Japan guide

The Perfect Japan Itinerary

So you want the perfect Japan itinerary?

Let me guess:
✅ See everything
✅ Eat everything
✅ Experience everything
✅ Do it all in 7 days?
…Sure. Easy. (Not.)

But don’t worry — here’s your survival plan:

Day 1-2: Tokyo — The Giant Vending Machine

Welcome to Tokyo — where you’ll spend half your time going, “Wait, is that a vending machine for umbrellas?”
See: Shibuya Crossing (cross 7 times, it’s tradition), Asakusa (pretend to be spiritual), and teamLab (because lasers).
Eat: Sushi, ramen, convenience store egg sandwiches that taste suspiciously amazing.

Day 3-4: Kyoto — Where Your Phone Storage Dies

In Kyoto, your camera becomes full by lunchtime.
See: Fushimi Inari (yes, those endless red gates), Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (where 17 influencers will photobomb you), and Kinkaku-ji (golden bling).
Eat: Matcha everything. Don’t ask, just accept.

Day 5: Nara — The Deer Mafia

Take a day trip to Nara.
See: Giant Buddha.
Experience: Deer politely bowing to you… until they realize you have snacks, then turning into aggressive snack bandits.
Pro tip: Hide the senbei biscuits until the last possible second.

Day 6: Osaka — Calories Don’t Count Here

Welcome to Osaka, where your diet goes into permanent vacation mode.
See: Dotonbori (neon, takoyaki, more neon).
Eat: Everything on a stick. And don’t leave without trying okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake that’s actually pizza that’s actually not pizza).

Day 7: Hakone — Pretend You’re Relaxing

Finish your trip soaking in an onsen while questioning every life decision that led you to cram Japan into one week.
Optional: Pray for a clear view of Mt. Fuji. If not: pretend you saw it.

Bonus Tip:

Perfect itinerary? It doesn’t exist.
But a fun, chaotic, unforgettable trip? Absolutely.

Moral of the story:
You’ll be back anyway — Japan knows how to reel you in.

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Japan guide

Where Should I Stay in Japan? (The Eternal Tourist Crisis)

Ah, the famous question every traveler asks while staring at 74 open tabs at 2AM:
"Where should I stay in Japan?"

Let’s solve it — Japan style.

1. Tokyo: “I want it all and I want it now”

If you want neon, ramen at 3AM, robot cafés, and the constant thrill of "Am I lost? I think I'm lost...", stay in Tokyo. Shinjuku if you like chaos. Shibuya if you like trendy chaos. Ginza if you like your wallet to suffer. Anywhere else if you just want to survive.

2. Kyoto: “Zen, temples, and a suspicious amount of matcha”

Kyoto is for people who want to feel cultured while secretly taking 2000 photos of a mossy rock. Stay near Gion if you want a chance to spot a geisha. Stay near Arashiyama if you want bamboo selfies. Stay central if you don’t want your legs to fall off walking.

3. Osaka: “Come for the food, stay for the food, roll home after”

Osaka is your culinary cheat day, every day. Dotonbori is where your diet goes to die. Stay near Namba if you want to eat 24/7 and shout "takoyaki!" like a local. Don’t stay too close to the karaoke bars unless you enjoy 3AM drunken renditions of Bohemian Rhapsody.

Bonus Rule of Thumb:

If you want action: Tokyo
If you want culture: Kyoto
If you want food & fun: Osaka
If you want peace: Hakone or somewhere with suspiciously many trees.

In conclusion:
No matter where you stay, you’ll eventually say:
"I need to come back again."

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The Great Onsen Hunt: How Tourists Try to Find Hot Springs in Japan (and Survive)

Ah yes, the onsen — Japan’s magical hot baths where you soak your body, relax your soul, and accidentally traumatize yourself if you don’t read the rules.

Tourists arrive in Japan thinking:
"I’ll find a beautiful onsen, like in the photos, with mountains, cherry blossoms, and maybe a friendly monkey."
Reality: Naked. Confused. Googling “can I wear a swimsuit?”

Step 1️⃣: The Decision — "I Want to Do This!"

