Tokyo Joel Robuchon Restaurant in Ebisu - Best Michelin 3 Star French Cuisine Gourmet Dining Experience in Japan

French cuisine in Tokyo Japan? Yes because it is Joel Robuchon Michelin 3-star. Hiding in the concrete jungle of central Tokyo, world's capital of most Michelin star restaurants, Le Chateau de Joël Robuchon stands out in the Ebisu/Yebisu as it is the most unique building and the most prestigious Michelin star French cuisine restaurant in Japan for the past 10 years. I am dedicating this blog article to share my amazing Tokyo luxurious fine dining experience at Michelin 3-Star Robuchon restaurant.

Wagyu Gyudon Japanese Beef Bowls - Cheapest and Best way to Experience Wagyu in Japan

Tokyo Consult blog readers often inquired about where to get cheap Kobe Beef 神戸牛 or Matsusaka Beef 松阪牛 in Japan. While the best Kobe Beef is never meant to be reasonably priced, "generic" Wagyu is often more affordable to the budget travelers. After extensive research and a bit of luck, I was fortunate to have the opportunities to have tried 3 inexpensive Wagyu Beef Bowls during my trip to Japan in 2017. I am sharing my dining experiences and where to enjoy these delicious and cheap Wagyu Beef in this blog post.

Charm of traveling in Japan is discovering tasty food inside of meal boxes

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.

Tokyo Love Story - Day trip to Japanese Television Drama Film Locations of Baishinji station and Iyo Ozu Town near Matsuyama in Shikoku

In November 2015, I traveled to Japan using the Japan Rail Pass. When I was visiting Matsuyama 松山 in Shikoku 四国, I decided to follow Japan National Tourism Organization 日本政府観光局 (JNTO) and local tourism office's recommendation for sightseeing ideas of visiting Tokyo Love Story television drama filming locations. While majority of the television drama scenes took place in downtown Tokyo, some of the most important scenes were filmed at Baishinji station 梅津寺 駅 and in Iyo Ozu 伊予 大洲 area in rural Shikoku near Matsuyama. I am dedicating this article for my day trip to film locations of classic Japanese television drama of the 1990's, Tokyo Love Story, 東京 ラブ ストーリー, 東京 愛情 故事, 도쿄 러브 스토리.

Beef Bowl Japanese Gyudon - Best and Cheapest Japanese Soul Food

With many franchise restaurants throughout Japan, Gyndon Beef bowl 牛丼 remains one of the best and most affordable comfort food options for budget travelers in Japan. Typical price of a regular size Gyndon Beef Bowl is about $2.50 to $3.50 USD, the value far exceeds any other cuisine in Japan. Many of the restaurants open 24 hour a day in urban areas in Japan and they are everywhere near train/subway stations, this makes it a great option for a quick bite any time of the day. Typical Beef Bowl recipe consists of thinly sliced Beef braised in sweet soy sauce, cooked to perfection with onion over steamed rice. I am dedicating this blog article to the best and my favorite franchise Beef Bowl restaurants in Tokyo Japan, such as Yoshinoya 吉野家, Matsuya 松屋, Sukiya すき屋, Nakau なか卯 and Tokyo Chikara Meshi 東京チカラめし, etc.

Best and cheapest food in Japan: Beef Bowl Japanese Gyudon

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.

Affordable Cheap Reasonable Hotels in Tokyo

Updated on June-10th-2018


Where to stay in Tokyo Japan?

Central, Clean, and Convenient and hopefully CHEAP are the fundamentals of good Tokyo Hotels in my opinion.

My secret of being able to travel to Japan very frequently is being budget smart and location efficient with my hotel stay.

With my almost 20 years of travel experience in Japan, I have hand picked a few lists of reasonable and convenient Tokyo hotel accommodation with highest values in this blog post. 

Toyoko Inn, a popular budget hotel franchise in Japan.

- I recommend booking the flight ticket first. Be specific about your travel dates. Then compare Hotel TOTAL PRICE after tax and service charges are added.

Kobe Beef in Kobe 2016 - Ishida Kobe Beef Steak Restaurant

In October 2016, I traveled to Japan using the 14-day Japan Rail Pass. While I was traveling from Kanazawa 金沢 to Kagoshima 鹿児島, my cousin and I decided to stop by Kobe for a few hours of sightseeing and for Kobe Beef 神戸牛 lunch. I did some research prior to my arrival in Kobe, we decided to visit ishida Kobe Beef Steak Restaurant 神戸 石田 屋 based on their recent rise in popularity and well labeled online menu.

Best Kobe Beef in Kobe 2016. ishida steak teppanyaki restaurant. A5 BMS 10-12 grade Steak

Atami Onsen area - Hot Spring Day Trip from Tokyo

In November 2015, I traveled to Japan using the JR Pass. While I was staying in Tokyo area, I decided to take a day trip to the Atami Onsen 熱海 温泉 Hot Spring area because Atami is a much less traveled, off the beaten path area when compared to Hakone. I took the Kodama Shinkansen bullet train line from JR Shinagawa station in Tokyo to JR Atami station. The train ride was only 40 minutes and I soon arrived at one of the best coastal hot spring resort area in Japan.

