Everything You Need to Know About Traveling to Japan Plus My Japan Travel Tips
Michael and I went to Japan for three weeks in 2024; it was the best trip of our lives. I fell in love with everything Japan had to offer, from the food to the people to the temples to the quirky cuteness. And I became addicted to gashapon (aka capsule toys). It instantly became one of my favorite countries in the world.
Are you thinking about traveling to Japan? You should! But I wouldn’t recommend just showing up without researching first; it’s not one of those destinations. I spent a year diligently planning our trip and gained a lot of knowledge about traveling in Japan. Michael said it was the best planning I’ve ever done, and thanks to that ego boost, I now consider myself a bit of an expert. So, I thought I’d combine all my knowledge and create this handy Japan travel guide.
Let’s get into it, shall we?
What to do before traveling to Japan
- Research which destinations you’d like to visit in Japan and book your flights and hotels. Below are some hotel recommendations and a sample itinerary.
- Decide which airport you’ll fly to: You’ll most likely be flying into Tokyo first, so your options are Haneda or Narita Airport. We flew into Narita, but I’d recommend flying into Haneda because Narita is about an hour and a half away from Tokyo on the Narita Express and even longer with local transit. Another option is flying into Osaka, but they have fewer international options, especially in Europe.
- Make an account on Visit Japan Web: This will help you skip long immigration and customs lines in Japan. You fill out your information, put in your passport information, and declare any goods, and it generates a QR code for you that you can then show to an immigration officer when you land. Narita Airport has designated lines for QR codes, which got us through customs and immigration in less than 30 minutes! I’d recommend doing this the day before you leave. Don’t forget to screenshot your QR code!
- Get an E-SIM: There’s no need to bother with pesky portable Wi-Fis or physical SIM cards these days! We used the Unlimited E-SIM from Ubigi. I chose Ubigi because it runs on the Japanese network, and we had 5G almost the entire time in Japan, even in rural areas. Use code WELCOME10 to get 10% off your order. (I’m not sponsored; I just found this discount code and wanted to pass it along.)
- Decide if you’ll need a JR pass: If you plan to go outside Tokyo or Osaka, you’ll need to get on the bullet train or Shinkansen. In the past, many tourists used the JR pass, an unlimited travel card on JR lines. With the recent price hike in 2024, the JR pass no longer makes sense for most Japanese travel itineraries, including ours. Use the JR Pass calculator to see if it makes sense financially. If it does make sense, book your tickets on the official JR pass website here. Note that if you do get a JR pass, you’ll have to pick it up when you arrive in Japan, and lines can get pretty long! Make sure to factor that into your itinerary on your first day.
- Download a SUICA card on your phone: If you have an iPhone, download your SUICA card directly onto your Apple wallet. SUICA is a travel card that you can use for all public transport in Japan. You can also use it at vending machines, convenience stores, and some restaurants! That way, you’re not fussing with buying tickets whenever you want to get on the metro or the bus, and you can tap and go! This was such a timesaver. I loaded about 20,000 Yen ($130) on the card before we went, which was more than enough. I still have some yen left over!
- Book your Shinkansen tickets one month in advance on Smart-Ex: If you decide not to get the JR Pass, book your Shinkansen tickets using Smart-Ex. Many travel bloggers tell you to use Klook for this but to be honest; I found Klook a bit annoying. Instead, I booked our bullet train tickets on Smart-Ex, the official Japanese Shinkansen platform. You can find a handy guide on how to use it here. Also, you can link your Smart-Ex tickets to your Suica card, so you can tap in and ride the Shinkansen! Click here for my step-by-step guide.
- If you have a food allergy, get an allergy card: I have a shellfish allergy and got this handy allergy card from Equal Eats. We printed and lamented 2-3 of them and brought them everywhere. Everyone we showed it to was diligent and ensured no cross-contamination. I only had two minor allergy attacks during our trip, which was a win in a land of shellfish! (It should also be noted that I didn’t show the card for one of those attacks, so it was my fault, lol).
- Learn a few useful Japanese phrases: English is much more common now in Japan with the tourist boom, but it’s still recommended and polite to learn a few key Japanese phrases and words to get you through. The locals are incredibly kind and appreciate you trying. We even had people telling us “Good Japanese” when we spoke, which I know was a lie, but it still made us feel good! Here’s a handy guide on basic phrases you should know.
