Japan travel blog — The fullest Japan travel guide for first-timers

This is one of the things I love the most in Japan, which is food, extremely diverse, rich, a wonderful cuisine that few places in the world have. Experience Japanese cuisine is one of the main purposes of the trip.

Japanese food is generally quite expensive, but worth a try. I ate a lot, sometimes 2 meals for lunch, sometimes 2 meals for dinner, from raw to cooked, but never had stomachache in 15 days. I can list the basic dishes of Japan and also the ones I enjoy below:

Sushi and Sashimi

These are the two foods I put on top because they were the ones I had been fascinated with before going to Japan. And the trip was an opportunity for me to eat until satisfy. Listening to sushi with sashimi, I immediately felt the cool, greasy taste, and the spicy taste until tears down of wasabi.

Sushi in Japan has many different types, if you eat in the style of nobility with $200 – $300/meal for omakase meal (chef chooses for you) at high end restaurants, sushi in normal restaurants are 2000-3000 Yen/person, cheap sushi in the subway underground areas ranging from 1000-1500 Yen/person. The cheapest is probably the boxed type in the supermarket, only 400 yen/box.

Wagyu Beef

Japan is also famous for its beef, Steak House restaurants are available everywhere not only in big cities but also in remote rural areas. The most famous are Kobe and Wagyu beef, some localities have their own premium beef such as Hida Beef in Takayama.

Coming to Kobe you have to enjoy the famous Kobe beef, remember to choose the right restaurant because Kobe beef also has many types. In a good restaurant it costs around 5.000 Yen – 20.000 yen for 100 grams. There also are countless at outside such as at street food stalls with several hundred Yen also.

Read more:

• Kobe beef blog — Visit Kobe & enjoying Kobe beef, one of the most delicious foods in Japan
• Why is Kobe Wagyu so expensive? — Explore the “Kings and Princesses” life of Kobe Cows

Noodles

In Japan, there are 3 most popular types of noodles: Soba, Ramen and Udon. Each type has a lot of different variations, hot noodles, cold noodles, and each local has a different style of eating as well as there are other types of noodles that are not the above 3 types.

Eating noodles in Japan sometimes has to eat in the right way. But the way is different for each locality and region. There are many articles saying that eating soba must be in this way, in that way…, but it is not true. In this locality, eat this way, but in other places eat the opposite, nothing is right and wrong here, because the traditional culture differs from region to region.

Street food

There are plenty, too, such as Taiyaki waffle (fish cake), Yakitori chicken skewer, Takoyaki pancake and many Japanese style crepes. In addition, you can also enjoy a variety of grilled seafood such as shrimp, octopus, squid, grilled oysters at street food stalls. Especially in the seafood markets, extremely diverse and rich, all are fresh and delicious.

Other typical dishes

Japan has a lot of other dishes that you have to spend all year to try them. Such as tempura – seafood, vegtables are battered and deep fried, Japanese hotpot, Japanese rice in many different styles. Japanese barbecue is also very delicious, especially with sophisticated marinated restaurants, adding a little sake for a chilly night is perfect.

Japan travel costs: Basic travel costs for a long trip to Japan

The living cost in Japan must be said to be very expensive, much more expensive than Southeast Asian countries or even South Korea. Especially in big cities like Tokyo. Osaka is a bit more affordable than Tokyo but still expensive.

With a 1-2 week trip you need to plan, detailed itinerary before you go. Booking hotels early because in some tourist seasons such as cherry blossom season, red leaves season, if you not book 1-2 weeks in advance, there is no room. If you plan to traveling in Japan for 7-10 days, you can estimate some required trip costs as follows:

• Air tickets: About $175-$430/one way/person, depending on whether or not to book cheap tickets.
• Transport: Buy a 7-day JR Pass for approximately $260/pass. Travel by other trains and travel around the cities about $9-$13/day, the total traveling costs about $430-$520.
• Accommodations: If you staying in the dorm, the price is about $22/bed/night, homestay or hotel costs about $43-$65/night/person. Hotel costs about $220-$650/person.
  Eating and drinking: This should not be economical but must be experienced until satisfy. Food costs about $43/day.

