NUMBER OF RESTAURANTS PER CITY*

Tokyo 148,582 (as of 2015)

Paris 44,896 (as of 2017)

New York City 26,697 (as of 2017)
*http://www.worldcitiescultureforum.com/data/number-of-restaurants

**https://www.fdfworld.com/food/tokyo-has-most-michelin-starred-restaurants-world-2018

11 years running Tokyo is #1 for most (234) Michelin starred restaurants in the world. Moving further ahead of Paris ranked #2. **

**While many across the globe recognize Michelin Stars as a guide to excellent dining, countless restaurant owners in Japan have turned away the Michelin system because it doesn't rise to Japanese standards of omotenashi.<-- click

To quote:

Omotenashi defines the "experience as “ichigo ichie” or a once in a lifetime experience. Thus, it is said that both the host and the guest must act with sincerity.

For the host, this act of sincerity requires immense preparation so that each guest can have the most memorable experience possible. It sometimes takes up to a year to prepare for a single tea ceremony because the host needs to select the right flowers, tea set, hanging scroll and confections to match the season and the guests’ preferences. If the host cannot find the perfect tea cup for the guests from their own collection, they will continue to searching everywhere until they find the perfect match." 

Japanese Ancestors: Jason’s Journey

In a dream, Jason, Leandra, and David, Samantha and Cameron are in Japan, the land of our ancestors.

But recently, I’ve seen images of Jason on his own in Asuka Village, Nara, Niimi Okayama, Kyoto,  Osaka, and Tokyo.  In the event that he does travel solo, this is how his journey might unfold.

For example I see Jason at Gango-ji Temple, in Nara

Photo Credit: ミスチー

Here you’ll find your fan-fold Goshuincho, used by people visiting Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.  Goshuincho literally means "honorable stamp/seal book.”  Click HERE for more.

Principal characters

Jason Manzanares lands in Osaka and takes a local train to Nara where he settles in at the Nikko Nara Hotel has dinner and meets Akiko and Yoshio.

While visiting Gango-ji Temple, he buys a goshunicho and has its stamped. Then walks a few more minutes to   Sake tasting tomorrow where sake was first made in Japan.

Other choices:  Kasuga-taisha Shrine, 160 Kasuganocho, Nara, 630-8212, 

or Himoru Shrine. Both are further from Nikko Nara, but easily reached by train.

Akiko and Yoshio Murakami 

Akiko shows Jason the hot spots of Nara.  

Yoshio takes Jason to TenpoPo

Megumi, Shinichi, Yui and Nagi
Yuji and Takao Tanaka

Gassan Sadatoshi, Samurai Sword Artisan

Now comes the second step, traveling to our family ancestral lands.
Sohji, Yuka, Yui, Yuma and Grandma Masako Ishihara Family    Jason and Sohji are brothers in this story.
The Kobayakawa Family where I see a quiet beginning and an unexpected chemistry.  I see a happy jovial gathering here.
Kiyoshi Yamauchi

Beyond our Ancestors
and finally Mio of Hiroshima

You won’t realize it until you’re back home, but your new Temple book gives you a subtle window into Japan that is meaningful but easily missed.  

In my book it’s a must for your Journey.  

Click HERE for more.

Photo credit: Nirotake Udono

Gango-ji Temple is a 21 minute walk from Nikko Nara Hotel

And just a short walk from Gango-ji Temple is Harushika Sake Brewery!

Nara is the birthplace of sake in Japan.  At Harushika Sake Brewery you will get a chance to sample all the sake you’d like to try.

Photo credit:  Google Maps

Photo credit: Harushika Sake Brewery

Click HERE for their website.

By the way they are hiring!

There are 30 different types of restaurants in Japan!  Click HERE for more.

Tokyo is number 1 city for the most Michelin restaurants anywhere in the world. Click HERE for details.  Many restaurants in Japan decline to participate in the Michelin System.

JAPAN FIRST TIMER'S TRAVEL TIPS: A GUIDE TO WHAT IS HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

"If you understand devotion,

you will understand Japan." 

--from the movie: Emperor

JAPAN INFORMATION SITES  

1. https://web-japan.org  Ministry Foreign Affairs

2. https://www.japan.travel/en/   Official Guide

3. https://www.japan-guide.com

  4. https://jpninfo.com

34 TRAVEL TIPS

When you reach the bottom of this page, 

click on Newer Post to go to the next "Tips" page. At the bottom of that page, do the same. Continue on in this manner to read all 34 Travel Tips

Tip #1 Jet Lag One hour drive to the airport, plus the recommended two hours to pass through baggage check, security and arrive at your international gate. Eleven hour flight, plus after arrival baggage claim, currency exchange, and transport to your accommodations. So after 13 hours you’re weary, hungry and eager to see the sights except for... Jet Lag. Who wants to feel miserable after all that effort and expense?

