Nakanoshima | Review by Norton Liang

I came here for master architect Tadao Ando's special exhibition “Youth.”
This area was designed as an urban oasis, with a water play area next to it. Osaka truly is a city that thrives on water!
A very relaxing 😌 area where you can shop 🛍️, see exhibitions, play in the water, and even stay at a luxury hotel!
“VS.” is a new cultural hub within the GRAND GREEN OSAKA redevelopment project in Umeda, Osaka. GRAND GREEN OSAKA is a large-scale urban development that integrates facilities such as the station, department stores, and office buildings, and “VS.” is one of its major cultural facilities.
“VS.”
Type: A cultural hub and digital exhibition space designed and supervised by Tadao Ando.
Purpose: It aims to bring together technology, arts and humanities, traditional culture, and innovative thinking, providing a space where different creative groups can inspire one another.
Features:
It has an exhibition space with a ceiling height of up to 15 meters, suitable for immersive visual art performances and large-scale installations.
It has studios of different sizes, as well as a multipurpose area called “V Space,” with a café and bar suitable for various events.
It has no permanent exhibits or specific theme. Instead, it regularly hosts world-class special exhibitions and innovative projects.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I especially recommend LOHE Cafe inside.

Shijo Street in Kyoto’s Gion district (Gion Shopping Street) connects Yasaka Shrine with the Kamo River and is filled with the historic charm of the ancient capital and long-established shops.
1. Century-old and classic shops on Gion Shopping Street
* Shogoin Yatsuhashi Sohonten (Gion location)
Founded in 1689 (Genroku 2), this shop has a history of more than 300 years and is one of Kyoto’s most iconic traditional makers of yatsuhashi sweets.

* Kyo Tsukimachi-an (Gion location):
A specialty shop for Kyoto dagashi candy and hand-grilled rice crackers with a tradition dating back to the first year of the Meiji era.
* Highlights: The shop specializes in freshly grilled, handmade bean crackers (teyaki senbei). Artisans can often be seen turning the crackers over the grill at the storefront, filling the air with the aroma of charcoal and beans. The shop’s signature Fukudaruma mini cookies are also very popular and make nostalgic gifts for friends and family.
* Tsuruha Yakushido (Tsuruha Drug Gion location)
* Highlights: This store blends the modern Tsuruha Drug pharmacy chain into Gion’s traditional streetscape. A sign reading “Tsuruha Yakushido,” featuring the traditional crane logo and a noren curtain, hangs at the entrance, giving it a distinctly old-fashioned feel among Kyoto’s many drugstores.

* miffy à la maison Miffy Oyatsu-do (Gion location)
* Highlights: A Miffy-themed shop offering Kyoto wagashi and selected goods, with a cute, large Miffy figure welcoming visitors at the entrance. The shop sells a variety of exclusive Miffy products incorporating traditional Kyoto crafts, Japanese-style patterns, and wagashi-inspired packaging.

2. BEAMS JAPAN in Kyoto’s Gion district
* BEAMS JAPAN Gion
* Location: On the first floor of the Kanji Museum along Shijo Street in Gion (551 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto).
* What makes it distinctly Kyoto and Gion:
* Traditional noren curtains and historic Kyoto atmosphere: Unlike a typical modern fashion store, the Gion location has a strongly Japanese-style entrance and wooden facade that blend into Gion’s traditional streetscape.
* Japanese crafts and locally exclusive selections: Centered on the “BEAMS JAPAN” concept, it promotes traditional Japanese crafts, renowned products, and subcultures. The Gion location offers many exclusive collaborations, souvenirs, and limited-edition clothing created with traditional Kyoto artisans and inspired by the local culture of Kyoto and Gion.
* A combination of culture and sightseeing: Located along the main approach to Yasaka Shrine, it seamlessly connects visits to historic sites with contemporary fashion trends.
While strolling through Gion Shopping Street, you can enjoy freshly grilled rice crackers and traditional yatsuhashi while visiting BEAMS JAPAN, which incorporates the character of the ancient capital. It’s a great way to deeply experience Kyoto’s unique blend of tradition and modernity!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Highly recommended
You have to visit BEAMS JAPAN Gion
to admire this masterpiece

The dazzling gold artwork inside BEAMS—Taizo Minagawa’s “Venice”
: This imposing and brilliantly golden hanging decoration displayed inside the store is the renowned work “Venice,” created in 1979 (Showa 54) by the late, celebrated Kyoto textile artist Taizo Minagawa.
Bullet point Deep ties to the Gion Festival: This work actually has great historical significance—it was originally used as the miokuri, a large decorative textile hung at the back of a festival float, on Iwatoyama, one of the yamahoko floats in the early procession of Kyoto’s famous Gion Festival.
Bullet point Artistic features:
Bullet point Technique: It uses the exquisite traditional roketsuzome wax-resist dyeing technique, combining linen fabric with brilliant, gold-leaf-like colors to create a distinctive sense of coolness and depth.
Bullet point Imagery: With the classical architecture and waterways of Venice as the background, the foreground depicts elegant white birds (swans) standing and spreading their wings, perfectly blending European exoticism with traditional Japanese textile craftsmanship.
Bullet point Display at BEAMS: Through its product selections and interior design, BEAMS JAPAN frequently introduces the public to top-quality crafts and local cultures from across Japan. Displaying this valuable textile artwork, which originally belonged to a Gion Festival float, not only reflects Kyoto’s deep historical heritage but also allows visitors to experience up close the powerful blend of traditional and modern aesthetics.

Highly recommended
Blue Bottle Coffee (Kobe), located next to Daimaru Kobe, is a stylish coffee stop that many people enjoy visiting when in Kobe:
* Excellent location and atmosphere: It is located in the historic, international-feeling Former Foreign Settlement of Kobe. The streets are clean and elegant, making this a great area for an afternoon stroll among European-style historic buildings and modern luxury shops. After your walk, stopping by for a cup of coffee when your feet get tired is an extremely relaxing way to continue your day.
* Interior design: The spacious shop has high ceilings, with Blue Bottle's signature white and concrete gray color palette, warm brass accents, and large floor-to-ceiling windows. It gets plenty of natural light, has comfortable seating, and blends perfectly with the elegant character of the Former Foreign Settlement.
* Specialty items and ice cream: In addition to its signature pour-over coffee, lattes, and refined light meals, locations in the Kansai area, including those around Kobe, have also offered popular soft-serve options. These include rich and creamy milk soft serve made with milk from Biei, Hokkaido, as well as refreshing varieties with distinctive herb and honey flavors. Enjoyed with waffles or a dessert parfait, they are an excellent way to get a little sugar boost after a walk.
If you're strolling near the Former Foreign Settlement, consider stopping by to rest your feet and enjoy a slow-paced afternoon!