It’s always interesting to be immersed in a different culture. Your senses are in overdrive about all the new experiences. It was an adventure exploring Tokyo, Hakone, Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara. They each had their special features and every day was a new discovery.

I’ve condensed our two-week trip into 13 favorite things. Here are some recommendations of what you should do on your trip.

Eat!

This is what I anticipated the most about our trip and it did not disappoint! From street food tours to Michelin meals, we had so many different food experiences. See these posts for more about eating in Japan:

• 20 Best Eats and Drinks I Had in Japan
• 8 Best Foodie Experiences in Japan
• Kaiseki Michelin Meal at Yugen in Osaka, Japan
• Sushi Omakase at Sushi Punch in Tokyo, Japan
• Wagyu Tasting at Tsurugyu in Osaka, Japan

Want an easy way to try new food? Join a food tour! We did the Ninja Food Tour in Tokyo and Taste Osaka in Osaka.

Stay in a Ryokan with an Onsen

I was wary about this experience before the trip because I’m not great at relaxing, but it was one of my favorites! We stayed at a ryokan (traditional Japanese hotel) in Hakone, which is a mountain town known for its onsens (hot springs). Our hotel had baths with hot spring water that we enjoyed soaking in every day. Ryokans typically offer dinner and breakfast with the stay, and the kaiseki meals (traditional, multi-course) were beautiful and filling! There are a few mountain towns around Mt Fuji and Hakone is about a 2.5 hr train ride from Tokyo, a great stop on the way if you’re also planning to visit Osaka and Kyoto.

Visit Tsujiki Fish Market

This market in Tokyo was my favorite we visited. The food was top-notch and varied. From wagyu skewers to grilled seafood, the freshness is on another level. Come early mid-morning and enjoy bites throughout the market.

Admire Japanese fashion

You can’t miss it when you’re walking the streets or riding the subway. Japanese fashion, women in particular, features unique ensembles. You wouldn’t necessarily call it trendy (as in commonplace fashion) but it’s effortlessly cool. There is also an abundance of thrift stores in Japan. Visit the Shimoktazawa neighborhood for a lot of options. And lastly, you’ll also see traditional kimonos, especially in touristy areas. Locals and tourists rent and wear these for photo shoots and special occasions. Some locals wear these for work, like in a tea ceremony shop.

Visit a Buddhist Temple or Shinto Shrine

There are many religious buildings to choose from in every city. My favorite was Todai-ji Temple in Nara. This Buddhist temple was built in the 8th century, and while it has gone through several reconstructions, the expanse of the building and complex are awe-inspiring. No matter which temple you visit, go early or expect it to be crowded. Here are some other temples we visited:

• Hie Shrine (Tokyo)
• Senso-ji Temple (Tokyo)
• Asakusa Shrine (Tokyo)
• Meji Jingu Shrine (Tokyo) – another favorite, this is in a huge park
• Shitennoji Temple (Osaka)
• Hokan-ji Temple (Kyoto)
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple (Kyoto)
• Fushimi-Inari Shrine (Kyoto)

See Nara’s Bowing Deer

While the experience itself can be a little off-putting, especially when deer are nipping at you, the bowing deer are a unique thing to see. Vendors sell stacks of crackers near the parks. These deer have been conditionally trained to bow for crackers, so walk up to a deer and bow, and feed it a cracker when it bows back. Avoid the deer with antlers, as they tend to be more aggressive. (Nara is about a 30-minute train from Osaka and a 45-minute train from Kyoto.)

Visit a Museum

There are many cool museums, and we went to two. Team Labs has locations in Tokyo and Osaka and is known for its immersive experiences. Imagine walking into a room knee-deep in water with projections of fish swimming around or a room full of suspended flowers. We also went to the Hakone Open Air Museum, which has large sculptures spread out over their outdoor property plus a stained-glass tower and a whole exhibit building about Picasso.

A few museums we missed that you could try are the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka (outside Tokyo), the Yayoi Kusama Museum in Tokyo, and the Cup Noodles Museum in Osaka.

Visit the Bamboo Forest

The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto is a magical place. It feels like a whimsical scene in a Studio Ghibli movie. It’s a quick walk through the forest on a paved path, and get there before 8 am to avoid the hordes of visitors.

Get to Know Locals

What better way to learn about Japan than through the locals? One of the ways I do it is through food tours, especially since there is a language barrier. (We did the Ninja Food Tour in Tokyo and Taste Osaka in Osaka.) We happened to meet a new friend while on a food tour, who we met up with the next night. Through Google Translate, we had an active conversation and enjoyed time at restaurants and bars frequented by locals.

