WISDOM＆VIRTUAL REALITY

SKY CIRCUS: SKY CIRCUS features various virtual attractions. It's a great place for families with children. There are also interesting experiences for adults, such as the Tokyo Bullet Flight. The view is spectacular during the day, and even better at night, so a night visit is well worth it.

Lunch at Sushidokoro Ginza Fukusuke: The sushi served at Ginza Fukusuke is really delicious. I also liked the simple appetizers and dessert. The private room was nice and quiet, but you can also enjoy the view in the main dining space. That's because this restaurant is located on the 59th floor of Sunshine City, and several of the tables are positioned so that you look down on the cityscape below.

Akihabara: Akihabara had a number of interesting places. First, CHABARA is worth a visit. It sells a huge selection of various Japanese regional foods, which would make a perfect gift for your family. The figurine shop TAMASHII NATIONS TOKYO is a great place to enjoy shopping in Akihabara. I also enjoyed the Tokyo 2020 Official Shop, where I found a number of souvenir gifts.

Takeshita Street: This was a really interesting spot because of the fusion of fashion and street art. Takeshita Street features stores selling unique Western clothing and merchandise. Design Festa Gallery is a great place to experience street art and other modern art. It's also a good place to take a tea or coffee break. The back alleys of Uraharajuku are known for fashion brands. There are famous designers and shops carrying second hand clothing.

Dinner at Shibuya Tempura Bar Kakureya Shibuten: Shibuten offers a relaxing and very warm setting. The tempura tasted great and there was a wide selection (shrimp, fish, vegetables, meats, etc.). I recommend this restaurant for a fun evening.

ANA domestic flight: The ANA flight bound for Toyama Airport was on time and the boarding process was smooth. Legroom was sufficient and the seat was comfortable. Drinks were also free.

Samurai armor experience at the Toyama City Tourist Information Center: The staff at the tourist information center are friendly and speak fluent English, making this a convenient stop for foreign tourists. I enjoyed the samurai armor experience where you get to try on armor and helmet and see how it is worn. Also, Toyama Castle and the small Japanese garden behind the castle were beautiful. It's a great place to just walk around and explore.

Toyama Glass Art Museum: The inside of Toyama Glass Art Museum is very beautiful and impressive. Wood and timber are used for the interior, making it warm and inviting. The library onsite is also very appealing. It's a great place to spend some time when its raining. The glass exhibits feature impressive works made by master glass artisans. There are a number of impressive pieces on display, including glass art that looks like a cushion, for example.

Lunch at Ikedaya Yasubei Shoten: The food tasted great. The food and preparation method was very healthy. The black rice was very delicious. The appetizer of sesame seeds and tofu paste as well as the vegetable and fig dish paired well together. The tea tasted great, too. It's a good place for lunch.

Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design: The inside of the building was very beautiful and it afforded beautiful views of the canal. The collection was impressive. It had the works of Picasso and famous Japanese painters. The other exhibition was dedicated more toward pop culture. It featured modern chairs and a collection of really beautiful posters. The large panel that made it possible to select certain posters to view up close was a good idea. Also, the large bear statue was unique in that it gave a fun and eccentric feel to the museum.

Inami: The huge Zuisen-ji Temple in Inami was very impressive. I couldn't find decorations besides the wood sculptures, and the whole complex was quiet. Inside are amazing wooden sculptures painted in a gold color. If you spend many hours here you will feel quite satisfied with the beauty. The old streets were also very beautiful. The use of wood differed between each shop along the street, creating wonderfully unique impressions of each.

Making of wooden guinomi sake cup and Wakakoma Shuzo: Creating your very own sake cup was a wonderful experience. Being in the workshop surrounded by wooden works made me appreciate the difficulty of the work and techniques used by the artisans. It was also fun to taste test sake using the cup you just made by hand. You can really tell the difference between the taste of sake between a glass cup and a wooden cup.

Dinner at hotel: Gokayama is a great place to spend time as it is surrounded by the scenery of expansive mountains and large traditional homes of a rural area. I have to say dinner was one of the best meals I've ever eaten in Japan. Everything tasted great, including wonderful vegetables, pickled foods, soup and the cooked white rice. The portions were large and the presentation was exquisite. This is a must-visit place to eat delicious seasonal Japanese food.

Gokayama's village of gasho-zukuri homes: The small village called Ainokura is a charming place. There is a beautiful Japanese paper studio that carries unique items. This studio also offers the wonderful opportunity to make traditional Japanese paper by hand. You really need to take a walk to take in the tranquil feel of this village. There are many places to check out in the area including shrines, pastoral landscapes, and stone monuments, among others. Also, one of the best ways to get the most out of this area is to stay the night. This is because you can take a walk to engross yourself in thought while gazing at the sunset or during the early morning hours when no tourists are around.

Walk at Uchikawa in Shinminato and lunch at Uchikawa no ie Nago: With traditional Japanese roads in the background, it's pretty rare to see such a large and beautiful canal. Looking at this scenery makes you want to take a walk or bicycle along the canal. Also, you should ask your local guide to explain about the lifestyles of fishermen living in the area. Lunch at Kappo Kawaguchi featured dishes only served in Toyama, such as Japanese glass shrimp sashimi and deep fried, which was presented beautifully. The meal was enjoyable for the eyes, too.

Dinner at hotel: This hotel was comfortable. Within the same room, there was a Western style area and Japanese style one with tatami mats. I really enjoyed the bath reserved for private bathing. The shared baths at the hotel included six indoors and one outdoors. The food was very tasty and a wide selection of dishes was served. I really enjoyed being able to eat such a range of dishes.

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: The Tateyama Alpine Route offers a number of modes of transportation. The cable car takes you to a pretty high elevation. On a clear day, the mountain views will be stunning. The bus is comfortable and passengers get a seat to themselves. The closer you get to the peak, the more it feels like you've traveled above the clouds.

Walking around Murodo: Murodo was definitely my favorite stop during the trip. It is located on a plateau under the beautiful blue sky. There are several courses where you can enjoy hiking in this area. For example, one route takes you to the shrine at the peak, and you can travel to another mountain following the mountain ridge. There is another route that can take you to the end of the highland. There are routes available for everyone's hiking ability, and you can ride the bus or cable car to reach observatories with beautiful views.

Kurobe Dam: Kurobe Dam was stunning. You can reach the road (walking path) on top of the dam, where you can easily see both sides. The scenery is amazing on the lake side and on the valley side. Also, head to the observatory deck next to the dam to see the impressive sight of water being discharged. Be sure to take care, as there are times when the wind is strong making it dangerous.

Lunch at Rindo: I ate lunch at a café called Rindo located in Murodo Station. The café had a warm and hospitable feeling. It had large and comfortable chairs that relaxed my body after the long walk. You get to select from Western or Japanese food. The beef, curry, bagels, and dessert were all delicious. I recommend this cafe.

Shinkansen (Nagano to Tokyo): The Shinkansen was fast and on time. The legroom was sufficient and seating was comfortable. It was really quiet. Drinks and light snacks are available for purchase.

Toyama is a beautiful mountainous area in Japan. The trip was fun because it started in modern Tokyo (although Tokyo has its fair share of traditional places), and then continued on to rural Toyama, where there are many places where you can feel a sense of Japan's unique culture.
In Tokyo, I experienced a new type of amusement park, and felt Japan's modern culture in Akihabara and Harajuku.
In Toyama, there are many things to experience, including temples, historical villages, arts and crafts, mountain hiking, and delicious local cuisine. I recommend spending several days in Toyama to take the time to discover its charms and enjoy them for yourself.