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  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Asia/Oceania >
      • Japan
      • Sydney
      • Beijing
      • Guilin
      • Shanghai
      • Hong Kong
      • Taiwan >
        • Yilan & Taipei
        • Tainan
      • Puerto Princesa
      • Kuala Lumpur
      • Hanoi
      • Melbourne
      • Singapore
      • Seoul
      • Bangkok
      • Penang
    • North America >
      • New York City
      • Boston
      • Honolulu
      • Chicago
      • Toronto
      • Jacksonville
      • Portland
      • Charlotte
      • Vancouver
      • Minneapolis
      • Seattle
      • Washington D.C.
      • Acadia National Park
      • Arches National Park
      • Providence
      • Savannah
      • Austin
      • Montréal
      • Asheville
      • Nashville
      • Charleston
      • Kona
      • Anchorage
      • San Juan
    • Europe >
      • London
      • Paris
      • Edinburgh
      • Rome
      • Reykjavik
      • Brussels
      • Amsterdam
      • Copenhagen
      • Porto
      • Lisbon
      • Valencia
      • Oslo
      • Marseille
      • Vienna
      • Stockholm
      • Palma Mallorca
      • Florence
      • Helsinki
      • Tallinn
      • Split
      • Geneva
      • Madrid
      • Vilnius
    • Africa/Middle East >
      • Doha
      • Cape Town
      • Dubai
      • Istanbul
      • Nairobi
    • South America >
      • São Paulo
      • Buenos Aires
      • Lima
      • Rio de Janeiro
  • Guides
    • United Economy Plus Review
    • Qatar Airways Business Class Review
    • JetBlue Airways Mint Class Review
    • Long-Distance Driving
    • Packing
    • Disneyland
    • Disney World
    • United Business Class (Polaris) Review
    • Travel on a Budget >
      • Part 1: Save Money to Travel
      • Part 2: Finding the Cheapest Flight
      • Part 3: Finding the Cheapest Accommodation
      • Part 4: Daily Expenses
  • Services
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Japan

 

Introduction - Tokyo

Tokyo is a city with lots to do and lots to eat - it's one of my favorite places that I've traveled to. The locals are friendly, the food is amazing, and navigation is a piece of cake. Japan is a place everyone wants to visit once in their lifetime for good reason - there's just so many good things to say! I loved it so much that I decided to visit twice in the span of 4 months and I have zero regrets.

My first visit to Tokyo was undoubtedly a lucky coincidence because my flight to Sydney required about a 19 hour layover in Tokyo in both directions. It was a cheap fare on a fantastic airline (ANA) so I jumped on the opportunity. The plane ticket was pricey but it was such a great decision. 

In general, I thought that Japan was pretty safe because there aren't a lot of hecklers and beggars, but just make sure you apply common sense and traditional travel safety tips. Also, the best food I ate in Japan wasn't at any luxurious restaurants - it was usually metro stations that had the best food! A lot of the metro stations have relatively cheap restaurants where you order off of a vending machine. You basically select your meal, pay at the machine, and it gives you a ticket. Then, you give the ticket to the cook and they make your food and give it to you! 

If you're looking for a place to stay, I liked my time at plat hostel keikyu asakusa station. I liked the layout where taking the elevator leads right to the room’s bathrooms and sinks and then the capsule beds so you don’t disturb anyone. But, it was odd to take the elevator to the shower rooms (where they’re centrally located and no stairs).

 

Day 1

My flight from Los Angeles landed at Haneda Airport at around 5:20am, but I was surprisingly full of energy and ready to explore. Navigating through the airport was not challenging at all even though I don't know Japanese. After getting through immigration and customs, I decided to just sit down and take a rest for a while to plan my day. At the arrivals hall, there are coin lockers where you can store baggage, a tourist desk that sells train tickets, subway passes, etc., places to get a SIM card and pocket WiFi, and buses to other places in Japan.  

Getting to the city center from Haneda is incredibly easy - I went to one of the machines and bought myself a PASMO card, which could be used on all public transportation in Tokyo and even in some convenience stores and vending machines (they have a lot of vending machines that sell anything you could imagine). It's much easier to use the PASMO card than deal with cash for every ride you take on the subway. However, the system is distance-based, so the further you travel the more expensive it is. I never needed to use a bus or take a taxi because the subway was just so convenient and easy to use. If you use the subway with Google Maps, it's pretty easy to get around. Signs and announcements are repeated in English. 

