Japan
Tokyo
Tokyo Links
https://roadbook.com/tokyo/city-guide/
Hotels
The Edition Toranamon—We stayed here with points. If you stay here, there’s a pool/jacuzzi that is amazing after a long day of walking. They have incredible views of the city and service. They have a gorgeous bar, but we were too jet-lagged to try it. It is close to metro stations. Toranamon station has a food hall and a delicious bakery called Beaver Bread.
Hotel wishlist
Hoshinoya
Trunk Hotel
Neighborhoods- Tokyo is huge… Below are food/reccos & sites by neighborhood
Daikanyama. Nakemeguro/ebisu
On our first day, we were very jetlagged and went to get breakfast. We then walked from Daikanyama to the Starbucks roastery across the Meguro River and then to Shibuya. Here are the stops we made and other records. Lesson learned on the first day: make reservations for lunch/dinner unless you are willing to wait an hour or more.
Breakfast: Garden house Crafts - western breakfast options and amazing bakery selection
Other options
Ivy Place
Happy pancake
Path
Lunch/Dinner - I didn’t get to explore these options, but on my list for next time
Tacubo
Dolce Tacubo
Pizza Marumo
Jyuban Ukyo - izakaya
Bars
Bar Martha
Bar TRENCH
Coffee
La Vie En Campagne
Onibus
Sidewalk cafe
Shopping/Sights:
Log Road - collection of restaurants, stores, and brewery
T-sutaya bookstore - amazing bookstore - a couple of locations in Tokyo, but the one here is huge and has an amazing cookbook selection
Tokyo bikes
Denim stores - UES, Evisu, warehouse & co - didn’t have the time to visit, but if you are into Japanese denim go check them out
SML
Marakuku
Peanuts cafe
Saturdays NYC
Green Bean to Bar Chocolate - stopped by and got some chocolate. Interesting flavors.. very pricey.
Shibuya
Shibuya is kinda of the Times Square of Tokyo, but much cleaner and less chaotic. Still a lot of people but you can find quiet streets throughout the area. A lot of shopping, but know that most of the stores have multiple locations in Tokyo. We found a random soba place for lunch since we were starving, but below are some suggestions for the area.
Hachiko - If you’ve never heard of Hachiko - do yourself a favor and get some tissues before watching the movie. Statue is right by Shibuya station.
Shibuya loft - great place to get souvenirs - stationery, stickers, and galore. I ended up finding another location in Kyoto and went back for more.
Shibuya Food Show Hall
Food
SG Club - Bar/izakaya - we went here for dinner/drinks and it was so good. Highly recommend.
Trunk Kushi- We tried this restaurant on our last night in Tokyo - pretty good and great for a last-minute reservation.
Saved for next time:
Bars
Music Bar- Cave Shibuya
Memento Mori
Bar LIBRE
The BEllwod
Bar Ishinohana
Coffee:
Komeda Coffee
Real Drip Coffee No. 12 Ueshima Coffee House
Yoyogi Park /Harajuku /Roppingi
On our last full day, we went to explore Yoyogi Park & Meiji Shrine. Our first stop was at Camelback for some light breakfast. Right next door is Coffee Supreme. After exploring the sights we walked over to Harajuku/Roppongi for lunch. Roppongi is right next to Harajuku and has a lot of shopping as well. Grabbed some conveyor belt sushi. Harajuku was a single street - very touristy and not as impressive as I thought it would be. At night we explore Akihabara (electronic district)
Sights to explore:
Meiji Park
Yoyogi Park
Tsujiki Market/Asakusa/Kappabashi
On our last day, we woke up early to go to the fish market and tried a bunch of delicious sushi and things. It was rainy so we didn’t spend a ton of time there but then headed up to Asakusa and from there walked to the kitchen district/kappabashi. A lot of kitchen stuff - wish we would have left this when we returned from Kyoto to pick up goodies. They also open a bit later than the hours they state online. From there we headed back to the hotel and headed to the Tokyo train station and got some food for the train. Head to the Daimaru’s food hall in the basement for some delicious to-go food.
KYOTO
Hotel: Genji Hotel
We stayed here with points but would honestly pay out of pocket for the incredible hospitality. We loved the location because it was tucked into a neighborhood vs. in the hustle and bustle.
Where to Eat
Awomb (different concept sushi- fun and delicious)
Chiron (we randomly found this spot while it was pouring rain. so good we had a pastry tower!)
Mama Pizza (amazing pizza, obsessed with the design - go here after visiting bamboo forest)
Gion Nikuyorki Oka (incredible meat forward omakase)
Ki: (Lebanese food in Kyoto… I know. why, but just try. delish)
Coppie (a really delicious and innovative tasting menu. I still dream about the sangria I had there).
Moshimoya (we wandered into this izakaya right by our hotel and it was soo good and we ended up making some friends!)
Other Noms
Breakfast
Lorimer Kyoto
Coffee
Walder
Walden Woods Kyoto
Weekenders Coffee
Bread, Espresso and Arashiyama
eX Cafe Kyoto Arashiyama
Goodman Roaster Kyoto
KeFU stand
Nittodo and Kyto Cafe
Loose Kyoto
here Kyoto Kiyomizu
Kissa Kishin Kyoto
Kursasu Ebisugawa
Momoharu
kew
YUGEN
On my list for next time
Ixey Non Alcoholic Spirits
Green Terrace
What to see
Toji Temple
Arashiyama
Sagano Bamboo Grove
Kinkaku-ji
Kimono Forest
Shopping
Good Nature Station
Beams Japan Kyoto
Ippodo Tea Kyoto Main Store
Kyoto Loft
Kikuo Shoten
Pottery Tanuki
Sou Sou
Tsutaya Bookstore
Mumokuteki goods & wears Kyoto
Daimaru Kyoto
Kyoto Handicraft Center
Un petit coup d’oeil
Niseko, Hokkaido
Note: we definitely splurged on these hotels given it was our honeymoon but if we returned I’ve added the below of what I’d look into. We mostly spent our time skiing so can’t really say we explored the area too much. You might wanna check what is open given that it is not ski season
Hotels
Zaoborin
Ritz Carlton Niseko
Other options
Setsu Niseko
Niseko Konbu Onsen
Restaurants -
J’ai La Patate - Really amazing food - tucked in the town
Niseko Takahashi Dairy Farm - great ice cream and they have a pizza place next door so goood.
Roketto - didnt get to go but high on my list for next time - they have casual lunch but then tasting menu for dinner (make reservations through ig)
Niseko Bang Bang