Around the World in Reality: Japan

Originally, I was planning a trip to Antarctica to reach my seventh continent in celebration of turning 40. If you have ever looked into planning a trip to Antarctica, you know it can become overwhelming very quickly, and I am not usually someone who gets overwhelmed by travel planning. So I decided to take a step back.

In doing so, I realized it would be pretty special for Donnell to experience his sixth continent first so that we could reach our seventh together in celebration of our 10th anniversary. With that in mind, I started thinking about other destinations, and since I had heard nothing but great things about Japan, it quickly rose to the top of my list.

Travel Day – Sunday, November 30

Our travel day started off with a delay, which immediately had me on edge since our next flight was a direct one to Tokyo. Thankfully, we made it to Atlanta with just enough time to catch our connection. We opted for Premium Select on this trip, knowing we were in for a long haul. Once we were finally in the air, everything smoothed out. The flight was comfortable, and we were able to settle in and get some rest along the way.

Day 1 – Monday, December 1

HIGHLIGHTS: Hyatt Place Kyoto

We landed and navigated immigration easily, then caught the Keikyu Line to Shinagawa Station. From there, we purchased Shinkansen tickets to Kyoto. The Shinkansen was incredibly comfortable. We chose the Green Car, which offered more space and two seats per side instead of three.

After about a two-hour ride, we arrived in Kyoto. We had set up a Suica card for transportation in our Apple Wallets ahead of time which made getting to our hotel easy. One subway ride later, and we were steps from our hotel.

We stayed at the Hyatt Place Kyoto, booked with points. I truly love the Hyatt brand. The location could not have been better, and the hotel was both beautiful and convenient. We checked in and called it a night.

Day 2 – Tuesday, December 2

HIGHLIGHTS: 7-eleven, 2D Tea Room, Nishiki Market Walking Tour, Matsui Sake Brewery, and Ebisugawa Second

As an early riser, I started the morning with a coffee in the hotel lobby. Reflecting on our first few hours in Japan, one thing that immediately stood out was the level of efficiency everywhere we had been thus far. Even in the hotel, small details made a big impression, like simply tapping your key card in the elevator, which automatically selects your floor.

Remebering that 7-Eleven is open 24 hours, I set out on my first run. The stores are definitely different from what we have in the States. I took my time wandering each aisle, probably spending at least 30 minutes inside just exploring everything. I was on the hunt for a few viral finds, but also genuinely curious about all the snacks and drinks I might want to try along the way.

I picked up a good number of items, but I first tried a cold latte and an egg sandwich, both of which were excellent. The bread was fresh, and the egg and mayo were perfectly balanced. I am picky about mayo, and this one did not disappoint.

I also brought back the pancakes with sweet red bean paste for Donnell, which he really enjoyed.

We started the morning at a relaxed pace and walked over to Nishiki Market for a bit of exploring. With some extra time to spare, we made a stop at the 2D Tea Room, a charming little café tucked away at the top of 2D stairs above the market.

The Nishiki Market walking tour began at the base of a nearby department store, where we got our first tastes of the day with fried salmon served with dashi and mochi. Both were incredibly delicious and set the tone for everything that followed.

From there, we explored the market itself, also known as Kyoto’s kitchen, which dates back to 1919. It was bustling with energy, filled with both locals and visitors making their way through the stalls. I enjoyed everything we tried, and Donnell did too, with the exception of one item that had an egg-like texture. Still, I was really grateful to our guide for sharing her knowledge of the market and selecting great food for us to try along the way.

After the tour, we made our way back to the 2D Café for a croffle. My favorite was the butter and honey version, while Donnell went for the chocolate and pistachios, which he really enjoyed.

We had some extra time, so we took a stroll around the area to explore. It was fun to see all of the Christmas decor in Japan.

Next, we attended a traditional tea ceremony, where we were dressed in kimonos and guided through the art of properly preparing matcha. We enjoyed it alongside traditional sweets, which added a subtle sweetness to balance the tea and made the entire experience feel even complete.

With time to pass, we strolled along a stream and watched locals enjoying the beautiful day. I used the time to practice my photography.

We toured Matsui Sake Brewery, founded in 1726 and still family-owned. I didn’t know much about sake going into the experience, but I left with a much deeper appreciation for it. We learned about multiple parallel fermentation, the use of koji (a mold essential to the process), and how nama sake, or “raw” unpasteurized sake, can only be enjoyed in Japan.

