Mugwort dango is a Japanese sweet that I personally like quite a bit. The dango is soft with a little chewiness, and the more you chew, the more you can taste the aroma of rice and the subtle fragrance of mugwort. It's simple but something you won't get tired of eating. The shop's exterior is quaint yet unpretentious, and while walking along the approach to Shibamata Taishakuten, seeing a traditional shop like this feels especially charming. You can buy some and enjoy it while taking a walk~
Kameya Honpo | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
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Onomichi Emonya
“Onomichi Emonya” is a souvenir shop with the most variety of products in Onomichi, holding about 500 different items from all around the area. “Emon” means “high-quality product” in the Onomichi dialect. The finest selection of items at “Onomichi Emonya” reflects this definition. It’s appeal also comes from the vintage building, a renovated merchant house from the Meiji era.
想一次網羅尾道的特色伴手禮，進來「尾道EEMONYA」逛逛就對了！店內集結了不少充滿尾道與瀨戶內海風情的商品，從地方特色零食、餅乾甜點，到以檸檬為主題的各式食品，選擇相當豐富。特別吸引目光的是包裝可愛的貓咪點心，光看外盒就讓人忍不住想帶回家，送禮也很討喜。喜歡柑橘風味的人，更別錯過瀨戶內海檸檬系列商品，能把當地清新的海島氣息一起打包帶走。無論是想挑選送親友的伴手禮，還是買些小零嘴留作旅行紀念，都能在這裡慢慢挖寶，不知不覺就逛上好一會兒！
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Minamisanriku Sun Sun Shopping Village
The Shopping street was opened as a temporary shopping place in 2012, and moved to the current permanent location in 2017. It was designed by Japan’s leading architect, Kengo Kuma. Plenty of “beauty Cedar,” Minamisanriku Cedar, is used to produce a warm, friendly space.
Several years ago, I visited the Minamisanriku Sun Sun Shopping Village with a delegation. At the time, the earthquake and tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake had devastated the Tohoku region. Many families suddenly lost their homes, and some even lost beloved family members and friends forever. Faced with such a devastating blow, the local residents did not give up. Instead, they worked together to regain the rhythm of everyday life and bring attention back to Minamisanriku’s delicious food and local appeal. The Sun Sun Shopping Village was born from this effort, bringing local businesses together so people could reopen their shops, rebuild their livelihoods, and gradually emerge from the shadow of the disaster while combating the reputational damage caused by rumors about the disaster and nuclear accident.
Thinking back on that visit, I realized that the shopping village later moved to a new location. Seeing how lively and vibrant it has gradually become fills me with mixed emotions. It’s not just the growing number of shops and visitors—it feels as though the local residents’ tireless efforts over the years have slowly built up to what it is today. I’m sincerely happy for the people here to see Minamisanriku gradually coming back to life. I hope this hard-won prosperity continues for a long time. If I have the chance in the future, I definitely want to return, walk around, and personally feel the strength that keeps this shopping village moving forward.
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Keio Department Store, Shinjuku
Keio Department Store, Shinjuku is a large department store directly connected to Keio Line Shinjuku Station. It spans 11 floors from B1F to RF, covering a wide range of categories including food, cosmetics, daily goods, fashion, and restaurants. Since opening in 1964, it has been popular with shoppers of all ages for its diverse selection and comfortable spaces.
Shinjuku truly is a shopper’s paradise. There are so many department stores just around the station that you couldn’t visit them all even if you spent the whole day shopping! This time, I made a special trip to the Keio Department Store Shinjuku to look for women’s shoes~ The Japanese women’s shoe brand HIMIKO focuses on footwear that is both stylish and practical, offering everything from elegant heels and everyday loafers to casual shoes. The styles have a distinctly Japanese look, and the designs are easy to coordinate with different outfits. If you’re passing by, head upstairs and take a look. You might find a style that suits you~
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