The Unknown Ahead

Japan. No where else is such a mix of urban chaos, Temple tranquility, food, shopping, markets, and nature. One second you’re in a noisy train station and the next you’re in a peaceful shrine surrounded by trees. It’s a fascinating juxtaposition.

We spent two weeks traveling around Japan using Tokyo and Osaka as our home bases. We also managed to do day trips to Kyoto and Nara via the train system. The hardest part about planning your first trip to Japan is not over-scheduling yourself! First of all, the jetlag from the USA is real. You’ll be up and ready to live your best life around 3AM. Unfortunately, that has you crashing around 4pm and getting grumpy around dinner time (especially when traveling with kids). Secondly, each city has SO much to offer that you’ll really want some time to settle in and see the best of each neighborhood. It’s tempting to spend just a few nights in a million locations, but that is an exhausting way to travel. You just have to come to terms with the fact that fully experiencing Japan will require more than a few weeks. I’m already dreaming up my second trip so that we can see more!

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Some things to consider when planning Japan:

1. You’ll need a lot of yen. Japan is really advanced in so many ways, and yet, many restaurants and shops still only accept cash. Luckily, there are a lot of ATMs and Japan is extremely safe, so no worries about carrying copious amounts of cash.
2. Embrace the chaos of the train station. The train system in Japan is truly impressive. You can literally get anywhere in Japan using public transportation. Learning the train lines and using Google Maps is pretty easy; however, the trickiest part is getting in and out of the train stations in the correct spot. Many of the train stations are practically full cities underground! You’ll find coffee spots, food, shopping, vending machines…everything…in most train stations. The good news is that usually there is ample signage and the people in Japan are extremely willing to help out a confused tourist.
3. Go to 7-11 and Lawsons. The food in local combinis is actually really good! Try the egg salad sandwich (tamago). Just do it. You’ll thank me later.
4. You don’t really need restaurant reservations. There are SO many restaurants and street vendors for food. The quality of the food in Japan is unparalleled. If you have a specific place in mind, feel free to reserve! But there are so many restaurants that you can just show up in a lot of locations and have good luck.
5. Wear whatever you want to in Japan. I read so many travel forums that played up how conservative Japan is in relation to clothing, but I didn’t really see that play out in real life. A lot of locals wear black, white, and tan…not a lot of colorful pops…but that doesn’t mean you need to do the same! For women, I did see a lot of shorts, skirts, and tank tops. If you travel in the summer, it’s humid and hot! Wear what you are most comfortable in and don’t over-think it. Just have good footwear for the 20,000 steps per day you’re about to log.
6. Pocket Wifi. We did it. I’m not sure if I really needed it since I have an International plan through T-Mobile, but here are the upsides: You rent it ahead of time via the internet (we used Japan Wireless), pick it up at the airport, and pop it in a mail box before you fly home (our hotel sent it back for us). It’s a small device that you can pop in your purse or backpack and get access to instant wifi wherever you roam. My son and husband were also able to connect to the pocket wifi at no additional cost. Although I think I could have still used Google Maps and the internet without the pocket wifi, it probably would have destroyed my battery. In my opinion, the pocket wifi was worth the cost for peace of mind, extended battery, and instant connection even when underground on the subway.
7. I booked most of my attractions and tours on Klook. The app is great too! It’s nice to have all of your reservations, timed-entry QR codes, etc. all in one place.

Tokyo

We rented an Airbnb in the Asakusa neighborhood. There is plenty to do and see in Asakusa, but it’s a lot quieter than some of the other major tourist zones. I highly recommend this area as a Tokyo home base, especially when traveling with kids. The train access in Tokyo is incredible, so just try to stay adjacent to a train station, and you really can’t go wrong.

Day 1

You’ll be up bright and early with the time change, so let’s get outside and re-adjust our circadian rhythms. One spot that is certainly open early is the Tsukiji Fish Outer Market. Embrace having some sushi, sashimi, and poke bowls for breakfast! Wander the market, eat some food, and enjoy your introduction to Japanese cuisine.

Next, head to Yoyogi Park and walk to Meiji Jingu Shrine. The shrine opens at 10, but the park is open at dawn. Grab a coffee from a food truck and enjoy wandering the grounds. As a side note, shrines are Shinto and temples are Buddist. They represent different religions and gods. Shinto is Japan’s original religion that places value on harmony with nature. There are an unlimited number of Kami or “divine spirits” that are always around us. You can spend a lot of time wandering the forest trails, gardens, and seeing the shrine. Entry is free, but the gardens are a small ¥500 cash fee.

