Welcome to Channel – A Journey to Explore the World!
This YouTube channel shares a unique lifestyle through global travel, exploring local cultures via street food, traditional dishes, and authentic travel experiences you won’t want to miss.
🎒 From bustling markets in Asia, street food tours in Europe, to minimalist living and local life in remote lands – each video captures real, inspiring moments from every journey.
🍜 If you’re passionate about food, backpacking, and discovering diverse lifestyles, this is the channel for you!
📅 Don’t forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell so you won’t miss our weekly adventures!
#travel
#japan travel
#europeantravel
#asian travel
#food
#streetfood
This YouTube channel shares a unique lifestyle through global travel, exploring local cultures via street food, traditional dishes, and authentic travel experiences you won’t want to miss.
🎒 From bustling markets in Asia, street food tours in Europe, to minimalist living and local life in remote lands – each video captures real, inspiring moments from every journey.
🍜 If you’re passionate about food, backpacking, and discovering diverse lifestyles, this is the channel for you!
📅 Don’t forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell so you won’t miss our weekly adventures!
#travel
#japan travel
#europeantravel
#asian travel
#food
#streetfood
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:00This 10-day itinerary covers four locations throughout Japan, Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, and Osaka.
00:07It is great for first-timers in Japan looking for a mix of modern city life, scenic nature, remnants of traditional Japan, delicious food, and some good times.
00:16In this video, we will share how we planned out our travels, including our accommodations, transportation, favorite food, and activities in each city.
00:23We tried to be as efficient as possible with our route, with as little time lost to backtracking as possible.
00:29Our route started in Tokyo and works south, renting a car to drive to a small town near the base of Mount Fuji,
00:35and utilizing the great train network to travel down to Kyoto and Osaka.
00:40If you're traveling to Japan from the western hemisphere, you will lose a day on the way out.
00:44Don't worry, you'll get it back on the way home, but you will have a day zero travel day.
00:48Here we go.
00:49There are two airports to choose from when flying into Tokyo, Hineda or Narita.
00:53Most travelers prefer Hineda, but it's not worth breaking the bank over if flights are better or cheaper to NRT.
01:00When you arrive in Tokyo, the best and cheapest way to get into the city is by train.
01:04The fastest way is by taxi, but it can be around $100 for a journey compared to a relatively cheap train ticket.
01:10Hineda is about 30 minutes from Tokyo's Central Station, and NRT is about an hour.
01:14Choosing where to stay in Tokyo is overwhelming, as there are so many different neighborhoods and so many hotel options in each neighborhood.
01:22Most people choose to stay in Sunjuku or Shibuya, but as long as you're near one of the main subway lines,
01:26you'll be able to get around and see everything you want pretty easily.
01:30In general, hotels in Tokyo are super expensive, so it's a great city to use hotel points if you have them.
01:35We used ours at the Alof Hotel in Ginza.
01:38It was a great location and met all of our needs.
01:40By the time we landed, we were pretty tired and jet-lagged, but our excitement for authentic ramen powered us through the evening.
01:46We stayed in the area near our hotel and waited in line for about 20 minutes to try this Michelin-guided ramen at Kagari.
01:52They made the Bib Gourmand list for this silky golden chicken ramen that was out of this world good.
01:58The simplicity and richness of the flavors was mind-blowing in exactly the dinner we were looking for before some much-needed sleep.
02:04The next morning, we took a 20-minute metro ride on the Asakusa line from Ginza to Asakusa.
02:09Hat Coffee is known for their 2D and 3D latte art.
02:12When you walk in, you can show them any inspo picture, and they'll make your latte right in front of you.
02:16It's super personalized, and they even have a phone stand so you can record the process.
02:20It isn't quick, and the queue builds up, so make sure that you get a reservation.
02:23Once caffeinated, we headed across the street to the Sensoji Temple and enjoyed the beautiful views and shopping.
02:28However, this area is crowded, and you can't really move faster or slower than the general flow of people, so come mentally prepared for that.
02:35To escape the crowds, we popped into this little restaurant to try something we were really excited about.
02:40Standing sushi.
02:41It was delicious and so affordable compared to prices in the U.S.
02:45It was so fun to just order whatever we wanted and have it instantly placed in front of us.
02:49Every great day starts with coffee.
02:51The good news for any of you iced latte girlies is that iced coffee is big in Japan.
02:56The bad news is that most coffee shops don't open until 10 a.m. or even noon, so you're going to have to delay that coffee intake.
03:03If you're like me and you can't make it that long, 7-Eleven is a great place to pick up a latte and some breakfast snacks.
03:10Banjin Coffee was easily my favorite coffee in all of Tokyo.
03:14Once it opens at 10, expect to wait about 30-45 minutes in line because it's just one man behind the bar taking his time to crop the perfect beverage.
03:21And if you didn't know, Tokyo is the city of mine, so they're very small places and there's a lot of people usually waiting for restaurants and coffee shops.
