visiting Japan for the first time is exhilarating fascinating and perhaps above all confusing where to go what to do and where to stay I mean there's a reason this is the most requested video I've had for 10 years now and so the time has finally come we're about to go on a 2E Journey around the country to discover how you can experience as much of Japan as possible in just 14 days and rather than simply sit in a room and list off places where actually going to do the entire route we'll get lost down kotor's ancient streets one to the picturesque sleepy Mountain Village of Shir Calo and have a night out in neon lit Oraka from ascending smoldering active volcanoes to meeting the local wildlife in NADA we'll reveal the best locations to stay and of course taste the local dishes along the way and while technically there's no right way to see Japan if you're coming here for the first time there's definitely certain places you need to see and experience to understand the story of Japan past present and even future but perhaps the biggest question of all is why visit Japan right now for many coming to Japan it is the trip of a lifetime especially given it is so far and it costs so much to get here and yet right now the Japanese yen is the cheapest it's been in over 30 years and so your money will genuinely go a lot further but what about the flights thankfully it's never been easier to find cheap flights to Tokyo either especially thanks to today's sponsor Skyscanner whenever I'm traveling between UK and Japan Skyscanner is always the first place I head to is the best way to search the web for the cheapest flights scanning the internet across 80 billion prices every single day just whip out your phone and open up the app and thanks to their 1200 Partnerships across flights accommodation and even Car hire you can practically prepare your entire Journey from start to finish all from within your pocket grab the Skyscanner app now on IOS and Android or on desktop at the link below and find yourself the cheapest flights so you can save all that precious pocket ET money for all the amazing things we're about to do in 14 days across Japan the vast majority of tourists flying into Japan arrive at Tokyo haneda or Narito airport and so our Journey Begins and ends in Tokyo where you have the daunting choice of choosing where to stay in my view the best two places are either Shinjuku the chaotic or inspiring Entertainment District or Asaka and weno in the east of the city personally if you're new to Japan I do recommend staying in Asaka for the first stretch in Tokyo where things are slightly more laidback around the senoji temple and the old traditional streets the first 3 Days of our itinerary will be spent in Tokyo however given will be back here at the end of our trip we've actually made the entire list of things to do in and around the Tokyo area at the end of this video so stick around to the end to find out what to do while the Tokyo area can feel absolutely endless there's still so many amazing day trips to be had just outside of the city where you can catch your breath and recover from the traumatic jet lag all in a more relaxed atmosphere and and so today we're off on a trip to the ancient coastal town of Kamakura and the neighboring Port City of Yokohama with one long day it's possible to explore both cities back to back just a 45-minute train journey outside of Tokyo and we start our day at Kamakura a city that's often referred to as the Koto of East Japan despite being a relatively small City Kamakura punch is well above its weight in the 12th century the first sha gun the military ruler min M no Yori Tomo set up his military government here ushering the era of the Kamakura shanut that lasted two centuries as one of Japan's three ancient capitals along with Nara and Kyoto which we'll be visiting later on during our trip unsurprisingly your sport for Choice with the city's many shrines and temples but it's the jaw-dropping Kamakura daudu that really steals the show looming overhead at 43 ft and weighing an astonishing 103 tons gazing down upon wellwishers and a struck Travelers for over 500 years and I'll never forget the first time that I laid eyes upon it over 10 years ago when I first moved to Japan 10 years ago I lived very far north and my first trip within the country was actually to Tokyo and after about four or 5 days I was thoroughly burnt out in the world's largest city and then I came here to Kamakura and I saw the great dutu statue that was first built in 1252 I felt something here in Kamakura that I didn't really feel in Tokyo and uh I think if you end up in Tokyo four or five days maybe you'll feel how I felt and kamur will be the remedy to being overwhelmed as he will be in Tokyo while Kamakura is great Buddha might be the most photogenic it certainly isn't the largest ancient dutu statue in Japan as we'll discover later on during our trip in Nara kakur is a very walkable town and it's not uncommon to spot tourists darting around the quiet back streets dressed in kimonos which she can rent at Shops throughout the city tell the other Bears what you saw what is this this is supposed to be a kimono shop but it's never looked more threatening these Bears just chained up to the wall there you go if you want to get dressed up to enjoy your time in Kamakura this is the place to do it well Kamakura most important Shinto Shrine is sudal kimangu on a hill overlooking the city today we're actually going to sneak away from the crowds and visit the quaint and unassuming HW COI temple with its very own enchanting hidden bamboo forest around the back of the Zen temple this is really really bloody beautiful I think most people know the arashiyama bamboo forest in Kyoto which we're actually going to later on in this trip but here behind hwk ofy Temple Kamakura got a much smaller but much quiet a bamboo forest with 2,000 trees to enjoy honestly I think I prefer it it's a secret don't tell anyone about it one criticism of temples and shrines is it can often feel like a very passive experience typ ially without seats to sit in and appreciate the atmosphere but here you can sit relax and enjoy a piping hot cup of Rich matcha green tea while looking out across the sensory Retreat of HW coach's luscious bamboo forest of course matcha is no lunch and for that we head back to downtown Kamakura to the teaming shopping street of kakachi Dori where you can pretty much find anything including the greatest food of all time the ever fluffy Curry pan literally cry bread in this case full of thick gooey cheese a tourist destination in its own right I have it on good authority that this Curry bread is the one thing to have in cakir so oh yeah it's very crispy there's some cheese there's some Curry this is good look at that I feel Curry bread doesn't get a lot of love when it comes to uh videos because it's not the most