To meet locals more proactively, look for Facebook groups like Girls Love Travel to connect or book a tour on EatWith.

Walk through a shopping district

Every city has one or multiple! You’ll see a long covered pedestrian road filled with shops, and they’re typically in touristy areas. There will be lots of food options and souvenir shops. Try walking off the busy strip for places “off the path” that may have cheaper items. However, these places can be overwhelming and very similar, so plan ahead!

• Kuroman Ichiba Market in Osaka
• Nishiki Market in Kyoto
• Dotonbori and Namba neighborhoods in Osaka

See Mt Fuji

One of the reasons we stayed in Hakone was to see Mt Fuji. The surrounding towns have natural springs and great views. Unfortunately, we only got a quick glance of Mt Fuji on train rides because it was cloudy on the days we were there, but in Hakone, you can see it when you ride the ropeway up to Owakudani and take the sightseeing pirate ship cruise around Lake Ashi.

While many visitors admire the mountain from afar, climbing Mt Fuji is also one of Japan’s most iconic adventures, especially during the official summer season. If you’re considering the ascent, many travelers choose to climb Mt Fuji with a certified local guide to navigate the route safely and learn more about the mountain.

Ride a Bullet Train

A possibly commonplace thing where you are but not in the U.S. is bullet trains. The first time we saw one speed through the train station, we looked at each other in amazement. It is called the Shinkansen and goes up to 320 kms per hour. Taking this train between cities will save you some time.

Wander, Explore, and Be in Wonder

One of the best parts of travel is going somewhere you’ve never been before and discovering something new. So make time to wander the streets with no clear direction, meander through a market, or take a detour to see something because you’re curious. And then be in wonder and gratitude for the experience. I look through my photos and see things we happened upon: a Buddhist temple, a waterfall, a fluffy duck, and so many creative manhole covers.

I started noticing and taking pictures of all the manhole covers because they’re so pretty and unique. These started as a PR campaign in the 80s for taxpayers to get on board with modernizing the sewer system. The enthusiasm has grown into another feature that makes Japan endearing. Almost 12,000 unique designs can be found in Japan!

These are the surprises that complete your trip. Make a trip plan, but leave room for unexpected adventures.

Here are a few other things we tried and other recommendations:

• Gaming complexes like in the Akihabara neighborhood in Tokyo
• Bar districts like Golden Gai in Tokyo
• Itoya in Tokyo, a six-floor stationery store
• Walk through Shibuya Crossing, the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing
• Relax at a spa
• Karaoke
• Souvenir shop (especially Japanese snacks) at Mega Don Quixote (seven floors!)
• Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Fields in Hakone
• Enjoy bidets
• DisneyLand in Tokyo
• Universal Studios/Nintendo World in Osaka

Take my suggestions and make YOUR trip.

Enjoy your visit to Japan!

Want more Japan recommendations? Check out these posts.

The post 13 Best Things To Do in Japan for a Fantastic Trip appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Read this post for all my favorite things we ate – dishes you’ll find in Japan – and some restaurant recommendations.

When I plan a trip, I like to bookmark restaurants that seem to have good reviews and are near a certain sight we’re planning to visit. We made it to about 3 of the 10 I had bookmarked and that was because we had reservations! I tell you this so you know getting to a specific place in Japan was much harder than I thought it would be. Sometimes things that were “close” ended up being a 20-minute train. Sometimes we had to satisfy hangry humans ASAP.

I also tell you this because while we didn’t visit the places I had bookmarked, we still had incredible food resulting from quick Google searches, and the “we walked by and it looked good.” Yes, have a few places (the fewer the better) you absolutely must visit, but also leave room to be spontaneous because you’re likely to still enjoy great eats in Japan!

And now, these are the eats and drinks that I will dream about until I return.

Beef / Gyukatsu

While fish is the common choice in Japan, I enjoyed the beef immensely! We had melt-in-your-mouth beef skewers at the fish market (you can’t miss it, there are huge signs for this place) and a fun beef tasting at a restaurant in Osaka. And while tonkatsu (breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet) is popular, gyukatsu (the beef version) is a must-try as well!

Where we ate:

• Gyukatsu Motomura – gyukatsu, multiple locations in Japan
• Tsuguyru in Osaka – beef tasting
• Tsukiji Ihachi at Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo

Eel / Unagi

Eel was already one of my favorite seafood but eating it freshly grilled at the fish market was incredibly satisfying! You can find it at street food stalls.

Daifuku / Mochi / Warabi

I had mochi on a few occasions but the most delicious was a street stand on a quieter street at Tsukiji Fish Market. They had a few flavors but the strawberry was so good! You may also see savory mochi wrapped in seaweed.

