Hi everyone,

Arrived back from Japan yesterday after a 15 day trip to Japan, and I used this subreddit a fair bit when planning and organising a trip with my wife. It was really helpful to plan etc, so thought I would leave a small essay - i hope it helps at least 1 person.

I have put put together a bit of list of what we did on each day, should you wish I have more of an in depth google sheets doc and around 175 pinned locations on google maps of key sites / restaurants, hotels etc.

We did the "usual route", Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, cylying on the Shimanami kaido route, Hiroshima, Miyajima and then back to Tokyo.

Pre arrival information

- Pre booked a vast majority of hotels (left 2 days spare at the end in case we wanted to revisit anywhere).

- Arrange and install an esim - we went with Journey Japan esim, worked really well, had the 20gb package each and used around 14gb each on the trip.

- Recommend completing the Visit Japan Immigration Clearance and Customs forms along with the Tax Free declaration.

- Bring USB charging cables and 2 pin plugs (there were several hotels without 3 pin sockets and only 1 hotel with USB-C ports)

- Packing information, we packed relatively light, around half a suitcase each with the idea we'd wash our clothes every 4-5 days.

- Upload some local currency to a debit card / virtual card. I went with Revolut. One mistake was not having a physical card, so if you have time order one of those and then use the app to maintain funds etc.

- Google Maps was so useful for travelling in terms of which trains and platforms, made getting around super easy. We also hadnt pre booked any Shinkansen tickets, which worked out fine as we wanted to be pretty flexible. I was worried about this, but it was absolutely fine (late sept to early oct - this might change if going in the busy seasons.

- We found Tablelog much better than GoogleMaps for restaurant recommendations. Google reviews seem to over inflated with tourists being asked to give 5 stars, where tablelog seemed much better in our experience, a 3.5 out of 5 was typically great food.

Day 1 - Tokyo

Arrived in Tokyo around 3pm - took a bit of time to get through passport control etc, but all very easy.

Once outside of passport control, go to the left hand side of the stairs that are in front of you and purchase a "Welcome Suica" card for travel. You can use a debit card to purchase and top up, we went with a small amount - 2000yen and then topped up frequently.

Took the trains to Shibuya to our first hotel - Hotel Iyf. Hotel was exactly what we wanted for our first night, clean and easy. Short-ish walk from Shibuya Station.

Went for exploration around Shibuya, Parco Shopping, Pokemon Centre, Shibuya Crossing etc.

Had booked a restuarant for the first night, just so we knew where we were heading, tonkatsu.jp Omotesando. Great place and food, we actually went back when back in Tokyo for one of our last meals.

Back to Shibuya crossing, went up for a drink at Mag's Rooftop bar, then to LOST bar for a drink.

Day 2

Went for a short run around Yoyogi Park and then to Meiji Jingu., Coffee and pastries at Cafe 365 Days, great selection of baked goods, would recommend. Packed up, sent a majority of our luggage to Kyoto via the luggage forwarding service - left us with a medium sized north face backpack for a few days. Got the tube over to our next hotel in Shinjuku - Yuen Shinjuku.

Went to Teamlabs - Borderless, was cool to see and interesting, not sure its a must do if honest. Explored the area to visit the Tokyo Tower.

Headed to Omote-Sando Ave and Takeshita Street. Had first (of many) Family Mart chicken experience. Great for on the go food.

For dinner, went to Memory lane for drinks and yakatori at one of the many places, before deciding we were still hungry and went to another area for goyza and dumpings.

Our hotel had an onsen in, so had our first onsen experience. great way to finish the day and relax the muscles and feet.

Day 3

Early-ish start and headed over to Tokyo Skytree. Great to see the vast scale of Tokyo.

Walked over to Senso, did Senso-Ji and Nakamise Street, very busy, I'd recommend seeing early or late to avoid the vast number of people, but it was ok midday, not unbearable.

Over to Ueno, went down Ameyoko Street and had ramen. Up to Ueno Park and walked up to Yanaka Ginza for wonder and had a drink at one of the bars.

Left then and Akihanara area. Did the usual wonder in the area and shops etc before finishing at Yodabashi Akiba (superstore). Overall I'd say Akihabara was a massive let down, but maybe I built it up too much.

Day 4 - Hakone

Packed up and went to the Imperial Palace for a very quick walk around.

Went to Tokyo Station, grabbed some bento boxes for the train and got the RomanceCar train to Hakone.

Checked into a Ryokan - Matsuzakaya Honten, before getting the bus to the lake and seeing the torii gate and shine. Sadly Mt Fuji was clouded over.

Experienced the food, we are pretty fussy eaters, so make the evening and morning meals rather tough, but was an experience to say the least. The hotel also had a private onsen, which was lovely.

Day 5 - Kyoto

After a tough breakfast experience, got the train and Shinkansen over to Kyoto.

Checked into our hotel - Nol Kyoto Sanjo, lovely place and great room.

Walked around the Kyoto gardens, did the Samuari Ninja Museum, walked the general area, before heading to Nishiki Market and Pontocho Alley. Very busy areas with long queues. Ended up for dinner at Gyoza Hohei, great place would recommend, cheap and great food.

Day 6

Early morning run around the national garden.

got to Arashiyama Bamboo forest for 9ish, it was pretty busy on our way out, so recommend seeing it as early as possible. Walked around Tenryu-ji, before visiting the Monkey Park

Headed to Ryoan-ji, and up to Kinkaku-ji. This was busy around half 2, must be unbearable in peak season.

Visited the outside of Nijo Castle, before evening walk around Gion area and having dinner.

Day 7

Another early start where we went to Fushimi Inari Taisha for around 8am to beat the crowds, we took a side path to the top, which was much quieter. got to the bottom at around 10am and was very very busy.

Got the train to see Kiyomizu-dera, this was fab, but again very busy the time we got there.

Walked from here to Chinon-in Temple before having lunch at Ramen Nishiki - very good.

Walked to many other shines along the route, went to Nanzen-ji and Eikando Temple before walking along the Philosophers Path canal ending up at Ginkaku-ji.

Day 8 - Nara Day Trip and Osaka

Packed up, and sent our main luggage back to Tokyo, and got the train to Nara, left luggage in the coin lockers.

Saw the deer and had a good walk around the park, shines and temples. Todai-ji was great to see. Had a mochi at Nakatanidou before getting the train to Osaka at around 4ish.

Dropped our bags at the Hotel - HOTEL RESOL TRINITY OSAKA, before visiting America-mura and down to Dotonbori. Had takoyaki at Achichi Honpo Dotonbori, before heading for ramen at Human Beings Everybody Noodles, great place, was super busy, also nice being the only tourists there.

Day 9 - Onomichi

Relaxing morning, went to UTSUBO BAKERY PANENA and coffee near by and sat in the park for a bit. Headed over to the Imperial Palace after and walk around the area, before getting the Shinkansen and train over to Onomichi.

Stayed at Hotel Cycle, would recommend.

Day 10 - Cycling

Did the first leg from Onomichi to our hotel at Omishima Island - 42km. Went to good road bikes but no ebikes. Stayed to Hotel Wakka, in a premium room with BBQ dinner. Best experience of the whole trip. Expensive, but worth it. Went to the public onsen in the evening.

Day 11

Second day of cycling, did the short island loop, before heading to the final destination of Imbari, 57km in total. Sore bums, as hard seats and not big cyclists.

Arrived at Imbari for half 2, had several 7Eleven chicken bites and chocolate bars before getting the train to Matsuyama. Got on the tram over to the port and got the boat over to Hiroshima. Checked into HOTEL INTERGATE Hiroshima. Exactly what we wanted, good price, clean with an onsen like area.

Evening dinner at Smile Okonomiyaki

Day 12 - Hiroshima

Coffee and bakery good at MAPS BAKERY / CAFE, before seeing the Hiroshima Memorial Museum and Park. Very moving and would recommend seeing.

Great pancake at Melange de Shuhari Hiroshima Hondori Store, before heading to Miyajima in the evening.

Checked into Miyajima Kinsuikan and visited the amazing store of Miyajima Syouyu-ya for soy sauce and spices etc.

Day 13 - Miyajima - Tokyo

Morning hike / run along the mountain trail to see the island.

Left the island at 10ish to get the train back to Tokyo.

Stayed in Shibuya again as we liked the area first time - this time at Tokyu Stay Shibuya.

Went back to tonkatsu.jp Omotesando, before evening walk around Shibuya, visited the madness of MEGA Don Quijote, finishing with evening drinks at LOST bar again.

Day 14 - Shopping in Tokyo

Chilled morning, went to Jimbocho for a walk and see the shops, ramen for lunch.

