Wakame furikake is perfect with rice! Just sprinkle it over steaming white rice, and the aroma of the wakame comes out right away. Mix it in, and the rice becomes very flavorful.
It has a pleasantly salty, savory taste, with a light ocean flavor from the wakame and the aroma of the furikake. It tastes great with plain white rice and doesn’t need much additional seasoning. When you’re busy, just sprinkle some on to make a bowl of white rice more flavorful!
Shinkyogoku Shopping Street
Spanning approximately 500m from Sanjo Street to Shijo Street in the heart of Kyoto, Shinkyogoku Street buzzes daily with locals, tourists, and school trip students. The Shinkyogoku Shopping Street, celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2022, stands as Japan's second oldest shopping district.
When in Kyoto, you definitely have to check out Shinkyogoku Shopping Street. It has a strong Kyoto shopping atmosphere, with plenty of clothing stores, drugstores, souvenir shops, and restaurants along the way, so you can take your time browsing and hunting for finds.
The shopping street is covered, so you don’t have to worry too much even if it rains, making it very convenient to explore. There are also quite a few small shops with a distinctive Kyoto feel along the way, and it’s easy to find souvenirs or something to eat.
Noboribetsu Bear Park
Located at an altitude of 550 meters on the summit of Shihorei Mountain, Noboribetsu Bear Park is accessible via a 7-minute ropeway ride from the foothill station in Noboribetsu Onsen Town. Over 60 lively brown bears reside here.
You can see the brown bears up close at the park. Watching these large, powerful bears moving around is truly impressive. The most interesting part is feeding time. As soon as the bears see food, they come right over, and their quick, adorable movements make it hard to look away!
It was my first time seeing brown bears from such a close distance, and it felt very special! Hokkaido has not only beautiful natural scenery but also fun experiences like this, so it’s a great addition to a Noboribetsu itinerary.
Lake Toyako Long Run Fireworks Display
The Lake Toyako Long Run Fireworks Display began in 1982 as a way to attract tourists back to the area after the 1977 eruption of Mount Usu. Held at Toyako Onsen, this spectacular event runs for six months each year, from late April to the end of October. Every night at 8:45pm, around 450 fireworks illuminate the sky for approximately 20 minutes, their vibrant, colorful reflections bounding over the lake’s surface in a mesmerizing display.
At Lake Toya in Hokkaido, we happened to catch the Lake Toyako Long Run Fireworks Display. The atmosphere by the lake at night was especially romantic, with fireworks bursting over the lake and reflecting on the water. It was truly beautiful!
Enjoying the fireworks while feeling the evening breeze off the lake was very relaxing. Fireworks rose into the sky one after another, adding a lively touch to the usually tranquil scenery of Lake Toya!
