If Japan isn’t on your top list of places to travel, I think you will want to visit Japan after reading this article. Short trips to Japan can be done. Ideally if you love sushi, ramen, and traveling then Tokyo Japan is the spot for you.
My boyfriend and I decided to go to Japan for a long weekend excursion. We went from Thursday to the following Tuesday. A quick 5-day trip but so worth it. Traveling is a hobby for us therefore we rather do short trips than long ones so we can visit more places in the year.
I was never interested in going to Japan. My boyfriend had gone multiple times and he suggested we go. We booked our flights and off to Japan we went.
We flew Delta because they seem to always have great deals. Delta also provides meal services which is a plus especially for such a long flight. To be exact 11 hours and 28 minutes.
We flew from LAX (Los Angeles, CA) to HND (Haneda airport). I honestly fell in love with Japan. The people, places and culture was an amazing experience. In my opinion, one of the cleanest places you will ever visit. And also, one of the safest places.
Tokyo International airport is pretty easy to navigate. The people are very friendly so you could ask for help if you get lost. As soon as you get off the airplane you see vending machines and money exchange ATMs. If you didn’t exchange currency back in the US (or wherever you are coming from) you have the option to do it at the airport. Sometimes it may be cheaper to do it from home prior to your trip. But of course it depends on the current currency value/price.
Japan has vending machines on basically every corner. You can get anything you can think of! I couldn’t believe my eyes when we left the airport, there were vending machines everywhere. Anything you need the vending machines had from hot coffee and soup to ice cream and beer.
where we stayed
We stayed in the Citadines Central Shinjuku Tokyo. This was just an ordinary hotel. The rooms are relatively small but it was perfect for my boyfriend and I. The view wasn’t too shabby. It was located in a decent spot of town within walking distance to the train station with lots of food spots around. We got a good deal on the hotel since we used delta sky miles with a vacation package deal. We had a great experience and would stay again. Â
Recommended Hotels
The Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyo is another hotel that I would recommend. My boyfriend stayed here in the past and loved it. It overlooks the Shibuya crossing, a pedestrian crossing that is seen by 2.4 million people per day. it connects to Shibuya Station for easy access to other locations in Tokyo which is a plus.
It’s also located across the street from Hachiko, the local meetup spot. Inside the hotel are two restaurants on the 25th floor overlooking Shibuya with a magnificent view. This is a more spacious hotel compared to others. Everyone is so welcoming which makes your stay even better.
Another unique hotel is the Shibuya Granbell Hotel which is boutique-style with 105 rooms. Perfect if you love to stay at this type of hotel. It’s located in a quiet neighborhood for those who like less noise and more relaxation. The rooms are on the small side but very modern with a large shower. You can reserve a bigger room with two-levels which they have. It’s a short walk to Shibuya crossing. I would suggest making reservations a few months in advance.
Dinning In Japan
Sushi in Japan is a must do but of course you already knew that! If you don’t like sushi, Japan is the best place to try it and experiment. It’s literally the best sushi you will ever experience.
During this trip was my first time that I truly started enjoying sushi. I tried so many unique raw fish for the first time from raw whale to horse which surprisingly were the best raw. I tried them cooked too but didn’t like it as much.
As crazy as this may sound you need to check out KFC in Japan! It’s so different from the ones in the US. It’s a lot more expensive and families usually order it for holidays. KFC is so delicious in Japan. You have to try it.
Every spot we dined at, we didn’t make reservations. We showed up and waited in line to get seated. Some places were less busy but in general, Japan is pretty crowded. Our friend who lives in Japan helped a lot as pretty much was our unofficial tour guide.
We ate at these places below.
Uobei Shibuya Dongezaka Shop Revolving Sushi
A conveyor belt sushi spot. This is the perfect first place to stop when you first arrive in Japan. Only $1 a plate and sure to fill you up after a long flight.
Tsukiji Outer Market
Known as the “food town” of Japan. This is the spot for all types of food. There are so many options and selections to pick from. If you want to immerse yourself with Japanese culture this is the spot.
You will find all the traditional Japanese food, the best Japanese A5 wagyu with perfect marbling. I had the tastiest oysters, they were so giant. I tried some foods that I thought I would never try like fried whale which was decent. Probably not something I would be try again.
Another unique food I tasted was snail. They had a interesting rustic taste. I also had the best steam buns, that were to die for, so juicy freshly cooked right in front of us.
Definitely come here hungry! It’s the perfect spot to try a little bit of everything. You won’t be disappointed. This is the best spot in Tokyo with the freshest fish in town straight off the boat.
Ichiran Harajuku Shingumae (Ramen)
This is the cutest ramen spot. It was raining one of the days we were in Japan so ramen seemed like the perfect food for a rainy day. This place has the best Tonkotsu Ramen in town. It’s a very traditional place where you have your own private station to eat.
To find this place, you enter through this little hole-in-the-wall spot. Upon entering you’re greeted by a vending machine where you get a ticket that shows you paid for your food and any extras. Then you go through red curtains which lead to your seats.