At the end of the tour, we sampled a variety of sakes, and my favorite was the sparkling sake. It was light, refreshing, and surprisingly easy to drink. Unfortunately, it wasn’t available for purchase at the time, or I absolutely would have brought a bottle back with me.

For dinner, we went to Ebisugawa Second near our hotel. I had scallops and mushrooms, and Donnell had stir-fried shrimp in chili sauce. We also ordered yakisoba, seafood soy sauce raw noodle, a dish we were glad we did not skip.

Day 3 – Wednesday, December 3

HIGHLIGHTS: Arashiyama, Richshaw Tour, Jojakko-Ji Temple, Seisyuan, Romantic Train, Rickshaw Cafe and Cooking Class

We took an early bus out to Arashiyama, and upon arrival I was immediately struck by how beautiful, and how busy, it was. The autumn maple trees were absolutely stunning, with color everywhere you looked. After a short walk from the bus stop, we found our rickshaw and set off toward the Bamboo Forest.

Along the way, we spotted persimmons growing nearby. I’ve always loved finding them since I was little, though these are different from the ones we have in the South.

We then made our way to Jojakko-ji Temple. It was a busy day, but we still wandered through the grounds at our own pace, taking in the peaceful scenery. The maple trees throughout the temple were especially stunning, adding vibrant color to an already beautiful setting.

The place I originally selected for lunch had a very long queue, so we pivoted to Seisyuan, a small restaurant located above a shop. We ordered a set menu featuring unagi, and I quickly learned I need to enjoy it in moderation since it is quite rich and fatty. We also had tempura vegetables, which Donnell absolutely loved.

After lunch, we grabbed matcha ice cream at Sawawa because it’s never too cold for ice cream. The matcha flavor wasn’t overpowering and it was pretty good.

We had some extra time before our next tour, so we stopped at the rickshaw cafe for something sweet. We had another croffle, this time hojicha salted caramel, which was incredible.

We then made our way to catch the Sagano Romantic Train. I actually had missed getting tickets due to my work schedule at the time. Once I remembered to look them up, they were all gone. Something told me to revisit the website once in Japan, and I was excited to see there were tickets available. This was one day that my jetlag came in handy!

I have to say, the views and maple trees in Arashiyama were absolutely gorgeous. The reds, yellows, and oranges were so vibrant they almost didn’t look real. My photos didn’t do the area justice at all.

After a bit of rest, we made our way to a cooking class. On the way, we passed a peaceful waterway that made the walk even more enjoyable.

We then arrived at the cooking class at our host’s home. We spent the evening making vegan gyoza and ramen alongside two other couples from Israel and Germany. The class was excellent, and it was just as fun as it was informative. Everything we made turned out delicious, and it was a great way to end the day.

Day 4 – Thursday, December 4

HIGHLIGHTS: Kyoto Manga Museum, Japanese Whiskey Tasting

We woke up to snow in the morning, which felt like such a treat. I had been hoping to have our portraits drawn by manga artists, so I arrived an hour early at the Kyoto Manga Museum to secure a spot with Emiko. While we waited, we explored the museum and learned more about the origins and evolution of manga in Japan.

The 50-minute portrait session itself was so much fun, and the results were fantastic.

We then took the train to Tokyo. At the station, Donnell was in need of something familiar, so we grabbed McDonald’s right inside the station. He went with a fish sandwich, while I tried the ebi sandwich, which you can only get in Japan. It was definitely unique, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going in, but I enjoyed trying something different.

The ride to Tokyo was smooth, with beautiful snowy scenery along the way. Once we arrived, we made our way to our Airbnb in Minato City, which was actually a room at Section L Shimbashi West.

We were on the hunt for a dinner spot but short on time, so we ended up settling on Itamae Sushi. I ordered the miso black cod, while Donnell went with shrimp tempura and a fish filet. While everything tasted fine, I didn’t feel like it was the best value.

After dinner, we made our way to a Japanese whisky tasting class, sampling ten different pours along the way. We had the best time with our guide, who brought so much energy and made the experience even more fun. Our favorite was the Daisen blended whisky sakura cask, with its subtle cherry blossom notes.

We also tried matcha Kit Kats and wasabi peanuts for the first time, and I was absolutely obsessed with both. Needless to say, I had to pick up some of each to bring back to the States with me.

Day 5 – Friday, December 5

HIGHLIGHTS: Bonta Italia, Shibuya Sky, Takoyaki Making Class and Tokyo Projection Mapping

We took it slow on Friday morning. On our walk to lunch, we had a great view of the Tokyo Tower.