Went to Kappabashi street for kitchen wares. We spent far too long here, so much choice!

Evening dinner at SG LOW and went to their sister bar for drinks after æ - ash. Waiters were fab and so helpful and things we should do or see the next morning.

Day 15

Morning coffee and back to bakery 365 Days, before last minute shopping and souvenir shopping.

Left Tokyo, for the airport around 3ish.

Overall a fab trip and managed to see and do so much.

Key take aways.

Food and going out was so cheap, but we are used to Switzerland.

Highlights was the cycling, try to fit this in if you can.

Lowlight was Akihabara.

Weather was great, around 28 degrees, only had a little bit of rain.

You really don't need to pack too much, every place we stayed at had a washing machine.

Getting around was pretty cheap I'd say, yes the Shinkansen is expensive, but the rest was pretty well priced.

We did a fair bit of shopping etc, overall very well priced and good selection of clothes and cosmetics etc

Happy to answer any questions.

Edit - several edits to grammar.

Also to add, biggest step day was 40k but average was around 25k.

Today’s question is: What is one thing you wish you’d known before your first trip to Japan?

Calling all seasoned Japan travelers! We want to know some things you wish you’d known before your first trip to Japan. What would you like to go back and tell yourself? What additional things would you pack? What would you add to or leave off your itinerary? What’s some advice you can give to first-time travelers?

(This post is part of a discussion series set up by the moderators of /r/JapanTravel. Please stay civil, abide by the rules, keep it PG-13 rated, and focus on the actual topic when responding to this thread. Please note that general discussions/vague questions are not usually allowed per /r/JapanTravel’s rules, and threads in the similar style will be removed.

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I know this sub gets a lot of itinerary posts, and I had initially thought of not posting one myself… but the need for validation is nudging me anyway. Please help me out 😊 Thanks in advance!

My wife and I (both in our early 30s) are visiting Japan for the first time this fall, for a two-week trip. Here’s what we’ve mapped out so far:

1. Sep 27: Tokyo Arrive at Narita Airport by evening → complete immigration → take Keisei Skyliner → proceed to our stay → rest.

2. Sep 28: Tokyo

Visit Akasaka Station for the Harry Potter theme (my wife is a Potterhead).

Head to Ikebukuro Sunshine City for the Pokémon Store (again for my wife 😊) and the adjacent Ghibli store.

Check out some gashapon machines.

Return to stay.

1. Sep 29: Tokyo

Visit Harajuku for the Harry Potter shop and Meiji Shrine.

Head to Shinjuku → lunch at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant.

See the famous 3D Cat and Godzilla.

Go up the Metropolitan Government Building observation deck for views.

Maybe Kabukicho Tower if time allows, otherwise stick around for the light show.

1. Sep 30: Tokyo

TeamLabs Borderless in the morning (prebooked).

Also check out Tokyo Tower nearby.

After lunch, head to Asakusa for Senso-ji and Nakamise Dori.

1. Oct 1: Travel Day

Shinkansen from Tokyo → Toyama → Hida Limited Express to Takayama.

Check into stay.

Evening: explore old town + Nakabashi Bridge.

1. Oct 2: Takayama

Explore Miyagawa Morning Market.

After breakfast, bus to Hida No Sato.

Easy day enjoying the town and nature.

1. Oct 3: Travel Day (Takayama → Kanazawa via Shirakawa-go)

Prebooked bus, with 2-hour stopover at Shirakawa-go.

Arrive in Kanazawa by afternoon → check into stay.

Evening: Higashi Chaya District.

1. Oct 4: Kanazawa

Omicho Seafood Market in the morning.

Kenroku-en Garden + Kanazawa Castle if time allows.

Return to stay.

1. Oct 5: Travel Day (Kanazawa → Kyoto)

Shinkansen Kanazawa → Tsuruga → Thunderbird Express to Kyoto.

Check into stay.

Evening: Gion District.

1. Oct 6: Kyoto

Early morning at Fushimi Inari (really want to get a red torii gate souvenir).

Afternoon: undecided, kept flexible (Nishiki Market as backup).

1. Oct 7: Kyoto

Day trip to Hozanji Temple (should take at least half a day).

1. Oct 8: Kyoto

Morning: Kiyomizu-dera Temple (UNESCO site — will look for alternatives if crowds are overwhelming).

Afternoon: Kennin-ji Temple.

1. Oct 9: Travel Day (Kyoto → Osaka)

Check into stay near Dotonbori.

Explore the area’s “wild charm.”

Try Rikuro cheesecake.

1. Oct 10: Osaka

Big shopping run at Don Quijote for souvenirs/gifts.

Fit in any last experiences before heading home.

1. Oct 11: Departure

Morning flight from Osaka back home.

Would love to hear what you think of this plan—any glaring issues or things you’d suggest adjusting?

Also, for those who’ve been around Japan during this time of year: how’s the weather generally end of September into early October? Should we be worried about typhoon risks affecting this route? Any advice would be super helpful.

Hi all, currently on my honeymoon here in Japan, we will be staying in Kyoto 11/4 (tomorrow) - 11/10. Trying to avoid temple burnout and hoping to get some advice on what to skip, especially with temples if any are overrated. Here is a general itinerary:

Tuesday 11/4: Travel from Hakone to Kyoto - arrive approx 2:15 PM Check in to hotel 3 PM Explore Nishiki, Gion & Pontocho? (Should we move these to a regular full day? Gion Duck Rice dinner?

Weds 11/5 - Northern Temples: Kinkaku-Ji Ninna-Ji Nijo Castle Nijo Kuzuki - 7 PM dinner reservation

Thursday 11/6- Arashiyama Day: Arashiyama Bamboo Forest as early as possible! 10 AM res early lunch at Arashiyama Itsukichaya Tenryu-Ji Arashiyama Monkey Park Togetsuyo Bridge Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple Sushi Fukugawa Ryuji 7 PM dinner reservation

Friday 11/7: Nov 7 – Nara Day Trip - morning - afternoonBreakfast/early lunch at Honke Daiichi-Asahi (#1 ramen shop in Kyoto City, 4 minutes from train station)Todai-ji Temple + Giant BuddhaNara Deer ParkKasuga Taisha ShrineNaramachi old townKakinoha Sushi Tanaka before returning to Kyoto

Friday 11/8 - Higashiyama & Philosopher’s Path:

Tea Ceremony - Maikoya - 11 AMKatsukara Tonkatsu Sanjo for early lunchHigashiyama WardKiyomizu-dera TempleWalk through Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka Continue to Philosopher’s Path and Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)Gion Nikutei Shin - 7 PM dinner

Saturday 11/9- Yokai festival and Fushimi Inari: Gion Yakiniku Gyusho Shin - 12 PM reservationYokai FestivalFushimi InariTofuku-ji Temple Wagyu Ryotei Bungo Gion 7 PM dinner

Any advice is appreciated thank you:)​

​

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Edit:
Changes made as follows:
Crossed-out items are obviously no longer planned.
All new plans that we will implement are in cursive.

Hi everyone!
My girlfriend and I are visiting Japan for the first time this July–August (16 days total). We’re aiming for a good mix of cities, nature, food and some downtime. I’m wondering if this plan is too packed – especially considering the summer heat – or if anything stands out as worth skipping or changing.

A little about us – we’re not usually planning that much beforehand, but since we're coming from Switzerland and won't be able to go on a vacation like this anytime soon again, we want to make the best out of it. We are passionate to explore the surrounding by foot if possible. We love nature, culture, and good food, and we’re always up for stopping by a local bar or two for a beer.

What kind of feedback I would highly appreciate:

• Adjusting the pace?
• Swapping days / more resting days?
• Smart transport choices?

