Living in Japan, Hi guys, I am currently living in Tokyo, but have visited many parts of Japan. I know especially about things around Tokyo. I am happy to help you!
The rent really depends on areas and apartments' establishments. For example, the average rent of typical 1room+kitchen apartment in Chiyoda-ku is 122,000 yen/month. Chiyoda-ku is where Imperial Palace Gardens, Tokyo Station, Akihabara, etc., is located. On the other hand, the same establishment ...
Hello, I just wrote an answer to the different question about visiting Oirase Gorge in winter. You can check out from here (https://hubjapan.io/questions/hi-all-please-help-us-to-enjoy-the-oirase-winter) if you are interested :)
Hello! I went to Oirase Gorge in winter 2 or 3 years ago. It was one of the most magical experiences I had in my life. Trees were all white, frozen waterfalls, quiet forests... I remember every bit of it! You can read about my experience here: https://hubjapan.io/articles/oirase-gorge-snow-hike-i...
My favorites: - Marugo in Akihabarahttps://www.tripadvisor.jp/Restaurant_Review-g1066443-d1660666-Reviews-Tonkatsu_Marugo-Chiyoda_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.htmlso, so, so, good! Expect long queues.- Isen in Uenohttps://gurunavi.com/en/a226600/rst/Their tonkatsu is rather soft. They say "tonkat...
British pub HUB is one of the most easiest to find. HUB has many branches in Tokyo and I guess most of their branch broadcast rugby games on TV. My friend went to HUB in Kichijoji on Sunday to watch Japan - Scotland game. She said the bar was packed with people! HUB: https://www.pub-hub.com/
Do you like soba noodles? Kanda Matsuya near Akihabara is a great soba restaurant with a long history. Their cold soba is very delicious and the setting of an old house is very relaxing. You can watch a soba chef making soba from your seat sometimes. Kanda Matsuya: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/li...
There are many different places to listen to jazz. Cotton Club Tokyo may be one of the most famous place: http://www.cottonclubjapan.co.jp/en/venue/I have been to MADURO, a jazz bar in Roppongi. It had a quite nice ambience and music was good. https://www.tokyo.grand.hyatt.co.jp/en/restaurants/ma...
La Foret Harajuku is the place you should go! It's an iconic shopping mall existing from a long time ago. I used to shop there when I was younger. Most of the shops are for younger generations from teen to twenties. There is also Omotesando Hills but they are not really focused on local Japanese ...
The most famous city for Okonomiyaki is Osaka. It's local specialty of the region. Hiroshima is also famous for Okonomiyaki, with their own style Hiroshima style. Hiroshima style adds noodles and fried egg on Okonomiyaki and sauce is a bit more watery comparing to Osaka style.
Rikugien, few mins walk from Sugamo Station or Komagome Station is a beautiful Japanese garden. I am not sure if there was a coffee shop in the garden, maybe there was a Japanese teahouse instead. 15-20 mins train ride from Shinjuku Station.
You definitely should make a stop at Yamadera (Risshakuji temple) in Yamagata Prefecture. It's a temple up on the mountain, the view from the top after walking over 1,000 steps is breathless. Also the quiet and forestry atmosphere are really relaxing. About Yamadera: https://hubjapan.io/articles/...
There are many train companies operating trains and subways in Tokyo. Suica is issued by JR and Pasmo is by other train companies. When you actually use it to pass the gate of trains/buses or use that to buy something at stores, there are no differences. I like the design of suica card better, th...
I love this beer bar POPEYE https://www.facebook.com/70beersontap/?rf=207163745980807They have great selections of Japanese and worldwide beers on tap!
There are lots to see in Hokkaido! It also depends on which season you are planning to visit. If it's winter, it is very hard to travel around Hokkaido because you will have to drive in snow and some roads may close in winter. Here are recommendations from my experience.Summer: Hike in Shiretoko ...
There are many kinds of sushi that do not use raw fish such as egg (tamago), natto, cucumber rolls (kappa maki), yam, etc. However, vinegared rice is inevitable to sushi.Something similar to sushi that does not use vinegars are onigiri - it's translated to rice ball in English. We stuff all sorts...
I have been to Oirase Gorge in winter and we drove all the way to Aomori and spent a night there, because it seemed like there were not much things to do at night. It would be a nice idea to stay if you would like star watching or early morning hike.
Tohoku will be covered with snow so there are many beautiful places.One of the most famous winter sights would be Mt. Hakkoda. It's a great ski mountain if you do skiing or snowboarding. Even if you don't, you can climb up all the way to the top with gondola and you can see frost-covered trees.ht...
Kinokuniya in Shinjuku has quite big shelf dedicated for English books, you may find one there:https://www.kinokuniya.co.jp/c/store/Shinjuku-Main-Store/shopinfo_en.html
Depend on which restaurant where you go and it is always safe to check with the particular restaurant where you are going. In general, it's safer to be formal. Don't expose too much skin, no flip flops or sandals, no jeans and don't wear strong perfumes as kaiseki cuisines value aroma of the food...
The shops are quite the same, I think for most of the time both shops have same stocks. Decide the place by what restaurants you want to go or what else you want to see :)
1. It's not technically rude to eat without alcoholic beverages in Izakaya. They offer various soft drinks for those who do not prefer alcoholic drinks and my friends and I often drink soft drinks, too, from the beginning or after drinking few alcoholic drinks. However, usually at least a person ...
Trying flea market? There are many flea markets in Tokyo on weekends.This one may help you:https://hubjapan.io/articles/10-best-flea-markets-in-tokyo-for-unique-bargain-shopping