You saw a YouTube video.
You saw an Instagram post.
Now you're determined:
"I WILL bathe like a Japanese local."

Welcome to your first mistake:
Not all onsens are equal.

Natural outdoor onsen? Heaven.
Tiny hotel basement onsen? Slightly awkward but still great.
Public sento? Technically not an onsen, but your confused brain won’t care.

Step 2️⃣: The Rules — "Wait, What?"

Before you even dip a toe:

No swimsuits.
No towels in the water.
Wash your entire body first like your mother is watching.
Tattoos? Uh-oh — better check the policy.

You’ll spend 20 minutes reading signs, another 10 minutes pretending you understand, then copy what everyone else is doing.

Step 3️⃣: The Naked Panic — "Everyone's Naked. Including Me."

Yes. You will be naked.
No, nobody cares.
Yes, you will care.
For about 2 minutes.
Then the hot water hits, your brain shuts off, and you ascend to a higher plane of existence.

Step 4️⃣: The Moment — "This Is Amazing."

You did it.
You’re soaking in natural mineral waters while staring at mountains, snow, or a beautiful garden.
You whisper to yourself:
"I am basically Japanese now."

Step 5️⃣: The Exit — "How Am I So Sleepy?"

Post-onsen is when you realize your bones have melted.
You’ll shuffle out like a very polite zombie, drink some vending machine milk, and sleep like you’ve never slept before.

Bonus Tip:
Don’t make eye contact with strangers in the onsen.
Nobody’s judging you — but everyone’s avoiding eye contact.
It’s part of the unspoken spa law.

Conclusion:
Finding and surviving an onsen is a rite of passage.
You’ll be awkward.
You’ll be confused.
You’ll love every second.

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Where Should I Eat in Japan? (The Delicious Struggle)

You’ve landed in Japan. You’re hungry.
Now comes the ultimate question that haunts every tourist: “Where should I eat?”

Don’t panic. The answer is: Everywhere.
But let’s break it down before you end up eating only convenience store sandwiches (though honestly, those are weirdly amazing).

1️⃣ The Convenience Store (Konbini): Your New Religion

Yes, you heard right.
Family Mart, Lawson, 7-Eleven — they’re not just convenience stores, they’re culinary miracles.
Egg sandwiches? Heavenly.
Onigiri? 120 yen bundles of joy.
Fried chicken? Life-changing.
You will judge yourself at first.
You will not judge yourself after the third visit.

2️⃣ Ramen Shops: The Noodle Church

When lost, find ramen.
You’ll sit at a tiny counter, order from a machine that looks like a lost ATM, and receive a bowl of pure happiness.
Pro tip: Slurping is not rude — it’s expected. If you’re not slurping, are you even living?

3️⃣ Sushi: Fresh, Fancy, or Conveyor-Belted

You’ve seen the documentaries. Now live the dream.

High-end sushi: Prepare your wallet.
Conveyor belt sushi: Watch plates circle like your indecision.
Standing sushi bars: Quick, cheap, fresh, and your feet get a workout.

4️⃣ Izakaya: Where Decency Ends and Fun Begins

An izakaya is a Japanese pub where you’ll eat skewers of mystery meat while locals get progressively louder.
Menus may not have photos.
Order randomly.
Regret nothing.

5️⃣ Department Store Food Basements: The Secret Gourmet Wonderland

The basement of every major department store is basically an edible museum.
Sample your way through it like an overgrown child at Costco.
Try everything that looks mysterious.
You’ll leave with bags of things you can't pronounce but will happily devour.

6️⃣ Street Food: The Ultimate Side Quest

Markets like Nishiki (Kyoto), Kuromon (Osaka), and random street festivals are your playground.
Eat takoyaki (octopus balls), yakitori (grilled skewers), and anything covered in matcha.
Your stomach will hate you.
Your soul will thank you.

7️⃣ Vending Machines: The Robo-Café

Japan’s vending machines serve hot coffee, cold coffee, soups, and probably your horoscope.
They are everywhere.
Use them.
Love them.
You are one with the vending machine now.

Conclusion:
In Japan, there is no “wrong” place to eat.
The only mistake is overthinking.
Open mouth. Insert food. Repeat.