Shinagawa Keikyu EX Inn Hotel Stay Experience - Tokyo Reasonable, Spacious, Stylish and Convenient Location Accommodation Review

In October 2017, I traveled in Japan using the Japan Rail JR pass. I stayed at Shinagawa Keikyu EX Inn Hotel 京急 EX イン 品川 駅 前 while I was visiting Tokyo and nearby areas. While hotels are merely places for rest and sleep to many travelers, reasonably priced and conveniently located hotels would make travel experiences more efficient. I am writing this blog article to showcase the importance of conveniently located hotel stay as well as other advantages of staying at Shinagawa Keikyu EX Inn Hotel in front of Tokyo Shinagawa station.

Delicious Food and Restaurant Discovery and Recommendations in Japan 2017

In October 2017, I traveled in Okinawa and mainland Japan  using 7-day Japan Rail JR pass. I realized there is always new food discovery with every trip I took in Japan. I have discovered great Wara Wara Izakaya 笑 笑 居酒屋 restaurant with amazing dishes, delicious soul-food chicken cuisine, almond tofu dessert, and special Japanese fruit tomato, etc. I am sharing my 2017 Japan mainland food discovery and where to taste those delicious food in this blog article. I plan to share my Okinawa food discovery in another article blog post in the future.

Dishes with brown sauce and mayonnaise over omelet are almost always delicious in Japan 

Budget: How much does it cost to go to Tokyo Japan?

Recently Updated!

How much does it cost for a trip to go to Japan? Is Tokyo or Japan expensive? Maybe not when you compare Tokyo with Singapore, London or New York City. I believe if your Tokyo Japan trip is planned carefully, money can be very well spent. I have dedicated this blog post to the overall planning and budgeting for your first trip to Japan. Compare Tokyo to Manhattan, Paris, or London, the cost of visiting these modern nation cities could easily exceed the amount spent in Tokyo, Japan.

Apple store in Ginza Tokyo

The flight ticket prices in the months of shoulder season have been more stabilized. I have found ticket price around 700 USD (LAX to Tokyo.) Because of the reasonable flight ticket prices and great currency exchange rate (1 USD to 110 Yen), I recommend booking flights and hotels as early as possible.

The origin of Ippudo Ramen: Quest for world's first Hakata Ippudo restaurant

In November 2015, I traveled solo to Japan using the Japan Rail JR Pass. While I was touring in Hakata/Fukuoka of northern Kyushu, I decided to pay a tribute to the very first franchise restaurant of the most popular ramen  chain in the world: Ippudo Ramen, 一風堂

Original taste at the origin of Ippudo Ramen franchise restaurant in Fukuoka Japan

Kobe Beef in Kobe, Japan: My Kobe Beef experiences.

Updated on 01/31/16

Only the specific breed of cattle, processed in specific areas in Japan, raised by special methods, and graded by strict Japanese beef rating system, are qualified to be the real "KOBE BEEF" Real Kobe Beef are rarely exported outside of Japan, and when they are exported, they are usually served at very expensive restaurants overseas.

Nicely marbled intramuscular fat Kobe beef steak.

Project Shinkansen 2015 - Japan Rail Pass Itinerary Seto Inland Sea

In November 2015, I traveled to Japan using the Japan Rail Pass. I traveled solo. It was my second trip using the JR pass since the The Journey 5 years prior. I bought a 14-day JR pass and used it for 10 days in Japan due to lack of vacation time from my job. Even though it was only a 10-day trip, I was able to maximize my time in Japan and the value of the JR pass for a trip of a life time. Briefly, I traveled through Osaka/Kobe/Kyoto, Shikoku, Fukuoka, Ise, Tokyo and Nagano. Here are the highlights of my itinerary:

Japan Rail Pass Route 2015. Project Shinkansen Setonaikai Seto Inland Sea

First Cabin Hotel Hakata - Review for Japan Hotel

In November 2015, I traveled to Japan using the Japan Rail Pass. While I was traveling in Fukuoka/Hakata area in Kyushu, I stayed at First Cabin Hotel (hostel) in the most bustling area in Fukuoka/Hakata city. I am posting my hotel review on my Tokyo travel blog since First Cabin hotel chain offers same setting for each of their locations throughout Japan: Akihabara, Tsukiji and Haneda terminal in Tokyo, Namba in Osaka, and Karasuma in Kyoto. All locations are highly convenient and popular.

First Cabin Hotel Hakata, new concept of accommodation in Japan

Best Food in Tokyo Japan

Updated on January-09-2016

Besides your typical sushi and ramen, there are plenty of other variety of delicious food in Japan for travelers to explore. I have come up with a list of my recommendations for delicious of food in Japan for adventurous eaters, foodies and connoisseurs.

Dobin Mushi Teapot Soup

Tokyo Shinjuku

Updated on February-06-2016

Shinjuku will always be my favorite area in Tokyo. I often recommend travelers to visit Shinjuku as it is one of the representation of metropolis in Asia. Many 24-hour restaurants, lots of neon lights, and bars/pubs are all within short walking distances from the Shinjuku Station. If you have limited time in Tokyo/Japan, I recommend visiting Shinjuku or staying in Shinjuku.

Most bustling area of Tokyo, Shinjuku Kabukicho

Japan Budget Hotel Breakfast

Many of the hotels in Japan offer high cost/performance value hotel breakfast set or buffet at reasonable prices. With huge variety of traditional Japanese family cuisine and Euro/American selections to accommodate international guests, hotel breakfast is one of the best way to start your day while traveling in Japan.

Travelers often plan having sushi, ramen, and tempura as part of their must-eat items on their trip itinerary. However, family style Japanese breakfast is also a good way to enrich food experiences in Japan. Budget hotel breakfast usually costs an additional $8 to $15 per person at the time of hotel reservation. I recommend booking the hotel room along with the breakfast option for better package discount.

Many budget hotel in Tokyo Japan offer great breakfast buffet

Best Sushi choices in Tokyo

One of the best part of visiting Tokyo is savoring the delicious cuisine Japan has to offer to foreign visitors. One of the best cuisine Tokyo has to offer is its Edomae sushi, Tokyo style sushi.

Tokyo Sushi set, Tama Sushi, Shinjuku.

Best Ramen in Tokyo

Looking for Best Ramen in Tokyo?
The following selections of Ramen restaurants are based on my personal preferences as well as some general consensus from Japanese version of Yelp and local magazines.

Ramen. Shinagawa Shinatatsu Ramen Alley. Tokyo