Tips
- If you plan to do the Mario Cart, then get the international driving permit ahead of time.
- Based on the length of your trip, you may want to consider the multiple Tokyo Subway pass and/or JR pass. Here is an article that provides a summary of these passes. Note that the Tokyo Subway pass will not work on JR Rail.
- Take the bullet train to travel between major cities. It's worth the experience and it saves so much time! It's included if you have a JR Pass.
- Plan to go during the Cherry Blossom full bloom to make the most of the scenery!
- The luxurious ice cream Cremia is to die for! You can find them anywhere in Japan!
Tokyo
Summary
This is my favorite city in Japan. I could just go to Tokyo and skip the other cities unless you want to enjoy the cultural aspect or visit temples/shrines. I recommend staying in Shinjuku since that's where most of the entertainment is at. But anywhere in Tokyo should be fine because there is an abundance of subway stations. We spent about 3-4 days here.
You have probably heard of Robot Restaurant as a must go. If you ask for my opinion, it's a tourist trap. - expensive, corny, boring. Go if you like Power Rangers.
Mario Kart
There are quite a few companies that host Mario Kart. Unfortunately, I forgot which one I did. This is one of the highlights of the trip! We get to choose a costume and then drive around the city in a kart car. We got a choice between a slow drive and a fast drive. We picked the fast one and it turned out really well!
Shibuya Crossing
The Shibuya Crossing intersection is the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world.
Hachiko! If you have seen the movie Hachi: A Dog's Tale, here is the statue!
Tsukiji Fish Market
We went to grab breakfast at Tsukiji Fish Market. There are a ton of delicious seafood finger food. I also had a Wagyu beef order which was mostly fat. It was the bomb digity!
Golden Gai Street Alley
We met some friends at a small bar in Golden Gai Street Alley. The walkway is tiny like an alley. Each bar is ridiculously small and has multiple floors. It's a cozy place to have a drink and relax.
Han no Daidokoro Kadochika - Wagyu Beef
If you are in Japan, you must try Wagyu and/or Kobe beef! We went to Han no Daidokoro Kadochika for Wagyu. We ordered the beef variety of 1, 2, 3, 4, and the ribeye. I would order again the 1 and the ribeye. The beef is so rich that you can only eat so much and get full from. So don't order a lot.
Team Lab Planets
Team Lab Planets is the original team lab. Words just can't describe this place. It's like an adventure land with computer graphics and lights. I really really enjoy this place! It's about a 1-2 hour activity here.
Team Lab Borderless
Team Lab Borderless is the more popular one than the original Team Lab Planets. The line is superbly long. Go early or else you will wait 1-2 hours in line. This place is massively huge. You have to find secret passages and rooms to discover more cool things. I would dedicate about 3-4 hours here. Also, buy the tickets in advance because it will get sold out!
Latency Zero
Latency Zero isn't exactly a Japan thing. It's all over the world. I really like it though, so I thought I'd share. It's a group VR activity where everyone will be in a first-person shooter game and in real-time.
The squad
Hakone
We heard great things about this place. However, it wasn't as amazing. This city should be a half-day trip and is more of a nature city. Most places close early, so there wasn't much to do in the evening.
If you plan on going, get the Hakone pass which is all-inclusive for the rides and ticketed places. You get your money's worth. Make sure to arrive early in the morning so that you can visit all the places before it closes and then leave by evening. The Hakone Black Eggs of Owakudani is overrated. It tastes just like regular eggs - I don't recommend buying it.
About to board our ship. Ahoy!
Local train in the nature land
Kyoto
Summary
The stay in Kyoto is very expensive due to a housing tax that recently got enforced. I would recommend staying in Osaka and take the bullet train to Kyoto (1-hour bullet train ride) to save $$$. This is only worth it if you bought the JR pass. We spent about 3 days here. I think 1-2 days would have been good for me. For commuting, you can purchase the unlimited bus pass at the bus station.
The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is my favorite place to visit in Kyoto. The downside is that it is very small. If you want to take really good photos, come really really early so that there are fewer people. Otherwise, it's a matter of 5-10 people photobombing your pictures.
Togetsu-kyo Bridge
Near the Arashiyama district is the Togetsu-kyo Bridge. It's a scenic long bridge.
Fushimi Inari Taisha
I'm not big on temples/shrines, but I figured I'd check out the most popular shrine here, Fushimi Inari Taisha. It is a hell of a hike up there. There are lots of stairs and we were definitely not prepared. I would estimate the total hike time to go up to be about 3 hours which also includes multiple stops to take pictures and enjoy the scenery.
After the shrine, we were walking around the area and stumbled upon a cozy strip with an elegant stream along the path. I forgot the name of it, but if you can find it, it is worth checking out!
Kyoto Engine Ramen
We found a good vegetarian/vegan ramen place called Kyoto Engine Ramen. Their broth is very creamy and Jackie claims that this is the best ramen she has ever had!
L'Escamoteur Bar
Make sure you check out L'Escamoteur Bar right when it opens. It's a small bar and there is a long wait to get a drink. The owner/bartender/magician puts on a show when you order a special cocktail. He infuses magic and drinks into the theme. Also, try to find the bathroom.. it exists, somewhere.. ;)
Nara
Nara is no more than a half-day trip. It is very close to Osaka. So if you are already in Osaka, take half a day off for this place if you like to see deers. For some reason, most places were closed during the day. There wasn't much else to check out in Nara besides the Nara deer park. All of the deers' antlers are chopped off. I assume this is for public safety. You will find the deers on the sidewalk and the park.
Osaka
I recommend getting the Osaka Amazing Pass which allows unlimited bus/train rides and permits free admission to many attractions. You can purchase these in the subway. You just gotta find your way there ;)
Umeda Sky Building
The Umeda Sky Building is about 40 stories high. It has a great view of the city from the rooftop. The building is shaped like a divided circle, with the rooftop undivided. When descending, we must take the escalator down which is external and connecting the two buildings, which is wicked!
Rooftop
Escalator down - Again, this is an external escalator that serves as a bridge between the two halves.
Osaka Castle Park
There is so much to explore within the Osaka Castle Park. The castle is just a small section of it. This is about a half-day thing to explore the entire area. There is also an Illusion Museum. It is small but very cool.
Dotonbori
The Dotonbori is a good place to check out for food, drinks, little shops, etc. This is along the river bank. There is a good boat ride that floats along the river and is covered in the Osaka pass.
Boat tour
Within the area, be sure you get the ramen at Ichiran Ramen. The line can get very long e.g. 30-60 minute wait, so come early!
Tenjimbashisuji Shopping Street
An outdoor/indoor mall-like place is Tenjimbashisuji Shopping Street. It is about a 1.5-mile strip. In addition to a ton of different shopping stores, you can also find a lot of good eats there!
