Kyoto is a beautiful city, ideally you should spend a week here. Even then you still would not scratch the surface and see all the wonderful temples and things to do. Many people have unique circumstances, you may be part of a larger group, or stopping over at Kyoto during a more comprehensive visit of Japan.

Whatever your reason for spending only one day in Kyoto, I will give you the highlights and try to present you with a good feel of the city. My goal is to minimize walking by keeping attractions as close as possible. Kyoto is not that small, but it is a lot smaller than Tokyo if that helps. Below is how I would spend 1 day in Kyoto as a first-time visitor. First, let me put you in a hotel that I loved, which is also centrally located. As a side I put a rough list together towards the end of this post, so you can avoid reading too much!

My Hotel Recommendation

Let me quickly give you my hotel recommendation and why I believe this is a good spot for your one day in Kyoto. I will assume you will get in extremely late and leave, incredibly early in the morning two days afterword (giving you only 1 day in Kyoto to site see). Although your hotel may be different or your budget may not have room for it, I can recommend the following hotel just in case. I loved the Villa Sanjo Muromach, it was an amazing experience.

The service was excellent, the room was immaculate, it was really a perfect stay. They do not have a ton of amenities such as a bar or restaurant, but since you are only in Kyoto for one day it does not matter much. The biggest benefit to this hotel is that it is centrally located. You can walk to many (but not all) of the things I am about to mention, The Villa Sanjo Muromach is a great stay, if you decide to go another direction pick your location carefully.

Nijo Castle

Forget the concept of any real breakfast. If you are hungry in the morning and are staying at the hotel recommended, then please stop at Fiveran to get something to eat. I loved this little bakery, which is right outside the Villa Sanjo Muromach. Your first stop you will be running (or taking a taxi) to Nijo castle. The castle opens at 8:45, you want to get there as quickly as possible since you only have one day in Kyoto. Quick note, it is closed on Tuesdays, also check the schedule online for all my recommendations, things change quickly especially these days.

I liked Nijo castle, it was full of history and beautiful. Having said this, I would not spend more than an hour here. This is kind of a check the box place that is close to the hotel. In fact, it is only around a 15-minute walk from the hotel mentioned earlier. You can get lost on the grounds and spend the morning there, but with limited time I would not. We were there for three hours; I would recommend less given your time restraints. I hate to rush you, but you did this to yourself! Outside the front of Nijo castle are taxis waiting to take you to your next destination.

Arashiyama

Have the taxi take you to Arashiyama, another part of Kyoto that I loved. It is a bit out of the way, you should be able to get there in about 20 minutes via taxi. This area on a whole has a lot to offer and you can easily spend the day exploring this section of Kyoto. There are temples and bridges to discover, but you only have one day in Kyoto…so none of that! There are two attractions that I recommend before moving on.

Monkey Park Iwatayama

Your first stop should be Monkey Park Iwatayama, the place where you are in cages and the monkeys roam free. I loved this park, although it is a bit creepy walking next to about 100 monkeys, but you get used to it and the guards keep you relatively safe.

I hesitated to put this on the list, only because the walk up there can be daunting. It took around 20-minutes or so to get up there, but for me it was well worth it. Once at the top you are surrounded by monkeys you can feed them through the cage. These kind of things would never fly in America, but somehow the Japanese make it work.

The cost of Monkey Park Iwatayama is 550 yen a person. This translates to about $5 a person, give, or take. Pay a little more at the top for some apples to feed the animals. A very inexpensive way to spend the first part of your day. Just realize you will be doing a lot of walking so wear good shoes! Also, do not bring food up there, they may gang up on you.

Bamboo Groves

I feel like this is one of those must have Instagram pictures in Kyoto. No self-respecting millennial should leave Kyoto without one. Not too far from the exit of Monkey Park, you will find the Bamboo groves. It is exactly what it sounds like, a maze of Bamboo with a temple sprinkled here and there. I found this walk to be very relaxing and worth my time. You may need to keep it moving since you only have one day in Kyoto, but it is well worth the visit. The best part about the bamboo groves is that they are free, just try not to get lost.

It may be time to get the heck out of there, luckily there are a ton of taxis around. If you are feeling extremely ambitious sit down for lunch at Yudofu Sagano, one of the most peaceful and surreal eating experiences. I wrote about it more in my article on what to eat in Kyoto here. It may be hard to find even with GPS, but it is within walking distance of the two sites mentioned. Warning, it is only a Tofu restaurant, but It will balance out the mountains of beef I will recommend later. I am no vegan, but I loved this eating experience. For those who want to skip this and even those who do not, I will lead you to another place to get a quick bite.

Nishiki Market

Have the taxi take you back to the hotel…it is time to hit the streets walking. I find the best way to see a city is march the area. You can also save time and have the cab drop you off directly in front of your destination. About a 15-minute walk from the hotel is the Nishiki market. Basically, it is a long stretch of food venders of varying quality, with different items to try. I always love to go to food markets around the world, the Nishiki market was very good. Maybe not my favorite market in the world, but worth visiting in your 1 day in Kyoto.

Going to this market serves two purposes. First, if you have not eaten yet, you can certainly fill up quickly and cheaply on a variety of Japanese foods. I especially liked the guy selling A-4 wagyu beef at the end of the market. Secondly, it is on the way to your next attractions, some of the many temples of Kyoto. Temples are all over the place in Kyoto, but I will send you in the direction to some of my favorites. A quick note: Japanese culture does not allow for one to walk and eat, you must stand in front of the establishment you are buying the food from (or sit there). This may slow you down a bit, so eat faster!

Temple Hopping

You are in Kyoto, so you need to see your fill of temples. The below is definitely NOT an all-inclusive list. I kept everything somewhat close so you can walk from one place to the next. This gives you the bonus of getting a feel for Kyoto by walking it.

Yasaka Shrine

About a 20-minute walk from the Nishiki market is the Yasaka shrine. This may be your first of many temples in Kyoto. Hopefully, it is around 2-3PM and you have some time to explore this area. I did a combination of wandering and loosely planning when it came to temples in this area. The Yasaka shrine is a good starting point, the area is impressive, and you will get a good feel for what to expect. Located in Gion, I preferred it at night, but you only have a day in Kyoto so beggars cannot be choosers. From here you could make your way to the Chion-in Temple. All of this can be done via your cell phone GPS.

Chion-in Temple

This is where the temples start to really get impressive. This Buddhist temple features a Sanmon gate, an important item in Japanese Zen Buddhist temples. This area is big I know, and you have been walking all day, but trust me keep going. You can rest on the train tomorrow. It is possible to explore the temple complexes for hours but run through this one, stopping when you feel the need to take a selfie. Time is of the essence.

Kiyomizu Temple

A 20-minute walk from the Chion-in Temple is the Kiyomizu Temple, this may have been my favorite. This temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is up there with one of the best temples in all of Japan. If time is pressing, I would skip all other temples and see this one. The grounds are huge and there is a museum inside so carve off some significate time for this one.

From here if time allows just walk around and you will find multiple sites to see. You may be tired of temples after a couple of hours, but you have one day in Kyoto, this is what you do! After you can walk no more, grab a cab, and go back to the hotel and freshen up, it should be dinner time.

Dinner: What’s Matsusaka Beef

You have been eating nothing but tofu, pastries, and the occasional snack from the market, you are most likely pretty hungry at this point. This is what happens when you only have one day in Kyoto. Good thing there is an amazing Japanese steak house about 5-minutes from your hotel (if you followed my advice).

For those who have not had the famous Japanese A-5 beef you have no idea what you are missing. Bring your wallet and a few extra credit cards, this steak can get expensive. For me it is worth every penny, there will never be a trip to Japan without me gorging on steak. This establishment serves up Matsusaka beef, one of the big three in Japan (you know about Kobe, the other is Omi Beef). Do not leave Japan without trying at least one of these, your 1-day in Kyoto is a perfect excuse to do so. Do not let the English name of the restaurant fool you, this place stands out as one of the best.

Pontocho alley

Let us end the night with a stroll down Pontocho alley. Sitting on the Kamogawa River this is about a 15-20- minute walk from end to end. On the sides of both are restaurants and bars, it is a good place to wind down your day. Most business are open until 11 PM, they are accessible via the alley and run up against the river. Below are a couple of places I liked here.

Kappa Sushi Kyoto

I mentioned this in my previous post on Kyoto food here, but it bears repeating. If you decided to skip the beef, and want something lighter, Kappa sushi is a good choice. They have some of the best Sushi in Kyoto and a great view of the river if you sit outside. The only downside is it is a bit more expensive than other places given its location.

Bar Atlantis

This is where I wrapped up most of my nights, so it makes sense that you should as well. I loved just drinking a expensive yet beautiful Japanese whiskey by the water. Once again you get a great view of the river, it is a nice way to wrap up 1-day in Kyoto. As a side, if you are lucky you may see a Geisha or two in the building next door.

Besides walking in the alley, you can walk alongside the river or even whip out a blanket and relax on shore. Kyoto is supposed to be a bit more calm than Tokyo, but you just had to stack three days into one. Use these last few hours to enjoy the atmosphere of this wonderful city.

Two Notable Places I Left Off

The below are two famous temples, which I kept strategically off because you only have one day in Kyoto.

Fushimi Inari Taisha: I loved this temple, but it is somewhat out of the way. If you had more than 1-day in Kyoto I would highly recommend it. I just like to keep things close together. It also takes a lot of time to see, especially if go you all the way to the top. After climbing to see the monkeys, your energy may suffer as well.

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion): This Zen temple is beautiful, located on the northerner part of the city. It costs about 400 yen, the only reason I am saying to skip it is like Fushimi Inari, it is a bit out of the way. If you choose a hotel closer to the Golden Pavilion, see it for sure.

These are two major attractions in Kyoto that I think one should miss, only because I am trying to maximize your time. Taking a drive that would eat up an hour round-trip might not be the best way to spend your only day. All of this depends on where you stay and your priorities.

A Quick Reference Guide

Let me end this with a quick guide, rendering the rest of this post obsolete…

The above is just a very loose itinerary for your one day in Kyoto, you may want to slow it down or speed it up…again it is up to you.

