Linda Liao's Reviews Page 60/90

Hop aboard a streetcar that winds through the city and experience a different way to travel. The charming streetcars slowly make their way along the streets, passing major Sapporo attractions such as Odori Park, Tanukikoji Shopping Street, Susukino, and Mt. Moiwa. They are also tourist-friendly. You can choose from a one-day pass or the weekends-and-holidays-only DOSANKO Pass!

Located within Kyoto's Kiyomizu-dera Temple grounds, Jishu Jinja has long been known for prayers for finding a good match and success in love, making it a popular matchmaking spot for many travelers visiting Kyoto. The shrine has a long history and is said to date back to Japan's Age of the Gods. Its most famous attraction is the “Love Fortune Stones.” The two stones are about 10 meters apart, and it is said that if you can walk from one to the other with your eyes closed, your wish for love may come true!

I rented a bike and slowly rode with friends along the winding path deep into the bamboo grove. On both sides, tall, straight bamboo stalks reached toward the sky, while dense bamboo leaves intertwined to form a natural green tunnel. Sunlight filtered through the gaps, casting dappled patterns on the ground. As we rode through, cool breezes blew toward us, and the midsummer heat seemed to fade away without us even noticing.

We also saw a few kids on summer vacation near the bamboo grove, carefully catching and observing insects as if they were conducting an interesting field study!

When visiting Arashiyama, besides the Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji Temple is also worth setting aside some time to explore. The temple looks solemn and historic from the outside, but once inside, I discovered scenery in a league of its own. Sitting on the wooden floor and admiring the garden was especially memorable. Sogenchi Pond and the surrounding greenery complement each other, creating a simple yet layered view that naturally calmed my mind.

Tenryu-ji is one of the most representative Zen temples in Kyoto's Arashiyama area, and both the temple and garden retain a strong sense of traditional Japanese beauty. The garden's most distinctive feature is how naturally it brings together the pond, trees, rocks, and distant mountains. Changes in season and light create a different impression every time. It's also a nice place to escape the summer heat and take a short break while traveling.

Spanning the Katsura River, the bridge is about 155 meters long and has a traditional Japanese style. Its wooden railings complement the natural scenery, giving it a rustic and elegant appearance. Togetsukyo Bridge has a very long history. It was first built around the Heian period and was later rebuilt several times due to flooding and other causes. The current bridge was completed in 1934. Legend has it that Retired Emperor Kameyama was viewing the moon from the bridge and saw it appear to cross over the bridge, so he named it “Togetsukyo,” or “Moon Crossing Bridge.” When the cherry blossoms bloom in spring and the maple leaves turn red in fall, the bridge, mountains, and water complement one another, creating especially beautiful scenery.

Enoshima Shrine is a famous spiritual power spot. It consists of three shrines—Hetsumiya, Nakatsumiya, and Okutsumiya—dedicated to three goddesses associated with safety at sea, travel, good fortune, and the arts. It is located at the end of the shopping street, and you still need to climb a flight of stairs to reach it. If you are traveling with elderly companions who have difficulty walking, you can take the paid escalator to save energy.

This must-visit old-fashioned shopping street leads all the way to Enoshima Shrine. The road slopes gently uphill and is lined with all kinds of unique shops, making it fun to browse as you walk. You can try Enoshima specialties like whitebait snacks and refreshing cucumber sticks, and look for locally distinctive souvenirs and handicrafts. The most eye-catching item is the huge rice cracker, almost bigger than your face, which really stands out in photos.

When you arrive at the LeTAO Main Store, the first thing that catches your eye is its European-style exterior. You can't help but stop and admire it as you pass by.

Besides LeTAO's signature sweets, there are also many exclusive items only available at the main store, making it hard for dessert lovers to resist. There's also a seating area where you can take a break when you're tired from walking around and enjoy desserts and drinks. The super-popular cheesecake is a must-order~

When you're in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, I recommend stopping by Eslite Spectrum on the 2nd floor of COREDO Muromachi Terrace.

For those familiar with Eslite, the space carries on its signature simple, elegant aesthetic. Books, stationery, lifestyle goods, and various curated items are cleverly arranged together without feeling overcrowded, allowing each product to have its own presence. Browsing through the store feels like reading a thoughtfully edited lifestyle magazine, with small details everywhere that are worth stopping to look at.

In addition to books, you can also find many distinctive Taiwanese products, from snacks and tea drinks to stationery, design items, and lifestyle goods. Everything is carefully selected, presenting familiar Taiwanese flavors in a different setting.

Haneda Airport is close to central Tokyo and much more convenient to get to than Narita Airport, making it a shopping paradise for many travelers at the end of their trip. The souvenir shopping areas in the airport are seriously crowded, with so many airport-exclusive items, collaborations, and cute packaging options that it's hard to know where to look.

Interestingly, it isn't just tourists who shop here. Even Japanese people make special trips to Haneda Airport to buy exclusive souvenirs, which shows just how appealing this place is!

If you're a souvenir lover, don't underestimate how much time you'll need to shop at the airport. Most of the exclusive items are concentrated in the domestic terminals. If you want to browse leisurely and take your time choosing without rushing to board, I recommend arriving at least 3–4 hours early so you'll have enough time to explore.