- Respect local customs: Many videos on TikTok nowadays (Things you should NEVER do in Japan, etc.) are dramatic. The locals in Japan understand that you’re a tourist, so if you do something they wouldn’t necessarily do, they’re not going to fault you for it. That being said, you are still a guest in the country, and it’s good to read up on what’s polite and what isn’t. Here are, in my opinion, the most important to know:
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- Be quiet and respectful on public transit. It’s impolite to talk loudly or blare music. It’s not like you can’t speak, but keep your voice down if you need to chat. You’ll notice how quiet the subway is, even during rush hour, so try to mimic the sound level around you.
- Don’t eat or drink on public transit: Eating and drinking while riding public transport is rude. However, these rules don’t apply to Shinkansen, so remember to get snacks or a bento box before you ride! Also, if you take a sip of water or eat a protein bar, no one will be weird about it, but keep it to a minimum.
- Bow when saying thank you to service personnel: It’s polite to bow slightly when you say thank you, especially to cashiers, servers, etc. You’ll see everyone doing it, so you can mimic what they do. It honestly becomes second nature after a day or two. I struggled more to break the habit when I returned to Switzerland! I was bowing to everyone for a few days when I got back.
- Figure out which side to stand on escalators or walk on stairs: In Tokyo and Kyoto, everyone stands/walks on the right. In Osaka, everyone stands/walks on the left. This one can be confusing, but it’s about looking at your surroundings and following what the locals are doing.
- Don’t Litter: There are fewer trash cans on the streets in Japan than you may be used to. So, if you have trash, keep it with you until you find a trash can. Tip: Most vending machines and train stations have trash cans you can use!
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Useful Apps to Download
- Google Translate
- Suica Card (or the Welcome Suica App)
- Klook
- Japan Travel App
My Top Tips & Learnings
- Don’t only go to viral spots: There is an influx of videos online that tell you all the places you HAVE to go when you visit Japan. And while some of these places are worth it, don’t spend your entire trip going to viral, popular places. The beauty of Japan is the vast amount of things there are to do there, and some of the best moments of our Japan trip were spontaneous. Also, some of the best restaurants we went to in Japan were the ones we just stumbled into.
- To Queue or Not to Queue: Some of the most popular restaurants in Japan don’t take reservations and require you to stand in line. Sometimes, this is entirely worth it, and other times, it’s not. Japan has some of the best food in the world and very high standards for restaurants, so if you’re hungry and the restaurant you planned to go to has a 2-hour line, you’ll likely find something equally as delicious (and less crowded) just a few steps away. It’s good to decide in advance which restaurants are a must and which ones can be skipped if the line is too long. That being said, Japan is efficient, and many of these restaurants take your order while you wait in line, so by the time you’re in, your food is already waiting for you!
- Show up at off-peak hours: The best way to experience a popular sightseeing location or restaurant without all the crowds is to show up at off-peak hours. Waking up early is worth it. Trust me.
- Don’t judge a restaurant by its review score: The Japanese have high standards for food. Like, really high. So, while a restaurant with a 3.62-star rating on Google would be a meh restaurant anywhere else, it means a very good restaurant in Japan. If you go on Tablelog (Japan’s Tripadvisor equivalent), you’ll very rarely find a restaurant with a rating of more than 3.90 – including restaurants with Michelin stars! So, if you find a restaurant on Google in Japan with a 3.60 rating and above, know you’re in for some of the best food of your life.
- Search for foods in Kanji on Google Maps: Many good restaurants in Japan only have Japanese names that may not show up when you look in your native language. Look up the kanji for the food you’d like to eat (i.e., the kanji for ramen is 拉麺) and see what restaurants pop up!
- Cash is King: Japan is a mix of the old and new world, and as of 2025, cash is still king. Ensure you have cash—many places still don’t take cards! I’d recommend getting out at least 20,000 yen ($130) to start. Tip: Go to 7/11 for no-fee ATMs.
- Don’t Tip: Even though customer service is next level in Japan, tipping is considered rude.
- Wear good socks or bring some with you: In many shrines, restaurants, and even hotels in Japan, you’ll have to take your shoes off to enter. Make sure you’re wearing good socks that don’t have holes or, if you’re wearing shoes without socks, bring socks with you that you can slip on and off. Tip: The Family Mart stripe socks are incredible and only $3. I wish we bought more. They’re my favorite socks!
- Bring comfortable shoes: You’ll be walking a lot. We averaged 20,000 steps a day without even really trying. Make sure you have shoes that won’t hurt your feet and can be worn all day.