Jet Lag can significantly reduce your vacation or travel comfort, cause daytime fatigue, difficulty staying alert and gastrointestinal problems.  For some that means not feeling well for a day or two or more which completely ruins the exciting plans you were expecting for the first few days. You don’t even want to eat, which is a shame since there are 30 types of restaurants in Japan and Tokyo has 148,582 restaurants?  But anyone sensitive to rapid multiple time zone changes will be happy to know the steps that can prevent or minimize jet lag and help you enjoy great Japanese food the moment you land! *New York City only has 26,697 restaurants.

Patricia is highly sensitive to time zone changes, some of her symptoms last 10 days. On our first together trip to Japan I recommended using the Argonne Anti-Jet Lag Program Patricia was able to eliminate “90% of the effects of Jet Lag”.

This system helps travelers quickly adjust their bodies' internal clocks to new time zones.  It is being used to speed the adjustment of shift-workers, commercial pilots and power plant operators to rotating work hours.

Argonne National Laboratory is one of 17 prestigious advanced research labs in the United States.

http://www.netlib.org/misc/jet-lag-diet “The three part Argonne Anti-Jet-Lag program is helping travelers quickly adjust their bodies' internal clocks to new time zones. 

Part 1: The diet was developed by Dr. Charles F. Ehret of Argonne's Division of Biological Research based on studies of daily biological rhythms. 

In short, I eat high protein breakfasts and lunches and high carbohydrate dinners starting 3 days before and continuing one day after arrival.

Part 2: Methylated xanthines [caffeine] management

Part 3: Activity Management

Click HERE for the short description.

Argonne National Laboratory is one of the US Department of Energy's major centers for advanced research.  “I have this anti-jet lag program to great advantage on every trip I've taken to Japan, Australia, the South Seas, Europe and Africa.”  My traveling companions often take 2 or three days sleeping after arrival while I’m feeling energized, excited and ready to explore as soon as we touch down.  It’s like getting an extra day or two to enjoy on every trip.

Click HERE for

the scientific research on Jet Lag 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12099077/

JAPAN INFORMATION SITES  (come back to this list for more information about your coming adventure.

1. https://web-japan.org  Ministry Foreign Affairs

2. https://www.japan.travel/en/   Official Guide

3. https://www.japan-guide.com

4. https://jpninfo.com

Tip #29.   The 30 types of Japanese Restaurants... from Izakaya and Okinomiyaki, to Yakiniku...
Insider tip for an extraordinary Okinomiyaki (Hiroshima Style) in the heart of Hiroshima!

Click HERE for 30 Types of Japanese Restaurants

Tip #4 Pocket Wifi in Japan is my favorite access to ubiquitous connectivity that keeps Google Maps, Translate and other powerful travel digital tools at my fingertips.

Say you find your Shinjuku hotel and are ready for a tasty meal. With Pocket Wifi, open Google Maps on your mobile phone and say: "Best restaurants near me.” That and a little sense of adventure will take you to excellent culinary experiences often hidden and off the beaten path. 

Click HERE for a WiFi in Japan video. 

Order online and decide where you prefer to pick up your Pocket Wifi, either waiting for you at Narita, Haneda or Osaka International Airports or at the front desk of your hotel. I prefer airport delivery to have immediate navigation to way find to my hotel. Click here for Narita Terminal 2 pick up location [hours: 8:30-20:00]-->   https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/common-questions/pocket-wifi-pick-up    

If you arrive Narita after 8 pm 

Pickup Pocket Wifi at QL Liner desk, 1st floor.

See link above for other hour details.


Which way to the trains?  Once you've picked up your Pocket Wifi, ask for directions to the train level. [If memory servers, trains are on the first floor of Terminal 2].

Wherever we travelled in Japan, we had amazing results typing in "best restaurants near me"on Google Maps.

Order Pocket Wifi online before you go.

https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/services/pocket-wifi 
Note to Reader:  We receive no compensation from any company mentioned in this blog. We share the links because we're happy with the results.

Tip #5. Portable Charger.

We used this immeasurably handy wifi tool so much that we ran our smartphone batteries to the ground.  So on our next trip we carried a Portable Charger.  This one had enough power for two phones and the Pocket Wifi for an entire day.
Note to Reader:  We receive no compensation from any company mentioned in this blog. We share the links because we're happy with the results.

