General Information

Rush hour in Tokyo: between 8-9 am!

How to pack for summer in Japan:

• http://herpackinglist.com/2015/05/packing-list-for-japan-in-summer/

GF places in Japan:

• https://glutenfree-restaurant.com/

Train timetable:

• http://www.hyperdia.com/

Guide about the JR pass:

• http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361.html

Buy JR pass:

• https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/jr-pass

Japan Cheap:

• https://japancheapo.com/

Calendar of Events in Japan:

• http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/japan-calendar

Shinkansen Reservations JR pass:

• From Tokyo to Osaka ask for seats on the right hand side. Tell at the ticket counter that you want "mountain-side" or "yama-gawa".　Seat alphabet "D" and "E" (window).

Tokyo

Calendar of events in Tokyo

• https://www.gotokyo.org/eventlist/en/list

• http://www.timeout.com/tokyo/search#/?sort=date&page_number=1&type=event&viewstate=list

• http://www.tokyoweekender.com/events-calendar/

Getting Here

• From Narita Airport:
  • Take Keisei Main Line until Nippori Station and then change to the JR Yamanote Line which will take you to Ikebukuro

  • Website with timetable and fair : http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/us/timetable/index.php#narita1_kml

• Tickets from travelling within Tokyo explained:

  • http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/travel/practical/tonai_ticket.html

Sightseeing

• Tokyo Observation Deck Guide

  • Website: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3057.html

• Imperial Palace East Gardens

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q54CRJm?m=&node=250668616

• Sensoji Temple

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q54xxrd0-?m=

  • Website: http://www.senso-ji.jp/guide/index_e.html

  • Website: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3004.html#/nakamise

• Kaminarimon Gate (gateway to Senso-ji Temple)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q54w118g-?layers=N&m=&way=173154849

• Nakamise Shopping Street (the street between the Kaminarimon and the Sensoji Temple must take this route!)
• Shin-Nakamise Street
  • Perpendicular to the Nakamise Shopping Street also a must see

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q54xhLnY--?m=

• Omoide Yokocho (best seen at evening)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q5yL5HBQ-?m=&way=103063334

• Shibuya Crossing
• Hachiko Statue

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q5nP6FMs--?m=&node=597685675

• Tsukiji Fish Market

  • http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3021.html

  • Address: http://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=35.6614&mlon=139.7694#map=14/35.6614/139.7694&layers=T

• Tsukiji Honganji Temple
• Ueno Park
• Meiji-Jingu Shrine

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q5ne4RE?m=&relation=3603909

• Bunkyo Civic Center Observatory (FREE unlike the Tokyo tower 25 floors up)

Eating

• Glutenfree cafe littlebird (especially if we are visiting shinjuku and surroundings)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q5nZjZWx--?m=

  • Website: http://www.foods.thinknext.co.jp/en/GFinfo/

• Soranoiro (GF/Vegan ramen)
  • Prder the Vegan Vegetable Noodles because you can choose rice noodles and the broth is vegetable based with tomato, olive oil and other veggies

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q5n~ebI9--?m=&relation=4243739

• Afuri (GF-vegan ramen ask for konnyaku men noodles)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q5nh4aVY--?m=&node=3307021787

• Natural cream kitchen (50cm sweet roll)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q5nxKPv8?m=

• Satake (soba noodles)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q5nhn15x--?m=

  • To see the menue: https://yebisublog.wordpress.com/2016/01/12/satake-soba-noodles-made-of-100-buckwheat-flour/

• Q pot cafe (super cute cafe with themes)

  • Website: http://www.q-pot.jp/shop/cafe/

• Kawaii Monster Cafe

  • Website: http://kawaiimonster.jp/pc/en/menu/

  • Oppenign hours Mondays to Saturdays

    Lunch	Dinner	Sunday
    11:30-16:30	18:00-22:30	11:00-20:00

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q5nxOTjA--?m=&node=4208482890

• Cheap sushi Tokyo Guide:

  • https://tokyocheapo.com/food-and-drink/top-5-cheapo-sushi-restaurants-tokyo/

For food some important words:

• beer named Nodogoshi Nama is the only gluten free Japanese beer

  • http://glutenfreeinjapan.blogspot.de/2013/06/gluten-free-beer.html

• inari sushi this is the rice inside the tofu pouch sushi
• mugi tea is tea made of barley!
• Osenbei are rice crackers, ask for those with salt

