JAPAN
Toyko, Kyoto, & Osaka
TOKYO: MUST SEE LIST
Best Ice Cream: Cremia Stand
Asalea Garden
Thrift Shopping @ Shimokitazawa
Toyko Toyoso Fish Market
Tsukiji Outer Market
Meiji Jingu Shrine + Garden
Shibuya Crossing - Largest Crosswalk
Nakamise-Dori street
Senso Ji temple
Stores to check out: Nintendo Store, Cosme, Hands, Loft
Katsukichi Tonkatsu & Tonkatsu Maisen Aoyama are great lunch spots
Mt Fuji Viewing: Oishi Park, Arakura Fuji Shrine, or enjoy breakfast with view @ The Park Lake Yamanaka
Neighborhoods To Walk Around: Asakusa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ginza
Check out Team Labs (book in advance)
Nightlife Hotspots: Shinjuku Tokyo (memory lane), Bar Centifolia (must do), Benfiddich Tokyo, The Vinyl Music Bar - Cave Shibuya
Latte Art Mania - for fun coffee
OSAKA: MUST SEE LIST
Osaka Castle
Dotonbori
Tsutenkaku Tower
Sumiyoshi Taisha (lucky bridge)
Kuromon Ichiba Market (fish markets)
Visit Nara for a day trip
Koyasan Day Trip
Best Mochi - Nakatanidou
Best Dinner: Okonomiyaki Sanpei (Must be there at 5PM)
KYOTO MUST SEE LIST:
Kiyomizu dera Temple (early)
Kazariya Teahouse (shrine)
Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple (1999 faces)
Higashiyama at night
Kinkaku ji Temple - golden pavilion
Fushimi Inari Tori Gates
Niskiki Market - street food
Arashiyama for foliage & Kimono Walk
Daigo-ji Temple & Sambo in Zen Garden
Husband and Wife Cafe (picnic)
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Togetsukyo Bridge (fall foliage)
Nanzenji Tenju an (fall foliage temple)
Narai Juku - Samai path
Oldest sushi restaurant in Japan: Tsurube Sushi Yasuke
Chado- Match Tea Buddhist Ceremony
Food & Coffee Recs:
Kyocafe Chacha - waffles and breakfast
arashiyama miffy sakura kitchen - amazing bakery
%arabica - Coffee
Kyoto higashiyama - Coffee
Yasaka Shrine- Potato Stick
Sushi Yoshino (not on maps) : 122-5 ishiyacho nakagyo ward kyoto
Top Phrases in English:
Konnichiwa (こんにちは) – Hello
Arigatou Gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) – Thank you
Sumimasen (すみません) – Excuse me
__ o Kudasai (__をください) – I would like __, please
__ wa Doko Desu ka? (__はどこですか) – Where is __?
Itadakimasu (いただきます) – An expression of gratitude for the meal you’re about to eat
Omakase de (お任せで) – Used to order chef’s recommendation (often for sushi)
O-sake (お酒) – General term for alcohol
Nihonshu (日本酒) – Japanese sake
Kinen Seki (禁煙席) – Non-smoking seat
Ima Nanji Desu ka? (今何時ですか) – What time is it now?
Nanji ni? (何時に？) – At what time?
Asa (朝) – Morning
Kyou (今日) – Today
Ashita (明日) – Tomorrow
__ ni Ikitai (__に行きたい) – I want to go to __
Tomete Kudasai (止めてください) – Stop, please
Kippu (切符) – Ticket
Shinkansen (新幹線) – Bullet train
Dono Densha? (どの電車？) – Which train?
駅 (Eki) : Station
地下鉄 (Chikatetsu) : Subway/Metro
トイレ (Toire) : Toilet
銀行 (Ginkō) : Bank
切符売り場 (Kippu uriba) : Ticket machine/Office
観光案内所 (Kankō annaijo) : Tourist information office
入口 (Iriguchi) : Entrance
出口 (Deguchi) : Exit
右 (Migi) : Right
左 (Hidari) : Left
まっすぐ (Massugu) : Straight
曲がる (Magaru) : Turn
交差点 (Kōsaten) : Intersection
角 (Kado) : Corner
英語のメニュー (Eigo no menyū) : English menu