Summary, the total essential trip costs are about $1290-$1725/person for the 10-day trip. Not to mention other costs such as admission tickets, shopping, playing, .. Thus, the total trip costs for a 7 to 10 day trip in Japan is about $1.500 to $2.200.

Japan travel guide blog: Cities, places to visit for the first-time visitors to Japan

Tokyo

It will take at least 4 days to visit the most popular tourist attractions in Tokyo. Not to be missed are famous temples and shrines Such as Senso-ji, Meiji Jingu, the busiest entertainment area of ​​Tokyo is Shinjuku with Kabukicho red light district. If you coming to Japan during the cherry blossom season, you will have to spend a lot of time to visit the parks covered with Sakura, such as Shibuya park, Ueno park or Shinjuku park.

Osaka

The second largest city in Japan after Tokyo is quieter but there are also many exciting, bustling places to hang out. Osaka is famous for Namba amusement park, Shinsaibashi duty free shopping area is always crowded. In addition, from Osaka you can take day-trip to other places like Kobe, Himeji Castle and Nara Park.

Kyoto

The ancient capital of Kyoto always gives visitors the most special feelings. Not too many bustling neighborhoods, high-rise buildings like Tokyo or Osaka, Kyoto bring more cultural experiences. You can spend all day wandering around Gion district, visiting temples, shrines, small paved stone streets, alleys. Or visit the famous bamboo forest in Arashiyama, the thousand-gate shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, all beautiful.

Other destinations

The Northeastern Japan near Tokyo

In addition to the major tourist destinations above, if you have time, you must go to Mount Fuji, Lake Kawaguchiko and nearby Hakone. Come here to feel the beautiful Japanese nature with mountains, rivers, lakes as fairy land.

Going back to the north, you can visit Hitachi Seaside Park with countless colorful flowers gardens.

Hokkaido in the north

Coming here to eat seafood is like in your dream, a seafood paradise of Japan. Not only that, Hokkaido is also famous for parks similar to Hitachi, the cherry blossoms in Sapporo and Asahikawa. Although this area is quite far, but there is a Shinkansen line running through, the travel time from Tokyo is also very fast.

Western Japan

From central Japan going to the west with calm coastal areas but also has many famous tourist attractions. These include Toyama region with many high mountains, bathing onsen as ecotourism. Kanazawa is full of Japanese culture, and especially the Doreamon village – Shirakawago close to the beautiful Takayama in the winter, just like a fairy tale.

Southern Japan

In addition to Kyoto, Osaka also has Kobe, Himeji and further down are Hiroshima and Fukuoka. These cities/places all have many popular tourist spots, flower parks and famous sakura viewing spots. If you want to visit the islands, you cannot miss the beautiful Okinawa island.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Tokyo you can refer to

• Private Narita International Airport Transfers (NRT) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
• Private Haneda International Airport Transfers (HND) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
• Airport Limousine Bus Transfers from/to Narita and Haneda International Airport (Free Wifi Onboard)
• Tokyo Amazing Sightseeing Bus Day Tour
• Tokyo Highlights Private Day Tour
• Nikko Day Tour from Tokyo
• Mt Fuji & Hakone Day Tour: Lake Ashi & Ropeway Day Trip from Tokyo
• Nikko Cultural Day Tour from Tokyo
• Tokyo Subway Ticket (24, 48, or 72 Hours)
• Tokyo Skyliner and Tokyo Subway Ticket
• Shuttle Bus Transfers (One Way/Round Trip) from Shinjuku/Ikebukuro to Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea
• Tokyo Disney Resort Park Ticket
• Klook Pass Greater Tokyo
• SHIBUYA SKY Ticket
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter Ticket
• Skyliner Narita Airport Express Ticket
• TeamLab Planets Ticket
• TOKYO SKYTREE® Ticket
• Limousine Bus Narita or Haneda Airport to Tokyo
• Skyliner Narita Airport Express With Tokyo Subway Ticket
• JR Tokyo Wide Pass
• Sky Hop-on and Hop-off Bus Pass
• 4G Prepaid Sim Card (JP Airports Pick Up) for Japan
• 4G WiFi (BKK and DMK Airport Pick Up) for Japan (Unlimited Data)
• JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)

Are you finding more top things to do in Japan: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here.