My favorite place of all.
There’s something almost magical about the reflection at Byodoin—it instantly makes you feel calm. Watching the Phoenix Hall perfectly mirrored on the pond is something I could never get tired of. No matter how many times I see it, I fall in love with it all over again.
Compared with the crowds at Kyoto’s other popular spots, Byodoin has a special elegance.
What I love most is sitting down at the wisteria tea house there, ordering an authentic Uji sencha and dessert, and gazing out at the greenery and garden outside the window. Enjoying that peaceful, Zen-like moment without any interruptions was honestly one of the best parts of my trip. It feels like a secret hideaway just for the people who truly appreciate it.
And the tea is so, so good—I still miss it.
Byodoin | Review by W10B
Other Reviews by W10B
-
Tsuru-no-Mai Bridge
This is a 300 meter-long triple-arched wooden bridge over Lake Fujimi. The bridge is known as "Nagaiki-no-Hashi" (bridge of long life) and is popular for its longevity blessing. The bridge is also renowned for "Tsugaru no Sakasa Fuji" (Mt. Iwaki reflected on the lake surface), which can only be seen on clear, windless days and was used in a JR East TV advertisement. Near the bridge are Crane Nature Park and Fujimi Lake Park, which are also good places for a stroll.
Tsuru-no-Mai Bridge in Aomori is absolutely stunning when you catch it on a clear day.
This is Japan’s longest wooden triple-arched bridge, stretching 300 meters in total, and it’s built entirely with Aomori cypress, a local specialty. -
-
ROYCE' Nama Chocolate
Founded in 1983 in Higashi-ku, Sapporo, ROYCE' set out with the ambition of creating chocolate that rivals the best of Europe. Now, as an immovably popular chocolate maker from Hokkaido, their signature menu item is "Nama Chocolate."
I started loving nama chocolate because of their products. The first time I tried it, I was amazed—it melts in your mouth and is packed with rich chocolate flavor. So delicious.
This time, I also saw white peach and pistachio flavors, so I bought them right away to try flavors I’d never had before. -
-
Asakusa Shin Nakamise Shopping Street
Boasting a history of about 90 years since its inception in the early Showa era, the Asakusa Shin Nakamise Shopping Street crosses Asakusa from east to west, in contrast to the Nakamise Shopping Street that connects the Kaminarimon Gate to Asakusa Temple. It is the largest shopping street in Asakusa, with a total length of 380m, and is composed of five areas.
When heading out to shop, seeing the words “dismount here” made me smile.
That charming contrast between old and new, spanning hundreds of years, is exactly the kind of little surprise that makes strolling the streets so fun. Shopping with that sense of humor even makes it feel like you can slow down a bit before reaching for your wallet. -