- Ship your luggage: One of the best things we did was use the luggage shipment option between hotels and cities in Japan. Japanese train stations are vast and have many stairs, so don’t add extra stress to your life by lugging your luggage around. Every hotel we stayed in offered luggage shipping and delivery – they handled everything for us, and it was quick and efficient. Usually, you only need to ship your luggage a day in advance, and it was already there waiting for us in our room when we arrived! Watch this video for more information
Three-Week Japan Travel Guide – Sample Itinerary
How Long: 5 Nights
Where to Stay: Tokyo Strings International Shinigawa (no laundry facilities)
Recommendation: Split your itinerary up by areas, as I did below. Tokyo is massive and you can better see each area this way.
Day One – Shinigawa
Was so jetlagged that this felt like a dream
Arrive at Narita or Haneda Airport
Take either the Narita Express or Public Transport to Shinagawa station
This is a day to get over jet lag and get your bearings.
Shinagawa station and the surrounding area have so much to see and do, so depending on your level of exhaustion, explore a little!
Things to do:
- Croissants at City Bakery
- There’s a Family Mart, Lawson, and 7/11 in Shinagawa station. Grab some snacks or drinks and sit in the Shinagawa Central Garden.
- Conveyor belt sushi at Kura Sushi – no reservation needed, and this is a much less crowded location compared to their other locations in Tokyo
- Grab highballs at Shinagawa Highball Bar
- Eat gyoza at Gyoza Mania Shinigawa Honten
- Get some green tea or red bean ice cream at Azabusabo
Day Two – Ginza, Asakusa, and Shimbashi
Walking around Ginza
Morning in Asakusa—Things to do:
- Head to Senso-ji Shrine. Tip: It can get very crowded, so take advantage of your jetlag and get there early.
- Get a sweet potato snack at Imo Pippi.
- Nakamise Shopping Street—I found this quite crowded and touristy, so skip it if you’re short on time!
- Stop by Pelican Cafe for Japanese milk bread and toast
- BIC Camera for cheap, high high-quality electronics
- Kappa Bashi Street for Japanese kitchenware
Afternoon/Evening in Ginza and Shimbashi—Suggested things to do:
- Go to the Ginza Uniqlo Flagship Store — hot take: I hated this location. It’s the biggest in the world but very warm and cramped. We preferred the Asakusa or Harajuku locations!
- Other shopping:
- Muji
- Loft
- Itoya
- Antennae shops – shops dedicated to different regions in Japan that have local delicacies and trinkets
- Nagano – a three-floor antennae shop dedicated to the Nagano prefecture. Has a soba noodle restaurant inside.
- Tokyo Midtown Hibiya – shopping mall
- Today’s Special
- Shiseido Flagship store – you can get engraved lipstick!
- SANRIO World Store
- Ginza Six Rooftop – rooftop garden with benches to rest your feet
- Ginza Tokyu Plaza – place to rest
- Coffee:
- Nissan Crossing Cafe (lol, they print your face on a latte)
- Cozy Corner Ginza
- Mitsukoshi Food Basement – gourmet fruit sandwiches
- Most of the antennae shops also have coffee.
- Glitch coffee roasters
- Food:
- Ichiran Shimbasi Ramen – popular chain ramen where you don’t have to talk to anyone. Some say it’s overrated, but honestly, it was solid, cheap, and delicious!
Not having to talk to anyone helped a lot when you’re jetlagged
- Musashi No Mori, Happy Pancake, or Flippers for souffle pancakes – we didn’t go here, and I’ve heard it gets crowded
- Tokyo Aburagumi Sohonten Ginza – delicious ramen
- Yukou – more ramen
- Temari Izakaya Shimbashi – there are cats here!
- Ichiran Shimbasi Ramen – popular chain ramen where you don’t have to talk to anyone. Some say it’s overrated, but honestly, it was solid, cheap, and delicious!
Day Three – Shibuya + Harajuku
Before heading to Harajuku, head to Shindaita Station and Shiro-Higa’s Cream Puff Factory for Ghibli Totoro Cream Puffs, owned by Miyazaki’s sister. She served us our cream puffs, and I genuinely almost cried—she was so sweet! It opens at 10:15 AM, and I’d recommend getting there at that time. We were the first ones in!
You don’t need to wait in line if you take the cream puffs away. This area is super cute and scenic, filled with parks and an excellent coffee shop called Light Up Coffee Shimokitazawa. You can eat the cream puffs in the park with a coffee before heading to Harajuku Station.