Conclusion One Day in Kyoto

This is my (rather aggressive) itinerary for one day in Kyoto. Clearly one day is not always enough, but sometimes this is all we have. If you can get to everything on this list, you could get a good feel for the city. If you cannot there is always next visit, Japan is not going anywhere.

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Is Japan worth Visiting? This is a loaded question. For me, the answer is a resounding yes. I love the strangeness, respect, food and really everything about Japan. If you are seasoned traveler and want to get out of your comfort zone, but still be safe, Japan is certainly worth visiting.

I say there are questions one needs to ask, because what might be worth it for some people, might not be worth it for others. Let me break down the costs and time of going to Japan. You judge if Japan is worth visiting for yourself

Cost/Hassel of Visiting Japan

I won’t go into a big break down of the cost of visiting Japan, I wrote a whole post on this topic here, in my article entitled The Cost of Traveling to Japan, hit the link for more details. To give you a spoiler from that post, the entire trip was about $6000 for two people soup to nuts…, you can check out my breakdown on the link provided. From my experience this is about two thousand more (at least) than traveling to a reasonable European destination. This coming from America, my Australian readers will have a different experience.

The point is the cost is more for Japan than most trips. Add to this the fact that Asia is far, I mean really far. If you are visiting, you are not going for a weekend or even a week. Traveling to Japan is a time commitment, it can be a 20+ hour total commute. That is a lot more than some can handle. So, is Japan worth visiting? Answer the below questions…

Are You a Seasoned Traveler or New to International Travel?

Look, let me be upfront, Japan is strange. Any time you visit a new country there is a bit of a culture shock. Hell, even the first time I went to Canada I was taken back. Japan is like driving a Lamborghini down the autobaud during your drivers ED class. Do not get me wrong, safety is never a concern in Japan. It is just a culture shock more than most other foreign countries.

A new traveler sometimes needs to be eased into seeing the world. Maybe start with an Ireland or Mexico and take it from there. I wouldn’t want to scare a would-be world traveler out of exploring the planet, by bringing them to a restaurant that served raw horse heart (a literal thing in Japan). Who am I to judge though? I went to Thailand for my first trip out of the country in 20 years, by myself (read about it here). Still, maybe ease yourself into Asia on a whole if you are new to travel.

On the other hand, a seasoned traveler may get bored of the beautiful calamari and olive oil of Europe and want to get that feeling of adventure they had when they first traveled internationally. In that case, Japan is worth visiting. Traveling for me is a rush at times, I love new experiences, one of the many reasons I love Japan. If you have been traveling for a while, you may need to ask yourself, is it time for something different?

Are You Looking to Relax?

I would not call Tokyo relaxing by any stretch of the imagination. Kyoto was a bit more comfortable, but nothing like roaming the streets of Italy or the beautiful coastline of Santorini. You can read about my comparison of the two Japanese cities here. Japan on a whole is a lot of hustle and bustle. Tokyo especially is crowded and almost manic at times. The lights of Shinjuku and the buzz of the city can be overwhelming. If your idea of a vacation is moving from one pool to the next, maybe Japan is not for you.

I have not even mentioned the trip over there. Going to Tokyo, your energy levels will be depleted just from the long flight and train ride. Imagine sitting next to some well-nourished gentlemen in a middle seat for 20 hours. Dealing with multiple layovers etc. Then navigating a new train system to get you from the airport to the area your hotel is in. Finally, flagging down a cab, praying he speaks enough English to get you to your destination. We almost got kicked out of a taxi because he couldn’t understand us. You may need to snort 5 B-vitamin shots just to have enough energy to finish the day.

On the other hand, if you love adventure, then I believe Japan has a lot to offer. The food itself is completely different, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. There is so much to do in Japan, even if one just sticks to Tokyo or Kyoto. You can be moving nonstop. Temples, nightlife, monkeys, Japan is a ball of energy. There are also a ton of other cities one can visit from Osaka to Kobe…never a dull moment. Some love that, others may not. Is Japan worth visiting? Depends on what you want from a trip.

How are Your Resources?

By resources I do not just mean cash. I touched upon the cost earlier, but it bears repeating that Japan is more expensive for those of us that live in America than visiting Europe. You may like Japan more than Greece, but will you like it 50% more to make it worth the cost? Will you like it more than possibly two different trips? I am assuming in these scenarios that you are working with a finite amount of resources. Doing a cost comparison can help you maximize your world travel.

We in America also have to worry about time off from our jobs. Most don’t get a month off to see the world like so many in Europe. Going to Japan make take a years’ worth of your PTO, whereas you may be able to take two or three trips going to closer destinations. You are really going to need at least 10 days after taking into consideration flight time and rest after travels. Strangely, we got back earlier than we left due to the time difference, but getting there will eat up a couple of days.

If you are a master budgeter and PTO wizard like me, you can make a good argument for going to Japan. Different companies do give good time off, in which you can afford to splurge a little on your vacation. Everyone is in a different circumstance and has different priorities, you can make Japan happen if it is important to you. Just know it will most likely cost more time and money than other international trips.

What Interests You?

I loved my time in Japan, but each person must look at their own interests and decide for themselves. Some people love old churches and Mediterranean food. Others like to gamble or sit by a beach. Given the investment in Japan you need to take an even harder look as to what you like and do not like.

I understand why there is such a split view on Japan, it is not for everyone. I am the type of person that thrives on novelty, it is what made me love Japan. You may want something more familiar, which is fine as well. To each his own. To answer the question is Japan worth visiting, you need to love great food, history, and culture. Yet these will all most likely be different from what you are used to. Japan is a whirlwind of fun, just know what you are getting into.

Conclusion: Is Japan worth visiting?

For me yes, the juice is worth the squeeze. Ask yourself the questions above and you should be able to find out if Japan is worth visiting for you. If you say yes and Japan lines up with your idea of fun, you are in for a treat. The food, the culture it is like no place else in the world. Japan is worth visiting for me, I hope you feel the same way about this wonderful country if you decide to take your trip.

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When deciding whether to allocate more time in Tokyo or Kyoto, you need to look at your travel style and interests. For me (spoiler alert) when I visit Japan again, I will spend more time in Kyoto. This is because the city fits my personality more. Both have so much to offer but are very different in feel and look. Each has its charm, and both have a place in my heart. So, when choosing whether to spend more time in Tokyo or Kyoto it will help to look at the below characteristics.

Round #1 Things to Do: Tokyo or Kyoto

I will start by saying both places probably have more things to do than one can get to on any normal trip. Which city, Tokyo or Kyoto, has more things to keep you busy depends on what kind of traveler you are. If you want energy, shopping, nightlife, and an abundance of bars and small food alleys…Tokyo is your place.

Now if you are more laid back and want to see temples, parks, monkey’s, bamboo forests and love the possibility of being attacked by a boar, Kyoto is the winner. As I wrote here, I had some of my best days in Kyoto. Just walking the streets or strolling Pontocho Alley is my idea of a vacation. You will just stumble on multiple temples and can get lost in the environment in a way I would not want to in Tokyo. I certainly wouldn’t call walking the streets of Tokyo, relaxing by any stretch of the imagination.

Now if you are into nightlife, Tokyo is far superior to Kyoto. It felt like Tokyo at night never stopped. The glaring lights of Shinjuku made me feel as if I was in a thousand Times Squares, only enjoyable. As mentioned, shopping in Tokyo is plentiful, head over to Ginza to buy items at double the cost of what it would be at home!

Deciding between Kyoto or Tokyo in terms of activities really depends on what you want to do or who you are with. For a couple or a more laid-back person go to Kyoto. If you are a group of party maniacs or a single man (looking to mingle) Tokyo for sure. In pure volume of things to do I will give the edge to Tokyo, due to its size.

So, when deciding between Tokyo and Kyoto it is a bit difficult to choose.

Round One Things to do in Tokyo or Kyoto: Tokyo by a hair…

Round #2 Kyoto or Tokyo: Food

I had some of my best meals in Kyoto. I went into great lengths about it in this post here… Great Sushi, outstanding steak, It is the land of a thousand belly rolls. On the other hand Tokyo must be the land of ten thousand double chins because the food is outstanding as well.

The sheer amount of food in Tokyo is what makes it so good. The city is huge and for some reason there is a restaurant in every other store. There was also food at any time of night, I proved this when eating Ramen at 3:45 AM in Ichiran. You can go to the Tsukiji Market at the crack of dawn and have Sushi that was yanked from its family minutes earlier. Any type of Japanese food you want, along with other food, can be found in abundance in Tokyo.

In terms of little food alley ways, yes Kyoto has Pontocho Alley, but compared to “Memory Lane” and other areas, the variation and uniqueness just is not there. Both Kyoto and Tokyo have food markets, I would say I loved both equally.

The one trap is that not every place is great, but that is with most cities. Our last night we tried to get one last blow out steak meal, but I f*cked up and we didn’t get to Ginza. We ended up with an OK meal. Two lessons, 1. makes sure your last meal in any place is amazing (do your research), 2. Listen to your wife, she tried to get me to go to Ginza but I was SURE we could find something closer. Unfortunately, everything on our side of town had a 3-hour wait.

I loved the food tremendously in both cities, but if I had to choose between Tokyo and Kyoto, Tokyo wins

Round 2 Food Tokyo or Kyoto: Tokyo

Round Three Tokyo or Kyoto: Vibe/Atmosphere

Again, this is a personal choice…are you a person who thrives on chaos or do you want a more relaxing environment. The size and population of Tokyo vs. Kyoto made this one an easy decision. I feel the overall vibe of Kyoto is vastly superior to that of Tokyo for many reasons.

First Kyoto is much more walk-able than Tokyo. Do not get me wrong there are plenty of sidewalks in Tokyo, but they are filled with plenty of people. To make matters worse Tokyo feels as if it is a number of different cities. Walking from Shinjuku to Ginza takes hours (which we did).

Kyoto just felt more compact, yes, the city is still big, we did try walking to the monkey park from our hotel and had to give up. Still everything felt like a pleasant stroll in Kyoto, not the mad rush of Tokyo.

