Japan is incredible. It lived up to all our expectations and it’s now high on our recommendation list! Check out our Itinerary!
How We Got There
We flew the three of us to Japan for $336. This of course is because of miles and points. Check out our Plan for Japan.
What We Did
We were there for two weeks and it was great. We were able to spend time in both Tokyo and Kyoto. We visited many temples and shrines all while wandering around the different parts of the cities. Tokyo as you can imagine is an extremely large and busy city so there is never a shortage of things to see and do.
During our first few days in Tokyo, we spent a lot of time checking off some of the major hotspots such as Shibuya station, Shinjuku, Tokyo Tower, and Roppongi Hills. Shibuya, if you’re not aware, is home to one of the busiest intersections in the world. Shibuya Crossing, otherwise known as the Shibuya Scramble. Roughly 3,000 people cross every time the lights change. It’s a mess of a place to visit, but it is an interesting experience. The surrounding area is very popular and there is lots to see, do, and eat.
One of our first major stops was at the TeamLabs Borderless Museum. If you’ve never heard of it, check it out online. It’s incredible. We spent a good chunk of time exploring all the different rooms. It’s quite popular so I’d purchase tickets ahead of time and try to get in as early as you can. There’s also a Teamlabs Planets, as well as
Shinjuku is another one of these major areas and has plenty to offer. A fun stop for us in Shinjuku was a live cam link we could share with family back home. Check it out.
Outside of checking out these popular areas, we visited a lot of temples and shrines. I won’t list them all out as there are hundreds to choose from. One of our favorites is Meiji Jingu. A massive forest surrounds it and it’s a nice break from the city. Prepare for crowds as we’re not the only ones who like it.
Moving toward the city’s eastern side, we visited places such as the Tokyo Skytree, the Imperial Palace, and the Senso-Ji temple. All three sites are very busy, but worth the visit. As with everything in Japan, if you can go in the mornings or evenings you’ll have smaller crowds to deal with.
We also took some time visiting Ueno Park. It’s a large park with lots to see, including a giant panda in the zoo! We unfortunately didn’t know about this until we were there and it was too late to enter the zoo. We were also able to ride in paddle boats for $5 which was a fun experience.
There is so much to see and do in Tokyo. We hardly touched the surface, but, we did go to Disneyland Sea and that was a pretty cool place. To be fair the lines were huge and our child wanted to murder us, but otherwise, it’s a fascinating park and worth the visit if you’re prepared for it. Like many things in Japan, Disney is so much cheaper than in the U.S. Tickets were $60 for the day and the food inside is cheap.
After some time in Tokyo, we took the bullet train to Kyoto for a nice change of pace. It was much more laid-back, which was a welcome break. We visited a few temples and shrines and spent time in some quieter areas. It was a nice way to slow down and take things in after the busy energy of Tokyo.
The east side of the city near Maruyama Park is a great spot for a walk and some exploring. We checked it out in the morning before heading back to Tokyo, and honestly, we were kicking ourselves for not discovering it earlier.
Similarly, the west side of the city is also more quiet and much more beautiful. We were there in November and got to experience changing leaves and cooler temperatures. We also made a stop at the Arashiyama Monkey Park and were blown away by the experience. There really are monkeys and they’re everywhere. We went mid-day and didn’t have too much of a problem with tourists. It does include a bit of a hike but it’s worth it.
In the same area, there are also some nice smaller communities as well as the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. I expected a tourist trap but was pleasantly surprised by the experience.
The whole area is beautiful and there is lots to see and always, lots to eat.
While we were in Kyoto, we took a day trip to Nara to check out the famous Deer Park, and it turned out to be amazing. I expected a few deer and a decent crowd, but we were blown away by just how many deer there were—and the area itself was beautiful. Along with the deer, there are temples and shrines scattered around, which adds to the charm. It was such a unique experience. Some people seem to have mixed opinions about it, but we’d definitely recommend going if you have the time.
After wrapping up our time in Kyoto, we headed back to Tokyo for our last two days, which we spent in Kawasaki. It wasn’t quite what we expected, but it turned out to be a busy hub with plenty of food options and a convenient location for a quick trip to the airport. It worked out well for the end of our trip.
Overall it was a great experience. We saw and did so much and we look forward to going back to do even more.
Where We Stayed
For more details on why and where we stayed, I’ll point you to our other post, Japan in Action, where I dive into all the specifics. I’ll still list the places here, though. Aside from the first one, they were all excellent. One thing that really stood out in Japan was the level of hospitality—it’s consistently impressive. The amenities also go above and beyond what we’re used to in the U.S., which made the stays even better.
Hotel Villa Fontaine, Minn Nihonbashi (an apartment-style hotel), IHG ANA Crowne Plaza, and the Kawasaki Nikko Hotel.
It’s worth noting that hotel rooms in Japan tend to be pretty tiny. There are plenty of options, and many are surprisingly affordable, but the size can be a bit of a shock. We made a point to look for rooms with a bit more space, though naturally, that came with a higher price tag.