I decided to head to ​Ueno Park for my first stop of the day. It was still pretty early in the morning but there were so many people out and about. There were lots of elderly Japanese men and women jogging and meditating. I also saw a lot of dogs! It was very cute. After walking around the park for a while, I decided to head to the Tsujiki Fish Market​. 
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On the way to the fish market, I couldn't resist myself and had to buy some takoyaki - it's so expensive in the US and it's a food I really enjoy. I got some for around 580 yen and it was absolutely amazing. 
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The fish market was one of the most interesting sights I've ever seen. It's a pretty cool market that sells all sorts of seafood and some of it gets pretty wacky (I tried squid on a stick). You can get pretty adventurous here if you're in the mood! There are a lot of sit-down places as well, as you'll see a lot of people trying to usher you into their restaurant. They usually sell pretty similar things like sushi and sashimi, but I didn't get a chance to try it. ​​
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After eating at the fish market, I headed towards Tokyo Station in search of a particular store that exclusively sold Domo items (Domo is a Japanese cartoon that I'm a fan of). The inside of the station could almost be described as a mall because there's a lot of stores and small eateries inside. On the way, I saw a store that sold tasty egg tarts. When I got to the store, it did not disappoint as it was everything I imagined it to be. I would have bought out the whole store but I didn't have the money or the luggage to bring it all with me! I ended up just buying a Domo key chain that I still hang on my backpack. 
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After ogling at all the Domos, I headed towards Asakusa to see the Senso-ji temple. On the way, there are lots of little shops and restaurants selling all sorts of things. I decided to stop and buy a matcha ice cream cone which tasted amazing. 
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Senso-ji is a very cool temple but it was REALLY crowded when I went. It's really hard to get a nice picture with no tourists in the background but I still highly recommend going. You could also do this thing where you get a fortune after paying a small amount. You can either get a "good" or "bad" fortune, but I got the good one! I guess life is looking up. There are also small gardens and smaller temples you can explore around Senso-ji, which I think is also very cool. Afterwards, I decided to explore the area around Asakusa where there is also a huge pedestrian street if that's your scene.
After seeing the temple, I had to start heading back towards the airport to catch my flight. While I was at Shinagawa Station transferring subway lines, I stopped at a small shop to get a bowl of udon. While I was ordering, the lady said something I didn't understand but I just nodded because I didn't want to show that I didn't know Japanese. Then, my udon ended up being cold udon! It was something I wasn't used to but I still thought it was very good. 

Once I got to the airport, I got my luggage from the coin lockers and decided to take a short shower before my flight to Sydney. The shower facility is in the international arrivals hall, off to the side and it's only 1030 yen. They provide everything you need (towels, body soap, hair dryer, etc.) but you are on a time limit so make sure you don't spend too long in the shower! It was very clean and very refreshing, which I felt like was well spent. After going through security and such, I got a small gift for my friend at the duty free shop before getting on the plane - and I was surprised to find out I had a whole row to myself! That was a great ending to an amazing first day in Tokyo. 

 

Day 2

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Once again, my flight from Sydney got into Tokyo pretty early in the day. I decided to relax by getting a milk tea and finalizing my plans for the day. Then, I headed off to Tokyo Sky Tree, where I was looking for the huge Pokemon store (relive my childhood, you know?). On the way, I got onigiri from a convenience store, which was amazing - I wish it was cheaper in the States. 

Tokyo Sky Tree is a HUGE mall with a lot of shops and things to do. I was initially overwhelmed but I was focused on getting to the Pokemon shop first. But first, I stopped by a small store to buy some makeup products my sister wanted me to look for. I probably spent a good half hour just video chatting her over LINE and asking her which products she wanted - I never knew so many make up products existed. I ended up asking the shopkeeper for help and she was able to point me in the right direction. After that, I saw a small restaurant that had a special on a tempura bowl. I'm a huge sucker for tempura, so I ate my 2nd meal of the day (it's not even noon yet) but I had zero regrets because it was so good. Eventually, I finally found the Pokemon Center.

This shop was a childhood dream come true. They sell Pokemon themed everything, from stuffed animals to the games to pencil cases. I splurged a little and bought myself a small Pikachu key chain which I hang in my car. On the way out, I stopped by another store and bought my sister a Hello Kitty water bottle. I was beginning to doubt how I would be able to take all of this back on the plane, but I thought that I could figure it out later. 

I got out of the mall and started to head towards Shibuya to see the Shibuya Crossing. The area around Shibuya is filled with shopping, food, etc. I would recommend just walking around and taking it all in because it's a lot to see! I personally think that Shibuya Crossing is something you definitely have to see, and Google Maps can get you there. You'll definitely want to walk across the crossing a few times just to absorb the fact that so many people are walking everywhere at the same time. It's definitely a surreal experience.

The best place to get a picture that I know of is the Starbucks at one of the corners. You'll have to really look for it, but if you pretend you want to get a coffee you'll see that the actual place they ring you up for orders is outside. Take the escalator to the second floor where you'll probably see a few other tourists trying to get a picture as well. Just wait around and someone will eventually leave. Then, just take your time and take pictures because it's a cool place to just people-watch for a good hour or so. The workers might tell you to move if you don't have an actual Starbucks drink but don't worry about that too much. 

