Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory "Milk Cheese Busse"
The Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory, known for its dedication to using high-quality milk, cheese, and other carefully selected ingredients, is a renowned confectionery brand that aims to create delightful and surprising sweets. One of its standout offerings is the Milk Cheese Busse, launched in 2022 and available exclusively at Haneda Airport.
Tried another new flavor—strawberry cheese.
Ashikaga Flower Park
At Ashikaga Flower Park, you can enjoy the sight of all kinds of seasonal flowers, which adorn the park according to eight themes: "Early Spring", "The Spring Flower Festival", "A Tale of the Wisteria", "Rainbow Garden", "Blue and White Garden", "The Flower Faeries Who Float By the Water", "Purple Garden", and "The Garden of Illuminated Flowers". The park is a popular location, enjoying not only local visitors, but those from abroad.
The wisteria cascades at Ashikaga Flower Park truly deserve their reputation as a “world-class view”! When the century-old giant wisteria are in full bloom, they hang down from the massive trellises like waterfalls. When the breeze blows, you’re surrounded by romantic waves of purple, with a light floral fragrance in the air. It’s such a stunning experience that you completely lose track of time.
It’s definitely a breathtaking sight you should see at least once in your life, but the crowds are a major challenge. Especially during wisteria season, not only is the traffic heavy, but it’s also really hard to find a seat at the restaurants and food stalls inside the park. Even just waiting in line for food can take quite a while.
teamLab Planets TOKYO DMM.com
The art collective teamLab is known for creating immersive, interactive experiences using cutting-edge digital technology. At teamLab Planets TOKYO DMM.com, step into the sheer awe of art that blurs the line between observer and the art itself. The museum saw a major renovation in January 2025, expanding event space by about 1.5 times and adding an outdoor area.
TeamLab Planets really takes “immersive” to the next level! The way it breaks down the boundary between your body and the art is incredible. Whether it’s the light and shadows moving across the water or the crystal universe stretching endlessly into the distance, everything pulls you completely into this magical space the moment you step inside.
Make sure to reserve your ticket in advance.
Ishigaki Island
Ishigaki Island is a main island of Yaeyama islands in located approximately 400 km southwest of Okinawa main island in the East China Sea. It takes about a 50-minute flight from Okinawa main island. The 3rd largest island of Okinawa Prefecture followed by Okinawa main island and Iriomote Island, and the mild climate and crystal-clear water characteristic of tropical countries are attractive.
Ever since Nannujima Ishigaki Airport (New Ishigaki Airport) opened, the whole space has felt like a huge upgrade.
Compared with the old airport, which felt crowded and retro, the new airport’s high ceilings, bright interior, and open modern design instantly put you in a relaxed vacation mood as soon as you land.
Matsue Horikawa Sightseeing Boat
This tour boat with a roof floats on the 3.7km-long moat around the national treasure, Matsue Castle. The boatman gives a guide with humorous stories, while you relax and watch scenery.
The Matsue Horikawa Sightseeing Boat is truly a perfect example of blending slow city living with nature.
Sitting on the charming old-style boat and slowly drifting along the moat around Matsue Castle, with weeping willows, old trees, and traditional samurai residences along the shore, it feels like time is flowing backward. The slow pace makes your whole body relax.
What’s even more moving is the eco-friendly environment this waterway reflects.
Even though it runs through the heart of Matsue City, the moat is full of life thanks to the local community’s careful protection of the water quality and surroundings.
Matsue Castle
Perched on a 29-meter tall hill in the flatlands near Shinji Lake, Matsue Castle was designated a Japanese national treasure in 2015. It was built some 400 years ago by Yoshiharu Horio, the lord of Izumo and Oki Provinces. The castle is sometimes nicknamed “Plover Castle” due to the castle gables resembling a plover bird with outstretched wings.
Matsue Castle is absolutely worth making a special trip for.
It is one of only 12 surviving original castle keeps in Japan, and one of the very few designated as a National Treasure—only five castles in the entire country have that status.
Compared with many castles rebuilt in reinforced concrete after the war, the most captivating thing about Matsue Castle is that it has beautifully preserved its original wooden structure from more than 400 years ago, dating back to the early Edo period. That simple, steady, and dignified sense of history is something modern reconstructions simply can’t match.
Yaegaki Shrine
This ancient shrine enshrines Susanoo-no-Mikoto and Inatahime-no-Mikoto, deities from the legend of Yamata-no-Orochi, the eight-headed serpent. According to mythology, Susanoo defeated the serpent to protect Inatahime, whom he later married. Today you’ll see many flocking to this spot for its believed extra boost for blessings for matchmaking, marital harmony, and safe childbirth.
The Mirror Pond fortune-telling is especially charming because it doesn’t give you a rigid black-and-white answer.
Instead, through the interaction between the water and the paper, it gently follows nature and offers guidance for where you are in this moment.
When you softly place a coin on the blank fortune paper and watch it float across the clear surface of the pond,
as the words gradually appear, an incredible sense of calm fills your heart.
Shimane Art Museum
A lakeside museum themed around harmony with water, located along the shores of Lake Shinji. Designed with a low profile to blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, its gentle, wave-like curves evoke the image of a "nagisa," the connecting point between water and land.
The Shimane Art Museum is truly a must-visit place for anyone who loves Katsushika Hokusai’s ukiyo-e.
Many people may not realize that the museum holds more than 1,000 Hokusai-related works. Seeing those fluid, life-filled lines up close is genuinely thrilling.
Adachi Museum of Art
The founder of the museum is a successful businessman, Adachi Zenko, who was born in Yasugi City, Shimane Prefecture. Bringing together the modern Japanese paintings of renowned artists such as Yokoyama Taikan, Yokoyama Seiho, Uemura Shoen, Hashimoto Kansetsu, Sagakibara Shiho, the museum stores about 2000 artworks, including ceramic arts and wooden sculptures.
The Adachi Museum of Art truly brings the aesthetics of the Japanese garden to their highest form.
The fact that it has been chosen by an American specialty magazine as Japan’s top garden for more than 20 consecutive years is completely well deserved.
Yokoyama Taikan’s paintings are certainly stunning, but the real showstopper is that entire living Japanese painting—the garden itself—constantly shifting with the seasons, light, and shadows.
And after taking in all that beauty, sitting down in the museum café for a cup of coffee feels like the perfect finishing touch to the whole visit.
Ginza Tamaya Tokyo Skytree "Goma Tamago"
These charming, egg-shaped sweets feature black sesame paste and smooth black sesame filling wrapped in fluffy castella cake, all coated in white chocolate. The shape and size resemble a real egg, and slicing one open reveals a visually appealing four-layered cross-section. With delightful flavors created by layering different textures, this treat is perfect as a thoughtful souvenir to delight friends and family.
Every time I get my hands on them, I just can't stop eating them one after another.