EXPLORE JAPAN

Name: The Japan Index
Address: JP

Welcome to The Japan Index, your ultimate guide to discovering the beauty and culture of Japan. Here, we curate travel tips, must-visit spots, and hidden gems across the country.

Kyoto Takasegawa Bettei is a peaceful machiya hotel beside the river in Kyoto

Discover Kyoto Takasegawa Bettei, a peaceful machiya-style hotel beside the Takase River with tatami rooms, private cypress baths, Simmons beds and easy access from Kyoto Station.

The Japan Index

Kyo-Train Garaku is the most beautiful way to travel from Osaka to Kyoto

Discover Kyo-Train Garaku, Hankyu Railway’s Kyoto-themed sightseeing train running from Osaka-Umeda to Kyoto-Kawaramachi on weekends and holidays with no reservation and no extra fare.

The Japan Index

Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower is one of Osaka’s best view hotels

Discover Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower, a high-rise Osaka hotel with skyline rooms, a 31st-floor SkySpa, Guinness World Records-certified rooftop infinity bath, sky café, bar and easy access from Yodoyabashi Station.

The Japan Index

Recent Posts

Kyoto Takasegawa Bettei is a peaceful machiya hotel beside the river in Kyoto

Kyo-Train Garaku is the most beautiful way to travel from Osaka to Kyoto

Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower is one of Osaka’s best view hotels

A Happy Pancake Osaka is the fluffy pancake stop to visit in Umeda

2D Cafe Tokyo is a cartoon-style café in Shin-Okubo

TONES OSAKA is a sleek design hotel in Osaka’s Umeda area

Nakanoshima Museum of Art Osaka is a bold architectural stop for Enfants Terribles

teamLab Planets Tokyo is a barefoot immersive art museum in Toyosu

WAQOO Naritasan Monzen is a luxury temple-side hotel near Narita Airport

Le Jardin de Tweed Ginza is a luxury rooftop terrace above Chanel Ginza

Edo-Tokyo Museum is back as one of Tokyo’s best history attractions

Studio Cafe MARU in Shin-Okubo is a cute Korean café and self-photo studio

Ginza West Aoyama Garden is a classic Tokyo café for pancakes and elegant tea time

ESLEAD HOTEL Namba Dotonbori East review: apartment-style hotel stay in Osaka

Ghibli Museum Tokyo is a storybook escape for Studio Ghibli fans

Ron Mueck’s giant white skull sculpture installation Mass at Mori Art Museum Tokyo

Ron Mueck’s hyperreal sculptures are now on show at Mori Art Museum Tokyo

Tokyo Disneyland Japan is still one of the best day trips from Tokyo

teamLab Borderless Tokyo is a must-see immersive art museum in Azabudai Hills

Hana no Aru Sumika is a flower-filled cafe and bar in Shinjuku

Nobu Tokyo is a stylish Japanese restaurant in Toranomon

SOMETIME Kichijoji is a cosy Tokyo jazz club for live music, food and drinks

Keep Up With Us!

Watch our latest adventure.

Subscribe to our YouTube | Discover Japan's Hotest Spots.

This was one of the most peaceful hotel stays I’ve had in Kyoto.

Check out the full experience on our latest YouTube Vlog!
YT link in Bio🔗

📍Kyoto
Comment DM and I’ll shoot you the details.

Full review and booking links are also on TheJapanIndex.com
Follow the Japan Index for more Japan stays worth saving.

#kyotohotel #kyototravel #japanhotel #japantravel #kyotostay kyotojapan hotelreview japanstay

This was our craziest Japan Index weekend so far.
Four days.
Two cities.
Hotels, art, trains, food, nightlife, and way too much filming.

The full vlog is live now on YouTube.
Comment DM and I’ll shoot you the details.

