Menya Taiga is one of the popular and highly rated (based on Tabelog) ramen restaurants in Kanazawa (Ishikawa Prefecture). If you have a few nights in Kanazawa then you should check this place out. Rich taste, great noodles, absolutely delicious ramen. You’ll love this Kanazawa best miso ramen!
We were in Kanazawa and staying at the MyStays Kanazawa Castle Hotel during our Chubu trip. It’s located nearby with Kanazawa Station, with probably 5 minutes of walking distance. We were hungry and looking for Kanazawa’s best food for dinner. Located opposite the hotel, we saw a non-descript ramen shop with a queue outside. We were told by the hotel receptionist that this ramen shop is one of the local’s favorite restaurants, with the best miso ramen in Kanazawa.
Without hesitation, we decided to try it out.
Menya Taiga
The Menya Taiga (麺屋大河) is quite hidden in the alley and the sign isn’t that obvious. But the way to look out for it would probably be the long queue outside the shop, frequented by both tourists and locals alike too. It’s a tiny ramen shop, with a long counter that fits for about twelve seats on the counter. Expected for a wait, but the queue moves fast.
While waiting in line, the aroma keeps wafting out when someone opened the doors to leave. It was so fragrant and we all can’t wait for the bowl of Kanazawa’s best ramen here.
Order was taken while we were queueing so that by the time you sat down, the food was almost ready. The staff was able to speak very minimal English and we managed to somehow just ordered by pointing to the picture.
Menya Taiga (麺屋大河) Address: 6-3 Horikawamachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0847, Japan Business Hours：11:30 – 15:00；17:30 – 23:00 (Closed on Mondays) Getting there: 5 minutes walk from Kanazawa Station
Menya Taiga Food Menu
The limited menu is only available in Menya Taiga, from a selection of about five items, between three kinds of miso broth based on basic normal, black miso with squid black ink, and red miso with spicy chilies added. You can choose for the normal ramen soup or dry-based (tsukemen).
Extra toppings such as soft boiled egg, bamboo shoots, scallions, etc. can be added that cost about ¥100 each. The price is rather cheap too, with approximately ¥800-1,000 only.
Although Menya Taiga had the interesting flavors here, the black squid ink ramen, all of us still ordered the traditional miso ramen with extras, plus Yebisu beers. The beer is cheap and we ordered the Yebisu Japanese beer to couple with the miso ramen.
Miso Ramen from Menya Taiga
We queued up for about 30 minutes before we got in for dinner. A complimentary mixed fruit juice to ready your palate for the umami explosion once you are seated. The drink is sweet and refreshing, can’t complain of a complimentary healthy vegetable drink. And we had the Yebisu beer served too!
The service was prompt. we were served a piping hot bowl of ramen shortly.
When we got the ramen, we could understand why there were so many locals. Inside the bowl of Menya Taiga’s miso ramen, we got the thick roast pork, bamboo shoots, onions and greens, extra onsen egg, and of course, the ramen noodles with broth.
I had a sip on the miso broth. It was flavorful and extremely good. I can taste the saltiness from the miso, but with a twist of refreshingness yuzu that balances it off. It was a very unique twist of ramen miso broth that I never tasted before.
Not too salty, and taste so good.
Added, the broth was goes so well with noodles which were firm to my liking.
The pork slides were tender with a smoky flavor. It had a nice smokey aroma and was seasoned perfectly. Mostly thick cut of the lean meat and not the normal pork slides that we ate in Tokyo.
While the extra added topping, ramen egg was so fabulous. It was with glorious runny egg yolk, and probably the best-cooked ramen egg that I ate before! Simply amazing!
As above, the miso ramen was so delicious, went perfectly with a cold beer.
Kanawaza Best Ramen
All in all, it was an enjoyable meal in Menya Taiga. This tiny ramen restaurant made some of the best ramen I’ve had in the central Chubu region. The food is simple but tasty and extremely good value for money. Do come try if you are anywhere near. The squid ink version looked pretty cool, although I ordered the original version. Probably this will be one of the reason i come back to Kanazawa for next visit. But no matter what you pick, it’s incredible.
Definitely one of the more memorable ramen experiences I’ve had. The shop opens late until 11 pm, perfectly fit into any schedule when you’re visiting Kanazawa and looking for what to eat here.
Looking for some other Kanazawa itinerary for things to do, what to eat in Kanazawa, check out our other Kanazawa travel and food blog:
Here is our Japan Food Guide covers everything from the best, traditional, and must-try Japanese dishes to navigating Japan’s best restaurant scene.
Japan is one of the world’s best countries for food that takes great pride in its food culture. A visit to Japan would not be complete without experiencing any of Japan’s unique and diverse cuisine. Although you can easily find many Japanese food and restaurants in your home country, you have to taste the authentic Japanese food in Japan for yourself when you are in Japan!
There’s so much delicious food in this country. So much it makes my head spin! This Japan food guide post isn’t a definitive answer to the question of what to eat in Japan by any means, but I liked the variety of the food we tried whenever visit Japan.
To make it as well-rounded as possible, we will list down all the best food that we tried in Japan. From the popular must-eat food, obscure regional specialties, and local favorite dishes, for sure there is something that meets your food scenes and level of affection for Japanese cuisine.
We hope that we can give you even the tiniest idea of the best food scene in Japan.
What To Eat in Japan: Must-Try Japanese Dishes
But first, this is the long post for the Japan food guide that we tried to categorize and summarised all the best food we ate and restaurants visited. Feel free to click on each section for your best food in Japan.
Japan Food Guide – Must-Try Japanese Dishes in Japan:
Sushi and Sashimi: Sushi, Conveyor Belt Sushi, Sashimi, Basashi (Horse Meat Sashimi).
Popular Japan Seafood (served in sashimi, or together rice): Fugu, Crabs, Sea Urchin.
Japanese Snack / Dessert / Drink: Takoyaki, Gyoza, Korokke, and more.
If you’re curious about each best food location in the Japan Food Guide post, read on for more details on what to eat in Japan regional if you want to fly home with a happy tummy!
First of all, let’s start with the best food that most of us associate Japan with Sushi. The artfully presented dishes are made with vinegared rice and together with a variety of ingredients, mostly raw fish and other types of seafood. You can just grab a piece of sushi with chopsticks and dipped it into soy sauce or wasabi (a spicy Japanese condiment).
Depending on the shape and ingredients that are used, the family of sushi can be called different names. The common types of sushi are maki sushi, nigiri sushi, inari sushi, gunkan, inari sushi, Oshizushi, Temaki sushi, etc.
Sushi Set at Kanazawa Omicho Food Market
Nigiri sushi is a bite-sized mound of sushi rice topped with slices of raw fish. Maki sushi is commonly referred to as a “sushi roll” where fresh fish and/or other ingredients are wrapped with Japanese rice and a dried seaweed sheet (nori).
It is a big part of Japanese cuisine and you can easily find a variety of sushi restaurants in Japan.
Japan Food Guide Tips: There are a lot of things to know when it comes to Japanese food culture. Do you know that there is a correct way of eating sushi?
You can eat sushi with either chopstick or by using your hands.
Don’t mix wasabi in your soy sauce.
Add soy sauce only to the fish topping instead of the rice so the sushi does not fall apart.
Do not cut a piece of sushi in half with your chopsticks.
Conveyor Belt Sushi | 回転寿司
Nemuro Hanamaru, Sapporo
A fun way to sample a variety of sushi is by visiting a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. The “kaitenzushi” (回転寿司) is very popular among locals and travelers. A conveyor belt transports small plates of various sushi around the restaurant, with different color plates, and passes around the tables or booths. You can take any sushi that you want and the prices of each plate of sushi are different depending on the color of the plates.
Be sure to pick up the entire plate instead of picking single pieces of sushi off the plates.
Sushi in Nemuro Hanamaru
There is a wide availability of conveyor belt sushi restaurants in Japan. The Kura Sushi and Sushiro are Japan’s popular chain conveyor belt sushi restaurant that offers Japan’s longtime affordable sushi at a budget price yet freshness guarantee.
Nemuro Hanamaru is the Hokkaido’s Quality Conveyor Belt Sushi for its finest quality sushi that won’t break the bank. You can find exquisite sushi at great prices including that seasonal seafood here. Always busy and attracting a lot of people including locals and tourists.
Sashimi | 刺身
Uni (Sea Urchin) in Kuromon Ichiban Market, Osaka
Sashimi is sushi minus the vinegared rice. This Japanese delicacy is one of the most famous dishes in Japanese cuisine. The raw fish or meat is thinly sliced into pieces and often eaten with wasabi and soy sauce.
The common types of sashimi that travelers are likely to eat in Japan:
Maguro (Tuna) – The best and must-eat sashimi in Japan! You won’t believe how rich and buttery flavor of eating Japan’s tuna, either sashimi or sushi. My favorite part of tuna is the toro. Truly heaven!
Sake (Salmon) – The bright orange tender salmon is one of my favorite sashimi in Japanese cuisine.
Saba (Mackerel) – Though more popularly served grilled, saba is also enjoyed as sashimi when in season.
Amaebi (White Shrimp) – The sweet and subtle flavors are usually presented with the shell removed.
Hotate (Scallop) – The best Hotate has a firm texture and a sweet, almost creamy taste.
Hokkigai (Surf Clam) – The best Hokkigai that I tasted is in Hokkaido, with firm meat and sweet flavor.
Ikura (Salmon Roe) – Translucent and bright orange fish eggs.
Uni (Sea Urchin) – Particularly the expensive delicacy in Japan. Flavorful and rich in taste with and buttery texture.
Chicken Sashimi
While seafood is most commonly eaten as sushi and sashimi, other types of meats (such as chicken, beef, or even horse) can also be served. Due to health concerns, raw meat needs to be super fresh to be safely eaten. So normally, a special license is required to serve raw meat in Japan.
