I feel like I’ve just been on the WILDEST ride of my entire life and that I have landed back on planet Earth after a whirlwind adventure around the Universe.
So buckle up, because I’m about to spill the beans on my incredible trip to Japan!
If you have never visited, keep reading this blog and take notes because it’s a destination that I believe that every person should experience at least once in their life.
If you’ve already been - trust me - go for round two!! This was my second time going and it was a million times better than the first time around. I used to think that it would be impossible, but how wrong I was!
If you’ve been more than twice, then please can I be you when I grow up because WOW! 😂 Your travel game is where I aspire to be!
Anyway, there’s so much to unpack when it comes to this destination; From the best time of year to visit, where to stay, how to get around, the most quirky activities, budget planning, the foodie hotspots and everything in between.
If you’ve happened to fall down a ‘Japan’ scroll-hole on TikTok or looked at YouTube vlogs about visiting, I already know that there’s a high chance that you feel overwhelmed by the idea of even thinking about planning a trip there!
But I’m here to tell you my three simple rules to putting together your own dream trip in Japan (without losing your mind!) which is easily the most important part of this blog, and my personal highlights that you’ll be itching to add to your itinerary!
My Japan Top 13 things to do (In literally no order!)
Activities
Tokyo Disney
Now, if you know anything about me, you know that this was gonna make my highlights list!! Tokyo Disney Resort is literally the best Disney Theme Park in in the world, and I’m not exaggerating. The reason is because it’s partially/fully owned by The Oriental Land Company which allows them to have their rides, attractions and parades sponsored by Japanese companies - and the juicy budget shows in the quality of what they do! Not only that, but the locals are a huge asset to the Tokyo Parks - they fully embrace the term “Disney Adult” and it’s very common to see everyone getting involved by singing and dancing along without a care in the world. It’s such a refreshing pleasure to experience.
REAL LIFE ‘Mario Kart’ Racing
‘Fun’ is a complete understatement for this activity! Imagine getting on a Go Kart and riding through the electric streets of Tokyo dressed up as your favourite gaming characters in a cartoon-like convoy. That’s exactly what you get to do!! And it’s so damn fun. I felt happy, excited (most importantly) safe with our guide the whole time and it was a major once-in-a-lifetime highlight that I’ll never forget. Get ready to Mario Kart your way through the city of Tokyo and live our your gaming dreams IRL.
*Note: You MUST get an international driving license from your home country before you arrive in Japan if you want to take part.
TeamLab Planets and TeamLab Borderless
If you’re into unique and magical experiences - this will blow your mind! It’s a digital art museum where you have an immersive experience with every piece of art by walking through water, touching, bouncing on and being surrounded by bright and colourful art. The displays are in the form of lights, projections, mirrors, plants, material, oversized balloons and you go through the most magical maze from one room to the next. I loved both locations, but if you can only pick one, I’d recommend Team Lab Planets. If you can do Team Lab Borderless, I recommend that you go to the Tea Experience while you’re there.
Fujisan View Express
Trains are a HUGE thing in Japanese culture! From bullet trains, to sightseeing trains, to Hello Kitty Themed trains, to trains with Japanese gardens in the carriages, to steam trains - they put so much effort into the journey of getting from A to B. And it’s incredible to see. The Fujisan View Express runs from Kawachiko to Otsuki a couple times each day - what makes it such a unique train ride is that it goes right by Mount Fuji offering the most gorgeous views and high quality hospitality service that will have you feeling like you’ve stepped straight into a movie. We had so much fun chugging along and got lucky enough to see Mount Fuji against the most jaw-dropping backdrop. It was such a special experience!
*Side note: Mount Fuji is only visible around 40% of the time 😂 She loves to hide behind cloud cover and peep out on her own terms, so if you want to guarantee getting a good view, give yourself a new nights in the Fuji area. Trust me, you’ll be glad that you did!
