If you also love the idea of a water-side getaway, I’d definitely recommend a trip to Oirase Gorge in northeastern Japan and a stay at Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel.
You can listen to the soft rain falling on the leaves and grass, and drift off to sleep with the gentle sound of the stream. It’s incredibly relaxing.
The hotel’s facilities and service were excellent. What stood out most to me, besides the art installation in the lobby, were the welcome apple tea, the apple wall in the restaurant 🍎, and the apple desserts.
The air was filled with phytoncides, the earthy scent of the soil, and the sweet aroma of apples. It was truly healing!
Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel | Review by 周黛西
Other Reviews by 周黛西
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Matsushima, one of the "Three Great Views of Japan," is praised as one of those places you should visit at least once in your life, and it truly lived up to the hype.
Taking a sightseeing boat and admiring the many islands resting quietly on the sea was a wonderful experience. The islands are beautifully scattered about. They may look somewhat similar at first, yet each has its own character. It felt like wandering through a landscape painting, with layers of scenery fading into the distance.
Even the haiku poet Matsuo Basho found this beauty hard to capture in words. I highly recommend visiting. -
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Oirase Stream in summer is a famous place to escape the heat, with lush greenery everywhere you look.
The showers the night before made the stream even fuller, and every photo I took with my camera looked like something out of a calendar.
The temperature was cool and comfortable, and the green forest and gently flowing stream made the scenery feel incredibly refreshing. -
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Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse, right next to Aomori Station, has a complete collection of the giant Nebuta lantern floats that have appeared in past festivals. The dazzling exhibits, along with videos and interactive experiences, gave me a deeper understanding of this cultural celebration with 300 years of history. Even if you’ve never actually attended the festival, Wa Rasse is a great place to satisfy your curiosity all at once.
The 2026 Taiwan Chiayi Lantern Festival also invited Wa Rasse to take part. Seeing those vivid, towering character lanterns reminded me of my fun experience in Aomori. -
