The Onomichi City Museum of Art is like a sparkling gem hidden in Senkoji Park. Designed by renowned architect Tadao Ando, its clean, minimalist architecture complements the surrounding natural scenery, making it well worth a special trip.
On the way to the museum, you may also encounter friendly cats that come over to greet you and roll onto their backs asking to be petted. Their adorable antics are impossible to resist.
When it comes to the Onomichi City Museum of Art, nothing is more talked about than the adorable, years-long back-and-forth between the museum's security guard and Ken-chan, a black cat. This amusing everyday story has captured many hearts and was even compiled into a book, making Ken-chan an unconventional star of the museum.
I was especially lucky during this visit because a complete collection of Japanese ukiyo-e master Utagawa Hiroshige's The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido series happened to be on display. Seeing the entire series at once was truly impressive. From the architecture and art to the comforting cats, the whole visit was full of surprises and left me wanting more. I've quietly added the Onomichi City Museum of Art to my list for a return visit.
Onomichi City Museum of Art | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
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TOKYO TULIP ROSE "Tulip Rose"
A tulip-shaped sweet created by pastry chef Masahito Kanai, who honed his skills at Hyatt Regency Tokyo and later worked as a chef pâtissier in Paris.
Opening the box felt like opening a box of exquisite jewelry. They looked so delicate and beautiful that I almost couldn't bear to eat them. The cookies had a delicate texture and a subtle milky flavor, paired with a light, smooth cream filling in the center. Sweet but not too rich, with a nicely layered flavor overall. A feast for both the eyes and the taste buds!
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Gateau Rusk, Gateau Festa Harada
Gateau Festa Harada is a well-known manufacturer with its head office located in Takasaki City in Gunma Prefecture. Their popular, signature rusk snack, Gouter de Roi, which means “snack for a king”, is made of French baguettes using their original blended wheat recipe.
GOUTER de ROI French baguette rusks are crispy with a light buttery aroma. The slices are sprinkled with a little sugar, giving them a crisp bite, followed by a slowly unfolding buttery fragrance. They're sweet without being too rich and so addictive. I happened to get the limited-edition Christmas packaging before, which included many classic treats. It was very satisfying to sample several flavors at once.
Besides the classic packaging, there are also cute square tins available. They've previously released Sanrio and Mickey Mouse collaborations, with beautifully designed tins that are worth collecting. After finishing the cookies, you can use the tin to store small items〜 -
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Fukusaya Nagasaki main store
Castella, a sponge cake brought to Nagasaki in the mid-16th century along with Nanban trade, quickly became a favorite across Japan thanks to its fluffy deliciousness and high nutritional value. It was particularly embraced by students who came to Nagasaki from all over Japan to study medicine and Dutch studies.
The first time I tried Fukusaya castella, I was drawn to its moist, soft texture. The cake itself is delicate, fragrant, and sweet, with a few sugar crystals on the bottom that add a slight crunch and give it more texture. Besides the classic long loaf, the version with two square boxes is also very convenient. The portion is just right for when you occasionally want something sweet but don't want to eat too much at once. It also makes a generous gift for friends and family.
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