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    Nara Park is much bigger than I imagined, and once you enter, you can see deer everywhere. Some walk slowly along the roadside, some lie on the grass to rest, and others stand right next to visitors, as if they're already used to everyone coming to see them. The park has many tall trees and green lawns, along with old buildings and stone lanterns. It's very pleasant to walk around, and the whole atmosphere is relaxing.

    When you visit Nara Park, you have to buy deer crackers to feed the deer. It's practically become a must-do activity. When you first get the crackers, you may think the deer are cute and gentle, but as soon as they notice you have food, they'll immediately come over. Some keep staring at you, while others may follow you, nudge you with their heads, or bite your clothes to hurry you into handing over the crackers.

    Be a little careful when feeding them, because more and more deer may gather nearby, and before you know it, you can be surrounded. Although it can be startling when a deer suddenly approaches, it's still fun to watch them eat. When you're done, open your hands to show them there's no food left, and they'll usually slowly walk away.

    Besides feeding the deer, it's also pleasant to stroll through the park and enjoy the scenery. Overall, Nara Park is a great place to explore at a leisurely pace, and it also lets you experience Nara's distinctive history and culture.

Other Reviews by Eddie

  • Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER 

    The tower is Nagoya’s symbol, built as Nagoya TV Tower for tourism and TV broadcast and completed in 1954. In 2011, TV signals were switched from analog to digital and its function as a consolidated radio tower was ended.

    • Sakae, Fushimi, Osu
    • Observatories
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    When you come to downtown Nagoya, you have to check out this super cool landmark, Oasis 21! From a distance, it looks like a huge transparent white spaceship parked in the city center, with the super tall and spectacular Nagoya TV Tower standing beside it.
    You can take great photos here from just about any angle. Here are a few highlights I have to share:
    Spaceship-Aqua on the rooftop: Take the elevator to the top level, where the floor is actually one big transparent shallow pool! A gentle breeze creates ripples across the water, and if you find the right angle, you can see the entire TV tower reflected in it. It looks incredibly dreamy.
    Super cute photo spot: Back on the ground-level plaza, there is a large “@NAGOYA” letter installation on the lawn. You can get both the spaceship and the TV tower in the background, making it the perfect tourist photo.
    Great underground shopping area: Right underneath the huge spaceship is actually a sunken shopping mall with air conditioning, lots of anime merchandise stores, capsule toy machines, and dessert shops. It’s super convenient to grab something to eat and rest downstairs when you get tired of walking around.

  • Hida Takayama Old Townscape

    Hida Takayama Old Townscape is said to be a town where the original landscape of Japan remains, as the streets from the Edo period still remain, and the charming town houses and noren (curtains) of old stores continue to be seen.

    • Gifu
    • Famous Places
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    Step into the Edo period! A day trip to Hida Takayama Old Town in Japan
    This time I visited Hida Takayama Old Town in Gifu Prefecture, and I was seriously blown away as soon as I walked in! The entire street is lined with dark wooden old houses, and clear water flows through the small roadside canals. It feels just like stepping into a cartoon or movie set in ancient Japan.
    Besides the unique houses, the best part of the old town is all the great places to eat and shop:
    Food to enjoy while walking around: There are soy sauce dango grilled until fragrant and slightly charred, with a soft and chewy texture. There are also the famous Hida beef skewers and beef nigiri. The meat is very tender, and the delicious smell fills the street.
    Unique souvenirs: The stores have lots of cute “Sarubobo” dolls. I heard they are lucky charms for safety. Their round red appearance is very charming, and they make great gifts for friends.
    Traditional long-established stores: There are lots of sake breweries and miso shops that look like they’ve been around for hundreds of years. Large cedar balls hang outside, creating a strong atmosphere of old Japan.
    Taking your time strolling around and eating snacks here is very relaxing. You can take a great photo just by standing in front of any wooden window. It’s a fun place with a real sense of history!

  • The Historical Remains of Takamatsu Castle (Tamamo Park)

    Takamatsu-jo was the resident castle for 4 generations of the Ikoma and 11 successive generations of the Matsudaira feudal clans. It is also known by its nickname, Tamamo-jo. Built facing the Seto Inland Sea, it is counted as one of the three largest seaside castles in Japan.

    • Takamatsu
    • Tourist Attractions
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    The weather today was super nice. The sky was so blue it looked like it had been colored in with markers, with fluffy white clouds floating across it. It was perfect weather for an outing! Today’s destination was Tamamo Park in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, the site of the once-famous Takamatsu Castle.
    As soon as I entered the park, the first thing that caught my attention was the vast green moat. Whenever I read about castle defenses in books, I always assumed moats were filled with ordinary fresh water. But after reading the information nearby, I found out that seawater is drawn directly from the Seto Inland Sea into this one, which is very unusual! The water was clean and calm, sparkling in the sunlight, and clearly reflected the lush pine trees and old stone walls along the shore. Looking at the reflections and feeling the cool breeze was so relaxing.
    As I slowly followed the path, I came across the coolest-looking structure in the park—the Ushitora Yagura turret. When I stood directly below it and looked up, it was truly impressive! The white walls and layered, upturned roofs stood on a stone base made from enormous blocks fitted together one by one. It looked incredibly solid, and the craftsmanship back then was really remarkable. I immediately took out my phone, crouched down, and snapped a photo looking upward. The sky happened to have a faint orange glow from the setting sun, giving the photo the grand feel of a period drama!
    After walking around the park, I found the whole place very quiet and laid-back. I used to feel that history was so distant, but seeing these centuries-old structures and the seawater moat with my own eyes made me realize how cool it is to actually walk through a historic setting. I took so many photos I was happy with today. It was such a fun and rewarding day!

Hokkaido Tohoku Kanto Chubu Hokuriku Kansai Chugoku Shikoku Kyushu Okinawa