CITIES

Tokyo: Tokyo is this incredible, buzzing city where the only direction is up. Skyscrapers are everywhere, and each floor hides its own little surprise—like a cozy cafe or a quirky shop you’d never expect to find on the 34th floor. It’s nonstop energy here, and finding a quiet moment to chill is like discovering a rare gem.

Osaka: Osaka was fun for a night, but honestly, if we could do it all over again, we might have skipped it. Conde Nast says it’s up-and-coming, and sure, it’s lively, but it didn’t leave a big mark on us.

Takamatsu: Takamatsu was such a cute little stop! The subway ride alone was worth it—the view of the sun setting over the bay was absolutely stunning. The town itself is simple but sweet, with a cozy izakaya and a quick mart that’s perfect for grabbing a local bite.

Art Islands: These islands—Naoshima, Teshima, and Inujima—are just magical. If you’re into art, you’ll be in heaven here. Staying at The Benesse House is the way to go if you can swing it. It’ll give you all the time you need to soak in everything these islands have to offer.

Kyoto: Kyoto is gorgeous and full of history, but wow, the crowds! It’s like the unofficial capital of waiting in lines. Still, it’s so worth it to see the temples and get a taste of Japan’s past—just be ready to share it with a lot of other people.

Fukuoka: Fukuoka totally stole our hearts, especially the natural salt store in Itoshima. The salted pudding there? Next level. And the views? Even better. It’s one of those places we’ll be talking about for years.

FOOD

Ramen. Our favorite place for ramen was Iruca Tokyo Roppongi. The blend of flavors mixed with the procini mushroom was so unique and absolutely delicious! 10/10 recommend. And while on the subject of ramen, Itchiran was pretty overrated, we honestly enjoyed our strip mall ramen better than the Itchiran we went to in Kyoto.

Yakatori: A delicious slew of meats and vegetables all sizzled to perfection. Best paired with a cold Sapporo beer (or two).

Soba: Soba noodles are delicious when eaten standing up at a cement block table with a glass of sake. I had a delicious herb butter and clam soba bowl and Coby had one with ground beef.

7-Eleven: Need I say more? The marts are the top attraction in Japan, from rice balls to smoothies to chicken cutlets and more. Lawsons and Family Mart are both wonderful stops too.

EXPERIENCES

Baseball Game. If you want to have the most fun with the most devoted fans, check out a baseball game in Japan.