Suggested things to do in Harajuku:
- Go to Purikura for Kawaii photo booth – this was so fun and a lot of work lol
- GachaGacha no Mori for Gashapon machines
- Meiji Jingu Shrine & Park
- Kiddyland for cute merch
- Get coffee at ANAKUMA cafe – a cafe where Bear Hands serve you coffee
- Cafe Reissue for 3D latte art
- Daiso for 1 yen store
- Stroll along Cat Street for great vintage shopping
These still make me laugh
Suggested things to do in Shibuya:
- Go to Shibuya when the sun is setting so you can see all the lights
- Head to the Mugiwara One Piece Store and the Nintendo Store (there’s also a rooftop in the Nintendo store with a great view)
- Note for coffee and chocolate cake
- Shibuya Crossing – genuinely so fun!
- Hachikō Memorial Statue – so crowded, so we skipped it
- Get overstimulated in the Mega Don Quijote – a multi-level convenience store with everything you can imagine. You have to go at least once, even if it’s exhausting.
- Walk around some more and see all the lights/take a picture of Shibuya crossing at night
Food & Drink recommendations for both Harajuku & Shibuya:
- Family Mart Whisky Bar – a whisky bar in a family mart
- Menchirashi Ramen Udon: We waited in line for the viral carbonara ramen. We waited for 30 minutes, and it was worth it, but I don’t think it would be worth waiting longer than that.
- Katsudon-ya Zuicho – small, family-owned Katsudon place
- Toritake – yakitori restaurant
- Igu&Peace speakeasy
- LOST, the bar opened by the Youtuber, Abroad in Japan who lives there
Day Four – Ibekuro + Shinjuku City
all aboard the cat tram
Suggested things to do:
- Take the cat tram from Sangen-jaya Station to Gotokuji Temple (the cat shrine) and wish on a cat figurine. You may even meet the cat owner himself! Tip: Check the cat tram schedule ahead of time so you don’t miss it!
- Cat cafe Mocha
- Lunch at Coco Ichibanya – Famous Katsu Curry chain, so delicious
- Pokemon Center Sunshine City
- Go to Jimbocho – the Japanese book street
- Go see the 3D Cat billboard
- Stroll over to the Nakameguro area
- See the Godzilla statue
- Get a coffee at OPEN Nakameguro.
- When the sun sets, head to Shinjuku and go look at the 3D cat billboard (appears every 15 minutes)
- Book a Bar-Hopping Tour with MagicalTrip—this was one of the highlights of our Tokyo stay! Our guide, Yuki, was incredible and took us to four different izakayas down Golden Gai and other Shinjuku areas. We continued our night out after the tour and did Karaoke together! It was such an incredible night and a great way to make friends! It was 100% worth the hangover.
Our new friends we made with MagicalTrip!
Day Five – Chou City + Akihabara + Minato City
The Pokemon Cafe healed me
Morning in in Chou City/Tokyo Station—Suggested things to do:
- If you can, grab reservations for the Pokemon Cafe. These are very hard to get, but if you love Pokemon like I do, it’s totally worth it! Here’s a handy guide on how to get tickets.
- Gyukatsu Motomura for Katsu that you grill yourself on a hot stone
- Get lost in the labyrinth that is Tokyo Station
- Shop in Tokyo Station Character Street
Afternoon in Akihabara—Suggested things to do:
Locked in at Super Potato
- Super Potato for vintage games
- Book-Off for mangas and thrift shopping
- Browse all the quirky shops and stores – there are too many to list here!
- Kanda Myojin Shrine
- Otsu Coffee for gourmet drip coffee
- Namaiki for yakiniku
- Hitachino Brewing Lab for craft beer
Evening in Minato City—Suggested things to do:
- Check out Tokyo Tower at night – it’s beautiful up close!
- Have the best pizza of your life at PST Higashi Azabu – Coming from a New Yorker who lives 4 hours from Milan…this was genuinely the best pizza I’ve ever had. I still dream about it. You can only make reservations by phone. Otherwise, you must wait in line, but it’s WORTH THE WAIT.
The pizza at PST was so good
How Long: 2 Nights
Where to Stay: Hotel Alza Kyoto
Recommendation: Kyoto is a beautiful place, but unfortunately, it has fallen victim to overtourism. Try to go off the beaten path a bit; otherwise, you’ll be stuck in many crowds!
