“Can you suggest one thing to do, see, eat, or stay in each major destination?”

Here’s my quick-hit guide for Japan’s top destinations — one standout recommendation for each:

Tokyo

• Do: Walk from Shibuya → Harajuku → Omotesando on a Sunday morning
• See: Meiji Shrine at sunrise (arrive before 7am)
• Eat: Standing sushi at Uogashi Nihon-Ichi (Shibuya) — amazing quality for ¥2,000
• Stay: Asakusa area — affordable, great food, walking distance to Sensoji

Kyoto

• Do: Rent a bicycle and ride the Philosopher’s Path
• See: Fushimi Inari — go at 6am to have the gates to yourself
• Eat: Nishiki Market — walk through and eat everything
• Stay: Near Kyoto Station for convenience, or Gion for atmosphere

Osaka

• Do: Street food walk through Dotonbori at night
• Eat: Takoyaki from a street stall (not a restaurant — the street ones are better)
• See: Osaka Castle at sunset
• Stay: Namba area — central to everything

Hokkaido

• Do: Drive the scenic roads in summer or ski in winter
• Eat: Kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) at Nijo Market in Sapporo — ~¥2,000
• See: Otaru Canal — romantic port town 30 min from Sapporo
• Stay: Sapporo as your base

Hiroshima

• Do: Take the ferry to Miyajima Island
• Eat: Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki (layered, not mixed)
• See: Itsukushima Shrine’s floating torii gate
• Stay: Near Hiroshima Station for easy ferry access

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