A Food blogger Guide to Japan - Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto

This post will be split into 3 parts.

Part 1: TOKYO

Part 2: KYOTO including Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Part 3: OSAKA including Nara deer park

Part 1: TOKYO

I started my Japan trip in Tokyo, and four days there felt just right for my first visit. I chose a hotel in Ginza, close to Tsukiji Outer Market, which was perfect since I visited the market every morning! For my next trip, I’d stay in Asakusa, my second favorite area. The B Ginza hotel costs around $180, while The B Asakusa is about $100, so the savings are significant.

As a food blogger, I love amazing food experiences, but I’m also practical when traveling abroad. I organize my itinerary by areas, covering food spots, markets, iconic sights, hikes, and malls efficiently. I don’t rush—I finish exploring one area before moving on to the next.

Some guidelines

⭐️I usually don’t make reservations because my priority is to explore as many places on foot as possible. The food spots I’ve saved are all great, so I don’t worry about missing out. If something catches my interest, I’ll make a note to check it out later in the trip.

⭐️My preferred way of traveling is by using public transport and walking

⭐️I begin my day around 7 a.m. Singapore time, waking up naturally, and typically wrap up around 9 to 10 p.m.

⭐️ I’m quite flexible with my dining choices and rely on my extensive list to ensure I make good selections. Even if my list includes five ramen shops, for example, I’ll skip the ramen if I’ve already had it recently, and opt for something else. Having a detailed list of ramen shops by area allows me to stay flexible and make the best choice for each meal.

Area: Keisei Ueno

Keisei Ueno Station
Yushima Tenjin Shrine
Ameyoko Shopping District
AMEYOKO PLAZA
Isomaru Suisan Ueno 6choume izakaya 24h
Gyukatsu Motomura Ueno tonkutsu
Shinobazu no Ike Pond for view
Ueno Park
Ueno Toshogu Shrine
Ueno Menya Musashi Bukotsu Soden
Ueno Marui mall
Sushi Yamazaki
古書鮫の歯 book shop
Sampota Cafe Nombiriya
Tennōji Temple maybe
Yanaka Ginza street

Area: Asakusa

Keisei Ueno Station to Asakusa Station (ginza line, platform 2)
Asakusa Shrine and street shopping
Sensō-ji temple
Five-Storied Pagoda
Hōzōmon Gate temple
Nakamise-dori Street
Mameshiba Cafe (not good review)
Kaminarimon gate
浅草新仲見世商店街 Shin-Nakamise Shopping Street
Restaurants: Suzukien Asakusa tea house, Kaminari Issa cafe, 7-Eleven, Asakusa Kokonoe fried manju, Asakusa Menchi fried, Kagetsudō Kaminarimon bakery, Asakusa Gyukatsu/ Aoi Marushin tempura/ Tendon Tenya, Kanoya izakaya, Asakusa Chaya Tabanenoshi cafe/ Matcha Sweets Kaminari-Issa/ Asakusa Kagetsudō For melon bun

Area: Tokyo skytree

Tokyo milk cheese factory Tokyo Sky Tree store
Tokyo Skytree Observation Deck
Cheese Garden
CAMPO SOLARE
Tsukiji Gindaco - Tokyo Solamachi
Donguri Republic (Ghibli Store in Tokyo Skytree Town Solamachi)
Tokyo Solamachi shopping mall
Daruma - Tokyo Skytree Town · Solamachi for okobaymi
Area: Toshima city
Midori Sushi Echika Ikebukuro
Isomaru Suisan Ikebukuro west exit izakaya
TOBU Department Store Ikebukuro
Higashi-Ikebukuro Taishoken - Main Shop ramen
Ikemofu Animal Room Experience (see owl, hedgehog)
Sunshine City mall
Tokyo hotel
Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel
APA Hotel Asakusa Tawaramachi Ekimae
THE KNOT TOKYO Shinjuku

Area: near Tsukiji Outer Market

Nearby restaurants: Sushikuni restaurant close on wed, Maguroya Kurogin close on tue and wed, Masa close on sun n wed, Gindaco Takoyaki, Ginza Ukai-Tei close on sun, Sushi Ginza Onodera - Souhonten, Kushiyaki Bistro Fukumimi Ginza 4-11pm, Godaime Hanayama Udon Ginza, Chūka Soba Ginza Hachigou and Yamachan Ginza