Near Yoyogi Park is the Pignic Cafe. I heard a lot of mixed things about visiting animal cafes in Japan. Is it ethical? Are the animals cared for? We only did the one animal experience, but I think the micropigs were very well loved. We got to spend some time with four piggie friends in a private room and feed them carrots. Honestly, it was a highlight for my teen son. We will forever remember the baby pig, Kevin…”Chaos Kevin” as we called him. He ran about making the most adorable sounds and wagging his little tail. All of the pigs were surprising cuddly! They laid on your lap and loved scritches as much as our house cats back home. You get 30 minutes with your new besties for ¥2,100 or an hour for ¥3,600. The price includes unlimited sodas/juices/coffees too. You can also purchase beers for an extra fee.

Next, we’re hopping on a train and heading to Shibuya for the afternoon. This is a super busy area, which is both amusing and a little overwhelming. We wandered around a bit and looked at the shops, but honestly, we’re not the “Japan Haul” shopping-spree type of people. If you are the shop-til-you-drop type, this is a great place to wander. The Pokemon Shibuya Parco is a great stop with kids if you need cards or merch. The Parco also has a Hello Kitty and the Official Nintendo store. Be aware that you’ll likely be shoulder-to-shoulder throughout the mall – it’s busy!

I do recommend going to the Shibuya Sky Observation Tower. Definitely get a timed entry online ahead of time. We popped in around 2pm and had lovely views of Tokyo. A lot of people try to visit during the sunset, so those time slots go fast! I figured we’d be in bed early the first night, so I opted for an afternoon viewing. The Observation area is really lovely. It’s an open-air rooftop with lots of spots for photos. Since they don’t want items blowing off the roof, know that you’ll have to put your belongings (including hats) in a locker. These were convenient and free, but good to know if you just bought a zillion dollars worth of goods at Parco and have a ton of shopping bags. We spent about an hour here.

You can purchase tickets online two weeks in advance. Shibuya is open daily from 10AM until around 10PM, depending on the season. I found their website really infuriating, so I bought tickets through Klook. Honestly, I used the Klook App to purchase a lot of things in Japan. It was easy, there was no price mark-up (some things were cheaper), and all of you entrance QR codes are in one convenient app. I was a little skeptical of a third party booking system, but Klook proved to be really helpful.

From the Shibuya Sky, you get great views of the Shibuya Scramble. Honestly, I think this was a little overrated. We accidentally walked through the Scramble without realizing it at first! It’s just a busy intersection. But if you’re looking to check it off of your “I saw it” list, now is your chance!

This is where our day started going off of the rails due to jetlag. We couldn’t agree on a restaurant, everyone was tired…be prepared to call it an early night! We just grabbed food and snacks from a 7-11 and brought it back to the Airbnb.

Get some sleep. Try to wake up after 3am. Good luck.

Other options for Day 1:

My original plan had us also visiting Takeshito between lunch and Shibuya. This is a shopping area with a KiddyLand, Pop Mart, Sanrio and Harry Potter store. There’s also a Reissue Cafe where they create some amazing art in your latte. Our 2pm Shibuya Sky had me a little nervous, so we zipped over to that neighborhood and skipped this side quest. However, I do think this looked like a fun part of town.

Day 2

Guys, I love zoos. I also love pandas. Unfortunately, the pandas were not at Ueno Zoo when we visited in June of 2026, but this was still a really lovely zoo!

Sticking to my be-outside-in-the-mornings philosophy, we went to the zoo first thing on day two. The Zoo is in a lovely park area adjacent to a Starbucks. So grab that latte and stroll! General admission is 600 yen, and children are 200 yen. The zoo is truly lovely with gorgeous landscaping and lots of animals. We bought tickets ahead of time, but it didn’t seem necessary.

After the zoo, we had lunch in the Ameyoko Market which is an easy walk from the zoo. LOTS of street food available!

For our afternoon, we have some amazing activities awaiting us in the Asakusa neighborhood. Let’s pop over and check out the iconic Tokyo Skytree. Open from 10AM to 10PM, I would suggest reserving timed entry tickets online. There are also a lot of “special” packages available including a night viewing ticket with an alcoholic drink, morning yoga sessions, and the Sky 634 Restaurant. Children are half price. The Skytree is 634 meters tall, so the views are unstoppable! There’s also a Pokemon store in the Skytree…just sayin’.

