Japan Recommendations

Tokyo

  • Places to visit: 

    • Ueno Park

    • Meiji Jingu

    • Shibuya Crossing

    • Shopping area near Ebisu station

    • Kimono rental 

    • Shibuya Sky (get tickets now)

    • Shiba Inu cafes (harajuku) 

    • Tokyo Disney Sea

    • Tsukiji Fish Market

    • Ameya yokocho (food hall) 

    • Golden Gai for drinking 

  • Food/drink recs: 

    • Kobe beef & Matuzaka beef "Shabu Shabu" Ginza Syabuki

    • 5daime Hanayama Udon Ginza

    • Bongen coffee 

    • Tempura shinjuku tsunahachi

    • Torikizoku - nomihodai (AYCD)

    • Tsujihan Kagurazaka Branch (seafood donburi) shinjuku 

    • Shimonya (yakitori) $20 drinks 👀

    • Ramen Toka (fish ramen! Soo good) shinjuku 

    • Katsukura (shibuya)

    • Suzukien (world’s richest matcha ice cream shop) Asakusa 

    • The matcha Tokyo omotesando (shibuya)

Osaka

  • Places to visit: 

    • Dotonbori street

    • Kuroman Ichiban farmers market

    • Osaka Castle

    • Aquarium 

    • Team Lab 

    • Nara Deer Park (need to take a train outside the city)

    • Universal Studios Japan

  • Food/drink recs (Osaka style must try foods):

    • MUST get okonomiyaki (you can literally go anywhere for this) 

    • Takoyaki 

    • Yakidog (yakisoba hot dog lol) 

    • Kushikatsu 

    • Jumbo-tsuribune Tsurikichi in Shinsekai (catch and cook restaurant) 

    • COCORO (yakiniku)

    • Gyukatsu 

Kyoto

  • Places to visit: 

    • Fushimi-nara Taishi shrine

    • Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (next to fushimi inari) 

    • Nijo Castle

    • Tea ceremony near Kiyoumizu-dera

    • Eikan-do Zenrin-ji Temple

    • Fufu no-yu onsen

    • Kinkaku-ji golden temple

  • Food/drink recs:

    • Soy milk doughnuts 

    • Kaiseki (multi-course meal)

    • Tofu 

    • Kyoto-style ramen (chicken broth) 

    • Candied sweet potato at arashiyama

Bryn Yasui