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After people-watching for a while, I walked around Shibuya and stumbled upon a revolving sushi bar. I was feeling very hungry so I walked in and was not disappointed at all. They charge you by plate, but I was able to stuff my face relatively cheaply! My total bill came out to be less than anything they charge you in the US. Plus, all the sushi was very fresh and tasted amazing. 

After eating, I headed towards Don Quixote, which is a huge chain megastore (I think the one in Shibuya is the biggest). It's a huge discount shop selling anything you can think of (Japanese snacks, stationary, cosmetics, sex toys (I'm not joking), etc.) and it's absolute heaven. Just be prepared to spend some time and money here because you'll be overwhelmed at everything that's offered. I personally think that the best thing in this shop is the Japanese snacks, especially the Kit Kats. Definitely splurge on the Kit Kats when you're there because all of the flavors are very unique and tasty, and they don't sell them in the US. Don't forget to bring your passport because after you buy your stuff, you can go back into the store and get a tax refund on some of the things you bought.

After I spent a ridiculous amount of money, I took the subway to Shinjuku to eat at Piss Alley, which I was excited to visit because there were a lot of articles online that said there were lots of things to eat here. When I visited, I realized that was definitely a true statement. All the walkways are very small, but it's packed to the brim of small bar-style restaurants where only around 10-15 people could be seated at a time, all while serving amazing Japanese food. I ended up waiting to eat some soba at this one stall, and it was worth the wait. The bowl was so simple yet so tasty and cheap at the same time. I was a happy camper! By then, it was time for me to go back to the airport for my flight to LA

 

PLACES I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO MENTION

  • Akihabara - It's similar to Shinjuku, but the famous thing here is that there are lots of arcades (think of it as a cross between a Boomers and a casino on a much larger scale) with an anime theme.
  • Imperial Palace - I would definitely recommend walking through here for a good half of the day because there's a lot of history and pretty buildings to see and it's also very pretty!
  • Muji and Daiso - There's probably one that's close to you but try to go to one in Japan - they're much bigger and better in Japan than in America!
  • Uobei Shibuya Dougenzaka - Can’t beat a solid revolving sushi spot. Really easy to order and sushi was amazing. 
  • Fukushin Asakusa ROX - Very hole in the wall ramen spot that’s open late. Use the machine and slurp up the ramen, it really hits the spot after a long day.
  • Afuri - Great ramen/noodles as well! They have multiple stores across Tokyo.
  • Asakusa Unana - The simple rice + eel is really good, but I recommend placing your order, walking around Senso-ji, and then coming back since they'll give you a return time.
  • Yoroiya Ramen 浅草名代らーめん 与ろゐ屋
  • Kanda Shrine
  • Matcha Sweets Kaminari-Issa
  • Ueno Zoo - the zoo is really cute, especially seeing the giant pandas!
  • Gyukatsu Motomura Ueno - pretty affordable for the beef that you get! You grill it yourself and you can get 1, 1.5, or 2 cutlets.
  • SUSHIRO Ueno - solid revolving sushi place!​
  • Shokudo Naganoya
    Standing Sushi Nemuro Hanamaru Ginza Branch - they have a few around the city but the sushi was so good and affordable. I ate 20 pieces of sushi, 2 hand rolls and a soup for $40 USD.
  • Kaiten sushi Edokko Kanda
  • Tokyo Tower
  • ​Kokappou Ohashi​
  • Ippodo Tea Shin-Marunouchi Store - One of the spots to get matcha. Would recommend getting there early, and the Google Maps pin has good reviews on how to get there, etc. Don't forget your passport to get it tax free. 
  • Rokurinsha - The ramen here was definitely good but it's not worth waiting a long time for. There's a lot of other places around there!
  • Yanaka Ginza - I really liked this area since it felt like old Tokyo and had a lot of cute shops and food. Definitely go a little out of the way to walk through Yanaka Cemetery, Tennōji Temple, and Enmei-in Temple. 
  • The Matcha Tokyo Omotesandō - super solid matcha spot but seemed to be very popular. 
  • FUGLEN SANGŪBASHI - 10/10 would recommend doing the full on flavor experience. The staff go through each drink profile 1 by 1 and tell you what goes in each drink. And all the drinks were amazing. 
  • Butagumi - amazing tonkatsu place that just felt like home. The fatty scale they show you on the menu is pretty accurate but you really can't go wrong with anything they offer.

 

TIP: NIGHT BUSES

When you want to get to another city in Japan, usually people think of the bullet train. If you have the chance, I would recommend taking the bullet train just because it's very fast and efficient. But to save some money, night buses are a REALLY good option and are way better than anything in the US (Greyhound, Megabus, etc) and it’s reasonably priced.

The company I used was Willer Express– just do a search on Google, go on their website and translate it to English and put in your dates and destination (I took a night bus from Tokyo to Osaka and back). The Tokyo-Osaka route I took had the same general route, but different stops along the way – you have to look at the buses’ route carefully and see there’s a stop you want (ex. for Tokyo, Shinjuku vs. Akihabara vs. Tokyo Disneyland – they're all in “Tokyo” but if you put all of these on a map they’re quite far from each other).