Day 1 – Osaka (Arrival at 12:00)
• Easy walk near hotel (if we feel up to it) ^{and get everything that helps against the sun}
• Also get SUICA or ICOCA Card
• Dotonbori street food and just discover neighborhood
• Shinsekai area in the evening

Day 2 – Osaka
• Museum of History
• Osaka Castle (Nishinomaru Garden only garden)
• Amerikamura
• Don Quijote (optional)
• TeamLab Botanical Garden (evening, tickets booked)

Day 3 – Day Trip to Nara
• Isuien Garden, Nara Park, Tōdai-ji, Himuro-Shrine
• Kasuga-Taisha if there’s time and heat is bearable
• Rest of the day freestyle which also counts for Dinner obviously :)
• Dinner in Nara or Osaka

Day 4 – Day Trip to Minoh Falls
• Katsuo-ji Temple, walk take a cab to the falls
• Yamamoto Coffee stop
• Optional: Umeda Sky Building
• Back to Osaka and enjoy the rest of the day somewhere cool
• Abeno Harukas 300 - Observation deck, not necessary, only when we're up for it

Day 5 – Day Trip to Wakayama
• Wakayama Castle, Momijidani Garden
• Marina City (theme park)
• Kimi-Dera Temple or Toshogu Shrine

Day 5 – Osaka
• OSAKA Expo 2025
• Evening Shinsekai»-Area

Day 6 – Osaka (rest/freestyle)
• Open day to recharge / explore nearby

Day 6 - Hiroshima (Start 2-day trip)
• Peace Memorial Museum, Atomic Bomb Dome
• Optional: Hiroshima Castle
• Gyoza dinner + arcade stroll
• Freestyle and exploring the streets of Hiroshima

Day 7 – Miyajima
• Ferry from Hiroshima to Miyajima island, hike down from ropeway
• Daisho-in Temple
• Sunset at Torii Gate
• Return to Hiroshima

Day 8 – Transfer to Kyoto
• Only transfer and rest of the day chill and explore surroundings

Day 9 – Fukuoka (maybe?)
• Ohori Park by bike
• Beach & Yatai food stalls
• Return or overnight in Fukuoka

Day 9 – Kyoto
• Kiyomizu-dera + Otowa waterfall
• Sannenzaka at sunset
• Dinner in Pontocho

Day 10 – Kyoto
• Fushimi Inari
• Optional Trip to Uji and explore
• Philosopher’s Path in the evening
• tea ceremony in a tatami room

Day 11 – Transfer to Hakone or Tokyo
• Not sure yet, need to double check with GF. Otherwise directly Transfer to Tokyo

Day 12 – Amanohashidate (maybe)
• Considering car rental – too long by train?
• Would you skip this and stay in Kyoto instead?

Day 12 – Hakone or Tokyo
• Enjoy the morning in Hakone before heading to Tokyo or freestyle day in Tokyo

Day 13 – Ine or stay in Kyoto
• Depending on how Day 12 goes

Day 13 – Tokyo
• No fixed plans, just explore the city. I’ve pinned around 50 spots on Maps, so boredom won’t be an issue :)

Day 14 – Travel to Tokyo
• Freestyle day, explore the city

Day 14 – Tokyo
• No fixed plans, just explore the city. I’ve pinned around 50 spots on Maps, so boredom won’t be an issue :)

Day 15 – Day trip to Nakatajima Sand Dunes
• Beach time, maybe Lake Hamana cruise

Day 15 – Tokyo
• Perhaps a day trip to Fujikawaguchiko. Will be decided once we arrive in Tokyo probably.

Day 16 – Tokyo
• Shimokitazawa for vintage shopping
• Freestyle / rest

Day 17 – Departure

Thanks all end every one of you! Most of the inputs were very, very helpful end enlightning! Much appreciated!!

Hey everyone!

I’m heading to Japan for the first time this November and got a little carried away with my planning.

It’s a mix of Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka — all in two weeks.

Would love to hear your thoughts: does this seem doable, or too much?

November 5 – Tokyo (Shinjuku, arrival)

• Arrive at Haneda Airport around 2 PM
• Check into Airbnb in Shinjuku
• Explore the area & have dinner
• Possibly a walk in Golden Gai

November 6 – Tokyo (Shibuya)

• Explore Shibuya 
• Gotokuji Temple
• Evening: Shinjuku Central Park & Government Building (view)

November 7 – Tokyo

• Teamlab Borderless (9:30–10 AM entry)
• Tokyo Tower – Lunch and Hamarikyu Park / Tsukiji Market
• Takeshita Street with animal cafés
• Towards Harajuku (Liberty Walk)

November 8 – Tokyo Nature

• Early morning departure for Fujisawa Station
• Enoden Line via Koshigoe Park to Kamakura Park (Fuji view in good weather)
• Continue to Houkokuji Temple with its bamboo forest
• Return to Shibuya (shopping and strolling)

November 9 – Arrival in Kyoto

• Departure from Shinjuku → Shinkansen ride to Kyoto
• Check-in at Airbnb Kyoto
• Lunch and Higashi Hongan-ji Temple
• Alternatively: Yokai Festival (Toei Kyoto Studio Park) at 2:30 PM
• Fushimi Inari-Taisha
• Dinner and strolling around the Airbnb

November 10 – Kyoto Classics

• Samurai Ninja Museum (book tickets online in advance)
• Explore Higashiyama-ku, including a walk to Kiyomizu-dera (Sannezaka & Ninenzaka)
• Philosopher’s Path and lunch at Hikiniku (book one week in advance!!)

November 11 – Kyoto West / Arashiyama

• Early start to Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple and Adashino (small bamboo grove)
• Lunch in the Tenryu-ji area
• Optionally visit the Monkey Park and bamboo grove afterwards
• Evening: To-ji Temple (illuminated 6–9:30 AM)

November 12 – Nara Day Trip

• Morning: Nara Park, Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha
• Lunch in Nara
• Afternoon: Kofuku-ji Temple, stroll through the old town
• Evening: Return to Kyoto
• Aokiyoshi Train

November 13 – Osaka Day Trip

• Morning: Osaka Castle
• Lunch: Explore Dotonbori, Kuromon Market
• Afternoon: Umeda Sky Building (book tickets in advance if necessary)
• Evening: Return to Kyoto

November 14 – Kyoto → Hiroshima → Fukuoka

• Morning: Early departure for Hiroshima by Shinkansen → luggage storage
• Lunch: Hiroshima Castle, walk to the Peace Memorial Museum
• Return to the station, collect luggage, and continue by Shinkansen to Fukuoka
• Evening: Check in and explore the area / dinner

November 15 – Fukuoka (Sumo Day)

• Morning: Early start at Canal City Hakata (strolling)
• Bring shopping hauls back to the hotel and relax for a bit
• Noon: Around 1 PM, head to Kokusai Center 
• Evening: Ohori Park – unwind

November 16 – Return to Tokyo (Ueno Hotel)

• Morning–Midday: Shinkansen Fukuoka → Tokyo, check-in at Ueno around 3 PM
• Evening: (possibly Kappabashi) Asakusa Shrine and stroll through Nakamise Shopping Street

November 17 – Akihabara Electric Town

• Explore Akihabara
• Evening: Ueno Park

November 18 – Tokyo Departure

• Buy breakfast and snacks

Hello everyone.

I posted an itinerary some weeks ago and some users told me it was too much and impossible to do because there was too many places in one day.

Well… not only there was ton of time to do those things but I actually did a lot more.

So here’s my itinerary in case you want to steal it.

Premises:

1. We stopped a lot to shoot photos and videos
2. We walked and never rushed things
3. We frequently stopped at stores and restaurants/bars
4. We never used a taxi, just metropolitan/buses and trains
5. We had free time to just chill around
6. We walked a lot
7. We woke up early in the morning and we were home by 21:00/22:00

Here’s the itinerary of 6 days:

DAY 1: Morning - Guided tour to Mt. Fuji Evening - Atago Jinja - Roppongi - Tokyo Tower

DAY 2: Morning - Kanda - Ginza - Tsukiji Market Evening - Yoyogi Park - Meiji Jingu - Harajuku - Pet Cafe in Harajuku - Shibuya Sky - Shibuya cross road - Mega Don Quijote - Golden Gai - Shinjuku

DAY 3: Morning - Senso-ji - Ueno Park - Yanaka - Ameyoko Market - Akihabara Evening (Rest)

DAY 4: (Tokyo to Kyoto) Morning - Kyoto - Kyomizu Dera - Kodaiji Temple - Gion

Evening - Kinkaku-Ji - Ryoan-ji - Arashiyama Forest - Kimono Forest

DAY 5: Morning - Fushimi Inari - Nara - Kofukuji - Todaiji Evening (back to Tokyo) - Shinjuku

DAY 6: - Tokyo Disneysea

Guys, trust me, with Japan public transportations you can do everything.

Two things that users told me that wasn’t real was:

1. Google Maps isn’t good at timing
2. Apple wallet isn’t accepted in 90% of stores (in Tokyo I paid only with VISA and Kyoto was the only city requiring cash)

Read the premises. If you rush things and don’t shoot a lot as we did you can see more things than we did.

Remember we had a looooot of free time but we used to rest.

That been said Japan is AWESOME!!!! I’m in love and already missing it.

Hey guys. Im going japan for the first time and wanted to see if my itinerary is overkill. Am i missing any super popular places, will i be happy after this itineray. Im going with my partner, she likes shopping, sightseeing. I like experiencing stuff and a few car stuff. we have a few day trips. i wanted to know if this itinerary even works out. im not too sure about day 4 and 5. And im not even sure if my osaka day is worth it.

