This was our first time in Japan and we spent one week exploring this incredibly diverse country. I am very excited to share with you the highlights and my recommendations.
We did not visit as many places as most bloggers dicuss in their one week itinerary. Our time was split between Tokyo and Kyoto, and we decided to forgo major attractions such as Mt Fuji, Sensō-ji and the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.
Overall, our trip was still enjoyable and quite busy. The train system took a while to get used to, especially since it was so crowded, and eating gluten-free was definitely a challenge. I had a gluten-free restaurant card, but sometimes it caused more confusion and some restaurants were unable to accommodate. I recommend planning your trip around gluten-free restaurants and to always have a back-up plan.
Day 1: Meiji Shrine and Harajuku
We stayed in a hotel near Shinjuku Station which was about a 20-minute walk to the Meiji Shrine. It was absolutely beautiful – you enter through the tori gates into a shaded forest that seems worlds away from the concrete jungle of Tokyo. Along the path to the shrine are decorative sake jars.
From the Meiji Shrine, we walked to Harajuku for some shopping. Takeshita Street and Omotesando were both extremely busy, and we waited over an hour for lunch at Afuri Ramen (the line went around the building!). Afuri has branches all over Tokyo and it became my go-to when I struggled to find restaurants with gluten-free options. I would not say it is the safest for coeliacs; there is likely cross-contamination with the noodles and egg may be marintated in soy sauce. I always ordered the konjac noodles with shio broth and pork.
Another restaurant I recommend is Teppan Baby in Shinjuku. The gluten-free options were clearly marked on the menu and our server asked if we would like the food cooked on a seperate grill. The gluten-free okonomiyaki was delicious, and I also really enjoyed grilled squid.
Day 2: Kappabashi Dougu Street
On our second day we went to Kappabashi, also known as Kitchen Town. It was honestly one of my favourite parts of the trip. I recommend visiting Nimi, which sold high-quality cookware at affordable prices, and Hashitou Honten and Mikura for chopsticks. There were so many beautiful ceramic shops – my dream!
One of my favourite restaurants in Tokyo was Gonpachi; we went to the branch in Asakusa. They had a gluten-free menu, and I highly recommend the sashimi, shrimp tempura and chicken yakitori with rice. There is also a set lunch course which can be made gluten-free.
Day 3-4: Kyoto
We then caught the Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo Station to Kyoto. Despite being on the right side of the train, we did not see a clear, close-up view of Mt Fuji.
Kyoto was a lot different to Tokyo – still crowded but more peaceful with a slower-paced vibe that I preferred. We walked down the Nineznaka Slope to take this iconic photograph of the Hōkan-ji Temple. It is best to go earlier to avoid the crowds!
I recommend participating in a tea ceremony. We were dressed in traditional kimonos and had the opportunity to take photographs in the serene garden. During the ceremony, we learnt the history of matcha tea and how to whisk it to create the perfect foam.
Another highlight was definitely the Nishiki Market with its abundant array of street food, including grilled seafood and shrimp tempura. Openning hours can vary – some stalls are open at 9am but most are open by 10am.
Eating gluten-free at the Nishiki Market was quite tricky; a lot of the seafood is dipped in soy sauce before grilling. These strawberry mochi snacks filled with red bean (Ichigo Daifuku) are natrually gluten-free, but are not advertised as such and may not be safe for strict coeliacs.
Nevertheless, there were still some amazing gluten-free restaurants in Kyoto. My favourites were Kyoto Engine Ramen (an option for rice noodles was available), Sugarhill (the teriyaki chicken was delicious) and Loco Chicken (fried chicken made with rice flour rather than wheat – phenomenal).
Day 5-6: Back to Tokyo
We then returned to the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. I had been wanting to go to the teamLab exhibition for the longest time and it did not disappoint! I recommend booking an early session to avoid the long queues.
Whilst the Tsukiji fish market is close to the exhibition, we decided not to go due to the probable lack of gluten-free options. Instead, we caught a direct train line to Roppongi. NachuRa is an entirely gluten-free cafe in the area that blew me away – it was honestly so amazing! We had the basque cheesecake and pistachio cream puff – both of which were delicious. The texture of the choux was perfectly crunchy and hollow.
Gluten free T’s Kitchen is another gluten-free restaurant in Roppongi. It was not my favourite place, but still noteworthy and a good (and safe) option to have. I enjoyed their pork gyozas and fried chicken.
In the afternoon, we went to Shibuya Sky and tried to recreate the viral escalator video I’ve seen all over Instagram. The rooftop was pretty busy with many people trying to capture the same shot! Tickets are available one month in advance, and we stayed up till midnight to purchase ours for sunset time.
Gluten-free restaurants in Shibuya include Shinbu Sakiya Ramen. Their ramen was not the best, but the gluten-free gyozas and fried chicken were delicious. There is also a mexican restaurant, Casa De Sarasa, which did gluten-free tacos and nachos. I recommend the stewed pork and corn-battered shrimp tacos.
Day 7: More Shopping
On our second last day, we did not have anything in particular planned. We decided to explore Ginza (pictured below), which is known for its luxury fashion, and went back to Harajuku for more shopping. I think we were a bit exhausted from the previous few days!
So that concludes our short but sweet time in Japan. It was definitely an intersting experience and different to any other place I’ve visited. I hope this helps you in some way if you plan on going!