It’s called daifuku when the mochi is wrapped around something like a strawberry or red bean. It’s called warabi or warabimochi when the mochi is dipped or topped with sauce and powder.

Ramen

I had ramen three times, and they were all delicious! Fish ramen is a growing trend, and it’s a lighter broth option. We also went to the classic chain – Ichiran – but be prepared for a wait in prime time. The last place was a spur-of-the-moment pick when we needed to find food near Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo, and it was so good! 

Most ramen places have ordering machines so the staff doesn’t need to handle payment. You’ll get a small receipt which you’ll give to a server.

Where we ate:

• Ichiran – Chain restaurant with many locations
• One Dragon Tan Tan Noodles in Tokyo – Beef broth ramen
• Maru de Sankaku in Osaka – Fish ramen

Matcha

We tried to enjoy matcha everywhere! We enjoyed it fresh in a tea ceremony and at the end of a nice meal, but we also had it in ice cream and other treats.

Where we ate:

• Kaminari Issa – matcha ice cream and drinks near Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo
• Bongen Coffee in Tokyo – pretty good coffee too but has a very long wait

Okonomiyaki

I had never had okonmiyaki before, so it was a magical experience. This savory Japanese pancake is made with flour, cabbage, and a choice of additions like pork or shrimp. There are two styles. Osaka style is a big mix of ingredients while Hiroshima style is layered ingredients, sometimes including noodles.

Where we ate:

• Torame Yokocho in Osaka – it’s a food hall so look for the specific stall in the back left

Cheese Tart

Follow your nose to the cheese tart! We went to two different places, and my favorite was Grand Riviere in Hakone, which drew us in with the fragrance of fresh-baked tarts. The crust is almost like a buttery shortbread cookie. We also went to Pablo in Osaka, which you’ll know is popular from the long line! They sell a few flavors, including strawberry, chocolate, and matcha.

Where we ate:

• Grand Riviere in Hakone
• Pablo in Osaka

Taiyaki

These filled pastries are made fresh, typically at a food stall. We happened upon one after dinner one night. We got one with red bean and one with custard. Yum!

Japanese pancakes

The special thing about Japanese pancakes is that they’re extra fluffy, like a souffle!

Where we ate:

• Northshore in Osaka

Yuzu sorbet

One of my favorite desserts I had was a yuzu sorbet. Yuzu looks like a lemon but tastes like a combination of lemon and grapefruit.

Sushi

Of course sushi! We ate sushi most days. It can come as a side dish, like a few pieces in a bento box or kaiseki dinner. We also had a multi-course sushi omakase, which was a great way to end the trip.

Where we ate:

• Shimokita Rokkaku in Tokyo
• Sushi Punch in Tokyo

Yakitori

These Japanese skewers are typically grilled over a charcoal fire and are easily found in izakayas (low-key Japanese bars) or street markets.

Where we ate:

• Omoide Yokocho – food stall alley in Tokyo
• Kuroman Ichiba Market – food stall market in Osaka
• Nishiki Market – food stall market in Kyoto

Tempura

One of my favorite parts of our multi-course dinners at a traditional Japanese hotel we stayed at was the tempura. It was light and crispy yet the vegetable shined through.

Fishcake

One thing you can find in fish markets and street stalls is fish cake. These are typically ground fish made into balls or patties and served on a skewer or in oden, which is a soup.

Egg Salad Sandwich

People raved about the egg salad sandwiches in Japan, so it was a must-try. The best one I had was from 7-Eleven, as many have suggested.

Uni

A sushi meal delicacy is uni and at Japanese street markets, you can enjoy extra fresh. You’ll see them laid out and they may include an uni variety. The best was at Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo.

Fruit

I thoroughly enjoyed all the fresh fruit in Japan. Many desserts include fruit for a light and fresh ending to a meal. At markets, you’ll see big, beautiful fruit. I especially liked the persimmons and muscat grapes.  

Natto Beans / Japanese Breakfast

When in Japan, you eat fish and natto beans for breakfast! The traditional Japanese breakfast usually includes grilled fish, rice, miso soup, pickled things, and natto. Natto, which is fermented soybeans, is also lovingly called “stinky beans.” I didn’t find them too stinky, and they are good when mixed with rice, especially since they can be a bit sticky.

Takoyaki

These balls have a flour batter with pieces of octopus. If you’re looking for a place to enjoy it, look for a big red octopus face on the outside and you’ll find the Tako Tako King chain.

Sake / Shochu / Beer

There are plenty of alcoholic beverage choices in Japan.

