Japan travel recommendations (2025)
In your twenties, a friend might ask you to take a financially irresponsible trip to Japan. It’s very important that you say yes.
This article is an accompanying guide to my (first-ever) vlog!! If you want to see all the places I mention below, you can watch the vlog here.
I’ve had the pleasure of travelling around Japan for two weeks with my friend Hayley (dazy chains), who I know from Montreal’s creative scene. We both do a decent amount of solo travel, and a casual “what if” earlier this year turned into a thoroughly planned-out two-week vacation.
We explored Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and many of Tokyo’s different neighbourhoods, and announced to each other at least once a day that “today was the best day ever.” (Which later devolved into “every day I see my dream,” referencing the LMFAO song.)
Although there are countless Japan itinerary vlogs, blogs, TikToks, etc., I thought I’d put together my favourites from our travel diary, since many of them took a lot of digging and divine timing. We tried to pick one major activity or area per day and left the rest up to how we were feeling in the moment.
We flew into Narita, stayed in Shibuya and later Shinjuku in Tokyo, spent a week in Kyoto (our home base for a few day trips), booked all our train tickets on Klook, and paid for transit with Suica cards. Definitely bring some cash, I withdrew mine with my Wise card.
This itinerary is ideal for a slightly emo, musically inclined, food-loving fashion girl. Here are my favourites, organized by city, category, & vibes
OSAKA
MUSIC
DJ Compufunk & Compufunk Records
Record store, label, venue, bar, and studio with its own vinyl pressing setup.
We wandered in around 6 p.m., and the owner, Nao, was hanging out with friends, so we weren’t sure if they were open yet. He greeted us warmly and assured us they were. He noticed we’d bought vinyl and asked to see each record, seeming to approve of our picks (one ambient album, two city pop records, and one house album released on his friend’s label in Osaka).
He chatted with us about music, told us about the DJ scene in Japan, and made us incredible drinks. Nao casually mentioned he’d opened for Jeff Mills a couple of weeks prior and showed us some techno records he’d recently pressed. He then politely excused himself to do a soundcheck for a new mixer he had gotten for the venue, which we happily sat through. It might’ve been the most beautiful soundcheck I’ve ever heard. Before we left, he invited us to an underground venue in Kyoto the following weekend, where he would be DJing.
Morpho Records
Piles of city pop and R&B vinyl and cassettes, original pressings and reissues, located on the second floor of a liminal mall.
rare groove
Electronic-forward record shop with mostly vinyl and a great selection of Osaka-based labels and local artists. I found Communication by Junko Yagami, which is the record I have tattooed on my arm. It’s across the tiny hallway from Morpho, in the same weird mall.
FOOD
Gyoza Daikichi
Made-to-order gyoza in the mall’s basement. Cash only, very limited seating, life-changing food. Portions are small, so order at least two per person, plus cucumbers and kimchi. Quiet space, very kind owner.
SHOPPING
Angelic Pretty
The most beautiful Lolita fashion store I’ve ever seen. The staff and customers literally look like dolls. I bought very long sparkly socks.
stereo
Clothing store featuring local brands, cute knits, reworked clothing, their in-house brand “zumi,” and curated vintage. Like everything good in Osaka (and maybe Japan), it’s hidden in a strange, office-looking building. Everything was chosen with care.
MINERAL
Alt fashion and small designer shop with clothing, shoes, art, and jewelry. Another gem in a strange building. They were playing an electronic drainer-adjacent mix, which is my idea of retail heaven
NARA
VIBES
Nara Deer Park
I don’t need to explain this one. If you buy crackers, they will swarm you in the friendliest way possible. Please bow to the deer and feed the older ones, too. Don’t pretend to have crackers; the deer will get mad at you.
Ice Shrine
A beautiful shrine near the park. Ice blocks reveal your fortune.
FOOD
Soba-dokoro Kitahara
Incredible soba near the park. Limited quantities are made daily, so arrive early. The wait is worth it, be sure to get the tempura on the side and a sake.
CHAMI
A beautiful specialty café and coffee roaster. We ordered lattees, a muscat cream dessert, and I got a bag of coffee beans to bring home.
KYOTO
VIBES
Bukkō-ji Temple
Go here to find the most beautiful ginkgo tree you will ever see in your life.
Hatoya Zuihokaku (Onsen Hotel)
I love this hotel so much, I don’t know where to begin.
It smells incredible. There’s an onsen. There are full-body massage chairs outside the onsen, plus free ice cream and probiotic yogurt. The rooms are spacious, and you get complimentary tabi socks to wear around the hotel.
They have the best breakfast buffet I’ve ever had: fresh raw scallops on vinegared rice, seasonal pickles, multiple miso soups, freshly made tempura, crunchy salads, and so much more. My personal favourites were the persimmon mochi, the autumnal-themed dessert service, and the matcha machine.
The only difficult part was covering my tattoos for the onsen. It took about 30 tattoo stickers, which were very uncomfortable to remove. I probably shouldn’t have tried, but that’s on me. The onsen itself was stunning.
Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
Genuinely one of the coolest experiences of my life. Wear good shoes for the hike and give the monkeys their personal space.
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Beautiful. Go early if you can, as everyone is trying to get their “I went to Japan” photo.
Okochi Sanso Garden
The most beautiful garden I’ve ever seen. Go contemplate your existence on one of the benches by the pond.