Chicken sashimi and lightly roasted chicken ham at Hanamidori, Fukuoka
Beef Sashimi
We did try the beef sushi in Takayama. Not as premium as Wagyu, Miyazaki, and Kobe beef, the Hida beef is a famous beef from the Gifu area in Central Japan and classified as high glass beef in Japan. It is so delicious and melted once put inside the mouth. The taste was similar to flavorful toro sushi. But you will never realize that it was beef sushi. Amazingly delicious!
Best Nigiri Hida Beef Sushi from Kottegyu (こって牛)
Basashi (Horse Meat Sashimi) | 馬刺し
The basashi (馬刺し) is the horse meat sashimi, another type of meat sashimi served in Japan. Because of its pinkish color, horse meat (sakuraniku) is also meaning “cherry blossom meat”.
This local dish is hard to find in most other prefectures, and Kumamoto is the best place to taste the basashi in Japan. We get the chance to try this unique cuisine in Suganoya (菅乃屋), Kumamoto. The basashi is delicious and one of the most surprising Japanese dishes we’ve had so far.
Plus, chicken sashimi is particularly popular in Miyazaki and Kyushu regions.
Another popular food option when looking for something to eat in Japan. Ramen is inexpensive and widely available in Japan, making it the best food for budget travelers. You can find countless regional variations of ramen in every corner of Japan. Ramen alone can be written for the separate best ramen in Japan Food Guide.
There is always one of the best ways of enjoying your ramen, slurp up the noodles! A slurping sound is not an impolite eating behavior in Japan, In fact, it helps to enhance the flavors and cool down the piping hot noodles when eating. You don’t need to finish the entire bowl of broth, but it is a compliment for a ramen chef with an empty bowl of ramen.
Ichiran Ramen – The most famous chain ramen store in Japan
A bowl of tasty ramen normally consists of four basic components; broth, wheat noodles, tare (seasoning), and toppings. In most ramen restaurants, you can usually ask how done you’d like the noodles – thin, soft, firm, or extra firm. While the noodles and toppings enhance the food experience. but in our opinion, the broth is the star and the most important part to determine the taste of the best ramen.
Bowl of Asahikawa Shoyu ramen
Ramen: Shoyu, Miso, Shio, and Tonkotsu
Ramen is typically categorized into four main types – Shoyu (Soy Sauce), Miso (Soybean Paste), Shio (Salt), and Tonkotsu (Pork Bone). It is available in many different regional varieties, and some have become extremely popular that can be found in entire Japan. The heavy and hearty taste immediate can warm your body when you slurp up the noodles.
Miso Ramen is among the most popular regional ramen varieties and has become a mainstay at ramen valley all over the country. Sapporo served the best miso ramen in Japan, featured with fat, robust noodles and often topped with filling Hokkaido specialties, such as creamy butter and sweet corn.
Tonkatsu Ramen
Bowl of Hakata’s tonkatsu ramen
Personally, my favorite type of ramen is Hakata’s tonkatsu ramen on the northern shore of Kyushu in Fukuoka, the birthplace of pork bone broth ramen.
The taste of tonkatsu ramen is popular not only within Kyushu but also across Japan. Pork bones, fatback, and a whole host of other ingredients are simmered for long hours until they break down into an ultra-rich, porky soup with fat globules floating on top. Tonkatsu ramen has the tastiest flavor I have ever tried and can range from soft to strong depending on where you order it.
Tsukemen | つけ麺
Tokyo Best Tsukemen at Chuka Soba Tomita Ramen
You probably are already familiar with ramen. But there is another special ramen that you can try is the Tsukemen or dipping ramen noodles. a style of ramen where the broth and noodles are served separately. It helps to ensure that the noodles stay firm throughout your meal.
Tsukemen noodles are thicker than ramen noodles and have a firm chewy texture. While the broth is more intensely flavored than usual ramen broth to make sure the noodles are well-coated with flavor. Just dip the noodles into the broth aside and enjoy it.
The best tsukemen that i had in Japan from Chuka Soba Tomita (中華蕎麦 とみ田). It is unanimously considered the No#1 best ramen in Tokyo, or even Japan. Chuka Soba Tomita has won the grand prize in TRY (Tokyo Ramen of the Year) for 4 consecutive years and in many Ramen tournaments. Due to the popularity, and the extremely long waiting time to taste this best tsukemen. It is suitable for those travelers who love to hunt for the best food in Japan with extra time spare. The tsukemen is rich but refined flavor, and ultimately divine!
Cold Soba Tempura Set from Fukuan Restaurant, Noboribetsu
Soba is the Japanese name for thin noodles made from buckwheat flour, or a combination of buckwheat and wheat flour, roughly as thick as spaghetti. Similar to udon and ramen, soba noodles are often found in savory soup broth and they can be served either hot or cold. The cold-served soba comes with a dipping sauce called tsuyu, while the hot soba is served in a bowl of hot, clear broth.
Soba is cheap and popular, and widely available throughout Japan. Simple soba noodle dishes typically cost between ¥500 yen and ¥1,000, and special soba meal sets, accompanied by a variety of side dishes, like sushi, sashimi, tempura, chawanmushi, are usually priced at ¥1,500.
This simple noodles dish is widely consumed in the whole of Japan and can be easily found at specialized soba restaurants, family restaurants, izakaya, or even standing counters at busy train stations.
Nishin soba from Matsuba Soba, Kyoto
If you visit Kyoto, then you may be interested in trying Nishin soba, one of Kyoto’s specialty cuisine. The local herring fish is perfectly smoked with sweetness and salty tastes served together with the soba noodles and flavored soy sauce broth. A unique Kyoto-style soba noodles!
Udon | うどん
Shin Udon, Tokyo
Similar to soba, Udon (うどん) is another popular Japanese dish that is an easy introduction to Japanese food. Also made from wheat flour, Udon is thicker than soba noodles and chewier. Udon noodles are served with a variety of ingredients in different styles, including in hot broth, cold, stir-fry, with curry, and even dry with a dipping sauce.
The most traditional version of Udon is served in hot broth. The flavourful savory bowls are loaded with soft thick noodles, sliced chicken or beef, fresh vegetables, and a variety of garnishes like green onion, sesame seeds, roasted seaweed slices, nora, and dried garlic.
Some people will prefer the simplicity of udon noodle soup. To me, as opposed to ramen, udon is often a bit plainer in flavor (the broth or sauce is typically not as heavy or salty as ramen) beyond the thickness difference.
Udon Set at Inaba Udon Shop, Hakata Train Station (Fukuoka)
Similar to soba and ramen, udon is widely available at restaurants across Japan, especially at busy train stations. I particularly love to enjoy a bowl of hot served udon noodles for breakfast before departing for a day trip in Japan.
The simple breakfast Udon set is served in a hot broth with green onion, tempura bits, and the add-on side, normally costs you between ¥500 and ¥1,000.
Fire Ramen
Kyoto fire ramen at Menbakaichidai, Kyoto
If you’re visiting Kyoto, make sure to find time for an extraordinary culinary experience in Japan. The fire ramen does not mean spicy, it means your ramen is on fire, seriously flaming fire. A bowl of ramen will be lit on fire in front of you which gives your ramen the most incredible smokey flavor and makes for such a fun environment to eat
There are strict safety rules in multiple languages and many checks to ensure you understand the rules, to eliminate the risk of injury. What you need to do is, put on the plastic apron, seat back and watch your ramen be lit on fire!
The ramen itself is good and oily compared with the normal ramen. But it’s all about the fire and experience. For those who love traditional Japanese broth ramen, Fire Ramen is not your food choice.
Next is chilled noodles via flowing cold water after we have the fire ramen in Japan food guide. The Nagashi Somen (そめん流し), also called flowing bamboo noodles, is a thin white noodle flowing down from a sliced bamboo pipe filled with cold water. You have to catch the flowing somen when it is released if you want to eat it. After you successfully catch the somen, dip it in a special dipping sauce, called Tsuyu, and slurp the delicious noodles!
You can have Nagashi Somen in Tokyo and Kyoto, normally served in the summer. While we ate this special Japanese food in Takachiho Gorge, Miyazaki. Chiho no Ie Teahouse (千穂の家) served this signature local specialties all year round since the 1950s.
Kaisendon is a combination of the words ‘seafood’ (kaisen 海鮮）and ‘rice bowl’ (donburi 丼). It is a type of seafood rice bowl that consists of white rice and raw sashimi, such as prawns, octopus, squid, salmon, white fish, crab meat, egg, and sea urchin roes.
Often served with a traditional set menu with miso soup, pickled vegetables, chawanmushi (steamed egg custard with vegetables/seafood/meat), and some side dishes. It is very similar to sushi, but instead, served in a bowl of normal rice with marvelous seafood on top.
Seafood rice bowl in Ajidokoro Takeda Otaru, Hokkaido
The most important factor to get the best kaisendon in Japan is the freshness of seafood on top of the rice. Kaisendon can be easily found in restaurants or best at a food market that offers fresh seafood directly from the port.
Hokkaido is the best place for kaisendon with a freshness guarantee. We had an amazing seafood food trip in Hokkaido and had the overflowing bowl of kaisendon at Otaru, Hokkaido. For the seafood lover, you should make your trip to Hokkaido!
Unagi | うなぎ
Unagi Rice Set
Not to be confused with anago (saltwater eel), Japan’s unagi (うなぎ) is a freshwater eel with a rich, fatty flavor that lends itself well to grilling.
Unagi can be prepared in a variety of ways, and the most common is in kabayaki style. To prepare for this, the eel is cut open with its head and bone is removed. Next, the fillets are skewered and slowly grilled over the charcoal with kabayaki sauce (savory-sweet sauce). The smokey and savory-sweet unagi is something you need to have when you visit Japan.
The flavorful unagi is widely used in sushi dishes, especially nigiri sushi, where a thin piece of grilled eel is served on top of sushi rice. You can also see the unagi served in Unaju (grilled eel fillets served with cooked rice in a rectangular, lacquered box), Unadon (grilled eel fillets served in a bowl of rice), or as a main dish in a rice set. Not to mention the Hitsumabushi that I am going to introduce in this Japan Food Guide.