Tokyo’s public transit system is incredibly well-connected, which is something worth mentioning. A lot of people online seem to worry about picking the “perfect” place to stay, but honestly, as long as you’re near a subway station, you’re set. From there, it’s easy to get pretty much anywhere with minimal effort.
Transportation
As mentioned earlier, Tokyo has an incredibly efficient public transportation system. We relied on the Suica Card to navigate the city with ease. iPhone users can add their Suica card directly to Apple Wallet, allowing for quick and easy top-ups. If you don’t have an iPhone, you can still get a physical Suica or Pasmo card at the airport or many subway stations. We used these cards for all our travel within Tokyo, and they made getting around incredibly smooth. Plus, it’s worth noting that Suica and Pasmo cards can also be used at many vending machines throughout the city.
When we traveled to Kyoto, we continued using the Suica card, but we also made use of buses, which are another great way to explore the city. Suica cards are accepted there too, making it easy to switch between transit modes.
Navigating public transportation, especially in a foreign country, can seem daunting at first. But don’t worry—Google Maps is your ultimate guide. Input your destination, and it will give you detailed, accurate directions. We found it to be the key to getting around without any hassle.
For the trip from Tokyo to Kyoto, we took the Shinkansen—the famous Japanese bullet train. Several types of Shinkansen run between Tokyo and Kyoto, and booking tickets is simple. You can purchase them either at the station, online, or through the SmartEx app. Trains depart Tokyo multiple times each hour, so there’s no need to stress about schedules. You can even show up at the station and catch a train just a few minutes later.
The trains typically depart from Tokyo and continue south to Osaka or beyond, which can sometimes be confusing when booking tickets. However, the route on the ticket will show you the full journey, so if you’re traveling from Shinagawa to Kyoto, don’t worry if the ticket shows a stop in Osaka. Just make sure you have the correct ticket for your journey and check the timetable. The Shinkansen is incredibly efficient, so the stops are brief—be sure to be ready to board when your train arrives!
Additionally, the Japanese people are very proper and well-mannered. This article briefly discusses the mannerisms of the locals and how you too should act.
What We Ate
We ate a lot during our trip. Like all currencies, exchange rates fluctuate, and in 2024, the Japanese Yen is quite weak, which made everything feel remarkably affordable—especially food. We found ourselves spending much less than we had anticipated. For example, we ate a lot of ramen, and it was common to get two bowls for under $15. Even some of our larger meals, which were generous and delicious, cost less than $30 for the three of us. It was a steal.
This affordability extends to convenience stores, which are a true gem in Japan. These stores are fantastic, and, as expected, they are incredibly inexpensive. We found ourselves popping in multiple times a day to grab quick snacks (usually for Hadley, of course). Most drinks, rice balls, and small snacks were under $2, and we’d easily gather a handful of items without even coming close to $10. Back home in the U.S., that would have cost us quite a bit more.
These “convenient” stores live up to their name—they are stocked with everything you might need, offering fully prepared meals that are not only cheap but also delicious. It’s amazing how much you can find at a convenience store in Japan!
Speaking of rice balls, or Onigiri. They’re amazing and I ate probably 20 of them in the two weeks.
We ate lots of ramen, lots of Japanese curry, and lots of snacks. We did eat sushi but it’s not like the sushi we have in the U.S. It’s fresh and it’s raw, very raw.
Tokyo is home to 15 million people. I’m not going to list all the places we ate, but there’s no shortage of great places to eat.
What We Learned
Japan is truly an incredible place. It’s a unique blend of modernity and Western influences, yet it still feels distinctly different from other regions of the world. Everything is impeccably clean, and there’s an overwhelming sense of order in all aspects of life. The people are exceptionally kind and professional, with a deep respect for others. You’ll notice that they line up with perfect precision, and everything is carried out with a sense of pride and consideration.
This respect extends even to something as small as waste management—something that feels quite foreign to most of us. In Japan, public garbage cans are virtually nonexistent. As a foreigner, it’s surprising and almost bewildering at first. If you have trash, you’re expected to carry it with you until you can dispose of it at home. While some stores do have trash cans, it’s uncommon to go into a store just to throw something away. Even public bathrooms often lack garbage cans. It’s a strange experience, but it’s part of what makes Japan unique.
The cultural norms around food also play a role in this. People in Japan don’t typically eat while walking or on the subway, which means there’s simply less waste to deal with in the first place. In contrast, we foreigners tend to snack on the go constantly. They have a level of civility when it comes to this that we could certainly learn from.
Pay attention to where you’re walking. In Japan, they drive on the left, and they walk on the left—everywhere you go. Whether it’s lining up for a train, walking down the street, or navigating the subway, everything is organized with a clear pattern, and it all happens on the left side. It’s a fascinating level of order that permeates daily life.
Cash is important. Not everywhere, but it does help to have some with you. Many items are less than a dollar or two and they have 500 yen coins which is about $3.50.