PEIYU's Reviews Page 3/4

Tomonoura

Tomonoura is beloved nicknamed the “tide waiting port” for its long history for guiding boats along its perfect tides. It has also been celebrated in the Manyoshu, the oldest collection of Japanese poems.

• Hiroshima
• Famous Places

It totally felt like Ponyo’s world hahaha.
I ended up here by complete accident. I really wanted to see the ocean that day, and I was supposed to go to Miyajima in the afternoon. I had no idea where to kill time, which is so funny, and I ended up getting to Miyajima way too late...

I met a bunch of older men there and helped take photos for them. At first I thought they wanted to take photos for me, so I kept saying no thanks. Then they said they wanted me to take theirs, and I was like, “OK, sure, sure” lol.
So funny.
They were doing fake smiles at first, but after seeing me like that, they started genuinely smiling! It was hilarious.

Getting there was a little inconvenient transportation-wise.
I just wandered around nearby.
I saw a tiny shrine.
There were hawks soaring in the sky, and I absolutely loved that.
I really loved that feeling of freedom. It felt so amazing.

For some reason there didn’t seem to be many shops open that day.
Oh, but I did buy a postcard from a little shop run by an elderly woman, though I lost it. She was super kind and gentle.
I thought, well, I should support her shop a little.

Later the bus came, and I ran into that same group of older men again. They kept saying I was the Taiwanese girl, which was so funny.
When I got off, I even took a selfie with them.

I really loved this part of the trip.
I don’t have that much to say about the sightseeing spot itself,
but I truly loved these little moments from the experience.
Even now, when I think about it, I get weirdly excited and can’t stop typing.

DiverCity Tokyo Plaza

Welcomed by the gargantuan 19.7-meter, life-sized Unicorn Gundam statue, DiverCity Tokyo Plaza embodies its concept as a "theatrical urban space," offering a place to play, learn, relax, and just take in each moment of surprise and inspiration. Tantalize all five senses at this unforgettable destination that’s like none ever before.

• Tsukiji, Odaiba, Toyosu
• Commercial Buildings

It’s honestly quite a long way from the city center, and it was also really cold that day. But I have to say, the scenery along the way was beautiful. Japan really does such a great job with planning, and my family absolutely loved the Gundam!

We bought a lot of related merchandise to bring back to Taiwan, which made us really happy. Honestly, I’m not even sure whether it’s Gundam or Transformers lol.

So this might sound a bit formal, but I have to say it was really well maintained. It rained that day, but you could still tell the place is well taken care of overall. There was also an owl inside the mall, but I lost the photo and I’m so sad about it...

There’s also One Piece and Doraemon stuff inside, so it’s a really fun place to browse.

Japanese malls are just so good at displays—they really make you want to buy things. So annoying, but I still love it lol.

Oh right, I also lost a folding umbrella here... and it was new too, sob.

It was a newly opened umbrella that day.

TOKYO SKYTREE(R) TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN(R)

Boasting a height of 634 meters, TOKYO SKYTREE is the world’s tallest free-standing tower which stands in the center of TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN surrounded by tourist facilities. The tower has two observation decks, Tembo Deck at a height of 350 meters and Tembo Galleria at 450 meters.

• Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree
• Observatories

I’ve been to TOKYO SKYTREE twice. How should I put it? I first found out about it because of a Detective Conan movie.
The first time I went, it was almost closing. I got two capsule toys, and I really loved them, but they’re gone now. The mall inside is also really fun to shop around!
The view outside is beautiful too, and the colors change. It’s definitely a must-visit photo spot for tourists~
The weather was great both times I went. Does “Skytree” mean a clear sky? Haha.

Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower was born in 1958. When it was built, Tokyo Tower proudly stood out as the tallest steel tower in the world. At a height of 33 meters, it was taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It is located in Minato Ward in the center of Tokyo. Take in sweeping views of the city from the observation deck. Currently under renovation, it is always changing.

• Shimbashi, Toranomon, Tokyo Tower, Hamamatsucho
• Observatories

I thought the lights might get turned off, and I was already completely exhausted from running around Japan. But since it was my first time in Japan, I really wanted to see Tokyo Tower. It was already late at night, and I don’t even remember what time it was!
I sprinted all the way from the station. I was totally worn out, but the lights were still on. I honestly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry haha.
But if I hadn’t run and the lights had gone out, I definitely would’ve regretted it. It was really beautiful!
I hope I’ll get the chance to go up someday. I’m sure the view must be amazing.

Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter

The traditional streets of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter feature white walled warehouses, grid pattern walls, Namako-kabe, and rows of weeping trees, creating a beautiful and charming townscape. This harmonious and historic scenery is very popular with tourists.

• Okayama
• Famous Places

I really loved this place. The vibe here is awesome, there are lots of shops, and everything is laid out really well. It’s beautiful, and you could easily spend the whole day here and feel totally relaxed.

Oh, and I tried a pull-string lottery game at one of the shops. The older gentleman there was super friendly. I played twice on two different visits, but unfortunately I got the smallest prize both times!
But if I get the chance next time, I’d still totally play again!

The Historical Remains of Takamatsu Castle (Tamamo Park)

Takamatsu-jo was the resident castle for 4 generations of the Ikoma and 11 successive generations of the Matsudaira feudal clans. It is also known by its nickname, Tamamo-jo. Built facing the Seto Inland Sea, it is counted as one of the three largest seaside castles in Japan.

• Takamatsu
• Tourist Attractions

Overall, I thought it was pretty boring. You can’t go into the castle, but you still have to pay. Maybe it’s just me, I don’t know, but I walked around anyway and there really wasn’t much to see. It felt a bit like a waste of money, so I didn’t really like it. It was just okay, though I wouldn’t say it was ugly.

Kojima Jeans Street

In the empty store space on Ajino Shopping Street, which used to be the most popular in Kojima, more than 40 jean shops, cafes and galleries opened.

• Okayama
• Shopping Streets

There were a lot of jeans, but when I went, most of the shops were closed. I also felt the prices were kind of high. As a student, it was a bit too expensive for me, though maybe I just didn’t find the cheaper stores.
There are lots of side streets too~
The manhole covers were seriously so unique!
I really love these kinds of little details in Japan.

Okayama Castle

This castle was created by Warlord Hideie Ukita in 1597. The main castle was built on top of a hill named Okayama, and the Tensyu (castle tower), was built in front of the Asahikawa River. The adjacent castle town was created with merchants and craftsmen.

• Okayama
• Tourist Attractions

Okayama Castle. It was cloudy that day. I’ve been there twice, but only went inside once.
I think I used the Okayama pass?
But the sundae inside had gotten worse and looked nothing like the photos other people posted. It wasn’t that impressive. I did like the artwork inside, though, and there was also some kind of gold-trimmed fish? I’m not sure what it was, but it just wasn’t really for me.
There were two pieces of artwork I especially liked, so I hope you’ll check them out.
Oh, and there was also some equipment you could try for the experience.
Maybe armor? I don’t really remember.
I’ll correct this if I got anything wrong.

Yufuin Floral Village

A compact theme park that recreates the streetscapes of the Cotswolds region in the UK, known as a filming location for the movie “Harry Potter,” with a magical, fairytale-like atmosphere that feels like you’ve stepped into a storybook. Inside the park, beautiful plants bloom throughout the seasons, and paths lined with stone cottages continue on, with plenty of photo spots scattered throughout.

• Oita
• Amusement Parks & Theme parks

I absolutely, totally loved this place. I spent my 22nd birthday here!
It really feels like a little fairy-tale village. I spent so much money here. They sell a lot of Studio Ghibli merch inside, but I personally like Miffy and Snoopy more!
I really loved the atmosphere here! The only downside is that it’s a bit of a walk from the station, but honestly, for a place this pretty, I think it’s totally worth it.

Tottori Sand Dunes

Located on the Sea of Japan side of Tottori City in Tottori Prefecture, the Tottori Sand Dunes stretch 16 km from east to west and 2.4 km from north to south, making them one of the largest dune systems in Japan. These dunes, designated as a special protected area and a Natural Monument of Japan, are a major tourist attraction representing Tottori Prefecture.

• Tottori
• Nature Spots

Absolutely gorgeous. Taking off one star because it was so exhausting and insanely hot. Climbing up got to the point where I was seriously over it.

But the view was so beautiful. I hope I’ll get the chance to see the white sand dunes someday. I’d also love to see it snow there and find out just how cold it gets!

Making it to the top was totally worth it!

Haha, a fun little story:
That day I was heading back to the hotel, and when I saw the bus was coming in five minutes, I took off running. Luckily the light was red, and the driver was really nice. They drove slowly along that stretch of road, probably to see if anyone else needed to get on! (Just my guess though.)

Oh, and I actually went twice.
The first day, I could still sit and rest.
The weather was just perfect! The second day was so hot I felt like I was going to melt, but I loved the place so much that I went two days in a row.