Japan Recs
Japan has so much to see and do that you couldn’t even begin to list it all! These are just Some of our favorite places that we think are worth a visit. ✨
Tokyo・東京
The New Otani has a beautiful garden, lots of restaurants and a good location next to the metro station.The Ninomaru Garden is especially beautiful.
Incredible art exhibit- my number one recommendation for Tokyo.
This large park has many types of gardens as well as a greenhouse and starbucks inside.Shinto Shrine near Harajuku in the middle of a large park.
If you are a Ghibli fan you will love this museum. About an hour away from main Tokyo. You need to buy your tickets far in advance.
Amazing bookstore with a Starbucks, a grocery store, and a stationary store inside. Located in a very cute area full of good shopping.
A street along the canal to walk and shop. In the spring, lots of Cherry blossoms.
Their flagship store- this muji has a smoothie counter, a bakery, a tea blending station, a small grocery store, and a hotel on the top.A many level store with stationary and home goods.
A noodle restaurant in Ginza. The portions are very big! The line can be long for a table. If you go up on the roof there is a little courtyard.
Store with beautiful aquascapes and aquariums.
Another great Muji with a cafe at the bottom.Clothes and home goods store.
A 7-11 meal is a classic Japan experience. They are nothing like the American 7-11s. Other convenience stores include FamilyMart and Lawsons. I like to get their Onigiri.
There are many cafes where you can pet and interact with interesting animals. There are Cat Cafes, Owl Cafes, Rabbit Cafes, and in Kyoto a Mipig Cafe, which is a mini-pig cafe!
Hakone・箱根町
You could see this museum and the Pola Museum in the same day.Really lovely art museum with a delicious cafe for lunch.
A beautiful park in the center of Hakone with cafes and a craft house where you can try workshops, including ceramics and glass blowing.
Take this lift from Hakone up into the mountains all the way to Togendai Station to get a view of Mt Fuji.
Kyoto・京都
Historical area with traditional Japanese buildings.Very interesting and delicious dishes served small plate style. Get a reservation in advance.
They have a few locations and it's really tasty and really trendy.
Small but very colorful temple.Very cute little shop with plants and home goods.
Yum!
A home goods store with a cafe.
A coffee shop that is a Fellow distributor.
Cute traditional Japanese candies.Great area to explore and walk around.
Hip ramen shop with good vibes.
Several small Sou-Sou clothing stores in Kawaramatchi clustered together.
Order on the app when you sit down.Has a large garden around the Temple.
A very large temple up in the hills.
Has a lovely Zen garden and bamboo grove.
My favorite shrine to visit in Japan. You can hike to the top of the mountain.Sweet little cafe next to Fushimi Inari with a view of the river.
You can feed wild monkeys from the top of the mountain.
A winding path in the tall bamboo. Very crowded but still fun.
Taiyaki in a cute shopping center.A luxury camping goods store. The store itself is very beautiful. There is a little coffee shop inside.
A fun day trip if you enjoy Japanese Tea. They have lots of interesting workshops and they now offer a direct bus from Kyoto.
A day trip from Kyoto or stay a night. Nara Park is home to the famous bowing deer. Watch out, they try to eat your stuff! Go to see Todai-ji temple inside the park to see a HUGE Buddha. Kasugataisha Shrine next to the park is a nice shrine honoring deer.
Kanazawa・金沢市
You can go inside the castle.Very cute little Cafe.
A shrine with a beautiful garden.
A really nice hot springs resort in Kaga Onsen. The meals are included and they are amazing. They offer private baths.
Travel Tips
⟨·⟩ It's a good idea to learn some conversational Japanese before your trip. There are some English speakers in Tokyo, but most Japanese people do not know English. Memrise is a good app to learn for free. You should also download Google Translate which can be very helpful for translating text. If you only learn how to say one thing, learn how to say thank you.⟨·⟩ It's good to have cash on hand. There is an ATM at every 7-11.⟨·⟩ Stand to one side in escalators to make room for people who want to walk up.⟨·⟩ Always give and accept things like credit cards with two hands.⟨·⟩ Eating or drinking while you are walking is considered very rude.⟨·⟩ Many restrooms do not have paper towels. Bring a small towel with you to dry your hands.
⟨·⟩ Public trash cans are not very common. If you have trash, put it in your bag and throw it away at home.
⟨·⟩ Bring socks with you in case you are asked to remove your shoes indoors or in temples.⟨·⟩ Save your shopping to the end of your trip so you don’t have as much to carry!⟨·⟩ A JR Rail Pass can save you money if you are planning to travel by train a lot, for instance from Tokyo to Kyoto and back. It only works for the JR line. You will still need a subway card to get around in the city.