Japan 🇯🇵
Tokyo
Tips
- Try all the vending machine drinks and convenience store desserts you can!
Attractions
Gorgeous park, and it’s free!
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Free view of Tokyo’s skyline! Recommend going at sunset, the city transforms before your eyes
Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center
Free view of the iconic Nakamise-dori Street.
Kappabashi Kitchen Tools Street
Awesome place to window shop, loved seeing all of the fake display food!
Food
Affordable, simple tonkatsu!
Ex-Michelin star dessert chef-founded shaved ice (kakigori) place! Super boujee (minimum one each + they’re very expensive), but delicious! Reservations required.
Fluffy Japanese pancakes! Arrive early to secure a reservation to return later in the day. Minimum of one each and they’re big, so come hungry
Kyoto
Tips
- If you want to get to temples before they get busy, go at opening time! We woke up at 5:30am for some of them
Attractions
It really is as incredible as people describe. Would recommend going twice, in the evening and morning! We hiked all the way up in the morning but got very lost on the way back, so pay attention to the maps!
This is such an underrated temple, I think it’s a must-do for Kyoto. 1,200 statues carved by everyday people who were taught by a Buddhist sculptor turned monk. There’s nothing like it in the world!
The distillation of zen into a single place. Beautiful rock gardens, I could sit there in silence forever.
Food
Tempura and Temari-Sushi Miyako
Worth the long wait! Excellent set menus with tempura and sushi
Tonkatsu w unlimited side refills!
Best soba I had in Japan!
Sushi no Musashi - Kyoto Station Hachijo Entrance
Great conveyor belt sushi!