After taking in the views, we’re strolling 20 minutes over the river to Senso-ji Temple. This is one of the main draws in Asakusa and attracts 30 million visitors every year. The oldest temple in Tokyo, Senso-ji is gorgeous and no tickets are required. Just beyond the temple are tons of food stalls and souvenir shops. Need a matcha iced cream? Done! Candied strawberries on a stick…so delicious. Snack your way down the street!

Nearby, you will also find the Ninja Museum. This was a hit for the whole family. Go online and reserve a tour in English – you can’t wander the museum on your own, it’s curated by a guide. You learn a lot about the history of samurai and ninja in Japan. At the end of the tour, you get to throw ninja stars! If you have a tween or teen, this was a core memory! The tour lasts 60 minutes, so it’s a lot of fun, but it won’t eat up your whole day.

And now…the best activity in Tokyo…the Asakusa Sumo Show! Guys, this was honestly a highlight of Japan for my family. Seats are reserved (and they sell out way ahead of time, so book early!), but the seats are assigned on a first-come basis. So arrive about 20/30 minutes early if you want to sit up front. The food and drinks come out right away, so there’s no waiting around. It’s a delicious hot pot, edamame, fried chicken, and other little bites. Still hungry? Just let them know and more will arrive in minutes!

The sumo show itself showcases former professional sumo wrestlers. You’re introduced to sumo culture, the rules of the match, practice exercises, and a Q&A. This show was not only informative, but really funny and engaging. After the show, you get a photo and a goodie bag at no additional cost. If you do nothing else in Tokyo, do this!

Day 3

The jet lag is starting to subside, so let’s go to Disney Sea! I see a lot of arguing on the internet about DisneyLand vs. Disney Sea. I’m going to be really honest here…I’m not a huge Disney nut. We took the kids to Disney World in Florida, and although it was fun, it was also a lot of work booking things on the app all day and managing fast passes. We decided to do Disney Sea because it was more unique compared to other Disney experiences that you could get in the USA.

Pros:

• It’s really gorgeous! The park is totally immersive, so you feel like you’ve entered a whole different world. The park is also super clean.
• There are rides appropriate for thrill-seekers and your littles. Everyone in the family would be able to enjoy something that the park offers.
• It’s really entertaining to hear your favorite Disney characters speak in Japanese!

Cons:

• It’s really crowded. We showed up an hour before the park even opened, and you were shoulder-to-shoulder with a thousand other people. Lines were crazy. It was total chaos. It was super hot and there’s no shade.
• The food was honestly pretty terrible.
• General admission is about $70 for adults and $60 for youths. It’s a little cheaper if you visit on a weekday versus a weekend. The Disney Premier Access pass allows you to select a “reservation” time for certain rides. However, it’s basically a full-time job booking and reserving things throughout the day.

Day 4

This is our final day in Tokyo before hopping on a bullet train to Osaka!

Let’s start our day wandering a new neighborhood and enjoying some super fluffy Japanese pancakes! Balcony by 6th is an Italian restaurant by night, but an excellent breakfast spot each morning. Instead of waiting in line at the too-popular Happy Pancake, we opted to have the same delicious pancakes on a lovely rooftop in a really cool building. The pancakes are steamed like a little souffle and drenched in delicious butter and whipped cream. Yum.

After fueling up on carbs, we’re going to walk nearby to teamLabs Borderless. There are several teamLabs experiences available throughout Japan, and we really enjoyed our time at Borderless! What is it? You enter into a space that is fully immersed in art, projected images, smells, interactive spaces, lights, and a huge maze of fun things to wander. This was a highlight for us! I don’t want to ruin any surprises, but I think this is a great activity that will take several hours of your morning. You can purchase timed-entry tickets online for about $28 per person. There’s another teamLabs experience in Tokyo called Planets that is also really popular.

If you’re up for another short walk, you are very near the Tokyo Tower. Think of Paris, but make it bright red. We had already done several “top of the building” experiences, so we didn’t go inside the Tower, but got some good photos. Continue walking a little further to Zozo-ji Temple and Shiba Park. This is a lovely area to wander about the woods, see the temple and shogun tombs.

