A Taste of Japan
- Naomi
- Apr 15, 2018
- 9 min read
Updated: Nov 9, 2018
I get a giddy, newly in love feeling when I think back to my time in Japan. I first visited the magical land of cherry blossoms, matcha, karaoke, onsens, and too much good food to list (although I tried -- see the end of this post) a couple weeks ago. My Japanese business school classmates planned an incredible week-long trip for 80 of us, and I owe much of my amazing time to their selflessness and wonderful company.
I was unbelievably lucky to visit when cherry blossom trees were in full bloom, a hard-to-predict event that only lasts for one week. I didn't realize that the trees would be EVERYWHERE; now I can't imagine the country without them. Something about the trees made people's moods light and happy, and there are even limited edition foods like sakura (cherry blossom) ice cream and Royce chocolate to try during the season. I highly recommend planning a trip in late March - early April to catch the blooming.
I've gathered my favorite activities and eats from jaunts in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo below. I could easily have stayed another month because there were so many regions remaining to be explored, so many alleyways I didn't get to wander down, so much sushi and ramen remaining to be eaten...Is it too early to book my return trip?!
Osaka: one of Japan's biggest foodie cities
Check it out:
Walk along the Dotonburi riverfront in the evening and take a picture with the famous running man.
See Osaka's most famous historic site, Osaka-jo, a castle on a hill with two giant moats surrounding it. On Sunday afternoons, amateur rock bands play on the castle grounds just outside the subway station. There is a museum inside the castle, but be prepared for a long line.
Stroll through Orange Street, a trendy shopping area that started with furniture design shops but now includes many boutiques, vintage shops, and coffee shops like Coffee Roughnecks. Drink Japanese craft beer at BIOTOP's rooftop garden.
Experience America Mura, a bustling village modeled after--you guessed it--America, but a more artsy and quirky version, just a short walk from Orange Street. Try the interesting, instagrammable eats (giant cotton candy on a stick, anyone?), notice the street lamps resembling cartoon characters, and peruse the vintage and 300 yen stores.
Visit Shinsekai, a neighborhood oddly, yet charmingly modeled after Paris and Coney Island. I went at dusk and it looked like several shops had closed, although the area was still bustling and the lights were beautiful at night.
Eat:
One of the best places to discover why Osaka is known for food is at Kuromon Market which features stalls upon stalls offering delicious, bite-sized treats. Must-eats are two Osaka-specialties: takoyaki (octopus pancake balls topped with cheese) and okonomiyaki (a Japanese pizza/pancake that translates to "grilled as you like it" and is made with flour, eggs, cabbage, protein, and sauces). Other great eats were grilled giant scallop, sake ice cream, and my favorite: tuna at the corner stall marked by a giant tuna head. We made friends with the sushi chef and even scored some extra sashimi. Bring friends so you can taste more!
Do as the locals do and eat sushi for breakfast at arguably the most famous sushi restaurant in Osaka, Endo, located at the Osaka fish market. It's extremely affordable-- choose from four plates of five different types of the freshest sushi for around $11 each. They're famous for clam miso soup, which my boyfriend loved. My friends and I arrived around 6AM on a Monday and quickly got seated beside a table of Japanese businessmen, although long queues form later in the morning. Endo Sushi is open from 5AM - 2PM every day except Sunday.
Kyoto: a former Japanese capital famous for its history
Check it out:
Hands down one of the coolest temples I've ever seen was Kinkaku-ji, "The Golden Pavilion." I've seen a ton of temples, but this one was especially magnificent: its shimmering gold exterior was reflected in the lake surrounding it, yet contrasted beautifully with the trees behind it. Damn.
Spend time walking through the orange torii, Japanese gates, at the Fushimi Inari-taisha Shinto shrine. They're incredibly crowded, but still cool. If you have time, walk a couple hours to the shrine at the top of the mountain.
To see a more "traditional-looking" Japanese Buddhist temple, definitely visit Kiyomizu-dera. The red pagoda and entire temple area was gorgeous.
Experience Kyoto's traditional architecture by strolling through Pontocho Alley. Pop into one of the many small tea houses, bars, or restaurants. I visited a quaint Japanese whiskey and jazz bar complete with Gatsby-esque decor.
Try geisha-spotting in Gion, Kyoto's most famous Geisha district. I didn't get to visit, but I've heard great things and am fascinated (#nexttime).