Day Six – Head to Kyoto
Grab snacks before heading to Shinagawa station to catch your Shinkansen to Kyoto.
Shinagawa station has plenty of bento options, so make sure you show up early to grab something you’d like! We had a teriyaki chicken katsu that we bought at the station, and…omg, I am still thinking about it.
We saw Fuji on our Shinkansen ride!
Things to do on your first day in Kyoto:
- Get something sweet at MACCHA HOUSE Kyoto Kawaramachi – this was fully worth the hype. The matcha tiramisu was to die for.
- Grab Ramen at Sugari – a small, family-owned ramen place
- Drink coffee at Weekenders – a cafe that is only open on weekends.
- Go to Nishiki market for matcha beer, snacks, and snoopy tataki. It gets very crowded, so it’s better to go during off-peak hours.
- Yōgen-in Temple – a temple off the beaten path filled with black cats
- Stroll down Philiosopher’s Path
- Ginkakuji
- Toji Temple at night – Check here to see if they have any illuminations!
- Sit and have a drink by the Kamo river
- Kurodani Temple
Dinner Ideas:
- Burger Revolution Kyoto for Waygu Burger (reservations can be made up to 3 months in advance)—this was one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. Make sure to make a reservation because they were completely booked up.
- Sushitetsu for cheap, delicious sushi – they don’t take reservations so you just have to wait in line)
- Yuzugen Pontocho – Hotpot place that specializes in Yuzu flavors and they have dumplings shaped like lemons!
- Menbaka Fire Ramen – they light the ramen on fire in front of you
- Masayoshi Japanese Dining – high-end steak place, on the more expensive side.
Drink Ideas:
Go to bed early because I highly recommend waking up at dawn for day two.
Day Seven – a full day in Kyoto
- Wake up very early (4:30 AM)
- We got breakfast from Lawson’s the night before to be caffeinated before our long hike.
- Take the first train (5:20 AM) to Fushimi Inari Station
- Head to Fushimi Inari Shrine (1-and-a-half-hour hike) – this was one of the most magical experiences of my life, but you have to be there early. At 5:20 am, there were still people there, but we had periods where we were the only people around – and we met some of the shrine cats. It was magic; the farther you go up, the fewer people there are. By the time we got back down at around 8:30 am, there were already hoards of people going up, and I felt it would be not very nice if we didn’t go as early as possible
Before the sun came up
Fushimi Inari as the sun came up
A shrine cat chose me!
- Head to Arashiyama – if you want to see the bamboo forest, it’s also worth to go there as early as possible. I heard before 9 am is good! We ended up skipping this entirely.
- Get creme brulee donuts at the Arashiyama station
- Miffy Store Arashiyama
- Kiyomizu-dera Shrine – check online, as this was open late at night for Fall illuminations!
Food recommendations:
- Ogura Cha-Ya for udon noodles near the shrines
- Monk: a pizza omakase restaurant. Reservations are almost impossible to get, though and you can only book 3 months in advance.
- Book a Geisha Experience and 12-course Wagyu beef omakase at Wagyu Ryotei Bungo Gion— To book the Geisha experience, you have to book a private room first and then inquire via DM on Instagram. However, if you don’t want to splurge on the Geisha experience, you can just book a standard table 6 months in advance. This was one of the most memorable experiences of our trip to Japan, and the food was incredible!
How Long: 3 Nights
Where to Stay: Citadines Namba Osaka Hotel (Has laundry)
Recommendation: Osaka is a great hub for day trips to Kobe and Nara! I’ve included some recommendations on how to do that below. We didn’t do Universal Studios because I lived in Orlando for a few years and did enough Universal for my lifetime. However, if you plan on doing that, add a day to your trip!
Day Eight – Half-Day trip to Nara
Wake up and check out of the Kyoto hotel
Head to Nara – Book a Limited Express Ticket from Kintetsu Tambabashi Station to Kintetsu Nara Station or just take local transit (it’s just longer)
Leave any luggage you have (which shouldn’t be much if you did the luggage transport) in the coin lockers at the station. Make sure you have coins because they’re cash only.
The deer take over all of Nara – some say Nara wasn’t worth it, but I think if you treat it like a stopover from Kyoto to Osaka, it’s very worth it!
Nara Tips
- Buy deer crackers from the street vendors (cash only). The money from these crackers goes towards maintaining the park and the deer. PLEASE DO NOT FEED THEM ANYTHING ELSE!