Fast forward to January 2016, Patricia and I have known of one the other for just over 3 months before we leap into our first international journey to Tokyo, Nara, and Atami Japan. Pleasant surprise to discover Tokyo to be on the list of top romantic places in the world, starting atop the Mori Museum in Tokyo.

Put the Mori Museum on your list of places to visit in Tokyo... reserve lunch at the Sun Cafe, and/or dinner at the Moon Cafe while you're there. By far, the one of the most romantic restaurants we have ever experienced... and the food ... to the moon and back!
*** From our list of personal recommendations.   http://thesun-themoon.com/moon/   

Respect for Elders in Japan

In Japan, the older you are, the more highly regarded you become.

 “That’s the way life ought to be.”  --tnm

A potent respect for the elderly stands ubiquitous behind the silent fabric of Japanese life.    The Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese are widely admired for the degree to which they respect their elders.  

Over time, this reverence for the elderly becomes quietly visible.  It can be seen in many ways but here are five channels this respect for their elders can be brought to light.

One

Sakiko Miyazaki is a close friend of Alex Bentz, who writes for the Beacon. How older adults are viewed in America and Japan has been an interesting exploration for these two friends.  Sakiko writes:

Japan has been influenced heavily by China where respect for the elderly is viewed as something all children should have.  Teens respect elders.

“Many teens go through a rebellious phase,” Sakiko admits, chuckling, “but I feel like when it comes to the elderly they take a step back.

“The unconscious action [of treating our elders with respect] has been ingrained into us from a young age as we watch our parents and others in our community. So, doing things out of respect for the elderly is almost in our blood.”

Two

Butsudan. A butsudan is household shrine, an elemental feature in the life of a traditional Japanese family, the center of respect for remembering ancestors. 60 percent of city dwelling families in Japan possess a butsudan, that rises to 90% in rural areas.  

Standing before his butsudan in Niimi, my friend Yuji introduced me to his ancestors. He called it a kind of alter. Click HERE to see video inside Yuji’s butsudan. (skip to 10:17)  He reached inside and withdrew a small and very old book called

Three

Photo Credit: matcha-jp.com

Of the top three major Japanese Holiday Seasons, the Obon Festival August 13-16, people commemorate their ancestors, whose spirits return to this world to visit their families. 

And it’s the time of year where people travel back home to be with loved ones past and present.

Four

 Respect for the Aged Day (敬老の日, Keirō no Hi) is a public holiday celebrated to honor elderly citizens where the Japanese government gives a commemorative silver sake cup tothose who reach 100 years of age. People return home on this day to pay respect to their elders.

The young people of Tokyo know to head for Harajuku for the latest fashions. Those over 65 head for Sugamo Jizo-dori, affectionately known as “Grandma’s Harajuku”.

Photo Credit: DigJapan

This Jizo-dori is a flat 800 meter long traditional shopping street, nicknamed Obāchan no Harajuku, “Harajuku for old ladies”.  The street is lined with textured slip preventing bricks. The shops are largely barrier free, with wheelchair ramps. The shopkeepers seem extra friendly and willing to speak slowly. The 200 shops present a wide range of restaurants, cafes, grocery and clothing stores catering to senior citizens. Many are Mom-and-Pop shops that forgot to change with the times. A perfect place for a day out with the Grannies to pay respect at Koganji, the healing temple. 

Photo Credit: thesoulofjapan.blogspot

Those with a sore shoulder for example will stop at “Arai Kannon” the legendary washing diety, purchase a small white hand towel, rinse the statue’s shoulder with holy water, wipe it down with the towel and your pain will go away.

Five

The way I’ve been treated in Japan...

How to Browse the Blog

There are two ways to use this blog.

1. Use the Interactive Table of Contents.  --------->

Click on a title that takes you in a flash to that specific site.  As of November 2021, this Interactive Table of Contents is 15% complete.

2. Normally one browses through a blog by using the Blog Archive in the right column. --------->

Click on a date range and click again on a specific date to pop up the title.  The earliest posts are at the bottom.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

*    A Toto in Your Water Closet
*    Tokyo Car Culture
*    The Giant Wave of Kanazawa
*    Wonder Filled Japanese World Heritage Sites
*    An Unforgettable Journey by train.
*    “This Is The Land Of Your Ancestors.” —Yuji Ishihara
*    Why Get Married in Japan #6
*    Why Get Married in Japan #5
*    For Rochelle’s Family is headed to Tokyo
*    Table of Contents 
*    Can a Foreigner Buy a Home in Japan?
*    May 1, 2019 First Day of the new Japanese Era
*    Finding Japanese Ancestors
*    Space Saver

Tip 34
*    10,000 People: Japan Art Book Project
*    Forging a Katana (Samurai Sword)
Tip 33 The Narita Express (Train)
Tip 32 Book:  Meeting With Japan by Fosco Mariani 
Tai Chi and Mount Fuji

Tip 31 Mobile Passport: breezing through customs.