Eat:
Go on a stomach-guided eating tour of Nishiki Food Market, fresh and packaged food heaven! My boyfriend and I made it there to snag some unreal-fresh-tasting salmon before the market closed at 5PM, but I wish we'd visited much earlier because the place was massive and there was much to be devoured.
Carbo-load at Sobanomi Yoshimura, probably the best soba restaurant in Kyoto, where you can see chefs making soba noodles while you wait. Cold soba that you dip in sauce is the way to go, especially with their tasting menu that also includes a bowl of hot soba, tempura, sashimi, special Kyoto tofu, and heavenly soba ice cream!
Kyoto is famous for its matcha. Try it on jelly-like warabi mochi, on matcha chocolate covered strawberries (at a specialty store or even 7-Eleven), in a latte, in soft serve... just eat it constantly. Nishiki is a great place to buy it to bring home.
Kyoto is also known for its tofu. My favorite is agedashi, deep fried tofu in a delicious soy sauce. If you think tofu is flavorless, you've gotta try agedashi tofu, and I promise it will blow your mind. Check out my friend Julia's blog post for her experience at an amazing, traditional tofu restaurant just outside of Kyoto called Shoraian.
Tokyo: trendy, bustling, and tasteful, like 5 NYC's stacked on top of each other
Check it out:
Visit the busiest intersection in the world: Shibuya Crossing. Walk across it (obviously), then head to the second-story of Starbucks for a time-lapse video recording spot. Visit the statue of Hachiko, a dog famous in Japan for his loyalty--he waited every day for over nine years for his owner to return (unfortunately, his owner had passed away) . There are many areas worth seeing nearby, including Yoyogi Park, a must-visit picnic spot during cherry blossom season, where cherry blossom petals fall from the sky like snow and you'll see business people in suits saving picnic spots for their bosses.
Release your inner hipster with a trip to Shimokitazawa, Tokyo's version of Brooklyn, characterized by a seemingly endless number of second-hand stores, including New York Joe Exchange, which offers 50% off everything the first Sunday of the month. I LOVED THIS NEIGHBORHOOD! While you're there, eat curry ramen, a Shimokitazawa specialty that I'm bummed I didn't have time to try. Bear Pond Espresso is famous for their coffee, but I was less than impressed with their cold brew so would recommend trying something different (espresso, perhaps?).
When I think of Tokyo, I think of Akihabara, an area known for electronics, anime, and maid cafes. I didn't spend much time here but recommend visiting if you want to experience something completely foreign, like being called "master" while served almost-too-cute-to-eat looking foods.
Head North to spend time at Ueno Park and Ame-Yoko Market. Rent a pedal or row boat on the lake for $6 per half hour, and bring bread or rice to feed the adorable birds who will fly from the trees into your open palms.
Check out Daikanyama for an upscale, trendy neighborhood that reminds me of NYC's Soho. Stroll along the Meguro River, visit the boutiques, or get work done at one of the cool coffee shops. Most of the shops don't open until 11AM or later.
Catch a view of the city from the Asahi Beer Tower, Sky Tree, or Roppongi Hills.
Do:
Eat sushi for breakfast at the world famous Tsukiji Fish Market. The best sushi restaurant is Sushi Dai, but lines start forming earlier than 5AM and can be several hours long. For a shorter wait, visit Daiwa Sushi next door. To watch the famous tuna auction, arrive at the inner market by 3AM, and you'll have a good shot at securing one of the 60 spots to see the auction starting at 6AM. Be prepared to sit on the floor for three hours. The auction is closed on Sundays and some Wednesdays, and the market is scheduled to move to a new location in autumn 2018.
Experience an animal cafe. I visited Ms. Bunny in Roppongi, which has both rabbits (!!!), hedgehogs, and a fox that you can play with for around $15 per half hour. There are also owl, cat, and other animal cafes--just stay away from the owl cafe at Takeshita street, since the owls there are chained in a basement. I don't know if other owl cafes are as sad :(
I've heard mixed reviews about the Robot Cabaret in Shinjuku, a sensory spectacle with robots, dancers, lasers, music, and probably much stranger things. Tickets ($70) were sold out for a month when I called, so definitely book online ahead of time!
