By Zainab Al-Farabi
WHY THIS PLACE?
Incredible culture, food, people and landscapes. Diversity of activities (from cool cities to epic mountains!)
Diversity of great food from sushi, tempura to wagyu beef to ramen
MUST-DO EXPERIENCE
What’s one thing you absolutely shouldn’t miss?
Going to an onsen (public hot spring baths) or if you’re able to staying in a Ryokan. A ryokan is a traditional Japanese in featuring tatami-mat floors, futon beds, and public hot spring baths (onsen), offering an immersive cultural experience with legendary hospitality (omotenashi). Usually located in scenic areas, these inns typically include elaborate kaiseki multi-course dinners and traditional breakfasts.
FAVOURITE PLACE TO EAT OR DRINK
Tempura: Tempura Endo Yousaka (Kyoto)
Sushi: Hashiri Shimo Kitazawa (Tokyo)
Wagyu beef: Kuishinbo Yamanaka (Kyoto)
Udon noodles: Udon Oniyanma Nakameguro (Tokyo)
BEST COFFEE SPOT
Coffee Koppell (Tokyo) – an old school cafe which serves coffee brewed through siphons. Amazing coffee, served and ran by an old Japanese couple, super cool place.
HIDDEN GEM
The historic temples and Buddhist sanctuaries are incredible – there are reportedly up to 150,000 temples and shrines in Japan.
I would avoid going to the main and famous bamboo forest which is super crowded and go to Giōji Temple which is super tranquil and you can get your bamboo pics without the crowds!
BEST TIME TO VISIT
I would say not cherry blossom season! It’s increasingly a popular tourist destination and though Tokyo absorbs tourists well places like Kyoto don’t. I went in May (post cherry blossom) which is still spring time and good weather. It was fairly busy in May so I can only imagine the hoards and crowds during cherry blossom season.
TOP TIPS
Take minimal stuff with you and buy a suitcase to load up on Japanese goodies when you’re there – vintage shopping, skincare, best matcha you’ll ever have and other Japanese delicacies… the list goes on!
Buy a prepaid travel card for Tokyo (Suica) which you can upload to your wallet on your phone.
It seemed that Japanese people tend to be more conservative with high ratings for good restaurants. 5*s seem to be rare so really good places may seem to have lower ratings compared to UK reviews.
Recommend using Tablelog which is Japan’s restaurant discovery and booking platform so you get recommendations for top rated places by locals. Anything above a 3.3 is considered very good.
FUN FACT OR MEMORY
Went to an evening of local punk bands in Tokyo – it was all in Japanese but so cool!
IDEAL FOR…
Food lovers, solo travellers, nature lovers, city lovers but also families – the transport is incredible (must ride a bullet train!) and everyone is really friendly and helps with prams etc. There are lots of exciting things and activities for kids too.
