Discover Real Tokyo
with Tokyo Mate
From local favorite restaurants to hidden gems
Experience Tokyo the authentic way
From local favorite restaurants to hidden gems
Experience Tokyo the authentic way

No booking at Yamamoto Menzou in Kyoto, so I ate at TAKE OUT MENZOU next door: how to book the main shop, both menus and prices, and burdock tempura udon.

5 nights at Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba: the walk to Namba Station, Superior Twin room, breakfast price, coin laundry and Bonvoy late checkout.

A Kyoto Shijo walking route: Pokemon Center card limits, Daimaru Kyoto's 5% coupon and tax-free, Nishiki Market hours and food, and Nishiki Tenmangu.

Five Osaka viewpoints are free with the Amazing Pass: Umeda Sky Building, HEP FIVE, Tsutenkaku, Tempozan and Cosmo Tower. Prices, hours and planning.

Tenryu-ji in Arashiyama is 500 yen for the garden or 800 yen with the halls. Hours, getting there by train or bus, Sogenchi Teien and the Chikurin walk.

Tempozan Ferris Wheel and the Santa Maria day cruise are both covered by the Osaka Amazing Pass. Half-day route, hours, prices and the October fare rise.

Tokyo in November drops from a 19.7C high early in the month to 15.9C late, mornings 11.5C to 7.7C. Ten-year averages, layering and sunset times.

The Kyoto bus 1-day pass is gone. Current pass prices, where to buy them, and when the 1,100-yen Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass actually saves you money.

A half day in Umeda, Osaka, in the order I actually walked it: Kuchu Teien at 9:30, Umekita Park, Grand Green Osaka, Osaka Station shopping, then Hanadako.

Hanadako in Shin-Umeda Shokudogai tops Tabelog's Osaka takoyaki ranking. Negimayo is 670 yen for 6, it is cash only, and the queue has a marked area.