Japan is an amazing experience and you should go.
1. Shopped for Manga
Of course Japan has an incredible selection of manga and anime, they invented it! There are tons of anime places in Japan, including Animate anime stores, Akihabara which is just filled with anime, electronics, and video game stuff, Mandarake with is another chain, and lots of independent stores too.
These are the best places to buy anime and manga stuff in Japan:
- K-Books
A popular book chain with lots of stores all around Japan that sells second-hand manga and anime stuff. - Animate
Animate is a popular anime merchandise store in Japan. Although it has many branches open throughout Tokyo, the largest store is located in Akihabara. - Mandarake
If you’re looking for rarities and oddities within the anime world, Mandarake is a good place to start. - Kotobukiya
This store is located in Akihabara and sells a lot of figures, plastic models, and other anime merchandise.
2. Went to the Artnia Cafe
This is Square Enix’s café right outside of their main headquarters in Shinjuku. The store looks like a giant white bubble as you approach. They sell official Square-Enix merchandise from Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, and even Kingdom Hearts. There’s a café and bar that has Final Fantasy themed drinks and foods. For example, the bar offers a Red Materia and a Blue Materia drink with a melty ice ball representing the Materia in the drink.
There’s also a special back area museum made of black granite known as the “Luxury Area” containing glass display windows showcasing some high-end merchandise. There are rare and legendary high-end figures, articulated statues, cologne, and artwork from the studios.
3. Went to the Aquarium, Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise
This is an incredible aquarium and park. We saw a walrus and several penguins and went on the roller coaster overlooking the ocean. It was a great place to visit. My favorite part about Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise was that when I went in March it wasn’t very crowded. So if you want to visit in March you’re likely to have a great experience while escaping the crowds.
One cool thing about the park is that everything is pay-as-you-go and there’s no admission price. When I went I was able to ride the rollercoaster three times in a row just for the fun of it.
4. Ate and Cooked Wagyu Beef
You can buy Japanese wagyu beef in the store and cook it yourself! Honestly the preferred way to make Wagyu is at a shop specializing in it that offers a tiny grill to cook smaller pieces in. Wagyu is just too succulent and delicious to eat in massive chunks, but when you have limited kitchen equipment you do the best you can. And honestly, it turned out incredibly delicious!
If you want to eat Yakiniku in Japan, I recommend finding a smaller shop that faces an alley as that can be where you find the best Wagyu for a still-reasonable price. You can google for ” 焼肉 ” ie Yakiniku. Do not search for the word in English, you must use Kanji when searching Google Maps in Japan.
5. Went to the Square Enix Cafe
This is different than Artnia, which has a more Dragon Quest feel whereas this cafe feels more like Final Fantasy. The number of video game and anime cafes in Japan is fantastic if you’re a fan of anime. I really loved this cafe and its use of some of my favorite recurrent characters from the Final Fantasy series. There were Cactuar and Moogles all over the place.
6. Ate Sushi in Tokyo
Sushi is the number one food in Japan in my opinion! (It’s not actually the most-eaten, because that honor goes to cheaper noodles and rice dishes). I have eaten sushi at so many places, you should read my guide on sushi in Japan. There are some problems when trying to eat sushi in Tokyo: crowding. Many of the kaitenzushi restaurants will be completely full with hour-long wait times from as early as 4pm to as late as closing time.
If you want to get into the sushi-go-round you’ll have to find one in a less crowded area or try to go at a less crowded time. Alternatively you can find a more expensive sushi shop where the nigiri and sashimi is made right in front of your eyes.
7. Visited Takeshita-dori in Harajuku
If you enjoy Japanese street fashion or anything Japanese-y, then you should visit Harajuku for a day or two. It used to be the biggest central hub for fast and fascinating fashions in Japan, however the street has gotten more and more popular and crowded and some regular brands have taken over.
8. Went to Business Meetings for AnimeCon.org
We want to bring Japanese culture to America as part of our anime conventions. We went to several meetings to connect with Japanese companies and invite producers, musicians, and creators to our convention. We have had singers of several anime opening theme songs perform at conventions like Anime Midwest. I also learned that anime theme songs are called anisongs in Japanese.
We built up tons of connections and relationships with our Japanese business partners, and we’re excited to continue bringing great elements of Japanese culture to our conventions.
9. Stopped into a Cat Cafe
Cat cafes provide an escape from busy Japanese life. Japan has well over 100 cat cafes ever since the trend began a few years ago. Many Japanese apartments forbid owning a pet, and so cat cafes have sprung up in response to people’s desire to have a pet but inability to have one.
Some people think cat cafes are mostly for tourists, but step into one and you’ll see lots of Japanese salarymen happily playing along with cats as a way to relieve stress and forget about work for a moment. Research has shown that getting away from work like this greatly improves productivity.
10. Eating authentic Chinese food.
Not like Westernized Chinese food, in a huge city like Tokyo you can find real, authentic Chinese food. I found some delicious Tien Tsin chile pepper dish that I just loved, it went perfectly with rice and was deeply filling. The peppers are pretty hard, and I’m still not certain if you’re supposed to bite into the peppers themselves, but the flavor they impart to the dish is wonderful.
11. Stopped by the Conbini Convenience Store
Family Mart, 7-11, and Lawson are some of the convenience store chains in Japan. Why would I put this on my list of the best things to do in Tokyo? Well because they are just so darn useful! If you’re hungry, stop in! If you are thirsty, stop in. If you need a brand new shirt because you spilled on yourself, yes, you can buy that here too!
