Hi Guys! My husband and I are going to Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, Kinosaki and Osaka) May 18th and I'd love love love some recommendations for foodies! Where to eat? Nightlife? Cooking classes? I'd like to have a sushi experience where you sit at the bar but everything that I find is $300 a person and booked up already
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Checkout Trekking with Becky. She lived there for several years.

Thanks!

Amazing sushi experience that doesn't break the bank is at tsujiki fish market. You have to go really early since they close around noon and lineups start as early as 5am. Freshest sushi you will ever have. It's around $45 for a set menu with options to add more. Definitely a memorable experience. The fish market itself is fun to walk around as well.

Tsujiki is very touristy and rip off!

It fits what Ashley is looking for. Authentic experience where you sit at a bar and they serve you individual pieces.
The actually restaurant to go to is called "Sushi Dai" there is always a line up so you have to go early otherwise you might not be let in. It's worthwhile experience and again not $300. The fish comes right from the mornings fish auction so it is as fresh as you can get it. I went as a tourist and it was one of my most memorable experiences in Tokyo.

U can get cheap but good sushi rice at Ueno for less than half price of Tsujiki.

Of course you can get cheap sushi in Tokyo from just about every street corner. If you want to go cheapest, find one of those conveyor belt sushi places. But my recommended for sure is Tsujiki fish market since it is the freshest. If you are going to Tokyo for the first time, this is a must.

Just my opinion but I didn't think tsukiji was the best. We waited for 3 hrs at sushi dai the first time. On our next trip, I found some of the vendors in the market to be rude, which says something because japan is very polite.
A man was looking into a restaurant and the staff outside asked how many. He said he was just looking and she told him to leave
At the ramen place outside that's standing area, a lady was looking to see what the fuss was (this was a popular place) the worker said she had to get in line. She said she was looking and he said, go, go! To leave and not block the next stall.
If you're open to trying different fish then I'd say tsukiji, if you're like me and will only eat certain kinds, then don't get the omasake which is a set variety.
Me and other people got sick after eating at sushi dai (different visits)

Tsujiki is worth visiting, but not the best option for fresh and reasonable seafood. At least, locals will not go! There is one very famous ( very long line) called 齊藤鮮魚， very good n fresh sashimi for LUNCH only.

Thanks! I will defiantly go there but I thinking a nice restaurant for dinner where it's a full experience and not rushed and touristy.

Which airport are you going to? We are going there in July and will buy the hot springs n bus combo tix from Narita airport. Apparently, that's the cheapest way to go to the city if u like hot springs and trying out the yukata. Only thing is, not sure we have to buy the tix right away after landing and use it on the same day or we can buy it next day (cause we will arrive in late afternoon, and would like to stay over in a close by hotel to chill for one night, then go to the hot springs next day), please see if you can find that out for me. Thx.

If you want the fancy sushi bar experience for half the price, eat there at lunch instead of dinner. Also the chanko-nabe in Ryogoku is so awesome!

Thanks! Do you have a specific restaurant that is fancy that I should try?

Manveer S Samra

For Tokyo, if you go to Harajuku, you should check out,
Harajuku Gyozaro. Its awesome. If you end up in Shibuya, Han no Daidokoro Dogenzaka. You might need a reservation, but I've been without it, really good too. In Kyoto, Ramen Sen No Kaze. If there's a line, its worth the wait. Its also open for lunch and close to shopping so even if you have to wait, you can browse. You won't wait long. Its the best ramen! Since you're going to be in Osaka, I would head to Kobe, for some famous steak. Kobe steak is way different than kobe steak in other parts of the world. This is the real stuff. Its only about a 30 min train ride. I love Kobe Ishidaya, I've been there twice, 2 different trips and it was amazing each time. Its not cheap but I think lunch is suppose to be cheaper than dinner. Have a great trip! I love Japan and now i want to go back!

Thanks!

Anita Tran
Marc Barber recommendations for your trip maybe