Where are the best off-the-beaten-path teahouses, design shops, restaurants, confectionaries, and places to stay in Japan? We asked Asako Ueno, owner and curator of Brooklyn-based Japanese goods shop Anzu New York, where she goes when visiting Japan. Here’s her mini guide.
Tokyo
![one of ueno\2\17;s picks is the new home goods and vintage shop casica. 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/casica-shop-tokyo-archway-733x405.jpg)
![\2\20;yumiko iihoshi is one of the popular ceramic designers in japan. a 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/yumiko-iihoshi-showroom-osaka-733x488.jpg)
New from the designer behind Minä Perhonen, Akira Minagawa’s new shop, Call, sells textiles and clothing, Ueno says, “but also I enjoy the interior, like the chandelier, which glass artist Kazumi Tsuji made for this shop. They also have a grocery shop and cafe there.”
![ueno\2\17;s pick for traditional tea in tokyo: sakurai japanese tea expe 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/sakurai-japanese-tea-experience-733x489.jpg)
![next on the list: food for thought, which ueno describes as \2\20;so tin 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/food-for-thought-tokyo-instagram-733x733.jpg)
Two more of Ueno’s picks are on the same street. Sake Shop Fukumitsuya Marunouchi: “This is a sake shop, but I always buy a little gift for my American friends and for myself,” Ueno says. “They sell packaged food and ceramics; also they serve sake ice cream, which is so good.” And the Tokyo location of Ippodo Tea, which also has a Kyoto shop: “I use this shop for tea shopping and also tea break.”
![ueno\2\17;s tokyo restaurant recommendation: higashi yama. \2\20; 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/higashi-yama-tokyo-restaurant-733x487.jpg)
And Daikanyama Tsutaya Books is a massive architect-designed bookshop that’s noted among the most beautiful bookstores in the world. “They also sell gifts,” Ueno says.
Beyond Tokyo
![for lodging, ueno recommends beniya mukayu. \2\20;this hotel is in the c 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/beniya-mukau-kanazawa-733x489.jpg)
![the otherworldly toraya kobo, a factory for japanese confections (wagashi) 23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/toraya-kobo-confectionary-japan-733x489.jpg)
![\2\20;minä perhonen kanazawa is textile designer akira mi 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/mina-perhonen-ishikawa-733x524.png)
Another inn recommendation: the traditional Yudonoan in Yamagata. (Ueno worked on the interior design several years back.) “It’s surrounded by a rice field, with local food and hot spring baths, all owned by one family. For ‘do nothing,’ it’s the best place to stay,” she says. “I sometimes go the Ken Domon Museum of Photography when I stay there.”
![for another day trip from tokyo, ueno recommends evam eva yamanashi, a sho 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/evam-eva-yamanashi-733x489.png)
Headed to Japan? See our guide to Japan Design Travel, and browse more of our picks.
- Hotel Hakuba: A Japanese Ski Lodge for Scandi Design Fanatics
- Down the Stairs: A Staff Canteen and Cafe in Tokyo
- Worth the Trip: Eatrip in Tokyo
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote the travel guide for Japan?
Asako Ueno wrote the travel guide for Japan.
What is the website link to the travel guide?
The website link to the travel guide is https://www.remodelista.com/posts/where-to-go-in-japan-travel-guide-asako-ueno-expert-advice/
What are the top places to visit in Japan according to the guide?
According to the guide, the top places to visit in Japan are Tokyo, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Naoshima Island, and Hakone.
What is the best time to visit Japan?
The best time to visit Japan is during the spring (March-May) or autumn (September-November) when the weather is mild and dry.
What are the must-try foods in Japan?
Some must-try foods in Japan are sushi, ramen, tempura, yakitori, udon, and soba.
What is the advice for traveling in Japan?
The advice for traveling in Japan is to learn some basic Japanese phrases, respect the local customs, and carry cash as some places may not accept credit cards.
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