03:30They have a selection of Japanese lattes and I tried both the matcha latte and the green tea latte.
03:35Both were well worth the wait.
03:37Okay, I'm ready.
03:39After getting the caffeine in the old bloodstream, we headed off to Happy Pancake to get Japanese souffle pancakes.
03:46They have a few different locations around Tokyo and their pancakes are so light and so fluffy.
03:52If you love pancakes, you have to check this place out.
03:55So happy!
03:56A happy pancake!
03:57While in Shibuya, spend some time watching all the nice folks cross Shibuya Crossing.
04:02There's an insane amount of people that cross the streets here at one time and we enjoyed people watching and filming way more than we thought we would.
04:09This was my favorite sushi belt conveyor restaurant in all of Tokyo.
04:13Located on the upper floor of a department building, this place was tough to find and also was very popular.
04:19Do not wait until you are very hungry to try to go eat because it will not end well.
04:24The line moved fast and the sushi was out of this world.
04:27I did have some problems knowing when to stop grabbing plates though, so make sure to come hungry.
04:32After all that food, we needed some new activities.
04:35If you love all things gaming and electronics, you have to check out Akihabara.
04:40We spent an evening playing arcade games and trying our luck with the capsule toy machines.
04:44I want this guy.
04:46See what I get?
04:47I also tried to keep up with this local man and apparently I have the reflexes of a toddler.
04:52Day 4 was our last full day in Tokyo and we felt like we had to check out Team Lab Planets after seeing all the trendy Instagram videos.
05:00This interactive art museum was insane and even had everything from a floating flower garden to a wild room which they called a soft black hole.
05:09We paid around 25 US dollars per person and it was so much fun, we highly recommend it.
05:14Tickets will sell out months in advance, so make sure you book ahead of time.
05:19Make sure to wear shorts.
05:20The water is high in some areas and others wear mirrors will make everything visible.
05:25You know what I mean?
05:26There's a 0% chance this is a flattering angle.
05:30All the exploring left us pretty hungry.
05:32Near Team Lab Planets is one of the best markets in Tokyo to try a variety of fresh local Japanese food.
05:39Tuskegee Outer Market.
05:40We made an entire video about this place, so if you are interested, make sure to watch that video.
05:44Get there early as it is crowded and closes in the afternoon.
05:48We knew we wanted to spend some time outside of the big cities and enjoy the countryside of Japan.
05:53We decided to rent a car and drive to Lake Kawaguchiko, a town near Mount Fuji.
05:58We reserved a rental car online through Toyota Rent-A-Car.
06:02The process was pretty straightforward.
06:04I don't know if I understood a word he said.
06:06I mean, it looks like a car.
06:07There's no charger in here.
06:09In Japan, you are required to have an international driver's license.
06:12In the United States, this can be purchased at AAA.
06:16I recommend that you book a car that includes an ETC card.
06:19This will allow you to drive on the toll roads rather than stopping at every toll booth along the way.
06:24Also, consider rental car insurance because you never know.
06:27The views along the car ride were stunning, and we had so much fun talking, eating local Japanese convenience store food, and taking photos of Mount Fuji.
06:36I did have to remind myself that you drive on the left side of the road, and I kept mixing up the blinker with the windshield wipers.
06:41We stayed at Fuji Kawaguchiko Onsen Hotel.
06:44This ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn located on Lake Kawaguchiko with stunning views of Mount Fuji.
06:51Ryokans typically have tatami matted brooms and onsen, which is a communal bath, and include traditional Japanese meals.
06:57We spent the day wearing traditional Japanese clothing, relaxing at the onsen, and taking in all the views Mount Fuji had to offer.
07:05The ryokan included a traditional Japanese dinner, and the main course had seven dishes.
07:10It was delicious, and with full stomachs, we slept like babies on the tatami mints.
07:15We made a full YouTube video about our trip to Mount Fuji and staying at the ryokan.
07:19If you want to learn more about this experience, click this video link.
07:22Day six was a travel day.
07:24In the morning, we drove the rental car back to Tokyo, and then took an Uber over to Tokyo Station to board our bullet train to Kyoto.
07:32While at Tokyo Station, we had to grab Ekibin for the train ride.
07:36Ekibin is a boxed lunch that is sold at train stations to enjoy during the train ride, and there are so many options to choose from.
07:44Lauren's picking out our mystery bento box for the train ride.
07:47I don't know what any of it is. It's all in Japanese.
07:50Taking trains and public transportation is a breeze in Japan, and it was enjoyable to take in the countryside and relax.
07:59The train ride was about 2 hours and 15 minutes, and we reserved our tickets ahead of time online, and they costed about 130 US dollars per person.
08:08This included luggage storage as well as an assigned seat.
08:12We will leave a link in the description to book the bullet train from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station.
