In Kobe’s Motomachi, you can discover a small but vibrant Chinatown. Located south of Motomachi Station, it is known as “Nankinmachi” in Japanese. This place is considered one of Japan’s three major Chinatowns, alongside those in Yokohama and Nagasaki. Centered around Nankinmachi Square, adorned with red pavilions and statues of men, women, and children, the main street spans less than ...
In Japan, it’s easy to find covered arcade-style shopping streets with ceilings. Even when visiting Osaka, various shopping streets around Dotonbori showcase this feature, allowing shoppers to continue their activities regardless of the weather. Kobe also has such a shopping street, known as “Motomachi Shopping Street.” “Kobe, the Origin of Japanese Arcade Shopping Streets – Motomachi Shopping Street” At first ...
For the final 6 nights and 7 days of my journey in the Kansai region of Japan, I chose a hotel in Kobe as my last accommodation. Located in the Motomachi area, it was a 4-star hotel called “Kobe Plaza Hotel West.” Since it was the last night of my trip, and considering the accumulated fatigue, I opted for a ...
In Osaka Namba, you can discover a venerable curry specialty restaurant that has held its place for over 100 years. Named “Jiyuken,” this establishment has been in operation since 1910 and continues to thrive, maintaining its legacy over four generations. “Osaka Namba, Over 100 Years of Traditional Curry Expertise” What sets Jiyuken apart is its signature curry known as “Meibutsu” ...
In the southern part of Nara Park, specifically in Naramachi, you can find a unique museum called the “Karakuri Toy Museum.” This museum showcases 200 karakuri, which are moving wooden toys that were popular during the Edo period. Housed in a mansion renovated from the 1890s, the museum provides an interactive experience where visitors can sit in tatami rooms and ...
After exploring the northern part of Nara Park, including Todai-ji and related sites, I crossed the park and headed south. In the southern part of Nara Park, you can find “Ukimido (浮見堂),” a pavilion built on the pond. “Ukimido (浮見堂) in the Southern Part of Nara Park” Ukimido is located in the southern part of Nara Park. It’s a hexagonal ...
In the heart of Nara Park, at Todai-ji (Eastern Great Temple), you can discover the world’s largest bronze statue. If you move east from the Daibutsuden, the main hall housing the Great Buddha, toward Nigatsu-do and Sangatsu-do, you’ll encounter the “Todai-ji Shoro (Bell Tower)” along the way. “Todai-ji Shoro (Bell Tower)” As you exit the main hall of Todai-ji, the ...
Adjacent to the well-known Todai-ji Nigatsu-do and Sangatsu-do in Nara Park, there is a small shrine that might not attract much attention from visitors, especially those overshadowed by the grandeur of Todai-ji. “Nara Park, Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine” Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine is quite renowned among the Hachiman shrines nationwide, dedicated to Hachiman, the god of war, and equivalent to Emperor Ojin. ...
In Nara Park, you can explore the world’s largest bronze Great Buddha, located in Todai-ji (Eastern Great Temple). While most people tend to appreciate the bronze statue at Todai-ji’s main hall and then move on, if you venture a bit east from Todai-ji, you’ll discover “Nigatsu-do (February Hall)” and “Hokkedo (Sangatsu-do) (Eastern Great Temple Lotus Sutra Hall),” also known as ...
The heart of Nara’s travel experience can be considered “Nara Park.” This park is a sizable area that combines several regions. Thanks to its vastness, the park houses various tourist attractions and cultural heritage sites. What makes Nara Park especially unique and vibrant is the presence of “deer.” Throughout Nara Park, you can encounter numerous deer, creating an atmosphere where ...
After exploring various places within Nara Park, it was time for lunch. There are several restaurants inside Nara Park, and especially if you head south from Todai-ji’s southern gate, you’ll find a cluster of restaurants and general stores. Despite browsing through different places, I couldn’t find the exact menu I was looking for. Even though it was late September, the ...
Located within Nara Park, Todai-ji is a well-known tourist destination, especially celebrated for being a place where you can see the “world’s largest bronze Great Buddha statue.” It attracts a large number of visitors. Just south of the main gate of Todai-ji, you can find a small pond known as “Todai-ji Kagami-ike.” In Japanese, “Kagami” means “mirror,” and “ike” refers ...