Japan Must Dos

Things to Eat (and do) in Japan aka eating with rwu.

a curated guide to affordable, locally-loved spots in japan. mobile-friendly, filterable, free (no paywall, no gatekeeping).

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Our Trip to Japan

two weeks across tokyo, kyoto, osaka, hakone. theme parks, animal cafes, every meal pre-planned. food guide coming.

#ThorWuDoesJapan: Osaka, Universal, and the Journey Home

Princess Peach's castle IRL, Dotonbori for miles, hedgehogs, Michelin pizza, and a farewell 711 run.

#ThorWuDoesJapan: Kyoto, Old Trains, and Disney Princess Fantasies

Tourist-packed Kyoto, an emoji-only duck ramen menu, and getting far too excited about classic trains.

#ThorWuDoesJapan: Disneyland Tokyo

Roger Rabbit from memory, Donald's birthday mania, and why the best Disneys aren't owned by Disney.

Tokyo: Tsukiji Fish Market

go EARLY. it gets wild later. food stalls and street snacks pack in fast.

Osaka: Universal Studios Japan

amazeballs. nintendo world is the standout, prioritize it.

Tokyo: DisneySea

the best disney park in the world. unique theming, incredible design, and the food is actually good.

Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Shrine

the iconic torii gate hike. there before 9am or you're queueing. bring bug spray.

Tokyo: CAPPINESS Capybara Cafe

three capybaras, calm vibes, reservation required. shinjuku side, near takadanobaba.

Japan: Mocha Cat Cafe

cat cafe chain that's actually clean and well-run. multiple locations, easy stop with kids or jet-lagged guests.

Osaka: Dotonbori

osaka's neon-soaked food and nightlife district. best at night. street food, lights, energy.

Tokyo: Disneyland

second-best disney park overall. polished classic, but DisneySea wins.

Japan: mipig cafe

micro pig cafe. cute, tourist-friendly, multiple locations across kyoto, tokyo, and osaka.

Kyoto: Pontocho

narrow riverside alley with restaurants and nightlife. best after dark.

Kyoto: Nishiki Market

kyoto's central food market street. best around late morning before peak crowds.

Nara: Nara Park

11/10. 30 minutes from osaka, 45 from kyoto. bowing deer, mochi pounding, watch out for the aggressive ones.

Tokyo: Kappabashi Street

tokyo's kitchen town. kitchenware, restaurant supply, knives. fun even if you're not buying.

Tokyo: Akihabara

tokyo's electronics and otaku district. dropped rwu at mocha cat while we hit the shops.

Kyoto: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

the iconic bamboo path. about a 45-minute walk. arrive VERY early or fight crowds the whole way.

Osaka: Harry Wood Namba (hedgehog cafe)

hedgehog cafe in namba. very spiky. interesting but brief. keep it under an hour.

Tokyo: Godaime Hanayama Udon

award-winning flat udon. lines form early, noodles can sell out, get a number first thing in the day.

Osaka: Patisserie Grenier

puff pastry and french-style baked goods. solid dessert stop, two osaka locations.

Kyoto: Hikiniku to Come

best meal of the trip. charcoal-grilled hamburger steaks cooked in stages. reservations open 7 days ahead at 9am, book or expect a long line.

Osaka: Unagi Kushiyaki Izumo

unagi and egg bowl in umeda. portions are big, order half rice.

Osaka: Odoridako Dotonbori

takoyaki with a whole octopus inside. tasty but plenty of other stalls nearby worth trying too.

Tokyo: Age 3 Ginza

deep-fried stuffed sandwiches. the creme brulée filling is the standout. expect a line.

Tokyo: HATCOFFEE

custom 3D latte art. they made pong come to life in foam. fun novelty stop.

Tokyo: Pizza Marumo

japanese-inspired pizza with fermented dough. the umami one tasted distinctly 'japan'. reservations open way in advance.

Tokyo: Roast Beef Ohno

wagyu roast beef volcano bowl. went back just for the broth.

Tokyo: I'm Donut

11/10. long lines but absolutely worth the hype. multiple locations, sells out early.

Kyoto: Tendon Makino

tempura rice bowls. long lines, only the hostess speaks english, but the food's good.

Tokyo: AMAM DACOTAN

popular bakery in kita-aoyama. long line, visually striking breads and pastries.

Tokyo: Tsukiji Yamacho

tamagoyaki on a stick at tsukiji. popular morning stop, expect a line. simple and satisfying.

Kyoto: Nakatonidou

famous mochi shop in nara (day trip from kyoto). live mochi pounding is the show, time it right.

Osaka: Daiki-suisan Kaitenzushi Dotonbori

conveyor belt sushi in dotonbori. casual, reliable, good value. easy walk-in while exploring.

Kyoto: Gion Komori

traditional sweets shop, famous for warabi mochi. big midday lines, quieter near closing.

Kyoto: MOTOI Gyoza

gyoza by a michelin-starred french chef. papa gyoza and celery gyoza were the highlights.

Tokyo: Mukai

best sashimi of the trip. cash only. arrive before opening or just after lunch rush.

Tokyo: Cois Espresso Club

creme brulée cheesecake and creme brulée espresso. VERY sweet, expect a line.

Tokyo: Kitsuneya

very popular beef rice bowl stand at tsukiji market. arrive early.

Kyoto: Gion Duck Noodles

duck ramen specialty shop with an emoji-only menu. line is real, worth it.

Kyoto: Hoho Hojicha Uji Main Store

hojicha-focused brand in uji. distinct roasted tea flavor, different from all the matcha-heavy spots nearby.

Tokyo: Menya Sho Honten

local-approved ramen near our shinjuku stay. solid non-touristy choice.

Kyoto: Masuda Chaho

specialty tea shop in uji. the uji matcha soft serve is the move. pairs well with other uji tea stops.

Tokyo: Azuki to Kouri

shaved ice specialty shop in yoyogi. reservations open 7 days ahead at 9pm JST. order three portions, not two.

Osaka: Rikuro’s

the famous fluffy cheesecake. not very sweet, popular souvenir-style dessert.

Kyoto: Tsuen Main Branch

oldest teahouse in japan. matcha latte is the call. restaurant side may be closed.

Japan: Gyukatsu Motomura

deep-fried beef cutlet you grill yourself on a hot stone. melts in your mouth without being heavy. multiple locations.

Kyoto: Maccha House

famous for matcha tiramisu. reliable, high-quality matcha sweets across multiple cities.