They have a lot of different buses with different amenities with small differences in cost but my general hand-wavy summary is that you’ll have your own seat (they’re pretty spacious) with a curtain around it so you really have maximum privacy (if you want this you’ll have to book a bus with that 1-1-1 configuration) and the seat reclines pretty far with a foot rest (depends on the bus) and might have a small table or light.

Once you buy your ticket you’ll get an email confirmation with a designated pick-up point which you want to go to on the day of your trip. What I did was that I took the point and tried to look it up on Google Maps and replicate their exact map perfectly so I wouldn’t go to the wrong place. Then I saved the point as a “starred” destination in Maps so I could refer to it once I was in Japan. When you get to the stop, a guy will be there. Just show him your email confirmation and he’ll check your name on a list he has, then you can put your bag under the bus, etc. 

I was really worried at this point because I thought I would screw up because I don’t know Japanese but I didn’t really need to speak – just go to your assigned seat and get settled. They may or may not say the stops/announcements in English so you kind of have to gauge where you’ll be getting off – what I did was that I set an alarm 10-20 minutes before I was supposed to get off and keep track of my progress through Maps. In terms of the bus, think of it as being on a plane as they dim the lights and all that stuff.

 

Contents

Introduction - Tokyo
Day 1
​Day 2
Others
Side Trips
Osaka
Tokyo Disney Sea
Universal Studios Japan
Fukuoka
Kyoto
Nara
Mt. Fuji
Sapporo
Nozawa Onsen
Kamakura
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SIDE TRIPS

 

If you have time to visit other places in Japan, I recommend visiting the following spots!

OSAKA


Osaka Castle Park - It's pretty cool to just walk through the park and around the surrounding area - you'll feel a very medieval vibe. If you want to go inside the actual castle and climb all the way to the top, it costs some money but I didn't have the chance to do it!

​Dotonbori - This places has so much food to eat it's not even funny - I would recommend just walking up and down the street and looking at what strikes your eye. I would definitely come with an empty stomach! I ended up eating at a revolving sushi place which was pretty tourist-y but I was starving. It was really good and they price by plate, which would still be cheaper than anything you get in the US!

Steakland Kobe - My first choice was closed but this was a great backup! The beef just melts in your mouth and you don't have to wait too long. I highly recommend going for lunch to save money. 
Pokemon Cafe Osaka - Definitely touristy and the food is mid but it's just such a cute experience. My inner child self felt complete, highly recommended if you can get a reservation.
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TOKYO DISNEY SEA

If you have the time, I would definitely recommend visiting the Disney Resort in Tokyo. I only had time to go to DisneySea but it was way different from the Disneyland in CA and DisneySea is supposedly a very unique Disney park compared to HK, Paris, etc. (if you had to make a choice, go to DisneySea – I LOVED it)! I would recommend a whole day at each park, and the whole resort is somewhat pretty small – you’re most likely going to get off at the JR Maihama station, and then there’s a Disney Resort Line that takes you to the parks and the hotels in a circular fashion but you could always walk (the Resort Line costs money). 
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When you're visiting the park, consider these tips:
  1. ​You can exchange the printout for an actual ticket for like 100 yen or something which I recommend because it’s a nice souvenir and it’s way easier to deal with when getting Fastpasses. To do this, you’ll want to wait in line at the ticket office to do the exchange.
  2. Check the hours on the Disney website beforehand – daily hours vary!
  3. While getting to the park, there is a monorail that will take you to DisneySea. I would recommend just walking instead because they both take roughly the same time from Maihama Station.
  4. Also, don’t miss the nighttime show if you can stay! The music and the effects are stellar and it’s easy to watch over people’s heads.

*** Update as of 2025:
With the introduction of Fantasy Springs, it’s important to understand the different tiers of “FastPasses” DisneySea has. 
  • Disney Premier Access (ranging from ¥1500-¥2000 per ride) - think of this as the equivalent of Lighting Lane in the USA Disney resorts
  • 40th Anniversary Pass - basically the DPA but the free version

​The 40th Anniversary pass and the DPA cover different attractions and you can only get another pass after using your current one or 1-2 hours later. 
  • You can only request a pass once your ticket is scanned and you enter the park so it’s worth getting to the park entrance early to queue. Then when you get to the park, you should buy a DPA for one of the Fantasy Springs attractions (probably Frozen) and get a 40th Pass for another high wait attraction. 
  • ​You’ll probably want to DPA Frozen and then do 40th for Journey to the Center of the Earth. Indiana Jones and Raging Spirits both have single rider lines, but on the day I went Frozen was closed, so the ride that had the highest wait time throughout the day was Soarin’.
When you visit, definitely spend some time and just appreciate the architecture/buildings/etc of the park – the detail is impeccable and it’s what makes the park really pretty and special (it's personally my favorite part)! On the day, I would get there at least an hour beforehand because Japanese people are insane and wait in line a few hours before the park opens to be the first one inside. If you go too late in the day, the lines are supposedly very, very long (think Disneyland CA on a weekend during the summer).

