NATURE MEETS TECHNOLOGY

MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM: teamLab Borderless Odaiba is a place where you can have a fantastic sensory experience. With gentle music playing in the background, you can touch the walls and enter projections, and enjoy different sights, sounds, and sensations. The museum feels as if it is alive with moving works projected on the walls. Time seems to stand still here, so it is possible to ponder and meditate on things. I recommend seeing En Tea House for its incredible creativity.

Lunch at DATENARIYA: The meat at this restaurant specializing in beef tongue is superb and I was quite surprised. The restaurant has a very clean and bright dining space with a relaxing atmosphere. The staff were also very kind and attentive in their service. The restaurant offers specialty products from Sendai and Miyagi Prefecture.

Shibuya: After enjoying some sights, such as the statue of a dog named Hachiko, the symbol of Shibuya, a huge intersection, and taking some Purikura photos, I visited the new Shibuya. The restaurants and cafes inside Shibuya Stream, which opened in 2018, are state-of-the-art and I was able to enjoy a modern ambience. Walking along the well-maintained promenade along the river takes you to an area called Ebisu. On the way, we passed Shibuya Bridge, designed with a train station platform in mind. Construction of this area will be completed in 2027, which promises to deliver more beautiful discoveries.

Ebisu Yokocho: Ebisu Yokocho is a small alley packed with numerous restaurants. It has many restaurants that offers very nice and rich menu, so you have a choice of what you want to eat, be it grilled fish, sashimi, or grilled chicken skewers. The alley is the place to go to experience a fun atmosphere at the end of the day in Japan.

Dinner at Hamayaki Sakaba Uomaru: Hamayaki Sakaba Uomaru is a small eatery located right in the middle of Ebisu Yokocho. As a result, I was able to enjoy a casual atmosphere that was reflective of the festive mood of this area. I enjoyed very good and fresh sashimi and other seafood. The restaurant also serves fried foods such as fried gobo (burdock root) or croquettes with crab meat.

JAL Domestic flight: The flight between Tokyo (Haneda) and Nagasaki is about 2 hours, much faster than traveling by land. The seats on the JAL flight were comfortable and the service from the cabin attendants was flawless and wonderful. My departure and arrival were both on time.

The Former Goto Lord's Residence, Garden and Shinjigaike Pond: The Former Goto Lord's Residence, Garden and Shinjigaike Pond: The residence was built in the 19th century. It is a very beautiful house with a gorgeous garden in the shape of the Japanese character for "heart." If you look hard and use a little imagination, you can find turtles in the garden. Some objects are turtle-shaped, while others are stones arranged to look like turtles in the garden. The residence is owned by the head of the 35th generation of the Goto family, and one of the interesting features of this place that you may actually meet the owner.

Lunch at TSUBAKI CHAYA: Tsubaki Chaya was a restaurant with warm hospitality. Because it is on a hill, there is nothing to block your magnificent view of the bay and the cliffs of the coast. The room where I had lunch was made of wood, and the bay seen from the glass window made it possible to enjoy a fresh meal comfortably inside while still feeling as if I was eating outside. The food was very delicious and colorful. I enjoyed seafood, meat, and vegetables, and at the end had local specialties, such as udon from the Goto Islands.

We arrive at the hiking trail by car, and we could see the lighthouse from afar. It seemed quite far at first, but it only took approximately 1 hour round trip (30min there, and 40min back). The view of the lighthouse and the cliff behind was magnificent; very relaxing and full of nature. We could have stayed there for hours. This was certainly one of the most beautiful places that we visited during the trip.

Dinner at TAOFLAT KITCHEN: This restaurant was a mix of Japanese and Western food, but it was great. The appetizer was very original: squid ink cannelloni (pasta) stuffed with eggplant puree, and topped with sliced muscat and shaved black olives. All of the dishes have explanations in English and Japanese. We enjoyed our meal while watching the sunset set over the mountains.

DIY - Create your own chopsticks: In the old days, samurai lived in the area which was lined with beautiful houses, and I had the experience of making chopsticks in one of them. The process is simple - just shave a pre-cut piece of wood along the mark. It is not easy to finish two chopsticks in exactly the same shape, but the artisan on hand will give you tips on how to do it. When you have created the desired size and shape, apply a little camellia oil and you're done!

Lunch at SAGARA: This is a lovely restaurant with a large menu that ranges from fish to meat, and all dishes come with miso soup and rice. It is close to the center of Fukue and has easy accessibility to the airport.

Ojikacho (Experience the Kominka Stay - A Traditional Japanese House): Ojika is one of the Goto Islands and has been selected as the "most beautiful village in Japan" as an island that retains its unspoiled Japanese landscape. Surrounded by the sea, this island is packed with the blessings of nature. Also, the accommodations, renovated kominka old Japanese-style houses, are really interesting. I stayed at a kominka that was over 100 years old and was able to soak in the Japanese sensibilities and spend a peaceful time.

The experience of painting Sasebo Spinning Tops (unique to Nagasaki only) was very interesting and fun. We first watched the craftsman at work, and then we learned the proper way to throw Sasebo Spinning Tops. The experience continued with the decoration of our own spinning tops. From designing to painting, this activity was one of the best craft experiences during the trip.

Lunch at HAMBURGER SHOP HIKARI: Hamburger Shop Hikari is located in a commercial complex called Goban-gai in Sasebo Port, and is a well-known and famous place in Sasebo. The hamburgers are super delicious. You can also enjoy them outside on the terrace. You can also order hamburgers to go and sit on a bench in the harbor or eat them at the quay. It's a great place with a relaxed atmosphere.

Kujukushima: We went around Kujukushima (which means 99 islands) on the Mirai, a pleasure boat designed like a pirate ship. In fact, there are 208 islands, but use of 99 in the name at the time referred to the large number of islands. Kujukushima is part of Saikai National Park, and all but four islands are uninhabited. The cruise takes about an hour to travel around the islands. Some islands have been shaped by the wind and ocean currents over centuries.
Kujukushima Pearl Sea Resort offers many activities such an aquarium, kayak rentals, cruises around Kujukushima, and dolphin shows.

ANA Domestic flight: When I boarded the plane, I was greeted by very colorful rainbow lights on the ceiling. The ANA flight between Nagasaki and Tokyo (Haneda) took about 2 hours and departed on time. The seats were comfortable and the cabin attendants were very friendly and dependable.

During my stay in Tokyo, I felt the energy of the city and of everyday life that is overflowing with a large number of people, while being overwhelmed by the buildings and technology. In Nagasaki Prefecture, on the other hand, I was able to see a lot of interesting things in a quieter setting, and was able to better understand life in smaller towns. My trip was packed with a variety of experiences, and each place was a truly rich experience.