photogenic thing right but my God is it delicious the crispy outter shell of the bread the nice thick curry cheese inside definitely try this if you come to Kamakura giraffa what a name giraff why is it giraffa while it is time to head off to yokahama we've only just scratched the surface of Kamakura and it's 80 temples and [Music] shrines on my previous trip here I actually rented some bikes and cycled around town and it might just be the best way to appreciate the atmosphere and the quiet back streets and certainly if you visit in summer be sure to spend the afternoon down at Kamakura beach one of the most popular Seaside spots in the greater Tokyo area riding the train for 20 minutes we arrive in Yokohama the second largest city in Japan a dynamic Port town with a sprawling seafront despite being so close to Tokyo it has a strong sense of identity forged as a trading City particularly when Japan opened up to the world in the 19th century and now with the futuristic District of minor midi built around the iconic Landmark Tower the tallest skyscraper in Japan up until 2014 everybody loves Mino midai that idea of being in a big city but also being able to escape to the coastline and Mito midai literally means future port and it does have a bit of a futuristic Vibe maybe underpinned by the very cool looking Landmark Tower which looks like a giant chest piece I love it while half of minor mid's appeal is to walk around the Waterfront an even bigger appeal is the cup noodle Museum an entire attraction dedicated to the Revolutionary product regularly voted by the people of Japan as the greatest invention of the 20th century and whether you agree or not here at the cup noodle Museum you can hear the story of how founder muku Andor turned the idea of flash fried noodles into the nishing cut noodle Empire that it is today with the man himself nestled alongside history's most famous inventors the moment you enter the museum but perhaps the real reason to visit is to create and customize your very own cup noodles it's pretty damn fun watching your empty cup slowly be transformed as you choose the flavor of the noodles whether it's Curry seafood or in my case the original soy sauce flavor then watching it being carefully placed into the cup before picking the fillings in my case cheese fried onions and the rather ominous sounding mystery meat to this day no knows what it is while it kind of tastes like beef in my view anyway the cup is then sealed and vacuum packed before being delivered to you ready to go tomorrow's lunch sorted I mean I'd be tempted to have it for dinner today if we weren't about to visit Asia's largest Chinatown District Yokohama Chinatown from 1603 to 1853 Japan was effectively closed to the world as part of a bold isolationist policy called sok enacted by the Shogun to limit outside influen on the country and when the doors were finally reopened Yokohama became not just a huge trading Port but a gateway to the outside world reflected today through the European style red brick warehouses and the vibrant District of Chinatown if like me you're into your nighttime photography you'll be spoil for Choice down the colorful streets with lanterns blowing in the wind and steam rising from buns and dumplings being boiled and cooked at the many stands throughout town it's the perfect place to enjoy some mouthwatering nighttime Street food just be careful if you do go for the dumplings they're as delicious as they are explosive after a pretty chill Kamakura minor mid it's back to the action in Chinatown the biggest Chinatown in all of Asia after actual China when it comes to Chinatown of course you'll spoil for Choice I've gone for these rather delicious pork dumplings be careful they're insanely hot I've just obliterated my mouth eat with care that was lucky the juice exploded out the dumpling and nearly hit someone in the face again eat the dumplings with care having slept off our chinat town dumplings the next morning it's time to say goodbye to the Tokyo metropolis and hop on the shin conon bullet train 2 hours West across the central Japan Alps to the historic city of canaza so I've been to canaza about three or four times over the years every time I do I come down here down the ASO River the old Edo era tea houses in the Kaz Mai chai district and you kind of feel something here there's difficult to feel in Tokyo or even Kyoto by coming here to canaza you can enjoy a midsize City but a city that's very rich in arts crafts and food it was once a merchant Town very wealthy and that wealth is very much on display to this very day during the Edo era from 16003 to 1868 canaza was ruled by Japan's second richest Clan the maida clan with wealth derived from the Region's huge output of rice and given the dangers of being the second richest clan in Japan and so as not to arouse suspicion from the Shogun and the all powerful Tokugawa clan that ran the country instead of spending their wealth on militarization the MERS plowed the money into cultural and artistic Pursuits inspired by Kyoto leading Kazar to be bestowed the title of little Kyoto and that historic relationship with the Arts is apparent the moment you arrive at the station and step through the breathtaking suzumi mon gate modeled after traditional Japanese drums which lights up in spectacular fashion at night but the locals here can practically take their pick of nicknames for the city from Little Kyoto to the envious title of City of Gold given 99% of Japan's Gold Leaf production comes from canaza and the locals certainly aren't shy about sticking gold leaves on just about everything especially including the food as well as munching on gold during our visit we'll also wander through what might be my favorite Market in all of Japan explore the impressive Samurai District of nagamachi and taste the decadent matcha green tea confectionary but for our first stop we're heading to our traditional accommodation which happens to be a very good reason to visit Kazar alone after kyotto Kazar is the second largest Japanese City to be spared from aerial bombings during the second world war and given the region has been fortunate to avoid natural disasters such as earthquakes the city retains much of its traditional architecture and there's no better way to appreciate the architecture than by staying in it with the tatami straw mats shy paper doors and exposed wooden beams the natural materials instantly cultivates an atmosphere of relaxation and with the windows still letting light in while closed you can shut yourself away from the world and have a quiet moment to yourself it's almost like having a holiday within a holiday when it comes to stress relief there really is nothing better than a matcha townhouse with over 200 bustling shops and stores omur has been cana's largest market since the Edo era and whether you're visiting for breakfast or lunch