Reviews and Recommendations
These are some of the noteworthy attractions we’ve visited on our journey.
You’ll find reviews and recommendations for every country we visit.
Location: Narita, Japan
Winter’s Rating: 7/10
John’s Rating: 7/10
We stayed here one night here because of its convenient location to the Narita International Airport, and its affordability. The room we chose (Casual Twin Non-Smoking) was quite small and a bit worn down, but had basic necessities:
- Two Beds
- Private Bathroom – heated toilet seat + bidet + shower with water pressure like a fire hose
Fun facts about this hotel:
- The rooms get very hot in the winter as air conditioning gets turned off. Reception will tell you to open a window. If you have difficulty doing so, your window may be locked and the reception desk will have the key.
- There are restaurants on site, as food places aren’t easy to walk to outside of the hotel. However, if you are looking for a cheaper option for dining, the hotel store has a variety of food options including rice bowls, sushi, eggs, and more.
- The staff are incredibly kind and responsive to any issues that may arise. That alone made us rate this hotel higher than we would have.
Location: Osaka, Japan
Winter’s Rating: 8/10
John’s Rating: 9/10
This aquarium is massive, with exhibits spatially mimicking ocean zones as you travel through the building. As you start off, you’ll pass through a large tunnel with fish and manta rays swimming all around/above you. Then as you make your way down the building, you’ll pass tanks featuring animals/sea life from all over the world.
Winter gave it a 8/10 for these reasons:
1. The penguin exhibit was lacking in space and stimulation
2. Though the tank featuring the whale sharks was incredibly massive, she’s always wary of aquariums holding sharks/whales.
3. The organization and scope of the aquarium was incredible. 99% of the exhibits were created with the animals’ needs in mind – toys to play with, free flowing water, deep tanks, etc.
John gave a 9/10 because he thought there were better aquariums out there. He wanted to save the 10/10 for the best aquarium ever.
All in all, it’s a family-friendly, fun outing for anyone. You’ll see sea life that you may never get a chance to see again. Just remember to turn your flash off when you take pictures and you’ll be set!
Location: Ueno, Tokyo, Japan
Winter’s Rating: 10/10
John’s Rating: 9/10
During our week in Tokyo, we stayed at Hotel Graphy for a taste of the hostel experience. Though it is named “Hotel…” it’s actually a hostel with a swath of rooms ranging from singles to 6-bed shared dorms. We started off in a four-person bunk room but ended up moving to a single part way through our stay for reasons outside the hostel’s control (loud snorers).
A four-person bunk room contains:
- Two bunkbeds
- Bed per person with – a curtain for privacy, blanket + pillow, outlets, a shelf, and a light
- A large in-room locker, key-style, per person
- A trash, table + chair, and mirror
- Air conditioner
- Eye mask, slippers, ear plugs, per person
A single room contains:
- One queen/king bed
- A private bath
- A welcome package – tea, cookies, coffee
- TV
- Fridge
This hostel has a cafe onsite, with reasonable prices. We’d recommend paying for food as you go instead of opting for the breakfast or meal plans (cheaper this way). Other amenities include:
- Rooftop hangout
- Lounge with full kitchen
- Paid laundry
- Shared showers (gendered)
All in all we can’t recommend this place high enough. The staff were lovely, accommodating, and kind. Plus, if it’s your birthday, they will give you a cute candle! Only advice is get yourself a humidifier at the front desk because oh man the air gets dry here.
Enjoy your stay!