Traditional Ryokan
This is an absolute must if you’re itching to experience something traditional and unique in Japan. You can book them all over the country, but the more authentic ones tend to be outside of the main cities. We booked the New Wakasa Inn in Nara - the service was exceptional and the room was immaculate and beautifully ‘traditionally modern’. There is very little furniture and no bed in the room (which was a bit of a shock) but in the evening, the staff will come around to your room and roll out a futon for you to sleep on.
While we were there, we booked the private onsen for an hour to watch the sunset over the mountains. We had already done a few onsens by this point so we were completely at ease with it all. But it’s worth pointing out that you need to be fully nude. But honestly, being out in the open was actually quite liberating! (Plus is you forget your swimsuit, it doesn’t matter 😉)
Matcha Tea Ceremony
If you’re heading to Kyoto, this is a unique experience that will give you a taste of a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony. It’s designed for tourists to be walked through a full ceremony, find out the origin of the traditions, whisk their own frothy matcha and (at the ceremony I visited) dress up in traditional kimonos. It’s a really peaceful and relaxing experience and was a huge highlight of our trip.
Universal Studios
It’s no secret that I love a theme park, and although I’m Disney Girl to the core, Universal Studios is a very close second! As soon as I found out about Super Nintendo World opening, I could already hear the retro video game soundtrack on repeat in my head! We also got to enjoy Harry Potter World, go back to the retro ride of Jaws and go on the Minions ride (which was great fun!)
To make things even better, the Halloween offering was live when we went, which meant you got to experience wand battles in the park with Dementors, a variety of scare mazes and terrifying scare performers jumping out at every turn. Japanese locals LOVE to get involved with a theme, and this was no exception.
Shibuya Sky
Easily the best city views I’ve ever seen! Right in the centre of Tokyo, you’ll find Shibuya Sky which is essentially a rooftop viewpoint (with a twist) Here’s what makes it so special:
On a clear day (like ours) you will see Mount Fuji in the background - it looks incredible sitting on the horizon!
Tokyo is an extremely densely populated city, so the sparkling evening views go as far as the eyes can see, it’s quite unusual
Right below, you’ll get a birds-eye view of Shibuya Scramble which is the biggest series of pedestrian crossings in the world. At peak times, around 3000 people cross in two minutes.
My top tip is to get a sunset time slot so that you can enjoy daytime views, see it switch to a colourful sunset and then get the evening glittering city views
Sumo Tournament
Getting tickets for this will feel like you’re battling in the sumo ring yourself, but trust me when I say that it’s worth it! So do everything you can to get your hands on them. Sumo Wrestling is such an integral part of Japan’s rich culture and the arena is literally bursting with super-fans and so much passion and excitement for the sport. With that said, it’s heavily laced with unique and beautiful traditions that you have to see to truly appreciate.
The matches are fast and furious, and they demonstrate power, skill, flexibility and strength in a way that will fascinate you!
Onsen Town
We visited Shima Onsen, however there are many onsen towns and villages across Japan. This was such a special highlight for me because compared to the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and Kyoto, this felt like a private and secret escape. We stayed in a stunning suite in Sekizenkan Kashotei Sanso with our own private onsen and private dining room. (It was luxury beyond my wildest dreams!) If there’s any Spirited Away fans, you might also see the resemblance of the bath house in the movie, as this hote; formed some of the inspiration for it.
In the old town, we took some time to unwind at the public onsen, and it was such a dream to relax outdoors in the breathtaking Japanese gardens while soaking in the warmth and comfort of the onsen. Definitely a bucket list experience!
Food Experiences
Sushi Kanade - Omakase restaurant
So…being someone who doesn’t like sushi, I didn’t know how this was going to go down. Now before you come at me, I actually LOVE the taste of fish (yes, even raw fish) so sashimi, oysters and all the tasty seafood you can imagine are my thing. I love rice (like I love every carb) and I regularly eat salty seaweed slices as a snack. But the combination of cold rice and fish has just never sat right with me. Turns out, I ate my words because this experience at Sushi Kanade was just yummm. It helped me to truly appreciate the layers, the technique and the delicate art of sushi. (Almost) every single bite was melt in the mouth heaven!!