Mitsukoshi Ginza mall (11 min walk from Tsukiji Outer Market)
Ginza / Wako Annex Tea Salon
GINZA SIX mall
Manneken dessert
Nodaiwa Ginza unagi close sunday
Tokyu Plaza Ginza mall with terrace view

Restaurants: Sushi no Midori Ginza/ Sushi Tajima close sunday, Ginza Kagari Main Branch, Ginza Sushi Ko Honten, Sushi Ya close mon and sun, Sato Yosuke Ginza Inaniwa Udon, Oborodzuki ramen, Taiyaki Kanda Daruma, Andy's Shin Hinomoto izakaya 5pm

LUMINE Yurakucho mall
Matsuya Ginza mall
Ginza Loft mall
Kirarito Ginza mall (20 mins walk from Tsukiji Outer Market)
Itoya stationery store
Hitsumabushi Bincho unagi 11am
山形屋海苔店 cafe close weekend
Taiyaki Kanda Daruma Tsukijiten bakery close mon-wed

Area: further from market

La Boutique de Joël Robuchon Marunouchi Brick Square Branch
Manten Sushi Marunouchi
KITTE Marunouchi mall
KITTE Garden with roof top garden
Manneken Yaesu Underground Shopping Mall
Restaurants: Rokurinsha ramen, Tonkatsu Maisen Daimaru Tokyo, PRESS BUTTER SAND dessert, Tonkatsu Suzuki
TRAVELER’S FACTORY STATION stationery
Maekawa UNAGI & Japanese cuisine Marunouchi
Daimaru Tokyo mall with Ghibli Donguri Republic Tokyo Station Store
First Avenue Tokyo Station underground mall
GRANSTA underground mall
Marunouchi Ekimae Square for view
Takashimaya with Nodaiwa Nihombashi Takashimaya unagi, Tsujihan ZEITAKU DON, Gindaco, Yakinikuyazawatokyo 5pm
Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store mall
Owl cafe tokyo (4.9)

Restaurants along the way: Tamai Nihonbashi Main Branch anago, COREDO Nihonbashi mall anago, Manten Sushi Nihonbashi, Ningyocho Imahan shabu close wed, Nihonbashi Tamai Muromachi for anago, Rotating sushi Edo Kanda, Kanda Daruma bakery, Kanda Matsuya soba close sun, Isomaru Suisan Akihabara izakaya, Manneken JR Akihabara Sta. Shop dessert

Owl Cafe "Fukurou" close tue (can go)
Taiyaki Kanda Daruma dessert (1h walk from tsu market)

Area: Meiji Jingu Gaien park

Toyokawa Inari Betsuin temple

Restaurants: AFURI Harajuku ramen, Marion Crêpes Takeshitadori, Angel Crepes, Red Rock Harajuku, Sakura-tei okonomiyaki, GARIGUETTE cafe, Gontran Cherrier Tokyo Aoyama Shop bakery, Maguro-to-shari, KITH TREATS TOKYO ice cream, Panda Express Miyashita Park, Schmatz beer dining shibuya jinnan izakaya 5pm unless weekend, Isomaru Suisan Shibuya udagawacho izakaya, Kandaya Shibuya Center Street izakaya, Mikkeller Tokyo bar, Sushi no Midori, LE PAIN de Joël Robuchon Shibuya Hikarie Store bakery, Échiré Pâtisserie Au Beurre bakery, Kinkume restaurant, Katsuo Shokudo, AFURI Ebisu ramen, Sushi Yoshikawa, Tsukiji Sushiko Nakameguro, Daiwa Nakameguro sandwich, Afuri Nakameguro ramen, I’m donut ?, Nakame no Teppen Honten izakaya, Yuuzuki kaiseki, Ramen Jirō Meguro, Tsukiji Sushiko, wagashi asobi, Yazawa Shimokitazawa close tue 5pm, Yazawa Shimokitazawa, Nodaiwa Shimokitazawa unagi, Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory, Sushi no Midori Umegaoka, Tsukiji Sushiko

Area: Tokyo Tower

Zōjō-ji Temple
Unagi Nodaiwa Azabu Iikura Honten close sunday
Sushiya Shota close sun and mon

Area: Tokyu Plaza Akasaka mall

Isomaru Suisan izakaya
Hie Shrine
Sushi no Midori Akasaka
Tsukiji Sushiko JIN Ark Hills
Nogi-jinja Shrine
Tokyo Midtown mall