#japanvlog #osakatravel #kyototravel #japantravel #thejapanindex

This might be one of the coolest ways to travel from Osaka to Kyoto.
This is a special sightseeing train by Hankyu Railways, running between Osaka-Umeda and Kyoto-Kawaramachi.
Each carriage has a different Kyoto-inspired design, with seasonal themes, Japanese-style details, window-facing seats, and even tatami-style seating in some cars.
The best part? No special reservation needed. You can ride it with a regular fare — just make sure to check the timetable because it mainly runs on weekends and holidays.

📍 Osaka-Umeda to Kyoto-Kawaramachi

Comment DM and I’ll shoot you the details.

Full guide, timetable info, and travel links are also on TheJapanIndex.com

Follow The Japan Index for more Japan travel spots worth saving.

#kyotrain #kyotraingaraku #japantrain #japantravel #kyototravel

This might be the best view hotel I’ve stayed at in Osaka.
This feels like a hotel in the sky, with huge views from the room, lobby, dining spaces, café, bar, and SkySpa.

📍Osaka

Comment DM and I’ll shoot you the details.
Full details and booking links are also on TheJapanIndex.com

Follow The Japan Index for more Japan stays worth saving.

#osakahotel #osakatravel #japanhotel #japantravel #candeohotels

If you’re in Osaka and craving something sweet, This place in Umeda is a solid stop.
The pancakes are soft, fluffy, jiggly, and really yummy — exactly the kind of soufflé-style pancakes Japan is famous for.
Just make sure you plan around the queue, because this place can get busy and the wait can be pretty long.

📍 Umeda, Osaka

Comment DM and we’ll send you the details.
Full details, map, and travel links are also on TheJapanIndex.com
Follow The Japan Index for more Japan food spots worth saving.

#osakafood #osakacafe #happypancake #japantravel #osakatravel

Located near Umeda Station, this hotel was reborn after a full renovation and this might seriously be my favourite new stay in Osaka.

📍 Umeda / Doyama, Osaka

Comment " DM " and we’ll send you the details.

Full review and booking links are also on TheJapanIndex.com

Follow The Japan Index for more Japan stays worth saving.

#osaka #osakahotel #osakatravel #japanhotel #japantravel

This modern art exhibition in Osaka is wild!
This is Enfants Terribles, Premonitions of Oblivion, featuring Morimura Yasumasa, Yanobe Kenji, and Yanagi Miwa.
And honestly, it’s jaw-dropping.

Running until July 20, 2026

📍 Comment DM and we’ll send you the details.
Full details and links are also on TheJapanIndex.com
Follow The Japan Index for more Japan hotspots worth saving.

#osaka #osakatravel #japantravel #japanart #osakamuseum

If you’re visiting Tokyo, this is one of those experiences that actually lives up to the hype.
Lights, mirrors, water, flowers, sound, and massive immersive rooms all blend together into one surreal experience.
Perfect for photos, videos, dates, friends, and families.

Comment DM and we’ll send you the details.
Full details and tickets are also on TheJapanIndex.com
Follow The Japan Index for more Japan hotspots worth saving.

#teamlab #teamlabplanets #visitjapan #japantravel #tokyotravel

Tokyo’s famous Edo-Tokyo Museum is back.
Located in Ryogoku, this museum takes you through the history of Tokyo — from the Edo period to the modern city we know today.
Massive models, old street scenes, cultural displays, and a deeper look at how Tokyo became Tokyo.

Comment DM and I’ll shoot you the details.
Links are also on TheJapanIndex.com
Follow The Japan Index for more Japan hotspots worth saving.

#tokyo #japan #visitjapan #japantravel #tokyotravel

These cakes in Tokyo are cute… but they’re not just a gimmick.
They are adorable, photo-friendly desserts that actually taste as good as they look.
If you’re looking for a cute Tokyo café with desserts that deliver, add this one to your list.

Comment LOCATION and we’ll DM you the spot.

Follow The Japan Index for more Japan hotspots worth saving.

