want to visit, but with such beautiful products and those prices, it can be hard to make a purchase.

The Tiffany Ginza Flagship Store is very close to the Mitsukoshi department store. The iconic Tiffany Blue sign and window displays always make you want to take a second look. In recent years, the favorable Japanese yen exchange rate and tax-free shopping have attracted many international travelers to Japan specifically to buy jewelry and luxury goods. When shopping in Ginza, this famous store is also a popular stop for many people. Even if you don't buy anything, just browsing is a real treat!

When visiting Kanazawa, it’s really easy to be drawn in by all the glittering gold leaf desserts! I’d heard that Ukokkei-an’s Silkie Egg Castella was quite famous, so I made a special trip to check it out. Made with silkie chicken eggs, the cake has a rich egg flavor and a delicate, moist texture, with the natural sweetness of honey. The top is covered with a layer of shimmering gold leaf, making it a distinctive souvenir as well.

Nakamura Tokichi’s matcha specialty shop offers a wide variety of choices, from matcha parfaits and green tea jelly to green tea soba noodles. The green tea jelly has a refreshing flavor and rich tea aroma. Paired with red bean paste and shiratama dumplings, it has a bittersweet taste and a distinctly Japanese flair. Matcha lovers will easily fall in love with it after just one bite.

As you wander around Kagurazaka, you may unexpectedly come across Akagi Shrine. Akagi-hime no Mikoto is enshrined here and is said to be associated with women’s happiness, good relationships, and safe childbirth, so the shrine is popular with many female worshippers. Its most distinctive feature is the thoroughly modern architecture, designed in part by Kengo Kuma. The clean, crisp lines create an interesting contrast with the traditional shrine.

This is one of Kagurazaka’s most distinctive alleys. Its name comes from the intersecting, maze-like lanes. Walking between the black wooden walls and stone-paved paths, you can get a sense of the atmosphere of Kagurazaka’s former geisha district, which feels completely different from the bustling shopping street. There are also quite a few restaurants and small shops in the alley, making it a nice place to explore while taking a walk.