Linda Liao's Reviews Page 59/90

Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street is located in Chuo Ward, Osaka, near Osaka Metro's Shinsaibashi Station. It is one of southern Osaka's most iconic shopping streets, stretching from Shinsaibashi toward Namba. The shopping street has a covered arcade, so you can stroll comfortably even on rainy days.

We came to Ramen Koji on the 10th floor of Kyoto Station to find something to eat. It brings together ramen shops from all over Japan, so there are plenty of choices. After walking around all day, a steaming bowl of ramen with rich broth and chewy noodles was especially satisfying. What I liked most was being able to choose according to my own taste and experience ramen styles from different regions all in one place without having to travel far. The overall atmosphere was lively, the prices were reasonable, and the location was convenient.

Yasaka Shrine is located at the eastern end of Kyoto's bustling Shijo Street, just across the road, and is well worth including on a visit to Kyoto. The shrine has a long history dating back to around the 7th century and has long been revered by Kyoto residents and travelers. It is also one of the places where the famous Gion Matsuri originated. Passing through the vermilion gate, you can immediately feel the solemn atmosphere of a traditional shrine. Besides visiting the shrine, it's also nice to stroll around Gion and Hanamikoji and experience Kyoto's distinctive historical charm.

Kyoto's Gion Matsuri is one of the city's most iconic traditional festivals. It is held every year during the hot summer, mainly in July, and lasts about a month. The Gion Matsuri originated in 869, when an epidemic spread through Kyoto. People believed that disasters were connected to vengeful spirits, so the imperial court ordered a Goryoe ceremony to pray for the gods to drive away the epidemic and ward off misfortune. It gradually developed into the grand Gion Matsuri celebrated today.

Many important rituals take place during the festival, the most famous being the Yamahoko procession. Huge, lavishly decorated floats slowly make their way through the streets of central Kyoto as large crowds gather along the route, creating a lively summer festival atmosphere. The festival also includes events such as the mikoshi procession and Yoiyama, offering a sense of Kyoto's deep history and culture of faith.

The Nagoshi Festival is also held during the Gion Matsuri. This traditional ritual is meant to ward off misfortune and bring blessings. The shrine sets up a huge chinowa ring woven from miscanthus reeds, and worshippers pass through the ring in a specific sequence. This symbolizes cleansing away the misfortunes accumulated over the first half of the year and praying for safety and good health during the second half. Small chinowa rings are sometimes made for worshippers to take home and hang up or keep as symbols of blessings and protection from misfortune. These festival activities, which combine history, faith, and folk customs, are very interesting and offer a deeper understanding of Kyoto's unique traditional culture.

The most unforgettable sight was the Kiyomizu Stage. It's hard to imagine that such a magnificent structure was built without using any nails. From the stage, you can look out over Kyoto. There are cherry blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, mountains covered in red maple leaves in fall, and snowy scenery in winter. It's picturesque in every season.

After visiting the main hall, you can continue on to Jishu Shrine, then finish at Otowa Waterfall. I saw many people lining up to drink water using long-handled ladles. The three streams are said to represent different wishes. It was an unforgettable experience.

One of Kyoto's signature traditional sweets, nama yatsuhashi is said to have originated from Kyoto's yatsuhashi rice crackers, with its name linked to Yatsuhashi Kengyo, a koto musician from the Edo period. Later, the soft nama yatsuhashi was developed, with thin, warm, chewy wrappers made from rice flour and fillings such as sweet red bean paste and matcha. It has a soft texture with a subtle rice aroma. Having it once in a while really does make you miss it. If you especially like cinnamon, you shouldn't miss its distinctive aroma.

A signature landmark of Odaiba Seaside Park, with the beautiful Rainbow Bridge behind it and views of the bay set against the city skyline. This Statue of Liberty is a replica modeled after the Statue of Liberty from Paris that was displayed in Odaiba during the 1998 "Year of France in Japan." It has been permanently installed here since 2000 and symbolizes friendship between Japan and France. When visiting Odaiba, you can include the Statue of Liberty, Odaiba Seaside Park, Fuji Television, and DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in the same itinerary.

Shonan Kaigan Park stretches along the coast and is a great place for a walk or to simply unwind. During the day, you can often see many dog lovers leisurely walking their furry companions, as well as skilled surfers riding the waves and showing off their smooth moves on the water. Of course, you shouldn't miss the fun of wading in the waves. With the sea breeze blowing and the cool spray from the waves, the summer heat fades away quite a bit.

It was already close to evening when I visited this time. It was less lively than during the day and had more of a relaxed sunset atmosphere. I walked to the shore with a friend to wade in the water and chat, and then reluctantly headed home.

If you're visiting Dotonbori in Osaka and want an easy way to enjoy the city's scenery without tiring yourself out, a sightseeing cruise is the way to go! Along the way, you'll pass famous Dotonbori bridges such as Ebisu Bridge, Taro Bridge, and Aiaibashi Bridge, and you can also see the Glico Running Man sign and Dotonbori's lively streets from the water. The cruise is especially pleasant at night, with a gentle breeze and neon lights reflected on the river. Without having to walk too much, you can leisurely experience the charm of Osaka at night.

The Sapporo TV Tower is located in Odori Park in central Sapporo. If you like cute character merchandise, it’s definitely worth stopping by to browse〜 Completed in 1957, the Sapporo TV Tower stands about 147 meters tall and has a history of more than 60 years. It is one of Sapporo’s most iconic landmarks. From the observation deck, you can look down over Odori Park, with wide-open views and different scenery in every season.

Besides enjoying the views, you definitely can’t miss the super-cute mascot, “TV Tosan”! 😂 There’s so much merchandise it’s almost overwhelming. The Japanese really know how to turn mascots into all kinds of cute and distinctive products. Their creativity and business sense are truly impressive〜