Nine days in Japan, zero repeats.
Planning a babymoon usually involves scouting the best places to relax. For us, it was about scouting the best things to eat. From the smoky yakitori of Shinjuku to the refined kaiseki of a mountain ryokan, we ate a different category of Japanese cuisine at every single meal.
Here is what we ate our way through Tokyo, Kanazawa, and Takayama without ever ordering the same thing twice.
Leg 1: Tokyo
Day 1: The Arrival
Dinner: Yakitori at Shimonya Shinjuku After landing at NRT, we went straight for smoky, grilled skewers. It was the perfect low-key introduction to Shinjuku nightlife.
Day 2: Texture & Tradition
Lunch: Udon at Godaime Hanayama Udon Ginza The wide, flat noodles here are famous. The line is super long, so get there early!
Udon meal ft our Mini Veggie Plushie Set
Dinner: Tonkatsu at Butagumi Crispy, golden-fried pork cutlets. Making a reservation here saved our night.
Day 3: Street Food to Splurge
Lunch: Onigiri at Onigiri Shop Manma Simple, comforting, and the perfect fuel for a day of walking through Shibuya and Ikebukuro.
featuring our mini sushi & onigiri sticker sheet:
Dinner: Omakase (Sushi) at Sushi Ya Our "big night out." This was a high-end, multi-course experience that we booked well in advance.
Leg 2: Kanazawa & Takayama
Day 4: Dipping & Drizzling
Lunch: Tsukemen at Rokurinsha Located in Tokyo Station before our train, these "dipping noodles" feature a broth so rich it’s practically a gravy.
Dinner: Tempura at Solubei A cozy tempura bar in Kanazawa where every piece was fried to airy perfection.
Day 5: Market Fresh to Mountain Ryokans
Lunch: Market Food (Chirashi) at Omicho Market We grazed through the stalls, ending with a vibrant bowl of scattered sashimi.
Dinner: Gyoza at Kanazawa Gyoza Bar Crispy pan-fried dumplings and a great atmosphere.
Late Night: Kaiseki at Hidatei Hanaougi The ultimate Japanese dining experience—a multi-course, seasonal feast at our Ryokan in Takayama.
Leg 3: Tokyo Again
Day 6: The Quick & The Refined
Lunch: Gyudon at Yoshinoya A quick, classic beef bowl before catching the bus.
Dinner: Aburasoba at Aburagumi Sohonten Ginza "Oil noodles"—ramen's brothless, savory cousin. My FAVORITE noodles in Tokyo, there are ones all over Tokyo.
Featuring our ramen noodle bowl pin:
Day 7: The Classics
Lunch: Soba at Namiki Yabusoba Traditional buckwheat noodles near Asakusa. The dipping sauce here is legendary.
Dinner: Hamburger Steak at Hikiniku to Come Freshly grilled beef patties served over rice. This is a "must-reserve" spot in Shibuya!
Day 8: The Farewell
Lunch: Curry at Hinoya Curry A thick, sweet-and-spicy Japanese curry to fuel us up before heading to Narita for our flight home.
Overall Recs
| Category | Our Top Pick |
| Splurge | Sushi Ya (Omakase) |
| Quick Bite | Onigiri Shop Manma |
| Unique Find | Aburagumi Sohonten (Aburasoba) |
| Best Atmosphere | Hidatei Hanaougi (Kaiseki) |
Detailed Itinerary
Prices listed are mostly for 2 people incl drinks!
Highly recommended in yellow
Medium recommended in orange
