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Trip Report

Japan Food Tour of Kyoto and Tokyo

8 day Japan itinerary wandering the cities and enjoying the culture of Tokyo and Kyoto.

christine
by christineAtlasGuru Contributor

AsiaJapan8 days / August 2019

Highs & Lows

Fresh sushi is never far!

Extreme heat made some activities pretty unbearable.

Itinerary Overview

We landed in Tokyo in the middle of August, in the middle of a big heat wave. We spent 4 days exploring the city, enjoying delicious fresh food, and visiting temples. Not nearly enough time to explore everything but we hit the main highlights! We then took a high-speed train to Kyoto - train travel in Japan is so easy - and spent another 4 days enjoying the unique vibe of Kyoto. In addition to all of the ramen we ate, we took a ramen-making class as well to learn how to make it back home. Since the heat was so extreme while we were there, we ended up doing several typical daytime activities after sunset when it was slightly cooler, which gave our trip a unique experience! My flight was back out of Tokyo, so we took the train all the way back to Tokyo to fly back home. Be sure to check out the views of Mount Fuji from the train!

  • 4 Nights: Tokyo
    Tourism
  • 4 Nights: Kyoto
    Tourism

Q & A

  • What would you have changed?

    We would have stayed at least a week in each city if we had more time! We felt a bit rushed.

  • Anything go wrong during the trip?

    We were there right in the middle of a heat wave. Just walking around the cities was exhausting and we were constantly looking for places with air conditioner to get some relief. We would definitely go back a different time of year next time!

  • What tips would you give a friend?

    if you can go for minimun 2 weeks

  • Transportation Tips?

    If you plan on taking multiple trains, consider buying a rail pass! They're not cheap, but it will save you money in the long run.

  • Any surprises?

    Sushi from 7/11 is surprisingly good! Actually, all food from 7/11 was good - it's a very different cuisine experience than the 7/11's we're used to back home.

  • Booking details?

    airbnb

Lodging

  • Hotel Mystays Premier Akasaka - very clean and modern, nice location.

  • Hotel Il Verde Kyoto - very modern and clean, nice location.