there's a ton of street foods to enjoy while lost in the Labyrinth of Alleyways and passages within now I love omur Market as you can pretty much find every Japanese food imaginable hidden away here and the vendors are remarkably friendly with hungry Travelers queuing up in every alley but maybe I'm just biased because I can't get enough of the unagi grilled eels typically a whole eel costs an eyew watering 4,800 Yen but for just 500 yen you can enjoy a skewer of the good stuff grilled to Perfection and drizzled in the sticky sweet unagi tar sauce made from sake mirin soy sauce and sugar for the love of God if you go to the market you've got to try this stuff it's not all Meat and Fish though charotte tucks into a freshly cut local Pimon and follows it up with a whole orange with the inside shredded into a thick pulpy delicious orange juice with everything from crabs and craft beer to Lavish Seafood bowls of kaisendon you'll have a hard time pulling yourself away from the market but once you've stuffed yourself silly it's time to head on over to canesa's Oldtown quarter in the hiashi chai district canaza has three historic entertainment districts the largest of which is higashi chai for over 200 years Gore the local gisha have entertained wealthy merchants and businessmen alike in stunning tea houses clad in the iconic lattice design called kimore the carefully angled latice design allows customers inside to see out onto the street while Sim ously concealing the interior from nosy passes by to this day the geal still exists serving loyal local clients though many of their old tea houses have been converted into cafes and as we wander the streets dodging Rick shores along the way one of these cafes tempts us with the promise of tasty green tea matcher infused confectionary how can I resist look at that gold 24 Karat solid gold I know just blew it all away then oh my God I'm blowing it away what am I doing this is gold should be eating it not blowing it away across the road you'll find a shop serving up the visually striking Gold Leaf ice cream because the gold leaves are an incredible 110,000 of a millimeter across the slightest gust of wind and it will likely blow away so eat it fast eating the ice cream itself feels almost like an optical illusion it may look golden but the flavor is completely unaltered and you can't even feel the texture of the gold on your tongue the moment you touch it it pretty much disappears given Kazar is famed for its arts and crafts it's the perfect place to grab some omag souvenirs for Lucky friends and family back home and for that we head to kazawa HCK matchi store downtown from meticulous handcrafted cups and glamorous Chopsticks to Mani Neco figurines and the star attraction of course a 24 karat gold leaf face mask orbe it for a rather pricey 6,600 yen is it worth buying just to look like a bond villain uh no probably not still for a more reasonable 2,200 Yen you can get what's cheeky described as the trial set naturally I can't help myself I want a taste of success I want a taste of real power well not quite the real power in canaza used to reside in nagamachi Samurai District where we head for a quiet stroll around the historic streets lined with Earth and walls private gated entrances and narrow Lanes leading to gently gushing streams The District offers a glimpse of what life may have looked like here 200 years ago and for a quiet contemplative evening stroll it can't be beat I love it we've got a samurai District dating back hundreds of years full of History wealth culture and then we've got the Cafe why did they choose to name it that we'll never know continuing our stroll we find ourselves stumbling across oyama Shrine dedicated to Maier the first Lord of the immensely powerful maida Clan and while the temple itself is Pleasant it's the distinctive gate that's the star attraction with its European aesthetic designed by a Dutch architect it may not have been popular when it was first built but today it's a national treasure and speaking of the maida clan while we didn't have time on our trip today Kazar is also home to one of Japan's three most famous gardens Ken noen beautifully maintained by yes you guessed it the maida clan from generation to generation it's absolutely worth a visit as photos and videos simply don't do its beauty justice as we saw earlier at omur Market Seafood is kind of a big deal in canaza and for dinner we head to kirar Zushi not too far from downtown canaza station conve Belt Sushi restaurants are typically associated with cheaper cuts of sushi but here at kirari not only is the sushi high quality but it doesn't revolve either as it's whisked over to you on Sleek bullet trains from the kitchen sourced from the nearby Port the fish is some of the best in town although not all ingredients here come from the sea because that's right not even the sushi escapes the 24 karat gold trip treatment oh good God Gold Leaf Sushi this is nuro black throat fish it's the local fish of kazawa and they're so proud of it they drenched it in Gold let's taste it ice cream is one thing but fish with gold it could work look at that that's charlott's piece yeah you can't taste the gold thankfully just tastes very good fish very good fish indeed but if you want reasonably pric Su she a good place and gold sushi n left come to kidar Sushi pretty good place well it's been a fun day here in Kazar and having eaten half the city it's time to retreat to our cozy matcha townhouse where I can finally have my long awaited [Music] soak the gold the gold it's time to leave Japan's West Coast behind and head Inland to the central Japan Alps our destination the mountain town of takayama about a 2-hour train or bus ride however we're taking a detour first because right in the middle of takayama and kazawa lies the most picturesque town in all of Japan it's called shidao and it's a settlement that was once hidden away from the rest of Japan by the surrounding mountain peaks today its that Ro farmhouses and carefully tended Fields have been awarded World her status and the unique way of life opened up to the world the first time I saw a photo of shid cagal I thought it must be Photoshop surely it can't be this good and then I came here and it really is as jaw-droppingly stunning as it looks and while it does look best in summer when the rice is in full bloom it's pretty damn nice in Autumn as well and winter when it's caked in snow and it's got a very cozy Vibe going on I think no matter what time of year you come to sh Cal you'll certainly be rewarded it really is like a high Al miazaki movie I say it a lot but this time it really is shido's that roof buildings are called gash Zuki and they're not just aesthetically pleasing but absolutely essential in handling amongst the highest snowfall on the planet in the winter months when looking at the Village you may notice all