Tip 30 Jet Lag Part 2
*    How To Get Married In Japan
*    Moon Restaurant: 58th Floor of the Mori Museum Building
*    Senju Shrine: Perfect for an Intimate Shinto Wedding
*    10,000 People Art Book Project:  Misata
*    Discovering Immeasurable Treasures
*    10,000 People Japan Art Book Project:  Milo @ Beer To Go
*    Eyes Open Wide Day In Tokyo

Tip 29 The Thirty Types of Japanese Restaurants

*    The Diaries of Patricia and Tobias 
*    Jim Reed: "What is Shabui and Wabi Sabi?"
*    Chucky Thomas in Asuka Village
*    Shinto Wedding Purification Ritual
*    Tai Chi Wedding Sendoff
*    The Diaries of Patricia and Tobias
*    Patricia's Fan Fold Temple Book
*    Sakura Zensen in Tokyo:  Following the Cherry Blossom Wave
*    Godzilla & Staying at the APA Shinjuku Kabuki-cho Tower 
*    36 of Japan's Most Stunning Places
*    Japanese Phrases for Your First Day
*    First Kimono
*    Calligraphy and Sumi (Japanese Ink Making)

*    10,000 People: Japan Art Book Project # 10

*    10,000 People: Japan Art Book Project begins.  

Tip 28 Cherry Blossom Report: Sakura Zensen Tracking

Tip 27 Nara:  Miwa Mountain of 1,000 Shrines

Tip 26 The Great Buddha of Todai-ji 

Tip 25 Folding steel for Samurai Swords and bringing home a fine folded steel kitchen knife from Nara

Tip 24 Akiko and her new Tour Company (highly recommended)
Tip 23A No need for Electrical adaptors and drinking water

Tip 22 Hiroshima:  Peace Park and ringing the Peace Bell

Tip 21 Using Google Translate

Tip 20 Temples, Shinto Shrines and Japanese Culture

Tip 19 Way Finding in Japan and Restaurant Culture

Tip 18 “Do not hesitate to ask when you need help.

Tip 17 Google Maps: A great way to navigate Japan

Tip 16 Kanji: Japanese Writing

Tip 15B My Friend Yuji Short Documentary

Tip 15A Home Stays: the best way to learn about Japan

Tip 14 Japan Rail Pass

Tip 13 Pasmo card for easier Subway use

Tip 12 Travel Light: Using Roll Aboards

Tip 11 Conversion of $ to Yen

Tip 10 Ghibli Museum: Home of Japan’s greatest director/animator.

Tip 9 Tokyo Subway: A wayfinding introduction.

Tip 8B Copious ideas to build your own Japan Itinerary including World Heritage sites.

Tip 8A Miyabidado Takemine Ryokan in Tokyo, wedding night.
Tip 7 Introduction to Ryokans: Japan’s historic, traditional inns. 

Tip 6 Hotel APA Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower 

Tip 5 Portable charger for you phone and Pocket Wifi

Tip 4 Pocket WiFi across Japan, Google Translate, & Maps

Tip 3 Hitching Rides with Buddha: a first book to read.

Tip 2 b Shinjuku Station, busiest in the world. 3.5 million passengers each day.

Tip 2 a Japan Rail Pass (perfect for beyond the big cities)

Tip 1 Minimizing Jet Lag April 16, 2018

000   In the beginning: Jotaro and Taka Kobayakawa  Nov. 17, 2015

AMAZING VEGAN CHOICES IN TOKYO AND KYOTO

 26 VEGAN CHOICES IN TOKYO, AND 23 MORE IN KYOTO

 

So many choices creates another problem... you may not want to go back home.

Patricia and I are checking these lists for our Tokyo and Kyoto Fall Trip (either 2023 or 2024 contingent on travel restrictions).

 

Click HERE for Kyoto Machiya: traditional wooden townhouses.

 

 

1. Click HERE for the best Tokyo Vegan choices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Click HERE for the best Kyoto Vegan Restaurants and Cafes

INTERACTIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS MAY 2023

INTERACTIVE 

Tip 1 Click HERE to Manage Jet Lag

Tip 2 Click HERE for the Japan Rail Pass: Beyond Big Cities

*SHINJUKU STATION, busiest train station in the world. 3.5 million people pass through its 200 gates each day.

Tip 3 Great Books for your journey and for understanding Japanese people. 