Hitsumabushi
Hitsumabushi from Atsuta Houraiken Honten
One of the best ways to enjoy unagi is Hitsumabushi (ひつまぶし). It is a Nagoya specialty where grilled unagi are served over rice that is eaten in four steps.
Unagi is served in an individual bowl with wooden tubs over rice, together with dashi and yakumi (condiments) such as spring onion, wasabi, and seaweed. Firstly, divided the Hitsumabushi into four portions and then eaten in four different ways. The first portion is eaten straight with rice, the second with rice and condiments, and the third with broth, tea, or dashi to make chazuke. While the last portion is based on your liking from the above three ways. It is fun to enjoy the unagi in various ways while each style gives you a different impression of this Japanese popular dish.
We visited Atsuta Houraiken for its superb and succulent Hitsumabushi in Nagoya. Read my food review here: Hitsumabushi Atsuta Houraiken – Nagoya Must Eat Food. Don’t forget to mark this Japan wonderful dish in your version of the Japan Food Guide.
Kamameshi | 釜飯
Popular Local Dish, Kamameshi in Nara
Kamameshi (釜飯), literally translates to “kettle rice”, is a traditional Japanese rice dish made with seasonal fresh ingredients, such as chicken, seafood, and vegetables with rice, boiled in an iron pot called a kama. All the ingredients will be simmered and cooked together under pressure.
As the rice stream in the kama, allowing the fragrance of the added ingredients to infuse with the rice. The rice will soak up the great flavors and was subtle yet delicious.
Apparently, Nara is one of the popular places to try the Kamameshi in Japan. Many restaurants in Nara will be serving these popular dishes and Shizuka (志津香) is specialized in Kamameshi for more than 50 years.
Japanese Curry Rice
Japanese curry rice is an inexpensive Japanese dish that can easily be found throughout Japan and is widely available at supermarkets and restaurants. Unlike the curry you taste in India or Southeast Asia, Japanese curry is usually sweet, in a thick, sumptuous, and umami brown sauce without fiery burst. Even children can enjoy it thoroughly!
The ingredients for Japanese curry are a variety of meats (chicken, pork, or beef), vegetables (onions, carrots, and sweet potatoes), and mild spices. The katsu curry (deep-fried breaded cutlet with curry) rice as per the picture above is also very popular in Japan.
Next on the Japan Food Guide is tempura (天ぷら), one of the most popular Japanese dishes in Japan. It’s a simple dish that consists of battered and deep-fried seafood and vegetables, served with a special dipping sauce called Tentsuyu. The batter is lightly mixed and lighter than the common batter used for fried fish and chicken.
Different types of seafood and vegetables are used in tempura though Ebi (shrimp) is the most popular variety of tempura pieces. It can be served as an appetizer, side dish, or as a topping for Tendon rice bowls, soba, and udon noodles.
The picture above is one of the tendons (tempura rice bowl) that we ate during our visit to Asakusa, Tokyo. The Daikokuya Asakusa served tendon at the beginning of the Meiji period and is still open today. It is famous for its soft and soggy tempura dipped in its secret black sweet sauce. We love the crispy, fried pieces of tempura but the soft tempura tastes slightly different yet still delicious.
Okonomiyaki | お好み焼き
Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savory pancake made with a batter of flour, eggs, and cabbage, and mixed with a variety of ingredients ordered. The common ingredients are meat (thinly cut pork belly or bacon), octopus, squid, shrimp, vegetables, green onion, or cheese. The batter is then pan-fried on a hot griddle at the restaurant, sometimes on a hot griddle right before you, topped with sweet and savory okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, dried seaweed, and bonito flakes before served.
Okonomiyaki is available all over Japan, most closely associated with Osaka and Hiroshima. The Kansai-stye (also called Osaka-style) Okonomiyaki is prepared with fillings mixed into the batter before being cooked on the grill. While the Hiroshima style is cooked layer-by-layer, rather than mixed.
Osaka-Style Okonomiyaki
Similar to takoyaki, okonomiyaki is another Osaka’s must-eat food. I am a big fan of okonomiyaki and tried a number of different okonomiyaki in Osaka, Japan. My personal favorite was Kiji (きじ 本店), but the waiting time was extremely long for this Japan’s best food. Overall, a very good okonomiyaki restaurant in Japan with delicious food.
Read on our food blog on the top 3 best okonomiyaki in Osaka. We have listed our dining experiences at Kiji, Fukutaro, and Mizuno. The best and quick way if you are looking for where to eat okonomiyaki in Osaka.
Nabe (鍋) is a term for Japanese hot pot dishes and is widely consumed across Japan. Basically, you cook your food at the table in a large heated pot with boiling water or soup base. Common ingredients found in nabe include vegetables, tofu, mushrooms, meat, and seafood. While the soup base is either flavorful broth or a simple and light broth to cook for the ingredients.
It is popularly eaten at home and served in Japanese restaurants or as part of a ryokan dinner. Wintertime is the best time to eat the piping hot pot dishes in Japan.
Popular types of nabe dishes:
Yose-nabe – Most common and most basic type of hot pot dishes where vegetables, mushrooms, meat, and seafood are cooked in a pot of flavorful broth.
Sukiyaki – Hot pot dish featuring thinly sliced beef or pork with vegetables in a mix of soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and water.
Shabu-Shabu – Hot pot dish that features thin slices of meat that are swished in the hot pot to cook just before eating. Gentle take piece by piece of sliced meat and dipped it around in the broth until the perfect time to eat it. The broth is often very lightly flavored.
Motsu-nabe – Hot pot dish containing pork or beef offal, vegetables, and chili peppers in a broth (soy sauce or miso).
The nabe dishes can be found all across Japan, and each region has its own local specialties.
Motsunabe | もつ鍋
Motsunabe from Hakata Motsunabe Ooyama, Fukuoka
If you do not mind innards, then you’re going to love this hot pot dish. The flavorful motsunabe (もつ鍋) is a hot pot dish typically made up of beef or pork tripe, cabbage, garlic, chives, and togarashi peppers in a salt, soy sauce, or miso-based soup. It is the Fukuoka specialty and has become one of the must-eat food when visiting there.
The flavorful stew is slowly simmered with the ingredients such as leek, chives, cabbage and beautifully seasoned with garlic and chili pepper at the table on portable burners in front of you. Paired with rice or champion noodles with leftovers as a perfect ending. One of the best food in Fukuoka, Japan.
I am falling in love with motsunabe since my first try in Fukuoka. I’ve tried the motsunabe from Hakata Motsunabe Ooyama and went for another round atHakata Showraku. Truly addictive to this Japan’s hot pot dish.
Yakitori (焼き鳥) is the Japanese version of chicken skewers. The bite-sized pieces of meat from all different parts of the chicken, such as the breasts, thighs, skin, liver, and other innards, are skewed and grilled over charcoal. The yakitori was just for chicken, but nowadays it can also see skewers made using pork, beef, and seafood.
Yakitori is popular Japanese street food and is widely served across Japan, commonly found at Yakitori-ya (shops that specialize in yakitori), izakaya (Japanese pub), festival food stands, and alleyways adjacent to large stations near business districts.
The inexpensive dishes are always best with a glass of beer and cheer with friends.
Yakiniku | 焼肉
Yakiniku style in Ajikura Tengoku
Literally, Yakiniku (焼肉) means “grilled meat”. Technically, yakiniku isn’t a dish but a Japanese style of barbecue since ingredients are commonly cooked over an open flame at your table. The meat, normally beef, chicken, and, pork, are sliced into bite-sized pieces, grilled over charcoal, and often served with just a few light seasonings like high-quality salt, sesame oil, or shoyu.
In Yakiniku restaurants, servants will bring raw meats and vegetables to your table so you can cook them yourself on tabletop grills. For a more expensive and premium option, you can visit a restaurant that offers prime beef cuts such as Kobe beef.
We enjoyed our yakiniku dinner at in Ajikura Tengoku (味蔵天国) in Takayama. This restaurant is specialized and served Hida beef in Yakiniku style. The meat is so flavorful and juicy, without adding any seasoning. It’s another fun Japanese dining experience that you should try on your Japan trip.
Tonkatsu | とんかつ
Succulent Tonkatsu in Katsuretsutei Shinshigai Honten (勝烈亭), Kumamoto
Not to be confused with tonkotsu (pork broth ramen), tonkatsu is a breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet dish. The 2-3 cm slice of pork loin or tenderloin coated with panko bread crumbs and deep-fried in oil. It is traditionally served with shredded cabbage, rice, miso soup, and pickles.
Tonkatsu is one of the most popular katsu dishes, and you may also see other variations made of chicken (chikinkatsu), beef (gyukatsu), and ground meat (menchikatsu). Besides, you will find variations of tonkatsu throughout Japan, including in convenient stores. Enjoy the tonkatsu pieces in Katsudon (katsu ricebowl), Katsu Kare (katsu curry), or Katsu Sando (katsu sandwich).
In short, tonkatsu is always one of the best food for the family with kids listed in the Japan Food Guide!
Jingisukan | ジンギスカン
Jingisukan Daikokuya (成吉思汗大黒屋), Asahikawa
If you’ve been to Hokkaido, then you may recognize Jingisukan. This regional dish is very popular in Hokkaido, with mutton or lamb and vegetables sizzled to perfection on a Hokkaido’s style of yakiniku. Rather than being grilled on an open flame, like yakiniku, this Japanese barbecue grill is on a uniquely shaped hot iron plate.
The name Jingisukan comes from the famous Mongolian warrior name, “Genghis Khan” and the unique convex-shaped grill is evokes the image of a warrior’s helmet. Although I am not a fan of lamb dishes, we really love the Gingisukan. The lamb was so juicy and we even went back for the second time for it.
