Tracy’s Travels: Japan edition
I started traveling to Japan when I was thirteen. My dad’s monthly business trips and my mother’s heritage made Japan an ideal vacation spot for my brother and me. From visiting Kyoto in the fall, Tokyo in the summer, Sapporo in the spring and everything in between, I’ve become a seasoned, semi-frequent tourist in my motherland.

After eight trips to Japan, here are my highlights in each prefecture I’ve visited.
Tokyo (Greater area)
Regional food: Sushi, sashimi, udon, ramen, zaru soba, tempura, Mos Burger, Japanese fusion

- Harajuku: Take a stroll down Takeshita Dori for the odds and ends you never thought you needed. This alley is a teenie-bopper haven for on-trend items. I always like visiting the stores dedicated just to socks, and seeing if I can still pull of whatever the youngsters are rocking these days. After you’ve walked through Takeshita Dori, wander around neighboring Aoyama to find street art, vintage / thrift stores and boutique shops. On your way back to Harajuku station, walk to the nearby and iconic Meji shrine for good luck charms, incense and scenic views.

- Shibuya: If Harajuku is Sixteen Candles then Shibuya is Breakfast at Tiffany’s. As Harajuku’s swankier, more mature sister district, Shibuya is more of a contemporary fashion hub with an emphasis on minimalist and designer flagship stores. Also, if like me you miss Tower Records in Southern California, it lives on in Shibuya (and the rest of Japan). I enjoy searching each floor for special-edition CDs and recordings for American artists. For all the Weezer fans out there, you can find their Japanese records here.
- Shinjuku: Shinjuku station is as highly trafficked as the 405 during rush hour. Take advantage of the train-station-mall department stores. I particularly recommend Lumene for restaurants and shopping. The downtown area comes alive at night in Golden Gai and Kabukicho for after-work drinks and all-around tom foolery.

- Yoyogi Park: Yoyogi park is located close to Harajuku station and the Meiji Shrine. Here, you can have a picnic, watch a greaser dance crew, listen to local musicians or even see someone parade around their pet owl. There’s a fountain in the center of the park and plenty of greenery to take a break after a long day of shopping in Harajuku. Be sure to stop by on a Sunday, where artists flock to the park to perform.

- Mt. Fuji: Hike up the mountain yourself, or take a view from Lake Kawaguchi. For hiking, take a bus from Shinjuku bus terminal to station five. You will need hiking boots, light layers, wind breakers, space blankets, snacks, and spare oxygen if you get altitude sickness. I recommend hiking up to station eight and staying overnight to hike the summit at sunrise. That being said, it took me three different attempts to summit at sunrise, so go with the godly flow. From Lake Kawaguchi, you can take boat tours or cable car to get different views of Mt. Fuji. I also thought the regional udon by Lake Kawaguchi is a must eat.
- Odaiba: The Rainbow bridge lives on outside of mario kart. Take the monorail to Tennozu Isle and then walk through the shopping plaza towards the ocean. Here, you’ll see the Rainbow Bridge light up the Tokyo Bay with its alternating technicolor lights.
- Hamarikyu Gardens: These are classic Japanese gardens within walking distance of the Hamamatsuchō Station and the Pokemon Center. Koi ponds, greenery, well-groomed trees and stone bridges check off all the boxes for a quintessential Japanese park. Visit the teahouse at the center of the park for a classic tea ceremony featuring fresh iced matcha and manju (rice cake dessert).
- Asakusa Temple: Asakusa is splash of tradition in Tokyo. Go here for street food (like taiyaki, senbei and fresh mochi), omiyagi (souvenirs), incense and the famous red lanterns leading up to the main temple area. Asakusa temple is close to the Tsukijji fish market and the Tokyo Sky Tree.

- Daibutsu (Kamakura): This is the big Buddah by the beach. It’s about an hour and half from Tokyo station, so plan it as a day trip. After paying respects to the Daibutsu, cool off in the clear waters of Kamakura beach.

