Just returned from a trip to Japan (still battling the jet lag) but I thought I'd write down everything I did before I forget. So here goes...
Day 1: Thursday June 1st - Took a lyft to the train station. Lyft driver was very friendly, she works at a local hotel as a front desk manager. She's from a small town in Idaho and moved out here for work. The train took almost 2 hours to get to the airport. I had time to catch lunch at the airport, Mod Pizza, and onto the flight! I watched a lot of movies during the flight (already forgot what they were). Landed in Tokyo around the afternoon the next day.
Day 2: Friday June 2nd - From the airport, we had to figure out how to navigate to our hotel. Once we got there, we realized how small the room was. We basically had to slip past each other to get from the bathroom to the room. Could barely even open the bathroom door all the way to get in. Once you get into the bathroom, you can barely even turn around without touching the walls. We settled into the cozy room and ventured out immediately. It wasn't as hot as I expected it to be, a little chilly in the evening. We took the JR line to the Tokyo station and ate at a ramen place nearby. We ordered two types of ramen, fried rice, and gyoza for only $15! What a deal! I don't know if it was just the excitement of if I was super hungry, but the food was delicious! After dinner, we walked around the Tokyo station a little more, explored around the area near the Imperial palace and then went back to the hotel. I experienced a little jet lag because....
Day 3: Saturday June 3rd - Woke up at 2am...tried to go back to sleep, woke up at 4am...tried to go back to sleep, woke up at 6am...gave up and just got up. Started the day off really early and decided to go visit a local fish market. We got there at 6:30am and there was already like 200 people there! We ate chirashi bowls for breakfast at this tiny little Japanese restaurant. The fish was AMAZING! I never knew sea urchin could taste so SWEET! Everything I had that morning was divine, even down to the soy sauce!! Best tasting soy sauce EVER!! After breakfast, we checked out of our hotel in Tokyo and headed to the Kyoto via the bullet train (Shenkansen). (We had donburi for lunch at the Tokyo station) Tokyo to Kyoto took about 2.5hours, very scenic and the seats were so comfy. After arriving in Kyoto, we checked into out hotel, which was amazing! This hotel offered 24 hours of free tea/coffee/cold drinks in the lobby, free alcoholic drinks in the afternoon, free Sunday buffet dinners, a bathhouse, free laundry and no kids are allowed to stay in this hotel. It was awesome! The room was really nice and BIG! After being amazed by the hotel, we decided to walk to Gion district, it's kinda known for being a old town picturesque area with Geishas. I found a delicious grilled mochi stand and we got to visit a Yasaka Shrine. We had Kyoto style sushi that night and fell in love with the saba roll! YUM!
Day 4: Sunday June 4th - Again, we woke up early (mainly due to jet lag) and went out for breakfast at 6am. We found this ramen place that everyone says is "the best ramen in Kyoto" and every time we pasted by there were huge lines so we had to try it for ourselves. Ending up, it was a disappointment, but at least we tried it. Then we took the train to Inari Temple (temple with a million Torii's lined up for 2+ miles). I made us hike all the way to the top. Ending up it was worth it because at the top, there was this vendor that sold this really cool map for only $1! We regretted only buying 1 map...but then again, what would we do with multiple maps? After Inari, we went to Nara where there are a ton of deer that roam around freely. There were a few shrines that we visited there. I don't know if I just look really Chinese but some Mandarin speaking Chinese people randomly talked to me and asked me for directions. I answered in my broken Mandarin as much as I could, but they still looked confused so I probably didn't answer their question. We ate some pastries we bought earlier that morning for lunch. In Nara, we found this really famous mochi place (just youtube "Mochi" and "Nara" and you'll find videos on how fast they hit the mochi!). The mochi was SO GOOD!! So happy we found that place! After Nara, we went to Arashiyama (bamboo forest and monkeys). That area is really crowded and super touristy but so beautiful! For dinner we back to the hotel, which had the Sunday Buffet. I had low expectations but it was actually really good, legit, high quality food! I'm so impressed with this hotel!
Day 5: Monday June 5th - We had some udon and dipping ramen at a fast food place near our hotel for breakfast. We took the Shinkansen to Hiroshima. We got to visit Itsukushima shrine (Torii gates and the shrine is suspended in water). Although when we were there, it was low tide, so it wasn't so impressive. There were also deer at the Itsukushima shrine, one of them was stalking us for some momiji treats. Then we visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and saw the A-bomb dome. It's amazing how the city has rebuilt itself from this catastrophe. For lunch, we tried the Hiroshima Okonomiyaki, it was a little too much sauce for me, had a hard time finishing it. Not a fan, but glad I tried it. In the afternoon, we went to Osaka and explored Doutonbori street. So much food there! We bought some tako yaki and gyoza, then went back to Kyoto and bought some Saba sushi from Suvaco for late night snack.
Day 6: Tuesday June 6th - On my own this morning, enjoyed some tea and a breakfast sandwich at Estacion cafe in the Kyoto station. Found Aeon mall and walked to Toji temple. Then went to Nijo castle during lunch time. For the lunch meal, I had tonkatsu at the Kyoto station. In the afternoon, I explored more of the Kyoto station. It's like a huge maze with a million hidden cities in there! For dinner, we met some friends up and had Italian (pizza and pasta, nothing special).
Day 7: Wednesday June 7th - Had breakfast at a French bakery. Raining dogs and cats today. Difficult to go far when it was raining so hard. So on my own again, I went to Nishihongan-ji Temple (close by) and explored Aeon mall. Then met up with some friends (+two kids) for lunch at a "grill your own okonomiyaki" place. After second time of trying okonomiyaki, I think I can safely say I'm not a fan. But again, glad I tried it. Then explored more of the Kyoto station (since it was indoors). We had dinner at ramen place at Kyoto station (light broth and thick noodles). Loved it!
Day 8: Thursday June 8th - Had breakfast at an Italian cafe: Japanese curry and Japanese omelet (egg over rice). On my own again, I was sent on a mission to get some legit matcha for my brother, so I walked to the Ippodo tea house. After $60 worth of match/tea, I went to Pontocho, which is known to be an authentic Japanese business men hangout with real Geishas. During the day it was more like a small alleyway. I didn't see much. Then I found the Nishiki shrine and market. It was 5 blocks of Japanese farmer's market. Went back to Kyoto station for ramen lunch (creamy broth with thin noodles) and some fried chicken. Not a fan of the creamy broth or thin noodles. Then I went back to Gion area where I found that really good grilled mochi on a stick and explore Gion a bit more. For dinner, we went to this Thai Siam which was known for being officially approved by the Thai government for their authentic ways of making Thai food with their Thai imported spices. It was mainly all Americans that ate there. The curry was too watery, but very flavorful. Then we found this matcha themed dessert place, AMAZING! So delicious!! It was expensive, but totally worth it.
Day 9: Friday June 9th - went back to Gion to explore the old town picturesque area and swung by Kiyomizu dera temple. Then took the Shenkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo. For lunch, we enjoyed a bento box we on the train. That evening we explored Shinjuku area! So many people, lights and noises! Felt kinda overwhelming! For dinner, we found a floating sushi bar, really neat experience!
Day 10: Saturday June 10th - Had a quick chocolate bun and onigiri from a grocery store (sorta skipped breakfast) and had tonkatsu for lunch at the Tokyo station. Then back on the plane to the states! Watched a ton of movies again: Beauty and the Beast, The Lego movie (really boring), Your Name (Japanese anime movie) and Logan.
That's the whole trip (as best as I can recall anyway)! Haha. Have been jet lagged for the last two days and watching Japanese documentaries when I'm awake. What a great trip :)