POPULAR JAPAN SEAFOOD
Popular Japan Seafood (served in sashimi, or together with rice):
You’ve probably heard about the fearsome reputation of this Japanese delicacy, fugu, or pufferfish. It is considered to be one of the world’s most dangerous foods and highly toxic by containing a powerful neurotoxin about 1,200 times stronger than cyanide. But don’t worry too much about trying the fugu in Japan. Only licensed chefs with a minimum of ten years of apprenticeship can legally prepare this dish.
Fugu can be prepared in many ways, most commonly sliced paper-thinly in intricate patterns to resemble chrysanthemum blossoms and eaten raw as sashimi or eaten in the hot pot dish known as fugu chirinabe. Every year, thousands of tons of fugu are eaten.
It is an expensive dish to be eaten on special occasions and you can try it in fugu specialty restaurants. But for the best fugu in Japan, consider eating it when you are visiting Kyushu and Yamaguchi. The Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi is the largest harvester of pufferfish. We tried the fugu sashimi and fugu soup in Karato Market when making a food trip there.
Crabs
Delicious crab dishes at Sapporo Kanihonke
Japan is a paradise for crab lovers and its consumption ranks among the highest in the world. Different types of crab have their delicious flavor, with plenty of ways to serve them. From simply boiled, grilled, rice bowl, or well prepared into a crab course meal. It is one of the most popular seasonal winter foods and you can find crab throughout the country.
The northern regions such as Hokkaido is the best place for crab, where the waters are cooler and perfect to capture it. You can enjoy some delicious Hokkaido Crabs such as snow crab, king crab, and hairy crab when visiting there. We visited Hokkaido and particularly drowned in these amazing dishes. We ate the tasty Hokkaido crab in sashimi, simply boiled, grilled, Teppo-jiru or Kani-jiru (Crab Leg Miso Soup), seafood kaisendon, and even pay for an expensive kaiseiki crab meal. When you travel to Hokkaido make sure you treat yourself to some delicious crab.
Even if you’re not making a trip to Hokkaido, you can also taste the Hokkaido crab in crab specialties restaurants in Japan. The Sapporo Kanihonke is a famous traditional crab-specialized restaurant founded in 1971 in Sapporo and widely spread around the country.
Sea Urchin | Uni
Purple Sea Urchin Rice Bowl from Naramuraya, Shakotan Hokkaido
Sea urchins or Uni is a Japanese delicacy that is really gaining popularity in Japan. It is nutritious, sweet and they melt in your mouth the moment you bite into them. The sea taste and the creamy texture of uni are quite similar to that of salmon roe but uni has more unmistakable deep savory umami.
Sea urchin is served as sashimi, topping for nigiri sushi, type of seafood in kaisendon, or stand alone as sea urchin rice bowl (Murasaki uni). It is not cheap and the price can be very expensive depending on the quality grade. Food markets such as the famous Tsukiji Fish Market of Tokyo, Kanazawa Omicho Market, Osaka Kuromon market, and seafood restaurants can find fresh sea urchins.
Pictured above is the freshness and generous amount of sea urchins on Murasaki uni at the Naramuraya in Shakotan, Hokkaido. Besides, we always love to sample the sea urchins whenever in Japan’s food market. If you like fish roe, you will likely like uni! You should definitely try it if you have the chance.
JAPANESE SNACK / DESSERT / DRINK
The Best Japanese Snack / Dessert / Drink in Japan:
Another must-eat food in Japan Food Guide. Almost a synonym of Osaka, Takoyaki (literally translates to grilled octopus) is refer to a ball-shaped wheat flour-based snack filled with octopus chunks, tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onion. It’s usually topped with a sweet and savory takoyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, and bonito flakes. Be careful not to eat them right away as it extremely HOT!
The nice golden brown takoyaki is commonly eaten as a snack and is typically sold at specialized stands or small restaurants. The best takoyaki in Japan you can have, of course, is in Osaka.
Gyoza | 餃子
Gyoza
Next on Japan Food Guide is Gyoza (餃子), Japan’s version of the dumpling. Origin from China, Gyoza has become one of the popular dishes in Japan. The Japanese dumplings are filled with ground meat and vegetables and wrapped in a thin dough. Fillings usually include chives, thin slices of cabbage, mushrooms, and finely minced pork or chicken.
Gyoza may come in three different types: Yaki gyoza (fried), Sui gyoza (boiled), and Age gyoza (deep-fried). The Yaki gyoza is by far the most common type of gyoza. Usually eaten with a dipping sauce made of soy sauce and vinegar, with a bit of chili oil (rayu) added.
You can enjoy the gyoza on their own or as a side to more substantial dishes like ramen.
Korokke | コロッケ
Crispy Korokke at Yufuin Kinsho Store
Korokke is the Japanese version of croquette, consisting of breaded, deep-fried ground meat, seafood, or vegetable patties mixed with mashed potato or white sauce. It is available at some restaurants as part of a set meal or as a side dish. Besides, korokke can also be bought at supermarkets, or wrapped in paper at convenience stores, or street vendors.
We always love to have these delicious hot and crispy korokke croquettes for a snack when strolling along with the food market.
End of My Japan Food Guide?
Definitely not! We have been to Japan many times but there is still various Japanese food that we haven’t tasted. Besides, I am still a long way from updating my complete Japan travel guide as it only partly covers all the delicious food that we tried during our trip to Japan. While I am only a traveler who loves to explore Japanese dishes whenever we went to Japan. Let me know if any information is incorrect or if any best food is recommended.
Lastly, we hope you enjoyed this tasty Japan Food Guide post gives you some great ideas about all the delicious food available, and the best restaurants to try in Japan. Enjoy your food trip to Japan!
If you’re planning to visit Japan, this Japan travel guide has the answers to all your questions by summarizing all my Japan travel tips and useful information here.
Japan is one of the most fascinating countries in the world. It is one of the popular travel destinations where you can spend a lifetime traveling and still not discover all. Being an island that was closed to visitors for many years, Japan is unique in culture with a lovely contrast between traditional and modern Japan. A holiday to Japan will include delicious Japanese food, scenic temples and shrines, Zen gardens, rich culture, and crazy experiences you could only imagine in your dreams.
We have been to Japan multiple times and we still can’t get enough of it. It is one of the countries that I will never get tired of revisiting multiple times. Besides the famous modern Tokyo and Osaka cities and ancient traditional cultural Kyoto, there are still many hidden gems in Japan awaiting you to discover. Not to mention the lush nature and exquisite cuisine that Japan has. We love the historic cultural villages in the Chubu region, the hot spring paradise Kyushu, and the food paradise in Hokkaido, all offer something very different than what most may think of when they visualize Japan.
As a repeat visitor to this wonderful country, I will impart some of my knowledge of Japan in this Japan Travel Guide blog post.
Japan has 4 main islands: Honshu (the largest where Tokyo is found), Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku. These areas are divided into 47 prefectures and are commonly grouped into 9 regions, which are Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto/Tokyo, and the surrounding area, Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa.
The capital of Tokyo is within the Tokyo prefecture and under the Kanto region. Whereas the popular cities of Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara are all under the Kansai region.
Sound complicated? Rest assured. Below, you can find an overview of our Japan travel blog about some of our Japan travel experiences and favorite places in Japan. Although it’s still a long way for a complete Japan travel guide to travel in Japan. But it should give you plenty of incredible places to see and things to do in the various regions of Japan. Check it out!
Here is the complete guide on Japan Travel Guide, separate by prefectures or regions.
Japan Travel Tips: PRO TIP: If you are planning to visit several Japan regions, get the JR Pass. Using the apan JR Pass, you can freely travel as much as you like around Japan and potentially save lot sof money in the transportation. Check out the Japan JR Pass to get more detail.
Popular Japan Travel Destinations
7-Days Kansai Itinerary
10-Days Kyushu Itinerary
10-Days Hokkaido Itinerary
Getting To Japan and Traveling Around
Japan is considered to be a relatively expensive country, but you can save a lot of money on transportation and make your Japan travel cheaper by following our transportation guide.
Getting To Japan By Flights
There are so many flight search engines available, so use them to find the best flight deals for your trip. I recommend browsing through Skyscanner to find the best flight deals from your point of origin.
International visitors typically arrive at Tokyo’s Narita Airport (NRT), followed by Kansai Airport (KIX) which is south of Osaka. If you are only looking for air tickets to Tokyo, please note that there are two airports – Narita International Airport and Haneda International Airport. While Narita International Airport is further away from Tokyo city compared to Haneda International Airport, more international flights are available.
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Getting Around in Japan
Traveling in Japan by Train
Traveling in Japan by Bus
Self-Driving in Japan
Rental Cars
Self-drive is one of the good option for traveling in Japan, especially in Hokkaido. We use and highly recommend Rental Cars.com for all our car rental bookings. Not only do they offer the best prices, but also have excellent customer service and the most flexible cancelation policy. Furthermore, you can often purchase car insurance as well, which is multiple times cheaper than at the counter.
Japan has the best and most effective public transportation system in the world, making it easy to get around the country but also expensive. Most of the time, we used the train to travel around Japan; local trains or high-speed trains. But some of the attractions only can be accessed by bus. Check out our Japan travel blog for more detail.
One of the best decisions you can make for your trip to Japan is to purchase a Japan Rail Pass. This unique train pass is available only to foreign visitors that making train travel much cheaper.
The JR pass provides almost unlimited use of Japan’s extensive rail network and high-speed trains. It is available for either 7, 14, or 21 days. With this physical ticket, you can make the most of the extensive and reliable network of trains that connect every corner of Japan. But take note, JR Pass is only valid for JR trains under Japan Rail Company.
Pro Tips: It is considerably cheaper to buy your JR Pass at your home country. You can check out the latest prices for green and ordinary passes on Klook or Japan Rail Pass for more information.
Japan Travel Guide by Region/Cities/Towns
If you follow our Japan travel blogs for a while, then you already know that we love nature destinations and road trips. So it will come as no surprise that Japan is among our favorite places to visit in Japan. Since we haven’t visited all the attractions in Japan, we have written down some of the Japan travel guides on our blog.
We picked some of the popular Japan travel guide, separated by cities/towns, Japanese culture, and nature. Nevertheless, they’re packed with useful info and practical tips for your visit.