the buildings face the same direction from north to south a direction specifically chosen to help minimize wind resistance but what makes the town so special is that it's not an open a museum but a real lived in town with a local population in fact if your schedule allows it the best way to enjoy Shalo is to actually stay the night in one of the farmhouses but whether you're here for the night or half a day you'll constantly be surprised by the picture perfect nature of the village and admittedly the rather random goat just standing in the street don't know how it got there you often see people sharing videos of fish in the waterways of Japan but actually it is quite rare outside of mountain Towers like this and should cowo but here abundant looks pretty damn cool right adds to the whole vibe and there's a a goat over there randomly just walk in the streets as well so the wildlife of shirao you never know what you might find if there's one dish to try shakago it's actually a dessert Japanese custard pudding served up in impressive glass jars at the aptly named House of pudding and my God is it delicious it's easy to see how it recently won the title of Japan's best pudding 2023 the house of pudding we had to stop good go that is so creamy oh my God the aesthetic jar as well beautiful Aesthetics don't come to shago for the nice buildings or the goat come for the house of pudding because it really is that good this is insanely [Music] delicious heading a further 50 minutes into the central Japan Alps and stuffed full of treats from the house of pudding at last we reach the mountain town of takama takayama might just be my favorite town in all of Japan I mean the Journey Through The Towering Central Japan outs to get here alone might just be worth it for that but with it gushing streams and traditional architecture it's no surprise a lot of Travelers coming here say it's a bit like stepping back in time and the fact that every street food here pretty much features the local hi wagy beef is also a pretty big bonus as well despite its isolated location takma has long enjoyed a level of prosperity thanks to its high quality Timber and EXP Craftsman that led to the region being directly controlled by the ruling Tokugawa shoga for the duration of the Edo era they really did want that Timber today there's an undeniable retro Vibe around town with its old school signboards and the shakan museum celebrating 20th century Japan meanwhile even convenience stores like family Mar attempt to blend in by shunning their bright green logo in favor of a more Sleek wooden design checking into our accommodation first while it may not be quite as spacious as the canaza mat here the view certainly makes up for it as we gaze out across the mwa River and the Oldtown quarter with the crisp Mountain air blowing Downstream takayama Old Town like canaza has done an impressive job preserving its old buildings filled with shops restaurants and even a sakur brewery with Travelers queuing up for the many Street Foods on offer and I can't help but join in the fun after spotting a stand selling the local hi wagu beef on a stick wagu steak at a restaurant will set you back about 6,000 Yen typically here you can enjoy a stick of the good stuff for a mere 600 Yen what a bargain oh the one street food you need when you come to dama you won't regret it what I love about hi gear is they're not very snobbish about how they use it a lot of places when it comes to our you have to have it in a certain way here they serve it on a stick they serve it on Sushi they serve it in buns they're not afraid to use it and they're very proud of it and I can certainly see why my God Trish Trish when he come to AMA thank me later if there's one place worth stopping by in takayama it has to be my favorite museum in all of Japan takayama shakan Museum well the shaw era spans the reign of Emperor Shaw from 1926 to 1989 it's most commonly associated with the postwar era when Japan experienced an economic Miracle as the economy boomed and the Arts flourished it was a time Japan Found A Renewed sense of identity and today it's looked back on incredibly nostalgically especially as the bubble burst in the early '90s and the country went on to face the Lost decade the attention to detail in the museum is genuinely breathtaking with entire shops and districts Faithfully recreated with old memorabilia eagley viewers may even recognize it from the Dr Jelly commercial which we filmed on location here in the Retro Diner where history was made Dr jelly 2 commercial shot right here about 3 years ago now can't believe it well I love the way there's just these little sets in every part this one's a diner you've got Cinema a school 1950s house hairdresses such a cool place my favorite museum in Japan by far it is like coming back in time the attention to detail is ridiculous honestly for the museum alone a visit to takayama May well be justified if I could live one place in Japan it' be here every day would be the 60s every day traveling back in time is hungry business fortunately just across the road is a quaint and somewhat random Scottish inspired Cafe aptly named bagpipe of course it is the interior is filled to the brim with clocks and trinkets with the atmosphere of Mrs doubtfire's sitting room having just traveled back to the 60s at the Sha Museum bagpipe feels like a natural extension but with its delicious menu of desserts sandwiches and coffee it's a pleasant spot to sit relax and enjoy looking out onto the streets of the Oldtown quarter if you're not able to make it to shirakawago takayama is also home to the hi folk Village while it's not a real lived in town such as Shir cagor the impressive open air museum is definitely worth a visit so you can explore the gashel zakuri homes firsthand it's also a lot easier to get to than Shao just a 5-minute taxi ride from takayama station it's been quite the journey through Central Japan but it's time to say goodbye to Charlotte and head 3 hours West by train to Kyoto the first of three cities that will visit in Kanai region Kyoto is the soul of Japan as the nation's cultural capital the antidote to the modern Concrete Jungle of Tokyo it's easy to spend days on end wandering through the city's 2,000 shrines and temples or lost down the back streets enjoying a quiet moment arriving in Kyoto we meet up with my good friend the ever cheeky nski Who as a resident of North Japan hasn't ever explored the cities of Kyoto Oraka and Nara it's certainly going to be a lot of fun living vicariously through nsk's reactions to some of Japan's most spectacular sites over the next few days and our first stop is to head to our accommodation with an abundance of options in Kor the best location to stay is arguably higashiyama on the east side of the city where you'll have easy access to the largest historic quarters and while hotels are in