The number of temples and lack of billboards with giant lights made Kyoto stand out for me. There are beautiful parks in Tokyo, but I can never shake that manic feeling I got from the city. Kyoto on the other hand was much more peaceful. There were times we did not see another sole around us as we strolled a temple. Don’t get me wrong, Kyoto had its share of crowds. It is just that in Tokyo those crowds never stop, in Kyoto you get some peace.

Tokyo is a hard city, much like New York, Kyoto allowed me to take more serenity in.

Round Three More Time in Tokyo or Kyoto Vibe: Kyoto

Round Four Kyoto or Tokyo: History

If you are a history buff and want to spend your days exploring beautiful temples instead of city streets, then the question of where you should spend more time in Tokyo or Kyoto is easily answered. Kyoto is not only older than Tokyo but is also much more well preserved. The number of grand temples and older buildings dwarfs that of Tokyo, which has a primarily modern look.

Kyoto was established as the capital in 794, this lasted until 1868 when the capital was moved to Tokyo (Formally EDO). The city kept much of its old-world charm for two reasons. First, in 1923 the Great Kantō earthquake destroyed much of Tokyo, including many of the temples and historical sites.

19 years later the Doolittle raid, began more destruction of Tokyo. World War II spared Kyoto of much of the damage that Tokyo underwent. These two events helped transform Tokyo into a more modern city. “Interesting” fact, Kyoto was one of the original targets of the atomic bomb, but was saved by Henry L. Stimson, who loved the city.

This lucky outcome resulted in a well-preserved city with beautifully, ancient temples. It is said there are over 2000 total temples in the city. Many of the best sites were in walking distance from our hotel. I can’t say the same for you, I am not sure where you are staying, but I will assume there will be at least one massive temple close by. I spoke more about the temples in Kyoto in this post here

More Time in Tokyo or Kyoto for History lovers? Clear answer: Kyoto

Tokyo or Kyoto Expense

If money is a factor in which city to spend more time in Tokyo or Kyoto, this too is very straight forward. I will keep airfare out of this, I believe there will be little difference flying into either of these cities from the United States.

In general Kyoto is about 30% less expensive than Tokyo. This is factoring in food, drinks, and hotels. I put together a more in-depth post about how much you can expect to spend in Japan. This is only part of the story in my opinion, because almost all the things to do in Kyoto are free. There are endless Temples to explore and I really do not think we spent much on any of them.

Most things to do in Tokyo involved reaching into one’s pocket. Whether it is enjoying Tokyo’s nightlife or shopping during the day you will be spending money. It didn’t feel as if there were as many grand (free) temples in Tokyo, certainly not as plentiful as Kyoto. Even parks like Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden had a cost, although well worth it.

In the end, if money is a factor in whether you will be spending more time in Tokyo or Kyoto…Kyoto wins here as well. Round 5: Kyoto

Clearly for me Kyoto is where I am going to spend the bulk of my time when I go back. I loved the city…The calmness of the streets was a great relief from that of the fast pace of Tokyo. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Tokyo, it is just that Kyoto edged it out. You might have a different opinion, take a look at the chart below to help you decide between Kyoto and Tokyo.

Winner (For Me): Kyoto….

More Time in Tokyo or Kyoto?

Conclusion

As you can see deciding whether to spend more time in Kyoto or Tokyo is a personal choice. I like to relax a bit more, so the bulk of my time is well spent in Kyoto. Either way you will not go wrong, whether you spend more time in Tokyo or Kyoto, or split your time equally, you will have a great trip.

The post Should I Spend More Time in Tokyo or Kyoto? appeared first on Man in Flight.

We really enjoyed the specialty dishes that distinguish Kyoto from the mainstream, like matcha green tea (in its many forms). The city might not be known for its food in the way Osaka and Tokyo are highlighted, but when compared to these other cities, what it lacks in volume, the city makes up for in quality. I was hard pressed to have a bad meal in this city. Moreover, I didn’t use Trip Advisor to find any of these places (I did use Google reviews on a few..). When Trip Advisor says the best restaurant in Kyoto is a pizza place, I engage my own wit and resources…

What to Eat in Kyoto: The Nishiki Market

Let’s start with snacking and then we will get to the bigger meals … A good way to test any cultural food scene is by sampling their local food market. In Kyoto this is the Nishiki Market, before I give you recommendations as to where the best food in the market is located; I will give you a few pro – tips and rules.

As I mentioned in my last post, not everything is appealing in this market. It takes some work to differentiate the bad from the good.

Things to Look For

Tip #1: Look for a Microwave – I had the worst bite of my trip in this market. I ordered a beautiful (or so I thought) piece of fish while strolling, upon collecting my money, the worker popped the fish into the microwave. I should have walked away right then and there. As I bit down, I realized my mistake. I would rather eat a piece of chewed up gum out of a Penn Station urinal than eat that again. If they are using microwaves, then keep walking…

Tip #2 Lines are a good thing – A huge crowd around a stall in the market means high turnover. High turnover helps you avoid seafood that has been baked/ and or refrozen for days at a time, use a line as your guide.

Tip #3 Notice the Placement of the Food (daily) – If someone is hustling to get you to order something at closing time, then the next day the food is laid out exactly the same way, it is trouble. I saw sparrow on a skewer for sale that didn’t move in the week I was there. YUM! I can taste that tape worm now!

Finally, the market gets extremely crowded…add to this, you can’t walk and eat. There are 100 different people trying to offer you food, yet you have to stand in front of their shop whilst eating. Inconvenient, but it is what it is…

Best Spots in the Nishiki Market

Now that I have the rules out of the way, where should you eat? Here is where it gets unfortunate. I can’t remember the names of any of the places in the market. That is not to say I can’t direct you to them, I just couldn’t name them.

A-4 Wagyu Skewers

As promised, I will guide you to the food. The Nishiki Market is for the most part, a long straight path. At the end of this path (or beginning) you will come across a gentleman cooking up skewers of A-4 Wagyu beef (with Sam Cooke playing in the background, depending on the time of day). There is a huge difference between A-4 & A-5 (the best), and yet, these are highly recommended. There is a lot to like about these skewers. First, he is cooking them fresh. Second, they still taste better than most steak places in the US. Finally, they are pretty inexpensive. You can take them inside their small store, maybe order a nice cocktail and enjoy your quality snack while looking at where to eat next…

The Shrimp Guy

They say a picture is worth a 1000 words, so take a look above. About halfway through the market, you will notice what appears to be a small gathering around one particular vendor. This place is serving up some very tasty shrimp, and it is being replenished quickly. This is another great place to grab a quick bite. The shrimp was a little chewy, but the flavor was good, and the price was right.

Kyoto Sushi: Where to Find (some of the) Best Sushi in Kyoto

When one thinks of what to eat in Kyoto, sushi comes to mind. I didn’t try all the Kyoto sushi in the city, but there are a couple of places I can vouch for… My first recommendation is a place I found on a whim. I just googled best Kyoto Sushi around my hotel (the Villa Sanjo Muromachi); five minutes later on foot I came across the below family owned establishment.

Isami Sushi

We walked in and there wasn’t a soul other than a very old man (possibly a ghost?) and what appeared to be his son. To get an idea of how small this place is, 5 other people walked in and sat down, and the place was 100% full.

The owners really took pride in what they presented, I loved every piece of my plate. Full disclosure, my wife was less than thrilled with her dish, but I chalked that up to a misplaced order.

I will give you the website, but unless you speak Japanese it will probably be useless to you. Go ahead hit the attached link r.goope.jp , you will understand around three words. It is a testament to the authenticity of this family owned establishment. Go to Isami Sushi and enjoy the closest thing you may get to a home cooked sushi experience.

Kappa Sushi Kyoto

Kappa was one of our favorite restaurants in Kyoto. Conveniently located on Pontocho Alley, it is one of those places I wished were closer to my house.

Given that this area is a great way to end the night, it is handy that it is right in the alley. The setting was open and inviting, with a huge sushi bar, (much bigger than that of Isami)

The restaurant also has the added benefit of having an outdoor deck overlooking the Kamo river on Pontocho Alley. I didn’t sit out there, but it looked great. The staff is personable and attentive, and the prices are reasonable (although higher than Isami).

The sushi itself, what can I say, but excellent? Maybe it is just that the sushi in Japan is superior, but I didn’t have a bad bite. It tasted so fresh, that I am sure tuna’s parents didn’t even know that they were missing. Pro Tip: get the tuna belly, here and in all sushi restaurants in Japan…

Best Restaurants in Kyoto for Beef

We went to a number of establishments that served steak in Kyoto, there were two standouts; this does not including the A-4 Wagyu beef place in the market, that is a different animal. Well same animal, different type of restaurant.

If you never had A-5 Wagyu beef in Kyoto before, get on a plane to Japan tonight! OK, maybe that isn’t possible, I still dream of the steak in Japan. People in America say, “I’ve had Wagyu before”…chances are you haven’t (most of it is fake). So to recap, if you are trying to decide on what to eat in Kyoto…think steak!

What’s Matsusaka Beef

Ignore the fact that this is in English…the food here was so good it could make even the most LIBERAL vegan convert. First, you are escorted to a quiet, private room, with your own grill; the service only builds the anticipation for the actual meal…we went to a number of these of steak restaurants while in Japan, but this Kyoto restaurant did it the best..

For some background, Matsusaka beef is one of the “big three” in terms of prime steaks in Japan. All of the meat is Wagyu, the Matasusaka, Ohmi and the well-known Kobe are the best regions for steak. Kobe is the most popular here in the US, because we need something shiny to focus on. In my opinion, all three were equally fantastic.

The meat is not cheap, but the steak literally melts in your mouth. Wagyu beef has so much marbling that it is bursting with flavor. What’s Matsusaka Beef served us my favorite steak dish. It took a long time to eat steak again after this experience. From what I tried, What’s Matsusaka Beef is one of the best Kyoto restaurants.

If you want to try Ohmi beef and are on Pontocho Alley there is a place that I also found to be good. I can’t seem to dig up the name, but it is at the end of the alley not far from Kappa Sushi. The sign reads Ohmi beef so you should run into it.

