We don't run tours to Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka because you can do these cities yourself. But that doesn't mean we don't have love them and have plenty of opinions to share.

After 20+ years between us living, eating, and exploring Japan, we've got our go-to spots in the big three. This guide shares the places we send all our friends and where we'd take you to if you were with visiting us. It's by no means comprehensive, but it's a great way to get a level deeper into these cities with only a few days.

One of the best things about basing yourself in these cities is how accessible they are, so we've mapped out a few quick getaways to places where you'll trade crowds for countryside, tourist menus for the homestyle cooking, and start to see what we love about going off the eaten track.

Consider this your bridge between the Japan you know and the Japan we want to show you.