Day trip to Atami Onsen Hot Spring area from Tokyo

Asakusa Area - Travel in time in Tokyo Japan

Asakusa 浅草 area, Sensoji 浅草寺, and Nakamise 仲見世通り areas have been the stables of must-visit sightseeing spots for new travelers to Tokyo Japan. With the recent development of the new landmark Tokyo Skytree, the already-popular tourist area has become even more popular not only among international visitors, local Japanese tourists have also flocked into the bustling neighborhood of Asakusa by the Sumida river 隅田川. I highly recommend both new or experienced travelers to visit and stay in Asakusa area for the feeling of traveling in time in the middle of modern Tokyo city.

Asakusa, Nakamise, Sensoji, and Pagoda in Tokyo Japan 

Crab Feast Experience at Tokyo Shinjuku Kani Douraku Restaurant

Have you ever wondered what this famous franchise restaurant serve inside? Japan is full of specialty food ingredient restaurants. The ingredient ranges from Wagyu Kobe beef to seafood. This article is dedicated to my dining experience at the famous Kani Doraku or Douraku かに 道楽 Crab specialty restaurant in Tokyo Shinjuku during lunch hours in March 2010. I have posted photos of most of the dishes from the ~3000 yen lunch course meal.

Kani Doraku Crab Restaurant. They are everywhere in Japan!

Tokyo Love Story - Tokyo Romantic Places and Things to Do

Many travelers visit Tokyo for different reasons, for people who travel as couples, it is their romantic getaway. Historically Tokyo has been giving visitors the mere impressions of mixture of the past and the future, however, with some detail planning, visitors would soon discover that Tokyo as a city offers many romantic spots and activities. I have come up with some of the best recommended spots, activities and tours for couples who are seeking for good times, romantic getaway, proposal or perhaps memorable honeymoon.

Tokyo Tower has always been the symbol for romance in Japan

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

Tokyo Akihabara Maid Cafe Experiences

One of the most interesting experiences I had in Japan was at Maid Cafe in Tokyo Akihabara. In general, Japanese Maid Cafe consists of waitress in maid outfit that serves up a cute show, drinks, meals and dessert. This blog post is written to show and tell about my few visits to some of the most popular maid cafe in Japan.

Maid Cafe Capital: Japan Tokyo Akihabara

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.

Tokyo and Kyoto Sample Itinerary: Planning for the essence of Travel in Japan

Many of the first time travelers in Japan, while the main destination is modern Tokyo, will always try to fit ancient Kyoto or Osaka into their busy itinerary. Being a working professional with a busy schedule, I find it difficult to come up with vacation time longer than two weeks. With a short vacation time in mind, I have listed my own itinerary in 2012 as well as my suggested travel planning. Briefly, I flew from Los Angeles to Kansai international airport near Osaka; after touring in the Kansai area, I took the ultra modern bullet train from Kansai area to Tokyo; after touring in the Tokyo area, I flew home from Tokyo Haneda airport back to Los Angeles.

Traveling between Tokyo Tower and Kyoto Tower

Wagyu Japanese Beef

Wagyu Japanese beef, the most sought after land animal meat in the world, usually have similar characteristics of being very tender and having extreme level of intramuscular fat. Wagyu is a general term used for high grade Japanese breed beef, which usually covers famous "brand" names such as Kobe, Matsusaka, and Omi beef. I am dedicating this blog post to some of my best Wagyu experiences and Wagyu restaurants in Tokyo and other parts of Japan.

Wagyu Japanese Beef, the most tender and juicy beef in the world

Japan Onsen for Shy Travelers - Hakone Kowakien Yunessun Swimsuit Hot Spring Bath and Private Onsen Ryokan

While almost all Onsen in Japan do not allow wearing swimsuits, I believe many of the foreign travelers to Japan feel uncomfortable getting naked for the authentic hot spring experience. Luckily there are some special hot spring onsen near Tokyo Japan that permit and require bathing suits to be worn. There are also options of private onsen, foot onsen, and reserved-time family onsen time for those who are a bit on the uncomfortable side.

Open-air private onsen hot spring with a nice view. This type of accommodation could be very expensive.

Day Trip from Tokyo - Quest for Snow Monkey in Nagano Jigokudani Monkey Park

In November 2015, I traveled to Japan using the Japan Rail Pass. While I was staying the Tokyo area, I took a side/day trip to Nagano, hoping to see the amazing Jigokudani Snow Monkey bathing in hot spring.

Baby Japanese Snow Monkey

Useful Travel Japanese Phrases

While language barrier has never been an issue for me during my trips to Japan in the past 15 years, I found it fun to be able to speak a few phrases to test out my foreign language skills during my travel. Having some survival Japanese phrases handy could make your trip more pleasant when people around you can not or unwilling to speak English (or any other foreign language) I also felt that Tokyo has become more English speaking friendly along with the foreign tourism surge in the past ten years.

Just point and order when you see plastic food models in front of the restaurants

I have listed phrases that are useful and essential for new travelers to Japan.