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Japan Recommendations

This article contains some recommendations for trips to Japan.

Trip Structure

For a first trip:

  • 1 week in Tokyo
  • 1 week in cultural cities (Kyoto, Nara, Kanazawa)
  • 1 week in another city, preferably in the country (Inaka). Matsumoto, Sendai, etc.

I have not been able to enjoy Osaka.

Be prepared to walk a lot, and to ride a lot of trains.

Food

Good food is everywhere; on the streets, in the backstreets, basements and on second floors of buildings.

Try as much different types of food as you can stomaches. Ramen, Udon, Teppanyaki, Okonomiyaki, Curry, Onigiri, etc. Japanese Fastfood Burgers, such as MOS Burger is also great.

Each city often have their own specialty: Try them, even if they sound yucky. Examples: Sendai has Cow Tongue and Edamame, Fukuoka has Motsunabe (entrails soup).

Tokyo

For nerds:

  • Akihabara: 90ies center for nerd culture. Great place to experience, but a bit pricy.
  • Ikebukuro: Huge entertainment district with the worlds largest Gacha store, and the largest Pokemon Center.
  • Nakano: Has the Nakano Broadway shopping center with a large selection of nerdy stores, including several that sell original animation cells, some of the Ghibli ones has prices in the millions of yen.
  • Odaiba: Huge shopping centers, and museums. The Gunpla statue is cool, the shop itself has long lines. The science museum nearby is great.

Culture:

  • Shibuya and Harajuku: Shopping and nightlife. Be sure to attend a show at a Live House!

Sleeping:

  • Shimbashi: Very central, lots of food nearby and energy into the night.