Extras/Festivals

• Shinyokohama Ramen Museum
• Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi Festival 2017
• Asakusa Summer Night Festival—Toro Nagashi (Paper Lantern Floating)
• Hibiya Park Marunouchi Ondo Bon-odori Dance Festival
• Asagaya Tanabata Matsuri Festival
• Comiket (Comic Market)

Shopping

Location of 100 yen shops in Tokyo Yamanote line: http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/travel/practical/100yen.html

What to see on the Yamanote line: https://blog.gaijinpot.com/exploring-tokyo-yamanote-line/

• Evangelion Store Tokyo-01 (Close to our hotel)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q5zg6ath-?m=&node=4651277894

• Kit-kat store

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q5zgs_ux-?m=&relation=4853211

• Mitsubado (cosplay! for cheap!)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q54ND4sR--?layers=H&m=&node=4069489666

  • Website: http://www.mitubado.com/46_101233.html

• Don Quijote (Biggest cosplay place)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q54NI9TN--?layers=H&m=&node=1996594184

• Mandarake Nakano (anime & comic goods)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q5yQzOyk-?m=&way=51979646

• Ameyayokocho Street Ueno Station (Great Bargains!)
• Yanaka Ginza Nippori Station (Street with tradition souvenirs not super touristy)
• Takeshita Street (another busy street with funny clothes)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q5nxWLnM--?m=&node=597685675

• Ghibli Museum

  • http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/ticket-information/

  • http://www.jtbgmt.com/eng/ghibli/TicketSystem.html#Regions

  • http://www.japanspecialist.de/ghibli-museum/

  • Tickets for 23 August

  • How to get there:

  • To Mitaka station, take the JR Chuo Line. Approx. 20 min. from Shinjuku station.
  • From the Mitaka South Exit, approx. 15 min. walk along the Tamagawa Josui "Waterworks" to the museum

  • Map to the museum: https://mister-muffin.de/p/1mAy.pdf

• Pokémon Center Tokyo

  • Address: http://www.openstreetmap.org/node/3350332481#map=17/35.72883/139.71916

• Otome Road (fujoshi)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q5ziPeio--?m=

• Animate

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q54NIyZU--?layers=H&m=&node=1996594184

• comic toranoana ikebukuro (also have fujoshi stuff)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7Q5ziFMWb?m=

  • Website: http://www.toranoana.jp/shop/ikebukuro/index.html

• Tokyo Character Street in Tokyo Station

  • Website: http://tokyo-direct-guide.com/blog/2015/03/tokyo-character-street-in-tokyo-station-kawaii/

Kyoto

Kyoto Sightseeing Pass: http://japan-magazine.jnto.go.jp/en/special_keihan.html

Guide to reach places in kyoto by train: http://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-kyoto-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html

• Arashiyama Mountain
• Kyoto International Manga Museum

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQzRsdA-?layers=T&m=&relation=4225854

  • Website: kyotomm.jp
• Nishiki Market

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQylZSs--?layers=T&m=&node=4170367989

• Takashimaya Basement Food Floor

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQyq0v?layers=T&m=&relation=357794

• Pontocho Alley (prettier by night!)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQ4TcE?layers=T&m=&relation=357794

• Geisha district

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQ4L1K?layers=T&m=

  • Tram stop: Gion-Shijo

  • Website: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3902.html

• Yasaka Shrine (in the Gion district best seen at night)
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQua0R--?layers=T&m=&way=336641107

  • Tram stop: Gion-Shijo
• Visit the Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka Preserved Lanes that lead down from the temple
• Ishibei-koji Lane
• Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHRMbi?layers=T&m=&way=98115917

• Gion Corner (the show is a highly concentrated introduction to several traditional Japanese arts and include short performances of a tea ceremony, ikebana, bunraku, Kyogen comic plays and dances performed by real maiko)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQt1i4?layers=T&m=&way=349681060

  • Website: http://www.kyoto-gioncorner.com/global/en.html

  • Coupon: http://www.kyoto-gioncorner.com/coopon.html

• Toji Temple (Japans largest pagoda)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQgAczA-?m=&relation=357794

• Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine (10000 Toi gates, takes 2 hours to go from the bottom to the top)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHF5Ytk?m=&way=96291583

• Sento Imperial Palace (NEED TO BOOK RESERVATION)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQ3yKv?m=&way=99448260

