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.
Tomonoura | Review by PEIYU
Other Reviews by PEIYU
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JR KYUSHU RAIL PASS
The JR KYUSHU RAIL PASS is a great-value rail pass offered by JR Kyushu for international visitors. It provides unlimited travel on JR lines throughout Kyushu-including local trains, limited express trains, and even the Kyushu Shinkansen. You can choose from 3-, 5-, or 7-day passes, and select the area that suits your itinerary: Northern Kyushu, Southern Kyushu, or All Kyushu.
I have a lot to say about this. I originally booked the Aso Boy!, but because of the rain, the streetcar was moving super slowly and I missed it. I got into a huge argument with my friend, and I even squatted on the ground and cried.
I really hate it when things don’t go according to my plan. It was also my first time planning a trip by myself. I know plans can’t always keep up with changes, but when it completely falls through, I just feel like everything is ruined.
Maybe I had also built up too much stress... because some of the earlier parts of the trip had already changed too, so I kind of had a meltdown haha.
But then my friend immediately booked the Yufuin no Mori. I got on the train very unwillingly, though I had already planned to stay in Yufuin for one night.
I mean, I really wanted to go see Beppu, and I wanted to see the decorations on the Aso Boy! too. That dog must have been so cute...
Well, my friend bought me ice cream, so I had no choice but to forgive him. -
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Kinrin Lake
Kinrin Lake is one of many popular tourist spots in the hot springs town of Yufuin. The lake sits under Mt. Yufu and as such was called takemoto-no-ike (lit. “lake under the mountain”) for years. However, it was renamed to Kinrin, or “golden scales”, by Mori Kuso in 1884 when he saw the golden glimmering scales of fish as they swam at sunset.
I was supposed to happily welcome my 22nd birthday here, but I was really unhappy.
There was morning mist, but it honestly didn’t look good at all.
It’s just a lake. I really don’t know why it’s so popular.
I was so upset. I hadn’t slept all night and was super excited for it, so being this disappointed first thing in the morning really got to me... I even stayed here for a night on purpose, and it took almost half an hour to walk here in the freezing cold...
Maybe I just came at the wrong time. -
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Namba Yasaka Shrine
”Namba Yasaka Shrine”, located in the Namba area of Minami in Osaka, is a historic shrine said to have been founded during the reign of Emperor Nintoku (313-399).
I really wanted to come here, and I even kept asking the tour guide along the way. I just happened to run into a tour leader from Taiwan too lol.
By the time I got there, the other gates had already been closed, and I was so sad... My cousin even laughed at me, and my mom told me to just give up.
But!
I wouldn’t give up, so I walked all around and finally managed to get in. There were only three minutes left before closing.
I was just about to take pictures, but there was already an older staff member trying to usher people out.
At that moment, an Indian family asked me to take a photo for them, and right after I finished, the staff member said no more photos...
I really wanted to take pictures too... *sob*
And I really wanted to buy an omamori.
But thankfully, I did get to see it!
And honestly, that already made me really happy at the time lol. -