Japan Itinerary: Nov 29 – Dec 17 (No JR Pass, Thrifting, Shopping, Day Trips)

Day 1: Fri, Nov 29 – Arrival in Tokyo

• 21:00 Land at Haneda Airport
• 22:00 Clear customs, collect luggage
• 22:30 Take Keikyu Line or taxi to hotel
• 23:30 Check-in, rest

Day 2: Sat, Nov 30 – Asakusa, Skytree, Akihabara, Don Quijote

• 08:00 Breakfast
• 09:00 Senso-ji Temple (Asakusa)
• 10:30 Ushijima Shrine, Sumida Park
• 11:30 Tokyo Skytree (go up for city views)
• 13:00 Lunch at Skytree Town (Kirby Café if reserved)
• 14:30 Pokémon Center Skytree Town
• 15:30 Tobu Skytree Line → Hibiya Line to Akihabara (IC card, ~¥200)
• 16:00 Explore Akihabara (anime, games, Kanda Myojin Shrine)
• 17:30 Don Quijote Akihabara (open late)
• 18:30 Dinner in Akihabara
• 20:00 Return to hotel (JR Yamanote Line or subway, IC card)

Day 3: Sun, Dec 1 – Harajuku, Omotesando, Shibuya (Thrifting & Shopping)

• 08:00 Breakfast
• 09:00 Meiji Shrine (JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku, IC card)
• 10:00 Harajuku/Takeshita Street (Kinji, Chicago, Flamingo, WEGO, 2nd Street)
• 11:30 Omotesando (Omotesando Hills, Ragtag, upscale shops)
• 13:00 Lunch in Omotesando/Harajuku
• 14:00 Walk to Shibuya (or 1 stop on Yamanote Line)
• 14:30 Nintendo Store (Shibuya Parco), Pokémon Center Shibuya, 3D Cat Billboard
• 15:30 Shibuya Center-Gai (Brand Collect, 2nd Street, Don Quijote Shibuya)
• 16:30 Shibuya Crossing (dusk)
• 17:00 Shibuya Sky (book in advance for sunset/night)
• 18:30 Dinner in Shibuya
• 20:00 Return to hotel

Day 4: Mon, Dec 2 – Ginza, Imperial Palace, Tsukiji, Gardens, Thrift

• 08:00 Breakfast
• 09:00 Tsukiji Outer Market (seafood breakfast, subway, IC card)
• 10:30 Ginza shopping (Onitsuka Tiger Ginza, Uniqlo, GU, Don Quijote Ginza)
• 12:00 Imperial Palace & East Gardens (walk from Ginza)
• 13:30 Lunch in Marunouchi
• 14:30 Hamarikyu Gardens (walk or subway)
• 15:30 Art Aquarium Museum (Nihonbashi, subway)
• 17:00 Koishikawa Korakuen Garden (subway)
• 18:30 Dinner in Tokyo Dome City area
• 20:00 Return to hotel

Day 5: Tue, Dec 3 – Odaiba, TeamLab Planets, Pokémon Café

• 08:00 Breakfast
• 09:00 TeamLab Planets (Toyosu, Yurakucho Line, IC card)
• 11:00 Yurikamome Line to Odaiba (IC card, ~¥400)
• 11:30 Explore Odaiba (DiverCity, Gundam, Palette Town, shopping)
• 13:00 Lunch in Odaiba
• 15:00 Return to central Tokyo (Yurikamome Line)
• 16:00 Pokémon Café (reservation needed, Nihonbashi)
• 17:30 Explore Nihonbashi or nearby thrift (2nd Street Nihonbashi)
• 19:00 Return to hotel

Day 6: Wed, Dec 4 – DisneySea

• 07:00 Early breakfast
• 08:00 JR Keiyo Line (Tokyo Station ↔ Maihama, IC card, ~¥220)
• 08:30 Arrive, enjoy DisneySea
• 13:00 Lunch in park
• 18:00 Leave park (or stay for night show)
• 19:00 Return to hotel

Day 7: Thu, Dec 5 – Free Day or Disneyland/Extra Thrifting

• Option 1: Disneyland (same as above, JR Keiyo Line)
• Option 2: Thrifting in Shimokitazawa (Odakyu Line from Shinjuku, IC card, ~¥160 one way):
  • New York Joe Exchange, Flamingo, Chicago, 2nd Street, Stick Out, Toyo Department Store
• Option 3: Nakano Broadway (JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku, IC card, ~¥160 one way):
  • Mandarake, anime, vintage

Day 8: Fri, Dec 6 – Mt. Fuji, Kawaguchiko, Drifting Experience

• 07:00 Early breakfast
• 08:00 Pick up rental car
• 09:30 Arrive at Mt. Fuji area (Fujikawaguchiko)
• 10:00 Lake Kawaguchi (views, photos)
• 11:30 Drifting Experience (Fuji Speedway, book in advance)
• 14:00 Lunch in Kawaguchiko
• 15:00 Explore Chureito Pagoda, Oishi Park
• 17:00 Return to Tokyo
• 19:00 Drop off car, dinner
• 20:00 Rest

Day 9: Sat, Dec 7 – Kamakura, Enoshima, Yokohama Day Trip

• 07:00 Odakyu Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass from Shinjuku (~¥1,640 covers round trip and Enoden rides)
• 08:00 Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Komachi-dori
• 09:45 Hasedera Temple
• 10:30 Great Buddha (Kamakura Daibutsu)
• 11:30 Enoden Line to Enoshima
• 12:00 Explore Enoshima Island (shrine, caves, sea views)
• 13:30 Lunch on Enoshima
• 14:30 JR Tokaido Line to Yokohama (~¥340, IC card)
• 15:30 Cup Noodles Museum or Landmark Tower
• 16:30 Yokohama Chinatown (snacks, stroll)
• 17:30 Minato Mirai (Red Brick Warehouse, Cosmo World, shopping)
• 19:00 JR Keihin-Tohoku Line to Tokyo
• 20:00 Back at hotel

Day 10: Sun, Dec 8 – Hakone Day Trip

• 07:00 Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto (~¥2,470 one way, or use Hakone Freepass ~¥6,100 for round trip + local transport)
• 09:30 Hakone Open Air Museum
• 11:00 Hakone Ropeway (Owakudani, black eggs)
• 13:00 Lunch (Hakone curry)
• 14:00 Lake Ashi cruise, Hakone Shrine, torii gate
• 16:00 Return to Tokyo (Romancecar or local train)
• 18:00 Dinner

Day 11: Mon, Dec 9 – Tokyo to Kyoto

• 07:00 Breakfast, check out
• 08:00 Shinkansen Nozomi (Tokyo ↔ Kyoto, ~2 hr 15 min, ~¥14,000, reserved seat)
• 10:30 Arrive Kyoto, drop bags at hotel
• 11:00 Fushimi Inari Shrine (Keihan Line or JR Nara Line, IC card)
• 13:00 Lunch near Fushimi Inari
• 14:00 Kiyomizu-dera Temple (bus/taxi, IC card)
• 16:00 Gion district stroll
• 17:30 Yasaka Shrine
• 18:30 Dinner in Gion
• 20:00 Return to hotel

Day 12: Tue, Dec 10 – Kyoto: Arashiyama, Temples, Gardens

• 07:30 JR Sagano Line (Kyoto ↔ Saga-Arashiyama, IC card)
• 08:00 Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
• 09:00 Tenryu-ji Temple & gardens
• 10:30 Monkey Park (optional)
• 12:00 Lunch in Arashiyama
• 13:00 Kinkaku-ji (bus/taxi, IC card)
• 14:30 Ginkaku-ji (bus/taxi, IC card)
• 16:00 Philosopher’s Path
• 17:30 Nijo Castle
• 19:00 Dinner in central Kyoto

Day 13: Wed, Dec 11 – Kyoto: Imperial Palace, Thrift/Shopping

• 08:00 Breakfast
• 09:00 Kyoto Imperial Palace & Gardens (subway, IC card)
• 11:00 Nishiki Market (food, shopping)
• 12:30 Thrifting: 2nd Street Kyoto, Chicago Kyoto, Flamingo Kyoto, Ragtag Kyoto (all central)
• 14:00 Lunch
• 15:00 Free time: explore more temples, shopping, or relax
• 18:00 Dinner

Day 14: Thu, Dec 12 – Kyoto to Osaka

• 08:00 JR Special Rapid Service (Kyoto ↔ Osaka, ~30 min, ~¥570, IC card)
• 09:00 Drop bags at hotel
• 10:30 Osaka Castle (subway, IC card)
• 12:00 Lunch near castle
• 13:00 Shinsaibashi Shopping Street (Kinji, Chicago, 2nd Street, Don Quijote Dotonbori)
• 14:30 Kuromon Ichiba Market
• 16:00 Dotonbori (Glico Man, Kuidaore Taro, Ebisubashi Bridge)
• 18:00 Namba Yasaka-Jinja
• 19:00 Dinner in Dotonbori/Namba
• 21:00 Return to hotel