We had lunch at Bonta Italia. If you’re new here, the Priests have pizza Friday at home and wherever we travel. We ordered the Tonno and Formaggi pizzas, both of which were absolutely delicious.

We explored Shibuya’s Scramble Christmas vendors. Although I didn’t end up making any purchases, there were so many beautiful items on display. I did treat myself to a biscuit ice cream from Le Chocolat, which was a perfect treat after pizza.

We made our way up to Shibuya Sky, which was absolutely fantastic. The experience felt almost lounge-like, with limited entry slots making it comfortable and not overcrowded. The rooftop itself was quite windy, but the views over the city were incredible and easily one of the highlights of Shibuya.

On our way to our next class, we came across Godzilla.

A takoyaki making class followed, where we learned how to prepare the classic Japanese street food, chewy golden octopus balls with a soft, almost runny center. The toppings ranged from bonito flakes to cheese.

I did not expect us to have so many to eat, but they filled us up quickly in the best way possible.

We then went on a Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Projection Mapping Tour. It was not quite what I was expecting, but we still learned quite a bit about the city along the way.

The tour ended with a show, which was what I was looking forward to the most, and it did not disappoint. It was visually striking and incredibly well done. The Pac-Man projection was my favorite part.

Day 6 – Saturday, December 6

HIGHLIGHTS: Tsukiji Fish Market Street Food and Culture Walking Tour, Sushi Making Class, Good Ole Tennessee Bar and Aburidokoro Hinozen Ningyochohonten

We started the day with a Tsukiji Fish Market street food and culture walking tour. Our first stop was Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple, one of the few stone temples of its kind. We learned that there are 13 animals carved into the temple’s design, each with its own symbolic meaning.

The market was bustling, and we sampled tuna BBQ at Tonboya, medium fatty tuna, tuna dumplings, egg skewers, and mochi. It was great experience that was very different from the market in Kyoto.

We then made our way to our Sushi Making Class. This was a lot of fun. The young adults who led the class had a lot of energy and did a great job. We were able to make maki and nigiri rolls.

Afterward, we explored Kannondori for shopping and visited Sensoji Temple. It was busy, as it often is, but we enjoyed ducking in and out of stores and taking in the experience.

Finally, we made our way over to the Good Ole Tennessee Bar for cocktails, something I had been really looking forward to since the owner is a fellow University of Tennessee graduate. We arrived right as it opened and settled into the cozy, standing-room-only bar. I absolutely loved the atmosphere, and it truly felt like a little piece of home. As the space filled up, we ended up connecting with others and having a great time. Unfortunately, we were only able to stay about an hour before heading off to our dinner reservation.

Dinner was at Aburidokoro Hinozen Ningyochohonten, reserved through the Tabelog app. I will admit, I completely forgot I even had the Tabelog app at first, which was a mistake, but I was glad I remembered it in the end.

I ordered seabream and mackerel, while Donnell had salmon and potatoes. Everything was delicious, though I wish I had more of an appetite to fully enjoy it.

On the way back to the hotel, we came across the Tokyo Christmas Market and decided we would come back the next day.

Day 7 – Sunday, December 7

HIGHLIGHTS: Don Quijote and Okurindo

I was up super early, so I set off on a 5 AM trip to Don Quijote. It was such an experience getting to explore without having to fight any crowds. I made sure to pick up matcha Kit Kats and wasabi crackers with peanuts again, and for the first time, I actually wished I had bought more.

On my walk back, I came across beautiful torii gates marking Shinto shrines. It was fun to stumble upon them and take time to admire their unique details and how each one differed from the next.

We checked out of the Airbnb and headed to lunch at Okurindo, a cash-only restaurant where each person orders using a vending machine. Donnell had the salmon ramen, and I tried the mackerel ramen, both incredibly flavorful, filling, and so good.

Finally, we explored the Tokyo Christmas Market which were mostly food vendors. I purchased a diffuser with a Christmas scent, which ended up smelling great.

As our trip came to an end, we spent the last couple of hours at the Delta Sky Club. The spread was amazing, and the bartender was fantastic. I already found myself missing Japan before we even left.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Japan may have changed my life. I have never been to a more efficient, clean, and intentional place. While I know other places exist that share those qualities, Japan was truly top tier for me.

It was also a fantastic time of year to visit. Even though it was chilly, everything was beautiful. I was sad to leave because I felt like I was just starting to get the hang of everything, and I already find myself looking forward to coming back to explore other cities in the future.