LUCKY PIERROT Front of The Hakodate Station store | Review by Linda Liao

LaLaport Tokyo-Bay, located in Funabashi, Chiba, is a very large shopping mall about a 5-minute walk from JR Minami-Funabashi Station. It has clothing stores, household goods, electronics, anime merchandise, a variety of restaurants, the Pokémon Center Tokyo Bay, and more, all worth browsing. This time I came with my family to walk around. Although it wasn’t sale season yet and we didn’t have anything in particular we wanted to buy, we still spent quite a bit of time just browsing. At noon, we went to the food court on the third floor of the North Building and ordered tendon from the popular restaurant Kaneko Hannosuke. The crispy tempura was served with a sweet and savory sauce, and the portion was quite satisfying.

This time, I specifically chose to visit during peak cherry blossom season and brought my family to Nara. After leaving the station, we headed toward Todaiji Temple, and the first thing that came into view was the historic Kohfukuji Temple. Kohfukuji is an important cultural heritage site in Nara, and its five-story pagoda is one of the city's most iconic landmarks. The traditional temple buildings exuded a calm and solemn atmosphere, and paired with the soft pink cherry blossoms of spring, they made us stop and admire the scenery. The National Treasure Museum within the temple grounds also caught my eye with its striking red beams and columns and modern exterior, creating an interesting contrast with the surrounding ancient temple buildings. Simply strolling around was full of surprises.

We then continued toward Todaiji Temple, where the magnificent Great Buddha Hall and solemn Great Buddha of Nara were breathtaking. I still remember excitedly waiting in line during my first visit to crawl through the hole in the wooden pillar behind the Great Buddha, praying for good health and protection from misfortune. Seeing that hole again this time, I felt a little nervous instead and could only laugh as I remembered how brave I had been back then. After that, we walked into Kasuga Taisha Shrine, where the ancient trees and stone lanterns lining the approach created a mysterious atmosphere. We also came across sika deer roaming freely, as if we had entered a forest protected by the gods.

After enjoying the cherry blossoms, ancient temples, and herds of deer along the way, don't forget to finish with a satisfying meal at Shizuka Kamameshi. The piping-hot kamameshi was wonderfully fragrant, with the rice soaking up the flavors of the seafood and broth. The lightly scorched rice crust at the bottom was especially unforgettable!

When visiting Hakone, if you want to relax and enjoy a traditional Japanese hot spring inn, consider staying at Toki no Yu Setsugetsuka. The inn has an old-world atmosphere and is full of Japanese charm. Every guest room has an open-air hinoki cypress bath, and there is also a large public bath and free private open-air baths, so guests can fully enjoy the hot springs. For dinner, you can choose from different set meals based on your preferences, and female guests can select a yukata they like, adding to the Japanese vacation atmosphere. Best of all, the inn is right next to Gora Station, about a 1-minute walk away, making it very convenient for taking the mountain railway or exploring the Hakone area.