- The deer are mostly very polite – bow to them before giving them food, and they will bow back! To show them you don’t have any food left, put both hands in the air and wave them. They are usually quite respectful – but sometimes they want your food and can nip at your clothes to get it. I only encountered one aggressive deer, who headbutted me for crackers. I forgave him despite the slight bruise he gave me 😉
- Grab the famous redbean Mochi at Nakatanidou – but try to go as it opens because it’s chaos after 11 apparently. It opens at 10 am, which is when we went and we didn’t have to wait in line at all.
- Grab a coffee and croissant at Rokumei Coffee
- Don’t forget to get a deer plushie at a souvenir shop!
- Lunch recommendations: Tonkatsu Ganko Nara or Mentouan (if you put your name on the list at 11 otherwise, forget it, lol).
Head to Osaka (don’t forget your stuff!) – Take the Rapid Express Kobe Sonnomiya Kintetsu Nara Line train from Kintetsu Nara Station 7 stops to Kintetsu Nippombashi Station (45 minute ride). This is a local train so you don’t have to buy tickets in advance and can just tap in with your Suica card.
Things to do on your first day in Osaka:
- Round1 Stadium Sennichimae arcade
- Ghibli Store in Shinaibashi (has special photo spots) – 6th floor of Parco
- Godzilla store in Shinaibashi (less crowded than Tokyo store)
- Ebisu Tower Ferris Wheel located in the Mega Donki – the first ever rectangular Ferris Wheel and only $4 for a ride. This was a little scary but fun! And you get beautiful views of Osaka
- Hozen-Ji temple
- Take a picture with Running Man
- Dinner: Dotonburi Food Stalls (Takoyaki, Gyoza, Taiyaki, 10 yen cheese coin, Teriyaki, Fatty Tuna, Strawberry mochi, Egg tart.) If you want something more hearty, Kushikatsu or Ajioya
- Drinks: Sunny Day Dumpling for highballs and gyoza
Day Nine – Full Day in Osaka
- Go to Glitch Coffee for a fantastic coffee experience – these people know their coffee. I had a black strawberry chocolate drip coffee that changed my life. It’s a bit more expensive but completely worth it. They also have a location in Tokyo.
- Head to Osaka Castle (it opens at 9 a.m.). We just explored the grounds and didn’t go in because the line was very long.
- Chill in Namba Parks Garden (9-floor garden which was tranquil)
- Explore the Nakazakicho area for trendy, chill cafes and thrift shopping
- Kitahama (for drinks or coffee by the river) and Nakanoshima (cute little island by Kitahama in the middle of Osaka)
- ABC Mart for shoes – the location in Osaka has bigger sizes. I have big feet, so this was great.
- Maruzen & Junkudo Bookstore – large selection of English books on the 4th floor)
- America-Mura – trendy location with lots of cool shops and cafes
- Namba Yasuka Shrine (coolest-looking shrine)
- Visit Matsuya Udon for $1 standing udon
- Grab a Japanese knife at Tower Knives Osaka. The people who worked here were so knowledgeable and helped us pick out the perfect chef’s knife!
- Go to Izakaya Toyo – made popular by Netflix, for beers and a fatty tuna snack (closed on Thursdays)
- Wander around Shinsekai (in the evening) for yakitori and drinks
- Umeda Sky Building
Dinner recommendation:
Go Izakaya hopping in Tenma Market (Taishu-Sakaba HASSEN Tenma for super cheap drinks and food) or in Umeda Underground, which has a bunch of izakayas and good food.
Drinks recommendation:
Check out a game bar where you can have drinks and play vintage video games. Some suggestions:
- PC and Retro Bar Space Station
- The Hearth Board Game Bar and Café
- BARエンカウント
- bar moon walk Shinsaibashinagahoriten
Day Ten – Day trip to Kobe
Kobe is such a beautiful city! If we were to return to Osaka, we’d spend a night in Kobe, as there was so much to see and a great vibe. It was one of the first cities in Japan to open up for trade with the West in the 19th century and is littered with many cool European-style buildings. It’s gorgeous!
