Tokyo

- Imperial Palace (inner grounds not open to public) - Meji Shrine (Harajuku)- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (Shinjuku)

o Free + Observation decks- Park Hyatt (Shinjuku) New York Bar- Shinjuku Gyoen (National Garden)- Golden Gai (architecture + nightlife, in Shinjuku)- Sky Tower and Mori Art Museum (Rappongi)- Koenji/Shirrakirzaua

Kyoto

- Fushimi Inari Shrine (Shinto Shrine, Torii gares)- Bike Hire- Kurama (rural town in Northern mountains, 30-40 mins on train) outdoor

onsen + Buddhist temple- K’s house Kyoto, probably the nicest hostel’s I’ve ever stayed at – friendly

staff, good location

Osaka

- Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan (a little $$)- Floating Garden Building (observation deck, city views) -> Umeda Sky Building - Dontonbori, Chuo – Ku area (nightlife)- Osaka Castle

Hiroshima

- K’s house Hiroshima was cheap and all the staff were helpful/friendly/I met the love of my life

- Rent a bike and head for the hiroshima peace memorial/Children’s peace monument

- Ride through the park, until you reach ->- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum- Hiroshima Castle, also worth riding there- There’s also a great nightlife district – I can’t find the name but it’s walking

distance from K’s House (not too helpful here I know)- Ask K’s House staff how to get to Miejima it’s about a 45 minute trip (2 trains

and a ferry – worth it do it – promise me, alright good)– get there before the afternoon so you can ride up the mountain and play with deer/see the sun set

Naoshima

- Tadao Ando's (look him up) Island of modern art and stunning architecture- Benesse Art Site Naoshima – When you’re finished try to catch the shuttle sky

chair train thingy to the actual hotel top and walk around for some stunning views of the island (best at sunset)

- Chichu Museum – pricey , minimalist but worth it- Lee Ufan Museum – pricey not much there, but if you’ve made it this far

could be worth it – or just walk around outside and up to the front desk and you’ve already seen some of the best of it

- I love yu – surrealist/modernist onsen - Art house projects (designed by artist such as James Turrel), scattered around

the Island. Good adventure to walk around and find them- http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5475.html

Teshima

- Right next to Naoshima, one 15-20 minute (approx) ferry- There’s only really one museum on this island, Teshima art Museum - it’s brilliant, it’s location is stunning, but there is only really one piece, Just

need a day trip and a few hours at most- http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5440.html

TOKYO- Districts

IkebukeroWe first stayed at Kimi Ryokan in Ikebukero on the Yamonote Line. Pretty good location as its like three stops from Shibuya and shinjuku and stuff, and not so touristy and popular. A bit grimy. We went to a few bars there too.HarajukuSuch a sweet place. There is a main street of Harajuku is just outside the station called Takeshita St, and is filled with the start of op-shops and harajuku style clothing. Everything is a bit overpriced on this street as its the main one, but find some side alleys and stuff. There is also a crazy impressive stadium designed by Kenzo Tange, just near the bridge where all the Harajuku girls are meant to hang out. Before you go shopping in Harajuku, you should also check out Yoyogi Park. Its like central park sort of (I don’t really know) but it leads you to this big Japanese shrine for Emperor Meiji (the dude that industrialised Japan). After that, Omotesando St is like the Champs-Elysees of Tokyo. With really nice buildings and expensive stores. Theres a MOMA store that is cool there, and hipster cafes on the side streets near it.Go into the Commes des Garcons store to marvel at how much a modern kimono would cost.Check out the original Harajuku Gyoza, a coffee shop called Lattest, the cat gallery. 

ShinjukuClassic Tokyo street scene. With heaps of people and lights going down the street for ages. Go to the Golden Gai district. Tiny tiny tiny 1metere wide bars. Its a bit hard to find, but a lot of fun.AkihabaraSo much fun. Its the old electronic district which has now become the crazy place for playing computer games. There are 5 storey buildings just for playing Tekken.RoppongiBit of a business district and upmarket but its where some good clubs and jazz bars are. Oh and art galleries. ShimokitezawaSecond hand district on the Yamanote line. Lots of op shops. HipstaaaaaAsakusaMarkets I think on a SundayTsukujiFamous Japanese fish market where they auction off Tunas for like 1000000000 dollars. have to go like reallllly early in the morning to see it (5am)OdaibaMan-made island port in TokyoUenoMuseums.go to the Museum of Western Art designed by Le Corbusier. Amazing collection of modern art. YokohamaWorth a day trip- Tokyo’s sister city on the ocean. Interesting to see a less dense city in the area

Book now for Studio Ghibli museum. Apparently its hard to get into if you don’t pre organise it. You’d love it, i didn’t go but should’veTo get a really good free view of Tokyo (instead of going up Tokyo Sky Tree)- go to the Metropolitan Office Towers in Shinjuku and they have an observatory deck which is free

Helpful sites/apps:

- http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4207.html

- Insidekyoto.com

- MUST GET: Tripso Japan (Free Travel Japan App, offline maps, lists of best places to eat/drink stay/information on all destinations and tourism stops)