Japan has always been a top destination on my travel list, so when my mom and I were planning a trip to Taiwan together I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for us to stop by Japan for a couple of days.
Since this was my first trip to Japan, I already knew I was going to eat amazing food but my expectations were highly exceeded after this trip. Japan is sparkling clean and I loved how everything worked so efficiently.
TIPS:
There are rarely any public trash cans as you're not supposed to eat/drink while walking, so it's good to keep a small plastic bag on you for trash to bring back to your hotel
Tipping is not customary in Japan so it’s not required for you to tip at all
Bring cash and a coin purse if you can
Bring hand sanitizer as public restrooms lack soap dispensers
Get a Japan Rail (JR) pass if you’re planning on leaving Tokyo and exploring other cities
During the winter time (mid-February) is pretty cold, so it's best to dress in layers. Luckily during our short stay we did not encounter any snow or rain. I wish I could've stayed longer in Japan, but given that we were only here for 3 full days, we just stayed in Tokyo.
Throughout my trip, I got to explore a mix of local and tourist attractions so here are the highlights of my trip in Tokyo:
MEIJI SHRINE
Meiji Shrine is located in Shibuya, Tokyo and is Tokyo's most famous Shinto shrine.
It's important that when you visit any shrine in Japan and before you walk through the gate, you should stop at the cleansing station where you purify yourself by rinsing your hands and mouth before offering up a prayer.
GINZA
Ginza is a world-renowned shopping district, so while we were walking around we stopped by Ippudo Ramen for lunch and it was delicious. It's a popular spot so expect to wait in line if you come during peak lunch or dinner time.
Later in the day we continued walking around the Ginza shopping district and stopped by the newest shopping mall Ginza Six for a snack at Joe's Cafe.
GREAT BUDDHA OF KAMAKURA
Official name: Kamakura Daibutsu
The Daibutsu of Kamakura is the second largest monumental Buddha in Japan. A unique aspect of the statue is that, since it is hollow, visitors can actually go inside the sacred monument.
To get there: The Great Buddha is located a 5-10 minute walk from Hase Station, the third station from Kamakura along the Enoden railway line. The Enoden is a streetcar-like train that connects Kamakura with Enoshima and Fujisawa. Its terminal station in Kamakura is located just next of JR Kamakura Station.
KAMAKURA KUSUNOKI
Not sure why this restaurant doesn't have very good reviews online as it's "Fit for Foodies". We came here for lunch with a reservation and it's a very modern place with a lovely ambiance. According to my mom's friend, it's considered a local favorite. Our lunch course consisted of a three-tiered bento box along with a soba noodle box.
Here's the link to make a reservation:
https://www.opentable.com/r/kamakura-kusunoki-kamakura?page=1
ZENIARAI BENTEN SHRINE
Official name: Ugafuku-jinja Shrine
This is another popular shrine located in a cave in Kamakura. It is said the water of the spring inside the cave has the power to bring prosperity in business and good fortune when money is washed in the holy water. Meaning that if you wash your money there, it will multiply.
Most importantly, spend the washed money and don’t keep it in your wallet! There’s an old saying in Japanese that translates to “Money comes and goes” or “Money is a great traveler in the world”. Essentially meaning that money won’t stay in one place because It’ll circulate from person to person.
To get there: The shrine is about a 20-minute walk from the west exit of Kamakura Station, a little bit of a long distance to walk, so we took a taxi. After walking through a residential area, you’ll go up a fairly steep slope, which leads to the shrine.
SENSO-JI TEMPLE
Also Known As: Asakusa Kannon Temple
Senso-ji Temple is located in Asakusa and is one of Tokyo's most colorful and popular Buddhist temples. It's also Tokyo's oldest temple.
If you're lucky, you might get to see some of the events held throughout the year in the Senso-ji Temple area such as the Sanja Matsuri held in May and the Asakusa Samba Carnival in August.
TSUKIJI FISH MARKET
We stopped by the Tsukiji Fish Market to find the best sashimi we could find for lunch. We came by the early afternoon and ate at one of the street vendors where we got $15 chirashi bowls! This is the world's oldest, biggest, and busiest fish/seafood market! Apparently this fish market won't be around forever in its current location so make sure to visit while it's still there! Before you visit, check the calendar to see if the market is open since it's not open every day.
ICHIRAN SHIBUYA
Ah the last meal of our trip we had to eat at Ichiran Shibuya. All my friends highly recommended this ramen spot so I couldn't resist. Definitely a unique experience and definitely the best ramen I've ever had! Make sure to get there early or expect to wait around an hour in line for this spot.