• Sake – If you’re looking for something unique to Japan, it would be this rice wine, their national beverage. There’s a growing movement that seeks to make sake cool, so look out for sake bars.
• Shochu – This is a distilled liquor that is weaker than liquors like whiskey or vodka but stronger than wine or sake. My go-to way to drink it is a chuhai or shochu highball, which is mixed with soda water and lemon.
• Beer – When in Japan, the typical beer brands are Asahi and Sapporo, but you can find Hitachino as a craft option. Also, keep an eye out for local craft beers in specialty shops, and don’t expect to find IPAs in abundance.

It was fun to look back at all the delicious things we ate! I hope this gives you an idea of what to look out for on your trip or makes you want to book a trip to Japan.

For more posts about Japan, check out:

• Kaiseki Michelin Meal at Yugen in Osaka, Japan
• Wagyu Tasting at Tsurugyu in Osaka, Japan
• Sushi Omakase at Sushi Punch in Tokyo, Japan

The post 20 Best Eats and Drinks I Had in Japan appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Keep reading to hear all about our experience.

Yugen

When I travel, I like to try a variety of food experiences, from street food tours to extravagant coursed meals. Did you know there are over 400 Michelin-starred restaurants in Japan? This speaks to Japan’s high-quality ingredients. I thought trying a Michelin-starred restaurant would be a unique and fun experience for the group. 

Picking Yugen, which has one Michelin star, was a fairly random choice. I used the Omakase website, a Japanese restaurant reservation website, to narrow down the options and looked for restaurants serving Japanese food in Osaka. (Many nicer restaurants serve French or Italian food.)

Yugen serves a kaiseki meal (traditional, multi-course Japanese meal), and it was a tasty way to see traditional and simple types of cooking. This preparation allows the ingredients to play the main role.

The word yugen is directly translated as “mysterious” but can be translated as “delicate beauty,” which is a good way to describe the restaurant. It has an unassuming entrance in an office building and when you enter, the restaurant is minimally yet cohesively constructed as a peaceful space. 

Delicate beauty is also a good way to describe our meal, which I’ll share more next!

Kaiseki Tasting Menu

Chef Keisuke Mifune and his team presented a beautiful and seemingly effortless meal. The flavors are seasonal and bright and overall, while there are eight courses, the meal is light. The ingredients aren’t smothered in heavy sauces or spices. The menu was simply a delicate preparation to highlight Japanese ingredients and enhance the natural flavors.

Here’s the meal we enjoyed.

Appetizer: Barracuda, Chrysanthemum greens, Maitake mushroom

Soup: Steamed crab paste cake soup

Seasonal Dishes:

• Eggplant soup
• Persimmon, carrot, radish, cucumber, sesame cream
• Vinegared mackerel
• Deep-fried pacific saury
• Japanese pear with mushed tofu
• Mukago (yam)
• Baked peanuts

Sashimi: Bonito and squid sashimi

Grilled Dish: Grilled Spanish mackerel with tempura edamame beans

Boiled Dish: Boiled herring, burdock, spinach

Rice: Rice mixed with chestnuts; miso soup

Dessert: 

• Yamazato (sweet yam paste bun stuffed with white bean paste)
• Grape, muscat, apple sorbet

Accompanied by our dessert was fresh, warm matcha

It was a lovely meal! We also sat in the front room and was able to watch the chef and team prepare the meal. It was neat to see the different techniques, like using a charcoal grill, and the careful movements. The experience was thoughtful and the dishes were satisfying. I’m glad we were able to enjoy this delicious meal!

Below is a sneak peek at their dish drawer. I wonder if they name their dishes like The French Laundry does?

How Much is Yugen

Lunch and dinner options are available at Yugen. Lunch is $85.55 USD per person and dinner is $153.99 USD. This pricing is through the Omakase website, so there is a service fee added on. This is the best way to make a reservation online.

How to Make a Reservation

The most direct way would be to call the restaurant as they don’t have their own online reservation system.

I made a reservation on the Omakase website about three weeks before our meal, so it is fairly easy to get a reservation. Omakase is a Japanese reservation website, which is especially helpful for diners outside of Japan. They do take a fee when you make a reservation; from my calculations, it’s about $10 USD per person.

When you make the reservation, a credit card is required, and you’ll be charged the full cost of the meal. After your meal, you can settle the additional bill for any beverages you order.

Yugen is closed on Wednesdays.

How to Get to Yugen

The closest train station is Osaka Uehommachi Station from the Kintetsu Osaka Line. It’s about a 5-minute walk to the restaurant.

When you arrive at the address, you’ll see this corner. Go down the stairs on the left side and you’ll see a door on the right with colored curtains.

Details for Your Visit

Here’s a quick list of what to know before your visit.

