2024 JAPAN TRAVEL: HOTELS, FOOD, TEA, SHOPPING TIPS AND PRICES
2024 JAPAN TRAVEL: HOTELS, FOOD, TEA, SHOPPING TIPS AND PRICES
(26/12/2023 - 7/1/2024)
My 10 day Japan trip was a package tour with a local Croatian travel agency and it included plane tickets, accommodation and transport costs in Japan. We followed the standard tourist route: Tokyo, Kamakura, Niko, Nara, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Miyajima. In the first 5 days we were based in Tokyo and from there made trips to Kamakura and Nikko, vibrant little places about an hour and an hour and a half, respectively, by train. If your trip is not part of a package holiday, my tip: buy your JR Pass as soon as possible and make good use of it! Once purchased it provides you with unlimited travel throughout the country and within the cities for a designated period of time. It is expensive, but well worth it! And, don't lose or misplace it because you have to pass it through the ticket machine every time you enter and exit the station.
TOKYO
Tokyo is usually your first stop when visiting Japan. In this 35 million people metropolis there are many accommodation options - from capsule to luxurious hotels. Since I am a mature woman, a capsule hotel isn't my first choice. I also don't care for expensive hotels and wouldn't spend too much money on them. So, the 3* hotels are usually a good choice for me. Fun fact, 3* hotels in Japan are better than many higher rated ones elsewhere. Why? Well, continue to read!
1)TOKYO HOTEL: Smile Hotel***
Smile Hotel is a chain of hotels all over Tokyo and the prices slightly vary depending on the location. Our hotel was in the Minato City district, not far from the city centre and a few minutes away from the metro and all 3 convenience stores (7/11, Lawson, Family Mart). We had free coffee and tea; free microwave oven and washer and dryer at a very reasonable price (3€). They also offer free amenities such as disposable razor blades, toothbrushes, hair brushes, bathrobe and slippers.
A lot for a 3* hotel!
OSAKA
With its 2.8 million inhabitants Osaka is the second largest city in Japan. It's only a 2.5 hour bullet train ride from Tokyo. Its bustling Dotonbory (the heart of Osaka) with its neon lights and futuristic vibe reminds very much of Tokyo and Shibuya. The next 5 days of our package tour we stayed in an Osaka hotel and from there made trips to Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshimaand Miyajima. Another great 3* hotel:
2) OSAKA HOTEL Hotel WBF Namba Hommachi 3*
The hotel was practically in the centre of the town (about 20 minutes walk to Dotonbori). Like the one in Tokyo, this hotel also has small, clean and highly functional rooms. It also offers free amenities like disposable razor blades, toothbrushes, slippers and pyjamas to fit an average Japanese person. The vending machine in its lobby has a variety of hot and cold beverages at very reasonable prices (120 - 180 ¥).
MUST TRY FOOD IN JAPAN:
1) TAKOYAKI (octopus dumplings in a pancake batter, local speciality in Osaka).
2) OKONOMIYAKI (white cabbage, pork belly and other vegetables on a pancake garnished with soy sauce, mayonnaise and ketchup) with a side dish of your choice (fried shrimps, oysters, eggs...)
3) KUSHIKATSU (beef and vegetable skewers with white cabbage, which is very popular in Japan) Osaka is famous for great wagyu beef.
4) GYOZA is a dish of pork, mushrooms and white cabbage dumplings with soy sauce.
5) RAMEN is one of the iconic Japanese dishes. Its basic ingredients are thick or thin soba noodles with pork, nori, spring onions and bamboo sprouts in rich meat broth.
6) TAMAGOYAKI (rolled omelette with the ingredients of your choice: ham, cheese, peas, carrots, daikon...); a very popular dish, with a little practice anybody can make it.
7) TAIYAKI (fish shaped pastry mostly with a sweet filling of adzuki bean paste, custard cream, yam, chocolate)
8) DANGO (rice flour dumplings in caramel sauce)
9) NATTO (fermented soy beans; often eaten for breakfast, sticky, slimy texture, tastes better than it looks, but even the Japanese are divided over it)
10) Fluffy Japanese cheesecake made to perfection
11) Mochi (glutinous rice cakes with adzuki bean paste filling)
12) Wagashi (very sweet, served with tea).