#tokyocafe #tokyofood #visitjapan #japantravel #tokyotravel dessert

This might be one of the best pancakes I’ve had in Tokyo.
Ginza West Aoyama Garden keeps it simple — thick, fluffy, perfectly cooked pancakes in a classic Tokyo café setting.
Not flashy. Not over the top. Just seriously good.

📍Full details & travel links are on TheJapanIndex.com

#tokyocafe #tokyofood #visitjapan #japantravel #tokyotravel pancakes

This Tokyo exhibition feels almost too real.
The Ron Mueck exhibition at Mori Art Museum is stunning — detailed, emotional, and honestly one of the most powerful exhibitions we’ve seen in Tokyo.
The scale of the works is wild, and some pieces feel almost human.
Running until September 23, 2026. 📆

📍 Mori Art Museum — Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, Tokyo

#tokyoart #ronmueck #moriartmuseum #visitjapan #japantravel

Back in Osaka again — this time at ESLEAD HOTEL Namba Dotonbori.
For the price, this one is next level.
Easy contactless check-in, minpaku-style apartment setup, a stylish breakfast-bar kitchen, big sofa, TV with all the apps, skyline views, and enough space to sleep 4.
It feels more like a modern apartment than a regular hotel, and it’s right in the mix near Dotonbori.

5% OFF via their official website with code: NPBAS5
FREE Late Check-out (until 11:00): Write "NPBAS5 / Late Check-out" in the booking comments to save 2,000 JPY!

📍 ESLEAD HOTEL Namba Dotonbori — Osaka, Japan

#osakahotel #osakatravel #japanhotel #visitjapan #japantravel dotonbori

For my birthday, Maya told me not to make any plans… and I had no idea where she was taking me.

A mystery train ride, a taxi into the mountains, a private onsen villa overlooking the ocean and Mt Fuji… and somehow that still wasn’t the final surprise.

We’re starting to share more of our life in Japan beyond the short reviews — full travel days, experiences, stays, and behind-the-scenes moments.

🎥 Full birthday vlog is live now on YouTube
Search: The Japan Index or Link in Reel

And follow us here for the latest cafés, hotels, food, trends, and things to do in Japan.

#japanvlog #japantravel #lifeinjapan #onsen #mtfuji japantrip

Tokyo’s newest museum is full of surprises.
MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives is a stunning new space inside Takanawa Gateway City with beautiful architecture, a huge tatami area, rooftop gardens, foot baths, cafés, work zones, and amazing Tokyo views.
Right now they’re running the Spiral, Spiral exhibition — exploring spirals through nature, culture, science, art, and everyday life.
📍MoN Takanawa — Takanawa Gateway City, Tokyo
@montakanawa

#tokyo #tokyotravel #visitjapan #japantravel #tokyomuseum

This Tokyo exhibition feels like stepping into a sci-fi dream.
SORAYAMA: Light, Transparency, Reflection — Tokyo at Creative Museum Tokyo dives into Hajime Sorayama’s futuristic world of chrome, robots, light, transparency, and reflection.
It runs until May 31, 2026, so add this one to your Tokyo list while it’s still on.

📍Creative Museum Tokyo — Kyobashi, Tokyo

#tokyoart #sorayama #visitjapan #japantravel #tokyotravel

5 Tokyo date ideas that aren’t boring 🇯🇵
From art and architecture to billiards, animal cafés, live jazz, and immersive exhibitions — these are some of our favourite Tokyo spots for a fun date.

📍
The National Art Center, Tokyo - Roppongi
BAGUS - Tokyo
Cafe Neko - Kichijoji
Some Time - Kichijoji
Art Aquarium Museum - Ginza

Save this for your next Tokyo date.

#tokyodate #tokyotravel #visitjapan #japantravel #thingstodointokyo

5 must-see cafés in Tokyo, counting down to number one ☕️
From 2D interiors and fantasy café-bars to custom latte art, Chanel rooftop coffee, and jiggly soufflé pancakes — these are some of the coolest café spots we’ve found so far.

