I believe most of you understand by now that Japan is one among my favorite locations on this planet. I’ve finished earlier metropolis guides (my final Tokyo one linked right here, excuse the outdated formatting – it was 10 years in the past!) however it is a new, up to date one with in all places we went this journey. Kyoto might be subsequent!
HOW TO GET THERE
We booked our flights with Finnair, it labored out less expensive than BA and had direct flights to Tokyo Haneda, it companions with Japan Airways (whom our flight was with) and I can not advocate sufficient. We received a taxi to our Lodge from the airport after an extended flight however I’ve caught the prepare earlier than and it’s fairly simple.
TRAVELLING IN JULY
July is such a good time to journey round Japan! There have been many causes for this: firstly, we travelled in July for our honeymoon and cherished it – the Gion competition (Arts competition) was on in Kyoto, it was very HOT which made it laborious in some methods but additionally meant there have been much less vacationers than, say, September (when numerous excursions are on) or April (thought-about the perfect time to go to for cherry blossom season). It’s round 30 levels in Tokyo however in all places had air con, even the metro stations, plus the tall buildings means there’s loads of shade so it felt extra nice than travelling round London in related climate. It was very humid and it’s wet season, though we solely had one quick downpour this complete journey (final time we had a number of days of rain) . We selected faculty holidays because it meant our youngsters went on their very own vacation with grandparents on the similar time. If we return, it could positively be with the youngsters (perhaps in 5 years time), as soon as they will actually get entangled and address jetlag a bit simpler, we noticed tons extra households with older youngsters this time round.
HOW TO GET AROUND
We walked or took the metro in all places, taxis are fairly costly and it’s really easy to navigate the town utilizing public transport. We used a Shinkansen (bullet prepare) move to get from Tokyo to Kyoto and one thing we didn’t realise final time is that you simply additionally get free journey on all of the JR strains in Tokyo and Kyoto together with your bullet prepare move. Usually, you may get to the place you want on these strains alone (or stroll a bit further to make it work) which saved us fairly a bit of cash. However the bullet prepare may not be probably the most price efficient determination when you’re not travelling round that a lot. You may get extra native trains or buses between Osaka/Kyoto/Tokyo which could work out higher worth in your journey.
For different metro journeys we simply topped up a card with money and used it like an oyster, it was actually reasonably priced to get round this manner (these playing cards/passes work in Kyoto too). All the time be sure to faucet out at stations – I unintentionally didn’t faucet out in Tokyo after which my card didn’t work in Kyoto and I needed to wait till I received again to Tokyo to type it! For Kyoto I simply paid per journey.
If you’re travelling round, there is a superb baggage forwarding service (Takkyubin) which your resort can assist you with. We used it as soon as (though has gone up in worth since final time – it’s now roughly £15-£20 a suitcase) this journey, we despatched our suitcase forward to Kyoto and took a holdall into Mount Koya for one evening and our case was ready for us in Kyoto. They provide subsequent day supply often however I in all probability wouldn’t danger it the day you fly residence! Most stations even have baggage storage if it is advisable depart instances for a day.
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed on the Muji Lodge in Ginza. I’ve solely stayed in Ginza as soon as round 15 years in the past after I was travelling alone – it’s the procuring district with tons of luxurious retailers so figured it was a secure place to remain as a younger lady alone. Funnily sufficient we didn’t even go to Ginza final journey as we thought it was boring – however we LOVED staying there this time! The retailers shut within the night after which it’s so quiet, it feels fairly villagey, native and secure (particularly because it so effectively lit from all of the indicators). Right here’s why we cherished Ginza:
The Muji resort – I used to be so excited to remain right here and it didn’t disappoint. Small however completely fashioned rooms, it was minimal but useful, calm and cozy. It’s above their flagship retailer and as you check-in they current you with a listing of things you may take residence with you (together with slippers and stationery!). Breakfast was the proper introduction to easy Japanese dwelling: udon noodles, fish and curry but additionally eggs and bacon if you want. Our tip is to not go all the way down to breakfast on the hour (as that’s what everybody does!) – strive 10 to or 10 previous the hour.
Nightlife – Ginza isn’t buzzing like different Tokyo districts at evening but it surely has a beautiful environment and we found so many wonderful eating places in our neighbourhood. We cherished heading out on the metro within the day after which simply strolling to and from dinner within the night. There have been a great deal of karaoke locations close by too.