• Cuisine: Traditional Japanese
• Meal offered: Lunch or dinner
• Ambiance: Peaceful
• Attire: Business casual
• Noise Level: Quiet
• Dietary restrictions: Notes made during reservation
• Reservation: Recommended for larger groups
• Seating Options: Counter or private room

Yugen
14-14 Ishigatsujicho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka, 543-0031, Japan
+81 50-3628-4385
Restaurant Website: https://kdrr500.gorp.jp/

P.S. Want to see more meals in Japan? Check out:

• Wagyu Tasting at Tsurugyu in Osaka, Japan
• Sushi Omakase at Sushi Punch in Tokyo, Japan

P.P.S. Read more restaurant adventures in my travel eats category.

The post Kaiseki Michelin Meal at Yugen in Osaka, Japan appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

We didn’t have plans to travel to Kobe – it’s about a 35-minute train ride from Osaka – but we knew it was still possible to taste great wagyu in the foodie city of Osaka. So, I found this restaurant in my research that offered a beef tasting. This would be a good opportunity to try different cuts, and we walked away very pleased with the experience!

Keep reading to learn more.

About Beef

First, a beef primer. Wagyu beef is one of the best in the world because of its marbling (read: tender meat). There are four breeds of wagyu but the majority are Japanese Black. Now, various areas of Japan have their own brand of wagyu. Trademarks were allowed starting in 2006 and there are 11 registered brands, Tajima beef and Kobe beef are two of them. Kobe beef is the highest quality of Tajima beef. The certifications indicate their bloodline, how they were raised, and other criteria.

In the U.S., food labeling is lax, so you’ll see the Kobe name thrown around for marketing, but there are fewer than 40 restaurants that actually serve Kobe beef. You may also see A5 Wagyu, a high-quality beef from Japan but it’s not Kobe beef.

In Japan, restaurants must pay for their designation to advertise Kobe beef, but it’s not a requirement to serve it. There’s no shortage of places serving Kobe beef and if you want to be 100% sure you’re eating Kobe beef, check the designation website and go to one of these registered restaurants, though it will probably cost you more.

In short, I didn’t check the website and booked Tsurugyu because I read that they serve Kobe beef. Could I have tasted the difference between Kobe and Tajima? Probably not. Did I have an incredible meal? Yes!

Tsurugyu

Their menu is available on their website, and they’ll also provide a menu in English at the restaurant. Here’s what the menu looks like:

We had already decided we wanted to do a set tasting, which they have three options: 7,700 JPY; 8,800 JPY; or 9,900 JPY. The more expensive courses have added sashimi, noodles or rice, or dessert. We went with the 7,700 JPY (about $50 USD) course and subbed the intestines for sirloin.

In Japanese, they call Tsurugyu a “yakiniku” restaurant or one where you cook pieces of meat on a small grill with charcoal in front of you. They set up our grill when we arrived and after we chose our course, the dishes started arriving, one by one.

Our tasting included:

• Kimchi, Namuru (boiled vegetables), Salad
• Sio Tan (salt and tongue)
• Keta (cubic)
• Salt Kalbi (rib)
• First-class bara (belly)
• Special first-class Misuji (shoulder)
• Steak in cube
• Sirloin

I thought it was cute that our meal ended with a shot of blended veggies and tea.

It was plate after plate of meat, but it was a satiable amount. And did you see the meat marbling? So many pieces simply melted in the mouth! Each meat also had a specific way of enjoying it. Most had a specific sauce to use, one had vegetable accompaniments, and another was a lettuce wrap. They were great ways to vary the meal and enhance the flavors.

How to Make a Reservation

I made a reservation through their website about three weeks before our meal. Their website is connected to a reservation service called Retty. I believe they will try to call to confirm your reservation and charge your card, but I didn’t receive a call and my reservation was not canceled. It seemed like they had room for walk-ins, so if you’re interested, call ahead on the day or walk by to check.

How to Get There

The restaurant is near Dotonbori in Osaka, about a 10-minute walk to Nippombashi Station. The outside of the restaurant looks like this:

Details for Your Visit

Here’s a quick list of what to know prior to your visit.

• Cuisine: Beef
• Meal offered: Dinner
• Ambiance: Casual, cool
• Attire: Business casual
• Noise Level: Quiet-average
• Reservation: Available online and recommended
• Groups: Available to book online

Tsurugyu
3 Chome-5-14 Kawarayamachi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0066, Japan
https://tsurugyu.foodre.jp/
https://www.instagram.com/tsurugyu/

The post Wagyu Tasting at Tsurugyu in Osaka, Japan appeared first on Fearless Captivations.