• Nijo Castle

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQ0IAX?m=&node=3740796912

  • Closed on Tuesday!
• Nishi Honganji Temple

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQhd~j?m=&way=372460724

• Higashi Honganji Temple

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQjVD5?m=&node=302243664

• Sanjusangen Temple

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQpG~r?m=&way=31842037

Eating

Important words

• Yatsuhashi gluten free mochi that look like a brown triangle

Places

• Mumokuteki Café (vegan/vegetarian)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQy5XSB--?m=&node=4545936090

• Choice (チョイス） (vegan and gluten free) (Read in Gluten free expats!)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQ5OkDR--?layers=H&m=&node=4550028390

• Organic house Salute (サルーテ) (vegan not sure if GF)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQhtm~F-?m=

  • Website: http://da-maeda.shop-pro.jp/?mode=f12

• Macrobiotics Prunus (in Arashiyama in case we decide to go to the mountain call to prepare GF one day ahead)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QF62_~vM--?layers=T&m=

• Kyotofu Konnamonja at Nishiki Market Street (SOYMILK SOFT ICE CREAM)

  • http://osm.org/go/7QHQyP8WJ?m=&way=348101164

• Toshoan (GF bakery)

  • Address: https://osm.org/go/7QHQwfSaI?m=

Festivals

• Daimon-ji Fire Festival

  • http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/daimonji

Shopping

• Pokemon Center Pikachu Kimono

  • https://osm.org/go/7QHQyrgI5--?m=&way=344481002

Osaka

Calendar: http://www.500type-eva.jp/entry/timetable.html#calendar http://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/seasonal-trains/limited-time-operation-specialized-shinkansen-train-500-type-eva.html

How to move around Osaka: https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/japan-by-rail/travel-tips/osaka-loop-line

• Dotonbori (Best seen at night)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QEy3j3t?m=

• Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QEy32Q_F-?m=

• Amerikamura

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QEy3eS9k-?m=

• Den Den Town

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QEy5UbAw-?m=

• Hozenji Yokocho Alley

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QEy3i_qx?m=&way=411095064

• Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QEw6Q1k-?m=&way=143328734

• Sumiyoshi Taisha

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QEnxqDY?m=&node=260745578

  • How to get there: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4007.html

• Umeda Sky Building ( 1000 yen fee pp)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QEzx1rB?layers=T&m=&relation=3389505

• Osaka Castle (don't go in! it is empty TRAP just see the it from outside) (600 yen fee pp)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QEzut_~?m=&way=35457792

• Namba Yasaka Shrine

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QEyzXycR-?m=&node=4407879695

• Shitennoji Temple (you have to pay)

  • Website: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4011.html

Guide to Osaka: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4001.html

Eating

Yaki-imo Baked Sweet Potato

• Honmatsubaya (wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets), including mochi (rice cake), namagashi (natural fruit snacks) and mizugashi (jellies with fruit))

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QEy7kkLE-?layers=T&m=

Hiroshima

• How to access to Miyajima from Hiroshima

  • http://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/local-lines/how-to-get-miyajima.html/comment-page-3#comment-264219

• Tourist Loop Bus, Meipuru-pu bus stop

  • http://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/station-information/hiroshima-station-guide-how-to-change-the-trains-shinkansen-and-local-train-to-miyajima-how-to-catch-tram-and-loop-bus-meipuru-pu.html

Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park, Hondori, Hiroshima Castle all can be reached with the travel bus

• Miyajima Island

  • Sightseeing: http://www.miyajima.or.jp/english/course/course_3hour.html

  • Itsukushima Jinja Shrine
  • Goju-no-To Pagoda

    • Address: http://osm.org/go/56hSlU0i?m=&way=41962010

  • Miyajima Water Fireworks Festival

    • Website: http://www.miyajima.or.jp/english/event/event_hanabi.html

• Hiroshima Castle
• Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial "A-Bomb Dome"
• Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims
• Downtown Hiroshima (Hondori)

Eating

• Shanti Yoga Vegan Cafe (Buddhist vegan cooking)

  • https://www.happycow.net/reviews/shanti-yoga-vegan-cafe-hiroshima-73516

Nagoya

Eating

• La Porte Marseille (vegetable cakes)

  • Address: http://osm.org/go/7QYimwBTB-?m=

Myoko Happiness Illumination

From Tokyo take the shikansen to Sekiyama Station. In the station there are local buses that take you from the station to the resort.

• http://www.tokyoweekender.com/events/myoko-happiness-illumination/

• https://www.apahotel.com/illumination/index.html

Curiosities

• Penis festival
• Capsule hotels man only
• Train prices, even have to pay for not having a reservation!