Recommended for Ramen in Kyoto

Ichiran

We were about to go to Menbaka Fire Ramen, but all the reviews raved about the show and not the food. Really, there is one spot for ramen in Japan that rises above the rest. It always comes back to that quiet cubicle and the creepy music of Ichiran. I think it is one of the best restaurants in Kyoto.

Maybe it is just my 3 am nostalgia or maybe it is how customized this ramen is, I just can’t stop thinking about it. There are Michelin Star ramen places all over Japan, give me Ichiran any day and I am a happy camper

Other Great Places to Eat in Kyoto

Yudofu Sagano

When thinking about what to eat in Kyoto, vegan might not be your first thought. I placed this under the heading of “other,” but it is in fact a tofu restaurant. Tucked away in the Arashiyama neighborhood of Kyoto, you will find what is quietly one of the best restaurants in Kyoto. Call this the anti-What’s Matsusaka Beef, I don’t believe there was a piece of animal on the table.

The atmosphere starts you off right, the place is hard to find, and it feels as if it is in a residential neighborhood. It is quiet, from beginning to end. As you make your way through the garden, you find yourself in a waiting room that looks like a hotel andyou feel the stress melt off of you. You are then escorted to your table, which for us, had no chairs…

Served to you Kaiseki style, where you are given many small courses, the flavors were some of the best I had. The dishes were all light, but plentiful. The tastes of the various Tofu dishes were amazing, Yudofu Sagano is one of those rare experiences, hard to duplicate in Japan. Definitely, one of the best restaurants in Kyoto we visited and a rare treat. Who knew one of the answers to the question as to what to eat in Kyoto would be Tofu

Fiveran

I need to at least mention Fiveran, a small bakery right outside our hotel in Kyoto. Maybe not necessarily one of the best Restaurants in Kyoto, it is still great. The place is definitely more of a hit with locals than tourists and it was my go to spot for a quick breakfast.

Everything was extremely fresh, a lot of times it was a mystery as to what I was actually going to find in the center of my pastry, but that was half the fun. It is always a surprise to find meat at the center of a pastry.

If you are near the Villa Sanjo Hotel and are looking for a quick snack give Fiveran a try. It may not qualify as one of the best restaurants in Kyoto, but it is a great place to grab a snack.

What to Eat in Kyoto: Other Snacks

When deciding what to eat in Kyoto, you made need a snack to kill time between meals.

There are a number of items I recommend getting at every opportunity. The Nishiki Market is a perfect place to try many of these items, but there are also a lot of stalls outside the various Kyoto attractions. Here are some of the things we enjoyed:

Matcha: Green tea is all over Japan, and it is especially good in Kyoto. Try it at the Nishiki Market in one of its many forms. I recommend Matcha ice cream, personally I couldn’t get enough.

Shaved Ice: We found this at the Nijo Castle, but it was plentiful as well. They add various flavors to the the ice, it is delicious. We ordered the Matcha and the Mango, both delicious. It felt like they took forever to eat but are a good way to cool down.

Some more small things to eat in Kyoto..

TAKOYAKI: Octopus balls…get your mind out of the gutter, these are balls of dough stuffed with octopus, green onions etc. They are covered with a sweet sauce. These weren’t my favorite, to be good they needed to be extremely hot. Killing taste buds for an octopus ball is not my cup of tea…

Taiyaki: This I did like, loved actually. These are little fish shaped cookies with red bean paste or sweet potato shoved in it. On my 20-minute walk from my hotel, the Villa Sanjo Muromachto to the Ponotcho Alley there was a stand that sold these until about midnight. I never failed to stop. The paste inside was hot as well, but in more of a melt in your mouth way.

7-Eleven: When all else fails and it is late, make your way to 7-Eleven and raid the place. The egg salad sandwiches (all of the sandwiches, really) are addictive. The ice cream, liquor, we had it all. Don’t be scared because it is a convenience store, they take pride in their food.

When trying to figure out what to eat in Kyoto, the list goes on and on. Dumplings, octopus on a stick (with an egg in it), grilled squid. There is an endless array of snacking options.

Favorite Bar in Kyoto: Bar Atlantis

There is no better way to end a night than overlooking the Kamo river and having a cocktail. The Bar Atlantis, on Pontocho Alley was our favorite spot to do this. It can get crowded and it is a bit more expensive than other places, but it is worth it. The view is amazing, the drinks were great and I enjoyed the snacks. One plus, we were able to catch a glimpse of an elusive Geisha while enjoying a drink. Bar Atlantis is a great place to relax and digest all the food you have eaten.

Conclusion : Best Restaurants in Kyoto

Obviously this isn’t anywhere near a complete list, rather a rough guide as to what to eat in Kyoto. There are plenty of Kyoto restaurants that I missed and while I want to hit them all in this lifetime…it is a big world. Kyoto has some great food, definitely on par with other foodie cities in Japan; the unique cuisine cannot be matcha’d…(blame my editor in the DMs)…

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I will try to break down the exact cost of traveling to Japan. As always, I will preface this by saying that these prices are what we paid for our trip, your budget for Japan can be more or less. We flew from the East Coast (Charlotte), Going from California or Texas will most likely be cheaper, due to the flight costs.

Since we visited Tokyo and Kyoto that is how I will structure this post. Once again, your cost of traveling to Japan may differ. Skipping out on one city will save you some rail fees. Now that I have completed the trip, I wouldn’t skip either. Lastly, we went in June, which is the rainy (off) season, but also the most popular US flying season. Moral of the story is this is all just a loose estimate. Time of year, airline, hell even dumb luck can all change the cost of traveling to Japan.

Budgeting for Japan: The Big Costs Hotel and Flight

We traveled to Japan from June 6th to June 16th, about 9 days, after considering flight time. The airline we used was United Airlines on the way to Tokyo (unfortunately, United is just terrible). Really, I would rather fly on the back of Falkor from Never Ending Story after he pooed himself than United…

As for the cost, for the flight and five nights of our Tokyo hotel The Citadines Shinjuku Tokyo, it was $4,320. This does not include our hotel in Kyoto, I will get to that in a second. The Citadines Shinjuku Tokyo was another apartment style hotel, although not as nice as others; it suited our location needs, and the room was a good size, but that was about all…The cost of the room was about $100/night…so we can say for two airfares was it $3800, room costs was about $500.

Wait there is more!!! We still had to pay for the other four nights in Kyoto. For this hotel we chose the Villa Sanjo Muromachi Kyoto, this hotel was much more than a utility hotel. It is a beautiful boutique establishment with great rooms and amazing service. Here we paid around $880 for four nights, more than double our Tokyo hotel, but well worth it. So putting this all together the total costs, for ONLY the hotels and flights: around $5200 for two (give or take). We haven’t even gone between Tokyo or Kyoto yet or eaten! I will say, we use Vacations Inspirations ( I will write more about them) and we are expecting a check of $900 back. Most likely you don’t have them, so it is a moot point.

Cost of Traveling to Japan Flight & Hotels: $5200

Ways to do it Cheaper

If you are not using Vacation Inspirations there are still plenty of ways to cut down these costs. Research is key, I think I did a good job, but there may be better deals out there…especially in the off-season. As mentioned, we went in June, I am looking at it right now and see the trip for closer to $3500, that is a savings of $1700. The season you travel in impacts the price greatly. If you are open to it, schedule your trip according to the best time of year – off season.

Lastly, you can find plenty of good hotels for around $100 a night, that would have saved us about half from our Kyoto hotel.

Cost of travelling to Japan by going off season: $3500 $1700 in savings.

Now might be a good time use some of those reward points also. Get a few free nights and you are all set.

Cost of Traveling to Japan: Transportation

I found nothing to be simple in Japan, so why would it be easy to get around? Yes Japan is efficient, but not simple. Traveling anywhere seems to be more expensive than necessary, but there are ways to cut down on these costs.

Trains

Yes, Japan has some of the nicest trains in the world, there is no denying that. But when budgeting for Japan, you will find that the cost of a train ticket can be daunting. For this demonstration, I will imagine you are splitting your time between Tokyo and Kyoto. So you will need to take a couple of these high speed efficient trains.

To begin, the basic train from the Narita Airport to Tokyo (Shinjuku) is about 3020 Yen, or close to $30. We realized that after flying United for 17 hours we wanted as much comfort as possible, so we bought first-class (green car) tickets, which are about 4200 Yen or a little over $40 a person.

Here is where it gets tricky, you can get the JR rail pass, which cost 29000 yen ($275)/ per person. The pass allows you to gallivant all over Japan using the rail pass (as long as you choose the correct train). Add on loosely $100/per person if you want to travel in the green cars (first-class).

The rub is, the pass is only good for 7 days, so if you are spending 9 days in Japan, like us, you have to choose to pay for either the trip to or from the Narita airport. The total for the rail pass is about $305/per person. If you splurge on the first-class ticket (which we did, since I have all this sweet, sweet maninflight.com cash) it is about $420/person. As I mentioned, when budgeting for Japan, rail costs are a big part of the equation.

*One Pro Tip: Buy your rail pass prior to getting to Japan from a reputable on-line shop. You will receive a piece of paper in the mail that you need to bring to the JR office. The document can be mailed directly to your hotel (confirm this with the front desk).

Total Rail cost: $610 (more if you go first-class).

Taxi Costs

What city would be complete without a taxi driver screwing you? Taking a taxi is a necessary cost of traveling to Japan. This is especially true in Tokyo, which is far more spread out than Kyoto. We spent money on taxis in Kyoto also, but we were able to walk to more places.

Even after walking around 30K steps a day, we still spent on average around $40/day on taxi’s. Some days more, some days less, to be safe, budget about $40/day. Now if you want to be a rock star learn the train and subway schedule in Tokyo. Most of the time we used a cab out of convenience.

Cost of travelling to Japan Taxi Cost: Give or take $360 (9 days x $40).

There you have it, that to me was our total budget for Japan on travel….I could factor in the cost of bandaids I needed due to the gapping blisters on my feet but let’s keep them out….

Cost of travelling to Japan, total transportation: $970…let’s just say $1000!

Ways to Save on Transportation

I already mentioned it, but it bears repeating that you can save a lot on taxi costs by taking the rail and subways. You could cut this expense in half or more. It seems daunting, but if you are budgeting for Japan a little work can save you a lot.

