news · 2026-01-27
webapp: Must dos when in Japan
the full story 
blog post 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). read the full blog post 
rwu eats Kyoto: Maccha House famous for matcha tiramisu. reliable, high-quality matcha sweets across multiple cities. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats 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. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Tokyo: Godaime Hanayama Udon award-winning flat udon. lines form early, noodles can sell out, get a number first thing in the day. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Japan: Gyukatsu Motomura deep-fried beef cutlet you grill yourself on a hot stone. melts in your mouth without being heavy. multiple locations. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Tokyo: Menya Sho Honten local-approved ramen near our shinjuku stay. solid non-touristy choice. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Kyoto: Tendon Makino tempura rice bowls. long lines, only the hostess speaks english, but the food's good. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Kyoto: MOTOI Gyoza gyoza by a michelin-starred french chef. papa gyoza and celery gyoza were the highlights. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Kyoto: Gion Komori traditional sweets shop, famous for warabi mochi. big midday lines, quieter near closing. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Kyoto: Gion Duck Noodles duck ramen specialty shop with an emoji-only menu. line is real, worth it. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Kyoto: Tsuen Main Branch oldest teahouse in japan. matcha latte is the call. restaurant side may be closed. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Osaka: Odoridako Dotonbori takoyaki with a whole octopus inside. tasty but plenty of other stalls nearby worth trying too. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Tokyo: I'm Donut 11/10. long lines but absolutely worth the hype. multiple locations, sells out early. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Tokyo: Mukai best sashimi of the trip. cash only. arrive before opening or just after lunch rush. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Tokyo: Cois Espresso Club creme brulée cheesecake and creme brulée espresso. VERY sweet, expect a line. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Kyoto: Nakatonidou famous mochi shop in nara (day trip from kyoto). live mochi pounding is the show, time it right. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Tokyo: Tsukiji Yamacho tamagoyaki on a stick at tsukiji. popular morning stop, expect a line. simple and satisfying. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Tokyo: Kitsuneya very popular beef rice bowl stand at tsukiji market. arrive early. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Osaka: Daiki-suisan Kaitenzushi Dotonbori conveyor belt sushi in dotonbori. casual, reliable, good value. easy walk-in while exploring. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Kyoto: Masuda Chaho specialty tea shop in uji. the uji matcha soft serve is the move. pairs well with other uji tea stops. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Kyoto: Hoho Hojicha Uji Main Store hojicha-focused brand in uji. distinct roasted tea flavor, different from all the matcha-heavy spots nearby. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Osaka: Rikuro’s the famous fluffy cheesecake. not very sweet, popular souvenir-style dessert. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Osaka: Unagi Kushiyaki Izumo unagi and egg bowl in umeda. portions are big, order half rice. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Osaka: Patisserie Grenier puff pastry and french-style baked goods. solid dessert stop, two osaka locations. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Tokyo: Roast Beef Ohno wagyu roast beef volcano bowl. went back just for the broth. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Tokyo: Age 3 Ginza deep-fried stuffed sandwiches. the creme brulée filling is the standout. expect a line. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Tokyo: Pizza Marumo japanese-inspired pizza with fermented dough. the umami one tasted distinctly 'japan'. reservations open way in advance. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Tokyo: AMAM DACOTAN popular bakery in kita-aoyama. long line, visually striking breads and pastries. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Tokyo: Azuki to Kouri shaved ice specialty shop in yoyogi. reservations open 7 days ahead at 9pm JST. order three portions, not two. read the full rwu eats 
rwu eats Tokyo: HATCOFFEE custom 3D latte art. they made pong come to life in foam. fun novelty stop. read the full rwu eats
blog post 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). read the full blog post rwu eats Kyoto: Maccha House famous for matcha tiramisu. reliable, high-quality matcha sweets across multiple cities. read the full rwu eats rwu eats 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. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Tokyo: Godaime Hanayama Udon award-winning flat udon. lines form early, noodles can sell out, get a number first thing in the day. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Japan: Gyukatsu Motomura deep-fried beef cutlet you grill yourself on a hot stone. melts in your mouth without being heavy. multiple locations. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Tokyo: Menya Sho Honten local-approved ramen near our shinjuku stay. solid non-touristy choice. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Kyoto: Tendon Makino tempura rice bowls. long lines, only the hostess speaks english, but the food's good. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Kyoto: MOTOI Gyoza gyoza by a michelin-starred french chef. papa gyoza and celery gyoza were the highlights. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Kyoto: Gion Komori traditional sweets shop, famous for warabi mochi. big midday lines, quieter near closing. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Kyoto: Gion Duck Noodles duck ramen specialty shop with an emoji-only menu. line is real, worth it. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Kyoto: Tsuen Main Branch oldest teahouse in japan. matcha latte is the call. restaurant side may be closed. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Osaka: Odoridako Dotonbori takoyaki with a whole octopus inside. tasty but plenty of other stalls nearby worth trying too. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Tokyo: I'm Donut 11/10. long lines but absolutely worth the hype. multiple locations, sells out early. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Tokyo: Mukai best sashimi of the trip. cash only. arrive before opening or just after lunch rush. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Tokyo: Cois Espresso Club creme brulée cheesecake and creme brulée espresso. VERY sweet, expect a line. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Kyoto: Nakatonidou famous mochi shop in nara (day trip from kyoto). live mochi pounding is the show, time it right. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Tokyo: Tsukiji Yamacho tamagoyaki on a stick at tsukiji. popular morning stop, expect a line. simple and satisfying. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Tokyo: Kitsuneya very popular beef rice bowl stand at tsukiji market. arrive early. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Osaka: Daiki-suisan Kaitenzushi Dotonbori conveyor belt sushi in dotonbori. casual, reliable, good value. easy walk-in while exploring. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Kyoto: Masuda Chaho specialty tea shop in uji. the uji matcha soft serve is the move. pairs well with other uji tea stops. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Kyoto: Hoho Hojicha Uji Main Store hojicha-focused brand in uji. distinct roasted tea flavor, different from all the matcha-heavy spots nearby. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Osaka: Rikuro’s the famous fluffy cheesecake. not very sweet, popular souvenir-style dessert. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Osaka: Unagi Kushiyaki Izumo unagi and egg bowl in umeda. portions are big, order half rice. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Osaka: Patisserie Grenier puff pastry and french-style baked goods. solid dessert stop, two osaka locations. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Tokyo: Roast Beef Ohno wagyu roast beef volcano bowl. went back just for the broth. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Tokyo: Age 3 Ginza deep-fried stuffed sandwiches. the creme brulée filling is the standout. expect a line. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Tokyo: Pizza Marumo japanese-inspired pizza with fermented dough. the umami one tasted distinctly 'japan'. reservations open way in advance. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Tokyo: AMAM DACOTAN popular bakery in kita-aoyama. long line, visually striking breads and pastries. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Tokyo: Azuki to Kouri shaved ice specialty shop in yoyogi. reservations open 7 days ahead at 9pm JST. order three portions, not two. read the full rwu eats rwu eats Tokyo: HATCOFFEE custom 3D latte art. they made pong come to life in foam. fun novelty stop. read the full rwu eats We finally curated and put together the full list of MUST DOs (mostly eating) while in Japan! Not only that, but we've built all of the #rwueats recommendations into a searchable and browseable database :D Check it out, and if you love / use it we'd love a $5-10 donation towards feeding rwu :)