Shurijo Castle Park | Review by Eddie

This time I visited Hatogaya Hachiman Shrine. Compared with other, more famous shrines in Japan, it was much quieter here. There weren't huge crowds, and I didn't have to keep waiting for people to move out of the way before taking pictures. I could take my time walking around and taking photos, and the whole setting felt very pleasant.

I personally think this place is really great for photos. Every angle has a different feel, and every picture looks good. You also don't have to worry about getting a bunch of strangers in your shots, so you can frame them however you like, which is a big plus! At popular shrines, sometimes you have to wait a long time just to find an angle for a photo, and you still might not get a shot you're happy with. A quieter place like this actually lets you really appreciate the surroundings.

It was really nice to come across a place like this during my trip. There was no need to rush or squeeze through crowds, and I could just walk around and take photos at my own pace. If you also prefer quieter shrines and want to take some good pictures, you can explore this place comfortably and leave with plenty of photos you like.

I came to Tokyo in May and originally planned to buy a regular-colored taiyaki, but the moment I saw the black one, I immediately thought, “Oh my gosh, you don’t come across this very often!” 😂

So I switched to the black one right away. The outside had a slight aroma, and the red bean filling inside was very smooth and soft. The sweetness was just right, so it didn’t become too rich after only a few bites. It was unexpectedly delicious.

Since the weather was already getting warm in May, the shop also offered chilled flavors in addition to the original. I couldn’t resist buying the black one first this time, so I didn’t get to try the other flavors. If I get the chance next time, I definitely want to try them all!

The location is also a huge plus. Just take the Ginza Line to G14 Suehirocho Station, and it’s right outside the station, so you don’t have to spend any time looking for it. Afterward, you can take a walk and browse around Akihabara along the way. The location is really great and very convenient!

I visited Yufuin in December and came across a SNOOPY collaboration shop while walking around. It was a nice surprise, and anyone who likes SNOOPY would probably have a hard time resisting stopping to take a few photos. Unfortunately, I was short on time that day, so I couldn't go inside. I just took a few photos at the entrance and left.

After I got back, I looked it up on Google and found out that they not only have all kinds of SNOOPY collaboration merchandise, but also matcha soft serve, which looked really tempting. If I'd known they had all that inside, I probably would have tried harder to make time to look around.

This trip also made me realize that for a place like Yufuin, I really shouldn't join a tour next time. Traveling independently would suit me better. On group tours, you often just get off the bus at an attraction, take some photos, walk around briefly, and then have to rush back to the bus when time is up. There isn't enough time to go into many of the shops you want to see. It was a bit of a shame that I could only take photos outside this time. I'll have to save it for next time and explore at a more relaxed pace.