When the park finally opens, there is a very orderly stampede rushing towards Toy Story Mania, which is the park’s most popular ride but you’ll want to go get a Fastpass for Toy Story/Tower of Terror and then head to the second tier of most popular rides (10000 Leagues Under the Sea, Finding Nemo, etc). If you do some research online, you can really maximize your day in the part. There’s a lot of articles out there that show you how you can do your visit. Toy Story Mania is supposedly very similar to the Toy Story ride in Disney California Adventure, so if you’ve been on that you can pass on Toy Story.

The food is really good (try the different flavored popcorns, I had the curry one and it was surprisingly tasty)! Take advantage of the Fastpass system – if you’ve been to Disneyland before you probably know this, but read more about this online to maximize your visit. Here's my take on the key rides (recommended ones in bold):
  • 20,000 Leagues under the Sea
  • Journey to the Center of the Earth - a DisneySea classic, one of my favorite rides in the park. 
  • Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage - reminded me of it’s a small world but better because the design is impeccable and the ride has a storyline. 
  • Raging Spirits
  • Indiana Jones - basically the same one they have at Disneyland except some very minor differences. Still worth going on though!
  • Tower of Terror - also a DisneySea classic. 
  • Aquatopia - one of the weirdest rides I’ve been on. You just go around the water and it randomly spins you around, and then you get wet? Not that great of a ride, I would skip or prepare a disposable poncho. 
  • Nemo & Friends SeaRider - kind of cute (shows the journey of Nemo but if you’re strapped for time, skip this one.) 
  • Soaring: Fantastic Flight - basically the same one they have in California Adventure except the intro while you’re waiting in line (the story, decor, etc. are far superior and interesting) and the end of the ride just shows DisneySea. If you’re strapped for time I would skip this one too if you’ve been to the one in CA. 

Lodging at the Disney Resort
If you can find a good deal on one of the official/Disney-affiliated hotels, snatch those up. I got a really good deal on hotels.com at the Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel Club Resort for around $70-$80 USD for one night. The hotel itself is REALLY nice for the price I got,

My room had two beds, a hot water boiler, pajamas, slippers, a nicely stocked bathroom, outlets near my bed, a heater/AC, and a nice view of the parking lot with the volcano at DisneySea in the distance. The staff was really helpful, I was able to drop off my bags in the morning, go into Tokyo for the day, and then come back at night to pick up my bags and check in. At check in, the guy could clearly see I was struggling with not knowing Japanese so he was super helpful in terms of checking in! In my opinion, the hotel was way nicer than anything I’ve stayed in the US. I cannot recommend this hotel highly enough!

 

universal studios japan

Quick guide:
I had such a good time here and wasn’t expecting to have such a great time, so I would highly recommend that you go too! I would recommend planning out your day a little more than I did, but everything ended up working out. Before you go to the park, make sure you download the app (to check wait times, etc.) and buy some snacks at a convenience store! There’s food in the park but it’s more expensive – you’ll want to trust me on this. You’ll want to do the following:
 
  • Buying your tickets: You can just get them off of Universal Studios website directly or via a 3rd party website. Research showed non-Japanese credit cards don’t work on their website, but Apple Pay does. So, just buy the tickets on your phone.
  • Express Pass or not: Express Pass allows you to cut the queue at certain rides (similar to Genie+ at Disneyland) but they sell different Express Pass packages with different attractions bundled into them. Personally, I didn’t buy one because the Express Pass was an additional cost that would be more than my ticket! Single Rider lines at the park were perfectly sufficient and I was able to get on all the major rides even though I spent most of the day in Super Nintendo World.
  • Before you go: Download the app, plan on how you want to structure your day, and see how you want to get to the park (it’s easy via public transit, just go to Universal City station. For the rides, I would recommend all the rides that offer Single Rider lines as your priority. Using Single Rider lines will help you save SO much time during the day.
  • Timed Area Entry: Entering Super Nintendo World requires you to go in at a certain time. Ways you can do this includes 1) having an Express Pass, 2) getting a time on the day you visit, or 3) putting yourself on a waitlist. I did #2 and initially I tried to sign up for a time on the app. However, that didn’t work. So, what I ended up doing (and what I would recommend you do) is to get to the park as early as you can and make a break for the path leading to Super Nintendo World. Once you get close, you’ll see a park worker ushering you to an area with machines where you can specifically select a time to visit. I ended up getting a time this way and wouldn’t had know if I didn’t see the park worker. Once you enter, you can’t go back out so select your time wisely (if you have the choice).
 
Quick guide (Super Nintendo World):
This area is probably the coolest area I’ve been to any theme park, hands down. Everything is super cute and decorated so tastefully. You’ll really feel like you’ve traveled back in time to your childhood. There’s a lot to digest, so I’ll split it up below:
 
  • Get a return time for Kinopio’s Cafe: I didn’t know until later in the day, but to actually go to the land’s sit-down restaurant you’ll have to sign up for a time to come back. I recommend doing this the first thing you enter the land so you could enjoy for a bit, and then eat lunch/dinner. You sign up at the area directly diagonal of the café (the workers should be able to direct you). All the dishes here are decorated in such a cute way. I highly recommend making time to visit here as well, even though the meals are more on the pricey side.
  • Take lots of pictures and enjoy + do some shopping: Pretty self-explanatory but take time to just take it all in and people watch! There’s something about watching little kids live their best life – it provides such a great atmosphere.
  • Go on rides: There’s 2 main rides and I recommend you go on both of them! Yoshi’s Adventure is basically a kiddie ride but it’s still cute. You do have to go on the Mario Kart ride though, I can’t recommend it highly enough.
  • Power-Up Bands: For 3,800 yen, you could buy a little wristband that allows you to interact with the land. So, you could hit ? blocks, hit blocks for coins, etc. all over the land. I didn’t buy it, but if you can spare the money I would go for it. The band and interacting with all the blocks, etc. is all part of the experience. But, it was also equally as satisfying to watch the kids do it!

 

Fukuoka

Place to stay: HafH Fukuoka THE LIFE - overall very cozy, friendly staff and lots of working space. Bed was comfortable.

Nagatare Seaside Park - in the outer parts of Fukuoka where it’s a lot more quiet and the coastline is great to walk through! If you have limited time I would skip though. 

Atago Shrine - getting here is basically doing the Stair Master but the shrine is beautiful and has a nice view of Fukuoka. 

Ohori Park / Fukuoka Castle Ruins - really nice to walk through. I would recommend walking across the bridge to the little island that’s in the lake within the park. 

Canal City Hakata - just your typical mall, but a section has a “ramen food court” called Ramen Stadium where there’s a bunch of small ramen restaurants to choose from. Easily the best part of the mall. 

Uminonakamichi Seaside Park - highly recommend going since it’s a nice getaway from the city! There are flower fields, playgrounds, and spacious grassy fields. It is a trek to get there and they don’t let people in an hour before closing.

Food Stalls (Yatai) - the stalls are small and intimate, but we saw that most of them had a drink + food cover charge with your order.  

Maedaya Motsunabe Nakasu - easily one of the best meals on the trip. There might be a little wait, but the staff gave out fans beforehand so you can fan yourself in the hot weather! The motsunabe (which is a soup filled with yummy things) was absolutely amazing and the service was great as well. Definitely a little more high end than your regular restaurant. 
 
Yoshizuka Unagi - also might have a long wait, but my friend and I got here right at opening and only waited around 15min or so. The unagi was really good but it was a little expensive. 

Kalonoulon かろのうろん - hole in the wall noodle spot that really hit the things we were looking for. Cheap, simple and tasty although they have an interesting rule on no photographs. 
​
Dazaifu Tenmangu - the area around the shrine is really cool to see but it is a little crowded. Still worth the trip!

Kamado Shrine - To get here you’ll need to walk 20 minutes from Dazaifu or take the bus but this is a much smaller shrine. Still cool to see but you can skip if you’re tight on time.
​

Other spots worthy of seeing: Tochoji Temple, Kushida-jinja Shrine, Tetsunabe Gyoza, Kyushu National Museum

 

kyoto

Fushimi Inari Taisha – This is the famous red pillars that you may have seen on Instagram. It’s super picturesque and you can make a hike out of it (it goes up to a mountain peak) but there’s no need to hike that far. Definitely try to come early to avoid the crowds, but the further up you walk the less people there will be.

Nishiki Market – This market has all the Japanese food you want to try! I’m guilty of stopping and buying something from at least like 4 different stalls.

​Kiyomizu-dera – Walking to this temple requires you to walk through Nineizaka / Sanneizaka, which is a really cute area where you could take nice pictures and admire the architecture/stalls. Overall it’s incredibly pretty and has a lot of history to it! 

Kakutani Rō-ho - This homey restaurant serves a good variety of lunch sets and dishes, highly recommend for a less crowded spot!

Marukyu Koyamaen Kyoto Takashimaya - If you’re trying to get matcha here, you’re limited to only 1 container and people line up early. The line starts at the metro stop’s exit 4 into the Takashimaya mall, not at the mall itself. 

glänta Kyoto Sanjo Kawaramachi - This was a memorable experience where you can get custom rings made! The person makes the ring in front of you and you can customize the engraving and finish. People line up before opening so you should get there a little early. They also take reservations. 

Kyogoku Kaneyo - Great unagi place, would recommend going!