If you're visiting Japan during one of three annual Sumo Tournaments, go go go! If you're visiting during a different time, you can still watch sumo wrestlers during one of their morning training sessions. I visited the week after a tournament ended when the wrestlers were on vacation, so I didn't get to see a match (#nexttime).
Drink:
Try a twist on traditional omakase with Gen Yamamoto's omakase cocktail tasting. It was by a landslide the coolest drinking experience I've ever had. I can best describe it as watching an artist in his workshop where everything from the eight-person reclaimed wood bar, to the stage lighting, the delicate glasses, and even his white, scientist-like attire was carefully curated. Gen used a variety of alcohol such as sake, sochu, and Japanese whisky in perfect harmony with fresh fruits and vegetables to craft unique cocktails that change with the seasons. A six-cocktail tasting costs around $75. Book up to a month in advance via phone or email (he speaks English). It's worth checking last minute too, since I called and got seats one day in advance.
Bar hop at Golden Gai in Shinjuku, a little area with narrow alleys and tons of tiny bars, each with a unique vibe and seating around four to eight people.
Eat:
Tokyo has a million delicious eats, so anywhere you go, simply use Google Maps to search what you're craving, and I guarantee that there will be a four star+ restaurant serving it nearby.
Traveling alone? Need a break from your travel companions? Insatiable appetite? Or, to simply experience eating the Japanese way, go to Ichiran Ramen, where you order from a vending machine, are served without ever seeing someone, and eat at an individual stall. Get in, get your ramen, get out. If you simply can't resist human interaction, you can remove the dividers to peep on your neighbor. Ichiran is all over Japan and now in Brooklyn, too--huzzah!
While walking around Asakusa, my nose led me to Ikinari Steak. I saw a line, hopped into it, and then realized that it's the same restaurant that opened in Manhattan's East Village a couple years ago. I ordered the steak tips lunchtime special for a mere $11, decent with their steak sauce, but I'd recommend specifying how you like your meat cooked since mine were too well-done.
Eat conveyor belt sushi at Kura Sushi, where you accumulate points to win prizes from capsule machines with every plate you finish!
Shop:
Check out one of my favorite shopping areas: Kappabashi, aka Kitchen Town. Kappabashi is a street lined with stores upon stores supplying kitchen items to Tokyo's restaurants. There's everything from dishware, to knives, to chef's clothing, and even the beautiful Japanese restaurant door-hanging fabric. It's a great place to grab lovely, inexpensive gifts like cute chopstick holders, sake sets, and bowls. I was obsessed and spent several hours there.
Visit the outdoor Ame-Yoko Market near Ueno, which sells everything from food to clothing. I only had time to visit one shop there, which looked like a Pokemon store from the outside, but transformed into a porn shop on the inside, much to the horror of a mother and her son shopping next to me.
Pick up locally crafted products from the very cool, somewhat pricey 2K540 Aki-Oka Artisan Market. There was a large pop-up area dedicated to merchandise for cat lovers when I went.
Asakusa's Nakamise Shopping Street appeared to be a wonderful, albeit crowded place to find trinkets and street food right outside of the Senso-Ji Temple, although most shops had closed when I visited in the evening.
Harajuku is a short walk away from Shibuya, where you can visit the Nike store and Takeshita Street, also known as "teenage girl street," overflowing with accessory and clothing shops. The street got so congested midday that pedestrians reached a standstill and police had to move traffic along and prevent more people from entering. Truly a nightmare for this fast walker.
Grab a snack at Marugoto Nippon Market's first floor food hall that offers many specialty Japanese eats like locally produced honey and creative Japanese pudding and gelato flavors (black sesame for me!).
For the creative types, head to Itoya, an art store with everything from stationary, to origami paper, cards, postcards, erasable pens, and more. There are several Tokyo locations.
Wander around Don Quijote, a famous Japanese discount store with endless random products from food, to beauty, to apparel and costumes. There are multiple locations open into the early morning hours or even 24 hours to satisfy late night shopping needs.
Experience Tokyo Hands, a Japanese department store that's a one-stop-shop for all your needs. I visited the Shinjuku location that was a massive eight-stories full of Japanese goods, although the original location is in Shibuya.
Writing this post was as much about sharing the things I loved as it was about creating personal reminders for when I return. I'll leave you with my checklist of things to eat so you don't miss anything important ;)
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