This is one of the rare places in Tokyo where you can see autumn leaves at night. It's truly precious, having been preserved since the Edo period.
Rikugien Gardens | Review by 陳豐収
Other Reviews by 陳豐収
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Otaru City Nishin Goten (Herring Mansion)
Perched on a cape with sweeping views of Ishikari Bay near Otaru Aquarium, the Otaru City Nishin Goten is a former “banya” (a fishermen’s lodging and work hut) from the herring-fishing boom of the Meiji to Taisho eras. Originally built in Tomari Village, Furuu District in Nishi-Shakotan, it was relocated and restored here in 1958. Preserving the original form of a valuable Meiji-era wooden structure built over seven years using 540 tons of timber, it is designated a Tangible Cultural Property of Hokkaido.
The wooden building is really impressive, but it doesn’t feel intimidating or too formal. You can totally picture how booming the herring industry must’ve been back then.
Inside is huge, and as you walk around you really feel how different life was in those days. The ocean view out the windows is a big plus too. It’s kind of a reflective place.
A quieter, more “museum-like” spot in Otaru, but with a lot of character. -
Osaka Prefectural Sayamaike Museum
Sayamaike, Japan’s oldest dam-style reservoir, was built 1,400 years ago. Over the centuries, a range of historical figures took part in its repairs, including Gyoki in the Nara period, Chogen in the Kamakura period, and Katagiri Katsumoto in the Edo period. The Osaka Prefectural Sayamaike Museum preserves and displays materials related to civil engineering techniques used in these repairs and flood control.
This place really surprised me in a good way. The Tadao Ando-designed building has so much style, and it feels cool and super photogenic the moment you walk in.
The exhibits are mainly about the history of Sayamaike and waterworks engineering, but they’re presented in a way that never feels boring. There’s also a huge water wall display that looks really impressive.
The whole space feels open and relaxing, so it’s easy to explore without feeling crowded. If you like architecture or just want a quiet spot with an artsy vibe, this place is definitely worth checking out. -
Atsuta Jingu (Atsuta Shrine)
About 1900 years ago, one of the Three Sacred Treasures (in Japanese mythology, the goddess, Amaterasu-Omikami, conferred on them. They were handed down as the proof of imperial succession), Kusanagi-no-tsurugi (sacred sword) , was dedicated here, which is said to be the beginning of this shrine.
The forest coverage here is impressive. This is the place where one of Japan's Three Sacred Treasures, the Kusanagi Sword, is enshrined. The shrine holds a highly respected status, second only to Ise Jingu.