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.

The post One Day in Kyoto: A Quick Guide appeared first on Man in Flight.

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.

The post Is Japan Worth Visiting? appeared first on Man in Flight.

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)…

The post What to Eat in Kyoto: The Best Restaurants in Kyoto appeared first on Man in Flight.

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…

The post Cost of Traveling to Japan: Budgeting for Japan appeared first on Man in Flight.