I’m SO GLAD I got to experience this!
Itsuki Chaya Arashiyama - Kyoto riverside dining
Now THIS is a special experience! The setting is divine - sitting alongside the river in Kyoto. The food is even better! It’s a seasonal menu and has lots of small plates; from wagyu, to tempura, to fresh sashimi, to golden egg yolk and crispy bean-shoots. You get to cook your own food on little hotplates and it’s such a calming, peaceful and absolutely beautiful meal!
Tapas Molecular - Magical Dining at the Mandarin Oriental
Honestly, I just have no idea how any meal will EVER top this!! It felt like stepping into the pages of Alice in Wonderland, or that scene in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory where everyone starts eating the wallpaper. NO dish was what it seemed - We dug for truffles, ate cabbage flavoured carrots, ate shellfish INCLUDING THE SHELLS (which were hand painted edible deliciousness). The whole thing was magical, and it gets my seal of approval as the perfect date night in Tokyo that’s worth every single penny!
The menu changes every season, so it’s always a complete surprise. But get ready for liquid nitrogen galore, melt-if-you-mouth-bites, a live cooking experience like no other and food plates that look like pieces of art.
My Top Tips to Planning the Perfect Japan Trip!
So look, I know that the overwhelm is hitting hard right about now 😂 It did for me! But one thing I wish I’d known before was the advice I’m about to give you in my top three tips! I’ve also had so many questions about this, that I have created a special guide “The Travel Addicts Unconventional Guide To Japan”. This guide goes into detail on the specifics of my trip itinerary, my budget planner spreadsheet (including currency conversions) where to get help while you’re in Japan and how to use my itinerary to map out the perfect itinerary for you! So if you’re serious about visiting, then this is the perfect place to start - the structure will carry you all the way through to the very end of your trip. So if you want my guide, be sure to grab it here.
The most important part of planning a trip to Japan is knowing these three things:
You CANNOT do it all
What makes Japan so unique when it comes to visiting is that there’s so much to do, and there’s always so much more you could do. But trying to ‘do it all’ will ruin your trip. My top tip is to be fiercely focused on doing what’s most important to you and be relentless with cutting out anything that isn’t. It’s ok to admit defeat instead of having an itinerary that’s bursting at the seams
Copy/Paste itineraries DO NOT work in Japan
For this destination, grabbing a pre-made itinerary from the internet and copying it will cause you to miss out on a rich and personal experience. The Japan highlights are so vast and wildly different that they might not be highlights for everybody. Having your own unique twist on your plan, will bring out the best personal highlights for you.
It’s never too early to create a shortlist
The foundational skeleton of my Japan itinerary was created by saving YouTube vlogs, Reels and TikTok videos. Create a ‘Japan’ folder and start saving your favourite restaurants, activities, hotels and hotspots for your trip (the more the better), it’s easier to craft your dream itinerary when you know the ‘musts’ of your list. Part two of this, is to plan and book your activities ahead of time - in Japan everything books up so far in advance, so (unlike most destinations) you’ll miss out if you try to book while you’re there.
I know this is a wayyyy longer blog than usual, but so many of you asked me for the highlights and I was itching to give you the lowdown!
If you want a copy of my personal itinerary, budget planner, all the best links and times to book your activities and to grab the tools you need to craft the perfect trip, The Travel Addicts Unconventional Guide To Japan will tell you everything you need to know! If that still sounds crazy to you, and you just want to show up and have the trip of a lifetime, keep your eyes peeled for our future Travel Addicts Adventures where you get to join me in Bucket List destinations with an awesome group of (new) travel friends. You’ll love them!
Sherilyn x
Comments