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"Japan never considers time together as time wasted. Rather, it is time invested."
- Donald Richie
TOKYO
NI-CHOME
Ni-Chome refers to a area in shinjuku where the gay bars are concentrated. Some of the most popular bars in the area are campy!, Dragon men, arty farty, goldfinger.
Senso-ji Temple
This is a great place to tell people more about your special day and get them excited to celebrate.
Solamachi Plaza
This plaza is located at the base of the Skytree and is home to a huge mall, aquarium, food court and much more. Its a perfect place for window shopping and to get a good look at the kinds of products Japan has to offer.
ODAIBA
Odaiba is a man made island off the coast of tokyo. It minics various landmarks from around the world like the Eiffle tower, Golden gate bridge and the Statue of Liberty! the island has amusement parks, Virtual reality arcades, Giant robots and Malls.
TOKYO SKYTREE
One of the tallest towers in Japan, its as if the Seattle space needle and the Eiffel tower had an Asian landmark baby. you can go up to three different levels at the top of the tower for panoramic views of the city. The base of the structure has a mall and various other activities.
IMPERIAL PALACE
Although you cannot set foot in the actual palace as it is the home of the current emperor and his family, you can view the beautiful gardens and surrounding grounds. on sundays the streets are blocked off for people to ride their bikes for a fun afternoon.
GUNDAM
Located on the island called Odaiba off the coast of Tokyo , this giant robot from a famous anime watches over the island and even has its own themed cafe.
GUNDAM
THE GOLDEN POO
This oddly shaped landmark landed the name "tokyos golden poop" from locals. it sits atop a beer factory and can be seen from across the river in asakusa.
This commemorative statue outside of shibuya station is based on a true story of an Akita dog. His owner and he were inseparable and he would always see his owner off to work at the bus station and come back at night to pick him up. when his owner died at work Hachiko continued to wait for him for 10 years at that same bus stop hoping for his owners return. his faithfulness rendered him a japanese hero.
HACHIKO STATUE
AKIHABARA
Famous for being the tech central of Japan this district is not only filled with various high tech shops but its also known for being the "Otaku" center of Japan. Otaku similarly translates to nerd or geek in Japanese, specifically toward those overly obsessed with Anime. You will see life-size anime girls, people cosplaying and billboards with fake characters on them amongst all the lights.
This crosswalk located across from Shibuya station is known for having hundreds of people timely crossing the street at one time, from up above the view of so many people running around like ants amongst the city lights has become a tourist favorite.
SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE
CAT CAFE
You can find them all over Japan, these popular cafes have the best company. have a coffee and some sweets while u play with fancy cats in the heart of the city.
The Ghibli museum is a Miyazaki fanatics dream. there is no photography allowed in the building and on top of that only a certain amount of people are allowed to enter every hour making it both mysterious and hard to acquire tickets. Tickets have to be purchased 3 months in advance to even have a chance to see the amazing creations inside.
GHIBLI MUSEUM
This 7-story tall sex shop has everything and anything you could dream of. Although its 7 stories tall its nowhere near spacious. tourists and Japanese businessmen alike crowd the isles of this shop in search of the perfect toy.
M's: POP LIFE SHOP
Located in the heart of Harajuku, this amazingly themed cafe is a sensory overload of bright colors and fun monster-themed rooms. The workers perform a dance on the carousel as you eat rainbow food and chug down a sugary cocktail.
KAWAII MONSTER CAFE
This serene Japanese garden lies in the heart of the city, its a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle for just afternoon of lush greenery and quiet.
RIKU-GIEN GARDEN
TSUKIJI MARKET
This early morning market is the biggest fish market in the world. The main market is not open to the public till later in the morning however if you find yourself wanting to wake up at 4 am to view their tuna actions you can see the top chefs of Japan bidding for the best fish. There is an outer market open to the public with restaurants using the freshest ingredients form the day.
AGE-ha NIGHTCLUB
One of the Biggest nightclubs in Japan has a never-ending lineup of amazing DJ's ready to get you going for a long night of dancing. Another famous club with size and flare is WOMB.
Hakone
OSAKA
OSAKA AQUARIUM
Japans most impressive aquarium is 8 stories tall where you find yourself spiring around a giant main tank that is home to a whale shark. the aquarium bases its marine life on the several regions of the Pacific rim and is a must-see for marine lovers.
DONBURI STREET
This street is most famous for its "running man" poster and the nearby restaurant with a giant moving crab as a building. the street is lined with amazing food and the best shopping.
OSAKA CASTLE
Surrounded by an impressive yet picturesque moat this is a modern rebuild of the original castle since the original was taken over and destroyed several times in times of invasion. its surrounded by a large park and although the walk up to the castle can be difficult there is a little train car that takes guests to the top for a small fee.
SHINSEKAI STREET
Translated to "new world" this area was built pre-war times but was then neglected and so it stayed the way it was and was just cleaned up to be this nostalgic old style Osaka street market. It has a bunch of restaurants and holds the popular indoor water park SPA WORLD.
