Ryukakusan is one of the medicines I always buy when I visit a drugstore in Japan. I usually get the mint or peach flavor. When my throat feels a little dry and itchy, I take one packet with water. It makes my throat feel cool, and after a while, it doesn't feel as uncomfortable. But this is still medicine, so anyone considering buying it should make sure it's suitable for them and avoid taking too much.
Ryukakusan Direct | Review by Star
Other Reviews by Star
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Juhyo (Rime) in Zao (Yamagata Prefecture)
Zao in Yamagata Prefecture is one of the largest mountain resorts in the Tohoku region. In winter, Zao is a mecca for winter sports, and many tourists come to enjoy the "juhyo," or tree ice formed by snow and ice on the trees.
This is one of the places I recommend visiting at least once in your lifetime!
At first, I had only seen photos online and wasn't that interested in Zao's juhyo, but after seeing them in person, I was completely amazed by nature's incredible handiwork.
While doing research before the trip, I read online that juhyo form when winter snow and ice freeze onto trees and continue to accumulate, eventually transforming conifer forests high in the mountains into a fantastical landscape resembling snow monsters. Such a spectacular sight requires very unique climatic and natural conditions, so there are actually very few places in the world where juhyo can be seen. Luckily, Japan, which is very close to Taiwan, happens to have one. Before I left, everyone who had been there told me, “Make sure to dress warmly! Otherwise, your fingers and toes might just fall off along the way.”
(In the end, my fingers and toes didn't fall off, but one of my eyeglass lenses did. Fortunately, a kind woman helped me find it. I'm not sure if it was because of the cold, but it was very difficult to get the lens back into the frame. Once we got down the mountain, though, it wasn't a problem. If you wear glasses, I suggest switching to contacts to reduce fogging and the risk of losing your glasses.)
We went in February, right when the juhyo are at their most spectacular (though if you're unlucky enough to encounter a blizzard, visibility will be much lower). Fortunately, the blizzard we encountered wasn't too severe. Although it was unbelievably cold, we could still clearly see the snow monsters before us.
You really need to dress warmly! A waterproof jacket and snow boots are essential, and I also strongly recommend waterproof gloves. I even put foot warmers under my feet.)
Before leaving, we booked the ropeway and the nighttime snowcat tour, “Juhyo Fantasy Corridor.” I highly, highly recommend this tour! The snowcat was a little crowded, and the ride was quite bumpy, but the scenery along the way was so fantastical that it's hard to describe. Every snow monster had a completely different shape. As I looked at them, I thought—the snow monsters are just like us: every person is a one-of-a-kind presence in this world.
The snowcat takes everyone to a designated spot (I'm not sure if it's where the lighting looks best, but I thought it was the most beautiful), and then you get off and have about ten minutes of free time (maybe they don't let you stay out long because they're afraid everyone will freeze to death), allowing you to truly immerse yourself in the dreamlike snowy scenery. If you're not afraid of the cold, you can also try rolling around in the snow. The snow is icy cold and feels soft and fluffy, and because the temperature is so low, it doesn't melt easily. Even after rolling around in it, your clothes are still dry when you get up!
This trip to see the Zao juhyo completely changed my original impression that they “looked just okay in photos.” Some scenery really has to be seen with your own eyes before you can understand just how incredible nature can be. -
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Sapporo Agricultural College Hokkaido Milk Cookies
Hokkaido, is Japan’s beloved “kingdom of dairy”, an apt nickname due to its booming dairy industry. Outside of the sheer production volume of milk and butter, the quality and flavor of Hokkaido’s dairy products are heralded by many as some of the best in Japan.
Sapporo Agricultural College has shops at both Fukuoka Airport and New Chitose Airport. These cookies have a rich milky flavor and are crisp without being too sweet. People who like handmade cookies will probably really enjoy these.
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Houkiboshi “Brown Sugar Cannelés – 10-Piece Set”
The most popular item from Houkiboshi, Okinawa’s first specialty shop dedicated to Brown Sugar Cannelés, is this delightful 10-piece set. Made with premium brown sugar from Tarama Island, each bite offers a rich depth of flavor and an elegant sweetness. The exterior is perfectly crisp, while the inside remains soft and chewy.
The cannelés were so small that I finished them in no time, so all I have left is this flyer. Their cannelés are really beautiful—so beautiful that I wanted to buy several more boxes—but they’re also really expensive. The texture was average, and the outside wasn’t very crisp, but they make up for it with their cute appearance. They’re still worth buying if you visit Okinawa.
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