Here’s a small selection of our articles featuring other stunning nature and destinations in Japan. Take a look!
Kanto Region
The popular attractions in Kanto Region included Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura, Enoshima, Nikko, Kawaguchiko, Fuji Five Lakes area, and Mt Fuji. Recommend setting aside a minimum of 3 to 5 days for the Kanto region.
Tokyo
Hakone
Tokyo – The capital of Japan with 13,8 million people, with the world´s best and most amazing shopping, dining, and nightlife. The perfect mix of the urban, modern, and energetic city.
Kamakura – Home to iconic Buddhist temples such as the Kotokuin with its Great Buddha statue, as well as Shinto shrines like Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Can spend time to visit the nearby Enoshima.
Nikko – A charming town brimming with cultural and natural wonders, including the must-see Nikko UNESCO World Heritage Site. Local favorite places for autumn foliage.
The top popular attractions in Kansai Region are Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Uji, and Kobe. It is best allocated 5 to 7 days if you wish to explore and discover the Kansai region.
Kyoto – Cultural capital of Japan and home to 400 colorful Shinto shrines, 1600 ancient Buddhist temples, and several fantastic Japanese gardens. The best place to experience historic and ancient Japan.
If you’re visiting the Kansai region many times and would like to explore some new areas, then you may consider taking a look at this Kansai Wide Region. Please be advised that traveling time is required to below places depending on the distance (2 – 3 hours from Osaka / Kyoto).
The JR Kansai Wide Area Pass is a super-saving transport pass that allows you to explore the Kansai Wide region with unlimited travel for five consecutive days.
Amanohashidate – A narrow pine-covered sandbar that spans Miyazu Bay in northern Kyoto. A perfect day trip from Osaka or Kyoto to enjoy the scenic view with a laid-back vibe.
Ine Fishing Village – A seaside village in the “Kyoto by the Sea” area. This charming village is known for its picturesque Funaya, or boat houses, which have been around since the Edo period.
Himeji – Known as the White Heron due to its beautiful white exterior and its imposing hilltop location. Most visited castle in Japan, with almost three million visitors each year.
Kinosaki Onsen – A picturesque idyllic onsen town that has been running since the Heian era (794-1185) and is rated as one of the most charming hot spring towns in Japan.
Shirahama – One of the famous beach resort towns in Japan and known for its sandy white beaches, historical onsen, stunning rock formations, and mouthwatering seafood dishes.
Nachikatsuura is a small fishing town renowned for its seaside beauty and fresh seafood. The town is surrounded by blissful nature and filled with cultural and historical scenes. Nachikatsuura is an important gateway to seeing the famous Nachi Falls – one of Japan’s most famous waterfalls.
The Chubu Region (中部地方 Chūbu-chihō) is Japan’s hidden gem to explore the charming countryside of Japan. This central region widely consists of nine prefectures; Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, and Aichi Prefecture. There are too many attractions in this region and below are few places that we visited and would like to introduce to you.
Nagoya – The main city in the Chubu region and known for its towering castle. Don’t forget to try the Sekai no Yamachan, a famous izakaya in Nagoya that served the flavorful chicken wing.
Shirakawago – UNESCO world heritage site located in forested mountain countryside. Picturesque villages with traditional thatch-roofed houses called “Gassho zukuri” which exists for over 200 years.
Kanazawa – The capital of the Ishikawa prefecture, boasts of its traditional houses and historic structures, Japanese garden Kenrokuen, and mouthwatering seafood.
Matsumoto – Don’t forget to visit Japan’s most beautiful original castle, Matsumoto Castle (松本城, Matsumotojō). One of the Top Three Japan Premier Castle.
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route – Known as the “Roof of the Japan” and popular among locals and visitors for incredible nature activities. The famous grand ‘Snow Wall’ is open from mid-April to late June!
Other notable attractions in the Chubu region included Niigata, Yamanouchi for monkeys bathing in a natural onsen in Jigokudani Monkey Park.
Chugoku Region
Literally name a central country, the Chugoku region (中国地方) is the westernmost region of Honshu. The region is also known as the San’in-San’yo region, and it is the largest island in Japan.
This region is lesser known by travelers compared to the boarded region like the Kansai region and Kyushu region. But many locals love visiting the Chugoku region for its well-known historical, traditional shrines, and natural beauty.
Hiroshima – With the grim past, Hiroshima is full of fantastic sights and historical attractions. A visit to historical sites like A-Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park, and Peace Memorial Museum is truly an emotionally-encompassing experience!
Miyajima Island – This enchanted island houses the world-famous Itsukushima Shrine and its enormous torii gate. At high tide, this UNESCO World Heritage Site and the giant torii gate appear to float on water.
Mt Misen – At 500 meters (1,640 ft) above sea level, Mount Misen is the highest peak on the Island and offers spectacular views of Hiroshima Bay. A popular spot to visit on Miyajima island.
With magnificent unspoiled nature, Hokkaido is a heaven for a lot of outdoor lovers, especially during wintertime. It is a great place for skiers and snowboarders, most especially in the ski resort town of Niseko.
During spring and summer, Hokkaido welcomes visitors to its famous flower field such as Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park, Furano lavender fields, Tenjin Wisteria, Sapporo Lilac Festival, and more. Also, renowned for the high quality and freshness of its seafood!
Sapporo
Hakodate
Otaru
Lake Toya
Asahikawa, Furano, Biei
Noboribetsu
Sapporo – Largest city in Hokkaido, Sapporo is famous for its beer, skiing, and annual Sapporo Snow Festival featuring enormous ice sculptures during winter.
Otaru – European-influenced harbor front city that full of charm with beautifully preserved canal areas and historical buildings. Famous for its seafood cuisine, pastry, and dessert.
Asahikawa, Furano, Biei – World-famous for its flower field and Japan’s scenic countryside. Various flowers field continue to bloom from April until around October.
Noboribetsu – Japan’s most famous hot spring resort town and well known for its natural hot springs water that comes from a geothermal wonder volcanic valley, Jigokudani situated just above the town.
Lake Toya – A peaceful and quaint little town that is known for its hot springs and the magnificent view of Lake Toya. Spend your day at Mt Usu by Usuzan ropeway, enjoy the onsen bath with an amazing lake view. Fireworks display over the lake from May to October!
Literally, as nine provinces, Kyushu encompasses seven prefectures: Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Oita, Saga at Northern Kyushu, and Miyazaki, Kagoshima at Southern Kyushu. Lesser known than the Greater Tokyo Area, Kansai, and Hokkaido but yet big enough to offer everything you could look for in a travel experience.
Below are the top attractions in Kyushu that are highly recommended:
Fukuoka
Nagasaki
Beppu
Kurokawa Onsen
Kumamoto
Yufuin
Northern Kyushu
Fukuoka – Biggest and busiest city in Kyushu, Fukuoka is a great base when visiting the Kyushu region. Birthplace for many wonderful Japanese cuisines such as Hakata ramen, motsunabe, mizutaki, and even yatai culture.
Beppu – Home of more than two thousand onsen spots and blessed by a variety of hot spring resources. Well-known as a hot spring resort and Jigoku Meguri consists of 8 unique hot springs.
Nagasaki – Synonymous with a key moment during World War II, after suffering an Allied nuclear attack. A historic port that mix of Japanese, Chinese and Dutch cultures.
Kitakyushu – Formed by the merging of five independent cities, namely, Kokura, Moji, Yahata, Tobata, and Wakamatsu. An important hub for international trade since the Meiji period and is connected between Honshu and Kyushu.
Miyazaki – An amazing city is full of tropical nature and historical landmarks. Take an excellent day trip to the Nichinan coast and visit popular attractions like Aoshima Island, Udo Jingu Shrine, Sunmesse Nichinan, and Obi town.
Takachiho Gorge – One of Miyazaki prefecture’s most famous sights. The V-shaped gorge has been formed by the Gokase River as it carves its way through the Aso lava.
Kirishima – Active volcanic mountain range that lies on the border between Miyazaki and Kagoshima Prefectures. It is well-known for its natural beauty (stunning mountains, highlands, volcanic lakes, and onsen).
any places in Japan can easily be visited on your own with well planning Japan Travel Guide. Plus, if you are traveling by trains and buses, some destination in Japan is hard to reach by using public transport. For hassle-free, you can always look for a local tour with everything well planned for you.
Often, you can just book tours upon arrival. However, many popular excursions get sold out weeks in advance. So if you know your travel dates and what you want to do, you can just as well book it upfront.
PRO TIPS: For our own tips, we book pretty much all our tours and organize activities via Klook. It’s our favorite one-stop shop for all-organized tours because they have the best customer service and cancelation policy we have ever seen.
Booking directly with a local company usually means that you can’t cancel for free, let alone get a refund in case something went wrong. For that, it’s always helpful to have a strong intermediary and Klook is the best one we know.
Best Food in Japan
Tokyo Food Guide
Kyoto Food Guide
Hokkaido Food Guide
Fukuoka Food Guide
Osaka Food Guide
Kyushu Food Guide
Savoring the delicious Japanese cuisine is half the reason why you should visit Japan! Japan is a country that takes great pride in its food culture. A visit to Japan would not be complete without experiencing the best Japanese food in Japan. For a truly unique Japanese food experience, I bet you don’t want to miss out on the top Japanese food dishes and drinks whenever visiting Japan.
Each Japan region had its popular food and best restaurant. Let’s take a quick journey through Japan’s most famous specialty dishes.
Overall: Japan Travel Guide
All in all, it can be a daunting task to plan a Japan trip because the country is undeniably packed with SO many interesting places, picturesque sights, good food, fun activities, and colorful culture among many others! We always wish to go back to Japan to explore more and continue adding our Japan travel experiences here.
Planning to spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Yosemite National Park? This ultimate Yosemite itinerary features the best views, things to do, and travel guide tips to spend your time in this spectacular corner of California.
