Taking ferries in Japan is an entertaining diversion, especially as an American who didn’t grow up around islands. We really enjoyed this three hour excursion as we traveled from one onsen town in Shikoku (Matsuyama) to another one in Kyushu (Beppu).

Also fun was the random Suzume film propwork created to promote the port’s appearance as the main character traveled to Ehime.

Came in here on a whim and was blown away to see that he’d been featured in the 2018 Michelin guide. Holy cow was he good at making delicious yakitori. So incredibly soft and flavorful.

My Tabelog check-in.

Solid, overall. Really just came to try the winged gyoza (which are SO winged that they look more like some kind of pie at first).

My Tabelog check-in.

Famed as the oldest onsen (hot springs) bath in Japan, it’s relatively tiny and cramped by today’s standards, but it was cool to check it off the bucket list. The little onsen town that’s grown up around this main building were definitely worth a visit, especially if you’re a fan of Studio Ghibli’s “Spirited Away”, as this onsen was apparently among their artistic inspirations.

If you go, I'd recommend staying where we did, at Dogokan (道後館) hotel.

Their karaage game was on point, but they also had a few fried fish cakes which were delicately prepared. Great little lunch spot

My Tabelog check-in.

After visiting this onsen hotel in Izu last year, I decided to bring Becky this time and we had an absolutely wonderful time. Beautiful property, well-maintained. The staff really go above and beyond, too.

Also, here's my Tabelog check-in of their kaiseki dinner.

Really enjoyed our stay here. Our room was re-designed in 2023 and was pretty wonderful. The baths on site are also excellent, and it was only a block or so away from the “main” Dogo onsen (道後温泉本館).

My Tabelog check-in for the first night of their kaiseki dinner service.

If you like wine and steak, this place is a delight. The master puts a lot of care into every dish. His son has a ramen place in nearby Kashihara, apparently.

Here's my Tabelog check-in.

I love the Gaburi chicken chain. I first stumbled on it in Tokyo, of all places, even though I’m pretty sure it’s based in Nagoya. Order the chickent thigh (“momo”) kara age until you’re full. The 2 hour all-you-can-drink deal is pretty cheap, too

My Tabelog check-in.

It can be hard to get into this little restaurant inside of the Super Nintendo World area of Universal Studios Japan, but I’m glad we managed to this year. Really fun little meals. The desserts are especially cool. End of the day, though, it’s really all about the theming of the ordering experience and dining room design.

This is one of the weirdest and most beautiful train stations in Japan, and it sees hardly any visitors.

By the way, you probably don’t have a reason to visit unless you’re staying at the nearby Kamenoi resort.

I was pretty impressed to find a decent yakitori place so close to Kabukicho's main drag that wasn't overrrun by tourists. The guy seated next to me had been coming to the same bar for 40 years.

Tabelog page (my review)

Despite being known for their seafood, Boathouse's burger is exceptional considering how large their menu is and how many covers they turn a night. Most dedicated craft burger joints aren't half this good.

When the bartenders remember it, I like to order the long-since-removed cocktail S.S. Politician, which is a simple (and extremely whiskey-forward) manhattan made with:

• Jack Daniels Single Barrel
• Montenegro
• Cherry bitters
• Luxardo cherry

… and served to the brim of a martini glass that's tall enough to ride most roller coasters.

A local friend is taking his first trip to Japan this week, so we took him to one of the two(!) local Gyu-kaku locations here in Orlando.

A ton of these have sprung up throughout the US in the last few years, and if your town has one, I'd strongly encourage you to check it out. It's a cook-your-own-food restaurant chain in Japan and the American renditions (mostly) do their Japanese counterparts justice.

If you want to know what to order, go for the top-of-the-line ("Supreme"?) all-you-can-eat menu and just keep ordering harami skirt steak (salted, not sauced) until your stomach explodes.

I visited this restaurant on May 23, 2023, and gave it a 3.3 on Tabelog.

Name: 人間関係 cafe de copain
Description: 渋谷、神泉、明治神宮前/カフェ、パン、バー

Which Google translates into English as:

Name: Human Relations Cafe De Copain
Description: Shibuya, Shinsen, Meiji Jingumae/Cafe, bread, bar

I visited this restaurant on May 22, 2023, and gave it a 3.4 on Tabelog.

Name: やきとりスタンド 京急川崎店
Description: 京急川崎、川崎/居酒屋、焼き鳥、ラーメン

Which Google translates into English as:

Name: Yakitori Stand Keikyu Kawasaki Store
Description: Keikyu Kawasaki, Kawasaki/Izakaya, Yakitori, Ramen

I visited this restaurant on May 21, 2023, and gave it a 3.2 on Tabelog.

Name: ザオイスターバー コウベ
Description: ハーバーランド、神戸、西元町/イタリアン、ダイニングバー、ワインバー

Which Google translates into English as:

Name: The Oyster Bar Kobe
Description: Harborland, Kobe, Nishimotomachi/Italian, Dining Bar, Wine Bar

I visited this restaurant on May 20, 2023, and gave it a 3.5 on Tabelog.

Name: ニクスペシャリテ・マクラ
Description: 神戸三宮（阪急）、三宮（神戸市営）、旧居留地・大丸前/肉料理、ステーキ、ワインバー

Which Google translates into English as:

Name: Nix Specialty Macra
Description: Kobe Sannomiya (Hankyu), Sannomiya (Kobe Municipal), Former Settlement/Daimaru-mae/Meat dishes, steak, wine bar

I visited this restaurant on May 20, 2023, and gave it a 3.7 on Tabelog.

Name: 七福神
Description: 三宮（神戸市営）、神戸三宮（阪急）、三ノ宮（ＪＲ）/串揚げ、居酒屋

Which Google translates into English as:

Name: Seven Lucky Gods
Description: Sannomiya (Kobe Municipal), Kobe Sannomiya (Hankyu), Sannomiya (JR)/Kushiage, Izakaya

I visited this restaurant on May 18, 2023, and gave it a 3.5 on Tabelog.

Name: いろり家
Description: 小国町その他/居酒屋

Which Google translates into English as:

Name: Irori Family
Description: Oguni Town Others/Izakaya