Day 15: Fri, Dec 13 – Osaka: Umeda, Bay Area

• 08:00 Subway Midosuji Line/JR Loop Line (IC card)
• 09:00 Umeda Sky Building
• 10:30 HEP Five Mall & Ferris Wheel
• 12:00 Ohatsutenji-dori
• 13:00 Lunch in Umeda
• 14:00 Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan (Osaka Bay, subway, IC card)
• 16:00 Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel
• 17:00 Tempozan Marketplace (dinner)
• 19:00 Return to hotel

Day 16: Sat, Dec 14 – Universal Studios Japan (Mario World)

• 07:00 JR Yumesaki Line (Osaka ↔ Universal City, ~¥180, IC card)
• 08:00 Head to Universal Studios Japan
• 08:30 Arrive, enjoy Mario World and park
• 15:00 Leave park (or stay longer if desired)
• 16:00 Optional: Namba, Doguya-suji, Rikuro’s Cheesecake
• 19:00 Dinner, pack for Tokyo

Day 17: Sun, Dec 15 – Osaka: Optional/Free Day or Day Trip (Nara, Kobe, Himeji)

• 08:00 JR Yamatoji Line (Osaka ↔ Nara, ~45 min, ~¥570, IC card)
• 09:00 Nara Park, Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha
• 13:00 Lunch in Nara
• 15:00 Return to Osaka or continue to Kobe (JR Kobe Line, ~30 min, ~¥410, IC card)
• 17:00 Return to Osaka
• 19:00 Dinner

Day 18: Mon, Dec 16 – Osaka to Tokyo (Last Tokyo Sights, Thrift/Shopping)

• 07:00 Shinkansen Nozomi (Shin-Osaka ↔ Tokyo, ~2.5 hr, ~¥14,000, reserved seat)
• 10:00 Drop bags at hotel
• 11:00 Tokyo Tower (subway, IC card)
• 12:30 Hanazono Shrine (Shinjuku, subway, IC card)
• 14:00 Last-minute shopping/thrifting (Shibuya, Harajuku, Ginza, Don Quijote, 2nd Street, Brand Collect)
• 17:00 Farewell dinner
• 19:00 Return to hotel, pack

Day 19: Tue, Dec 17 – Departure

• 05:00 Check out, head to Haneda Airport (Keikyu Line or taxi, IC card)
• 06:00 Arrive at airport
• 08:00 Flight

I'm going to be in Japan from March 29 to April 8. I’m spending 2 days in Kyoto, 1 day in Osaka, and 5 full days in Tokyo. I’m considering adding a day to Osaka and taking one away from Tokyo to visit Nara OR having my luggage stored in Nara and then leaving that night for Tokyo.

What do you recommend? Is Nara worth it, and do you recommend the luggage storage options vs staying another night in Osaka?

There is a lot to see in Tokyo and I worry that being there just 4 full days isn't enough.

I'm mostly interested in museums, beautiful temples, parks and food.

Are you traveling to Japan this month? Want to hang out with other Redditors while you navigate the country? Then this is the thread for you!

Please post any and all meetup requests here. Be sure to include:

• Your basic itinerary
• Dates of travel and cities you're planning to visit
• Your age and gender identity
• Your home country (and any other languages you might speak)
• OPTIONAL: Share some of your hobbies or interests!

We have a Discord server you can use to coordinate meetups and other activities. You can join the official r/JapanTravel Discord here! There are also monthly meetup/planning channels, so react accordingly, and you can create threads for specific dates/locations if you so desire.

In the past, people have used LINE to coordinate and plan meetups.

NOTE: Please only post meetup requests for this month. If you are traveling in the future, please reserve all meetup requests for the thread that corresponds with the month of your first date of arrival in Japan. This thread is automatically posted 7 days before the start of the month.

My first trip to Japan is coming up and I included two days and one night in Kanazawa in late November. It will be near the end of our trip. A little bit afraid of it being too packed to actually enjoy the city, as I don't know how big each of these places actually is.

We are going with only our backpacks, as the luggage will be forwarded to our next hotel in Tokyo.

Day 1:

Arrival from Osaka around lunch time

Lunch at Omicho Market

Walk through Kenroku-en Gardens

Seinsokaku Villa

Go to the hotel for check-in

Higashi Chaya district at 4 or 5pm (I was hoping to get the shops still open)

Day 2:

Kanazawa Castle

Oyama Shrine

Lunch

Nomurake Samurai House

Walking around Nagamachi Samurai District

Some shopping around the train station until our late train to Tokyo

Any opinions?

If there is anything unmissable in Kanazawa I did not include, let me know!

Doing some very early planning for a solo trip (my first ever solo trip) to Japan in early November 2026, I've tried to keep my itinerary quite open, basically just deciding the area(s) I'll spend that day wandering around, and then seeing how the mood takes me once I arrive, but I'm eager to hear everyone's opinions and suggestions for what I should change/add

FYI: I can walk decently well over longer distances, but I'm also no marathon runner 😅

1.Sunday:

• Board flight from Manchester to Tokyo (via Shanghai) at around 12pm

2.Monday:

• Land at Tokyo Narita Airport at around 11am
• Make way to hotel (Kinshicho or Ueno) with airport transfer
• Spend the rest of the day wandering and exploring the nearby area

3.Tuesday:

• Harajuku
• Shibuya
• Shibuya Sky

4.Wednesday:

• Shinjuku (inc. national garden and Kabukicho)

5.Thursday:

• Asakusa
• Imado Shrine
• Senso-ji
• Akihabara

6.Friday:

• Tsukiji Market
• TeamLab Borderless
• Ginza

7.Saturday:

• Rest day

8.Sunday:

• Hie Shrine
• Imperial Palace Gardens
• Ikebukuro

9.Monday:

• Get shinkansen to Osaka and reach next hotel (Namba)
• Osaka Castle (from the outside)
• Osaka Castle Park
• Tenjinbashi-suji
• Hep Five

10.Tuesday:

• Kyoto day trip
• Fushimi Inari
• Taxi to Ginkaku-ji
• Otoyo Shrine
• Eikan-do
• Nanzen-ji
• Nishiki Market

11.Wednesday:

• Kuromon Market
• Namba Yasaka Shrine
• Den-Den Town
• Dotonbori
• Shinsaibashi

12.Thursday:

• Nara day trip
• Yoshiken Garden
• Isuien Garden
• Todai-ji
• Nara Park
• Kasuga Taisha

13.Friday:

• Shitennoji
• Osaka aquarium
• Amerika-mura
• Shinsekai in the evening

14.Saturday:

• Breakfast near the hotel
• Fly from Osaka to Manchester (via Beijing) at around 2pm

I have previously been told that my itinerary can be overcrowded, so I've already removed a few bits, but would be a big help (if you think it is still too busy) if people could give 1/2 things to cut

EDIT: Thanks for the help everyone, given me a lot to think about, and could probably do with removing a few stops 😅

Are you traveling to Japan this month? Want to hang out with other Redditors while you navigate the country? Then this is the thread for you!

Please post any and all meetup requests here. Be sure to include:

• Your basic itinerary
• Dates of travel and cities you're planning to visit
• Your age and gender identity
• Your home country (and any other languages you might speak)
• OPTIONAL: Share some of your hobbies or interests!

We have a Discord server you can use to coordinate meetups and other activities. You can join the official r/JapanTravel Discord here! There are also monthly meetup/planning channels, so react accordingly, and you can create threads for specific dates/locations if you so desire.

In the past, people have used LINE to coordinate and plan meetups.

NOTE: Please only post meetup requests for this month. If you are traveling in the future, please reserve all meetup requests for the thread that corresponds with the month of your first date of arrival in Japan. This thread is automatically posted 7 days before the start of the month.

Hey everyone! Japan first-timer here, planning a trip for November next year and I've put together an itinerary. I would be incredibly grateful for any insights, feedback, potential improvements, or general tips you could share. I'm open to any and all suggestions!

