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.
Otaru City Nishin Goten (Herring Mansion) | Review by 陳豐収
Other Reviews by 陳豐収
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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. -
Himi Seaside Botanical Garden Seaside Park
Located on Matsudae no Nagahama, a scenic stretch of white sand and green pine trees celebrated in the Manyoshu, this botanical garden showcases a wide variety of plants. Explore areas featuring coastal plants from across Japan, a greenhouse with rare foreign cycads and bottle palms, and a glass tube displaying climbing plants and potted plants.
There are lots of tropical and subtropical plants inside, and the greenhouse is bright and super photogenic. It feels like stepping into a little jungle.
It’s right by the sea, so the views are gorgeous on a nice day, and you can even see the coastline. There’s also a café inside where you can sit and take a break, which makes it a great place to wander around slowly and relax.
Overall, the environment is clean and laid-back, and it’s a really nice spot for both a walk and photos〜 -
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.