Tokyo

• Easy train ride into city
• Uber and Taxi friendly and easy to use
• Recc Aman or Hashnoya $$$$$

All in Ginza.

Shabu shabu & Sukiyaki - Zakuro

Sukiyaki & Shabu sabuh - Imahan (only been to the Ginza one myself, but the main store (Honten) is in Ningyocho (down/old town ish area)

Sushi - Kyubei

Gyoza - Tenryu Even though it is in Ginza, it is more like a down town China town feel. Still long established. Since 1949

Something more contemporary - Saga beef (Not kobe, but also a brand beef) x projection mapping

Sagaya (scroll down to book the projection mapping dinner)

You will spend a ton of time exploring these areas. Just walk absolutely everywhere and try everything. Animal cafes, food - go deep.

Harajuku

Shibuya

Ginza

Some places you might enjoy:

• Red Tower VR Gaming
• We loved the dog, owl cafes
• Food is insane
• When in doubt, find your way to the underground, there is so much food there
• Make sure to go to the biggest department store you can find and go to the basement floor to see the food

Kyoto

• Ubers and Taxis super easy
• 2 hour bullet train ride from Tokyo
• Easy to buy bullet train tickets whenever you show up at the station, no need for pre-purchase
• Trains: Reserved (guaranteed seats), non-reserved (first come first serve), Green Car (reserved first class)
• Aman is amazing but far away from the main walking part of the city
• Make sure to go to this store: https://www.sousou.co.jp/
• Wow on this dinner: https://www.instagram.com/mavo.kyoto/?igshid=NDk5N2NlZjQ%3D

Old City - amazing walking area & temples

This map shows EVERYTHING!

Inside Kyoto - Google My Maps

Kyoto Districts

Kyoto At Night (Old Town, Historical Streets)

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hanamikoji+Street/@35.0036545,135.7705588,16.08z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x792091361351619b!2sHanamikoji+Street!8m2!3d35.0036258!4d135.7750405!3m4!1s0x600108c173e6958f:0x792091361351619b!8m2!3d35.0036258!4d135.7750405

Nara

• This is an easy 1/2 day trip from Kyoto
• 1 hr max train ride from Kyoto
• I am unsure I would spend more than 1 day here
• Deer are everywhere, and friendly

https://www.insidekyoto.com/nara-itineraries

Nara Half-Day Itinerary

As noted above, Nara can be visited as a daytrip from nearby Kyoto or Osaka (see the How To Get To Nara page for details). While six or eight hours is ideal for a daytrip, you might find yourself with a mere half day to spend in Nara. If that is the case, don’t despair: A half-day (four hours) is enough to see a lot of Nara’s major sights. The itinerary described here is basically an abbreviated version of the one-day itinerary above.

• Start from Kintetsu Nara Station and walk up Nobori-oji Street. You’ll start to encounter Nara’s famous sacred deer as you go.
• Use the underground crossings to get to the northeast corner of the Nobori-oji/Route 169. Walk from there to Isui-en Garden.
• Walk from Isui-en along the backstreets to Todai-ji Temple. Before entering the Daibutsu-den Hall to see the Great Buddha (Daibutsu), walk a little south to check out the Nandai-mon Gate, with its two huge guardian figures.
• Take your time marveling at the Daibutsu and then exit the Daibutsu-den. Walk along the east wall of the Daibutsu-den and then go up the path that turns up to the right just past the small pond to reach Nigatsu-do Hall.
• Check out Nigatsu-do and then walk in the direction of the base of Wakakusa-yama.
• Follow the narrow pathways through the forest to Kasuga-Taisha Shrine.
• Follow the main path from Kasuga-Taisha all the way west until you reach Kofuku-ji Temple.
• Cut through the precincts of Kofuku-ji Temple to get back to Kintetsu Nara Station or JR Nara Station.
• Note that if you’re really, really pressed for time, you can cut out the visit to Kasuga-Taisha Shrine. In this case, after visiting Nigatsu-do Hall, simply return the way you came to Kintetsu Nara Station.

Itinerary

3+ nights Tokyo (Could do a week easy)

HOSHINOYA Tokyo | Resort Hotel in Tokyo, Japan - Hotel Reservation

3+ Nights Kyoto (Could do a week easily) + 1/2 day trip from Kyoto to Nara

Aman Kyoto - Luxury Japanese Resort & Spa Opening Nov 2019 - Aman

Game Tour Tokyo

GAME CHRONICLE | IS JAPAN COOL?

Never Visited

Amanemu - Luxury Resort & Onsen Spa in Japan - Aman