Local Guide ~ Mai Watanabe, MICHIKUSA Guide ~ Original Japan Travel Guide by Hoshino Resorts' Local Staff

Local Guide

Mai Watanabe

Always keeping Otsuka informed through social networking services!

She is an Instagrammer who uses SNS to share information about Otsuka. She loves to drink and often goes home after work to have a drink in Otsuka. She has a cheerful and friendly personality and gets along easily with her neighbors.

OMO5 Tokyo Otsuka by Hoshino Resorts: Otsuka is a lively town centered around a shopping street. Once you step into the town, surrounded by the echoing sound of streetcars, you will have an unexpected rendezvous with the friendly people of Otsuka. After enjoying the cozy town where locals come and go, an exciting night will follow in a room like a secret base.

Introduction page

Local Guide FAQ

What do you recommend (places, experiences, food) in the area?: Kushikoma, which led to Otsuka being called a sacred place for sake, is a restaurant that she recommends. From the appetizers to the a la carte dishes, there are only the finest items on the menu, making it a very enjoyable experience to choose from. The chef will introduce you to the best sake to match your meal, so by the time you are full, you will be very satisfied with your meal!

Please tell us about the hole in the wall you know because you work there!: Otsuka Kinenyu, a long-established public bathhouse founded in the Taisho era, is a favorite of the locals. The oddball baths are really different, so finding the one you are looking for is part of the fun. There are pictures of the universe on the ceiling of the changing rooms and bathrooms, and the retro kettle dryers and shoe boxes are still there, so you can enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere that is typical of Otsuka!

Tell us about your most memorable trip, with whom and where you went!: I visited Ishigaki Island with my parents when I was in kindergarten.
I don't know if I felt the goodness of the hotel and the fun of the trip even at a young age, but I didn't want to go back! I have a very fond memory of crying out "I don't want to go back!
It was many years ago, but I cannot forget the beauty of the sea and nature.
Since then, I have loved traveling!

What do you do on your days off?: I love to enjoy eating and drinking, so I often go out to explore new restaurants. I am addicted to finding restaurants introduced to me by friends or through SNS, visiting them, and documenting them on my SNS!

Is there anything you always take with you on a trip?: One thing I always bring with me is my camera. I always bring a camera, whether it be a single-lens reflex camera, a film camera, a Gopro, or an Osmo Pocket, depending on where I am going.
I recommend leaving a record of your trip and posting it on social networking sites so you can look back on your memories later!