An additional idea is, if you must, take out one of the cities (Kyoto or Tokyo). I really loved both of them, but if it comes between that and not going to Japan at all, save the $600 that you would have spent on the rail pass.

Cost of transportation (done cheaply): Rough estimate around $200 for taxis and $60 to and from the airport. Savings: $800

Budgeting for Japan: Food

Don’t be me, I always overspend on food. The cost of food in Japan is more expensive than most of the world, although I still found it cheaper than in the United States. This is because there is no tipping and the drinks are generally less expensive.

Let’s break down the meals, I don’t eat breakfast normally, I also didn’t see a huge breakfast scene in Japan. Let’s say you grab a late lunch. For us that could have been $100 worth of sushi, $60 worth of ramen (with drinks) or a couple of skewers in a market for $20, it changed depending on our mood.

Let me assume you are a three meal a day kind of person, with some snacking. I would budget for two people around $75/day for lunch and dinner (each), maybe $25 for breakfast. This isn’t my advice for the backpacker, rather the person who gets away while living a normal life. You probably will spend less on breakfast, especially if you just hit a bakery. Of course it is more if you’re like me and drink Sake with eggs.

So, off the bat we are at around $175/day, but there is also drinking to be done! Drinks costs can vary a lot also; you can grab a $2 beer or spend $20 on a cocktail at the bar in Peninsula Hotel. I am a big fan of living it up when traveling, not saying every drink should be $20, but splurge, you’re not in Tokyo every day. Let’s add $100/day in random drinking throughout your time in Tokyo.

You will also want to hit one or two really nice dinners, Tokyo does have a ridiculous amount of Michelin star establishments. It is not unheard of to spend $250 for Sushi or $400 for Kobe beef. It is not a daily expense, but needs to be factored into your budget.

Lastly, snacking, whether it is in alleys of Memory Lane or a run to 7-Eleven. Tokyo at night has a lot to offer, all those different species up for grabs can be tempting. I would add another $50/day for various snacks.

The total is ($175 (meals) + $100 (drinks) + $50 (snacks)) * 9 + $400 (one or two expensive meals). That comes out to a whopping $3325 to add to your budget. I know this is a very aggressive spend. I always like to be a bit more conservative. There are certainly 1000 different ways to save on food. Do keep in mind when budgeting for Japan, food costs can be sneaky, make multiple stops and you will hit this mark.

Cost of travelling to Japan: Food/Alcohol $3325 for 9 days

Ways to Save on Food

First make better food choices than me. I do a lot of talk on how much I spend on food, but I save and budget for a while. In addition, although we ate well, it probably was a little less than the above. Still, eating good is important to me, it is a major reason why I travel. So I splurge when I must.

You can save considerably if you eat primarily at cheaper places. It may sound terrible but 7-Eleven is actually awesome in Japan (and cheap) . Markets are another place to find a cheap meal, stick to the carts and you will be OK. You can drop that food budget by at least $1500-$2000.

Cost of traveling to Japan: Total Savings on food: $1500, savings $1700

Cost of Traveling to Japan: Things to Do

Finally, a part of the budget that won’t break the bank. So many things to do in Tokyo and Kyoto are free that this cost should not be a burden. Unless you are going to Tokyo Disney, you can be entertained quite cheaply. The Samurai Museum was a bit pricey, but that was about it. Places like the Bamboo forest, Imperial Palace (outside) Niijo Castle (in Kyoto) are either free or less than $20/person.

To be safe I would budget $50 per day for things to do. Even that might be high, but better safe than sorry. You can go to a ton of places for free or relatively cheap.

I won’t add a savings portion to this, just avoid Universal Studios and Disney you should be fine.

Cost of Traveling to Japan: Things to Do -$450

Putting it All Together

So what is the final cost of budgeting for Japan? Time to whip out my Excel tables. I am putting two together, one pricey version, one with all the cheaper options. I am doing this because I don’t want the cost of traveling to Japan to prevent you from seeing this amazing country.

There you have it, two different paths for your trip. Believe me you can easily spend more than both of the above combined. Stay in Ginza and you can watch your money flee your pockets…

You can try one way or the other or a combination of both. Maybe you love to eat, so $300 steak dinner is worth it to you. Everything is piecemeal, just look at each individual cost and try to save where you are comfortable.

Conclusion: Budgeting for Japan

I know some people are going to say I am nuts recommending $10K for the high when budgeting for Japan. I accept every ones spending habits are a bit different, I am giving this to you from my perspective. If you add up all your costs, you will see it isn’t impossible. Yes, you really could get lucky/be smart and only spend about $5700 (with the tips above), but that is as low as I can see it. There is no reason to not fully enjoy your trip to Japan. My advice look for deals and start saving if Japan is on your radar…cherry blossoms could be right around the corner…

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In truth, I don’t know why I immediately loved Kyoto, although, I had plenty of reasons by the time our five days in Kyoto were complete. The initial drive to the hotel did not have the same sensory overload like in Tokyo. The buildings were not glowing with neon lights or spritely cartoon characters, or even ostentatious architecture (on the surface), driving through it, it looked like an ordinary city. Sometimes a city just has the right feel to it, and Kyoto did. I just knew I was going to love this city. We had three full days, and four nights. If I listed the top days of travel in my life, two of them were spent in Kyoto. The only reason it wasn’t all three was because an unfortunate trip to Osaka broke up the day. Below are the reasons why I loved Kyoto…

The Food in Kyoto

I love Kyoto for the food above all else. If you are comparing the sheer volume of food to Tokyo, yes there is more in Tokyo (and Osaka for that matter). Believe me, you will not go hungry in this city, have no fear, there is enough good food that you will never get to it all. Our first stop was to the Nishiki Market. It was a quick walk from our hotel, so it was the obvious choice. We were exhausted by the time we got off the train but wanted to see part of the city.

I would give this market mixed reviews…when I see skewered sparrows sitting out in the same position, every morning, I have my doubts about the freshness … I like my sparrow freshly killed! Admittedly, there were a couple of places that looked as if they were selling antiques instead of dinner. One lady popped my fish into the microwave…

Now that the negatives are out of the way, the good places are missed dearly… There was a guy who would grill up A4 Wagyu beef for 800 yen (around $7.50), while playing the best of Sam Cooke… We did not pass him without getting some skewers and a highball. There was a shrimp guy, whose product went quickly (so you know it was fresh). I dabbled a lot in this market, my first and only octopus stuffed with egg, grilled squid, non-egg filled octopus…it was a good way to start (and finish) ….

What’s Matsusaka Beef

Nothing sounds more authentic than a restaurant in Japan whose name is primarily in English. Make no mistake, this is no Americanized beef restaurant. First, the name asks a good question: What’s Matsusaka Beef? It is one of the “big three” in terms of beef in Japan. The two other’s being Kobe Beef, and Ohmi Beef. I know you have heard of Kobe, all three are the highest grade A5 Wagyu beef. All three melt in your mouth…

We ate so much Wagyu that we made Peta’s most wanted list. Having tried all three, on multiple occasions I can say all are equally fantastic. What’s Matsusaka Beef was the best steak house we visited in Japan. It isn’t cheap, but it is the highest quality. We had some veggies and beef, that’s it…no noodles, no rice. The price was close to $200. I thought that was high until I realized, that I got a couple of skewers and some bad pork belly tacos at Soul in Charlotte for $225. It hurts my T-Rex arms just writing that sentence…. What is also great is the atmosphere. We received our own private room, with a buzzer if we needed anything. When in Kyoto don’t pass up on this gem…

Sushi: Isami or Kappa

We had sushi twice while we were in Kyoto, both times it was outstanding. First, Isami is a little family owned restaurant. It appeared to be a father and son operation, it was very quiet and small. I assume the place has been there forever. The dad looked old enough that he may have been serving dinosaur on his original menu. My dinner was outstanding, and the service was impeccable. It was right next to our hotel, Villa Sanjo Muromachi Kyoto; I loved this hotel, read the TripAdvisor reviews below.

Read Reviews of the Villa Sanjo Muromachi Kyoto on TripAdvisor

Kappa is the sushi restaurant my wife preferred of the two, it is very good as well. It is located on Pontocho alley, our preferred way to end a night in Kyoto. The sushi chefs here are quite talented, serving up some of the best bites on our trip. This was the first place we tried tuna belly, something that goes for $15/Roll in Charlotte. The fish melts in your mouth, we loved it so much we ordered pounds of it when we found our way back to Tokyo.

The food was excellent, the service outstanding and the price wasn’t bad. You aren’t paying Jiro prices, but this isn’t Al’s Sushi and Oil Change either. It was worth every penny, the presentation alone in both places shows how important details are to the culture and the country.

Yudofu Sagano

The experience was unbelievable, if for nothing else, just the atmosphere. The Yofofu Arashiyama restaurant might be hard to find, but that is why you have GPS! So as not to revoke my Man Card, I want to preface this by saying we had A LOT of beef on this trip….!

Yudofu Sagano on the other hand is known for Tofu. I used to hate Tofu, but this place perfected it, finessed it, put its foot all up–well you get the point… Set right inside of a beautiful Zen garden, you walk into a quiet room and sit Indian style (not sure if I can still say that, but it is my blog). We struggled at first, but after several gestures and picture pointing our Tofu arrived and it was worth the language barriers. The restaurant serves you maybe 12 dishes each, all at once. The flavors of all the dishes were crisp, light, surprisingly flavorful, teasing the palate with every bite (…yes, we ate 24 small plates…) if you want a unique experience, Yudofu Sango is a good choice…

Atmosphere

I mentioned how much I loved the feel of Kyoto, because of the overall atmosphere of the city. We were coming from Tokyo, where everything seemed rushed, crowded or just a collateral attack on the senses. There are crowds in Kyoto as well, especially near the attractions, they just weren’t overbearing like in Tokyo…

The city had an older, wiser, sage feel to it, a welcome reprieve from the energy of Tokyo. Walking down the streets at night, people were on bikes everywhere or on foot, it was very peaceful just strolling the area. Out of nowhere a temple would appear, some big, some small. The city just felt easy to navigate and at night I always felt safe. For the record, I felt safe in all of Japan, no matter the hour. Walking along the river or on Pontocho alley, it was always a great way to cap off the night. The atmosphere is another reason why I love Kyoto.

