Ever go to a place and think, "I should tell other people about this place?" or, "I should save this location so I can find it later." Well, I do. So I started logging the spots I visit. Below you'll find a global map of the pins I've dropped so far, as well as a feed of all my latest spots.
(Hint: because the global map contains a lot of closely-clustered pins, you may need to zoom in significantly to select individual spots. Try going full screen!)
I've done a lot of castles in Japan, but after the 2016 earthquake, I really had no idea what to expect from Kumamoto-jo. The degree to which the restoration project has seemingly made the castle more accessible to the general public is really impressive.
You can tell something is up when you walk the massive sky bridge from the castle town to the structure itself. When you enter the castle, the amount of modern infrastructure present—from steel beams supporting the stonework to drywall and air conditioning—is a little overwhelming. All-in-all, it's a really cool 2-3 hour diversion, but prepare for a lot of walking!
Yoshoku is often mistaken for simply meaning "Western food" in Japan, but it's really it's own genre, with its own distinct vibe and standard menu. Walking into a great yoshoku place feels like entering an alternate Western history, if that makes any sense.
Anyway, this place has a great ハンバーグ(hamburger steak), which is not to be confused with a ハンバーガー(hamburger sandwich).
See my Tabelog check-in here.
We went here after braving Beppu's seven hells, and it was a good way to wash off all the kitsch. The baths are straightforward but well-designed, particularly the 打たせ waterfall baths on the men's side (with narrow streams falling 20 feet or so for extra pressure)
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.
See my Tabelog check-in here.
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).
See my Tabelog check-in here.
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
See my Tabelog check-in here.
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.
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).
See my Tabelog check-in here 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.
See my Tabelog check-in here.
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
See my Tabelog check-in here.
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:
… 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