📍 Pins:
2D Café — Shin-Okubo
Tir na nÓg - Ginza
HATCOFFEE - Taito
Le Jardin de Tweed - Ginza
BAM BI COFFEE - Shinjuku
Save this for your Tokyo café list.

#tokyocafe #tokyotravel #visitjapan #japantravel #cafehopping tokyofood

Back in Osaka again — this time staying at ESLEAD HOTEL Namba Kuromon.
I travel a lot for The Japan Index, and places like this make Osaka easy. The check-in is unmanned and simple, the location is great near Namba, Nippombashi, and Kuromon Market, and the rooms feel more like an apartment than a regular hotel.
Kitchen, fridge, washing machine, separate bath and toilet, and way more space than your average Japanese hotel.

5% OFF via their official website with code: NPBAS5
FREE Late Check-out (until 11:00): Write "NPBAS5 / Late Check-out" in the booking comments to save 2,000 JPY!

📍ESLEAD HOTEL Namba Kuromon — Osaka, Japan

#osakahotel #osakatravel #japanhotel #visitjapan #japantravel namba

We got invited to try this DIY daifuku and matcha experience in Shinjuku — and it was way more fun than I expected.
At Shinjuku Kakekomi Gyoza, you can mix your own matcha, hand-make daifuku, and try their famous rainbow gyoza.
The team were super enthusiastic, the food was delicious, and they’re open 24 hours.
🎥 Full vlog is live on YouTube now
Link in bio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V98Ai_6RFtY&t=14s

📍 Pin: Shinjuku Kakekomi Gyoza — Shinjuku, Tokyo

#daifuku #matcha #visitjapan #japantravel #tokyofood

This might be one of the most photogenic buildings in Tokyo.
📍 The National Art Center, — Roppongi, Tokyo

@thenationalartcentertokyo

#tokyo #architecture #visitjapan #japantravel #tokyotravel museum

Look at that jiggle…
At BAM BI COFFEE we had the cookie coffee, iced americano, and these insanely fluffy soufflé-style pancakes topped with cream, cookie, and caramel.
The cookie coffee was unreal, the pancakes were wild, and the whole place had a really lovely vibe.
📍 BAMBI COFFEE — Tokyo

#tokyofood #tokyocafe #soufflepancakes #visitjapan #japantravel tokyotravel

Hidden down a staircase in Ginza is Cafe&Bar Tir na nÓg — a dark, mysterious café-bar with incredible decor, lighting, cocktails, waffles, and even coffee topped with cotton candy.
This place feels like stepping into another world.
📍 Cafe&Bar Tir na nÓg — Ginza, Tokyo

#tokyobar #ginza #tokyonightlife #visitjapan #japantravel tokyotravel

Do you love Japanese snacks and live in the US?
JP Snacks Okinawa sends surprise boxes packed with 8 to 10 Japanese sweets and snacks straight to your door.
They’ve got 1 month trial boxes, plus 3 month and 6 month plans.
We opened this one up and honestly… we couldn’t stop. We ate it all. It was too good.
🌐 Website: jp-snacks.com
Link in bio

#japanesesnacks #japanfood #snackbox #foodie #japan

If you want premium seafood in Tokyo, watch this. 🦀
Grill & Seafood Hokkaido Chimney in Ginza is offering a course worth 16,999 yen, including 2 hours of all-you-can-drink.
You get all-you-can-eat king crab 🦀, snow crab 🦀, and freshly shucked oysters, plus 11 à la carte dishes like spare ribs and Hokkaido-style fried chicken.
They even give you scissors ✂️ and a guide on how to crack and eat the crab, which makes the whole experience really fun.
📍 Grill & Seafood Hokkaido Chimney — Ginza, Tokyo

Reservation Link: Link in BIO 🔗 https://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1301/A130103/13294523/