Restaurants: Yakitori Hachibei (Roppongi Store) 5.30pm, Kintsuta Roppongi 5pm, Onzoushi Matsurokuya close sun, Afuri Roppongi Crossing Gate ramen, Isomaru Suisan Roppongi, Jomon Roppongi 5pm, Ginza Kagari Roppongi Hills, La Boutique de Joël Robuchon bakery, Afuri Roppongi Hills, Yamazaki kaiseki 5.30pm, Butagumi Onkatsu, Nishiazabu Sushi Shin close monday, Yoroniku yakiniku 5pm

Area: Meiji Jingu shrine

Yoyogi Park
Fuglen Tokyo cafe
Togo Shrine
DAISO Harajuku Store
Owl Village Cafe Harajuku (can go)
Takeshita Street Square (market)
Takeshita Street
Harajuku Mame Shiba Cafe (can go)
SoLaDo Takeshita-dori mall
Laforet Harajuku mall
Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku mall
Harajuku Gyozaro dumpling
Omotesando Ukai Tei teppanyaki close wed
Cat St
Omotesando Hills
HARRY HARAJUKU terrace (can go animal cafe)

Area: ChikuChiku Cafe

Uobei sushi
Miyashita Park mall
Spain-zaka Slope
Shibuya 109 mall
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Shibuya Tokyu Food Show mall
Tokyu Plaza Shibuya mall
Shibuya Sky
Tsutaya Books Daikan-yama
Traveler's Factory Nakameguro
mipig cafe Meguro (pig cafe) 4.7
One Hundred Steps Staircase
Musashi-Koyama Onsen Shimizu-yu
Togoshi Ginza Onsen
Ofuro no Osama Oimachi
Kitashinagawa Spa Tenjinyu
Natural hot spring Heiwajima
Gotokuji Temple

Area: GONTRAN CHERRIER SHINJUKU bakery

Restaurants: Soushi Menya Musashi ramen, gindaco, Isomaru Suisan NishiShinjuku 7choume, Isomaru Suisan Shinjuku 3choume izakaya, Kani Douraku crab house, Tempura Ginza Ten-ichi, ISETAN DINING, Tempura Shinjuku Tsunahachi Souhonten, Taishoken Maruichi Shinjuku Higashi Minamiguchi ramen, Shinjuku Kappo NAKAJIMA for sardine, Gyukatsu Motomura tonkatsu, Uogashi Nihon-Ichi (Standing Sushi Bar), Afuri Shinjuku Lumine ramen, Isomaru Suisan NishiShinjuku 1choume three izakaya, Fūunji Ramen, Udon Shin, Azuki to Kouri dessert (far)

Shinjuku Golden Gai
Lumine Shinjuku LUMINE 2
Odakyu Ace mall
Lumine Shinjuku LUMINE 1 mall
FOOD HALL BLAST! TOKYO

Area: Takashimaya Times Square

Le Cafe De Joël Robuchon
Takashimaya
Katsukura Shinjuku Takashimaya tonkatsu
Takashimaya Times Square
Cat Cafe Mocha (can go)
Tsukemen Gonokami Seisakusho Shinjuku ramen
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Part 2: KYOTO including Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Kyoto has a charming, rustic allure that I truly appreciate.

Three days in Kyoto was perfect for my first visit. I made sure to include the iconic Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, even though it requires a 1-hour bus ride. On my second visit, I’d still visit the forest, especially since we were completely won over by Steak Otsuka. This restaurant serves incredible steak that's rich and melts in your mouth; I could only manage two slices. We tried various cuts and were impressed by the quality.

I wore a kimono in Kyoto because it’s less crowded than Tokyo and Osaka, making it easier to take photos. Plus, the backdrop of the temples and shops is stunning.

Area A

Pottery Shop Toutensei Kawasaki
Otowanotaki (Kiyomizu-Dera)
Kiyomizu-dera temple
Sannenzaka street
Maccha House
Ninenzaka street
Hōkan-ji Temple
Maruyama Park
South Tower Gate
Chion-in Temple
Otowanotaki (Kiyomizu-Dera)
Kiyomizu-dera
Kōdai-ji Temple
Higashiyama Mount Peak Park Observatory
Yasaka-jinja Shrine
Izuju Sushi wed and thu close
Keage Incline
Nanzen-ji Temple
Eikandō (Zenrinji) Temple
Heian Shrine
Shojuin Temple
Philosopher's Path
Higashiyama Jisho-ji

