Japan '24
I spent 6 days in Japan and it was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. Japan is a beautiful, clean, and hospitable country. I stayed in 3 different cities in Japan, Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hakone. Each place I visited had a different vibe and it’s own unique flair. In this blog post I will detail my experience in each city, share pictures of my stay in Japan, and give advice about traveling to Japan as a foreigner.
Shinjuku - Tokyo
Shinjuku is a ward in Tokyo metropolitan area. It is known for its towering skyscrapers and its nightlife. Shinjuku is a busy city! It reminded me of San Francisco but 20x better, cleaner, and safer. It was easy to walk to the train station from our hotel or catch a taxi, convenient stores and shops were close to our hotel as well. Shinjuku is filled to the brim with restaurant options and lots of bars. We spent most of our time there in Tokyo and caught multiple trains to other areas in Tokyo, like Shibuya, and Akihabara. The train system in Japan is complicated but totally advanced and convenient. They have local trains and bullet trains. The bullet train can get you from Tokyo to Kyoto in 2 hours, which would usually be a 6-7 hour drive by car. We took the Shinakansen train to Kyoto on the 3rd day and it was a cool experience. We had to ask 3 different officers and random people for directions to make sure we did not miss our train but everyone is helpful. The train stations have many options for dining, and quick bites. My brother and I grabbed a bento box before we boarded, I had chicken teriyaki with a boiled egg and seaweed and my brother had unagi with veggies and rice.
One thing about Japan that I find intriguing is that the Japanese are respectful and quiet. The bullet trains are almost silent, with the occasional cough, sneeze, or baby crying. It is customary to remain quiet while on bullet trains, maintain a low voice, and not take phone calls. This is very different compared to America, where we are used to talking on the phone anywhere, speaking loud in public, and having our phones on full volume. While riding the train I noticed that people would leave their belongings, purse, and suitcases to get up and use the restroom or move about the train which is unheard of in America because belongings would get stolen. I felt very safe in Japan, even out late at night. Japan is also very clean, almost every single toilet has a bidet, there is no litter on the streets, and people do not spit on the sidewalks. Be sure to bring a bag to carry trash and dispose of trash at your nearest convenient store, like 711.
Kyoto, Japan
The 3rd day in Japan I arrived in Kyoto, formally the capital of Japan until 1868 after the Meiji restoration. Kyoto has an old sacred vibe to it. It is home to many Buddhist temples, Shinto Shrines, and wooden style buildings. My brother and I stayed in a modern aesthetic hotel for the night, explored the Yasaka-jinja Shrine. I recommend visiting the Yasaka-jinja shrine at night because it is illuminated and less crowded. We also got some night shots of the Hokan-ji Temple. We woke up at 5am to get ready and leave to catch shots of the Hokan-ji temple at sunrise. It was cold, traveling during early march calls for gloves, and a neck warmer. By the time we got to the temple area a few people had gathered to also catch the perfect shot before the crowds got there. It was beautiful to be up early and see the sunrise over the mountains and temple. We were lucky to find a cafe open at 7am, we refueled at the small cafe, ordered lemon tea and a croissant with eggs and bacon. We spent the rest of they day visiting temples and shrines, even being able to enter the Nishi Honganji Temple where we took off our shoes before entering and praying. It was a cool experience in Kyoto, it was more traditional and smaller compared to Tokyo, a place that you must visit!
Hakone, Japan
About an hour and a half outside of Tokyo is the mountainous town of Hakone that has an amazing view of Mt. Fuji and the iconic Hakone-jinja Shrine overlooking lake Ashi. We left Tokyo early in a rental car and ventured to Hakone to spend the day exploring the lake town. We rode a pirate boat across lake Ashi, and went off roading in the city of Fuji to find the perfect view of Mt. Fuji. Hakone is such a chill city, not many taxis available and no skyscrapers in site. It is a hidden city in the mountains and is also known for its hot springs. We slept overnight at the serene Prince Hakone Lake Ashinoko hotel that is literally steps away from lake Ashi. This hotel was the nicest one we stayed at in Japan. It had 3 restaurants, a delicious upscale breakfast buffet and the rooms were very spacious with a direct view of the lake. We ate dinner at one of the restaurants downstairs, it was Japanese cuisine. My brother and I ordered an eccentric 7-course meal that featured foie gras in steamed egg custard with oysters and carrot sauce, and simmered deep fried breads and beef tongue with Japanese sauce. After dinner I went to the hotels onsite onsen, which is a hot spring and bathing facility. It is customary to go in the hot spring fully nude and literally take a bath, and do skincare. The onsen separated men and women, had a locker room area to change and put belongings, and was equipped with shampoo, body wash, face wash, conditioner, and hair dryers. I undressed, washed my body before entering the outdoor hot springs, it was such a rejuvenating treat. After my soak I washed my body again, drank some water, and finished with my skincare routine. It is a must to experience a Japanese onsen but before you attend a traditional onsen it is important to note that most onsen’s will not allow you in if you have tattoos. I have a mini tattoo that I had to cover up with make-up before entering. In the morning we woke, took a stroll along the lake, and enjoyed our breakfast buffet that included an omelette chef, a fried egg station, 4-types of juices, and more. Hakone was an idyllic retreat from the busy city of Tokyo, a must stay when visiting Japan.
Travel advice+Experience
All in all I would 10/10 recommend visiting Japan. My advice would be to book at least a 10-day stay. Because Japan is 17 hours ahead I did not account for the plane ride leaving us with one less day. There is also so much to see and do, and you don’t want to overwhelm yourself because you will be tired from walking and traveling. The JR high speed train pass is not necessary to buy, especially if you are not traveling far, make sure to do the JR travel calculator online to determine if you really need the pass. Download the google translate app and a money conversion app, have those handy. When shopping be sure to bring your passport and ask if shops are tax-free, if they are make sure that you do not open the tax-free bags they seal your products in because you could be subject to a consumption tax. I opened one sealed bag because I didn’t know, but luckily I was not fined. Wear your most comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk. Buy a coin purse to keep coins handy. A limousine bus is one of the best ways to get to your hotel from the airport, look up the routes before and make sure they stop at your hotel. We took the limo bus from the airport and back, its convenient because they stash your luggage under the bus and you don’t have to haul it on the train. Do not be afraid to ask locals for directions, or recommendations. My brother and I took a taxi to a popular lunch spot but as we approached our driver read the sold out sign to us. Not knowing where else to go, my brother asked via google translate what place he recommended and he ended up turning off his meter and taking us to a local hole in the wall that he liked. We enjoyed lunch with our cab driver, we treated him and he bought us a beer, it was such a precious experience. Don’t just stay in one area, venture out to different cities in Japan, get out of Tokyo for a couple days.
Japan owes me nothing
I had a lovely experience visiting this beautiful country. I think late February-early March was a great time to visit, right before peak travel time but early enough to see some cherry blossoms and have the sun out. I enjoyed my time in each city and I would come back in a heart beat. Japan owes me nothing, very thankful and blessed to get the opportunity to see the other side of the planet and travel with family. There is so much to explore out there, get out and get to it, my friends.
*** Feel free to leave me questions below about Japan, traveling, etc.
Xx - Jeané Tui