#tokyofood #seafood #ginza #japantravel #tokyotravel

This is one of the most unique experiences in Tokyo right now.
Art Aquarium Museum GINZA blends aquariums, goldfish, light, sound, and scent into a surreal immersive art space.
Right now they’re running their seasonal Meccha Sakura 2026 installation, where cherry blossoms and goldfish come together in a really special spring atmosphere.
📍 Art Aquarium Museum GINZA — Ginza Mitsukoshi, Tokyo

#tokyo
#sakura
#visitjapan
#japantravel
#tokyotravel
artaquarium

Looking for a stylish place to stay in Osaka?
Mercure Tokyu Stay Osaka Namba is a modern hotel in a great location, close to the best of Namba.
📍Mercure Tokyu Stay Osaka Namba — Osaka, Japan
Save this for your Japan trip.

#osaka #namba #osakahotel #japantravel #osakatravel visitjapan

If you’re bigger or taller and shopping in Tokyo, this is a useful one to know.
Sakazen Nihonbashi is another solid option for larger sizes in the city.
📍 Sakazen Nihonbashi — Tokyo

#tokyoshopping #bigandtall #visitjapan #japantravel #tokyotravel

If you love charming cafes, save this spot in Tokyo.
📍Yuria Pemuperu in Kichijoji has that perfect old-school kissaten feel — coffee, cream sodas, beautiful desserts, and a space that feels straight out of a storybook.

#tokyocafe #kichijoji #japantravel #japancafe #kissaten tokyotrip visitjapan cafehopping tokyoguide japanexplore

This doesn’t feel like a hotel…🛎 CODE " NAMBEST" for 5% Discount! ✅️
Eslead Hotel East Namba feels more like your own apartment in Osaka — simple, clean, and super practical.
Washer/dryer, self check-in, tons of free amenities, and everything you need for a comfortable stay.
Definitely one to save if you’re planning a trip 🇯🇵

#osakahotel #japantravel #namba #osakastay #japan

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EXPLORE JAPAN

Kyoto Takasegawa Bettei is a peaceful machiya hotel beside the river in Kyoto

Kyo-Train Garaku is the most beautiful way to travel from Osaka to Kyoto

Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower is one of Osaka’s best view hotels

Recent Posts

Kyoto Takasegawa Bettei is a peaceful machiya hotel beside the river in Kyoto

Kyo-Train Garaku is the most beautiful way to travel from Osaka to Kyoto

Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower is one of Osaka’s best view hotels

A Happy Pancake Osaka is the fluffy pancake stop to visit in Umeda

2D Cafe Tokyo is a cartoon-style café in Shin-Okubo

TONES OSAKA is a sleek design hotel in Osaka’s Umeda area

Nakanoshima Museum of Art Osaka is a bold architectural stop for Enfants Terribles

teamLab Planets Tokyo is a barefoot immersive art museum in Toyosu

WAQOO Naritasan Monzen is a luxury temple-side hotel near Narita Airport

Le Jardin de Tweed Ginza is a luxury rooftop terrace above Chanel Ginza

Edo-Tokyo Museum is back as one of Tokyo’s best history attractions

Studio Cafe MARU in Shin-Okubo is a cute Korean café and self-photo studio

Ginza West Aoyama Garden is a classic Tokyo café for pancakes and elegant tea time

ESLEAD HOTEL Namba Dotonbori East review: apartment-style hotel stay in Osaka

Ghibli Museum Tokyo is a storybook escape for Studio Ghibli fans

Ron Mueck’s hyperreal sculptures are now on show at Mori Art Museum Tokyo

Tokyo Disneyland Japan is still one of the best day trips from Tokyo

teamLab Borderless Tokyo is a must-see immersive art museum in Azabudai Hills

Hana no Aru Sumika is a flower-filled cafe and bar in Shinjuku

Nobu Tokyo is a stylish Japanese restaurant in Toranomon

SOMETIME Kichijoji is a cosy Tokyo jazz club for live music, food and drinks

Keep Up With Us!

Watch our latest adventure.

Subscribe to our YouTube | Discover Japan's Hotest Spots.

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