Places to Visit

Tokyo (best all-rounder)

Anime / pop

  • Akihabara: arcades, figure shops, maid cafés (Sun. pedestrian street).

  • Nakano Broadway (Mandarake cluster) for rare/retro finds.

Traditional

  • Sensō-ji (Asakusa) + Nakamise shopping street.

  • Meiji Jingu forested shrine near Harajuku.

Food

  • Ramen alleys (Shinjuku/Ikebukuro), sushi counters in Ginza/Toyosu; depachika (basement food halls).

 

 

Kyoto (tradition first)

Traditional

  • Fushimi Inari Taisha (thousands of torii; go early/late).

  • Gion, Kiyomizu-dera, tea ceremony. Mind posted “no-entry” signs on some private Gion alleys (fines); public streets remain open.

Anime / pop

  • Smaller scene, but themed cafés/shops around Kawaramachi / Teramachi.

Food

  • Kyo-kaiseki, tofu cuisine, wagashi; Nishiki Market grazing.

 

 

Osaka (food capital + otaku pocket)

Anime / pop

  • Nipponbashi / Den-Den Town (Osaka’s Akihabara).

Traditional

  • Osaka Castle, Sumiyoshi Taisha; easy day trip to Nara (Todai-ji, deer park).

Food

  • Dōtonbori night eats—takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu; neon stroll under the Glico sign.

 

 

Nagoya (gateway to Ghibli Park)

Anime / pop

  • Ghibli Park (Aichi): book timed tickets in advance; different areas have varying access rules.

Traditional

  • Atsuta Shrine and Inuyama Castle (nearby) for history/architecture.

Food

  • Hitsumabushi (eel over rice), miso katsu, tebasaki (peppery wings).

 

 

Yokohama (next to Tokyo; playful food scene)

Anime / pop

  • Event venues dotted around the bay; quick hop back to Akiba if you’re based in Tokyo.

Traditional / sights

  • Historic port architecture, bayside promenades.

Food / fun

  • CupNoodles Museum (make your own cup noodles), Yokohama Chinatown (huge dining district).

 

 

Sapporo (winter magic + hearty eats)

Traditional / sights

  • Hokkaidō Shrine (Maruyama Park).

Seasonal

  • Sapporo Snow Festival (early Feb): Odori, Susukino, Tsudome sites—massive snow/ice sculptures.

Food

  • Sapporo miso ramen, soup curry, fresh seafood at markets.

 

 

Fukuoka (ramen heaven, relaxed vibe)

Traditional

  • Dazaifu Tenmangū (learning deity; shrine customs, museum, festivals).

Anime / pop

  • Occasional events around Canal City; Mandarake branch downtown.

Food

  • Hakata (tonkotsu) ramen—thin noodles, kaedama refills; yatai (night food stalls).

 

 

Quick pick by interest

  • Max anime + variety: Tokyo

  • Deep temples/shrines: Kyoto

  • Street-food mania: Osaka

  • Ghibli focus: Nagoya (Aichi)

  • Food-museum & bayside strolls: Yokohama

  • Winter festival + hearty food: Sapporo

  • Ramen pilgrimage + chill: Fukuoka