- Get up early
- Send luggage to Hiroshima before you leave for Kobe
- Leave the hotel by 8:40/ 9 AM and take the train from Namba station to Shin-Osaka
- Take the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Shin-Kobe
Things to do in Kobe:
- Go to Nishimura Coffee – a Euro-style cafe for coffee and breakfast
- Make lunch reservations for Tor Road Steak Aoyama for Kobe beef: Reservations can be made via their Facebook page. This was an INCREDIBLE Kobe beef experience with the kindest chef in the world. Make sure to make reservations way in advance, as some people I’ve recommended this to tried, and their date was already sold out. I made reservations 6 months in advance. Tip: if you book for lunch, it’s cheaper for the same meal you’d get for dinner!
Kindest chef – he called himself the Tom Cruise of Japan
- Yokoo Tadanori Museum of Contemporary Art (opens at 10 am – 6 pm)
Stroll through Chinatown - Head over to the Nada district for Sake (Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum – no prior reservation required, and admission is free)
- Stroll by the ocean pier and take photos in front of the BE KOBE sign
- Visit the Kobe Earthquake Museum (opens 9:30 am – 5:30 pm)
- Go to Jesus Pizza if you want a snack; they have NYC-style pizza
When back in Osaka, do whatever you didn’t have time to do the day before.
How Long: 2 Nights
Where to Stay: The Knot Hiroshima (No laundry facilities)
Recommendation: You could potentially do Hiroshima in one day, but I’d recommend staying at least two nights so you can make a day trip to Miyajima island – one of our trip highlights!
Day Eleven – Hiroshima
Check out of the Osaka hotel and take the Shinkansen from Osaka to Hiroshima.
Note: if you want to take the Hello Kitty Shinkansen, you have to take the 11:37 train from Osaka to Hiroshima, which gets to Hiroshima at 14:08. Check Hello Kitty Shinkansen times here.
Things to do in Hiroshima:
- Prayer Fountain and Peace Memorial Park—I was so impressed with Hiroshima. The city is filled with lush greenery, and though it was home to such a horrible tragedy, it’s a reminder that peace always wins and always perseveres.
- Visit the Atomic Bomb Dome and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum – this museum does not sanitize the tragedy that happened here. I and many people around me spent the entire time in the museum in tears. It’s heavy but essential. Tip: Buy your tickets online on Klook. We got in much faster because I did this!
- Hiroshima Castle and Gardens – a nice change of pace from the sadness!
- Try the famous Okonomiyaki at Hiroshima Okonomiyaki ROKU (on the 4th Floor of Okonomimura with blue sign/blinds with white kanji)
- Grab lunch at Taiko Udon Nakamachi
- You can have drinks at the hotel’s rooftop (you get drink tickets). The cocktails were delicious!
- Hiroshima has a lot of really trendy thrift shopping – it’s worth exploring!
Day Fourteen – Day trip to Miyajima Island
Shrine at low tide
Grab Breakfast at Wildman Bagel – Try to get there when it opens for warmest bagels, the cream cheese is pre-baked INTO the bagel.
Try to take the earliest ferry to Miyajima Island to avoid the crowds. And bring a sweater, as it can be pretty windy there depending on the time of year you go!
Things to do in Miyajima:
- Take a picture in front of the floating Tori gate – when you arrive, it should be low tide, and when you leave, it’ll be high tide (depends on the time of year you go)
- Miyajima Itsuki Coffee for Yuzu and honey tea
- Make a reservation in advance for the Miyajima Ropeway. They’ll email you a QR code, and you must pay in cash or SUICA when you arrive (4000 yen total). Note: The ropeway entrance is a scenic and uphill walk, so it’s best to walk towards your reservation as early as possible so you’re not in a rush.
- You can either take the ropeway back down or walk—just keep in mind that it’s a 2-hour and very beautiful but strenuous walk.
- Take a break at Tenshinkaku for a beautiful view, coffee, and desserts
Perfect way to start the day
- Go to Iwamura Momiji Ya – for traditional sweet Momiji Manju (maple leaf pastry). Get there early because they sell out fast!
- MIYAJIMA Rilakkuma Sabo for maple leaf pastry with a bear on it
- Walk across Momiji Bridge
- Explore Daisho-In Temple
- Depending on which ferry you take, the last ferry back to Hiroshima leaves at 17:30 or 18:30. Remember that as you explore!
Top of the ropeway
Dinner recommendation in Hiroshima: Pizza at Mario Espresso. We stumbled in here, and the pizza was insanely good – and cheap!
How Long: 1 Night
Where to Stay: Lamp Light Books Hotel (Laundry)
Recommendation: I always have to do something literary on any trip, so when I saw this book hotel, I had to go! Nagoya was a cool place, but you can always add an extra day in another city if you’re not a bookworm like me. That being said, Nagoya is a foodie paradise, and I would still highly recommend going here!