- Roppongi: I really didn’t appreciate Roppongi until my last trip. The limited-time Yayoi Kusama exhibit at the National Art Center was an immersive pop-art experience. The Mori Tower has more modern art and a rooftop view of Tokyo, comparable to the Tokyo tower. This district also has the hedgehog and bunny cafes so you can cuddle all the cute critters.
- Shimokitazawa: As the hipster’s paradise, locals market Shimokitazawa as the “Williamsburg of Tokyo.” Here you’ll find thrift and vintage shops, pressed juice, and gastropub takes on Japanese cuisine like bistro-style wagyu beef with seaweed salad.
- Ikebukuro: From maid cafes to arcades to cat cafes, Ikebukuro has all the hyped-up Tokyo extracurricular activities you crave. The anime museum, Moomin cafe, mall and aquarium let you be a kid again for an afternoon.
- Ginza: Ginza is very much the Beverly Hills district in Tokyo. Known for higher-end shops, the glitz and glamour of Ginza is hard to miss. I like walking through hole-in-the-wall noodle shops and bars in between Ginza and neighboring Shimbashi.
Kyoto
Regional food: Yakitori,tofu, sashimi, traditional Japanese food
- Kiyomizudera: Absolutely epic in the fall and in the spring, the Kiyomizudera is surrounded by towering cherry maple trees and home to the Otowa Waterfall. Known as the “Pure Water” temple, a visit isn’t complete without dousing your hands, and drinking the waterfall’s streams for good luck. Each stream you can drink from will grant you luck in either love, longevity or academic success.

- Fushimi Inari-taisha: The Fushimi Inari-taisha is one of the shrines home to pathways of consecutive red toris (gates), at the base of Mt. Inari. Dedicated to Inari, the god of rice and sake, you’ll find plenty of fox statues along the grounds (foxes were believed to be Inari’s messengers). The photo ops are prime, so make sure to bring all your lenses and selfie sticks.

- Kinkakuji: Kinkakuji is the famous golden temple plastered on many a Kyoto post card. That being said, it’s one of the most lavishly-detailed temples in Japan. The three-story golden pavilion’s location along the lake, reflecting its golden-leaf construction in the ripples.
- Hozugawa Kudari: If you want to veer off the road most travelled, try going river rafting in Kyoto. You’ll raft down the Hozugawa river in Kameoka down to the Arashiyama. The river cruise takes about two and a half hours. Traversing through the ravines between the mountains is the best way to see some of the most serene, untouched nature in Kyoto.
- Nara: If you don’t make it to Miyajima island, then visit Nara to play with Japanese deer. Nara is also home to the Todaiji Temple, a Unesco World Heritage site. After you visit the temple, purchase deer treats and learn how not shy deer are in Japan versus their North American counterparts
Hiroshima (Greater Area)
Regional food: Okonomiyaki, Takoyaki, Oysters, Komoboko, Manneken Waffle (though you can get this in Tokyo too)
- Hiroshima Peace Park Memorial: Visit the Peace Park, Atomic Dome and museum. It can be a little solemn, so make sure to be respectful in all areas of the park.
- Hiroshima Castle: The castle is on the way back from Peace Park towards the city center. The castle grounds are known for its carp-themed shrine and quirky activities such as ninja dance classes.

- Miyajima Island : You can’t visit Miyajima island without walking to the famous Great Torii in the water. From Hiroshima station, you’ll need to take a train to Miyajima station. Then from Miyajima station, you walk to the JR ferry station to catch a boat to the island. Depending on the time of day, you can walk up to the torii or wade in the shallow water, or even take a boat through it at hight tide. Across from the red torii, is the Itsukushima shrine. This shrine has beautiful red painted wooden panels to starkly contrast with the surrounding shallow waters. You can walk across the decks that outstretch into the water. After that, walk up to the Miyajima ropeway and take it up to Mt. Misen. From the ropeway station, you’ll take a short hike to a small shrine and vista point area. You can view the translucent aquamarine waters, archipelagos and hills from the top. Oh and as mentioned in the Kyoto section, there are lots of playful deer on the island as well. Just make sure to watch your snacks — the deer are more clever than you’d think.

