Passeios por Chusonji Temple

Today, I participated in a day trip to Shiogama Shrine, Matsushima, and Chuson-ji Temple. The serene and solemn atmosphere of the shrine ⛩️ allowed my mind to settle. The weather was clear, making me feel exceptionally joyful ☀️. In Matsushima, I took a boat tour around the islands, admiring the charming scenery of one of Japan's three most scenic views. The numerous small islands on the sea looked like floating bonsai pots filled with pine trees 🌲, creating a truly unique landscape. Teacher Bin's kind and detailed explanations enriched the entire journey, making it a wonderful and unforgettable day 🌿✨.

我们今天的行程司机是史先生。他提前10分钟到达酒店，全程驾驶安全，并且随时准备好出发。尽管今天天气不佳（持续下雨），他还是给出了一些其他建议，因为我们不得不放弃一个户外景点。车子舒适干净。总的来说，我们度过了一次愉快的旅行。

This Mount Fuji tour was absolutely amazing and one of the highlights of my trip to Japan! Everything was well organised, the scenery was breathtaking, and we had plenty of time to enjoy each stop without feeling rushed. The best part of the experience was our guide, Linda. She was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and made the whole day so much fun. She shared interesting facts about the places we visited, kept everyone informed, and was always happy to answer questions. Her positive energy and kindness made the tour even more memorable. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. If you’re thinking about doing a Mount Fuji tour, I highly recommend this one—and if you’re lucky enough to have Linda as your guide, you’re in for an unforgettable day!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was easily one of the highlights of our trip to Japan! If you’re a fan of JDM culture, Fast & Furious, or just love cars, this experience is absolutely worth it. It doesn’t feel like a typical tourist tour—you really become part of the local car community. Seeing legendary cars, meeting passionate owners, driving through Tokyo at night, and visiting Daikoku PA created memories we’ll never forget. A special thank you to our driver, Timi. She was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and professional from the very beginning. She made us feel comfortable, shared interesting stories, answered all our questions, and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Her passion for JDM culture really shows, and it made the night feel authentic and special. Thank you, Timi, and the whole Gaijin Tuned team for an unforgettable evening. We would definitely do it again and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Tokyo!

Sun Peng, our guide, deserves full marks! He was incredibly knowledgeable about Kumamoto throughout the trip, explaining the unique features of each attraction. To be honest, the Aso Boy train wasn't really worth it, haha. 2300 yen per person just to see a mountain; it's not as beautiful as the Ghibli train I rode in Hakone, Tokyo. It was a shame we couldn't go boating in Takachiho Gorge today, but the scenery was still good, though slightly less impressive than Hokkaido's Blue Pond. However, my only complaint about the guide is that he sent us to Takachiho Shrine. It's fine to go, but the path is genuinely difficult, so be prepared. But on the way back to the parking lot, the guide told us to follow Google Maps to the third parking lot, which would have been a disaster! You absolutely must return to that slope and head straight for the third parking lot. When you go to the shrine, there's a fork in the road on that slope; pay attention to the sign indicating the direction to the third parking lot. It's only 300m that way. Do NOT follow the map! A large group of us followed the map, but luckily I had seen the sign on the way there, otherwise, we would have been completely lost trying to find our way back! The cheese mini-bread recommended by the guide was decent, and the cream puffs were also good, filled with ice cream. I didn't try the summer iced tea special. The horse sashimi and barbecue were okay, but don't have high expectations; it's not as good as grilled beef. Next, regarding the guide's recommendations at Kusasenri: I didn't buy the keychains, didn't buy the horse oil cream, but I did buy a fridge magnet. The green house was a bit hard to find, so look carefully. The beef burger was sold out. The only thing I think is worth recommending, which the guide didn't, is the ice cream. If you go, remember to try the ice cream at the museum! Oh, and I also want to mention that the time at Kusasenri is actually very short. If you climb to the observation deck and then come down, and also want to eat and shop, it might be quite rushed. Be prepared to just have ice cream! The fridge magnet is very cute and worth buying for 800 yen! Finally, the Tenkaippin ramen was a bit disappointing; the firm noodles were very salty and not as good as Ippudo in Osaka, haha. Ippudo is also salty (apparently ramen is meant to be paired with sake). As for the Osmanthus fried rice: it tasted like something any Chinese restaurant could make; no need to specifically try it in Japan, hahaha! Overall, this group tour was actually pretty good, just a bit rushed. Of course, that's because there were many places to visit, and it wasn't a self-guided trip, haha! I would still consider a group tour again if I have the chance!

Even though Mt. Fuji didn’t show herself today because of the weather, we still had such an enjoyable and memorable trip. Our driver, Xiao Quan, was incredibly helpful from start to finish. He guided us to the best spots, gave clear directions on where to go, and pointed out must-see places that made the day feel complete despite the clouds. We also loved his humor — his jokes kept the mood light and fun throughout the tour. And the rice snacks he shared with us at the end were so delicious, exactly what we needed after a long day of exploring. Xiao Quan’s kindness, attentiveness, and great energy truly made the experience worthwhile. We highly recommend this tour, and especially him, to anyone visiting the area.

福岡の素晴らしい景色は、車の免許がない人に最適です。日帰りツアーで素晴らしい景色を見ることができました。ツアーガイドのEIICHI SENは、北京語と英語が堪能で、非常に責任感があり、日帰りツアーの全員を気遣ってくれました。

Ben was our tour guide, friendly, kind, and a very thoughtful guide. He shared many tips and a lot of history about the location with us. The trip included a train ride, where you could see the river and beautiful scenery. Then, there was a 2-hour boat rafting experience, enjoying various levels of water rides; please note that you might get wet. Lastly, there were 2 hours for self-exploration of bamboo groves, shrines, shop lots, etc.