Mikami Shrine (Mikami Jinja) - Hair Shrine
Near the bamboo forest. Good for hairdressers and hair-related blessings.
Go-ō Shrine (護王神社) - Boar / Hip & Leg Shrine
We wandered in accidentally but felt cosmically aligned afterward, especially since we got massages that deeply helped our hips and legs shortly afterward.
Fairy
Affordable massage spot to fix your legs after 20k steps a day. Very sweet staff. You get a free drink if you leave a review.
Kungyokudo
Beautiful incense and fragrance store, great for thoughtful gifts.
FOOD
Söt Coffee Kyoto Shichijo
Good coffee and specialty lattes.
% ARABICA Kyoto Arashiyama
Great coffee, but the line was an hour long (don’t ask why I waited). Wouldn’t do it again, but the river view is stunning.
Sugari
The yuzu ramen was incredible. A friend asked if the chefs were DJing when I posted a story of the restaurant. Beautiful bathroom area.
2050 COFFEE
Futuristic café with spaceship vibes and strong coffee. Felt like the SSENSE store.
BRIBIE
Perfect pregame spot. ¥2000 for unlimited lemon sours for 30 minutes. Lovely bartender who showed us photos of her cat. We taught her the word “lit.”
MUSIC
Club Metro
Underground venue literally inside a subway station. DJs all night, great sound system, cheap drinks, heated toilets. Smoking is allowed indoors, which isn’t my favourite, but overall incredible. Kind of like if the Durocher lofts weren’t evil. IYKYK
TOKYO
MUSIC
Super Dommune
I saw POiSON GiRLFRiEND give a talk and perform a live set on a Wednesday night, followed by an amazing DJ set. Located on the 9th floor of PARCO mall in Shibuya. A highlight of the trip.
FOOD & DRINK
The Matcha
Comparable to Blue Bottle. Gorgeous matcha, usually a wait, but it’s worth it.
coffee swamp
This was far my favourite café in Japan. Possibly the best drip coffee I’ve ever had. Good music, small space, kind people. I bought two bags of coffee beans.
Bar Albatross
Three-story bar in Shinjuku with nice cocktails and cool chandeliers.
Harajuku Gyozarou 原宿餃子樓
Perfect post-Laforet recovery gyoza. Get the pickled cabbage and cucumbers.
AFURI
Probably the best ramen I’ve ever had. Get the yuzu chicken broth ramen, pork chirashi to share, and a yuzu beer. Incredible lunch spot.
Fuglen Tokyo
Open early (great for jet lag). Smooth coffee and good pastries.
Sushi Punch
The best omakase I’ve ever had. Get the sake. I had my birthday lunch here.
YAKINIKU Restaurant SEIYUZAN
The best wagyu I’ve ever had. Extremely well-priced with a gorgeous city view. I went here for my birthday dinner.
Udon Maruka
Incredible udon. Always a wait, but it’s a fast turnover and worth it. Unlimited toppings and a surprisingly big bathroom.
SAMAA_
Well-designed café with good coffee and food. Great place to hang out.
VIBES
Kankyō Records
An ambient vinyl and cassette store where you can pair a scent with a cassette. Shoes off.
Hotel Groove Shinjuku
If you want to feel like an evil villain overlooking the city (in a good way), stay here. The lobby is on the 18th floor, with all the rooms above it. They gave me a cookie box, a card, and branded towels for my birthday.
Nakano Broadway
Possibly the freakiest mall I’ve ever been to. It feels like a portal to the Backrooms. I bought an original Hunter x Hunter animation cell for $33 CAD and then saw a gacha machine selling used underwear.
Okadaya Shinjuku
Six floors of craft supplies with doll-making, cosplay, knitting, and every craft you can possibly think of.
stacks bookstore
Independent bookstore and publisher with craft beer at the back. We caught a Tayumi Glass ring pop-up and left with books, stickers, and rings.
magnif
Fashion magazine bookstore.
Anegawa Bookstore Nyankodo
Cat-themed bookstore. Cash only, with the sweetest owner ever.
lyf Shibuya
Great central hotel for your first night in Shibuya. Rooms are small (which is normal for Tokyo). They gave me a very sweet birthday card and treats.
HEAD SPA Kuu (Omotesando)
A beautiful spa to go to if you want shiny, soft hair in a Rick Owens–adjacent space. Great experience overall, but I felt that they weren’t sure what to do with my curl pattern, so they just straightened my hair instead. You get to choose a tea at the end, and they have hair styling tools to freshen up afterwards.
KUDOCHI Sauna
Possibly a low-key love hotel, but also an excellent private onsen/sauna option. We booked the Cenote-themed room, which included a cedar bath, cold plunge, dry sauna, chill zone, and Bluetooth sound system. Located beside and kind of under a 7/11. You can bring your own food and drinks, and multiple people are welcome.
SHOPPING
Laforet Harajuku
The best mall I’ve ever been to. I spent an absurd amount of money. Highlights: SHEEP, the emo/punk lower floor, and GROUNDS sneakers.
Loft
Everything you need.
HANDS
Everything else you need.
GU
Uniqlo’s cooler sister. Great prices and well-designed basics.
TAMBURINS
Perfume store with unique fragrances and stunning packaging. I bought a chapstick in a silver egg.
LUMINE
Large mall near Shinjuku Station with great shops on the upper floors. I bought a cool skirt and some tops.
Long story short, it was the best trip of my life so far. We’re already planning our return.
Listen to the music I listened on my trip: