Shinkyo Bridge | Review by Gina C

While visiting Okinawa, I made a special trip to the iconic Shurijo Castle Park. Before even entering the main area, I saw the towering red walls and historic stone gates. The style is very different from typical Japanese castles and has a strong Ryukyu Kingdom character. Once inside the park, I slowly made my way up the winding stone paths and steps. The walls on both sides were spectacular, and it felt as if I had traveled back in time and stepped into the history of the former Ryukyu Kingdom.

Along the way, I admired the historic buildings. Although the weather was a little hot and the walk took some effort, seeing these preserved historic ruins made it well worth it. What impressed me most were the vivid vermilion buildings with their intricate traditional Ryukyuan decorations, which gave them a unique, exotic atmosphere.

Visiting in person, I also learned that Shurijo Castle had suffered a fire and that some areas are still being restored and rebuilt. Seeing the reconstruction work gave me a stronger sense of how much local people value and preserve their history and culture. This was more than just a sightseeing trip; it also gave me a deeper understanding of Okinawa's history.

While visiting Nikko, I took a bus to Lake Chuzenji. Along the way, it passed through the very famous Irohazaka Winding Road (いろは坂). Its most distinctive feature is the seemingly endless series of hairpin turns as the road keeps climbing up the mountain, with views of the forested mountains from different angles along the way. I was originally looking forward to enjoying the scenery outside the window, but once I actually rode the bus, I realized that this mountain road was much more thrilling than I had imagined!

The bus kept turning left and right, with a sharp curve every short distance. As it twisted and turned, I started to feel dizzy and even a little nauseous. Motion sickness was really unpleasant. Although the scenery along the way was beautiful, I wasn't in the mood to enjoy it at all and just hoped the bus would reach the destination soon.

You definitely shouldn't miss the famous Nikko Toshogu when visiting Nikko! What attracted me most were the famous Three Wise Monkeys and Sleeping Cat. I finally had the chance to see these classic carvings that often appear in textbooks and travel guides. The three monkeys cover their eyes, ears, and mouth, representing seeing no evil, hearing no evil, and speaking no evil. The carvings are very vivid and interesting. Seeing them in person, I thought they were truly distinctive and couldn't help stopping to take a closer look.

Another must-see is the Sleeping Cat, a small cat carved into the building. It looks very cute, and it's hard to believe it's such a historic work of art. There are also many intricate and elaborate carvings to see, especially the magnificent gold decorations on the buildings. Every detail is impressive.

The entire Toshogu complex was even more fascinating than I had imagined, with many places along the way worth photographing and admiring. Although there were quite a few visitors, seeing these famous historic sites in person was still very worthwhile!