Area B

Kyoto Kimono Rental Yumeyakata Gojo
Men-ya Inoichi Hanare ramen
Waguri Senmon Saori Cafe
Kennin-ji Temple
Gion一穂 sushi
Men-ya Inoichi ramen
Gion Corner
Hanamikoji Street
Tsujiri Tea House, Gion Main Shop
Kyōto Gion Post Office
Pontocho alley then walk up

Restaurants: Yakiniku MARUTOMI, Manten izakaya 4/5pm, 551 Horai chinese, KYOTO ENGINE RAMEN, koé donuts kyoto, MACCHA HOUSE Kyoto Kawaramachi,

Ichiran - Kyoto Kawaramachi, Tendon Makino Kyoto Teramachi, Okudohan, Nanaya Kyoto Sanjo Shop ice cream, Jiki Miyazawa, Mensho Takamatsu - Main Shop, Jiki Miyazawa, Wajoryomen Sugari ramen, Honke Owariya Main Branch soba

Area C

Yatadera temple
Nishiki Market
Nijō Castle
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Kyoto Gyoen National Garden

Area D

Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine
Senbon Torii
Araki-jinja Shrine
Tōfuku-ji Temple
Imakumano Kannon-ji Temple
Rengeō-in (Sanjūsangen-dō) Temple

Area E

Tōji Temple
Fushimi Inari Taisha Otabisho shrine
551 Horai
Bakery: Gion Tsujiri Kyōto Station Hachijōguchi, Manneken JR Kyoto Station, Kyo-Tofu Fujino, KYOTOFU FUJINO, 551 Horai JR Kyoto Isetan Store, 551 Horai - Kyoto Porta
Kyoto Tower

Area F

Togetsu-kyo Bridge
Kotoimo Honpo dessert
Tenryu-ji temple
Sagano Bamboo Grove
Steak Otsuka
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Okochi Sanso Garden
Area d
Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street
Adashino Nenbutsuji
Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple

Part 3: OSAKA

Four days in Osaka was perfect for my first visit. The Osaka e-pass proved to be very handy for enjoying attractions like the ferris wheel, cruise, and tower slider. With many Chinese tourists around, I avoid long lines at popular food spots by going during off-peak hours or exploring places a bit farther from the city center.

We stopped by Nara Deer Park on our way from Kyoto to Osaka, which was much more efficient than making a separate day trip from Kyoto. We stored our luggage in a coin locker at the station.

Area: Namba Walk

Ebisu Bashi-Suji Shopping Street
Hozenji temple
Mame Shiba Cafe
Dotonbori
Dotonbori Glico Sign
Tombori River walk
Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street
mipig cafe 大阪店
Amerika-Mura park
Shinsaibashi Big Step mall
Daimaru Shinsaibashi mall
Shinsaibashi Opa mall
Owl Cafe Chouette

Restaurants: WAGYU IDATEN, 551Horai Panchan, Oretachino-curry Ramen Koji Labo Osaka-namba, Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street, Kurogin Tuna Store, Takoyaki Wanaka Sennichimae, Futami no Butaman, Kuromon Ichiba Market, たこ焼道楽わなか黒門市場店 takoyaki/okonomiya **, Rikuro’s Namba Main Branch, Takoyaki Wanaka Namba, 551 Horai Ebisubashi honten, Horai honkan, Kushikatsu Daruma - Namba Main Shop deep fried, Matsusakagyu Yakiniku M Hozenji Hanare Yakiniku, Hanamaruken Namba Hozenji ramen, Kushikatsu Daruma - Hozenji fried skewer, Tempura Tarojiro skewer, Okonomiyaki Mizuno, Kura Sushi Osaka Dotonbori Global Flagship Store, Takoyaki Wanaka Dotonbori, Kushikatsu Daruma - Dotombori,Takoyaki Kukuru Dotonbori, Takoyaki Kukuru Dotonbori, Bokkoshi Ramen, mittera kaikan, Wanaka Takoyaki, Katsudon Chiyomatsu | Dotonbori Main Store, Cheese Tart Pablo Shinsaibashi, Kushikatsu Daruma - Shinsaibashi fried food, Takoyaki Kukuru Daimaru Shinsaibashi, Kushikatsu Daruma - Shinsaibashi, Rikuro Daimaru Shinsaibashi, 551 Horai Shinsaibashi Daimaru, Teppanyaki Okonomiyaki Oribe, Kaettekita Miyatamenji Ramen, CANELÉ du JAPON Nagahori-shop, Oretachino Ryoshigoya izakaya, Teppanyaki Okonomiyaki Fue