The Wada House is one of Shirakawa-go's most iconic gassho-style homes and one of its best-preserved traditional buildings. Its thick thatched roof and wooden structure make it look like a cottage from a fairy tale, and it feels especially historic and charming up close.
During this visit, I went inside and saw the traditional living spaces and architectural structure. The house's design also shows the ingenuity of former residents in adapting to the region's heavy snowfall.
Steakhouse 88 Tsuji Main Store
Established across Okinawa, this is the main store of the Steakhouse 88 chain, popular for its variety of menus, and reasonable prices. The origin of this restaurant is "CLUB88," which was opened in 1955 during the period of U.S. military rule, and was granted an "A sign" business license after passing strict U.S. standards as a restaurant open to U.S. military personnel and other visitors.
A famous local steak! Steakhouse 88 Tsuji Main Store is one of Okinawa's most iconic long-established steakhouses. It has a casual, lively atmosphere that gets you excited even before you eat.
This time, I tried the steak. The meat had a firm texture and a savory aroma, and after cooking it to my preferred doneness and eating it with the sauce, it was very satisfying. With the salad, soup, and rice, you'll leave very full!
Enoshima Sea Candle (Lighthouse Observation Tower)
The Enoshima Sea Candle, Japan's first privately established lighthouse, was built in 1951 and renovated in 2013 as part of the centennial celebration of the Enoshima Electric Railway. Constructed with a focus on "landscape and environmental consideration”, "pursuit of public utility value” and "regional tourism promotion”, the spot continues to draw numbers of eager tourists to this day.
On Enoshima, besides browsing the little shops and enjoying the food along the way, what I looked forward to most was going up the Enoshima Sea Candle. The walk up was a little tiring, but once I saw the view from the observation deck, it really felt worth it! From above, the blue ocean, Enoshima's streets, and the distant coastline all came into view. The view was incredibly expansive.
Minato Mirai 21
JR Sakuragicho Station, Japan’s first train station, is the gate to Minato Mirai. Coming out of the station, you will see a futuristic cityscape such as the 296m-tall Yokohama Landmark Tower and the ferris wheel Cosmo Clock 21. In 2021, the urban 630m-long ropeway, YOKOHAMA AIR CABIN, was opened, connecting the former railway and the Unga-Park Station.
Minato Mirai 21 is one of Yokohama's most iconic waterfront cityscapes, where skyscrapers, a Ferris wheel, the harbor, and modern architecture come together, giving the whole area a stylish and romantic atmosphere. The first time I saw the harbor district, I felt it had a different vibe from Tokyo! Walking slowly along the waterfront and taking in the harbor, boats, and surrounding buildings made everything feel especially relaxed. Toward evening, the sky gradually turned orange and the city lights came on one by one. Together with their reflections on the water, the whole scene was very beautiful.