abundance we've decided to stay in a matcha wooden townhouse machia tow houses are sadly on the decline with nearly 800 lost every every single year the one silver lining is the city's booming tourism sector is helping to keep them alive with many being renovated for travelers looking for their own private slice of CTO wow and with the all natural materials and enclosed Garden hopefully you too will find your own piece of Cal in the middle of the bustling City it's very small like a [Music] hobbit and when the rain gently pours off the kada roof tiles as he gaze out into the tiny private Garden from your bath you too will know you've made the right choice choosing to stay in a machia the quintessential Kyoto experience with naty's early afternoon soak out of the way the rain finally clearing we head to South Kyoto to climb up the city's most famous Shrine Fushimi inard with 10,000 red Tory Gates snaking up through the Luscious forests of Mount Inari Fushimi Inari is an ancient Shrine dating back to the 8th Century before Kyoto even became the capital of Japan and it's dedicated to inard the Shinto God of rice Agriculture and fertility given Mount inard is 233 M you can reach The Summit in about 30 to 40 minutes but here there's no real destination it's the breathtaking Journey Through The Gates that's the reward you might be wondering where all the gates come from and they're actually donated by companies and individuals looking for good luck with their names and the dates of their donations inscribed on each and every gate and unsurprisingly a Tory gate at fim andari certainly doesn't come cheap how much do you think one of these gates cost nasy 10 um it's cheap isn't it cheap cheap one small gate is 400,000 Yen off big big a big gate is about a million y for $88,000 you've got a hair saly on though your business yeah why not get a gate for your business to you know help the C good idea yeah for your hair Sal how much money have you got what we got here oh 5,000 5,000 yen we just need miniature doll size we just need another $88,000 oh D God I'm dream get to three naty's Tory gate dreams seemingly shattered hopefully dinner will cheer him up as we return to hiashi and the finest tempura restaurant in all of Kyoto tempura Endor every time I find myself in Kyoto I visit the restaurant and I've essentially bribed natski to join our trip with the promise of crispy gold battered wonders that lie in store from the moment you step inside you're hit with the tantalizing Rich Aroma of the batter and similar to a sushi restaurant each dish whether it's fish vegetables or meat is batted one at a time and placed before you and how does it taste well I'll let naski give the verdict so good you'll drop your [Music] chopsticks the next morning we head to arashiyama a 30-minute Journey to the north of the city and home to many of kotor's most treasured temples and [Music] shrines as he cross the Striking toed secure bridge and wander along the banks of the cataa river you'll find what may be my favorite spot in the city with boats quietly drifting Upstream against the scenic backdrop of the neighboring arashiyama mountains our first stop is the Bamboo Grove with a cool morning Breeze blowing through the forest it's an almost otherworldly ethereal site as we follow the winding path through the the trees stroll through the forest and you'll soon come across the world heritage site of tenui one of Japan's greatest Zen temples built in the 14th century in dedication to the recently deceased Emperor gordor ten nui's beautifully landscaped garden and pond have been practically untouched for 700 years and it's a place to sit relax and enjoy a quiet moment of contemplation but don't get too comfortable as we climb Mount arashiyama with the reward at the top isn't just the incredible panoramic views over CTO but an encounter with 120 snow monkeys that call aatama Monkey Park home it's quite a sight being able to get up close to the monkeys as they walk around the visitors without a care in the world but it's important to point out they are wild so don't get too close and certainly don't look them dead in the eye unless you want a trip to buy some bandages good I should have known it wasn't the temples the culture nor the history that attracted did nki to Kyoto it was the monkeys naturally wow great monkey heading back down the mountain it's time to visit koror's most extravagant structure and the darling of every Japan guide book front cover ever made King kakaji AKA The Golden Pavilion built as a Swanky holiday home for Shun ashik kaga yoshimitsu The Pavilion itself has tragically burned down twice most recently in 19 1950 by a fanatic monk before being rebuilt in 1955 King kakaji golden Pavilion shimmering in the afternoon sun it is stunning but you all have to fight for a space to see it as we are we've had to queue for quite a while but the view is most certainly worth it it really is pretty spectacular what do you think I feel so rich man you feel so rich man and you will too if you come to the kingi temple in the late afternoon an hour before dusk we returned to higashi to catch a glimpse of Kyoto at sundown from K mizera Temple higashiyama is absolutely huge and the journey through the mazike streets really is half the appeal of exploring the area the moment we arrive we're instantly rewarded with a view of the Asaka Pagoda a remarkable five-story Pagoda which has stood here on the hillside for over 600 years as we continue our walk up to K Madera we increasingly find ourselves sidelined by the many shops that line the streets selling confectionary Pottery crafts and Sak it's only a m matter of time before the inevitable and that's just bought a terrifying mask to scare the locals it's not one of the nice ones either brace yourselves that's key oh dear that's certainly one way to stand out in koto's crowded streets K midera literally meaning pure water temple resides in an enviable spot on the mountain side with sweeping views over Kyoto and derives its poetic name from the waterfall it was constructed around in the 8th Century perhaps the most impressive aspect of kadera is the Towering wooden stage that rises 13 m above the ground built without using any nails and giving visitors spectacular views over the cherry and maple trees that span the mountain side from here as you gaze across Kyoto with traditional architecture in the foreground and the monolithic modern day Kyoto station in the distance you'll truly be able to appreciate Kyoto's story past and present and for just 500 yen you can also appreciate your fortune as natski grabbs an Omi literally a message from the Gods written on a paper slip and often found on sale at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples Moment of Truth too bad if you hadn't bought the bad luck you wouldn't have had it and if at first you don't succeed buy another