08:17Arriving at Kyoto Station, we took a taxi to our hotel, the Chapter Kyoto.
08:22We chose this hotel to utilize Marriott points, and it was also located within walking distance to nearby subway stations.
08:29For dinner, we stumbled upon this Yakaniku restaurant and ate so much food.
08:34After dinner, we burned some calories and walked over to Yasaka Shrine and learned how to pay respects at a Japanese shrine.
08:41We packed in as much as possible for our first full day in Kyoto.
08:45Starting the day off early, we took a taxi to Fushimi Inari Shrine and arrived at 7.30 in the morning.
08:51Fushimi Inari is dedicated to the Shinto god of grace, Inari, and this is supposed to be one of the most important shrines for that god.
08:59Fushimi Inari has free admission and has hiking trails that take you to the mountain summit.
09:04Seems like a lot of people don't hike all the way up, so a lot of people stop halfway.
09:08So I would say don't worry about taking your pictures down below.
09:11Just keep going, get up top, and it's beautiful.
09:14And you have it much more to yourself.
09:16Look.
09:18Nice.
09:19The gates are so big, it's almost hard to describe how large they are until you see them up close in person.
09:25After Fushimi Inari, we headed to Ninenzaka Street, which is a great area to visit to see traditional Japanese architecture, eat some delicious food, and do some shopping.
09:35We highly recommend you eat at Masaichi, where you can eat delicious Japanese food on traditional tatami mats.
09:42All right, we just finished lunch.
09:43We're headed to Kiyomizodira, and it's about a 10-minute walk from here, so let's go.
09:47A Buddhist temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site, well known for its wooden stage, and Otoa Waterfall.
09:54The Otoa Waterfall has three streams of sacred water thought to bring love, success, and longevity.
10:00The entrance fee to Kiyomizodira is about 400 yen per person.
10:05Lauren and I always try to book a cooking class when we are in a new country.
10:08This is a fun date night for us as we learn how to cook traditional meals.
10:11We booked a class at Ramen Factory Kyoto, and it costs us about 120 US dollars per person.
10:18We had so much fun making our noodles, creating our own broth, and making fun of each other's cooking skills.
10:24Day 8, we woke up early to see the bamboo forest.
10:27We hopped in a taxi to get there as quick as possible in order to beat the crowds.
10:31It was about a 30-minute journey from our hotel, and we arrived around 7.15 a.m.
10:36Some of the bamboo stalks are 90 feet tall.
10:40Waking up early paid off.
10:42There's only a few people here at the bamboo forest, and it is just beautiful walking through
10:46here, hearing the birds chirping, and just seeing how tall these bamboo stalks are.
10:51It's incredible.
10:52We got there at like 7.15, and it was about perfect, but we're leaving.
10:56It's about 8 a.m. now, and it's already pretty packed, so I feel like a lot of people are
11:00going to be upset that they didn't get here earlier.
11:02After the bamboo forest, we headed to Nishiki Market and arrived as they were setting up.
11:07I highly recommend you visit here to try a variety of Japanese foods at a good price.
11:12Most vendors allow you to order small amounts of just about anything.
11:16My personal favorite was this juicy chicken thigh roll.
11:19It was so good, and the soy sauce flavor hit the spot.
11:23This place gets packed, so make sure you get there earlier rather than later to beat the
11:27rush.
11:28I would recommend around 10.30 or 11 a.m.
11:30We created a full two-part Kyoto travel guide series.
11:34If you're interested, click here for part one, or here for part two.
11:39We grabbed our bags and headed to the train station to take the Kihan main line from Sanjo
11:43station towards Osaka.
11:45This was a short one-hour train ride, and we opted for the premium car that allowed advanced
11:50reserve seating because we wanted to ensure we would have room for our luggage.
11:54This train was very nice, however, it was a very short ride, and there were no restrooms
11:59on the train.
12:00Arriving in Osaka, we walked to the Courtyard Marriott Hotel, which is where we stayed.
12:05That evening, we headed out for a food tour in Osaka.
12:08Had so much fun trying the different foods, but honestly, next time we'll opt for a DIY food
12:13tour, and it didn't seem worth paying the extra money to have a tour guide.
12:16While in Osaka, we had to visit Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios.
12:21Lauren and I had a blast trying all the foods at Kenopio's Cafe, doing VR Mario Kart racing,
12:27and interacting with all of the park's features.
12:30We went out of our comfort zone and rode the Flying Dinosaur at Jurassic Park.
12:34It was very intense.
12:36All in all, this was a great day, and we had so much fun acting like a kid again.
12:40Just as a note, the park is accessible by Osaka's subway system, and is very easy to get to.
12:45To cap off the evening, we enjoyed Japanese curry at Spice 32.
12:50It was delicious.
12:52Day 10, we went to the airport and flew to Seoul, South Korea.
12:56If this video was helpful, please like and subscribe and follow along with our travels.
13:01We will see you in the next video.
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