Posts

Guide to Nishiki Market in Kyoto, Japan: Good, Bad & Ugly

Nishiki Market is known as Kyoto’s Kitchen or Japan’s Pantry, and is an incredibly popular food spot both with tourists and locals. We have a love-hate relationship with this dining hotspot and bona-fide attraction, and will cover the pros & cons, avoiding the crowds, and more in this guide to Nishiki Market. For starters, Nishiki […]

Biggest & Best Burger in Kyoto, Japan

As we detail in our Dining Guide to Kyoto, Japan, the city is renowned for its Michelin-star restaurants and traditional Japanese cuisine. However, sometimes you just want a delicious burger. In this post, we review the best burger joint in Kyoto, and share our experience devouring their biggest burger. Some of you might be cringing […]

Best Tea in Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto’s Japanese tea is world famous, and matcha is a great take-home souvenir. Likewise, teahouses are a great option for a midday break after a long morning of touring Kyoto, Japan. In this post, we cover the best tea shops, plus our favorite tea ceremony, in case you’re interested in a more traditional, cultural experience. […]

Tsukiji & Toyosu Fish Markets in Tokyo, Japan: Info & Tips

As of 2019, Toyosu Market has replaced Tsukiji as Japan’s largest wholesale fish market, which is one of the top things to do in Tokyo. In this post, we’ll offer info about the changes, and whether you should plan a visit to Tsukiji, Toyosu, or both. Tsukiji Market has been serving Tokyo since 1935, and […]

Best Coffee Shops in Kyoto, Japan

Some of Japan’s best independent coffee shops and cafes can be found in Kyoto, which is one of the world’s hottest places for third wave coffee. While Kyoto is famous for its tea ceremonies and matcha, locals are actually more coffee-obsessed. This list features our favorite coffee shops in Kyoto, including a couple that are must-do […]

Where to Eat in Kyoto, Japan: Best Restaurants & Dining Guide

Kyoto, Japan has some of the world’s best restaurants, great teahouses, coffee shops, and more. This dining guide covers where to eat in Kyoto, listing the top spots for a variety of price points, from cheap ramen to high-rolling kaiseki multi-course dinners. This includes the best izakaya, tempura, soba, udon, ramen, katsu, unagi, sushi, and okonomiyaki […]

Kyoto, Japan Fall Trip Report – Part 1

It’s almost the heart of fall colors season in Japan, which follows our recent two-week stay in Kyoto. In this trip report, we’ll share thoughts on our experiences, the crush of crowds, and various other perspectives on Kyoto. I’ll also scatter random (and not-so-random) photos throughout, as I took thousands of them and know I won’t […]

Our Favorite Ramen in Tokyo, Japan

There’s no shortage of ‘Best Ramen in Tokyo, Japan’ lists on the internet. We thought we’d take a different approach in sharing our favorites. Instead of focusing solely on highly-acclaimed, Michelin-starred places far from tourist areas or easy to find chains, we thought we’d do both. Our rationale for this is pretty simple: meal time […]

Restaurant Reviews & Food Guide for Universal Studios Japan

Our Universal Studios Japan restaurant reviews feature food photos from dining spots throughout the park, menu photos, and tips for what to order while at this theme park in Osaka. From cute snacks to hearty meals, and Harry Potter to Hello Kitty, we’ve got you covered! We love USJ, and visit with regularity. However, the […]

Shake Shack v. In-N-Out: The Time Traveler’s Guide

When flying from Japan to California recently, we did what some experts said was impossible: dined at Shake Shack and then traveled back in time to eat at In-N-Out on the same night. Others have compared these two fine burger establishments, but none have been scientifically reliable, carefully controlling important variables. No one else has eaten at […]