Stroll through bamboo forests and neon jungles in Japan. In the Land of the Rising Sun, ancient traditions seem to blend in easily with modern marvels.
Must Sees: Tokyo | Must Sees: Kyoto | Must Sees: Osaka | Food | Transportation | Mt. Fuji
MUST SEES: TOKYO
Memory Lane
Ancient alley by the Shinjuku train station, underneath pipes and cables, and red lanterns. This is the best place to eat. This is what you see in movies, super tiny restaurants, small bars, and little yakitori shops.
Ueno Park
Amazing park with dozens of red Torii gates, a golden temple, a moon-shaped pine tree, and animal sculptures. They dress up the kitsune fox sculptures with red aprons.
Shibuya Crossing
Most famous intersection in Tokyo where people walk in every direction. Pedestrians at every corner wait for a green light. Then, everyone enters the Scramble at the same instant and tries to navigate a squiggly path.
Imperial Palace
The Imperial Palace is the emperor’s residence. While the interior is only open to the public two days a year, the palace is impressive. It is on a hill behind moats. There are rooms where samurais and ninjas lived.
Harajuku
Young people flock to Takeshita Street in search of the latest fads. These Japanese hipsters and rave kids prefer the colorful schoolgirl look popular in anime, manga, and the killer schoolgirl in Kill Bill. It’s like living in the Barbie movie.
Meiji Shrine
Tokyo’s largest Shintō shrine feels a world away from the bustle of the modern city. It’s reached via a long, rambling forest path marked by towering torii (entrance gates). Meiji-jingū is a place of worship and a memorial to Emperor Meiji.
Sensō-ji
Sensō-ji is a cool looking Buddhist temple and 5-story pagoda in the center of the city. It is Tokyo’s oldest temple, founded in 645.
Shinjuku
Shinjuku has video game palaces and pachinko halls. This is the place to see neon signs.
Roppongi
Roppongi has the best restaurants and shops. It is also where you to experience nightlife at late-night bars and clubs.
Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower is a communications tower located in Shiba Park, Minato. At 1,093 ft., it is the second-tallest structure in Japan. It was built in 1958 to broadcast the wedding ceremony of the emperor and empress.
MUST SEES: KYOTO
Kinkaku-ji
The Golden Pavilion is a Zen Buddhist temple covered in gold leaf. They used gold to purify negative thoughts concerning death. The shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu originally built this complex as a holiday villa.
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Arashiyama is a bamboo grove in the Arashiyama Mountains about 30 minutes from Kyoto. Experience the bamboo grove in the morning and get away from the crowds along one of the paths.
Fushimi Inari-taisha
The Shinto shrine is at the base of the Inari Mountain. The highlight is the 2.5-mile path top the top with thousands of bright red torii gates. There was a custom where donating a gate would make your wish come true.
Kiyomizu-dera
Kiyomizu is a Buddhist temple that was established in 778. The wooden temple on a framework of stilts is nestled among trees at the top of a hill. Nearby Sanju-no-to is a bright, orange, three-story pagoda.
MUST SEES: OSAKA
Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle was essential for Japan’s unification in the 16th century. In 1583, the feudal lord, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, began building the imposing fortress. The five-story main tower has gold leaf decorations under its awnings.
Nara Park
You must take a day trip to Nara Park, which is less than an hour away from Osaka or Kyoto. Sure, the historical sites are important. But, you can pet and pose with the tiny, free-roaming Nara deer who will bow for food!
Dotonbori
Dotonbori is a photogenic neighborhood at night. It has neon signs an illuminated billboards that reflect off the water of the canal. Along the pedestrian walkways, crazy restaurant signs are literally leaping out at you to grab your attention.
Kuromon Ichiba
At Kuromon Market, you can check out the fresh fish, meat, produce, and pickles that attract local chefs. Stop by for takeout sushi or use the grills to cook your finds.
Nakazakicho
Wander through the tiny alleys and traditional tea shops frequented by hipsters. Local artists and their creative energy are rapidly transforming this bohemian neighborhood into a mix of new and old.
Umeda Sky Building
Umeda is a space-age, giant-arched skyscraper. From the 360-degree open-air rooftop on the 40th floor, you will have a spectacular view of Osaka’s skyline. It is easy to imagine one of those floating cars from the Jetsons landing on top.
FOOD
Ramen
Some ramen spots have vending machines at the front. You look at the buttons and choose based on pictures and Japanese characters. Just make sure it isn’t a machine that dispenses your bowl of ramen.
Yakitori
Yakitori are grilled chicken skewers made from bite-sized pieces of meat from different parts of the chicken, such as the breasts, thighs, wings, and liver. They are carefully cooked to order over charcoal. Yakitori is a popular, inexpensive dish that is great with a glass of beer.
Soba
You dip the cold soba noodles it in a sauce with wasabi and green onions. After you have slurped the noodles, you pour the hot water in the sauce to make some soup. The set also comes with a mixed seafood cake.
Takoyaki
At tables in Roppongi where you stand, snack on fried battered octopus balls. They are topped with sauce and seaweed and they are crispy and delicious.
Uji Matcha Cookies
In Kyoto, you can find these delicious, crunchy cookies made with Uji matcha green tea. A layer of white chocolate cream is sandwiched between two cookies.
Sashimi
At the fish market, you can get delicious bowls of sashimi. Load them up with luscious slices of toro (fatty tuna), uni (sea urchin), and roe. You can also get them with salmon or whatever you can think of.
Obanyaki
Obanyaki is a treat made of two small pancake patties filled with sweet red azuki bean paste. Other fillings include matcha cream and chestnut.
TRANSPORTATION
The Shinkansen is a high-speed bullet train. At 200 mph, you can travel from Tokyo to Kyoto in just over 2 hours. Remember to watch out for Mt. Fuji on the way.
Mt. Fuji
Sacred Fujisan has been a source of inspiration for artists and poets as long as anyone can remember. It’s worth visiting the beautiful snow-capped mountain even if you aren’t hiking to the top. The most popular route is the 9-mile Yoshida Trail, which is capped at 4,000 hikers per day.
