lrnelson's Advice List

lrnelson United States 9 years in Japan

Green tea mixed with incense

This is a smell that I will always associate with Kyoto, in particular the little alleyways around Kiyomizu-dera and Kodai-ji, where there are dozens of tiny shops selling trinkets and snacks. The slightly bitter smell of the steaming tea mixes perfectly with incense. It's a smell you can also find…(63 words)

lrnelson

Tokyo Tea Kyoto Green tea

Be flexible and plan ahead!

Rule number one: plan ahead. It's possible to do Tokyo affordably, but cheap accommodation gets booked up fast. If you want a super-cheap place, be prepared for tiny spaces and locations that are less than ideal.If you're REALLY strapped for cash, you'll either need to stay overnight in a manga…(325 words)

lrnelson

Tokyo Hotel Kyoto Manga Cherry blossom Japanese inn Camping Capsule hotel Winter

Spread-out sights

Tokyo's best examples of modern architecture tend to be fairly spread out over the city, so you're better off checking out a building here and there instead of trying to take them all in in a single day (or even a week). Here are a three of my favorites.Tokyo International Forum, Yurakucho Stat…(212 words)

lrnelson

Tokyo City Shopping Building Camera