message from the gods I get the chance what have you got this time all right drum roll good is he good does it cancel it out good fortune bad fortune Good Fortune having successfully manifested some good luck admittedly with the help of his wallet it's time to manifest some dinner when it comes to dining out kyto's Pont Alleyway is home to more bars and restaurants than just about any other stretch in the city it's well worth a stroll for the atmosphere alone however we're going across the bridge into gon to a restaurant serving up the local omy beef said to be one of the three great beefs of Japan alongside corber and matasaka here we're able to sample The Buttery Rich A5 W as it's gently and delicately sizzled before us by the Master Chef ory beef is typically cheaper than its rarer cousins of corit and matasaka there is somebody who's consumed a formidable amount of aru in the last 10 years and admittedly on this trip it's less to do with where the cut is from and how it's grilled and prepared and once again I'll leave the verdict to naski oh oh my [Music] god well we've only just scratched the service of Kyoto given how truly overwhelming Kai region is for its sights it's time we ventured off to our next city the ancient capital of Nara Nar is a much smaller City and its relaxed pace is much welcomed after Kyoto's somewhat frenetic streets especially as many of the city's Treasures are situated in the Majestic Nara Park as we stumble from the station to the park we chance upon the most famous shop in town serving up your mogy mchi rice cakes deliciously fluffy Parcels of rice that have been relentlessly pounded down dusted with soybean flour and filled to the brim with generous amounts of gooey red bean paste the perfect breakfast Mai probably the most famous Mai in Nara every New Year's Eve you see this shop featured in Japanese news they're pounding the rice pounding the rice cakes down and uh yeah it's very gy very nice bubble gum like bubble gum it's quite a dangerous sweet though many people actually die choking on the stuff every year so be careful when eating it it's very cheery don't talk while eating it as well as we make our way into Nar Park we come face to face with the local deer admittedly not that hard given 1,200 Seeker deer call Nar Park home the deer are remarkably friendly especially when they spot a fist full of crackers who'd have thought it good morning and before accepting the crackers if you bow to the deer they too will bow in return such civilized creatures well not quite things can get out of hand pretty damn fast once they discover the crackers the seemingly composed deer soon become well pretty crackers as Nai unfortunately discovers firstand if there's one thing to see in Nara it's a Temple but not just any Temple this alone is a good enough reason to visit Nara the toig temple one of the largest wooden structures on the planet it's not just the fact the exterior looks like the sort of place you'd have a video game boss battle but it's what's inside one of the largest bronze brother statues in all of Japan and it is [Music] spectacular toi means Great Eastern Temple and it was built in 752 as the head Buddhist temple in all of Japan a colossal 49 ft tall busu awaits you inside weighing an astonishing 500 tons around the back you'll find a pillar with a hole in its base the same size as the nostril of the dutu it said if you can squeeze through it you'll be granted Enlightenment in your next life unfortunately for nki though the next life isn't looking so good right now after two failed attempts and having lost all his pocket money Nai reluctantly gives up better luck next time toi is quite the Blockbuster Temple and it seems only fair that it's matched by one of the most visually impressive shrines in the country on the opposite end of Nara Park we discover kasaa nar's most celebrated Shrine built to protect the city and famous for its 3,000 stunning lanterns donated by worshippers hung from the walls around the shrine if you want to see the lanterns illuminated they're only lit up twice a year in February and August something I imagine the monks are fairly grateful for that's certainly a lot of matches ah you know after the chaos of Kyoto streets it's been really damn Pleasant wandering nar's Mountainside temples and quiet streets but now it's time to dive back into the grit and the glamour that is Osaka my favorite city in [Music] Japan Oraka the nation's kitchen and the party capital of Japan grittier and more laid-back than its bigger brother Tokyo Oraka is in its element at sundown when the city's Billboards burst into life around the dorton B canal [Music] luckily we're staying nearby but before checking into our somewhat unusual accommodation we first let natski take it all in given somehow it's his first time ever to set foot in Oraka my God allaker at night I think it's the only place that can rival Shabu Crossing in Tokyo for the wow factor for that moment where you take one big look and go oh my God where am I and what's going on I think this might well be my favorite spot in Japan but the best thing about Osaka of course is that it's known as the kitchen of Japan so it's time we sampled some of the things in the kitchen Street Foods in an abundance around Autumn Bor at night yakatori skewers pancakes and of course the most famous street food of all takoyaki fried octopus balls chopped up octopus drenched in batter and doused with Tangy werer sauce green onion Pickled ginger and mayonnaise with eight balls all for the price of 600 Yen what an absolute steal but be warmed the food does come with one ever so slightly dangerous downside yeah the first mistake of takoyaki wait about 10 minutes because it is like moled lava oh my God careful oh dear we'll never learn having incinerated our mouth it's time to check into our accommodation the area surrounding Dort B is in my view the best place to stay in Oraka so you can enjoy a night out but also because it is well connected and tonight we're staying at the henna Hotel staffed entirely by robots wow as we're greeted at checkin by two multilingual robot dinosaurs two leg the hotel chain can be found throughout Japan and straddles the fine line between being cool and gimmicky But the rooms a good value for money don't be deterred if you're not someone who enjoys robot dinosaurs what a sentence to say out loud calling our hotel stand the next morning we visit the city's most important Landmark the enormous Oraka castle with its traditional architecture quite the contrast against the city's gleaming Modern Skyscrapers Osaka Castle might not be the best preserved Castle in Japan that title goes to Himi or maybe matoto in fact the entire inside of it is a museum and there's an elevator which they certainly didn't have back in the Edo era but what you'll find when you come here is a visually striking castle that