Poketinerary

At first glance, you may think this is a strange inclusion, and we wouldn’t blame you! But if you have visited Japan we know you’ll agree and if you haven’t, you will.

But for us, the simplicity and outright efficiency of the Japanese train/subway system is what makes a trip to Japan so smooth, whilst opening the doors for many different experiences.

We come from the UK and the difference is incomparable. That said, we have had the privilege of visiting many different countries, and whilst many have good infrastructure, Japan remains in a league of its own.

You have the comfort of waking up and just deciding to visit another city or district, without much if any planning being necessary. Just get up and go. You cannot afford this level of blind faith anywhere else, least of all in the UK, which is riddled with delays, and cancellations, not too mention the outright poor infrastructure which makes these trips take far longer than they comparatively would were they in Japan.

For these, and many other reasons, it makes our list!

If the above choice seemed strange, this one will come as no surprise.

Dedicating entire days to hunting for singles and sealed product is among our favorite activities whilst in Japan. As Pokemon fans, the feeling of seeing rows and rows of all kinds of different cards combined with finding a great deal (or two) is fantastic and addictive. Add in some food breaks such as a quick but delicious Ichiran Ramen, and your days become even more memorable. Truly a vibe you can only experience in Japan.

The hardest part (for us at least) is navigating the somewhat confusing (at times) Japanese commercial architecture and actually finding some of the stores. Although we would argue that adds to the enjoyment, oddly.

Many say good deals are harder to come by due to the continued surge in popularity. We disagree, having found a healthy amount during our recent trip. Certainly more than in 2025. Visit enough stores and you will almost definitely find some deals worth getting hyped about. That said be prepared for long days filled with walking!

Be sure to check out our TCG Shop Routes Itineraries to help you plan your days!

Ah what we would give for a 7-Eleven or FamilyMart (yes, you too Lawson) here in the UK. Not a day went by where we didn’t visit them at least twice whilst in Japan.

From the great choice of drinks (looking at you Pocari Sweat), to the fresh section filled with Onigiri (give me a tuna wasabi roll) and the selection of fresh cakes, we guarantee these will become a staple in your day.

On the surface you might say, ‘Poketinerary, we have plenty of convenience stores’. Yeah true, we have Tesco express, Co-op and others. Do they compare with the Japanese alternatives. Not even a little. Honestly, not even the most microscopic amount. This isn’t even an exaggeration, I can state with absolute certainty, those of you that have been to Japan will agree. Those of you who haven’t and are skeptical, please feel free to email us to say just how right we are, once you have.

Make the convenience stores even more convenient by using a SUICA. Click here to find out all you need to know about SUICA/IC cards.

Perhaps the most debatable choice on our list depending on who you ask, but for us its a no brainer.

Even if you don’t like arcades, their claw machines and other games, you have to respect Japan’s approach to them. Not only are they cheap typically between 100-200 yen per play, but their whole vibe supported by the sound of the machines and the music playing in the background, makes them somewhere we could easily spend a couple hours.

Round 1’s for instance, would be tremendously popular with people of all ages in almost any country. They combine traditional arcade’s (such as Taito or Gigo) on the lower floors, with a sport complex on the higher floors, that offers activities such as bowling, pool, basketball, tennis, skating rinks, karaoke (yes, really) and rooftop baseball batting cages (our personal favorite), to name a few!

We would love something like this in the UK. That said, the biggest reason they exist and are so popular in Japan is thanks to their culture and people, whom take pride in and look after such things. Unfortunately, it likely wouldn’t last a week in the UK.

Onto the least debatable choice! Honestly, if you disagree with this we’d love to know why. One of us is not even what you would call a foodie, but we both equally miss Japanese food and drinks.

We’ve already touched on the convenience stores, but that’s not all. There’s countless restaurants, eateries and street foods to try in Japan. No matter your preference, there WILL be something for you.

For us, there were 2 main standouts from our recent trip (not including convenience stores). Those being a mouth watering Kobe Wagyu beef we had in – drum roll please – Kobe, and slurp worthy ramen from Ichiran Ramen. The beef was not only by far the best beef we have ever had, but the price was outrageously cheap. About 1/10th of the price you would expect to pay for the same cut of beef outside of Japan.

Even the process of dining at a Japanese restaurant is something we miss. If you get the chance, dine at an Ichiran Ramen restaurant if you haven’t before, and you will understand what we mean.

Click the button below for other awesome things to see and do that we’re sure you will end up missing too!