Japan – Page 5 – Travels With Matt Blog

5 restaurant experiences to try in Tokyo

There are a lot of amazing restaurants, both big and small, to experience while exploring Tokyo (and throughout Japan). Here are five that are a must when you visit Japan. They are sure to fit any appetite and budget, no matter what you are looking for.

Restaurant Review: Gonpachi

If you are a fan of Kill Bill and the epic fight scene against the Crazy 88, then you should visit this restaurant. If you are looking for an average meal in Tokyo with high prices, then this place is also for you.

Top travel websites for planning a trip to Japan

There are a lot of websites out there when planning an international trip to Japan. While the amount of information can be overwhelming at first, these are some of the top websites I have used and have trusted in my past trips and recommend you visit before heading out on that next vacation.

Picking a hotel in Japan

Japan is full of of hotels, each one with unique styles and features that ideal for whatever you are looking for. Here are a few notes about different types of hotels and what you can expect from each as you plan to book your trip.

Restaurant review: Bill’s Omotesando Restaurant

This location of Bill’s Omotesando Restaurant is located in Tokyo Plaza Omotesando in the Harajuku district of Tokyo (there are several locations in Tokyo including one in Ginza).

Chopstick Manners in Japan

Knowing how to use chopsticks might seem like a small part of the Japanese dining experience, however, it is a very important one. Having proper manners and etiquette is very important, so here are some quick things to remember about chopsticks in Japan.

Japan does away with vaccine requirement for arrivals

As of April 29, Japan is no longer requiring incoming arrivals to provide proof of their Covid-19 vaccine or a negative Covid-19 test, opening the door even to a full return to normal.

Japan trip booked!

The 2023 October trip to Japan has been officially booked! It took a while, a lot of money, and a lot of hard decisions, but the hotels and airfare are now officially booked.

Hotel Review: APA Kyoto Ekimae

Here is a hotel review from a 3-star hotel in Kyoto, the APA Hotel Kyoto-Ekimae, located right next to Kyoto Station. This is a nice, business hotel, but has some things about it you should know about before you book it.

Overrated places in Tokyo

Have you ever gone to a place that you thought would be incredible but it ended up being a let down? It didn’t quite live up to all of the hype you read about and wonder how it got such great reviews on Trip Advisor?

Here are a few of those in Tokyo that you should rethink before planning an entire day around these sites.

Returning to Japan in 2023

It has been a long time coming (work, pandemic, and just life in general) but after several years I am excited to say I’m headed back to Japan in 2023 (and with company).

Vibes of Tokyo

I’m going to write a three part series, starting with this one, on the vibes I felt in the three cities we visited while in Japan in 2019: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. While I didn’t have the luxury of spending weeks or months in each town, I was however able to pick up on the vibes of each city along the way and wanted to record my thoughts on each because each one was unique and could be a deciding factor about which one you may want to visit when you head to Japan.