Nagomi no Yoneya “Peanut Monaka”
Yoneya Co., Ltd. was founded in 1899 (Meiji 32). With the first owner selling yokan (sweet bean jelly) with local Shiba chestnuts as a starting point, the store has produced numerous successful products, mainly Japanese desserts.
The Peanut Monaka is truly delicious! The texture is smooth and you get a rich peanut flavor with every bite.
Yachi Onsen
Boasting over 400 years of history, Yachi Onsen in Aomori Prefecture is counted among Japan's three great hidden hot springs, alongside Tokushima Prefecture's Iya Valley Onsen and Hokkaido's Niseko Onsen.
The scenery around the hot spring area is absolutely lovely, surrounded by mountains and rivers. Walking through the onsen district, you can enjoy the natural beauty and really feel the wonders of nature.
Tanesashi Coast
Tanesashi Coast is a beautiful coastline with diverse landscapes, located within the Sanriku Reconstruction National Park and designated as a national scenic spot. Visitors can enjoy a variety of flowers, natural grasslands, a coastline with strange rocks and boulders, a century-old pine forest, and charming black-tailed gulls.
This is a fantastic place where you can enjoy both a scenic walking trail and beautiful ocean views at the same time.
Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art
The Hirosaki Brick Warehouse Museum opened in 2020, set inside a historic, century-old red brick warehouse. The building was known by the name Yoshino-cho brick warehouse since its heyday as a sake brewery during the Meiji and Taisho eras, but still stands today as a beloved treasure that shaped the landscape of Hirosaki.
This museum has exhibited works by Yoshitomo Nara, whose art is full of pet dogs, sheep, and vivid colors. The portraits have such unique expressions—definitely worth seeing. Plus, the museum itself is really special, since it's a renovated Meiji-era warehouse with historical and cultural significance. In Japan, you can really feel the sense of history and tradition everywhere. It's definitely worth a visit.
Towada-Hachimantai National Park
This magnificent national park stretches across the mountainous regions of Aomori, Iwate, and Akita Prefectures. It consists of two major areas: the Towada-Hakkoda area, which includes the famous Oirase Stream, Lake Towada, and Mount Hakkoda, and the Hachimantai area, which includes Mount Iwate and Mount Akita Komagatake.
Towada-Hachimantai National Park is a treasure trove of nature. There are so many ways to experience the outdoors here, and it's the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle and get close to nature. I really felt refreshed and happy.
Tottori Sand Dunes The Sand Museum
The world’s first museum, curating sand creations. It is produced by Katsuhiko Chaen, who was selected as “100 Most Respected Japanese People.” He invites sand sculptors from all over the world to display sand sculpture at the global top level.
They change the exhibition themes from time to time, so there's always something new. The sand sculptures are super detailed and lifelike—really impressive work.
Shukkeien Garden
Shukkeien Garden dates back to 1620 when Asano Nagaakira, the feudal load, ruled the Hiroshima area and ordered the construction of the garden for his villa.
The koi in the pond are beautiful. You can buy food for JPY 100 and feed them.
Okayama Korakuen
Tsunamasa Ikeda, the feudal lord of Okayama ordered the creation of this garden as a spot of relaxation. In 1700, the garden was complete. As the years went by, the scenery of the garden changed. Once a relaxing spot, the garden gained kinetic energy with the creation of water streams, and lakes.
The garden is really well maintained, and the scenery is fantastic!
Atomic Bomb Dome (Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park)
The Atomic Bomb Dome, in its original design, was completed as the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotional Hall, by Czech architect Jan Letzel on April 5th, 1915. However, as it stood just 160 meters from the epicenter of the atomic bomb, it suffered severe damage from the blast. With a gutted steel frame and damaged exterior, its known colloquially as the Atomic Bomb Dome, a building that stands in testament to the tragic history unfolded here.
We need to remember the lessons of history and never repeat such tragedies again. 🙏
Hagi Castle Town
Hagi prospered for 260 years as a castle town after Mori Terumoto built Hagi Castle in 1604. White or earthen walls and black board hedges line the beautiful town, which has preserved the townscape from Edo Period so well that people say, “You can use the map from Edo Period to this day.”
The old city layout is so well preserved—it really feels like stepping back into the Edo period.