Okinawa World | Review by Eddie

Seeing this Statue of Liberty in Odaiba was still really interesting. The weather wasn't very good that day—the sky was gray and it was a little windy—but it didn't affect my mood while walking around at all. Standing by the water and looking at the Statue of Liberty, with Tokyo Bay and the cityscape behind it, felt a little different from the Tokyo I had imagined, but it was unexpectedly beautiful.

It was my first time in Tokyo. I took an overnight flight and arrived at Narita Airport a little after 6 a.m. By the time I got to Asakusa, it was already around 9 or 10. I chose to stay in Asakusa because of its more traditional atmosphere. After dropping off my luggage, I quickly headed out, eager to soak up the excitement of my first visit to Tokyo.

I didn't expect the wind and rain to be so heavy that day. Even with an umbrella, I struggled a bit while walking along Shin Nakamise Shopping Street, but it didn't dampen my enthusiasm at all. Seeing Asakusa's lively streets with a touch of old Tokyo for the first time actually made it feel even more like a real trip. Although the weather didn't cooperate, the memory of those first few hours after arriving in Tokyo still feels very special when I think back on it now.

When visiting Shodoshima in November, I was looking forward to Kankakei the most.

As I rode the ropeway up the mountain, I realized the scenery below was even more beautiful than I had imagined. Many of the maple leaves in the valley had already turned red, mixed with yellow and green trees. Together with Kankakei's strangely shaped rock formations, the scenery had a lot of depth. As the ropeway slowly climbed, the view kept changing from different angles.

Once I reached the top, the weather was great, and I could see the Seto Inland Sea directly from the observation deck. The mountains covered in maple leaves were in front of me, with the blue sea and small islands farther away. It felt different from the view I had just seen from the ropeway.

At the top, there's also a place where you can throw small clay discs. I bought a little kawarake and threw it toward an iron ring in the valley. It's said to ward off evil and bring good fortune. It was my first time, so I don't know if I succeeded, but everyone just kept throwing them, and it was unexpectedly fun.

Afterward, I walked around the area for a while. It was already a little cold up on the mountain in November, and there were quite a few fallen leaves on the ground. There really isn't anything complicated to do at Kankakei—just ride the ropeway, look at the maple leaves and the sea, and take a leisurely walk—but I actually found that very relaxing.

If you happen to visit Shodoshima in November, I think Kankakei is worth a visit. It's especially beautiful during the fall foliage season.