Journey to Japan
Our First Taste of Japan: From Kyoto Nights to Tokyo Light
Hey everyone! It’s Synara here, and I’m super excited to share our amazing family trip to Japan! It was our first time experiencing this incredible country (except for my cousin, Cesar, who’s practically a local after ten visits!). With my husband Patrick, our son Daniel, my parents Connie and Carl, and of course, Cesar, we set off on an adventure we’ll never forget. Let me take you through our whirlwind journey!
January 28 – Hello Japan!
We landed in Osaka and hopped on a train to Kyoto. The flight from San Francisco to Osaka was pretty empty, so we all got rows to ourselves for a full night of sleep. Win!!! The excitement was real as we checked into the Mitsui Garden Kyoto Station, our cozy home base (and 22% cheaper with Tranont Travel!). That night, we decided to explore the Gion district, lantern-lit streets, traditional wooden buildings, and the feeling that we had stepped back in time—it was the perfect introduction to Japan.
January 29 – Temples, Bamboo, and Wagyu Dreams
Our first full day started with a delicious coffee at Bread, Espresso & Arashiyama Garden; just what we needed for our busy day ahead! We visited the stunning Tenryu-ji Temple and strolled through the magical Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. I’ve seen this on Social Media before, but it was pure magic to be standing there, listening to the wind blow through the towering stalks.
Next, we headed to Kinkakuji Temple, where the golden reflection in the pond was breathtaking. Then we explored Nijo Castle. It was fascinating to see the history come alive. We couldn’t resist a visit to Nishiki Market, where we tasted all sorts of local goodies. For dinner, we indulged in a mouthwatering meal at Wagyu Teppanyaki Steak House Nishiki Miyabi. I have never tasted better wagyu beef!
January 30 – Torii Gates, Deer, and Sake
We kicked off our day with a hike up Fushimi Inari, surrounded by thousands of vibrant orange torii gates. It was a challenging hike. According to our Apple Health app, we climbed 52 stories. However, the view from the top was totally worth it! After our hike, we visited the Nara Deer Park, where friendly deer wandered around. The deer have learned to bow their heads, to get a snack; it's pretty incredible to see it in action. Watching Daniel giggle as the deer nibbled on snacks was such a highlight!
Next, we went on a sake tasting tour in Nara. Learning about the sake-making process was so cool! I can’t say that sake will replace my love for a craft cocktail, but the aged sake was pretty good (tasted like Port). We wrapped up the day with a cozy Shabu Shabu dinner that warmed us right up, followed by some late-night exploring at the lively Kyoto Station.
January 31 – Tech Meets Tradition
This day was all about blending the old with the new! We kicked things off at TeamLab’s Biovortex, an immersive digital art experience that blew our minds. Even if you are not a “museum person,” this one was fun. After that, we visited Osaka Castle, and the history there was fascinating. We all decided we needed to binge-watch Shogun when we got back home!
Dinner at Sushi Roku was a memory I will treasure — the omakase experience was unforgettable! Sushi Roku is a one-star Michelin restaurant and we had it all to ourselves. It was really amazing watching a true master at work. Shout out to Daniel (our foodie) for finding this experience for us.
To cap off the night, we ventured into Osaka’s nightlife, enjoying drinks at Bar Alive and then The Blarney Stone. It was the perfect way to unwind!
February 1 – Bullet Trains & Tokyo Beginnings
We hopped on the Shinkansen Bullet Train to Tokyo, topping out at 200mph (what an experience!). We lucked out and had clear skies and a perfect view of Mount Fuji. We utilized Tranont Travel again for our home in Tokyo, the Comfort Inn Roppongi. Our first stop was an Imperial Palace walking tour, which was beautiful and rich in history. It is so interesting to see the ancient Palace right across from high rise office buildings.
We had lunch at Gensoba Shingari Asakusa Honten, where we had horse sashimi (a first, and likely our last, LOL), then visited Senso-ji Temple, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere. A real highlight for me was the Japanese knife-making class — I even got to take home a gorgeous knife, with my name in Japanese inscribed on it! Dinner at a cozy ramen spot was the cherry on top. Some of the best meals really are the unplanned.
February 2 – Iconic Tokyo
Our day kicked off with a visit to Tokyo Tower, where the views were amazing! Then we jumped on a Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour to see all the city highlights. I had never done one before, and now regret all the cities I have missed these in! In a few hours you get a tour of the whole city, with all of the highlights.
Of course, we HAD to experience Shibuya Crossing — it was wild! It’s known as the busiest intersection on earth. It truly was organized chaos at its finest. Dinner at Bistro Meatman in Shibuya was delicious and definitely hit the spot. Almost everything wrapped in bacon. Yes, please!
February 3 – Knives, Bourbon & Cocktails
Patrick was in heaven shopping for Japanese kitchen knives along Kappabashi Street. We also hunted down Japanese-exclusive bourbons—such a fun and unique experience. We may have brought home 9 bottles. With knives and booze, we actually had to check our bags for our return flight. (Checking bags is a Brown-family no-no. LOL)
That night, we dressed up a bit and headed to Codename Mixology in Akasaka for beautifully crafted cocktails. The bartenders were true artisans. Stylish, intimate, and unforgettable. On our way home, we happened upon a British pub. We couldn’t help ourselves and had to stop in for one.
February 4 – Art, Views & Sumo
Our adventure continued at the Mori Art Museum and the stunning Tokyo City View. I began to realize just how expansive Tokyo really is. The city just goes on and on from this 360 degree view. One of the best parts of the trip was attending a Sumo Wrestling show, where Daniel and I even got to square off against a sumo wrestler! It was hilarious and such a unique experience. Daniel actually gave him a run for his money! 10 years on the offensive line proved helpful!
We finished our trip with a fantastic sushi dinner (plus some french fries for my dad who needed a taste of home) at Rakuzo in Asakusa, the perfect farewell meal!
February 5 – Until Next Time, Japan
We flew home from Haneda Airport to Chicago, tired, full, and already dreaming of our return.
Japan exceeded every expectation. From ancient temples to neon-lit streets, from quiet moments to laughter-filled meals, this trip gave us memories we’ll carry forever. If this was our first taste of Japan, it definitely won’t be our last.