A Week in Japan: Bowing Deer, Bamboo Forests, and the Best Matcha of My Life

Yes, this Miami blog is taking a field trip. I spent a week in Japan and came home with a camera roll I cannot stop opening. If Japan is on your list (it should be), here are the exact moments and stops I would repeat tomorrow.

The quick take: split the week between Tokyo and Kyoto with day trips to Nara and Arashiyama, ride the Shinkansen between cities, and say yes to every matcha latte with a view.

Watch: My Japan Highlights

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My Favorite Moments, In Order

1. The bowing deer of Nara Park. Wild deer that bow back at you. I am still not over it (that is me with one of them in the photo above).
2. Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple and the bamboo forest in Arashiyama. Twelve hundred moss-covered stone figures, each with its own expression, then a walk through the bamboo groves.
3. The Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto. The bullet train is an attraction in itself: smooth, punctual, and Mount Fuji views if you sit on the right side.
4. Breakfast at Bagel Cafe 88 in Tokyo. A tiny spot and a perfect start to the day.
5. Kifune. A mountainside town of temples, forest, and restaurants along the river. The calmest I felt all trip.
6. Shibuya Sky and matcha at Saryo. Shopping, then matcha lattes with views over the entire city.
7. Breakfast at Dining 603 in Kyoto. Tiny, homey, and unforgettable.

Planning Notes

• How long: one week covers Tokyo plus Kyoto with day trips, but you will immediately start planning a return.
• Getting around: the Shinkansen makes Tokyo to Kyoto effortless, and local trains handle the rest.
• Day trips: Nara (deer and temples) and Arashiyama (bamboo and Otagi Nenbutsuji) are both easy from Kyoto.

FAQ: Japan Trip

Is one week enough for Japan?

It is enough for a taste: Tokyo plus Kyoto with day trips to Nara and Arashiyama makes a full, satisfying first trip.

Are the deer in Nara friendly?

They are wild but famously polite, and many really do bow. Buy the official crackers, keep snacks hidden, and be respectful.

Is the Shinkansen worth it?

Completely. Tokyo to Kyoto takes just over two hours, and the ride itself is one of the best experiences of the trip.

Keep Exploring

Craving Japan without the flight? Miami delivers: the best Japanese sandos at Aiko and Mumu, Mottai in Coral Gables, and Double Knot at the Wynwood Walls. More trips in my Travel section.