Hi! Looking for recommendations...
Going to Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo...
Off the beaten path and non-touristy food markets, restaurants, food stores, kitchen stores, food museums....

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Tax Mataz

Mike Man Michelle Man

Ben Glassco

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Carmen Lukasz Pecherzewski

Amy Tse ask Thomas. for budget places

Check out www.reddit.com/r/japantravel for itinerary ideas! They love sinking their teeth into off-beat itineraries.
Kaiyukan Aquarium was a blast, as was Kiyomizu dera.
Touristy spots that I would avoid would be the Golden Pavilion.

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search this group. there have been some really great suggestions lately for Japan.

Metta will do

For how many days? JR pass 14 day? Your first time to Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka?

Arts about 4 days in each city

I’m assuming this is your first time visit & using JR pass:
Osaka & Kyoto:
Day 1
1. Tenjimbashi-suji shopping street, visit Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
2. Osaka castle: Walk around Osaka castle.
3. Dotonbori.
Day 2
Miyajima island free with JR pass
Day 3
Hiroshima, with JR pass free hop on/off bus tour “meipuru-pu bus
Day 4
Nara
Day 5
Kobe
Kyoto
Day 6
1. Nishiki Market
2. Fushimi Inari
3. Kyomizu dera
4. Gion
Day 7
1. Arashiyama
2. Kinkakuji
3. Ginkakuji, philosphy path
Day 8
Extra day

Tokyo
Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, asakusa, Ueno, roppongi and Ginza were quite busy tourist attractions, but if this is your first time visiting Tokyo, I think you should definitely visit. There are lots of things you can see, and if you are especially into food there are lots of local places you can try.
Some places that aren’t too crowded but still worth visiting include:
1. Sugamo station: go around Sugamo, Jizo Dori street
2. Shimbashi station: go around Shimbashi, has a lot of local stuff.
3. Nippori & Nishi Nippori station: Yanaka Ginza street, more traditional shopping street, food, hand craft, kitchens store ect.
4. Tsukishima station: go around Tsukishima and try melon bread.
5. Akasaka station: go around akasaka and have lunch at Kobe Beef 511.
6.Nakano station: go around Nakano and Nakano broadway.
7. Don’t forget to try McDonald’s in japan.
If you’re staying at each city for 4 days, you can use the 7 days JR pass for Osaka & Kyoto and the 5 day in Tokyo. You can visit Hiroshima and Miyajima on the same day and Nara and Kobe on the same day. You can go back to Tokyo on day 7 so you can use the JR pass to visit and explore Yokohama city or you can go to Gotemba outlet and you can choose to go to Shirakawago. Hope this was able to help you in planning your trip, enjoy your visit to Japan.

If you are into kitchen stores there is a whole area that all of the stores sell kitchen things. We loved just walking around it and looking

Marilyn i agree osaka kitchen alley was great

theres a sumo museum in ryogoku tokyo

Thanks everyone! Thins gives me a lot to start with

There is an instant noodle museum in Yokohama.

https://favy-jp.com/topics/1144
Ebisu Yokocho

https://en.japantravel.com/.../shibuya-secrets.../7477

Shourian Tofu House in Kyoto. You have to go thru the forest a bit to find it. Then it overlooks an emerald green lake. The lunch is a 7 course delilite of tofu cooked in so many ways. We had to book 6 months in advance to reserve our spot!

Correct sp is Shouraian

Megan Luk

Definately get a rail pass and don't be seduced in to taking internal flights,they take up too much of your day. Definately visit Kyoto, and try to stay in a hostel or ryokan . Delightful. Also Hiroshima is a bit of a distance but definately well worth it. Osaka castle was lovely to walk to and see. Less interesting inside but def worth the trip.

LaQua spa in Tokyo dome, you can stay over night at the baths and it’s cheaper than a hotel!

Here's a book idea:
Old Kyoto: The Updated Guide to Traditional Shops, Restaurants, and Inns by Diane Durston (2005). Says it is a good guide for finding out-of-the way shops, restaurants, and inns in the various neighbourhoods.

here's a round up of 9 different places i ate at in tokyo! http://www.raincouverbeauty.com/.../tokyo-food-guide...

I highly recommend that if you're going to Osaka and want something off the beaten road, I highly recommend a day trip to Koya-san in Wakayama. Unmissable Buddhist temple complex.

I was there same places in June & would love to go back! I got the 7-day JK pass from Yvr before the trip. We landed in Haneda & booked in Keikyu EX inn Haneda. Rented a wifi at the airport for our whole time in Japan. Used our JK pass to get to hotel from the airport. They also have free shuttle to/from the airport but we were excited to take the train. After checking in, we went outside down the road to find places to eat. We found a gem of local restos that are very cheap & food is really good! You have to learn how they order thru a vendor machine though but it’s fun to learn ha ha! We didn’t know Japanese so we just learn from what they locals do. They’re very helpful. Next day, we took the train & used our 7-week pass to Tokyo. All JR trains accept the day pass so u can go around wherever you like. We explored all those side streets & alleys for authentic Japanese, & yes a lot of walking. Keep your wifi with you as google is your BFF.After a day in Tokyo, we took the Shinkansen from Tokyo station. We left some of our bags in Keikyu even if we checked out as we will check in back again. We headed to Osaka & checked in our hotel very close to Osaka station. In Osaka we went to Kuromon, Donbori, shopping & Osaka Castle. Very beautiful! Next day, we went to Kyoto’s Inari Fushima shrine (most beautiful!), bamboo forest, akiyama romantic cruise, Gion, etc. Then we headed back to Tokyo on our 6th day thru Shinkansen - all these using our JR pass. Checked back into keikyu EX inn to catch our next flight out of Japan