Follow the path behind Itsukushima Shrine toward the mountain and step into Momijidani Park, and it instantly feels like you’ve plunged into a secluded paradise surrounded by lush greenery and red maple leaves! The park sits at the foot of the primeval forest on Mount Misen, Miyajima’s highest peak, with nearly 700 maple trees of all kinds planted along both sides of the Momijidani River. In summer, the mountains are covered in bright, fresh greenery, while the air is filled with the refreshing scent of the forest and the cool mist from the murmuring stream. In fall, it becomes truly spectacular, with the entire valley layered in shades of yellow, orange, and deep red, as breathtakingly beautiful as if nature had spilled its palette! As you walk along the stone path covered in fallen leaves, you may also spot wild deer gracefully strolling and foraging beneath the trees. The scene is so soothing that you won’t want to blink.
Momijidani Park | Review by Jk
Other Reviews by Jk
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Arima Onsen
A famous hot spring that represents Kansai, which springs at the northern foot of Mt. Rokko. It is a historical hot spring that appears in "Nihon Shoki" and "Fudoki", and is one of the "Three Ancient Springs of Japan".
Hot white steam and a faint rusty mineral scent immediately drift through the air, making you feel like you’ve stepped into an old-fashioned Japanese movie! Ranked as one of Japan’s Three Ancient Hot Springs, its history goes back so far that even ancient emperors, nobles, and the great Sengoku-era ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi couldn’t get enough of it, coming here from time to time to soak and recover. The entire hot spring town is built along the mountainside. As you slowly climb the winding, hilly stone-paved path called Yumotozaka, you’ll see old-fashioned wooden machiya townhouses, teahouses, and souvenir shops made of dark wood lining both sides. With the crisp clacking of wooden geta, even just wandering around feels incredibly relaxing and restorative.
The most exciting highlight of Arima is definitely its two magical hot springs with completely opposite qualities—Kinsen and Ginsen! Kinsen is originally clear when it emerges, but because the water contains extremely high concentrations of iron ions and salt, it oxidizes upon contact with the air and turns a rich reddish brown. It looks just like a pool of warm, creamy milk tea. It retains heat extremely well, warming your entire body and really driving away the cold. Even the free public footbath by the entrance is always filled with travelers relaxing and soaking their feet. Ginsen, on the other hand, is a clear and transparent carbonated and radioactive spring. After soaking, your skin feels silky smooth, and the circulation throughout your body feels better. Two kinds of enjoyment, all in one visit!
Besides soaking until every pore in your body feels refreshed, the local street food around the hot spring town is impossible to resist! Freshly made, steaming onsen manju are soft, fragrant, and sweet when you bite into them. The thin, crisp traditional tansan senbei have a light sweetness, and you can also grab a cold, refreshing bottle of local Arima carbonated soda along the way. The moment the refreshing bubbles burst on your tongue, they perfectly balance the lingering warmth from the hot spring. -
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Canal City Hakata
On the vast 43,500m² premises, a shopping mall, movie complex, theater, amusement park and two hotels cluster. Its symbol, a 180m-long canal, crosses along the center of the space lined with colorful buildings.
Canal City Hakata, Fukuoka’s liveliest entertainment complex, immediately draws you in with its spectacular, winding, reddish-brown wave-shaped building! The entire mall is cleverly built around a semi-open-air artificial canal about 180 meters long. Water flows leisurely through the center of the mall, while curved terraces rise in layers on both sides, like a miniature Venice hidden in the heart of the city, full of flowing lines and modern beauty. Head to the central Sun Plaza and enjoy the cool breeze, and you can always feel the open and lively shopping atmosphere.
The biggest highlight of Canal City is definitely the fountain show held at regular intervals in the central pool! Accompanied by powerful, rhythmic music, dozens of jets sway gracefully at times, then shoot several stories high like rockets, with the spray sparkling brightly in the sunlight. At night, there’s also a 3D water-screen projection mapping show that incorporates the building’s glass exterior. Dazzling lights, three-dimensional projections, and dancing water fill the air, instantly transforming the entire mall into a huge outdoor fantasy theater. The visual effects are incredibly impressive!
Besides taking photos and watching the shows, this place is also a shopping paradise packed with food, drinks, and entertainment. On the fifth floor is Ramen Stadium (ラーメンスタジアム), a must-visit for ramen fans from all over Japan, bringing together extremely popular shops from Hokkaido to Kyushu that usually have long lines. Whenever you need a break from shopping, you can choose a rich tonkotsu or flavorful miso ramen and dig in. The mall also has a huge JUMP SHOP, a Disney Store, Sanrio, a large Donguri Republic, and all kinds of trendy clothing and accessories. There’s so much to browse and buy that you could easily spend the whole day here! -
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Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport Fukuoka
A large-scale commercial complex that opened on April 25, 2022 on the site of a former fruit and vegetable market in Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City. It is the first "LaLaport" in Kyushu and boasts approximately 220 stores, many of which opened for the first time in Kyushu.
At the Outdoor Forest Plaza at LaLaport Fukuoka, one quick look up at this enormous robot will definitely leave you speechless at how cool it is! This life-size, 1:1-scale RX-93ff ν Gundam stands nearly 25 meters tall, making it the tallest life-size Gundam statue ever built in Japan. Standing at its feet makes you feel as tiny as an ant. The classic blue-and-white body has incredibly sharp lines, and it carries an eye-catching, exclusive Long Range Fin Funnel on its back. Set against the blue sky, white clouds, and the building's curved exterior, it looks imposing and majestic. Just seeing it from a distance gets your blood pumping and makes it impossible to stop taking pictures!
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