New Years at Korakuen

Bandai Bridge is considered as the symbol of Niigata and is one of the city’s most scenic spots, especially at night. After dropping our luggage at the hotel, we walked down to the bridge from the Showa period, lit up like a Christmas tree over the Shinano River. The 1964 quake shattered Niigata, but the arch shaped, stone bridge stood strong among the rubble even as everything around it crumbled.

We took a bus all the way from Naha to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. The aquarium goes up to four floors, with tanks containing deep sea creatures, coral and tropical fish. The main Kuroshio Sea Tank holds an enormous 7,500 cubic metres of water, stretching from the first floor all the way to the second floor of the aquarium.

I head to Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan for a special encounter with the incredible sea creatures. The aquarium is home to some 580 species from the Pacific Rim and nearby areas. The colorful sea creatures swimming around soothe the soul. The delightful jellyfish leave me awestruck.