KYOTO
FUSHIMI-INARI SHRINE
This shrine is dedicated to foxes, who are known as messengers to the gods. Bright orange tori gates line your path all the way up a mountain known as the path to heaven. after a 10 minute walk there is a small shrine but To get to the top you will have to trek uphill for over 2 hours.
TENRYU-JI TEMPLE
Just off to the side of the bamboo grove in Arashiyama is Tenryu-ji temple. Known for its picturesque scenery it is a perfect place to rest and gaze upon the lake and surrounding mountains.
MY BIG EVENT
This is a great place to tell people more about your special day and get them excited to celebrate.
GION STREET
This is one of the top tourist streets in Kyoto, the old wooden buildings give the street a charming character. It contains teahouses, shops, and fancy restaurants. Nearby is a calan lines with willow trees where people often spot geisha.
KYOTO STATION
If you're in Kyoto chances are you're going to be taking quite a few trains out of this station. kyoto station is full with floors upon floors of commuters rushing to catch their train in time. This station has various popular restaurants but good luck making your way to your destination easily for it is a neverending maze of train schedules.
BAMBOO GROVE
Located in Arashiyama this forest of bamboo is a national treasure. Often well crowded its best to get there early in the morning to take in the views and cool breeze without the hassle of dadging masses of people.
KINKAKUJI TEMPLE
Also known as the golden pavilion this building is the old retirement home of a rich shogun. Each tier of the temple represents a different era of Japanese architecture and is covered in gold leafing.
NISHIKI MARKET
This is one of the most famous markets in kyoto. its a long narrow street in the city where vendors sell local goods and good food. nearby is a street full of cheap shops for all your souvenir needs. make sure to get there early afternoon since the market closes around dinner time.
DOGGY CAFE
Cat cafes may be the most famous of the animal cafes in Japan but that doesn't mean there isn't a love for puppies! visit one of Kyoto's doggy cafes to see some cute Shiba-inus in themed ascots
GEISHA SIGHTINGS
Kyoto has one of the largest concentrations of geisha and maki (apprentices). Often misinterpreted as prostitutes Geisha are highly educated women of the arts. Wander the streets of Gion and if you're lucky you might spot one. But note it's not polite to take a picture of them without their permission. For a pretty penny, you could hire one for your dinner entertainment, aka thousands of dollars later.
IZU PENINSUlA
SHIRAHAMA BEACH
This white sandy beach is not far from the city and hotels. It has surfing as well as beachfront restaurants and shops for the perfect beach day set up.
KAWAZU SEVEN FALLS
This pleasant walking path leads you 1 kilometer through the forest to see several waterfalls, loop bridges, and hot springs.
ATAMI
The entrance to the peninsula is the area called Atami. its pleasant views of the water make it a desirable day trip destination out of tokyo.
JOGASAKI COAST
Just off the area of Ito is a scenic hiking trail that leads you over jagged rocky cliffs and over rope suspension bridges.
RESORTS
Throughout the peninsula there are several areas were resorts reign king, Shuzenji, Ito, Shimoda, and Atami. Each is different but spare no money in regards to the luxurious views of the sea.
ONSENS
Many of the hotels in the Shuzenji area are known for their lovelyhot springs.
HIROSHIMA
MIYAJIMA TOJI GATE
This tori gate is one of the most popular in Japan. during high tide, it looks as if it is floating on the water and during low tide, you can walk across the beach and touch it. people are not the only ones who love visiting the gate, the island is home to many overly friendly deer that are just waiting to eat your belongings.
PEACE MEMORIAL PARK
What was once the political and commercial hub of the city is now a gigantic park to pay tribute to the atomic bomb that was dropped in the exact site. One building stands post-bombing and is known as A-bomb. the park breathes new life into a tragic history. you can find herds of happy school children running around the park now.
ITSUKUSHIMA SHRINE
This centuries-old shrine is built to look like its floating on the water during high tide. At night its bright colors are illuminated off the water and can be seen form around the island.
PEACE MUSEUM
This museum located in memorial park keeps the history of the WW2 bombing of Hiroshima. The museum is both informative and emotionally touching. It has artifacts pre and post-atomic bombing while also holding the stories of those who lived through it. Although it is a difficult visit, it is a must-see for anyone visiting the area to pay tribute to.
NIKKO
KIRIFURI FALLS
Translated to "falling mist" this two-tiered waterfall spans a height of 75 meters high and is easily accessible with a short hike to a designated viewing point.
SHINKYO BRIDGE
At the base of Nikko's shrines and temples, this bridge is regarded as one of the top bridges in Japan.
KINUGAWA ONSEN
Tucked away in the northern mountains this area is full of fancy hotels that overlook a creek and the mountains. Enjoy soaking in the natural hot springs while you escape the heat of the city and breathe in the cool mountain air.
TOSHOGU SHRINE
This is one of the most lavishly decorated shrines in Japan. multiple buildings covered in gold and hand pained carvings it is a beautiful sight to see. getting to the shrine is a bit of a hike up the mountain but is well worth the sight.