Location – Ginza is de facto near most locations, you may stroll to Shimbashi, it’s close to Tsukiji Fish Market and our resort was additionally proper by the Metro (Ginza-Itchome) which is a central cease for getting across the metropolis.
The procuring – this journey I wished to benefit from the retailers extra and Ginza has all of them – Daiso (the 100 yen retailer, the whole lot underneath £1), Itoya (100 12 months outdated stationery retailer), and Loft in addition to the fancier shops like Louis Vuitton and Gucci (which we didn’t frequent!).
WHAT TO DO
This time we wished to spend time in Tokyo like locals, we did all the massive sights final time (the Sensō-ji Temple, Yoyogi Park, Harajuku) and this time we wished to only eat and calm down. However first: Studio Ghibli Museum (which was shut final time we had been right here – it’s closed on Tuesdays!). It’s actually laborious to resolve whether or not or to not go to this museum, you’re not allowed to take images inside so there’s not a lot to analysis on-line and it’s a forty five minute journey exterior the town however we determined to take a punt on it, in spite of everything we had been in Tokyo and Chris is a big fan.
It was beautiful, the realm of Mitaka itself was suburban, leafy and a pleasure to stroll round, attempt to get there on time because the queues begin for the gallery as quickly because it opens. There are limitations on guests on a regular basis (Oomi Japan organised our ticket for this, aparently they’re fairly laborious to pay money for upfront!) which suggests it’s busy however not overly so. There have been quite a lot of households and youngsters (had been we the one grown-ups on our personal? Maybe, however we didn’t really feel bizarre) and there’s a lot to see: authentic illustrations, stills from movies, numerous interactive components and also you get to see a novel quick movie solely obtainable to guests (in Japanese, but it surely’s fairly a easy plot to comply with!). It was a morning effectively spent, it nonetheless felt very native and never too touristy, you can also’t spent various hours there which was a pleasant shock and meant we had been again to the centre of Tokyo by lunchtime.
My favorite store in Tokyo is Loft and there’s a 5/6 story one in Ginza which I spent quite a lot of time in. It’s like strolling across the backside flooring of a division retailer like Selfridges: teas, chococlates, gifting, stationery – however far more reasonably priced. The alternate charge to GBP was actually good, so even within the 100yen retailer Daiso (my different favorite retailer), every merchandise was round 65p every. We primarily purchased items for the youngsters or stationery we will’t get simply within the UK (see my reel on what I purchased right here). Lawson, 7 Eleven and any Pharmacies are additionally price visiting, the place you will discover quirky items, meals, snacks and Japanese magnificence merchandise cheaply.
Akihabara was one other place on our checklist as we solely briefly visited final time, it’s ‘Electrical City’ and a bigger than life a part of the town crammed with anime and manga retailers, gaming shops and 5 story buildings crammed with ‘Claw Machines’ that didn’t appear to be rigged – we each received on our first go! It’s a tween/teen heaven but additionally enjoyable for adults, we loved spending a number of hours right here and introduced again photobooth stickers of us as anime characters (after utilizing the wonder stations arrange subsequent to the cubicles, in fact).
A spotlight was karaoke, there are many locations to do it – Large Echo is a well-liked one, we did Karaoke Kan which was proper by our resort and had nice views out to Tokyo (it was roughly £25 for an hour which included 2 beers).
After which we spent the remainder of our time consuming!
WHERE TO EAT
We primarily ate noodles in Japan, it’s a lot simpler to come back throughout and a less expensive, on a regular basis meal. You possibly can’t actually go fallacious with ramen right here and even the most cost effective meals you order from a merchandising machine is scrumptious! Our first evening we arrived late so requested the employees at Muji for his or her suggestions (I might at all times advocate this) and we ended up in a cute, trendy ramen place close by known as Menya Yukou – 2 beers, 2 ramen dishes and a aspect of gyozas got here to £20. There’s no tipping tradition in Japan so it made a giant distinction to how a lot we spent.