Famed for its iconic vistas or towering waterfall, spellbinding natural landscapes, smooth domed rock formations, and the unspeakably majestic valley, Yosemite National Park is the kind of national park that’s worth the hype. It is an incredible place if there’s ever been a “must-visit” destination in the USA.
For me, Yosemite was one of the most beautiful national parks in the US that I ever visited. I have no words to explain how fantastic this place is. During my visit, I had the chance to truly appreciate its splendors by seeing the incredible waterfalls, sprawling meadows, towering granite cliffs, and huge sequoia trees. I can post thousand of pictures, but the impressive and breathtaking views have to be seen in person to be believed.
There are so many things to do all over the park, from hiking, biking, climbing, or even just sightseeing leisurely. No matter how long you spend here, it is important to know how to spend your time in this spectacular corner of California efficiently.
This Yosemite itinerary will show you the best way to plan your Yosemite itinerary for 1, 2, and 3 days. A detailed Yosemite travel guide blog for how I spend 3 days in Yosemite National Parks and some of the useful tips, featuring Glacier Point, Yosemite Valley, Mariposa Grove, and Tioga Pass Road.
Before we go into detail on our Yosemite itinerary, here is some useful information about the Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite National Park Factfile Address: PO Box 577, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389 Official Website: nps.gov/yose Phone: (209) 372-0200
Park Hours: All day, every day Entrance Fee: US$ 35 Vehicle 7 Day Pass Annual Visitors: 4.5 million
Top Activities: Hiking, Camping, Rock Climbing, Stargazing, photography.
As per above, the entrance fee costs $35 per vehicle and is valid for seven days. Pay in advance or on arrival at the entrance gates (credit card only). Get America the Beautiful Annual Pass which costs $80 if you plan to visit more than two National Parks within a year.
Wilderness Permit are required for all overnight hikes.
Half Dome Permit is required to hike to the top of Half Dome are required seven days per week when the cables are up and are distributed by lottery.
Lodging options inside Yosemite National Park are extremely challenging to book especially on holidays. It is best to reserve once you have the plan to Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite Travel Tips
Friendly advice for those who plan to visit Yosemite National Park, especially first time:
Depending upon where you’re coming from, this will be a long drive – check your GPS and plan accordingly.
Driving in Yosemite at night is no laughing matter. Construction work started at night in the park and it was dark, really dark. Please plan your time accordingly.
Services are minimal. Get gas for your car before you start.
Do not rely on your cellphone GPS. Get a traditional map from the Visitor Center.
Bring snacks and drinks. I would turn this into a picnic location.
Take your time and make the journey part of the adventure. Yosemite has much to see and doesn’t race around from point to point. Stop along the way and enjoy this trip.
Make time and plan for a hike even for the short one!
The camera/Phone is a MUST. Take panoramic photos. The view here is awesome.
How To Get To Yosemite
Depending on where you’re coming from, enter to the valley with the nearest entrance can save your time to explore more inside the park.
Los Angeles, and San Diego – enter via Fresno and South Entrance.
San Jose – enter via Arch Rock entrance.
San Francisco and Oakland – enter via either Arch Rock Entrance or Big Oak Flat Entrance.
Sacramento (and North to Oregon/Washington) – enter via Big Oak Flat Entrance.
Reno, Las Vegas, Death Valley (and East to all US) – enter via Tioga Pass Entrance (only opened in May-Oct).
If you plan to hire a car and drive to Yosemite, compare prices and options with Rental Cars for the best price guarantee.
Driving Entrances to Yosemite
Yosemite National Park is huge with 5 entrances in total. Most of the people will use the below 4 main entrance, which is more convenient and accessible to the valley. Most of the travelers should begin and end either at Big Flat Oak, Arch Rock, or the South entrance.
South Entrance (South)
Arch Rock Entrance (Southwest)
Big Oak Flat Entrance (Northwest)
Tioga Pass Entrance (East, only open May-October)
Besides self-driving in Yosemite, Yosemite also provides a free shuttle bus that loops around the valley that you can hop on and hop off at each stop. This greatly helps to reduce congestion and pollution in the park. Finding a car parking space in Yosemite can be frustrated during summer and holidays. We advise starting your Yosemite itinerary as early as possible to avoid the crowd.
Take note that shuttles are currently not running within the parks due to recent global health and safety issues.
Things To Do in Yosemite
Of course, the best things to do on your Yosemite itinerary are within the Valley itself. Here are some of the top 10 things to do in Yosemite for you to consider in the Yosemite itinerary:
Tour along the valley – Self-guided driving tour is the most flexible way. Simply pick up a map from the visitor center and explore Yosemite at your own pace. While bus Tour is available all year round if you’re unwanted to plan to drive. Choices range from 2-hours to a full-day tour.
See Yosemite Valley Waterfalls – Feel the spray hitting you and hear the pounding water from waterfalls in Yosemite.
See the Famous Viewpoints in Yosemite – Tunnel View, Valley View, Glacier Point, Half Dome, El Capitan, and so many of the attractions that you can’t miss during your trip to Yosemite.
Rock Climbing – Yosemite is the most famous rock climbing destination in the United States and has multiple good spots for you to attempt! Make sure you’re physically fit for rock climbing.
Hiking -The best way to see the beauty of Yosemite National Park. Pick at least two or three hikes, doesn’t matter a short or long hike, just to mesmerize the nature beauty..
Walk Among Giant Sequoias – You can walk among Yosemite’s Sequoias; Mariposa Grove, Tuolumne Grove, and Merced Grove.
Camping – A great way to experience the park, and it allows you to wake up on location, ready for a day of exploration or hiking. A wilderness permit has to be obtained before any backpacking activities.
Biking – Take advantage of the 12 miles of paved bike paths available in Yosemite Valley.
Water Activities – Swimming, rafting, boating, kayaking, fishing, there are so many water activities to do in Yosemite!
Ranger and Interpretive Programs – Learn about Yosemite with a ranger while walking around and appreciating marvelous scenery.
For more details, have a look at the 3-Days Yosemite itinerary to do how we spend a wonderful time in the park.
3-Days Yosemite Itinerary
To help you make the most out of your time in the Yosemite national park, here is our Yosemite for day 1, 2, and 3 for your reference. Remember to take into consideration season, timing, interest, travel parties, and the crowd when planning for your Yosemite itinerary.
Yosemite Itinerary – Day 1:
Arrived at Yosemite National Park and head to Glacier Point Road.
View on Half Dome at Washburn Point and Glacier Point.
Sentinel Dome Trail or Taft Point.
Sentinel Meadow and Cook’s Meadow.
Tunnel View.
If you have more time on day 1, you can slot in any of the attractions in the Yosemite valley.
Yosemite Itinerary – Day 2:
Continue driving along the valley loop in Yosemite National Park.
Bridalveil Falls
Hike the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail to see the Yosemite Falls.
Mirror Lake
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.
Grizzly Giant Loop Trail.
Yosemite Itinerary – Day 3:
Begin the drive up Tioga Pass Road.
Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake, and Tuolumne Meadows.
A short hike at Lembert Dome.
Goodbye to Yosemite.
Above 3 Days Yosemite itinerary is flexible and can easily be done by swapping attractions for day 1 and day 2. But day 3 is slightly far away from the valley. Besides, Tioga Pass Road is only open from May to October.
Yosemite Itinerary – Day 1
On Day 1 of our Yosemite itinerary, we drove all the way and arrived at the Yosemite National Park in the morning. We first made our way up to the winding Glacier Point Road (open from mid-May to October/November) from the South entrance.
Drove to Glacier Point from the Yosemite entrance, takes about an hour. It was a pleasant drive with a panorama view along the journey. We stopped by the Washburn Point to have the first glance at Half Dome on our way up.
At Glacier Point, we took a countless photos before we proceed to the next agenda. The view from the glacier point is breathtaking, one of the most beautiful viewpoints I have ever seen in my life. Next, we proceed for a hike to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point (2.2 miles) for more astounding views. The hikes were short and not too difficult. The views at the top were even better with a 360-degree view of multiple peaks including Half Dome. In total, we spend about 4 – 5 hours at Glacier Point.
Next, we drove back into Yosemite Valley, stopping at Cook’s Meadow for another short hike. Depending on your time and schedule, we were late at that time, else you can proceed with the attraction in Yosemite Valley. We ended our Day 1 Yosemite itinerary at Tunnel View and get a perfect picture of El Capitan and Bridalveil Falls.
Yosemite Itinerary Day 1:
Arrived at Yosemite National Park and headed to Glacier Point Road.
Glacier Point, Sentinel Dome, and Taft Point (4 – 5 hours)
Cook’s Meadow and Tunnel View (2-3 hours)
Washburn Point
View at Washburn Point
Washburn Point is the first amazing view of Half Dome that you experience when driving up to Glacier Point Road, en route to Glacier Point. Just before Glacier Point, we stopped by Washburn Point to have the first glance at Half Dome on our way up. You can also opt to visit Glacier Point first and come back to Washburn Point.
The views at Washburn Point were so beautiful. It offers a great view of Yosemite Valley and all the famous landmarks. I prefer this view to that of Glacier Point, as it offers great views of both Nevada and Vernal Falls. But you can’t see the Yosemite Falls which are on another side. The parking lot is smaller than Glacier Point.
Worth taking the 10-15 minutes stop and soaking it all in.
Glacier Point
Glacier Point boasts the best panorama in all of Yosemite, arguably on par with Half Dome. You have a complete view of Yosemite village, the meadow, Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Vernal, and Nevada Falls. The magnificent 270-degree views over Half Dome and the valley are unbelievable. It is easily one of my favorite spots in Yosemite National Park that will be remembered forever.
Be sure to find time to drive up to Glacier Point for the incredible views. Glacier Point is rightly popular and was quite busy. Besides, getting to Glacier Point is a long journey drive, but you will not regret taking the time to drive up there. The driving journey is very windy and narrow with 16 miles of drives up to Glacier road. Endless photo opportunities and gorgeous views along the way. Due to the popularity of this spot, the traffic can be congested along the journey. The parking place is huge but still took us some time to find a parking spot. Be aware that if the parking lot in the Glacier point is full, then the road driving up to the Glacier point may be closed, so better go there earlier.
