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Walking around Beppu
When people think of Beppu, the first thing that comes to mind is hot springs. Why’s that? Well, Beppu just happens to have a lot of hot springs. Tourists tend to flock here specifically to visit 8 of their hot springs. Although I was one of those people that wanted to see these touristy hot springs, it’s safe to say that Beppu has a lot more to see than its hot springs. I took a bit of a walk around the city and this is what I ran into.
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Blessings from Nikko Toshogu Shrine
Nikko was a place I looked forward to visiting. Unfortunately, as some of you already know from my blog, I had a rather subpar experience with Nikko. When I was in Japan again, I thought about giving Nikko a second chance however destiny seemed to have other plans for me. The day I was en route to Nikko, I ended up not transferring trains so that on a whim, I could visit and experience Sendai. Honestly, I can’t be any happier about that last minute change of plans as Sendai was such a breath of fresh air for me.
As disappointing as Nikko was, I must say that something good did come out of my trip. At Nikko’s Toshogu Shrine, I got blessed by a Shinto priest. More on this in a moment.
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Matsushiro Castle
Of all the cities I visited in Japan, I’d have to say that Matsushiro (Nagano) was my favorite. The charming city gave me glimpses into what life may have looked like in the past. Centuries ago even thanks to what’s left of Matsushiro Castle.
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Sanrio Puroland
Most of you know what Disneyland is, but how many of you know what Sanrio Puroland is? If you know who Hello Kitty is, just think of Sanrio Puroland as her home. Kind of like how Disneyland is home to Mickey and his friends. Now, unlike Disneyland, Sanrio Puroland is a lot smaller and not as crowded. There are still lines to get into attractions and rides at Sanrio Puroland, though.
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Takeshita Street
I’m sorry but I don’t understand the thrill of Takeshita Street. It’s just a walkway with bubble gum pink shops and bubble gum pink eateries. Nothing extraordinary here but at the same time, I can see how it can appeal to people, especially young people.