We love the simplicity of Coco Ichibanya for katsu curry. Kaitensushi (conveyor belt sushi) is an reasonably priced solution to eat however they’re not as widespread as you’d suppose, quite a bit are in shops or prepare stations – we did see Sushi-go-round which seemed good and for reasonably priced sushi – Sushi No Midori. The very best locations for us are the small, unassuming locations that don’t look fancy, they typically have the perfect environment, too. In Ginza most eating places are at floor stage, so many locations in Tokyo you need to get a elevate to the doorway and it’s very laborious to again out when you’re unsure on the vibe! Right here you may peek in and see if it’s busy or the meals seems good.
We did a ‘Ramen Tour’ while in Tokyo with Frank, a ramen fanatic (his web site 5am ramen ought to grow to be your go-to if visiting) who taught us the several types of ramen, from my favorite: tsukemen (dipping noodles) to all of the completely different types of broths and toppings. He gave us a low-down on his high 5 ramen eating places in Ginza (they had been all inside 5 minutes stroll!), gave us their historical past and backstory (every one had a distinct segment: feminine owned, household run for 50 years, well-known for his or her spicy broth and many others) and we picked our favorite to go to.
We ended up in Hashigo – it was a easy bar, no tables and so busy that as quickly as you’ve got completed, you permit, to let these within the queue behind you begin. It was the perfect ramen I’ve ever tasted and it was a small unassuming place we’d handed by a number of instances with out noticing (in all probability as a result of there have been no English indicators – however they’d an English menu as soon as seated). These had been Frank’s different ramen suggestions (in/round Ginza):
A small phrase of warning: when you purchase snacks or a takeaway iced espresso, there are not any bins. Actually. Not one on the streets. We spent hours strolling round with a plastic container and couldn’t discover any. We realised after some time that nobody was consuming ‘on the go’ and there are even indicators in cafes asking when you take away, you’re taking your garbage residence with you. I’m nonetheless incredulous that the streets are so clear with none bins! However that’s one other one of many wonderful issues about Japan.
EXTRA INFO
We took primarily money, which appears loopy in such a contemporary metropolis but it surely helped us monitor our spending plus we had learn a number of articles saying that abroad playing cards don’t at all times work and the few instances we tried our card they had been temperamental! In every single place we went accepted money no drawback, and within the countryside it’s most popular (the Temple we stayed in Kyosan insisted on money, and apparently it’s fairly laborious to withdraw as solely sure cashpoints inside 7 Elevens work with abroad playing cards). One thing to remember.
Information roaming was costly for us, so we used wi-fi from the resort. Most tube stations and procuring malls (and Starbucks) have wi-fi readly obtainable and in locations like Kyoto they’d their very own ‘metropolis wifi’.
Plugs and voltage are the identical because the US, in different phrases your straighteners may not work. Fortunately I had a pair of $5 Goal mini straighteners which served me effectively!
Google translate is useful for menus however we discovered no drawback with language and had been at all times understood not directly!
We booked our flights then used Oomi Journey for lots of our itinerary (beforehand Distinctive Japan Excursions – whom we booked our honeymoon with!). We paid for our journey and knew roughly the place we wished to go however Darina helped e book the whole lot and all of the extras we wouldn’t have imagined – our itinerary was fairly easy this time and was principally Tokyo – Koyasan – Kyoto – Tokyo – London (our final journey was extra intricate and you may personalise your itinerary as a lot as you want). Oomi really useful the Muji Lodge, the journey to Koyasan, booked all our bullet trains and transport, in Koyasan we had a non-public tour information and stayed in a single day in a Buddhist Temple run by Monks, in Tokyo we additionally did a sushi making course run by probably the most wonderful Japanese ladies. It’s completely potential to e book Japan by your self however for the additional journeys (particularly Koyasan, or the unbelievable island of Amami the place we visited on our honeymoon, quite a lot of these accommodations haven’t any English web sites), Oomi helped make it further particular (and saved us time while working full-time with two youngsters!). This isn’t a paid promotion however wished to present a shout out, as I’ve really useful them to anybody we all know going to Japan!
Just a few reasonably priced eating places really useful by Oomi Japan:
Ramen Jiro (well-known ramen spot, queues begin as early as 7am!)
Tonkatsu Maruya – a typical workplace staff lunch spot
Yakitori Takumi – for yakitori, typical Japanese kebab fashion meals, meat charcoaled on (typically) bamboo skewers)