Tip 4 Pocket WiFi Throughout Japan

Tip 5 The Best First Thing to do in Japan: Goshincho

Tip 6 Narita International Airport to Shinjuku 

Tip 7 Ryokans, Japan's Exquisite Traditional Inns

Tip 8 Ryokan Miyabiado

TIP 9 Wayfinding the Train Stations

Tip 10 Ghibli Museum: Home of Japan’s greatest animator and director.

Tip 11 Converting Dollars to Yen

Tip 12, 13, 14 Planes, Bullet Trains and Luggage

Tip 15 Home Stays: the best way to Discover Japanese Culture.

Tip 16 Time To Start Writing Japanese

YUJI ISHIHARA: THE GENIUS OF OKAYAMA

DEPARTURES and other movies about Japan.

TOKYO: WORLD’S BEST PLACE TO EAT

Tip 17 and 18 Google Maps in Japan and Asking For Directions

Tip 19 Wayfinding Practice: Shinjuku Kabukicho to Mori Museum

Tip 20 Temples, Shrines and Japanese Culture 1

Tip 21 Google Translate: Not yet perfect but very useful

Tip 22 Hiroshima: A ‘Must See City’

Tip 23 Electric Adaptors and Water

Tip 24 Tours by Akiko in Nara, Kyoto, Asuka Village

CHARLES THOMAS: TOKYO TO KYOTO

TIP 29 Thirty Types of Japanese Restaurants

Tip 30 and 31 Jet Lag 2 and Mobile Passport

Tip 32 Excellent Read: Meeting With Japan by Fosco Mariani

Tip 33 The Narita Express:  Fast Train to & from Narita Airport

[][][][][][][][][][]

[][][][][][][][][][]

SOON TO BE INTERACTIVE

Tip 25 Folding steel for Samurai Swords and bringing home a fine folded steel kitchen knife from Nara

Tip 26 The Great Buddha of Todai-ji 

Tip 27 Nara:  Miwa Mountain of 1,000 Shrines

Tip 28 Cherry Blossom Report: Sakura Zensen Tracking

Tip 30 Jet Lag Part 2
Tip 31 Mobile Passport: breezing through customs at LAX
Tip 32 Book:  Meeting With Japan by Fosco Mariani 

Tip 34
*    10,000 People: Japan Art Book Project
*    Forging a Katana (Samurai Sword)

PART II

*    10,000 People: Japan Art Book Project begins.  
*    10,000 People: Japan Art Book Project # 10
*    Calligraphy and Sumi (Japanese Ink Making)
*    First Kimono


TO DO

*    Apr 15, 2021 Old Table of Contents: Delete

*    The Diaries of Patricia and Tobias 
*    Jim Reed: "What is Shabui and Wabi Sabi?"
*    Chucky Thomas in Asuka Village
*    Shinto Wedding Purification Ritual
*    Tai Chi Wedding Sendoff
*    The Diaries of Patricia and Tobias
*    Patricia's Fan Fold Temple Book
*    Sakura Zensen in Tokyo:  Following the Cherry Blossom Wave
*    Godzilla & Staying at the APA Shinjuku Kabuki-cho Tower 
*    36 of Japan's Most Stunning Places
*    Japanese Phrases for Your First Day

Tai Chi and Mount Fuji

*    A Look Inside Capsule Hotels and Yukigassen Snowball Craze

*    The 2020 Cherry Blossom Report

*    Book:  The Lady and the Monk by Pico Iyer

*    A Toto in Your Water Closet
*    Tokyo Car Culture
*    The Giant Wave of Kanazawa and Ukeo-e Wood Block Prints

*    World Heritage Sites across Japan
*   An Unforgettable Journey by train.
*    “This Is The Land Of Your Ancestors.” —Yuji Ishihara
*    Why Get Married in Japan #6
*    Why Get Married in Japan #5
*    Iconic Japan: The Ghibli Museum (Totoro and Spirited Away)
*    Table of Contents 
*    Can a Foreigner Buy a Home in Japan?
*    May 1, 2019 First Day of the new Japanese Era
*    Finding Japanese Ancestors
*    Space Saver

*    How To Get Married In Japan
*    Moon Restaurant: 58th Floor of the Mori Museum Building
*    Senju Shrine: Perfect for an Intimate Shinto Wedding
*    10,000 People Art Book Project:  Misata
*    Discovering Immeasurable Treasures
*    10,000 People Japan Art Book Project:  Milo @ Beer To Go
*    Eyes Open Wide ;;;;Day In Tokyo

In the beginning: Jotaro and Taka Kobayakawa  Nov. 17, 2015