I won’t list all the things to do in Kyoto, as a short blurb won’t do them justice. I will say that areas such as Arashiyama were breathtaking, a small river, a tiny bridge and a rare glimpse of a Geisha… Kyoto is also the home to the Vatican of temples, which can be explored throughout Kyoto and can take hours (if not all day) to fully explore. Some were crowded, but the crowds seemed to disappear depending on the hour (go really early or late in the day). We would get to one of the major attractions and it would be full of people, 5-minutes later there would be no one around…

The People

First, let me state that the people and the service all over Japan were amazing. Minus a couple of taxi drivers, everyone tried extremely hard to make you happy. Maybe it was our hotel, maybe it was dumb luck, but I feel like the people in Kyoto took it up a notch. It is hard to explain without examples…

The first one that I think of was a man and his family in an art store. We decided to take a couple of paintings home with us, something we do on every trip. You would have thought the emperor walked in; with the way we were treated. They took that painting and as a family wrapped it up tightly, then proceeded put a handle on it for travel. I was worried how the hell we were going to get it home; they turned it into a mini suitcase.

They were not poor or desperate, just nice. I have bought paintings that were hundreds of dollars in other countries, most of which I was lucky to get a plastic bag, let alone a sincere thank you and a bow…

A second example is as we were leaving our hotel. As I stepped out of the front door to hail a taxi, I went for and missed one by seconds. The gentlemen at the front desk saw this, proceeded to run out the door, shoot down a side street in a sprint and disappear. Five-minutes later, a cab pulls up with him in the back seat. Either this guy really wanted me the hell out of there or he treats his guests well. I am sure it was the latter, they treated us with exceptional kindness the entire stay, and remained bowed as we drove away…

Negatives to Kyoto

I always like to point out what someone might not like in a city, and given that Kyoto is one of my top three favorite (maybe #1) cities in the world I will have to stretch it… I didn’t explore all of Kyoto, as there is A LOT to do during the day. Having said this, it was not as high energy as Tokyo. The nightlife was fine for me but it wasn’t the ‘crazy’ the some may enjoy…

Kyoto is a more relaxed atmosphere than a lot of other cities in Asia. There is plenty to do, but not on the same scale as others in terms of nightlife. You may find it is “small-town” at night, going to the same place over again and again. This may be the only drawback for those looking for something a bit more rambunctious…

Conclusion

To recap, I loved Kyoto. It was unique, elegant and relaxing with an exceptional number of beautiful things to see and experience. The energy and really the old-world calmness of the city resonated with me. The MELT IN YOUR MOUTH beef did not hurt…but really, I felt it as soon as I got off the train and I inhaled the intoxicating heaviness of incense, felt the cleansing water before entering a temple, the light sting of sake while looking out at the river from a much beloved balcony… I lusted after Tokyo (bites hand at the idea of a rich broth ramen), but when I visit Japan again, I will go back to where the heart is …in Kyoto...

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We didn’t (and couldn’t) visit all Tokyo attractions in the city, but we did what we could with the first three days in Tokyo. There were somethings we wished we could have gotten to, a few we could have missed. Nothing disappointed, but when trying to maximize time, you want to be selective. First things first, you need your home base to be in a prime location. The city is big enough; you want to stay in a place where you can walk to Tokyo attractions as there is plenty to see.

Yes, there are aquariums, amusement parks, museums, hell there is even a Tokyo Disney. I skipped the ordinary Tokyo attractions in the interest of time. If you are like me and from the United States, you can go to Disney at home. I tried to concentrate on unique things not found in most places and of course eating…

Where to Stay in Tokyo

Location is key if you want to keep your Tokyo itinerary tight. There is no point in staying on the outskirts of the city. I was only in a few sections in my three days in Tokyo, but there are two I would stay in for certain simply based on volume of Tokyo attractions as well as ease of getting to the public transport system.

Shinjuku

Our hotel was in Shinjuku, this is more of a party atmosphere than other areas, loaded with bars and restaurants. We were a ten-minute walk from the main action, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. I couldn’t imagine sleeping if we were in the center of the busiest areas. Tokyo at night can be crazy, and Shinjuku is one of the crazier spots. Our hotel was the Citadines Shinjuku Tokyo, a great utility hotel that was well situated.

Again, Shinjuku is home to many interesting Tokyo attractions. It also has one of the biggest rail stations in the world, making it convenient to not only explore Tokyo, but all of Japan. If you stay here, you can spend the day walking this neighborhood, soaking up the utterly bizarre world around you.. Shinjuku was also our preferred spot to enjoy Tokyo at night.

Ginza

If you’re looking for a more upscale experience, the Ginza neighborhood is a better choice, this is where the money is (not to say the other areas are poor). Ginza is also close to a lot of Tokyo attractions as well and you are about a ten-minute walk from Tokyo Station. Either location is great for just walking around and both have tons of things to do and see.

I am sure there are other great places to stay, Shibuya and Roppongi come to mind, but if you are spending a short time in Tokyo, Ginza and Shinjuku just feel more central. It doesn’t hurt that you can get a direct train into Shinjuku from Narita airport.

Tokyo Itinerary Day 1: Explore Shinjuku

I am going to keep this somewhat aggressive; I will assume you have three days in Tokyo like us. Whether you have more or less, is not really relevant, what is relevant are the things that should be seen! Assuming you’re staying in Shinjuku, you might as well explore the area. Below are some of the best Shinjuku tourist attractions.

Shinjuku National Garden

You are probably thinking, “who wants to walk around a park in Tokyo?” The area is worth the time spent. The place makes Central Park look like a prison flower garden… It might be the most peaceful of all the Tokyo attractions. It is a reprieve in a city of madness and sensory overload. There must be an army of people set up to keep this thing so immaculate. Every bush is perfectly cut, and the place was spotless.

Of course, it is complete with an amazing Koi pond. This is the type of place that I would make a monthly visit if it were near my home. It is a good way to spend a part of your morning. If it is the summer, the heat could get bad, getting to the park when it opens at 9AM is probably a good idea.

Samurai Museum

The museum is a bit expensive at around $40/person, but the experience was worth it, to say the least. What is great about it is that they provided a guided tour, with tour guides that know what they are talking about and love what they do, our guide was a collegiate historian with a wealth of knowledge. The tour isn’t long, at about an hour and 15 minutes . If you have an interest in Samurai’s, GO, when will you get another chance to learn about them in Japan? The museum is open at 10:30AM every morning until 9PM, this makes it incredibly convenient; you can go in the day or add it to your Tokyo itinerary at night.

A Late Lunch at Ichiran Ramen (or any Ramen place with a line)

Ironically, there is an Ichiran in New York, although according to Strictly Dumpling the New York version was a hair worse, for more than double the price. Don’t worry that it is a chain (..you know how I feel about going to chain restaurants while on vacation..), this place is as authentic as it gets. I say this because A) There is a line out the door until the wee hours of the night and B) I tried a lot of ramen in Tokyo, all (but one) were amazing, and Ichiran holds its own against all others I have had.

This Tokyo attraction is open 24 hours, so don’t worry about coming too late. We can vouch for this; my wife and I were here on our third night at 3:30am. I still see the beautiful pork, perfectly firm noodles, rich broth ..and hear the creepy music that is played. What is so great about this spot is that your ramen is completely customizable: the firmness of your noodles, the spice, the richness of your broth… Just sit back and enjoy the one of the tastiest Tokyo attractions, in your own private booth.

Walk the Streets of Shinjuku

Considering this is your first day, I think it is wise to just walk around the area. Just walking the streets of Shinjuku is an experience and helps you get a vibe for the city. Yes, Shinjuku is a great way to spend Tokyo at night, but there is enough to see during the day to kill a couple of hours. There is a ton in this area, and with a short time in Tokyo, you should explore each nook to the best of your ability.

Stop and get a drink at the New York Bar, a place featured in the movie Lost in Translation or if you want the heights without the alcohol the Government building has a free observation deck. There is at least one onsen in the area (which we didn’t try) Thermae-Yu. I know of this one because we wanted to go about a million times…but as always, eating got in the way.

Dinner: Himawari Sushi Shintoshin

You are in Tokyo, so it would be a shame not to try sushi…What better way to have sushi then to indulge in countless plates coming at you via conveyer belt? Admittedly, at first I thought this was a novelty. After the twenty fifth plate (…seriously, my inner glutton cannot go into how many more plates after that initial 25, were taken to task…..) I was convinced this place was legit.

The fatty tuna was so succulent we thought it was rare A5 beef. I still have dreams about the eel and the crab… Really, I just want a place that has millions of plates coming at me. I know a true sushi purest might turn their nose up at a sushi conveyer belt, but we had sushi both ways on our journey and this place was up there with the best.

If you aren’t in the mood for sushi yet, there are plenty of tempura shops in the area. I personally don’t like tempura, but we had it for dinner once anyway. I am just not a fan of fried food, but if it is your thing let me recommend Tenkane, the service was excellent and before the heaviness got to me, it was very tasty…they even provide salt dipping instructions (yes, salt…).

Before I get to Tokyo at night, let’s move on to your second day…

Tokyo Itinerary Day 2: Ginza Area

Hopefully you are well rested from the Tokyo attractions of Shinjuku, because you may be doing a lot of walking. We walked from Shinjuku to Ginza, an almost two-hour trek. We took a cab on the way back, as I’m not a sadist. There is plenty of transportation if you want to save some time. Before you even get to Ginza, there are a couple of Tokyo attractions that you can’t miss.

Imperial Palace

The Tokyo Imperial Palace is the residence of the Emperor of Japan, located in Chiyoda and it is a huge complex. If you want a more in-depth view of this Tokyo attraction you will need to get a tour.

