Japan Guide

There’s something transformative about travelling - being able to experience different corners of the world, to absorb the culture, the beauty, and the feeling of a place that’s completely new.

You fall in love with the way this new place makes you feel.

And then you leave, collecting these almost-attachments to places you may never return to.

Not quite heartbreak, but something close to it.

That’s what it felt like leaving Japan.

I got home three weeks ago now, and the lovely people in my life have all been asking how the trip was. I always enjoy that part - getting to relive it through telling the stories back.

So while this isn’t a perfectly curated itinerary, these are the highlights from the three cities we visited: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.

We started and ended our trip in Tokyo, which meant we experienced two very different sides of the city.

At the beginning, we stayed in Shinjuku, which we quickly realised is also Tokyo’s red-light and entertainment district. An unexpected, chaotic experience. I’m glad we saw it, but it’s definitely a full-on introduction to the city.

On the way back, we stayed in Asakusa - and it couldn’t have felt more different.

Slower, more traditional, centred around the Sensō-ji, Tokyo’s oldest and most famous temple. It felt like a completely different version of the same city.

Our accommodation was 100% a contributing factor to this though.

Our first hotel was convenient and very Western. But in Asakusa, we stayed in a ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn), and it changed the experience entirely.

You take your shoes off at the entrance and stay barefoot (or in socks) throughout. The floors are tatami mats, the lighting is soft and calm, almost spa-like. And the main draw: the onsen. A natural hot spring bath, on-site. It’s hard to explain, but the experience feels oddly freeing. Completely stripped back: no clothes (or swimsuits), no phones, no noise, no distractions. Just sitting in this dark mineral water, in silence.

A very welcome contrast to the pace of Tokyo.

Some of my favourite things we did in Tokyo:

Shopping highlights:

Food:

We quickly gave up on viral TikTok spots. I’m not queueing an hour for ramen.

Google Maps became our best friend. Search nearby, check ratings, go with what you feel like. Some of our best meals came from doing exactly that.

Kyoto felt like a shift in pace from the moment we arrived.

After the intensity of Tokyo, everything here felt slower, more traditional, and a little more considered, at least in the areas we stayed in.

This is also where we had our first ryokan experience, which set the tone for the entire stay.

Kyoto is the place for temples, tradition, and a slower rhythm… in theory. In reality, it can get busy, so timing matters.

If you have more time:

Kyoto is one of those places where you have to be a bit strategic, early mornings or later in the day make all the difference.

We didn’t spend much time in Osaka and didn’t have a packed itinerary. One night is really enough, and I’d say it’s definitely busier than Kyoto. The food scene here is fantastic. This time, we took a tip from our hotel and headed to a local katsu spot, where we were the only foreigners, and it showed. The food was incredible, though honestly, I don’t think we had a single disappointing meal on the whole trip!

Some highlights:

If I went back, I’d spend more time here just to eat.

Travelling to a new country is all about the little moments - the food you devour, the streets you wander, and the culture you dive into.

Japan gave us plenty of all of that, and even weeks later, I’m already plotting my return.

I hope this snapshot of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka gives you some travel inspo, or at least a mini escape for a few minutes.

Until next Sunday,

Tahlia

You can also find me on Instagram and TikTok for everyday living and thoughtful adventures.