is breathtaking in its scale and the fact that it's got the mo still there that surrounds the castle a huge sping Gardens it really is a sight to behold Oraka Castle played a huge role in the history of Japan from 1614 to 1615 the ruling Tokugawa Clan fought a lengthy battle involving several hundred, troops laying Siege to the castle against toyot toi hiori the son of the general who United Japan and buil built the castle the defeat cemented the power of the ruling Tokugawa shoga and ushered in the Edo era similarly when the castle fell in 1868 during the Civil War to Imperial forces it marked the end of an era and 200 years of rule by the Tokugawa Dynasty while the view from Osaka Castle is great the queue isn't quite so appealing and so we head to the Retro District of shinsekai and head up to suen Kaku tower for an equally impressive view of Osaka's vast cityscape admittedly it may even be better given you can see the castle itself developed in 1912 and originally inspired by Western architecture Shin seai literally means new world today however it's vibrant and evocative Billboards look more like a Foreigner's imagination of what Japan might look like Pirates it's here in the colorful streets around the Tuten Kaku tower that you'll find rest restaurant selling one of Osaka's most iconic dishes cushy katsu deep fried skewers so shower perhaps the only flaw of the dish is it's pretty damn hard to discern what it is you're eating while it all looks the same here we've got cuts of pork beef onions potatoes shrimp and my personal favorite cheese lots of cheese happy sausage take a skewer dip it into thick ton catsu sauce essentially wory sauce and never look back my God it's good beautifully crunchy batter and a nice friend beer good good combination nice friend nice friend beer oh yeah lunch time on beer great time well it's good to know Nas is so easily one over but it's at this point in the trip you've got to sort of Choose Your Own Adventure stage with an extra night to spare you can either visit Hiroshima and the island of MIMA in the west or head back towards Tokyo with a stop off at the hot spring town of hon and seeing as we've covered Hiroshima in a dedicated video before linked below we're going for hakon unsurprisingly I don't want to share a bloody hotring with natski which means it's time to say goodbye to natski and hello once again to Charlotte Aon is 1 hour outside of Tokyo by shinan and yet from the sheer change of scenery you'd hardly know it was on the doorstep of the world's biggest city as skyscrapers are replaced with luscious towering Peaks and if you're lucky even a glimpse of Mount Fuji itself in fact when riding the shinhan send Tokyo bound from orak Kor be sure to pick a window seat on the left side of the train and you may just be rewarded with the quintessential Japan view hakona itself is nestled within the complex volcano of Mount hakon encompassing two overlapping calderas several Peaks and the glistening Lake ashy it's perhaps no surpris that this seismically active National Park is some of Japan's most famous in so eagerly exploiting the precious Onsen hot spring water bubbling up from below and for a one night Excursion it's the perfect place to experience a Japanese ran a traditional in the key distinction between a Rian and a hotel is that a Rian is a holiday destination in its own right a mini break with the food the hot springs and the relaxing surroundings of your room all serve to let you escape relax and unwind whatever roran you choose when checking in the ritual is typically the same shoes are removed at the entrance your dinner and breakfast time chosen in advance a brief tour of the characterful lobby and finally escorted up to your room in this case we find a beautifully illuminated room and tucked away on the balcony a rotmo outdoor bath the star of the show overlooking the Mountainside scenery and before heading down for our kaiseki dinner how can I resist a cheeky dip kaiseki means traditional multi-course dinner and hot springs aside it really is the star attraction of staying at a riam and admittedly the reason the experience costs a lot more than a regular hotel with an emphasis on Fresh seasonal ingredients and so beautifully preserved you may even feel a sense of guilt devouring it there's a good chance it'll be one of the finest meals of your trip to Japan so choose your yoran wisely here we're served up an assortment of seafood in no less than 12 Immaculate dishes followed up with the most Picture Perfect Sukiyaki Hot Pot topped with marbled A5 wagu beef I don't know whether to eat it or take a photo of it and mount it on my wall H actually no I'll definitely just eat it breakfast is no different either at 8:00 a.m. the next morning we awaken to find yet another artistically prepared meal of fish omelet mushrooms and rice awaiting us downstairs as we head out after breakfast to enjoy the cash Kitty onent while all the orans of Hot Springs separated for men and women cash Kitty means reserved private bath allowing couples or families to enjoy eny a large private bath all to themselves we've managed to reserve it for a whole hour although at 45° C around the 20 minute Mark while submerged in the creamy mineral Rich Waters you'll start to transition from relaxation to boiled frog fairly fast so be careful not to enjoy it too much after drying off it's time to head to the very source of the hot spring water that's been spilling into our bath 3,000 years ago Mount hakon erupted leaving behind the sulfur hellscape that is aak kudani literally the great boiling Valley at 1,040 M near the summit today thousands of Travelers ride the hakon ropeway daily to see it firsthand with the cable car rather ominously almost directly over the fuming vents below but seeing as we rented a car we just drove up admittedly a far less impressive Journey But ultimately with the same rewarding view of Mount Fuji magnificently looming 3,776 M over overhead my God we got lucky today one of the best views North Japan from the top of the hakon ropeway Mount Fuji itself no matter how many times you look at it it always takes your breath away especially when it's caked in snow in the early winter months yes you have no idea how hard it is to get this shot it's always in the clouds so I'm very happy today meanwhile over by the ropeway crowds gather to gaze upon the great boiling Valley up until 2015 visitors could actually hike through the valley but due to volcanic activity it was subsequently closed off serving as a Sinister reminder that Japan's seismically active landscape is as treacherous as it is captivating Jesus it's like Mordor down there the gateway to Hell itself all the sulfuric steam puffing out billowing across the mountain side but the view is damn good not only Fuji but also looking out towards Tokyo with the cable cars going in front this is actually my