Hi! I went to Japan for the first time and wanted to share my thoughts on the trip. I am not a very good writer so I will try to keep it short and concise.
I spent 1 week and a half in Tokyo, 3 days in Takayama, 5 days in Kyoto and 3 days in Osaka. Didn’t do much planning in terms of locations to go to, I mainly went to where I felt going to but next time I would probably consider a bit more planning now that I know better how things work.
Thoughs from each location:
Tokyo
* I stayed in Shinjuku Kabuki-cho and really loved it, even though I’m not a person who heavily enjoys nightlife. I still enjoyed walking around Kabuki-cho at midnight, even though I came across touts multiple times. You can simply ignore them, and they will go away.
If you like shopping for clothes, Shinjuku is also great, with lots of stores around. Harajuku is pretty close too. I really enjoyed Takeshita Street, though I went during a weekday, so there weren’t as many people. I tried it again on the weekend, and it was super crowded and way less enjoyable.
\* Please go to Shimokitazawa! I almost didn’t go because I initially didn’t think there could be something interesting there, but I was so wrong. This was one of my favorite places from the entire trip. As soon as you start to walk around, you can feel this cozy vibe from looking at all the coffee shops and vintage clothing stores. Also, you get to see people with many different styles, and overall, I felt the people there were nicer than anywhere else. I spent around 6 hours just walking there and will definitely go again, with an additional plus if you enjoy shopping for second-hand clothes, though some stores are really pricey.
\* Hachioji and the Hachioji Castle ruins were also amazing. Once you get to Hachioji, you will realize that the streets are almost empty. From the station, I recommend you take a really pleasant walk to the castle ruins. The views are amazing, and the peace you feel is something worth the walk. Once I got to the castle ruins entrance, it is a 30-minute climb to the top. Once there, I didn’t see many people but a couple of Japanese hikers.
\* Akihabara, not much to say, is a must if you enjoy anime and video games. But I made the mistake of doing a lot of shopping there and had to buy another large luggage during the first week of the trip (I only came with a carry-on).
Takayama:
* Takayama was great, but for some reason, in this place, I felt a bit lonely (it was a solo trip). I guess it’s because I am the type of person who enjoys night walks, and almost everything in Takayama closes at 4 pm. Hence, if you take a walk at, let’s say, 6-7 pm, you will rarely see anyone in the streets, nor will anything be open.
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The food was a big highlight of Takayama. I went to a couple of Hida beef restaurants, and it was both cheap and delicious. \* Next time, I would spend one day in Takayama and then go to Kanazawa.
Kyoto:
* My experience in Kyoto was somehow disappointing, partly my fault. I made the mistake of staying in a hostel to save some money, but the space there was so small that I had to place part of my luggage on my really small bed. It was uncomfortable, and for 3 out of the 5 days, there was a guy snoring all night, lol. Even using my AirPods with noise-canceling mode, I could still hear the snoring fairly well.
In Kyoto, I visited Fushimi Inari, Gingaku-ji, To-ji Temple, Arashiyama Monkey Park, and Kiyomizudera.
* I found everything too crowded, and even to enter many restaurants or coffee shops, you needed to endure long queues, which wasn’t enjoyable. Don’t get me wrong; I think Kyoto is amazing, and the architecture, temples, and other historical places were definitely worth it. However, next time, I would consider visiting less touristy places there and maybe staying for fewer days—3 days is probably okay. Also, I didn’t do day trips to Hiroshima or Nara, which could be another option if you are staying longer than 3 days.
Osaka:
* I initially chose to stay only 2 days and half in Osaka because I read on this sub that it was more than enough, however, Osaka ended up being my favourite place and next time I will probably stay there 5 days or more. Walking through Dotonbori and Shinsaibasi is something you could everyday without really getting bored, there will always be a new restaurant to try or a new shop to go to. I didn’t even go to Universal Studios but still Dotonbori/Shinsaibasi were enough to have a really fun time there.
* Of course you will enjoy Osaka more if you are really into shopping and eating like if it was your last day alive, In Dotonbori I tried so many desserts that I probably gained like 5-7 pounds just in my last day in Osaka, also the Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki there were one of the best meals I had during my trip, 10/10.
