Kurashiki Denim Street | Review by Holly

If you want to collect goshuin at Shoren-in Monzeki Temple, I would personally recommend visiting during the day. During special nighttime viewings, the goshuin available at the temple office are more likely to be prewritten. If you want one written for you on the spot, you have a better chance during the day.

The nighttime illumination is certainly beautiful, and the garden and buildings take on a very quiet, mysterious atmosphere under the dim lighting. However, the drawback is also obvious: many of the architectural details are difficult to see. If your main purpose is to appreciate Shoren-in itself, including its temple buildings, painted sliding panels, and gardens, I would actually recommend visiting during the day.

In addition to Kachoden Hall, Kogosho, the Main Hall, and Shinden Hall, Shoren-in’s grounds include a strolling pond garden centered on Ryujin Pond, traditionally said to have been designed by Soami. There is also the Kirishima Garden, which is traditionally associated with Kobori Enshu. These are all better appreciated slowly during the day, especially the details of the gardens, the proportions of the buildings, and the borrowed scenery, much of which is lost under the nighttime lighting.

Special nighttime viewings also usually cost a little more than regular daytime admission, so unless you are visiting specifically for the illumination, I personally think the overall value is better during the day. Of course, if you really enjoy the quiet and slightly mysterious atmosphere of temples at night, Shoren-in’s illumination is still worth experiencing once.

At the time, I did not have enough photography experience, and looking back now, I feel like I did not make the most of the illumination that evening. Shoren-in’s nighttime lighting is dim to begin with. In many areas, instead of lighting up an entire building, it uses localized lighting to create atmosphere. So if you want to take photos, it is best to prepare a camera or phone with good low-light capabilities. If there is not even much moonlight that day, the demands on your equipment and your ability to hold it steady will be even greater.

The main reason I made a special trip to the Nanjo Art Museum this time was that the “Mika Ninagawa Exhibition with EiM: Dancing with Shadows in the Light” happened to be on. During the exhibition, the museum extended its hours into the evening, which made planning my itinerary much easier. The biggest advantage here is that it isn’t too crowded. You can take your time in each exhibition area without constantly being pushed along by the people behind you, making it easier to fully appreciate Mika Ninagawa’s use of color, flowers, light, and shadow.

I especially like the way she photographs flowers. Later, I even tried using some of her ideas for composition and lighting when photographing Atami-zakura cherry blossoms, and unexpectedly got several photos that I was very happy with. The exhibition wasn’t limited to the indoor spaces either. Some of the works extended outdoors and into the views through the windows. With mountains on one side of the Nanjo Art Museum and the ocean on the other, the exhibition blended very well with Okinawa’s natural environment. If you aren’t in a hurry, it’s a nice place to find somewhere to sit and simply enjoy the ocean view.

The Nanjo Art Museum is in a relatively remote location in Chinen, Nanjo City, near the World Heritage Site Sefa-Utaki. I had originally planned to visit Sefa-Utaki as well, but I got a little lost while riding there on a scooter and ran out of time, so I had to give up. The ticketing and administrative area is also distinctive, built from shipping containers. Electronic ticketing and various payment methods are mainly used, and the overall process is very convenient. Since it isn’t as easy to stop by as a museum in the city, I’d recommend checking the current exhibition first and making the trip only if it genuinely interests you. Otherwise, the museum itself is just okay.

There was also a memorable little moment during this visit. Just before I was about to leave, someone by the café suddenly started playing the piano and singing an Okinawan folk tune. It gave the previously quiet museum a more down-to-earth atmosphere and became the most memorable part of my visit.

At first, I thought Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street would be similar to Kappabashi in Tokyo, but after actually exploring it, it was definitely much smaller. Kappabashi has more stores, especially when it comes to large commercial kitchen equipment and professional restaurant supplies. Sennichimae also mainly sells restaurant and kitchen supplies, but everything is more concentrated, which actually makes it more practical for the average tourist.

After comparing the two, I think Sennichimae Doguyasuji's biggest advantage is its prices. While it doesn't have the overwhelming amount of merchandise that Kappabashi does, many of the pots, tableware, and small kitchen items are very reasonably priced, and it basically has everything you would expect. You can find pots and pans, knives, tableware, and food replica products, and there are also food replica-making experiences available. Unless you're shopping professionally, the selection here is more than enough.

The location is also very convenient. Namba, Sennichimae, Nipponbashi, and Dotonbori are all nearby, so it's easy to combine this with other popular shopping areas. You can easily spend most of the day walking around and browsing. To me, it feels a bit like a “smaller version of Kappabashi”—smaller in scale, but more concentrated, with prices that can also be a pleasant surprise.

By the way, the drink vending machines in the alleys around this area are also interesting. Prices are often lower than in popular tourist areas, and occasionally you'll find some more retro or unusual drinks. If you keep an eye out while shopping, it's surprisingly easy to come across these little surprises.