first time to ever come up the hack on a rope play and I've been really impressed by the views the atmosphere can't recommend it enough definitely come up here and if you're Lu lucky as we were today you might just get the best view of Mount Fiji in all Japan if you're feeling peckish be sure to try Kudo tagore literally black eggs placed into baskets and dunked into the 80° hot spring for an hour the iron in the water turning the shells black according to local Legend it's said that a hardboiled Kuro tamago will extend your lifespan by up to 7 years not bad for 500 yen if we hadn't spent an hour stumbling around trying to find black eggs we might have been able to go to hack on a shrine that sits on the shores of Lake ashinoko it's here you'll find one of Japan's most photographed Tory Gates protruding from the water after a short stroll through the quain forest meanwhile beyond the Tory gate you might spot the haakon a pirate ship quietly sailing across the lake why not hop aboard and enjoy the local scenery while living out your onepiece fantasies along the way while we rented a car from odada station and drove 45 minutes up the mountain to hakon the area is incredibly accessible without a car with buses and local trains available but with that it's time to return to Tokyo well it's been quite the journey but we're back where we started in Tokyo with a few days to explore the world's biggest city and this time we're staying on the other side of town in Shinjuku Shinjuku is the Tokyo you've seen in the movies and Anime intense futuristic and Relentless the good thing about exploring it all on the tail end of the trip is he've kind of settled in at this point and so you can appreciate it better hopefully you'll feel a lot less confused than when you first arrived and given we're here in Shinjuku in the evening it's time to discover what makes Japan's largest Entertainment District worthy of the title explore the narrow Alleyways of a mu Yore literally memory lane and Sample there's 60 tiny bars and restaurants within with grilled yakatori skewed Chicken in abundance or grab a drink in Golden guy a conglomeration of tiny retro bars with an undeniable cyber Punk atmosphere for my money Shinjuku is the best place for a nighttime stroll in Tokyo but please be careful not to follow the street TOS folks on the street encouraging you to visit their bars at discount prices they're often linked to terrible scams with drinks being spiked and credit card bills being run up by unsavory characters in fact I've made a whole video dedicated to this that I'd strongly urge you to watch before having a night out in Tokyo after Shinjuku shabuya is also a great place to spend the night out while not as big as Shinjuku Tokyo's most eclectic shopping district is home to the iconic crossing a sight to behold with dozens of billboards blaring out overhead but your final days in Tokyo are a chance to do the many things you may have missed on your travels across Japan and given everyone's tastes are completely different there really is no correct way to experience the city so rather than reel off a list of neighborhoods you need to explore I want to end our journey by sharing with you 10 things you need to do while while you're in Tokyo number one stay in a capsule Hotel somehow we haven't done it on this trip so far and there's more capsule hotels in Tokyo than any other city it's a unique way to spend the night that you simply won't find outside of Japan so do it while you can number two why not stay at a love Hotel don't be fooled by the name there's nothing inherently sleazy about it love hotels can't be booked and are first come first served just walk in and grab a room for 2 hours in fact you may want longer the rooms are more playful and fun than regular hotels with karaoke and jacuzzi bars included and speaking of karaoke number three go to karaoke it's cheap fun and or you can drink when showing friends around Japan all good holidays end slumped over a beer in a karaoke booth number four get a jaw-dropping panoramic view of Tokyo while shabuya sky is the new kid in town with perhaps the best views of the city the cues can be over an hour the alternative is to visit myy Tower in rongi visit the rooftop Sky Deck where you can stand 238 m above Tokyo and truly appreciate the ridiculous scale of the world's largest city number five visit a game center from Mario Kart to the iconic tyon or taten ultimate drumming game it's the best place to blow off steam and get immersed in a world where the fun never ends until they close at 10 p.m. number six take the monal over to Oda a future touristic District on a reclaimed island with sweeping views over Tokyo Skyline from the eye-catching Fuji television building to the 20 M to scale replica of a gundamn robot but it's the monal that's the star of the show winding through Tokyo skyscrapers and across the Rainbow Bridge number seven go souvenir shopping in ginsa the trendy upm Market District I never know what to buy friends of family back home but aesu plum wine always seems to do the trick regular NIU sake is a a bit more of an acquired taste number eight stroll through Tokyo's many parks whether it's oeno park with the zoo yoyogi park for the people watching or Shinjuku park for the carefully tended Gardens they each have their own charm although I think Shinjuku Park is probably the nicest to spend a couple of hours strolling around number nine go shopping for retro secondhand Goods nobody does secondhand Goods better than Japan where people actually take care of their possessions whether it's super potato the video game shop in akih habab where you can pick up a super familyc as if it's practically brand new or the cavernous Nao Broadway shopping center filed to the brim with rare items you simply won't find anywhere else and number 10 eat some Ramen because somehow we forgot to do it on the rest of our trip ichiran is a tourist favorite although in my view it's good if not a little bit overrated go to idor if you want to visit the chain that all the locals go to or better still visit an independent family run Ramen Shop of which you're pretty much sport for Choice given there's thousands across the city and then finally the hard part get on the plane and go home but don't worry you'll be back many thanks for watching guys I hope you enjoyed our epic 14 days across Japan but what was your favorite place we visited and remember most of the locations we explored on this trip have actually got entire videos dedicated to them such as Oraka fuka or even asakasa District in Tokyo we've listed them all in the description box below so you can find them easily and put them to good use on your trip to Japan and if I learn one thing from this entire trip it's if at first you don't get the fortune you want keep buying fortune and eventually you'll get what you want to [Music] hear