Even if you decide to opt out of the tour, the grounds are free. I think we got lucky, because I believe there is a charge for the eastern garden, but we went on a day that there was no cost. The buildings are grand and the gardens are beautiful. The site should find a place in your Tokyo itinerary…

Tsukiji Outer Market

OH Sh*t…you haven’t eaten…I can’t encourage my readers to starve! Well then, it is time to go to a food market where you can eat until you get heart disease. The Tsukiji market is one of my favorite Tokyo attractions, because well, it’s a food market! This is a great place to dabble in Japanese cuisine. If you are hungry there are seafood stalls, matcha ice cream booths, fried noodles, and of course sushi. You can even get King crab legs or A5 Waygu beef…(sorry, salivating at the thought..)

We loved the sushi so much in Tokyo, that both times we went to the Tsukiji market we had sushi. That is not to say that’s all I ate; I tried a lot of weird / interesting culinary delights… most of which I don’t know the names… My favorite was the black sesame ice cream, this and the matcha, which has a strong green tea taste…

Window Shop Around Ginza

Given you have been eating so much, it is probably a good idea to take a walk around Ginza. I said window shopping because I believe the prices here are three times as expensive as at home: Coach bags that sell for $200 in the United States are going for $1000….yeah.

This is due to the fact that this is the ritzier side of Tokyo. I feel like every Bond Villain would hatch his evil plan here; there are plenty of Tokyo attractions in the area. You can find your way to one of the many gigantic malls, such as Matsuya department store. Just be prepared to be humbled by their sizes. I am 5’9 and I couldn’t fit into their largest shoe size or their extra-large jackets…damn Ramen!

Have a Drink at the Top of the Peninsula Hotel

We loved the bar/restaurant Peter so much we went twice. The drinks were unique and outstanding. The service was excellent, but the best part was the view. The bar has a 360 degree window for one of the best views in the city.

If you can afford it, stay here at the Peninsula Hotel, if not, the next best thing is to visit the bar. There is a restaurant as well, but since you only have three days in Tokyo, save your hunger for meat.

Dinner at Ginza Steak

If I have one regret from our trip it is that we didn’t go to this ALL YOU CAN EAT A5 Wagyu Beef establishment. We had A5 Wagyu numerous times in Japan. My advice is when you get a chance to eat this heavenly cow…take it, run with it..! If my Tokyo itinerary consisted of only eating, I would eat A5 Wagyu every night. Pretty sure there is a time limit at Ginza Steak, so go in with a plan… and stay away from the sides!

I won’t bore you with all the varieties Wagyu beef. I will tell you, that the steak liquifies in your mouth, there is no ‘gristle’… Japan has the best meat I have ever tasted. I used to think the United States was the best spot for beef, that all changed when I took my first bite (sorry Texas). Ginza Steak offers you all you can eat of this blissful meat. Don’t be like me…go to Ginza Steak! It is the perfect way to start Tokyo at night.

Tokyo Itinerary Day 3: Anything Goes

I know the theme of this post is to guide you to the best Tokyo attractions, but with one day left, there are too many options. Tokyo is not Split Croatia, you can’t see it in a weekend, month, or even a year but you can get a feel for the city in this short time. Instead of mapping out your exact Tokyo itinerary…let me give you some guidance.

Visit Harajuku

Harajuku has somewhat of a carnival feel, but it is fun. The area is a bit crowded (to say the least…link arms or hands..or determine the meet up spot); the streets are lined with art and fashion. It has a quirky vibe, complete with ice cream and candy shaped like cartoons. Like everywhere in Japan, there are a ton of places to eat. With all the flare this is a good place to beef up your Instagram account. We didn’t eat here when we visited, we just had Afuri Ramen, another top notch ramen place. If you haven’t gorged yourself prior to coming, there are plenty of options to do so along the street. I liked the area, but this is one of the Tokyo attractions you can miss if it is too far away.

Meiji Shrine

Built in 1912, dedicated to Emperor Meiji, it is a rather impressive location. The shrine itself paled in comparison to the ones in Kyoto, but still better than any temple I have seen in Charlotte….yeah. If you are in Tokyo for a short time and are close I say take a look. I would say exclude this from your Tokyo itinerary if you spent any decent time in Kyoto or if you can’t stomach another temple.

I am only saying this if you are short on time. The structure is still fantastic. The trails walking up to the shrine were impressive, although, it felt like it took ten minutes just to get to the main part. It is close to Harajuku, so if you are visiting that area, take a walk to the Meiji Shrine.

Other Temples

If you aren’t done with history go on a temple splurge; the most visited one is Sensoji. Still if you only have three days in Tokyo make time to see these when you can. We visited a lot of the smaller ones in Tokyo. They are all over, there is one right outside of the Tsukiji market (Tsukiji Hongwanji).

I was never disappointed by visiting a temple, they are like churches in Europe all uniquely beautiful. Sometimes though, you hit your threshold and you won’t want to go out of your way to see another one…

The Tokyo tower, judo matches, sumo matches, Tokyo Disney, Shibuya crossing, the area of Roppongi… there is a never ending list of Tokyo attractions, and I haven’t even gotten to Tokyo at night. This is why I say you need to reserve time and energy when setting your Tokyo itinerary…

Tokyo at Night

What are some of the things to do in Tokyo at night? Well I liked to end it where I started. All of Tokyo is crazy at night, but I loved Shinjuku at night. It was like Times Square in a good way ( I think in a good way). It definitely had better restaurants. There is so much happening in Tokyo at Night, but I spent my time doing the below in Shinjuku.

Omoide Yokocho (or Memory Lane)

This place was right up my alley (pun intended). A mish mash of bars/eateries down small pathways, there are foods smells all around. Each one specializes in one or two things, some of them rather unusual. Think raw chicken, horse hearts, and raw pork. I have nothing to prove. I have done horse and insects before so I stuck with pork, squid, and chicken (all cooked).

You do have to be careful; I had a ramen so bad here that it made Cup of Noodles look like Michelin star quality. Plus, the bathrooms are some of the worst in the city. I would rather use a diaper than the hole they provided. My wife also pointed out that not all of the eateries had a sink…do what you will with that information… Still it is fun as hell, drink, eat, repeat. Dodge the dirtier places and beware of the small cover charge. It is the perfect way to spend Tokyo at night.

Shinjuku Golden Gai

If the trip down Memory Lane didn’t provide enough small alleys or shops with fire hazards, take a stroll to the Golden Gai. We liked the Golden Gai a little more than Memory Lane, not sure why (perhaps it was the ability to wash one’s hands..), we just had a better time that night. The Golden Gai is more drinking than eating than Memory Lane, but you can do both in both…

There are three downsides 1) Many (but not all) charge a cover of up to $10/person. 2) The places fill up quickly 3) Some places don’t allow tourists (and they provide clear signage telling you to go elsewhere..)…that is ok, there are a ton to choose from. If one is crowded or has a high cover, move on to the next. Our favorite bar in the Golden Gai was Bar Lonely, kind of a sad name, but they treat tourists nicely and they had fantastic music (who doesn’t like Sam Cooke?!). These are the type of places that fill up with four people coming into the door…

Kabukichō

Tokyo at night wouldn’t be complete without an “entertainment” district. If you are a single man on vacation in Tokyo this seems like the place to be. Be warned, Tokyo at night may bring out some unsavory characters, so be wary about which bar you go into. The men who will find you are mostly foreigners, who may or may not work for the Japanese Mafia, but remained very respectful if you appeared ‘coupled.’

Now, I am a very happily married man (whose wife edits this blog)…so I have no interest in such distractions. Never fear, although it is a “Red Light District,” most of the bad stuff is done behind closed doors.

The streets on the other hand are lit up with just the craziest iconographic atmosphere you could hope for, it is really is something to be seen. The lights and the noise provide a sensory overload, but a really fun way to spend Tokyo at night.

Late Night Ramen or Raid a 7-Eleven/Lawsons

I know what you are thinking; this guy is telling me to go to a 7-Eleven, why not Olive Garden in Florence next. Before you poo-poo the idea hear me out. A nightly stop at Lawsons or 7-Eleven was a tradition for us. Even if we hit the ramen on the way out, we would grab every weird thing we could find in 7-Eleven. The stores had great egg sandwiches, with the fluffiest bread that words could not do justice. I could do an entire post about the convenience stores alone…

Now, I already mentioned Ichiran Ramen, but if you are looking for a place to eat at 3:30 am and you missed it the first time around, go now. There is something about the place, that creepy music, seeing that bamboo curtain go up and having delicious ramen shoved in your face, when you are simultaneously wired an dead tired. Now there aren’t the lines at 4:00AM, like there are at 9PM…but it is still surprisingly crowded. Shinjuku doesn’t sleep, (in fact it makes New York look like a newborn on Ambien) which is why, if you have three days in Tokyo, I recommend really exploring the area…

Now if you have more time in your Tokyo itinerary, by all means explore the rest of the city. I heard the Sensoji Temple is beautiful at night as well. There are also onsens open all night and other neighborhoods to explore. Shibuya is like a calmer (but certainly not calm) version of Shinjuku. Tokyo at night has tons to offer, it is a big city…see what you can.

Conclusion: Which Tokyo Attractions to Choose?

This is just my loose Tokyo itinerary, mainly based on the Tokyo attractions we saw. Given that we had an amazing time, this may be a good path to follow. If you set a different Tokyo itinerary, please let me know what I missed, as I will be going back to Japan to get another bite…

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I mentioned in my bio that my first international trip as an adult was to Thailand, both Pattaya and Bangkok. What I did not mention was the main drivers of that trip… some people go to Thailand for the romantic beaches, the great food, the ancient temples or history; I initially went for none of these things, but I did enjoy them. Let’s put it out on the table, I went to in search of the best vacation spots for single guys. I will let you fill in the blanks to what that means… After two very dysfunctional relationships, I needed an adventure, being a rookie, I simply googled “the best vacation spots for single guys;” Thailand was at the top of the list (for some strange reason).

For Hotels in Bangkok Click this Link

You can judge me, love, or hate me for it, I did it…and have fond memories. It was a different time in my life, I searched for a crazy adventure and I got it… (without bringing anything back…) 

I initially wasn’t going to write this; my wife is my editor, so right off the bat, I am asking for trouble. Plus, my grandma is still living, and her reading this could make for some interesting Thanksgiving dinner table conversation. It is part of my history and it started my love of travel. I was also given my wife’s encouragement (I feel a set up…). I will go into detail, but not too much detail, as I am not stupid (I love you, honey!) Also, no videos will be shown (sigh, they may still be out there)!