Best to access Glacier Point from the South entrance and best driven either at the beginning or end of your Yosemite itinerary.
Hiking Trail in Glacier Point
Even if you can’t walk well, you still get stellar views in Glacier Point. But if you can hike several miles, there are several hikes at nearby trailheads and you’ll be rewarded for doing so. Most people enjoy the short but steep hike in Glacier Point. From there you can see the famous Yosemite Valley entirety with little effort!
Several popular trails can be found adjacent to Glacier Point:
Sentinel Dome – A very short, relatively easy hike with a 2.2-mile roundtrip. You can find Jeffrey Pine during this hike, one of the most photographed trees in the world.
Taft Point and The Fissures – Another easy and stunning view without guardrails found at Glacier Point with 2.2-mile roundtrip.
Four Mile – 4.8 miles for one way can get you to hike to Glacier Point from Yosemite Valley in this strenuous trail.
Panorama – Extension of Mist/John Muir trail and heading from Glacier Point to Nevada Falls with 8.5 miles one way and can be strenuous.
We had the short Sentinel Dome hike and ended our hike with the stunning view of the Half Dome. Don’t forget to end your hike by grabbing an ice cream for a snack.
View on Half Dome
Half Dome is one of Yosemite’s iconic granite domes, standing proudly at just under 5,000 feet above Yosemite Valley. It is visible from a wide variety of locations within the Yosemite Valley and dominates most nearby viewpoints. It shines in the valley, and from viewpoints like Glacier Point.
Half dome is a gorgeous vista from the valley, and it’s an even better sight from the top. It is one of the most strenuous and amazing hikes in the world, covering over 17 miles with 4,800 feet of elevation gain. For sure it isn’t an easy hike with 10-12 hours total time. Please make sure you’re physically prepared. The view is worth the hike if you can make it.
Yosemite Travel Tips: Hike up to Half Dome requires a permit: either from the lottery held in March or through a walk-in permit. No permit in winter as it is closed.
Sentinel Meadow and Cook’s Meadow
Cooks Meadow, is one of the stops on our Yosemite itinerary
The Cook’s Meadow Trail is open year-round and is a great spot to visit no matter when you come to Yosemite as you are always rewarded with a great view.
It is a wonderful short and easy trail that offers stunning views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Glacier Point, and Sentinel Rock. The view is so breathtaking with the green meadows and Yosemite Falls is roaring behind. Do walk it and enjoy its beauty. We couldn’t stop taking countless pictures along the trail.
Follow the boardwalk and do not venture out into the meadow. as this may cause trampling and damage the ecosystem.
View on El Capitan at Tunnel View
El Capitan at Tunnel View
The impressive El Capitan, also known as El Cap, is a granite rock formation that dominates the west end of Yosemite Valley. It is one of the most iconic monolithic features in all of Yosemite. The impressive El Capitan has a smooth face like it’s carved out of clay and a pretty pale pink and golden cream color in the sunset. It looks different and impressive from every angle.
El Capitan is the first mountain that you will come upon as you enter Yosemite Valley drive. It is best viewed from El Capitan Meadow, Tunnel View, and Valley View. Viewing El Capitan from anywhere in the park provides a different experience especially when the sunlight hits it at different parts of the day.
We enjoyed the best view of El Capitan from Tunnel View and had some wonderful shots of the valley. The incredible El Capitan was so breathtaking and words are weak to describe it. Another of the must-see landmarks in the Yosemite National Park.
Besides, El Capitan is very popular for rock climbers with about 3000 ft high from its base to the top. The top of El Capitan can be reached by the climb up the sheer granite face or by hiking up 14 miles of strenuous round-trip trail. We didn’t include hiking El Capitan as part of our Yosemite itinerary and admire it from far. But we would recommend this hike to anyone who could make it.
Yosemite Itinerary – Day 2
On Day 2 of the Yosemite National Park itinerary, we drove along the Yosemite Valley and continue the attractions of what we stopped on day 1.
We stopped at Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite Falls, and Mirror Lake, Valley View for photography. Most of the points of interest required some easy walk to get closer to the best view. Spend the remaining time driving around the Yosemite Valley and stopping at many meadows, special viewpoints, and river reflection spots.
In the late afternoon, we leave via the South entrance and headed up to Mariposa Grove, about an hour’s drive away, to hike the 2-mile Grizzly Giant loop among Giant Sequoia Trees. It was impressive to see the giant sequoia trees.
Besides, a hiker can consider picking one of the popular trails such as Upper Yosemite Trails, John Muir trail, or Mist Trail for a more natural adventure in Yosemite Park. Alternatively, hike the Four Mile Trail to Glacier Point. All are strenuous and will take a good few hours.
Yosemite Itinerary Day 2:
Continue driving along the Yosemite Valley loop.
Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite Falls, and Mirror Lake, Valley View. (3 – 4 hours)
Mariposa Grove and Grizzly Giant loop (3 – 4 hours)
Bridalveil Falls
Driving into Yosemite Valley, Bridalveil Falls will be the very first waterfall you see as you enter. It is the iconic waterfall in the famous valley images taken in Yosemite National Park. The amount of water in the fall is affected by the seasons, and it is still flowing in late August.
If you want to take a closer look, Bridalveil Falls is easily accessible with a short walk. The 0.5 miles round trip trail is perfect for young children or those with less able family members. From the car park, it is an enjoyable walk leading to the Bridalveil Falls with a great view of beautiful scenery along the journey.
We enjoyed the sight of the water falling from the top of the falls. The wind was blowing fairly, we can even feel the mist, and the observation area was covered in heavy water spray. Stunning and magnificent at every second!
Yosemite Falls
The Yosemite Valley is unrivaled in its natural beauties, especially the amazing waterfalls. There are several falls to visit in the National Park with some easier to get to than others. Yosemite Falls is an easier one to find in the park. This mighty Yosemite falls is one of the main attractions for visitors to the Yosemite National Park. Standing at over 2,400 feet (700 meters) with water drop down, Yosemite Fall is proud to be the tallest waterfall in North America and the highest waterfall in the Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite Falls are near the Valley Visitor Center which makes it easy to access either by car or the free shuttle (Stop 6) that runs through the park every 10-20 minutes. Going before 11 AM will allow you to enjoy most of it without having to deal as much with crowds and get a better setup for your pictures.
Our visit to Yosemite Falls was brief and we only hiked to the viewing area of the lower falls which was great. There is a very easy paved walk to a viewpoint to see the falls up close and personal.
Yosemite Travel Tips: In the spring season, the waterfall is at its peak. And you will only see water in Yosemite Falls between November and July. If you are lucky, you can see the rainbow at the Viewing Point at Lower Falls earlier in the morning.
Hiking Trails in Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Falls consists of three separate waterfalls of varying heights. Only the upper level and lower level can be accessed via trails in the park with varying levels of difficulty.
If you prefer a longer and more strenuous hike, you can hike a strenuous 6-8 hours at 7 miles (11 km) round trip trail to Upper Yosemite Falls. The Yosemite Falls Trail can be taken all the way up to the top of the falls and allows you to see the top of the falls. Gorgeous hike with incredible views with a creek that feeds into it along with being able to overlook the valley.
Alternatively, you can opt for an easy 1-mile (1.6 km) hike which is on a paved road to the bottom of Lower Yosemite Falls. The Lower Yosemite Falls is accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels. It takes you up to the viewing area to see Yosemite Falls.
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake, in fact just a big pool in Tenaya Creek, is one of the popular destinations in Yosemite. It is also the biggest swimming hole in Yosemite.
The pool at Mirror Lake and the view of Mt. Watkins (8,500 feet/2,600 meters), which rises above the far north end of Tenaya Canyon, are the scenic highlights. Photographers delight at the wonderful reflections you can get on the water’s surface. You‘ll find some good reflections along the way and other excellent photo opportunities if you came here early and during the right season. And this is impossible to see a good reflection if there are a lot of people swimming or soaking their feet.
The hike is considered easy to the moderate, mostly paved road, to see the Mirror Lake. The reflection upon the water is truly worth the short hike. A 2.4 miles (3.8 km) round trip from the trailhead will lead you to Mirror Lake.
Yosemite Travel Tip: Mirror Lake is a seasonal lake and only appears when the snowmelt, and slowly disappear after June. It will become Mirror Meadow if you’re there in the summer or fall.
Other Notable Yosemite Attractions
Swinging Bridge Picnic Area in Yosemite Valley
There are several fantastic photography spots with several viewpoints along the Yosemite National Park that are worth making time to see when spending time in Yosemite. You can pull the car over as often as you like to enjoy the beauty of this National Park.
Apart from the popular attractions in Yosemite, there are still some notable stops including Sentinel Bridge, Sentinel Beach, Swinging Bridge, and Valley View. The Valley View is the place where you can see the most beautiful picture of the Merced River Valley (the Yosemite Valley), and the entire Yosemite Park. Worth stopping for a fabulous view of the valley.
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
Located near Yosemite’s south entrance, Mariposa Grove is the largest Sequoia grove in Yosemite with over 500 mature giant Sequoias, and is home to hundreds of wildlife. Although we visited the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park before, it is still worth spending some time to see the gigantic Sequoia Trees.
Hiking Trails in Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias:
Big Trees Loop: 0.3 miles (0.4 km); includes Fallen Monarch.
Grizzly Giant Loop: 2.0 miles (3.2 km); includes Fallen Monarch, Bachelor & Three Graces, Grizzly Giant, California Tunnel Tree.
Guardians Loop: 6.5 miles (10.5 km); includes Grizzly Giant Loop trees plus upper grove.
Mariposa Grove Trail: 7.0 miles (11.3 km) round trip; includes Grizzly Giant Loop trees plus Wawona Point and portions of the upper grove.