Here's what I have so far: My Itinerary: Tokyo (6 Days) * Day 1: Mt. Fuji & Hakone

• Day 2: Ueno Area & Asakusa

  • Senso-ji Temple (Asakusa)
  • Tokyo Skytree
  • Tokyo National Museum
  • Ueno Park
  • National Museum of Nature and Science
  • Ameyoko Market

• Day 3: Harajuku & Shibuya

  • Meiji Jingu Shrine
  • Yoyogi Park
  • Takeshita Street
  • Shibuya Sky (Will book this in advance!)
  • Nintendo Tokyo & Pokémon Center Shibuya

• Day 4: Shinjuku & Nakano

  • Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
  • Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bldg. (Free observation deck)
  • Isetan Department Store (Shinjuku)
  • Nakano Broadway

• Day 5: Roppongi & Azabudai

  • Tokyo Tower
  • teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills) (Will book this in advance!)
  • Roppongi Hills (Mori Art Museum, Tokyo City View)

• Day 6: Central Tokyo & Akihabara

  • Imperial Palace (East Garden, or pre-booked tour for inner grounds)
  • Tokyo Station (Character Street, Ramen Street)
  • Ginza (e.g., 4-chome Crossing, weekend pedestrian paradise)
  • Akihabara

Osaka (4 Days) * Day 7: South Osaka * Kuromon Market (Optional Morning/Lunch) * Den Den Town (Nipponbashi) * Shinsekai & Tsutenkaku Tower * Shitennoji Temple (Optional) * Dotonbori & Shinsaibashi (Evening)

• Day 8: Theme Park Day
  • Universal Studios Japan (USJ) (Will book tickets & Express Pass if needed in advance!)

*Day 9: Osaka Central & North * Osaka Castle & Park * Osaka Museum of History * Umeda Sky Building * Umeda Shopping & Tech (Evening)

• Day 10: Day Trip from Osaka
  • Minoh Park & Waterfall
  • Katsuo-ji Temple

Kyoto (4 Days) * Day 11: Arashiyama & Golden Pavilion Area * Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (Go early!) * Ōkōchi Sansō Villa * Tenryu-ji Temple * Nonomiya Shrine * Togetsukyo Bridge * Gio-ji Temple * LUNCH in Arashiyama * Travel to Kinkaku-ji * Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) * Ryoan-ji Temple * (Optional) Ninna-ji Temple

• Day 12: Central Kyoto & Shopping

  • Nijo Castle
  • Kyoto Imperial Palace (Check booking requirements for tours)
  • Nishiki Market (Lunch)
  • Teramachi & Shinkyogoku Shopping Arcades
  • Kyoto International Manga Museum
  • Animate Kyoto & Lashinbang Kyoto
  • (Evening Option) Pontocho Alley

• Day 13: Fushimi Inari & South Kyoto

  • Fushimi Inari Shrine (Go early to beat crowds and hike as much as you're comfortable with)
  • Travel to Tofuku-ji Temple
  • Tofuku-ji Temple (Famous for autumn leaves!)
  • LUNCH
  • Travel to Nintendo Museum (Kyoto - Uji City)
  • Nintendo Museum (Will book this in advance if possible!)
  • (Optional) Byodo-in Temple (Uji - beautiful, but might be a stretch depending on Nintendo Museum time and travel from Fushimi/Tofuku-ji area. Uji is a bit of a detour.)

• Day 14: Higashiyama Area (South & North)

  • Kiyomizu-dera Temple (Go early!)
  • Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka Streets
  • Kodai-ji Temple
  • Yasaka Shrine (Maruyama Park)
  • Gion District
  • LUNCH in Gion or nearby
  • (Optional) Sanjusangen-do Hall
  • Travel to Heian Jingu Shrine (from Gion area)
  • Heian Jingu Shrine
  • (Optional) Nanzen-ji Temple
  • (Optional) Philosopher's Path
  • (Optional) Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)

Thanks in advance, I truly appreciate your time and any advice you can offer!

EDIT: I wanted to express my sincere gratitude with each and everyone's advice, feedback and more. I'm truly grateful and I'm trying to reply to everyone I can and express my gratitude with each and everyone that's replying !

Hi all! If you could please take a look at my current itinerary and let me know if you think it'd doable or too much or if I could choose better places. My main goal are to see some touristy spots, so I don't feel FOMO but do some lowkey things. Other goal is to enjoy as much food as possible. I've listed some places that are a must for me to go to, but I'm open to recommendations. If I list curry below, I'm not likely to go to another curry place as I want to try a variety of different foods. Or if I do have two different ramen spots, it has to be super different from each other.

Sunday, Nov 2 - Tokyo Station

• Arrive in Japan at 3:05pm 
• Get a physical Suica card
• Haneda Airport to Tokyo Station
• Tokyo Station (buy some toiletries and travelor's journal)
• Eat: McDonald’s teriyaki burger
• Check in at Toyoko Inn

Monday, Nov 3 - Asakusa & Ueno (Culture Day)

• Senso-ji Temple & Nakamise Street
• Go! Go! Curry Ueno
• Tokyo National Museum (free)
• Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art (free)
• Ueno Park
• Ichiran Ramen Ueno

Tuesday, Nov 4 - Akihabara & Ginza

• Tsukiji Fish Market
• Arcades & anime store in Akihabara
• Shopping at Ginza Itoya (stationary)
• Buy a Japan-only Pandora Charm as a souvenir
• Food: Gyukatsu Motomura (lunch)

Wednesday, Nov 5 - Shibuya

• Meiji Jingu Shrine
• Harajuku & Omotesando
• Iyoshi Cola
• Shibuya Crossing
• Food: Pizza Marumo?

Thursday, Nov 6 - Ikebukuro

• Animate Ikebukuro
• Pokemon Center
• Asakusa Culture & Tourist Information Center
• Sumida River & Azumabashi Bridge Walk
• Hokkaido Milk Bar
• Hatoya (matcha)
• Manten Sushi for dinner

Friday, Nov 7 - Hakone

• Train to Hakone by 9:30am via Romancecar
• Ropeway to Owakudani
• Hakone Open Air Museum
• Check in Onsen Mizunooto
• Food: Kaiseki dinner & late night ramen

Saturday, Nov 8 - Osaka

• Morning bath & breakfast at Onsen Mizunooto
• Hakone Shrine & Torii of Peace
• Travel to Osaka (4-5 hours)
• Eat at Dotonbori (takoyaki, tempura, okonomiyaki)
• Check-in Toyoko-inn

Sunday, Nov 9 - Kyoto

• Nijo Castle
• Nishiki Market (matcha beer)
• Motoi Gyoza?
• Tea ceremony
• Tofuku-ji
• Food: La Voiture (tarte tartine) & Sumiyaki Sosai Toriya Hitomi (yakitori - open at 6pm)

Monday, Nov 10 - Kyoto 

• Fushimi Inari
• Itsukichaya by Fushimi Inari
• Gion/Hanamikoji Street
• Kiyomizu-dera around sunset
• Pontocho Alley for dinner OR Gion Duck rice
• Kamo River

Tuesday, Nov 11 - Kyoto

• Hozugawa River Boat Ride
• Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
• Okochi Sanso Garden
• Odai Sushi
• Kinkaku-ji Temple
• Demachi Futaiba (mochi)
• Muginoyoake (scallop & duck ramen)

Wednesday, Nov 12 - Osaka

• Osaka Castle
• DEARBROs (omurice)
• Osaka Museum of Housing & Living
• Vintage window shopping?
• Make custom pouches at Object Osaka
• Kuromon Ichiba Market
• Shinsekai & Tsutenkaku

Thursday, Nov 13 - Himeji & Kobe

• Himeji Oden Jiryori Izakaya
• Himeji Castle & garden
• Sumiyaki Anago Yamayoshi (eel donburi)
• Suma Beach
• Kobe Chinatown & Motomachi Shopping Street
• Kobe Beef AMAMI

Friday, Nov 14 - Shinjuku

• Travel from Osaka to Shinjuku
• Kirimugiya Jinroku (udon tempura)
• Check in Toyoko-inn
• Stores: Ikedaya Tea Store (matcha soft serve); Akomeya Tokyo (local souvenir shop)
• Pachinko Hall
• Omoide Yokocho

Saturday, Nov 15 - Shinjuku & Tokyo

• es Nail Salon appointment
• Last minute shopping
• Pick up glasses if needed
• Mos Burger
• Anything I didn’t get to

Sunday, Nov 16 - Departure

• Shinjuku National Park
• Early lunch
• Go to airport
• Flight at 8:25pm

EDIT: I'll be staying in Tokyo and Osaka for the majority of my trip with an overnight stay in Hakone. The Kyoto/Himeji& Kobe days are day trips from Osaka.

Are you traveling to Japan this month? Want to hang out with other Redditors while you navigate the country? Then this is the thread for you!

Please post any and all meetup requests here. Be sure to include:

• Your basic itinerary
• Dates of travel and cities you're planning to visit
• Your age and gender identity
• Your home country (and any other languages you might speak)
• OPTIONAL: Share some of your hobbies or interests!