The Tame: History in Bangkok

Let us ease our way into this trip. A man needs something to do during his “downtime” when visiting Bangkok. Luckily, there are plenty of unique things to see in the city. Let me clarify, the ‘plenty of unique things’ that you can tell your family and work friends about: Take plenty of pictures of the temples, this way you can say “see my trip to Thailand was all about history.” Regardless of why you visit Bangkok, site seeing is a must. Before I begin, let me warn you there are scams around here. A guy tried to sell me a pass for about $50 to see three temples. Of course, he was ripping me off, the price for all was much less.

Wat Arun

To get here you need to take a small boat trip to the other side. The entire cost is under $4 US and worth every penny. As seen, it is a mountainous temple, that engulfs the landscape. You will spend an hour or so here, depending how high you attempt to climb. The view great, it is perfect place to take photos. Climbing it might be a bit of a challenge, but the reward is there. The picture above speaks itself; Wat Arun is an exceptional example of Eastern architecture.

The Grand Palace

Another must see when visiting Bangkok is the Grand Palace, which can easily kill a half a day; I saved this for the end of my trip, as I didn’t want to be distracted. A “friend” doubled as my tour guide and showed me all the history behind this complex. It is like a Disneyland of art; the structures are amazing and awe inspiring. Walk around and just marvel at the architecture. You might even forget why you originally came to this city. The place does get crowded, so it is best to visit off season.

 

 Wat Pho

One last temple before I get into the meat of my report; all I remember of Wat Pho was it was a quick walk in with a giant leaning golden Buddha. The Thai people have a way with artistry, this once again was great. Wat Pho, along with the other pictures are what you show the members of your church…

 

 

 

Why Thailand is One of the Best Vacation Spots for Single Guys

Did you ever just need to get the hell away from everything? That is where I was in 2013, after escaping from a couple of horrible situations. I wanted adventure and a free for all experience. Not the run of the mill ‘hey let’s go to Vegas,’ I needed somewhere foreign (where I wouldn’t run into anyone I knew). Well Bangkok makes Vegas look like Chuck E Cheese and that’s what I wanted. So, even though I hadn’t travelled out of the country in 20 years, I took a solo trip to Thailand.

People had different reactions when I told them about my trip. My southern Baptist dentist asked me “are you going to do missionary work?” He wasn’t amused when I said, “in a way.” Others just shook their head with disappointment. The thing is, it wasn’t about them, or anyone. I am here to validate, (given you are not married) you don’t have to conform to anyone else’s morals. There is a reason why Thailand is one of the best vacation spots for single guys, it lets you live out all your hedonistic desires, without apologies…

Pattaya

Even though I spent most of my time here, I won’t go into too much detail. Partially because my description will be too graphic for the internet. Pattaya at times was like crawling into PornHub. The beach itself was one of the worst beaches in terms of beauty, but it made up for it in other ways. Plus there were islands right off of it that were nice.

Let’s be honest, you go to this beach town for the women. Stepping out of the taxi at 2 am after about 17 hours in the air, I needed to look around. I walk 2 minutes from my hotel, Page 10 Hotel Pattaya, and a bar full of girls pours out like I was Justin Timberlake. Maybe they liked my rugged good looks or maybe they liked my wallet…to tell the truth I could care less.

That is pretty much what Pattaya is, road after road of bars filled with women. There is a walking street where a lot of action happens at night. There are also avenues or (Soi) with varying degrees of shadiness. Soi 6 in particular was so bad, the girls from the other Soi’s thought it was too dirty. Twice I saw unspeakable acts in the bar. Let me tell you, it was a hell of a way to spend a Tuesday afternoon!

The beach wasn’t great as mentioned, but I did spend hours there being served cheap Tiger beer, eating questionable fried food and wasting the time away.

I met tons of American and European men that were in their 50s or so, divorced and permanent residents of Pattaya. Can you blame them? In a way it is a little slice of heaven, in the US, they are a nobody, disrespected and ignored; here, they are treated like royalty. They gave me all the proof I need that Pattaya is one of the best vacation spots for single guys.

Bangkok

Bangkok, like Pattaya is a free for all in every sense of the word. In some ways it is tamer because it is also a normal city. In other ways, you will find yourself saying ‘what the F*ck’ on a regular basis. From the random things sold on the street, the women, food, alcohol, it seems like almost anything goes.

Food and Alcohol

You will need nourishment in Thailand, luckily the food is delicious and plentiful. Cheap street food is everywhere, and one could go days without entering at a restaurant. Yes, some of it is questionable in nature, but I can assure you, you won’t be picking any collars out of your teeth.

My food started off standard, spicy coconut soup (Tom Kha Kai), Pad Thai, and lot of pork/chicken with rice. I dove into Som Tum, a spicy salad with green papaya, a variety of meat skewers, curries, and beef salads. Then I started getting off the beaten path, enjoying some strange things like whole fish sold on the street. I had it both cold with a weird sauce (pictured above) and hot and topped it off with what I was told were fish balls on a stick. 

The best grilled fish I had in 2013 was on a random corner in Bangkok. Another must try is a delectable and yet interesting banana pancake dessert, Chocolate and Banana Roti, also shown above. These things were like crack to me I ate them every time I came across them.

My hedonistic depravity fell so low that I was eating crickets, grasshoppers, and baby frogs like they were popcorn. Crickets actually taste pretty good, salty with a nice crunch. It is crazy what a bottle of Thai Whiskey, some Tiger beer and a bar girl can make you do before noon…

Cheap food and street alcohol are a mark of freedom in a country. Freedom to go crazy is why Bangkok, Thailand is, to repeat myself, one of the best vacation spots for single guys.

Finding a “Friend” for coffee

Food and temples are great, but let’s face it in reality you want one thing. The reason Thailand is ranked the best vacation spots for single guys, is because of something more entertaining. To keep it somewhat clean, let’s say you want to find a friend for.. coffee. Let me tell you coffee partners will find you, not the other way around. I already mentioned my experiences with Pattaya, it is hard to describe just how plentiful coffee is…

There is coffee for every taste you can think of. If you want to have a quick cup or you want the same cup for a week it is up to you. Every bar, restaurant, block has plenty friends. Hell, if you want to drink two cups with multiple friends at a time that is available! You can probably drink it with a friend while riding a donkey swinging from a chandelier wearing a clown costume…ok, I’m back. There are friends of all shapes and sizes, just make sure the friend(s) you meet for coffee don’t come with any extra “beans attached”. Also, it goes without saying always drink safely with/wearing a filter…ahem.

Bangkok Party Area: Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza

These are the hotspots in Bangkok, although there are plenty of places to have fun in Bangkok. As tempting as it may be for a newcomer, walk past the fifty or so girls just hanging out on the streets and go straight to the bars at Nana Plaza or Soi Cowboy. Sit down and watch them come flocking. You can have a face like Don Knotts and abs like Michael Moore, but you will be made to feel like a king amongst boys..

There are too many bars to count in these areas, Go Go clubs have shows that will stretch the limits of your imagination. The whole atmosphere is just electrifying and crazy. I know outsiders think it is seedy, but it never felt that way. Of course, I might not be the best judge of what is or not seedy. No one between the girls or guys looked like they were in a bad way. No one did anything they didn’t want to; people just had a good time with having to explain it to anyone. One last piece of advice, go to the Eden’s Club…you’re welcome.

The Wild West of the East

People call America the Land of the Free, but how is it? America is the land of supervised fun. Whether it is the conservative Baptists (please don’t write any letters, we are religious..) who killed alcohol or the ultra-feminists who neuter and cut men down to pocket size, every action is judged and controlled. The reason why Thailand is best vacation spots for single guys, is its total freedom. If you have money, everything is for sale… Love it or hate it…

Some May Judge

I am sure many people will read this and will look down on me and those who go there to “party.” As mentioned, it was many moons ago, in another life. I am now married to a wonderful woman who shares my love of travel.  Most people who find out I visited the country, by myself, look at me sideways. On the other hand, most would also say it wasn’t totally out of my personality for the time period. People in America love to judge, and control other peoples behavior, it, as opposed to baseball, seems to be our favorite pastime.

I also want to note that the reputation of Thailand spun by the American media was nonexistent from what I saw. I won’t go into detail because I am trying to keep this a fun post, but don’t believe everything you see on Dateline.

The funny thing is every guy who heard about this trip, in front of their partner was on a moral high ground, but privately wanted to know all the grimy details (what pervs!). The truth of the matter is the morality isn’t so cut and dry…

The guys I met that live there almost all had wives they met in a bar. They weren’t bad people, they were just sick of how they were being treated by women in their home country. The place is alluring, I had heard about and even saw people crying in the airport on the way home. I didn’t feel like crying, but I was planning my way back.. (for the food!..I love you sweetheart…)

Of course, my plans have changed, but it doesn’t work out that way for others. Some would rather stay and experience endless hedonistic activities without apologies. It is a place where men can act like men, women can act like women (and sometimes men act like women).  Is it any wonder Thailand is one of the best vacation spots for single guys?

Some Warnings

Not everything is paradise in Bangkok, there are plenty of places where you can get scammed. Like anywhere, you have your good and bad people. There are stories of guys getting robbed, conned etc..by these bar girls. I know most people would think they are all like that, but that isn’t the case. Other scams included the above mentioned about tour guides, there are jet sky scams, and of course taxi drivers can’t always be trusted. Do your research, as always, especially if you are traveling alone. Read here for more info

Conclusion

So why is Thailand the best vacation spots for single guys? One-word: Freedom. You are free to live your most hedonistic desires without judgement. I have no regrets and I make no apologies. Now my travel plans are different, but if you are looking for a place to truly cut free and you have a strong stomach, Thailand should be considered. Below is a link to one of the hotels that I stayed in, so if you are considering the trip check it out on TripAdvisor. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO THE PAGE TEN IN PATTAYA

Update: As of 2020 I am once again a Single Guy… I have a new Website related to Mens Topics attached to the Link Here

 

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