Convenience stores are more than just tobacco and energy drinks like they are in America. They often serve a ton of fresh food that is pre-packaged for convenient takeaway. Some of them even have small little seating areas with 4 or 5 seats facing a wall for you to eat their food right on the spot.
12. Eating Gyoza in Tokyo
Gyoza is delicious and imported from a Chinese style of dumplings. The way Japan makes their food is different, and they both fry and steam their dumplings to give them a crunch outer texture yet a soft and moist interior. Read more about the best foods in Japan.
The original Chinese dumpling Jiaozi (pronounced remarkably similarly) used all kinds of meat including ground beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and shrimp for fillings. Japanese Gyoza filling is almost always pork with cabbage. You’d think it wouldn’t be as appetizing as it is, but it’s incredible.
Here’s a secret – I hate pork, but I love gyoza. That says a lot about the quality of this dish!
13. Eating Japanese style small pizzas.
Japanese pizza is similar to pizza anywhere else, but the sauce is more tomato-rich and the cheese less prominent as many Japanese are not well suited to heavy cheese. 73% of Japanese people are some form of lactose intolerant, but that doesn’t appear to have stopped them from enjoying pizza too!
You can find some restaurants that offer an entire personal sized pizza for just $3, which is an incredible deal even for those who come from countries where the love of pizza is ubiquitous.
14. Eating Indian Curry
Indian curry is filled with wonderful spices and is said to be pretty healthy thanks to all the green ingredients (though be warned, there’s a lot of butter used too). You’d think Japan’s best curry would be Japanese curry, but Japanese curry is a more modern invention made to commoditize curry into a simpler form. Japanese curry is usually one singular flavor that goes best with fried foods like Katsu, whereas Indian curry can come in different flavors like Tikka Masala (tomato) or Saag (spinach).
Another difference is that Indian curry usually comes with Naan, a special type of bread baked quickly in a high-heat kiln, whereas Japanese curry is served exclusively with rice.
The best reason to eat curry in Japan is that lunchtime curry often costs just 500 yen, a “one coin” special lunch promotion that often comes with naan and your choice of curry for a quick and flavorful lunch.
15. Visited the Owl Cafe
Owl cafes are an experience unlike anything else. If you’re looking for a unique experience in Japan, visiting an Owl Cafe is absolutely unique! Many cafes will place owls on your shoulder or hand and you can get a really up-close view of these majestic birds.
There are quite a few Owl Cafes in Japan. Here are just a few of them:
16. Ate Japanese Katsu Curry
Japanese katsu curry is a popular dish that combines two elements of Japanese cuisine: torikatsu (breaded and deep-fried chicken cutlet) and curry. The dish is made by serving a torikatsu with a thick and flavorful curry sauce, which is typically made from a mixture of spices, vegetables, and meat or vegetable stock.
There’s also tonkatsu – pork cutlet – which is more common, however it’s not my favorite. What makes Japanese katsu curry delicious is the combination of the crunchy, juicy katsu and the rich and savory curry sauce. The curry sauce has a slightly sweet flavor and a smooth, velvety texture that complements the crunchy katsu perfectly. Additionally, the use of a variety of spices, including turmeric, coriander, and cumin, gives the dish its unique and complex flavor profile. The dish is served over rice and is a staple of Japanese comfort food. It’s the perfect meal after a long day of walking through Tokyo.
17. Went to Yokohama China Town
Yokohama Chinatown is a neighborhood in Yokohama, Japan, that is home to a large Chinese community. It is one of the largest and most famous Chinatowns in Asia, and it is a popular tourist destination known for its vibrant atmosphere, delicious street food, and interesting shops and attractions. It’s decorated to the nines and really makes you feel like you’re in a different place compared to the rest of Yokohama, which feels more modern and corporate.
Yokohama Chinatown was established in the late 19th century and has since grown into a thriving community with a unique culture and history. The neighborhood is known for its colorful and ornate Chinese-style buildings, which are filled with a variety of shops and restaurants selling everything from traditional Chinese goods and food to modern souvenirs and gifts.
In addition to its shopping and dining options, Yokohama Chinatown is also home to a number of cultural and historical attractions, such as temples, museums, and parks. The neighborhood is also famous for its street food, with vendors selling a variety of delicious and authentic Chinese snacks and treats.
Overall, Yokohama Chinatown is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in gorging on some delicious Chinese street food, like some giant squid on a stick.
18. Went to the beach at Kamakura
Kamakura, located in the Kanagawa prefecture of Japan, is known for its rich history and cultural heritage, as well as its stunning natural beauty. The area surrounding Kamakura is home to a number of beautiful beaches, which are popular destinations for tourists and locals alike. It’s only about an hour from Tokyo Station by train.
Some of the most famous beaches near Kamakura include Yuigahama Beach, Enoshima Beach, and Zaimokuza Beach. These beaches are known for their pristine white sand, clear blue waters, and beautiful sunsets. They are also popular for water sports such as surfing, swimming, and paddle-boarding.
In addition to the beaches, there are also several scenic parks and scenic spots near Kamakura, such as the Hasedera Temple, which offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding countryside. These parks and scenic spots are perfect for picnicking, hiking, and enjoying the natural beauty of the area.
The beaches near Kamakura are a great way to escape the city and enjoy some of Japan’s stunning natural beauty. Whether you’re looking to sunbathe, swim, surf, or just take in the stunning views, the beaches near Kamakura have something to offer for everyone. If you want to swim in the off-season, definitely wear a skin-suit (that’s a type of wetsuit that isn’t thick) and you’ll blend in with all the surfers.
If you’re looking to go to Japan, you can practice some Japanese first or learn the cost of going.