Hike the Big Trees Loop trail if short on time. But we recommended you walk for the 2 miles (3.5 km) Grizzly Giant Loop trail through the forest to see the 1,800-year-old Grizzly Giant sequoia. There are some serious rings in that tree.
The pathway through the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias offers a great view of these beautiful and ancient trees. It is an easy walk with some uphill and mostly in the shaded. We enjoyed our time along the trail to view The Bachelor and Three Graces and The California Tunnel Tree. It is impressive to see these old and majestic trees. Beautiful Sequoias and accessible to all ages. One of the must-see on your visit to Yosemite National Park.
Getting There: The trailhead is two miles (3.2 km) from Yosemite’s south entrance.
Yosemite Travel Tips: Be ready to do a bit of driving to Mariposa Grove as it is located on the outskirt of the National Park.
Yosemite’s Sequoias Tree Gloves:
Besides the Mariposa Grove, there are another two Sequoias Tree Gloves that you can walk among Yosemite’s Sequoias. You can check if this is best to put into your Yosemite itinerary.
Tuolumne Grove – 2.5 miles (4 km) round trip. Located at the joining of Tioga Pass Road and Big Oak Flat Road. The entire Tuolumne Grove trail is downhill with 400 feet (120 meters), and also means a sharp ascent back to the car park. It is home to a couple of dozen mature Giant Sequoias, including one that had a tunnel cut through its base so you can walk through underneath.
Getting There: From Yosemite Valley, take highway 120 ten miles (16.8 km) to the Crane Flat/Tioga Road turnoff, then take Tioga Road half a mile (0.8 km) east to the Tuolumne Grove parking lot. From Yosemite’s east entrance at Tioga Pass, take the Tioga Road west 47 miles (75 km) to the lot.
Merced Grove – 3 miles (4.8 km) round trip. The smallest Sequoia grove is located further up Big Oak Flat Road on the way in or out of Yosemite. It is the smallest of Yosemite’s three Giant Sequoia groves compare with others with only about 20 Giant Sequoias.
Getting there: The Merced Grove trailhead is off Highway 120 north of Yosemite Valley. From the valley, take 120 north 13.5 miles (21 km) to the well-marked trailhead, which will be on your left.
Yosemite Itinerary – Day 3
On our last day of the Yosemite itinerary, we spend most of our time in the quieter areas of the park and drive up along the Tioga Pass Road. It was a scenic drive and we stopped by some of the attractions along the journey. We spent about 6-7 hours making the drive. Some stops were pull-offs for pictures, while some like Olmsted Point, Tuolumne Meadows, and Tenaya Lake were stops for about an hour.
At the end of the day, we left the park at the Tioga Pass and drove along the narrow winding road to Lee Vining Canyon.
Yosemite Itinerary Day 3:
Scenic drive along the Tioga Pass Road.
Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake, and Tuolumne Meadows. (2 – 3 hours)
A short hike at Lembert Dome. (1 hour)
Goodbye to Yosemite.
Again, Tioga Pass Road is only open from May to October. You will not be able to cross the Sierra Nevada on this road between November and April.
Enjoy the stunning view!
Tioga Pass Road
The amazing Tioga Pass Road is a fantastic place for the third day of the Yosemite itinerary if you have spare time. Known as CA Highway 120, Tioga Pass Road is a very great drive with a beautiful view of mountains, valleys, and Half Dome. It is only open from late May to late November depending on the year.
There are places to pull over along Tioga Road with numerous vista points in order to enjoy the scenery. We stopped a lot along the drive and took some short hikes as well.
Some of the drive as you get closer into the Valley (north of it) can be narrow and high at times. There are no guard rails along most of the drive.
Be good on gas and carry food and water if you plan to put the Tioga Pass Road on your Yosemite itinerary.
Olmsted Point
Our first quick stop was at Olmsted Point on our drive from the Yosemite valley out to Tuolumne meadows. This is a great stopping point, and you get another view of Half Dome.
Climb the granite rock and get even a better perspective as you look down on the Valley. There are also a few trails, including a short and easy one that allows for a more unobstructed view of Half Dome. A nice stop.
Tenaya Lake
Tenaya Lake is beautiful beyond words! The water is crystal clear and extremely spectacular, with reflections of the surrounding granite domes in the calm water. We walk through ankle-deep water and dip our feet in the frigid water while enjoying the view. It was also a great picnic stop, and a perfect place to canoe, kayak, or paddleboard.
A nice place to spend some time while we drove the Tioga Road.
Lembert Dome
Apart from the wonderful drive along Tioga Road which is worthwhile in itself, Lembert Dome offers a chance to walk up a dome without too strenuous a hike. This is quite a steep and high hike, which involves some steep uphill pitches. Be careful hiking up and down the dome and good shoes to tackle the last hundred yards to the top.
We didn’t go to the top as had other plans that day but walked around the front face of the dome for the fun of it.
Tuolumne Meadows
Another worth stopping by along the Tioga Pass Road is the Tuolumne Meadows. The meadow is gorgeous, with a beautiful blend of meadows, rivers, forests, and rock. Following the river, we walked through the green Tuolumne Meadows with a backdrop of granite mountains in the distance. The reflections of the mountains in the stream that flows through the meadows are just beautiful.
Peaceful and lovely. This area is worth an extended visit along Toga Pass Road.
How Many Days For Yosemite
Yosemite National Park is huge and can easily spend an entire week here and not get bored. Here is our opinion on how many days for Yosemite.
1 Day in Yosemite – A day trip to Yosemite is doable but you need to plan and start your Yosemite itinerary early and end it late. It will be very exhausted and most of the attractions are only touch and go. Best to spend most of your time in the Yosemite valley loop.
2 Days in Yosemite – While 2 days will allow you to hit most of the major sights and you are flexible to pick up a few hikes to pack into your Yosemite itinerary. You will need more time if you plan for the longer hike.
3 Days in Yosemite – We believe three days is the perfect amount of time to spend at Yosemite, considering what you can see in 3 days. The Tioga Pass Road can be considered if you have 3 days to spare and extended your visit to Mono Lake.
Where To Stay in Yosemite
Deciding where to stay in Yosemite is a key part of planning a trip to Yosemite National Park. We’ve written a complete guide to the best places to stay in Yosemite National Park which we highly recommend.
The accommodations inside the park are notoriously difficult to book and very expensive. If staying in the park doesn’t suit your spending plan, you will have to commute. A decent compromise between high prices in Yosemite Valley, consider looking for accommodation outsides the valley.
To save money, we stayed in Comfort Inn Yosemite Area for the first day and moved our stayed to Lee Vining for the last day before our next adventure. We can tell you how inconvenient driving in and out of the park is each day. But it will be far cheaper and easier to book compared with the accommodations inside the valley.
Yosemite Best Accommodation Inside the Park
The best place to stay, if it falls within your budget, is right in the park (ideally Yosemite Valley). It is the best way and best place to stay in Yosemite if you want to maximize your time.
The Ahwahnee (formerly Majestic Yosemite Lodge): Yosemite’s only luxury hotel offers fine dining, grand architecture, and a central location in Yosemite Valle. Perfect for those who are looking for luxurious comfortable rooms.
Wawona Hotel: A historic Victorian lodge in the southern part of the park near the Mariposa Grove.
Lodge at the Falls and Curry Village are both popular in-park lodging. Yosemite Valley Lodge is more affordable and has a great location close to Yosemite Falls.
Numerous campsites in the park and booking are required.
Make sure you book far in advance as all the popular stay in Yosemite sell out extremely fast even a year ahead.
Yosemite Best Accommodation Outside the Park
Following options in places like El Portal, Groveland, and Oakhurst are also popular stays when planning for the Yosemite itinerary.
El Portal: The nearest town to the valley and the best option for day-tripping travelers to Yosemite park. The Yosemite View Lodge is very popular and nicely located, close to the Yosemite park with a 10min drive. Some rooms are featuring with a nice view of the mountains and the rivers. The 2-star Cedar Lodge is a slightly budget option, within 30 minutes drive and you can arrive in Yosemite.
Groveland: Yosemite Westgate Lodge is 19 km from the west gate entrance of Yosemite National Park. Well-maintained and a very nice place to sleep when spending long days in Yosemite. Else, Rush Creek Lodge is another good choice and Yosemite’s Highway 120 West entrance is 0.8 km away.
The popular hotels in El Portal are extremely popular. It is best to reserve your room once your Yosemite itinerary is planned. Look for a hotel with free cancellation possible and amend it in case of any changes.
Wrap Up: My 3-Days Yosemite Itinerary
Nature is on a grand scale in Yosemite. The panorama views of valleys, stunning waterfalls, and famous granite rock formations really take your breath away. For sure the park has something for everyone, from a natural lover, hiker, rock climbers, or even you’re just planning to drive through Yosemite valley for a scenic drive on your visit.
The amazing Yosemite exceeded our expectations and you can’t go wrong by spending your holiday here. It is a paradise for the nature lover with amazing views, and a good chance to take in all the local flora and fauna.
Different seasons and times offer their uniqueness for each iconic part of the national park. Truly amazing and pictures cannot do it justice! You can come back to re-visit every vista point and enjoy this spectacular place.
We saw a lot in three days but still want to spend time here. Hope we’ll come back for another visit!
Yosemite FAQ
Here is the common question when travelers plan for the Yosemite Itinerary:
How Many Days is enough for Yosemite?
At least two days! Two days in Yosemite allows you to hit most of the major sights and you are flexible to pick up a few hikes to pack into your Yosemite itinerary. You will need an additional day to plan for a great hike in the valley.
Can Yosemite be a day trip?
A day trip to Yosemite is doable but it will be very exhausting and action-packed for your trip. And we recommended focusing on the attractions in the valley.
What should I not miss in Yosemite?
We highly recommend incorporating these beautiful spots into your Yosemite itinerary, including Glacier Point, Half Dome, El Capitan, the famous three waterfalls in Yosemite, and Tunnel View in Yosemite Valley.
Is Yosemite Worth Visiting?
Yes, Yosemite is definitely a must-see and should be on the list when planning your USA itinerary.