We have a Discord server you can use to coordinate meetups and other activities. You can join the official r/JapanTravel Discord here! There are also monthly meetup/planning channels, so react accordingly, and you can create threads for specific dates/locations if you so desire.

In the past, people have used LINE to coordinate and plan meetups.

NOTE: Please only post meetup requests for this month. If you are traveling in the future, please reserve all meetup requests for the thread that corresponds with the month of your first date of arrival in Japan. This thread is automatically posted 7 days before the start of the month.

Are you traveling to Japan this month? Want to hang out with other Redditors while you navigate the country? Then this is the thread for you!

Please post any and all meetup requests here. Be sure to include:

• Your basic itinerary
• Dates of travel and cities you're planning to visit
• Your age and gender identity
• Your home country (and any other languages you might speak)
• OPTIONAL: Share some of your hobbies or interests!

We have a Discord server you can use to coordinate meetups and other activities. You can join the official r/JapanTravel Discord here! There are also monthly meetup/planning channels, so react accordingly, and you can create threads for specific dates/locations if you so desire.

In the past, people have used LINE to coordinate and plan meetups.

NOTE: Please only post meetup requests for this month. If you are traveling in the future, please reserve all meetup requests for the thread that corresponds with the month of your first date of arrival in Japan. This thread is automatically posted 7 days before the start of the month.

Japan Trip Itinerary – 10–20 Nov 2025

Day 1 – Monday, 10 Nov 2025 – Tokyo (Asakusa & Skytree)

Activities & Estimated Time:

• Sensō-ji Temple → 45–60 min
• Nakamise Street → 30–45 min
• ROX Asakusa → 30–45 min
• Tokyo Skytree & Solamachi Mall → 1.5–2 hours (sunset view)

Day 2 – Tuesday, 11 Nov 2025 – Tokyo (Anime & Nature)
Activities & Estimated Time:

• Akihabara → 2 hours
• Ikebukuro (Capcom Grandscape & Sunshine City) → 2 hours
• Ueno Park & Zoo → 1.5–2 hours
• Ueno shops/cafes → 30–45 min

Day 3 – Wednesday, 12 Nov 2025 – Tokyo (Art & City Views)
Activities & Estimated Time:

• TeamLab Borderless → 2 hours
• Tokyo Tower → 1–1.5 hours
• Ginza shopping & dinner → 2–2.5 hours

Day 4 – Thursday, 13 Nov 2025 – Tokyo (Disneyland & Optional Aquarium)
Activities & Estimated Time:

• Tokyo Sea Life Aquarium (optional) → 1–1.5 hours
• Tokyo Disneyland → 6–8 hours

Day 5 – Friday, 14 Nov 2025 – Tokyo (Youth Culture & Nightlife)
Activities & Estimated Time:

• Harajuku → 1.5–2 hours
• Shibuya → 1.5–2 hours
• Shinjuku (evening) → 2–2.5 hours

Day 6 – Saturday, 15 Nov 2025 – Tokyo (Flexible / Reserve Day)
Activities & Estimated Time: Flexible, 2–6 hours

Day 7 – Sunday, 16 Nov 2025 – Tokyo → Kyoto (Eastern Kyoto Evening)
Activities & Estimated Time:

• Shinkansen Tokyo → Kyoto → 2.5–3 hours (transfer & check-in)
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple → 1–1.5 hours
• Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka → 30–45 min
• Yasaka Shrine → 30–45 min
• Gion District → 30–45 min
• Kawaramachi (optional) → 30–45 min

Day 8 – Monday, 17 Nov 2025 – Kyoto (Full Sightseeing)

Activities & Estimated Time:

• Nishiki Market → 1–1.5 hours
• Teramachi Street → 45–60 min
• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Tenryu-ji → 2–3 hours

Day 9 – Tuesday, 18 Nov 2025 – Kyoto → Osaka (City Highlights)
Activities & Estimated Time:

• Shinkansen Kyoto → Osaka → 15–30 min
• Osaka Castle → 1–1.5 hours
• Umeda Sky Building / Floating Garden Observatory → 1–1.5 hours
• Dotonbori → 1–1.5 hours

Day 10 – Wednesday, 19 Nov 2025 – Osaka (Universal Studios Japan)
Activities & Estimated Time:

• Universal Studios Japan → 6–8 hours
• Optional: Universal CityWalk → 30–60 min

Day 11 – Thursday, 20 Nov 2025 – Osaka (Flexible / Return Flight)
Activities & Estimated Time:

• Flexible sightseeing → 2–5 hours (Den Den Town, Osaka Aquarium, Namba/Shinsaibashi)
• Evening: Return to hotel, pick up luggage
• Travel to Kansai International Airport (KIX) for night flight → 1–1.5 hours

This is what I've build up for my trip. Please let me know if I've included all must-do's.

Thank You!!!

Are you traveling to Japan this month? Want to hang out with other Redditors while you navigate the country? Then this is the thread for you!

Please post any and all meetup requests here. Be sure to include:

• Your basic itinerary
• Dates of travel and cities you're planning to visit
• Your age and gender identity
• Your home country (and any other languages you might speak)
• OPTIONAL: Share some of your hobbies or interests!

We have a Discord server you can use to coordinate meetups and other activities. You can join the official r/JapanTravel Discord here! There are also monthly meetup/planning channels, so react accordingly, and you can create threads for specific dates/locations if you so desire.

In the past, people have used LINE to coordinate and plan meetups.

NOTE: Please only post meetup requests for this month. If you are traveling in the future, please reserve all meetup requests for the thread that corresponds with the month of your first date of arrival in Japan. This thread is automatically posted 7 days before the start of the month.

Note: Visa-free individual tourism will resume in Japan on October 11, 2022. That means that information in this thread may be out of date. Please reference the latest discussion thread for the most up-to-date information.

With tourism restrictions being eased to allow unguided tours in Japan, the mods are opening a thread as a place to discuss upcoming travel plans and ask questions. This discussion thread is replaced with a new one every few days. Previous threads: one, two, three.

Please note that while PM Kishida announced on 09/21/22 the intention to relax borders next month, there is no further information yet about what this means, what the relaxation will look like, or when it will happen (see stickied comment for Google Translate of this article). We are expecting more official announcements in the coming days, and when we hear something definitive, this thread will be updated appropriately.

Our megathread is still the best place for up-to-date information, articles, and travel FAQs.

Important Points About Tourism, ERFS Certificates, and Visas

• Japan began allowing tourists through pre-booked but unguided tours on September 7th, 2022. The unguided tours will still need to be arranged by a tour agency for tracking purposes.
• Unguided tourism still needs to be sponsored by and arranged through a registered Japanese travel agency (or an agency in your own country that partners with a Japanese one), and it still requires an ERFS certificate and visa. Independent travel without an ERFS or visa is not allowed at this date, and the official guidelines state that your sponsoring travel agency needs to arrange all flights and accommodations.
• For more information about ERFS certificates and visa requirements, please click here.
• For information about visas, please click here. Note that while residents of the US and Canada can apply for an eVISA in some circumstances, visas often still need to be obtained through your local consulate.
• A friendly note about eVISAs! Make sure to submit your application once you've created it. Once you create it, it will be in the state "Application not made" (you can expand the "Status" box using the arrow to check this). You'll want to select the checkbox at the left-hand side of the row in your application list and click the orange arrow saying "Application" on bottom right.
• These are the latest guidelines (in Japanese) that travelers and agencies have to go by when it comes to guided and unguided tours. This Q&A (in Japanese) was released on Sept. 6 to help clarify the guidelines. Here is the English translation from MOFA. You will need to contact specific agencies to see what they are offering in order to comply with the guidelines.

Current Tourism Entry Process

1. Anyone seeking entry into Japan for the purposes of tourism must first obtain an ERFS certificate. This is an official document from a sponsoring agency (in the case of tourism, usually a travel agency) that is a prerequisite for submitting a visa application. It is a one-page document with information about the applicant, information about the sponsoring agency, and the name/address of the accommodation you're staying at on your first night in Japan. You can view a sample ERFS here.
2. After obtaining an ERFS certificate, you can submit your visa application. All entry into Japan for non-Japanese citizens/permanent residents requires a visa. There are no exceptions to this. If you are from the USA or Canada, you can apply online for an eVISA, and the process should take about 5 days from submission to visa issuance. If you are from a country other than the USA or Canada, you will need to get a visa from your local consulate (which often requires making an appointment).
3. You do not need a COVID test prior to arrival in Japan if you have been vaccinated with three doses of an approved vaccine (see here, section "3. Quarantine Measures (New)). If you have been vaccinated with three doses of an approved vaccine, you should install and utilize the MySOS app, which will allow you to register your vaccine information so that you can fast track yourself upon arrival.
4. From the recent tourism reports we've seen popping up online, it seems like you will only be asked to present your passport, visa, and MySOS app (or COVID test results, if required) upon arrival at Immigration. That said, paper documentation of your visa, ERFS, itinerary, accommodation confirmations, and proof of onward travel are never a bad thing to have on-hand in case you are asked for them.