- Okunoshima (Bunny Island): Keep in mind that bunny island is a one-hour train ride from Hiroshima to Tadanoumi , followed by a 15-minute ferry ride to access the island. The ferry doesn’t run as regularly on the weekends so be sure to check the schedule. You can buy bunny treats right before boarding the boat, or cabbage and carrots at Family Mart. That being said, enjoy the island full of free-range bunnies that will hop in your lap for a treat (and a selfie).

- Iwakuni: Get lost in dangling purple wisteria and gaze at pink and white peonies in full bloom. Iwakuni is known for the Kintai bridge, a high-arched bridge, leading to parks and gardens across the river. I found this to be a more remote alternative to the wisteria tunnels in Fukuoka
Hokkaido
Regional food: Seafood, crab, uni (sea urchin), nabe (hot pot), dairy products, beer, Hokkaido-style ramen

- Odori Park: Odori park lines the center of Sapporo. In the spring, the buds of sakura blow in the air during hanami (cherry blossom viewing season). You can easily walk from the end of Odori park beginning near the Sappporo clock tower. The sakura and lily trees really brighten up the city, even on an overcast spring day.
- Yurigahara Park: This park is full of lilies, tulips, sakura and a variety of other local flowers. My personal favorite were the narcissists — the jeering flowers that starred in Alice and Wonderland. Hop aboard the Lily Train, to cruise through the different gardens.

- Takino Suzuran Hillside National Government Park: This national park still had snow when I visited in May. After the snow melts, the Takino Suzuran Hillside National Park has a vibrant field of tulips. Meander through the fairy garden to see bright blue wild flowers, mauve mini hydrangea-like blooms and crimson, geometric succulents. Since it was out of season for flowers, we visited the three waterfalls and walked around the olympic training areas.
- Jozankei Onsen Village: As an onsen enthusiast, I had to visit a village dedicated to soaking in the natural mineral springs. Jozankei is about an hour away from Sapporo by train. Soak in a variety of different hot springs from the classic mineral spa to the pungent yet skin-clearing sulfur water. The onsen I visited had outdoor pools where you look up at the lush forest surrounding the mountains. During children’s day, there were carp flags strung across the different hotel rooftops, swaying festively in the wind.

- Noboribetsu: Noboribestu is home to the Jigokudani, which roughly translates to “hell valley,” in English. Hence, you’ll find all the demon statues — from cutesy to terrifying to animatronic — sprinkled along the cobblestone streets. The nearby geyser, geothermal pools and red-orange sedimentary rock make Noboribetsu an incredibly unique landscape for Japan, resembling rock structures you’d typically find in the Grand Canyon. This area is also known for hot springs as well as a bear park (but it was closed when I visited). However, make sure to stop at the milk /dairy shop, with a giant, adorable cardboard cow mascot. The fresh milk, soft cream (soft-serve ice cream) and hot milk were creamy and refreshing after a day of trekking.

- Otaru: If you love canals and seaport cities reminiscent of Scandinavia, look no further than Otaru. Otaru’s breweries, sake distilleries and glass blowing shops along the coast make it a nice coastal escape from the Sapporo city life. Take a cable car up Mt. Tengu to see a panoramic view of the whole town overlooking the ocean in the distance. Mt. Tengu also has a brief indoor exhibit depicting the legend of Tengu — the red, long-nosed masked emoji if you’re not familiar with Japanese folklore characters. (Tip*: On the weekdays it didn’t seem like shops / restaurants were open very late. So I’d advise heading out in the morning and returning to Sapporo in the early evening.)