We ran out of time in Tokyo before we had to catch our bullet train…but here were some other things on my list, should you want to check them out:

• teamLabs Planets – Similar concept as Borderless, but different themes
• Imperial Palace – The grounds are supposed to be really pretty
• Akihabara – Neighborhood full of anime, Pokemon, Mario Kart, etc.
• Science & Technology Museum – Massive museum, but I’ve read that most of the signage is in Japanese, so get your translator app ready

And now ladies and gentlemen…it’s time to ride our first Shinkansen! We’re headed to Osaka for the second chunk of our trip! The bullet trains are really impressive. You can get from Tokyo Station to Osaka Station in less than 3 hours, and the seats are really comfortable. You’ll need a special ticket for the bullet train, so find a kiosk that’s specifically for the Shinkansen. You can book a specific seat on a specific train or you can book a seat in the first-come-first-serve area. There’s a lot of fuss online about seeing Mt Fuji and sitting in a specific place for the best views…but the weather has to cooperate, and it’s not worth the extra work, in my humble opinion. I also suggest grabbing some snacks and beers at the train station for your trip! Etiquette dictates that it’s not polite to eat on regular local trains, but it’s totally fine to bring a snack on the Shinkansen! I suggest tamago – it’s a delicious egg salad sandwich that’s super fluffy. They also sell bento boxes and rice balls that are super yummy and easy to eat from your seat.

Osaka

Day 5

We stayed at the InterContinental Hotel in Osaka. It was near the train, had large rooms with kitchenettes, an indoor pool, and spa.

On our first day in Osaka, I thought it would be nice to get a tour to acclimate ourselves to a new area. We spent a delightful three hours with Mayura Kai on a private walking tour via Klook. We were able to WhatsApp with her in advance and let her know what we wanted to see. She curated a really fun morning and knew how to hit all of the highlights in the most logical way. She also took a lot of photos for us, which I really appreciated.

We started at the Kuromon Market to check out all of the fresh fish and produce. I love markets, so it was really fun to wander about and see what the vendors had to offer. Then we went to the Dotonbori area to see the iconic Glico Running Man, check out the food options, and see the famous Namba Yasaka Jinja dragon. We also ate about a thousand matcha ice cream cones along the way!

In the afternoon, we checked out Round1 which is nine floors of fun! There are ample claw machines, arcade, bowling, skating rink, darts, karaoke, table tennis, and sports areas including “giant” versions where you use an extra large ball – it’s hilarious. All of the claw machines are coin-based. If you want to participate in other activities, you purchase some things by time. It’s a pretty cool system. My teen son had a blast here, even with his “mid” mom!

Just south of Dotonbori is another opportunity to experience a teamLabs art installation. This one is outdoors in a botanic garden and the perfect thing to do on a nice night. Since it has to be dark outside, the entrance times vary by season. You can spend about 2 hours here.

If you’re looking to kill some time before going to the gardens, the Osaka Museum of Natural History is in the same general area.

Day 6 – Day Trip to Kyoto!

Time to pop back on the bullet train and head to Kyoto! It’s an easy 15 minute trip via Shinkansen or you can take the local trains at a discount, but it will take you an hour in transit.

Honestly, I can totally understand why people spend a whole week in Kyoto – there’s a lot to experience. This will be Kyoto “in a nutshell” with some highlights. I do think as a first timer, having two home bases was smart; however, I wouldn’t fault you for thinking a single day in Kyoto isn’t enough. If I had the opportunity to reimagine our itinerary, I think I’d do two days in Kyoto and take a day off of Osaka. Live and learn. And now I have a reason to go back and see more!

We started our day at Fushimi Inari to walk through the red Torii gates. I’ve heard that this place gets insanely crowded, and that is true. However, if you keep hiking the trail, it gets quiet really quickly. A lot of people want to get some photos without the effort of the hike, so if you give it ten minutes, you can find yourself alone on the trail. Originally, we were going to bail too, but it was such a gorgeous day that my son and I decided to hike all the way to the top. I’m so glad we did! We sacrificed a few other itinerary items, but I have amazing memories on this adventure with my teen. We stopped for ice cream, bought some omikuji (luck/fortunes), got some lovely pictures, and saw many cats.

Just outside of the shrine are tons of food vendors. We ate lunch standing up on the street – bread with mozzarella, dumplings, Kobe beef on a stick, crab sticks, sweets – so good!