Ippodo Tea Kyoto Main Store - This was another place that sold matcha, still had a purchase limit but no line.
​

Musoshin - randomly stumbled upon this noodle place when we needed to find dinner and it was a great find! The fried chicken was also good. 

Other spots worthy of seeing: Gion / Hanamikoji Street, Yasaka Shrine, Kodai-ji, Higashiyama Jisho-ji, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, Kinkaku-ji, Ryōan-ji, MATCHA LIFE HARUICHI 

If you have time, I would recommend doing a side trip to Kobe, unfortunately I was only able to do a half day here. 
  • Ikuta-jinja Shrine
  • Kitano Tenman Shrine
  • Meriken Park
  • Kobe Chinatown Nankin-machi
  • Kobe Harborland

 

nara

Kofuku-ji & Todai-ji – Two of the most notable temples to see while you're in Nara. No need to spend money on admission here since I personally think just seeing it from the outside is amazing enough.

Maguro Koya – The cutest old couple serve these fantastic tuna bowls at an amazing price. Super hole in the wall and everything was so hearty. I would come back in a heartbeat!

Nakatanidou – This place sells this chewy mochi-type thing (wasn’t sure what it entirely was but it was fantastic, I would recommend!

Todai-ji Nandaimon Gate + Nara Park – All the deer kind of hang around here and it’s really amusing to see people try to feed the deer. And then, they’re all surprised when the deer start to follow them for food! The deer aren’t joking around though – definitely be careful but they are used to people taking pictures of them.

Kasaga-taisha – This temple/shrine is much further out but it’s beautiful – I would definitely recommend making the trek here. There’s a lot to see besides the shrine.

​
Other spots worthy of seeing: Higashimuki Shopping Street, Noborioji Park, 
Ashoka Pillar, Todai-ji Nigatsudo

 

Mt. Fuji

Mt Fuji is a great day trip option and everything I did is listed in order. I only got to Mt Fuji at around 11am and left at around 6:30pm so if you get here earlier you’ll definitely be able to do everything here and then some. 

There are lots of ways to get to Mt Fuji but I would recommend taking the bus from Shinjuku (Expressway Bus Terminal). I took the train there (to save time) and the bus back but I recommend the bus because the train is twice as expensive as the bus. Only thing I would say is to try and reserve the bus a few days beforehand because when I tried to buy on the day, it was all sold out until later on in the day. However, I was able to just hop on the train with no reservation. Both were equally comfortable. 

Another thing to note is that buses around Mt Fuji only come sporadically. So you’ll want to try and time your arrivals/departures so you aren’t stuck waiting around for the bus. You can use an IC card for the buses. 
​
  • Arakurayama Sengen Park / Chureito Padoga - the walk around the park and up to the padoga gives you a really nice view of Mt Fuji but be prepared for lots of stairs!
  • Oshino Hakkai - really cute area where there’s a small garden/park to walk around and small foods/delicacies in the central area. I would try to avoid coming in the afternoon (if you can) because it seems like that’s when all the tour groups come here. 
  • Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway - expect a line, but taking the cable car is a nice way to get to the top and get a nice view of the mountain. If you’re up for a hike I would also consider walking up and down (sign said estimated 40min). 
  • Fujiyama cookie - near the base of the cable car is a cute cookie shop that sells Mt Fuji themed cookies and they were really good!
  • Hotou Fudo Kawaguchiko Station - Hotou is a local noodle dish and is very good. This place was close to the station which makes it a convenient place to try if you’re strapped on time. 

 

​Sapporo

I visited Sapporo during the winter and it's magical around that time! I highly recommend going during any time of the year, but winter is definitely the time to go. Come prepared with your warmest clothes and your best shoes for the ice! I was okay with wearing sneakers but having boots with a tight grip would had been better for the snow and ice.

If you can, I would recommend coming for the Sapporo Snow Festival! The festival is held at 3 venues: Tsudome, Odori Park, and the Susukino Ice Sculptures. You can definitely hit all 3 areas in a day if you wanted to, but you maight want to spread it out. If you want to come around this time, make sure you book your accommodation EARLY. Same if you want to ski in Niseko!

If you want to ski in Niseko, I recommend that you take the Hokkaido Resort Line bus from New Chitose Airport. You will meet near their desk and then the bus will drive you to Niseko proper and do a bunch of drop-offs at different hotels. You can also take the JR trains, but taking the bus is much easier since the trains run on a haphazard schedule around the area. I would make sure you book the bus there and back from the last resort you hit, just so your transition can be seamless. I recommend going to Annupuri, but there are lots of other resorts where you can stay.


