WATER TAXI CRUISE

Tsukiji Outer Market：Tsukiji Outer Market is still a fantastic area with a full of old charm. If you visit here, you are able to discover a fish related culture. The fish market has moved to a different area of Tokyo, but many of the people who have been long running stores, which were originally located in this place, stayed to keep the area vibrant. I would recommend coming here early in the morning to enjoy a donburi breakfast bowl, or king crabs or scallops flame-grilled on the spot. Tsukiji is a great place to try the freshest selection of seafood and possibly the best sushi in town, so be sure not to miss out on this on your next trip to Tokyo.

Hama-rikyu Gardens：Hama-rikyu Gardens is a charming garden within walking distance from Tsukiji Outer Market. You will be drawn in to a more tranquil greener healing place while enjoying picturesque pathway walks and a traditional Japanese garden landscape. You can enjoy the views of the surrounding city skyline in a garden surrounded by ponds and trees. The contrast between traditional Japanese gardens and modern Tokyo is displayed. You should also try the tea ceremony experience to take a moment to reflect and take in the beauty of the gardens. If you want to explore more, you can get a water bus from Hama-rikyu Gardens to the Asakusa area.

Lunch at Misuji：At Misuji, which is located on the upper floor of the building, you can get a good observational overview of Tokyo as well as see the Hama-rikyu Gardens below. I would recommend getting the set lunch menu which will give you a large selection of different sushi to try. If you sit at the counter, the sushi chefs will prepare your sushi in front of you, and you can enjoy the beautiful skills of the sushi chefs exhibited in front of you. The combination of the fresh fish and top-quality ingredients with the skills of the sushi chef will become an incredible lunchtime memory.

Water bus：Why not enjoy a scenic Tokyo ferry ride from Hama-rikyu Gardens over to Asakusa and Odaiba? This experience is a great way to connect different parts of Tokyo city as well as see the city from different angles. The transportation can be a part of trip in itself and a fun of travel. That’s one of the great things about Tokyo, all the different transportation options you can enjoy on your visit – you have endless possibilities. You can also have great views of the Tokyo Skytree as well as many bridges that you will pass under along the way. This short time ship trip is the best way to connect Asakusa to Hama-rikyu Gardens or the area of Odaiba, so be sure to consider the Tokyo Cruise as an option to connect different parts of Tokyo.

Dinner at Gonpachi Odaiba:A branch of the Gonpachi restaurants was used in the movie, and many famous people have used the restaurant, so I was excited to have dinner the Gonpachi Odaiba branch. I loved the ambience of this location with its stunning night time city views that you can enjoy from your seat. The food was also most enjoyable with a selection of grilled fish and Japanese Izakaya style BBQ meats that went rather well with cold beer.

ANA domestic flight: Flying domestically in Japan with All Nippon Airways is very easy in procedures. Because the boarding and check-in process is rather speedy, your airport stay is most likely short. You can travel to all prefectures of Kyushu, saving you valuable time on your trip.

Lunch at Hotel Takachiho：You can enjoy a beautiful Kyushu cuisine and stunning views of the surrounding valley. I had the fresh meal using local ingredients, which was most enjoyable. My favourite part of lunch was the local Miyazaki fried chicken called Nanban, which is served with a sweet tartar sauce. It’s delicious and simply has to be enjoyed on any visit to Miyazaki prefecture.

Takachiho：Takachiho is a charming town located in the north of Miyazaki prefecture, and it’s a perfect first stop for those wanting to rent a car and travel through Miyazaki. The main attraction of Takachiho is its breathtaking scenery of nature, and you can explore on foot. Here when you proceed by paddling a boat through the gorge further, you will reach Manaino Falls. If you want to enjoy the area more, I recommend staying here for the night and exploring around taking time.

Amaterasu Railway：This is another attractive activity to experience in Takachiho, which offers scenic train rides with sense of openness where you can enjoy the surrounding landscapes of the mountains, rice fields and valleys. It is a satisfying trip, and you can even wear the train conductor outfit and feel like a train driver for the day.

Amanoyasu riverbed：Head out on a light walk along the riverbed. This shrine can be found within a cave. In Japanese myth it is told that a discussion was made here about Amaterasu Omikami (a Japanese solar deity) who secluded herself in the cave. This location is one of the places that has been described as the “Birthplace of Myths” in Japan.

Dinner at Restaurant Nagomi：If you visit on Kyushu for beautiful beef, you have to try some of the best ranking beef of Miyazaki Prefecture. I recommend Restaurant Nagomi where you can enjoy Takachiho beef. In this restaurant, the loin cut is highly recommended; the meat served here at Nagomi is extremely tasty and delicious. The meat melts in your mouth with every bite. This is the must-see place when you visit Takachiho.

Takachiho Yokagura：After dinner, you can head up to Takachiho shrine and watch a traditional Takachiho Yokagura performance which lasts about an hour. Here, the representative fourth kagura out of thirty-three kagura versions is performed. This traditional dance performance is unique to this part of Miyazaki and attracts many visitors.

Kagura mask painting workshop：The Kagura mask painting workshop is a very fun experience. At the Takachiho Yokagura, the masks that they wear during the performance are handmade and play an essential role. In this workshop, you can paint a mask by yourself and take your mask home with you, so this will be in your good memories of Miyazaki.

Lunch at Yokoidokoro Shiibaya：Shiiba village is a quaint little undiscovered village that is surrounded by magnificent vista views. You can also find a cosy restaurant here called Yokoidokoro Shiibaya. This is a local restaurant where you can be served local meat and fish carefully selected by the friendly owner.

Dinner (hotel restaurant Ichimoku Issou)：I had a very rich dinner buffet. It’s relaxing to stay for the evening and enjoy a nice meal along with onsen, etc. Here you can find a wide selection of different food and drinks all locally sourced from the Miyazaki prefecture. Miyazaki beef, Nanban chicken and sushi are all on offer to consume to your heart’s content.

Udo Shrine：The beautiful coastal pathway to the shrine offers a spectacular view, with the crimson of the torii gates standing out in stark contrast against the blue of the sea and sky. The brightly painted shrine building is located within a mystical cave overlooking the Hyuga Sea, said to have been the birthplace of the enshrined deity.

Lunch at Hattoritei：You won’t want to miss lunch at Hattoritei, located close to Obi Castle inside a renovated old merchant house. Lunch comes with a view of an idyllic garden. The traditional Japanese menu includes local dishes such as soba noodles as well as seasonal fruits and vegetables. It’s a great way to experience traditional Japanese culture in this area.

Obi Castle and castle town walking tour：I went on a walking tour around Obi Castle, and discovered the picturesque streetscapes of the castle town. Explore the castle grounds, and even enjoy a spot of cosplay by dressing up like a samurai of old. You can also enjoy shopping and purchase some exclusive local products or Miyazaki crafts to bring home with you.

Aoshima Shrine：Aoshima Shrine is located on an island of the same name, and it’s a perfect location to enjoy a scenic walk at sunset. Here you can walk on the beach and take in the fresh air and scenery along the way. To get to the shrine, cross the bridge to Aoshima Island.

I enjoyed visiting both the bustling metropolis of Tokyo and the lush natural scenery of Miyazaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu. It was the perfect balance of experiences to enjoy two different sides of Japan. Flying All Nippon Airways domestically for the under-two-hour flight from Tokyo to Miyazaki allowed me to travel in comfort and helped make the whole process go along seamlessly, resulting in a most pleasant trip.