They love strawberries and matcha, so make sure you try anything strawberry or matcha.
THE ART OF DRINKING TEA
When visiting The Golden Pavilion in Kyoto for about 300 ¥ you can experience the atmosphere of a traditional teahouse where you can drink green tea and have a small cake with it. When entering the room you must take off your shoes (in Japan you don't wear shoes in the house!) and you sit on the floor. Then a lady brings in a tray with a cup of tea and a small cake and explains how to drink it: a bite of cake, followed by a drink of tea. You repeat it three times. Then she leaves you to enjoy your treat. Green tea tastes quite astringent and the biscuit is very sweet so they compliment each other well.
Tea ceremony in The Golden Pavilion in Kyoto
FOOD PRICES
IS IT EXPENSIVE TO EAT IN JAPAN? (100 € = 15.300 ¥ at the time of my visit)
Provided you don't go to some very expensive restaurants, most food is affordable. My tips:
a) STREET FOOD SHOPS: very popular, tasty food, quite cheap (in the range of 3 - 5 €)
Street food stands in Kyoto
b) RESTAURANTS (6 - 10 € )
c) SUPERMARKETS (7/11, Family Mart, Lawson) are all over Japan and most of them are open 24/7.They have a big choice of good quality, ready made meals at very affordable prices. They also have microwave ovens to use free of charge on the premises and often some tables and benches to eat your food there.
My 7/11 breakfast for 2.50 € (free coffee from the hotel); two prices, you pay the bigger one which includes tax
EXPENSIVE
Surprisingly, Japanese have a very poor choice of fruit and it very expensive. They love strawberries and other popular fruits are persimmons, apples and tangerines.
SHOPPING
Japan is a shopping paradise. For me shopping is a part of travel experience because the things I buy on some trips remind me of that place for a long time.
What to buy in Japan?
1) CLOTHES
Japanese brand Uniqlo is my favourite clothing brand. It's not for fashion conscious people or quirky individualists. The brand actually reflects the Japanese spirit and way of thinking - simple clothing in basic colours of a very good quality at affordable prices. I especially like their Heattech and Airism lines. There is a 5 floor Uniqlo store in Ginza worth visiting if that's your style. They also ship to Europe and they are definitely my go to brand.
https://www.uniqlo.com/eu/en/home
Muji and Go are even more budget friendly if you like Japanese minimalism.
2) KNIVES
Japanese knives are of excellent quality and usually forged in one piece. They are beautiful and have great cutting performances. You can buy simple everyday ones in department stores like Don Quijote for about 25 €. Some people from the group bought premium Japanese knives starting from 100 €.
3) WOODBLOCK PRINTS
It's a piece of Japanese art. In Asakusa there is a traditional shop that has been selling them for a couple of generations.
4)TRADITIONAL SOUVENIRS
Shopping for souvenirs is one of my favourite travel activities. In Japan you have a good choice of tasteful souvenirs like kokeshi dolls, nail clippers, tenugui, fans, small mirrors, pocket ashtrays, tea cups, trays, bowls and many more. You can find them in small shops in Nara, Kamakura, Nikko and Kyoto. In Tokyo there is a big DonQuijote store in Shinjuku and two big ones in Osaka, Donbori. You can also look for Daiso, Seria and Tokyo Hands.
5) EDIBLE SOUVENIRS
It's a safe choice for most people. From various sweets (KitKats, wagashi, Tokyo banana, mochi) to savoury rice toppings and dashi. There is also a big choice of various kinds of teas you can choose from. My tip: Beware of the expiration dates! They are usually shorter than in most other countries.
MY TIP:
TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY
On our last day in Tokyo we saw a model of an urban project which is due to be finished by 2025. It looks like something from a science fiction film. You bet the Japanese will finish it on time, if not earlier! So, my tip for those of you who intend to travel to Tokyo after 2025 - include it in your itinerary!
QUO VADIS FINAL THOUGHTS AND IMPRESSIONS
In the end I hope you enjoyed reading about this great country as much as I enjoyed discovering it. Some friends asked me what I liked most about Japan. No, not the toilets or their state-of- the art technology! Not even their temples and shrines or their sleek buildings. What impressed me most are its people. Gentle, kind, modest and considerate. People who care about others and are grateful for every little thing. People who are nice to live with!
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