Hama-Rikyu Gardens is located beside Tokyo Bay, only about a 10-minute walk from Hamamatsucho Station. This imperial garden, which dates back to the Edo period, features Tokyo's only seawater pond, Shioiri Pond, whose appearance changes with the tides. Surrounded by old pine trees, the garden has elegant scenery, and the Nakajima-no-Ochaya teahouse in the middle of the pond is an excellent place to enjoy matcha and wagashi. Walking through the garden, you can experience the tranquil charm of a traditional Japanese garden while also taking in a distinctive urban landscape where modern high-rises rise in the distance.
Hama-Rikyu Gardens | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
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REAL DRIP COFFEE No.12 by Ueshima Coffee House
A new concept by Ueshima Coffee House, a brand that carries on Japan’s kissaten (coffeehouse) culture, REAL DRIP COFFEE No.12 opened in 2019 on the 5th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square Shops & Restaurants. It retains the refined atmosphere of Ueshima Coffee House, while offering an even more evolved coffee experience.
旅行途中有時為了趕行程，沒有預訂飯店早餐，就會沿路尋找喜歡的咖啡廳，買杯咖啡提神，再外帶三明治填飽肚子。有一次走進上島珈琲店，點了一杯拿鐵，咖啡香醇、奶香柔和，整體表現相當不錯，算是中上水準。上島珈琲是日本 UCC 旗下的咖啡品牌，主打融合傳統喫茶店韻味與現代咖啡文化，尤其重視咖啡的醇厚口感，店內氛圍也比一般速食咖啡店多了幾分沉穩與懷舊感。時間允許的話也很推薦坐下來在店裡慢慢享用。
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Peko-chan
Peko-chan appears on the packaging of Milky, a longtime favorite among Fujiya’s candies. She is forever six, and her name is a Western-style adaptation of beko, an affectionate Japanese term for a calf. She loves sweets and helps spread the word about Fujiya’s treats.
When it comes to classic Japanese snacks, you can't leave out Fujiya's Peko-chan! This adorable girl with pigtails and her tongue sticking out has been part of many people's childhoods and remains a familiar, classic character today. As a child, my favorite treat was Fujiya's milk candy. Its rich milky aroma and sweet flavor still bring back so many memories. In addition to snacks, Fujiya also offers all kinds of Peko-chan merchandise, from desserts to everyday items that are hard to resist. I've visited Peko-chan specialty stores in Fukuoka and Kagurazaka, Tokyo. Every time I see all these cute products, I can't help but stop and look, as if I've rediscovered the happiness of childhood~
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Mojiko Retro Tourist Souvenir Hall “Minato House”
Mojiko Retro, one of Kitakyushu City’s most iconic sightseeing areas, preserves the atmosphere of the port town that once thrived on international trade. The area is lined with historic buildings designated as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan, such as the Former Moji Mitsui Club-where Einstein once stayed-and JR Mojiko Station, built in 1914. Nearby, you’ll also find the Blue Wing Moji, one of the largest pedestrian drawbridges in Japan, making the area full of fascinating sights.
The Mojiko Retro Tourist Souvenir Hall “Minato House” has a food court and a variety of local souvenirs to choose from. I was just casually browsing when some banana-shaped treats caught my eye, and that’s when I discovered the special connection between bananas and Mojiko Port! Starting in the Meiji era, large quantities of Taiwanese bananas were imported to Japan through Mojiko Port. To quickly sell bananas that had been damaged or become overripe during transport, a unique culture of “banana hawking” gradually developed and became one of Mojiko Port’s signature features. When you visit Mojiko Port, don’t forget to take home a few banana treats to try〜
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