Day Fifteen – Exploring Nagoya
Will travel anywhere for books
Things to do in Nagoya:
- Nagoya Tsutaya – a famous and beautiful bookstore
- Osu Shopping Street for anime shops
- Nagoya Castle
- Atsuta Shrine
- Maruyoshi for karage chicken
- Go to Dai Sky Garden – check out their seasonal illuminations
- Yurt for fluffy pancakes (in the same building as the sky garden)
- Sky Promenade for beautiful views
- PaoPao-tei for bao buns
- Venture to Obara Fureai Park – a place where cherry blossoms bloom in autumn. Not in Nagoya City, though
- Moricafe Kodama (Studio Ghibli-themed cafe)
- Spend a day at Ghibli Park (tickets have to be reserved in advance)
- Have dinner at Misokatsu Yabaton – for Misokatsudon, a Nagoya specialty. You usually have to wait in line. We waited for only 10 minutes!
How Long: 2 Nights
Where to Stay: Hakone Kowakien Mikawaya Ryokan – we stayed in the villa with the private onsen!
Recommendation: Get the Hakone Free Pass, which allows you free access to most public transport in Hakone. Because most public transport is via bus, it’s a bit more expensive than other regions in Japan, and the Hakone Free Pass is a great way to save money on transportation without worrying about tickets.
Days Sixteen & Seventeen – Stay in a luxury Ryokan in Hakone
I’ll be honest with you all—we didn’t do any real sightseeing in Hakone. We stayed in the Ryokan, where meals were included, and we had a private onsen on our balcony. We just wanted to relax because we were exhausted from averaging almost 20,000 steps a day for almost three weeks. So, we spent 90% of our time in the onsen or reading in bed until it was time to go to dinner and ventured out only once to go to the Family Mart down the road. However, the recommendations listed below were on our itinerary (planned from a less tired version of me) and have been confirmed as worth it by friends who have been to Hakone.
With this on our balcony, can you blame us?
Things to do:
- Open Air Museum
- Okada Museum of Art
- Hakone Jinja Shrine
- Go on the Hakone Sightseeing Pirate Cruise – (included with the Hakone free pass)
- Take the above sightseeing cruise to Togendai-Ko and then take the Hakone Ropeway/cable car (also included in the Hakone free pass) to the Volcanic Valley and get a black-boiled egg to eat – which adds 7 years to your life supposedly.
- Nukafuku for donuts (closes at 4 pm)
- Coffee Camp for food & coffee (closes at 4:30 pm)
- Hakone Venetian Glass Museum and Glass Forest
- Day trip to Lake Kawaguchiko / Chureito Pagoda
Michael enjoying his traditional Japanese breakfast at the Ryokan
How Long: 1 Night
Where to Stay: Tokyo Hotel Resol Ueno
Recommendation: There’s so much to see and do in Ueno – one day definitely won’t cut it! We’ll be going back to Tokyo for 2 weeks in a few months – I’ll report back with a full guide then 😉
Day Eighteen – Ueno + Last Full Day
Use this day to do anything you didn’t get a chance to do your first time around.
Bar Bookshelff
Things to do:
- Stroll through Ueno Park
- Go shopping at Ameyoko – one of Tokyo’s most beloved shopping streets!
- See Pandas at Ueno Zoo
- Learn about Japanese art and history at the Tokyo National Museum
- Visit Ueno Toshogu Shrine
- Go to Bar Bookshelff for great cocktails and to talk about books – We went here on our last night, and it was one of the best experiences. The bartender curates all the liquor and books in the bar himself and gives you book recommendations based on your vibe. Once he figured out we loved books, we spent an hour just chatting about the books we loved while sipping delicious gin cocktails made from local Japanese gin.
- Head to a jazz bar – there are so many of them in Ueno!
- Yanaka Ginza – shopping street filled with vintage shops and cats!
- Shabu Shabu and Grilled Cuisine at Kagayaki
- Take the time to get souvenirs for friends and family
Day Nineteen – Say goodbye to Japan
Staying in Ueno makes getting to Narita super convenient with the Ueno Skyliner. Book your ticket here, but just note that even if you make a reservation online, you still have to pick up your ticket in person at Ueno station.
And that’s it—your Japan trip is finished…for now. But I’m sure you’ll be planning your next trip the moment you get on the plane—at least we were!
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