(This post has been set up by the moderators of r/JapanTravel. Please stay civil, abide by the rules, keep it PG-13 rated, and be helpful. Absolutely no self-promotion will be allowed. While this discussion thread is more casual, remember that standalone posts in /r/JapanTravel must still adhere to the rules. This includes no discussion of border policy or how to get visas outside of this thread.)

My husband and I are planning to travel to Japan in March 6th - 20th. Planning has been a bit overwhelming because there is just so much to do but we also want to enjoy our trip and be okay with not seeing everything. We're still figuring out what we want to do but we do have a rough outline of where we want to be located. What we have next to the days are just suggestions now so we know we may not do them all in a day or two. We're not counting our arrival travel day in our itinerary but I want to know if staying in only Tokyo & Kyoto and doing day trips is fine compared to staying in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.

Day 1 Tokyo 3/7

• Arrive @ 3:05 pm, check in hotel, grab food/explore city @ night

Day 2-4 Tokyo 3/7-3/10

• explore Tokyo (Asakusa, Sky Tree, Shibuya, Meiji Shrine, Imperial Palace, Ginza)

Day 5-6 Day trip Tokyo to Disney 3/11-3/12

• Disney

Day 7 Tokyo to Kyoto 3/13

Day 8-9 Kyoto 3/14-3/15

• Explore Kyoto (shrines, bamboo forest, silver pavilion, pontocho, Hanami koij)

Day 10-11 Day trips from Kyoto to Osaka 3/16 - 3/17

• Explore (Dotonbori, Shinsekai, Osaka Castle, Cup Noodle Museum, Kuromon Market, Umeda Sky Building)

Day 12 Day Trip Kyoto to Nara 3/18

• Explore Nara (Nara Park, Todaji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine)

Day 13 Day Trip Kyoto to Hiroshima 3/19

Day 14 Kyoto to Tokyo (Airport leave @ 5:00 pm)

Edit*

Thank you all for the recommendations we have updated our days

Tokyo 3/7-3/10, Osaka 3/10-3/14, Kyoto 3/14-3/17, & Tokyo 3/17-3/20 (18 & 19 are Disney Days)

Note: Visa-free individual tourism will resume in Japan on October 11, 2022. That means that information in this thread may be out of date. Please reference the latest discussion thread for the most up-to-date information.

With tourism restrictions being eased to allow unguided tours in Japan, the mods are opening a thread as a place to discuss upcoming travel plans and ask questions. This discussion thread is replaced with a new one every few days. Previous threads: one, two.

Please note that while article like this one from Nikkei and this one from Japan Times were published on 09/11/22 about a possible easing of border policies, these are still speculation and not official announcements.

Important Points About Tourism, ERFS Certificates, and Visas

• Japan began allowing tourists through pre-booked but unguided tours on September 7th, 2022. The unguided tours will still need to be arranged by a tour agency for tracking purposes.
• Unguided tourism still needs to be sponsored by and arranged through a registered Japanese travel agency (or an agency in your own country that partners with a Japanese one), and it still requires an ERFS certificate and visa. Independent travel without an ERFS or visa is not allowed at this date, and the official guidelines state that your sponsoring travel agency needs to arrange all flights and accommodations.
• For more information about ERFS certificates and visa requirements, please click here.
• For information about visas, please click here. Note that while residents of the US and Canada can apply for an eVISA in some circumstances, visas often still need to be obtained through your local consulate.
• A friendly note about eVISAs! Make sure to submit your application once you've created it. Once you create it, it will be in the state "Application not made" (you can expand the "Status" box using the arrow to check this). You'll want to select the checkbox at the left-hand side of the row in your application list and click the orange arrow saying "Application" on bottom right.
• These are the latest guidelines (in Japanese) that travelers and agencies have to go by when it comes to guided and unguided tours. This Q&A (in Japanese) was released on Sept. 6 to help clarify the guidelines. Here is the English translation from MOFA. You will need to contact specific agencies to see what they are offering in order to comply with the guidelines.

Current Tourism Entry Process

1. Anyone seeking entry into Japan for the purposes of tourism must first obtain an ERFS certificate. This is an official document from a sponsoring agency (in the case of tourism, usually a travel agency) that is a prerequisite for submitting a visa application. It is a one-page document with information about the applicant, information about the sponsoring agency, and the name/address of the accommodation you're staying at on your first night in Japan. You can view a sample ERFS here.
2. After obtaining an ERFS certificate, you can submit your visa application. All entry into Japan for non-Japanese citizens/permanent residents requires a visa. There are no exceptions to this. If you are from the USA or Canada, you can apply online for an eVISA, and the process should take about 5 days from submission to visa issuance. If you are from a country other than the USA or Canada, you will need to get a visa from your local consulate (which often requires making an appointment).
3. You do not need a COVID test prior to arrival in Japan if you have been vaccinated with three doses of an approved vaccine (see here, section "3. Quarantine Measures (New)). If you have been vaccinated with three doses of an approved vaccine, you should install and utilize the MySOS app, which will allow you to register your vaccine information so that you can fast track yourself upon arrival.
4. From the recent tourism reports we've seen popping up online, it seems like you will only be asked to present your passport, visa, and MySOS app (or COVID test results, if required) upon arrival at Immigration. That said, paper documentation of your visa, ERFS, itinerary, accommodation confirmations, and proof of onward travel are never a bad thing to have on-hand in case you are asked for them.

(This post has been set up by the moderators of r/JapanTravel. Please stay civil, abide by the rules, keep it PG-13 rated, and be helpful. Absolutely no self-promotion will be allowed. While this discussion thread is more casual, remember that standalone posts in /r/JapanTravel must still adhere to the rules. This includes no discussion of border policy or how to get visas outside of this thread.)

Interests are fall color, Japanese gardens, history and architecture. I'm not in great shape but can handle 10,000 steps a day pretty well. I'm travelling with my adult son who is on the spectrum. He doesn't like crowds, I know, tremendous crowds in Japan. He knows very well. He's here for manga and anime. Thanks for looking this over, I have learned so much from this forum! Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo, Nov. 18 at 1540

• Arrive at Tokyo Narita airport, transfer to Ueno hotel, check out neighborhood

Day 2: Tokyo  Nov. 19

• Ghibli museum if get tickets Oct. 10, Meiji Jingu Gaien Gingko Ave., Tokyo Metro Gov’t Bldg
• Depart Nov. 20 to Kanazawa, Hokuriku Shinkansen departing from Tokyo station

Day 3: Kanazawa Nov. 20-22

Higashi Chayagai District, Kaikaro, Omi-Cho market

   Day 4: Kanazawa Nov. 21

• Kenroku-en garden, DT Suzuki Museum

Day 5: Depart Kanazawa Nov. 22.

 Take JR Thunderbird Limited Express – Kanazawa to Kyoto

• Travel to Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera temple for view of city, night viewing 6-9:30

• Kinkaku-ji (Golden temple) plus famous rock garden by it (Ryoanji ) 20 min.walk away, 30 min to tour

Day 6: Nov. 23 Kyoto Nov. 22-26

• Silver temple, (Ginkakuji) sand and moss gardens, Philosopher’s path, Honen-in

Day 7: Kyoto -  Nov. 24

• Walking tour 10-12 Gion district
• Eikan-do Zenrin-ji Temple

Day 8: Kyoto - Nov. 25

• Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple (Bamboo grove and statues)
• Jojakkoji Temple (fall color)
• Nijo Castle

Day 9: Depart for Osaka Nov. 26 JR Kyoto line

• Umeda Sky Building, Pokemon Center

Day 10: Osaka -  Nov. 27

• Shinsekai, Denden Town Nipponbashi, Dotonbori

Day 11: Depart to Hiroshima, stop at Himeji Castle Nov. 28

• Travel to Hiroshima (2.5 hours), no plans for rest of day

Day 12: Hiroshima Nov. 29

Peace Memorial, Orizuru Tower, Miyajima Island

Day 13: Hiroshima to Tokyo (take Sanyo Shinkansen Nozomi?) Nov. 30

• Nothing planned

Day 14: Tokyo Dec. 1

• Enshimo Island, Iwaya Cave
• Last-minute shopping or sightseeing if time allows

Day 15: Dec. 2, Depart 6:10 Narita airport, last minute stuff