  • Ramen Alley - the ramen shops here are really good, but be prepared for LONG waits in the cold. Haruka is one of the more popular spots but the line is so long, I didn't think it was worth that long of the wait.
  • SOUP CURRY KING セントラル店.- soup curry was good, but I wish the portions were bigger.
  • Sapporo Fushimi Inari Shrine 伏見稲荷神社
  • Maruyama Park - this park was so nice to walk through. Make it through to one of the shrines (Hokkaido Jingu).
  • Sapporo Beer Museum - pretty cool place to walk through and see the history of Sapporo Beer, and if you're really interested they do have a tasting room!
  • Sapporo TV Tower
  • Pole Town - the mall is nothing special, but what's great is that it's underground and is connected to Sapporo Station, Odori Station, and Susukino Station. So when it's cold you can just use the passages to walk around, which is great!
  • Sapporo Clock Tower
  • Tanukikoji Shopping Street
  • Mount Moiwa Observation Deck - the view is beautiful but to save money you can walk up from the midway point or from the bottom. During the winter walking up wasn't allowed due to the snow.

If you have time during your time in Sapporo, I recommend that you do a day trip to 
Noboribetsu. The onsens and the view is to die for, and you could definitely spend some time staying over for a night. I stopped by and saw Enmadō and Jigokudani (Hell Valley). I liked the day pass for the onsen at Dai-ichi Takimotokan since if you go after 4pm it's cheaper. But I'm sure there are other options to choose from. The food options were a little on the more expensive side, but I liked the vibe at 道産子ぷりん【ぷりんと、スープカレーのお店】. It's a soup curry place and they have a set menu where you get the soup curry, a drink and a cute pudding!

 

nozawa onsen

Introduction
If you’re looking for a ski getaway that’s not as far as Hokkaido, Nozawa Onsen is your best bet. Niseko will have more runs, but the Nagano area feels more of a traditional Japanese village vs. it being catered towards foreigners. Also, Nozawa Onsen is pretty compact so you can walk to the slopes pretty easily!

To get there, the easiest way is to take the Shinkansen from Tokyo (~2 hours). Then, you’ll want to take a bus to the village itself. The Nozawa Onsen shuttle schedule is timed so it leaves a little after the Shinkansen arrives, but it stops running late at night (so look at your schedule carefully)! Once you arrive at Ilyama Station, then follow the signs for “local bus” and you’ll see it. 

There’s a lot of accommodation around, but I chose to stay at Lodge Matsuya which was great value for the money. The room was a traditional Japanese tatami mat style, which a shared bathroom on each floor. If you’ll be arriving late, I recommend calling ahead and seeing when their check in closes!

I also recommend getting out the cash you need beforehand, since apparently the village doesn’t have too many ATMs. I didn’t run into this problem, but if you’re short on cash you should get some from an ATM before you leave the airport or Tokyo. You can pay for the equipment rental and the lift ticket with your credit card. 

To get on the slopes, there are 2 points where you can enter the slope: Hikage Gondola Station & Nagasaka House. Across the house is a place you can rent gear, or you can go inside and buy it from the official provider. The place across the street was a little cheaper so I went with that one. You can buy tickets on the day, and here is a map of the runs. 

I found that the slopes were much less crowded than Niseko but the gap between greens and reds was much bigger than expected. 

After a day on the slopes, definitely take advantage of the free onsens scattered throughout the village. I recommend reading an article on onsen etiquette beforehand, but it’s pretty straightforward! 

In terms of places to eat, there’s quite a few places to choose from. A lot of them are mom and pop shops, so they might look closed but do your due diligence in terms of the operating hours. 

  • はと車: I actually came to this place by accident while looking for another restaurant, but the cutest old man was running the place and I was the only customer and I felt bad walking away. But the food was quite good and came out quickly, so no regrets there!
  • Tsukushinbo 居酒屋つくしんぼ: This izakaya is a little hard to find but you just need to go down the stairs. I got their mackerel and karage which was super tasty. The portions were a little bigger than I expected though. ​

 

Kamakura

Introduction
If you’re looking to get away from the busyness of the city, Kamakura is the perfect day trip. It’s only an hour away from Tokyo via the train, and I instantly fell in love with the town. It has the charm of history and temples but the slow pace of a beach town. I wish I had more time to enjoy the day!

I stayed overnight at Villa Sacra, which was the cutest little boutique hotel. My room was definitely small but it served the job of being a place to sleep. The toilet and bathroom are both shared but didn’t pose a problem. 

I recommend visiting every place below here, which should take you only ¾ of the day if you’re quick:

Places to visit:
  • Enoshima Island - I recommend just getting lost and exploring where your own two feet take you!
  • Kamakurakoko-Mae Station - A lot of people stop to take pictures of the trains and the water, it is really a good photo spot. 
  • Cafe Yoridokoro - This is a super cute cafe where you can watch the trains go by. It’s a vibe, but if you really want a seat where you can watch the trains I would either tell the hostess that you’re willing to wait or call ahead to reserve!
  • Kotoku-in - pretty cool temple, but you could pass on the Great Buddha. 
  • Hasedera 
  • Komachi St - huge shopping street with a lot of food and small goods!
  • Tsurugaoka Hachimangu - highly recommend walking around the grounds, it’s super pretty.

 

 

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