Ritsurin Garden | Review by Eddie

At Fushimi Inari, there were just so many people that it was really hard to take a photo without anyone else in it 😂 Sometimes, just as I found a good angle, someone would step into the frame the next second. I took quite a few photos, but in the end, there were only a handful that I actually wanted to keep.

Still, it was only after walking through it in person that I could truly appreciate the charm of Fushimi Inari. The vermilion torii gates form a long, continuous path stretching into the mountain, and the sight is truly spectacular. I walked slowly along the way. Although it was crowded and I got a little tired after walking for a while, passing between the torii gates still felt very special.

Some places are hard to capture in photos, but seeing them in person can still be breathtaking. Especially when you turn around and look back at that vast stretch of torii gates, you can't help but stop for a little longer. Maybe that's what makes Fushimi Inari so appealing. Whether the photos turn out well isn't really that important. It's only after walking through and seeing it for yourself that you understand why this has always been such a popular attraction in Kyoto.

When I left Osaka in January this year, I watched the sunset at the airport before my flight home and felt a little reluctant to leave. The sunset that day felt so peaceful that I couldn't help telling myself, “I definitely have to come back next time.”

I never expected those words to actually come true this December. I've already bought my plane ticket, and this time I'm ready to fully enjoy Osaka and eat plenty of good food, making up for all the places I didn't get to visit last time.

The airport itself may not be much of an attraction, but sometimes that's how travel is. A sunset you happen to see can stay in your memory for a long time. Watching the sky slowly turn orange-red was so, so beautiful. 🌅

I also really like this feeling—when you're leaving a city, but you're already looking forward to seeing it again.

I came to Yanagawa in December, originally thinking the winter scenery might be a little plain. But as I walked along the river, I was surprised to see how beautifully red the willows on both sides were. It felt a little different from the Yanagawa I had imagined. After boarding the riverboat, it slowly made its way along the waterway. We could see many traditional houses and streetscapes on both sides, and occasionally people walking by would wave at the boat.

Although the weather in December was a little cold, sitting on the boat with the breeze and looking at the red willows on both sides actually felt very comfortable. I wasn't rushing to follow a schedule, so I just sat there, took my time, and enjoyed the scenery. It felt like a very fitting way to experience Yanagawa.