Japan · 9 days

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Kyoto, Hiroshima, Hakone, Tokyo

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Things to know

  • Japan is an amazing place to visit and you really can’t go wrong. The people there are so generous and the food is great, no matter your preferences.

  • Kyoto and Tokyo are about three hours apart by bullet train. Fly into Osaka or Tokyo and go North or South to the other city, maybe making stops in between. This is called the Golden Route.

  • You can very reliably overnight ship your luggage for $10/bag from any hotel in the country to any other hotel. Pack a daybag and ship the bulk of your stuff from one place to the next.

  • Download the Go Taxi app - it’s like Uber and very reliable throughout most of the country.

  • Cherry blossom season is worth it, but you have to time it right. We were slightly early - best week is probably 4/4-4/11.

  • There are very few trash cans in public, you sorta have to throw everything out at restaurants or your hotel. It’s also not common to take carryout and eat/drink on the go.

  • Most stuff in the morning isn’t open until like 10.

  • Everything runs exactly on time, so be prompt! No tipping.

  • There was cell service pretty much everywhere if you turn on the international plan for Verizon or AT&T.

Do

Kyoto · 3 nights

Stay: Hilton Kyoto. Well-located and super nice / new. Would definitely recommend.

Do: Chao Chao for very good and cheap dumplings (about a 45 min line). A bike tour was a good way to see a lot: Fushimi Inari Taisha (the orange gates), the Bamboo Forest in Arashiyama, the Golden Temple, the Steve Jobs rock garden at Ryoan-ji, Kiyomizu-dera and the Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka streets below it, Gion (Geisha District) and Yasaka Shrine in the evening, and Philosopher’s Walk in the morning.


Chao Chao for very good and cheap dumplings (about a 45 min line). The ramen cooking class at Ramen Factory was super fun and worth it. The tea ceremony was goofy and fun to dress up for, but skippable.


The ramen cooking class was super fun and worth it. The tea ceremony was goofy and fun to dress up for, but skippable.

Hiroshima and Hakone · 1 night

Stay: Hotel Green Plaza Hakone. Very Japanese and authentic, not as nice as Kyoto or Tokyo, but a cool on-the-floor ryokan style experience with an amazing view of Mt. Fuji.

Do: Early train to Hiroshima for the tour, then trains to Odawara. Sit on the left side of the train for Mt. Fuji.


Hiroshima was super heavy, very cool to see, but it’s a lot of train time.


The pizza at 808 Monsmare near Hakone station was excellent.

Tokyo · 3 nights

Stay: Hyatt Regency Tokyo.

Do: Hakone lake and the torii gate in the morning (long line for the photo). Tokyo go-karting, then a nightcap in Golden Gai, about 200 tiny bars with 12 seats each.


Bus tour, Tokyo Tower, Shibuya Crossing. teamLab Planets was a huge highlight. Hotpot at Shabu-Yo in Shinjuku station with robot waiters.


Dinner by the window at the Mandarin Oriental at sunset was a highlight. Tokyo is more of a vibe than a list of places to see.


Narita is 1.5-2 hours from the hotel.

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