Our afternoon included a walking tour of Gion, which is the old part of Kyoto where the Geisha work. Neither my son nor I really enjoy tea, but this could be the part of the trip where you enjoy a traditional tea ceremony. Our guide was really great, and we booked him here via Klook. We learned about Gion, the history of Kyoto, Geisha and their schedules, and saw all the main sites including Ninenzaka. Our guide was full of stories about Japanese culture and traditions too.

For dinner, I would highly recommend trying omakase! You’ll be treated to multi-courses of handmade sushi made just for you by a chef. He makes each piece of sushi just for you! My son had the “salmon experience” since that’s really the only type of fish he’ll eat raw (we’re working on it…), and I had a “surprise” menu determined by the chef. It was so much fun! We went to Gion Sushi. I was really surprised how intimate so many of the restaurants are in Japan. Some of the restaurants we visited only had 6 seats total for the whole place!

Our trip to Kyoto ends with an epic drumming show – Tao Drum Kyoto. This was such a great, high energy show! It lasts about an hour, and your ticket includes a welcome drink in the lobby or their rooftop space. The theater was really intimate and comfortable. Highly recommend! It’s right across the street from the train station too, so you can head back to your hotel easily.

Things I wish we had time to do…

• Bamboo Forest
• Nishiki Market
• Kōdaiji Temple
• Kiyomizu-dera
• Sanjūsangen-dō Temple
• Nintendo Museum

Day 7

Let’s travel to a quirky little area of Osaka called Shinsekai. Come hungry, because it’s full of amazing street food including Takoyaki! The most famous little bite in Osaka are these fried balls of dough and diced octopus. It has a gooey inner texture and will definitely burn the roof of your mouth. But you have to have one when in Osaka!

Tsutenkaku is a tower that has a slide that you can go down, but my 13-year old declined. It looks fun though! This area almost has a carnival feel. You can play arcade games, carnival games, get souvenirs, and find weird shops. We spent half a day here exploring and eating.

That evening, we did a little boat ride through Dotonbori. It was pouring rain, but that didn’t dampen our spirits! It’s a quick ride, but it gives you a different perspective of the neighborhood. I also booked this through Klook. Afterwards, you must pop into “The Donki” aka the Don Quijote store. Need a hat? A second hand Louis Vuitton purse? A bag of KitKats? Face wash? You can find literally everything at the Donki. It’s a total sensory overload. Enjoy.

Hungry? You better be! It’s all you can eat crab night at Kanigen Dotonbori. If your family can house some crab, this is the restaurant for you. Did you eat all the crab? Don’t worry, ’cause more is on the way!

Day 8 – Nara Day Trip!

Do not sleep on Nara! This was one of our favorite days in Japan! It’s an easy train ride from Osaka and makes for the perfect day trip. I’m sure you’ve heard about the famous bowing deer. It really lives up to the hype. My teen loved feeding the deer crackers and going through the bowing process. The grounds are gorgeous, so you can easily walk around Nara all day long.

Some advice – bring a backpack. I’ve read other reviews about the deer being aggressive. Buy the “cookies/crackers” for the deer and immediately put them in your backpack! Pull out a few crackers at a time for the deer. If they see you with a giant handful of food, they do get a little bothersome. Buy the crackers, and then wander deeper onto the grounds. The deer near the very entrance did seem to be more intense than the deer further into the park. In general, if a deer gets annoying, shoo it away like a dog with antlers – it’s not really going to bother you. We also saw a lot of baby deer that were super cute!

While you’re in Nara, be sure to stop at all the temples and shrines too! I suggest the Kasugataisha Shrine and Tōdai-ji (home to the giant Buddha!). When you’re done hiking and out of deer cookies, walk over to Higashimuki shopping street for food.

Day 9

From adorable deer to giant fish! Today, our first stop is Kaiyukan Aquarium. This is the world’s largest aquarium and one of very few to house whale sharks. You can purchase timed-entry tickets online. We bought the first slot of the morning hoping that the crowd would be manageable. I found it very comfortable, and we were able to move at a leisurely pace to see all of the animals. In total, we spent about 3 hours checking out the various creatures. Near the aquarium is Tempozan Market Place which has many lunch options. There’s also a Ferris Wheel, if you’re interested in a little ride on the harbor.

This afternoon you have some choices…

1. You could do an afternoon in Kobe which is an easy train ride from Osaka. They have a ropeway/gondola situation with an herb garden, hiking trails, and great views. Of course, enjoy some Kobe beef when in town!
2. Go to the top of the Umeda Sky Building and get some views of Osaka. There’s also a really neat little art museum in the building too.
3. Tour Osaka Castle and the gardens around the building.

