JapanByAlex
Menu

All Articles

Everything

Tokyo

Tokyo's Depachika Food Halls, Ranked Without Mercy

A practical guide to Tokyo's basement food halls—what each does best and how to use them for snacks, gifts, or train rides.

·6 min read
Itineraries

Hiroshima Day Trip from Osaka or Kyoto: How to Do It Right

Hiroshima and Miyajima are worth a full day from Kyoto or Osaka. Here's exactly how to structure it, what to budget, and what most guides get wrong.

·4 min read
Planning

Japan Cherry Blossom Timing: When to Go and Where

Cherry blossom season in Japan moves north over 6 weeks. Here's how to time your trip, which cities peak when, and what most guides get wrong about crowds.

·5 min read
Food

Osaka Food Guide: What to Eat and Where to Actually Go

Osaka is Japan's food capital for a reason. Skip the tourist traps and eat where locals do — takoyaki stalls, kushikatsu counters, and late-night ramen.

·4 min read
food

Specialty Coffee in Tokyo: Where to Go and What to Expect

A honest guide to the best specialty coffee shops in Tokyo — from Onibus in Nakameguro to Koffee Mameya in Omotesando — with prices, what to order, and how to plan a coffee walk.

·6 min read
Hotels

The Best Ryokans in Kyoto Worth the Money in 2025

Not every ryokan in Kyoto earns its price tag. These five do — from historic machiya stays to mountain onsen retreats that will ruin hotels for you.

·3 min read
Restaurants

Tokyo Omakase: How to Book, What to Spend, What to Expect

Omakase in Tokyo ranges from ¥15,000 to ¥100,000+. Here's how to navigate it, what the price actually buys you, and which counters are worth the effort to get into.

·4 min read
Hotels

Hakone or Kyoto for Onsen? An Honest Comparison

Both are classic Japan onsen destinations. They're not interchangeable. Here's what each actually offers and which one belongs in your trip.

·3 min read
Restaurants

Tsukiji Outer Market: What's Worth Going For in 2025

The inner market moved to Toyosu. The outer market stayed, evolved, and remains the best food walk in Tokyo — if you know which stalls matter and you arrive before 8am.

·3 min read
Itineraries

Kyoto in November: Autumn Leaves, No Apologies for the Crowds

November is peak season in Kyoto and worth it anyway. Here's how to see the autumn colour without being swallowed by the crowds — and where to stay when every good ryokan is booked.

·4 min read
Planning

What a Good Japan Trip Actually Costs (Honest Numbers)

Japan is both more affordable and more expensive than people expect — depending on what you want. Here's what a well-done trip costs at different levels, with real numbers.

·3 min read
Planning

Tokyo Neighbourhoods: Where to Actually Stay (and Why It Matters)

Staying in the wrong part of Tokyo doesn't ruin a trip, but staying in the right one makes it significantly better. A guide to the neighbourhoods worth knowing.

·3 min read
Planning

The JR Pass in 2025: When It's Worth It and When It Isn't

The JR Pass has gotten more expensive. It's still worth buying for certain itineraries and pointless for others. Here's how to calculate it honestly.

·3 min read