TOKYO
I was only there for about 1 day in total, so I cannot offer much here!
I stayed at the Shibuya Granbell Hotel, which as you can imagine was pretty close to the famous walkway. It was a comfortable room and there’s a ramen place conveniently located on the ground floor. I later found out that it was a favourite of some of my customers, who go there regularly. A good sign!
For internet access, I rented a pocket wifi unit from japan-wireless.com which worked a treat. They were super easy to deal with and on e done with the unit, they provide an envelope + instructions for returning it.
The only attractions I was able to visit was Shibuya crossing and it’s shops + the very cool (and famed) Shinto Shrine, Meiji Jingu, in Yoyogi Park
I of course then took the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto. It’s not cheap but I figured it might be a once in a lifetime experience.
KYOTO
I rented the bottom part of a restored original Geisha house in Gion area, called Indigo House. http://www.oldkyoto.com/property/37929
Not cheap but a cool experience and super quiet place close to all the attractions I’ve listed below 😀
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Gion Corner – Very cool “old Japanese” street
５７０−２ Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyōto-shi, Kyōto-fu 605-0074, Japan
+81 75-561-1119
https://goo.gl/maps/32YFFWmBcos
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Yasaka Shrine – about 10min walk from Gion Corner and the market is 10min away as well.
625 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
https://goo.gl/maps/GBgUkQ3h91YupgdCA
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Nishiki Market Kyoto
Japan, 〒604-8054 Kyōto-fu, Kyōto-shi, Nakagyō-ku, Higashiuoyachō, 富小路通四条上る西大文字町609番地
+81 75-211-3882
https://goo.gl/maps/Lh29cAYWWyN2
You could walk around here for hours. Packed with shops and stalls filled with local produce and products
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Very nice Ramen place. Apparently the best in Kyoto 😉
Close to the Kyoto market (4min walk) and Gion corner (10min walk).
Ramen Sen-no-Kaze Kyoto
580 Nakanochō (Shinkyōgokudōri), Nakagyō-ku, Kyōto-shi, Kyōto-fu 604-8042, Japan
+81 75-255-0181
https://goo.gl/maps/4ahZ3XUbe5P2
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Really cool Kyoto Bar
Opened by a French guy who used to be a magician. Very theatrical, Sherlock Holmes feel to it. About a 15min walk from the Gion area.
L’Escamoteur
138-9 Saitocho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 600-8012, Japan
+81 75-708-8511
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KOBE
I was there for work most of the week, so I didn’t get to see too much. There’s a cool mall and “Chinatown” next to each other in the centre of Kobe.
If you walks around 10 minutes away from the center, you’ll come across dozens of lovely ramen places as well as a very interesting “mall” of shops, which are located underneath the railway line. There are a lot of small stalls selling Japanese designed and made products
On my last day there I went to the Kobe Herb Garden up in the mountains. I walked from my hotel and it took about 30min.
There’s a cool funicular to bring up to the garden, which provided great views on the way up!
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That was it essentially as it was mainly a work trip but given the chance I would go back to Japan time and time again!
I’ll see if I can find any leaflets / links to other attractions that I didn’t get a chance to go to and I’ll forward them on.