Day 10

It’s time for Universal Studios Japan! If your kids are fans of Harry Potter or Nintendo, it’s going to be a great day. Universal is geared more toward the bigger kids – legit roller coasters, higher thrill. I enjoyed Universal more than I did our Disney day because I really enjoy coasters. The Flying Dinosaur was a big hit with our teen. You need to purchase a day pass in addition to any express passes that you want to add. If you want to really skip the lines, the express Pass premium will run you between $150-250 per person. Universal uses dynamic pricing, so your total cost will depend on how busy the park is on that day. You can purchase passes 60 days in advance, and they do sell out! You’ll also need to choose a timed entry for Super Nintendo World.

The crowd to enter the park was just as intense as Disney. Be prepared.

Hakone

Day 10

Since we’re flying out of Tokyo, we thought we’d spend our last night in a traditional Ryokan out in the country. Hakone is about 3 hours away on the Shinkansen, and then you’ll need to get an Uber or taxi to navigate once in town. The town itself is small and cute with lots of shops and restaurants. Most of the Ryokan that we looked at offered multi-course breakfast and dinner with the price of the Onsen. We chose to stay at Yama no Chaya.

In case you’re wondering, a Ryokan is a traditional Japanese room with tatami mats, dinner seated on the floor, and paper shoji walls. An Onsen is Japanese traditional hot springs. Usually, an Onsen requires that you’re fully nude and is divided by gender. Since we were traveling with our teen son, we wanted a Ryokan that offered an in-room private Onsen option. Nothing is quite so awkward for an American teen than sitting naked in a hot spring with your parents. Our room at Yama no Chaya offered a private area so that our kiddo could enjoy the experience in a way that was comfortable for him. My husband and I tried out the traditional Onsen areas which were lovely. Since the Ryokan doesn’t have a ton of rooms, I really only saw one other woman during our stay – we mostly had the place to ourselves. Also note that some Onsens have strict rules about tattoos, so if you’re inked up, you could be denied entry. Make sure to reach out to the Onsen to see how strict their policy is regarding body art.

Hakone is also a really cute town. Since we were early for our Ryokan check-in, we decided to do a zipline and obstacle course in the forest. It was a lot of fun, but we did end up pretty muddy! Did my husband get video of my landing butt-first in some wood chips off of a zipline? Yes. I will not be sharing that on the blog. Dress accordingly. If you’re interested, it’s called Forest Adventure. We had timed entry tickets that we booked online, but we were the only people in the park. It might be busier during certain seasons, but my guess is that you could book this activity the day of without issue.

Time to travel home. All good things must come to an end. We hopped on the train in the morning and went straight to the airport. Honestly, the airport had really good sushi too!

Food Cheat Sheet

Alright, if you’ve made it all the way to the end of the blog…here is a little run-down of the food in Japan. When I first popped on Google Maps to look at restaurants, I felt really overwhelmed with the various food categories. Here is a little cheat sheet for the types of food you may see in Japan:

• Sushi & Sashimi – I think these are pretty widely known, but sushi is usually raw fish on top of rice. Nigiri are single slices of fish over rice, and maki are rolls cut into bite-sized bits. Sashimi is just the raw fish without the rice.
• Ramen – Delicious noodle soup in various broths. Shoyu is a soy sauce base and tonkotsu is a pork broth. There are endless ways to mix-and-match broths, meats, and veggies. I really love a soft-boiled egg in my ramen too!
• Tempura – Lightly fried food often dipped in various sauces.
• Kushikatsu – Deep fried food in panko batter.
• Yakitori – Skewered chicken on a stick cooked over charcoal.
• Robatayaki – Skewers of meat/fish cooked over hot coals
• Shabu-Shabu – You’re given a pot of hot broth and you make your own soup essentially. You add vegetables to the broth and can dip in super thin slices of meat until they’re cooked.
• Takoyaki – Super famous balls of batter and octopus, most popular in Osaka.
• Izakaya – Informal bar atmosphere. Beers, highballs, lemon sours, bar food.
• Yakiniku – You can cook your own meat over a teppan/grill at the center of your table. These can be really fancy restaurants or super casual.

As always, here is my curated Google Map with all of our stops in Japan!