You give the cooks your ticket, along with a menu left on your station which indicates how many seasonings you would like, the level of spice, richness, garlic, green onions, chashu (sliced pork), original spicy red sauce, and lastly the noodle texture.
I loved that they make the ramen to your exact preference. Each seat comes with a hot water tap so you are never left without matcha tea. I highly recommend this ramen spot. It was such an amazing experience.
Niku Yokocho
This is probably one of the most unique eateries we dined during our trip. Known as “the lane of meat” and located on the 2nd floor in a building in Shibuya next to a cop station. If you love meats this place has a vast selection of all different types. We tried cooked horse meat and even raw chicken. It was an experience for sure. It may not be everyone’s cup-of-tea but worth a try if you’re feeling adventurous.
2D Cafe Shin-okubo
The most unique 2D experience! We saw this cafe on Instagram while researching places to check out. If you’re looking to get snacks and coffee and have a 2D experience, I highly recommend visiting this cafe. Definitely a very photo worthy and instagrammable place.
Jongno Cheese Hatogu
The best deep-fried cheese rolled over potatoes I have ever tasted. The perfect amount of cheese fried up. I love savory fried foods and this just hit the spot. They have mustard and ketchup served on the side. I put sugar on mine and it was so delicious. We had so much sushi that we needed some fried food to balance out all the fish. This was the perfect complement.
Harajuku GyozarO
We enjoyed the deep fried gyoza here. They also have steamed gyoza if you prefer to be a little healthier. To get in, we had to wait in a line that went around the corner of the building. It was the longest hour wait ever but worth every minute.
It’s a cute little hole in the wall spot. They fry the potstickers right in front of you which is quite the experience. The perfect spot for lunch or snack. Everything is reasonably priced. The service is phenomenal. They are fast and friendly. You must check this spot out if you want delicious dumplings.
Isomaru suisan
This is an Izakaya style restaurant where you sit on the floor and grill your own food. I have a funny story about this place. They gave us a bowl with all the raw fish and I thought I could just eat them raw like eating sushi. Turns out some had to be cooked.
I ended up eating the head of a shrimp raw. I even ate the eyes, brain, everything. It was a funny learning curve for me. My boyfriend and our friend started laughing and looked at me very confused. It was a good laugh and now I can say I have eaten raw spot prawns. The service was top of the line and it was a fun atmosphere.
Transportation
We took the train to all the places we couldn’t walk to. The train is pretty easy to understand. We also used google maps for directions. People are so friendly in Japan that if you need help you can simply ask.
For the train we bought this card called Suica. They also have an app you can download which is super helpful. I added it to my Apple watch and was able to get on the train with just a scan. Here’s a savvy tip… even if your Apple watch dies you can still scan and go!
Suica App
The app allows you to pay for transportation, vending machines and every convenient stores.
Activities AND AtTractions
Ginza
If you love shopping as much as I do this is the perfect spot. Ginza has a lot of fun boutiques including Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Balenciaga. Also check out Dover Street Market if you want to buy expensive fruit or have a shopping spree.
Shibuya
Shibuya crossing, is a pedestrian crossing that is seen by 2.4 million people per day. The perfect spot for a city photo shoot. This is a must do! Looks awesome at night time with all the lit up billboards and signs.
Senso-ji Temple
Also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple, a Buddhist temple. One of the most popular temples we visited with a lot of tourists. I love learning about other countries traditions and cultures, so this was an awesome experience. There are a few spots and little stands with food. There are shops with great souvenirs from Samurai swords to fridge magnets.
Meiji Jingu
Located in the middle of the city is an oasis of nature leading to one of the most popular shrines in the Tokyo area. It’s a very serene and relaxing hike to the temple. We had the best Dango, rice ball skewer, in Meiji Jingu shinto shrine in Harajuku. I highly recommend visiting this place if you want an unbelievable nature experience along with learning more about Japanese culture.
Hedgehog Cafe HARRY, Harajuku
The best experience ever! We got to hang out with some hedgehogs! Japan is known for their theme cafes so we decided why not check one out. You get to play with the hedgehogs and take cute pictures. You can even purchase one if you are in the mood for a new pet. I recommend checking out a hedgehog, cat, bunny or owl cafe when you visit Japan.
Don Quijote
Don Quijote, is by far the best store in town. It’s 5-stories high and carries everything. Anything from beauty to house supplies, souvenirs, food and much more. Shop for gifts here to bring back home.
I bought so many goodies here. They also have instant matcha, all kinds of KitKat flavors and so many unique flavors of chips. If you’re into interesting alcoholic bevvies, try Strong Zero. I liked the peach flavor the best. You’ll love this shop! Best part is there is one on every corner all over Tokyo.
Japanese Currency
Even though cards and tap pay works well in Japan, I highly suggest carrying some Japanese Yen (cash) while you’re in Japan.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I highly recommend a short trip to Japan if you can’t swing a longer one. Hopefully my next trip to Japan I can check out other parts. Ideally, I would love to go during cherry blossom season since its one of the most beautiful times of the year.