Linda Liao's Reviews Page 6/102

Located in central Nagoya, Hisaya-odori Park stretches south from the area around Nagoya TV Tower, forming a lush green corridor through the city. Shady trees line the route, along with wide, comfortable walkways that make it especially pleasant to stroll through. It's rare to find such a relaxing green space in the middle of a busy, bustling downtown area. Various events are held from time to time on holidays, adding plenty of energy and activity to the park. After taking a leisurely walk around the park that day, I went shopping at the nearby Mitsukoshi department store, then met up with friends I hadn't seen in a long time for dinner and had a wonderful evening.

Whenever I travel to Kagoshima, Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel is always one of my first choices for accommodations. The hotel is right across the street from JR Kagoshima-Chuo Station, so I can check my luggage almost immediately after leaving the station. It saves me the hassle of hauling my luggage around and makes the trip much easier. The rooms are clean and comfortable, and the views are also great. What I look forward to most each day is having breakfast at the restaurant. Through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, majestic Sakurajima comes into view, and the scenery takes on a different appearance depending on the day's volcanic activity and changing sky. Looking at this volcano, which seems so full of life, feels like having a familiar friend quietly by my side, marking a wonderful start to the day.

While shopping at the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse before, I unexpectedly came across a Baby Star Ramen booth, and the familiar packaging immediately brought back childhood memories! I wonder if this was a limited-time pop-up or a permanent shop? Yu Ya Shi’s Baby Star Ramen is a classic snack that many people have enjoyed since childhood. As soon as you open the package, its rich, savory aroma hits you. The thin, crispy noodles are so addictive that you can’t stop eating them one bite after another. Whether you’re riding somewhere during a trip, craving a snack in the afternoon, or feeling a little hungry, grabbing a bag is always satisfying. A simple, familiar, and delicious taste~

Travelers who love nature and flower viewing definitely shouldn’t miss Saitama’s “Poppies in the Sky”! Every year from May to June, vast fields of vibrant poppies bloom across the hillside, stretching far into the distance. With the expansive blue sky and mountains as a backdrop, it feels like stepping into a beautiful landscape painting. When the breeze blows, the flowers sway in the wind, making it hard to resist pulling out your camera to capture the romantic scenery. It’s not yet midsummer at this time of year, so the weather is pleasant and strolling through the flower fields is especially relaxing. However, public transportation here isn’t very convenient, so I recommend driving so you can take your time enjoying this refreshing sea of flowers!

LaLaport Tokyo-Bay, located in Funabashi, Chiba, is a very large shopping mall about a 5-minute walk from JR Minami-Funabashi Station. It has clothing stores, household goods, electronics, anime merchandise, a variety of restaurants, the Pokémon Center Tokyo Bay, and more, all worth browsing. This time I came with my family to walk around. Although it wasn’t sale season yet and we didn’t have anything in particular we wanted to buy, we still spent quite a bit of time just browsing. At noon, we went to the food court on the third floor of the North Building and ordered tendon from the popular restaurant Kaneko Hannosuke. The crispy tempura was served with a sweet and savory sauce, and the portion was quite satisfying.

This time, I specifically chose to visit during peak cherry blossom season and brought my family to Nara. After leaving the station, we headed toward Todaiji Temple, and the first thing that came into view was the historic Kohfukuji Temple. Kohfukuji is an important cultural heritage site in Nara, and its five-story pagoda is one of the city's most iconic landmarks. The traditional temple buildings exuded a calm and solemn atmosphere, and paired with the soft pink cherry blossoms of spring, they made us stop and admire the scenery. The National Treasure Museum within the temple grounds also caught my eye with its striking red beams and columns and modern exterior, creating an interesting contrast with the surrounding ancient temple buildings. Simply strolling around was full of surprises.

We then continued toward Todaiji Temple, where the magnificent Great Buddha Hall and solemn Great Buddha of Nara were breathtaking. I still remember excitedly waiting in line during my first visit to crawl through the hole in the wooden pillar behind the Great Buddha, praying for good health and protection from misfortune. Seeing that hole again this time, I felt a little nervous instead and could only laugh as I remembered how brave I had been back then. After that, we walked into Kasuga Taisha Shrine, where the ancient trees and stone lanterns lining the approach created a mysterious atmosphere. We also came across sika deer roaming freely, as if we had entered a forest protected by the gods.

After enjoying the cherry blossoms, ancient temples, and herds of deer along the way, don't forget to finish with a satisfying meal at Shizuka Kamameshi. The piping-hot kamameshi was wonderfully fragrant, with the rice soaking up the flavors of the seafood and broth. The lightly scorched rice crust at the bottom was especially unforgettable!

When visiting Hakone, if you want to relax and enjoy a traditional Japanese hot spring inn, consider staying at Toki no Yu Setsugetsuka. The inn has an old-world atmosphere and is full of Japanese charm. Every guest room has an open-air hinoki cypress bath, and there is also a large public bath and free private open-air baths, so guests can fully enjoy the hot springs. For dinner, you can choose from different set meals based on your preferences, and female guests can select a yukata they like, adding to the Japanese vacation atmosphere. Best of all, the inn is right next to Gora Station, about a 1-minute walk away, making it very convenient for taking the mountain railway or exploring the Hakone area.

If you’ve visited Kuromon Market, you’re probably familiar with the Kuromon Nakagawa supermarket. Its biggest feature is that it’s open 24 hours, which is very convenient for travelers. During the day, you can enjoy all kinds of food at the market, and at night, if you want to buy some fresh fruit or prepared food to enjoy back at your hotel, you can stop by anytime. The store carries a wide variety of products, from fresh ingredients to everyday groceries. Browsing here feels like getting a glimpse into the daily lives of Osaka residents, and you can also find many unique local products, which is another fun part of traveling.

Because the older members of my family are getting up there in age, their skin is more fragile, and dry, cracked hands and feet become especially noticeable every winter. This time, I saw hibicare ointment at a drugstore in Japan and immediately bought it for my family to try. The allantoin helps repair cracked skin, panthenol helps maintain normal skin function, glycerin moisturizes the skin, and vitamin E promotes blood circulation. After using it for a few weeks, the biggest difference was that their once-rough heels became much softer! Applying a thick layer before bed and then putting on socks for extra moisture really makes a difference the next day. It’s become a great help for caring for older family members’ skin in winter.

I found Akafuku Mochi, a specialty of Ise, Mie Prefecture, at the gift shop. This traditional Japanese confection dates back to 1707 and is known for its soft mochi topped with smooth red bean paste. The outer layer of red bean paste symbolizes the Isuzu River in front of Ise Jingu, while the three ripples on the surface represent the flowing water. The first thing you notice is the smooth sweetness of the red bean paste, followed by the soft yet chewy texture of the mochi. The two complement each other perfectly. The ingredients are very simple—just glutinous rice, red beans, and sugar—making it a classic sweet full of traditional Japanese flavor.