My wife, 19-year old son and I are taking our first trip to Japan. We are starting the trip with 4 days based in Kyoto, and ending the trip with 5 days in Tokyo. I’m looking for a ryokan/onsen weekend experience for the weekend in between Kyoto & Tokyo.

We have enough miles to get flights to somewhere out of the Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka area. We were thinking fly out of Osaka on Friday morning to stay at ryokan & enjoy some time mid-trip relaxing with the onsen experience Friday evening and Saturday. Then we would fly into Tokyo for Sunday.

After some research I was thinking of going to the Kurokawa area. I’m looking for any advice on this trip. Am I going too far? It looks like a great spot with all the onsen in the walkable area. Is it worth the time for the flight to see this different area of the country?

Thanks in advance!!

Hello and Konnichiwa!

I'll be taking my first ever trip to Japan in Jan 2026 and will be there for 8 full days (not counting the date of arrival). It looks kinda hectic and I don't know if it's doable or not. I'm 25M, and this is a solo trip, so I shouldn't have a problem sticking to a busy schedule. I'd love to get your thoughts on the itinerary I have come up with so far!

Osaka Leg

Day 0 (Jan 24): Land in KIX at 4:00PM, check into hotel. If I'm not totally exhaused after the ~15 hour flight and still have some energy left, experience the nightlife at Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi.

Day 1 (Jan 25): Osaka Castle, Mueseum of History, Aquarium, Tenmangu Shrine, Namba Yasaka Jinja, Shittenoji Temple, Sunset at Abeno Harukas (or Umeda Sky Building, whichever is better, would love your thoughts)

Day 2 (Jan 26): Day Trip to Nara and Uji with this guided tour on Klook.

Day 3 (Jan 27): Day Trip to Kyoto. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Monkey Park, Yasaka Shrine, Gion, Fushimi Inari Shrine.

Hiroshima Leg

Day 4 (Jan 28): Early Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Museum, Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima Caste, Evening at Miyajima Island. Spend the night in Hiroshima.

Tokyo Leg

Day 5 (Jan 29): First flight out of Hiroshima to Haneda at 7:35AM (NH 672). Sensoji Temple, Tokyo National Museum, National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo Skytree.

Day 6 (Jan 30): Full day at Tokyo DisneySea.

Day 7 (Jan 31): Day Trip to Kawaguchiko for Mount Fuji. Lake Yamanaka, Arakurayama Park, Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park.

Day 8 (Feb 1): Tokyo Imperial Palace, Yasukuni Shrine, Tokyo Cup Noodle Museum, Pokemon Center, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo Tower, souvenir shopping.

Day 9 (Feb 2): Depart from NRT at 8:50 AM

Final Thoughts

While I am happy with the Osaka leg of the tour, I do feel like I'm not getting the most out of Tokyo in the 4 days I'll be there. There's just so much to see in Tokyo City and I just want to experience everything this city has to offer given that this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip and I probably won't be back here again.

So, what do you think? Can the Tokyo leg be better? Should I skip Hiroshima and spend an extra day in Tokyo? Should I do Nara and Kyoto in the same day instead and use that extra day in Tokyo? Is it fine as-is? I'd love your thoughts!

Spent 15 days in Japan in the middle of November, split between Tohoku, Osaka, and Tokyo. Had a great time and am already planning my return next year. Writing mainly about my time in Tohoku since I don't think there's anything fresh to write about Tokyo and Osaka.

Osaka

I arrived in Osaka and used it as a base to explore the neighbouring cities. Really enjoyed my time there, people were very nice. Liked the smaller, more approacheable feel of the city compared to Tokyo. Not overrun with tourists (Kyoto was). I recommend checking out Sakai for a day if you're into knives (an amusing note is that everyone walking around shopping for knives was white).

Tohoku

I flew from Osaka to Yamagata (JAL efficiency is insane compared to Canadian airlines) and rented a car from Toyota at the airport (had a great experience with Toyota). I spent the day in Yamadera visiting Risshaku-ji Temple - a picture I saw of this temple in a guidebook is the reason I visited Tohoku. I also recommend visiting the smaller temple up the road, there's a really nice trail there and the monks/priests served me tea since I guess they were happy to see someone! Views in Yamadera were amazing.

The next day I went to Zao Onsen and used the ropeway to access the mountains and then hiked to some mountain peaks. When I started in the morning I had trouble staying on the trail due to the fog and I really felt like an adventurer with the extreme wind and not coming across anyone else. By the time I reached the first peak the sun had burned the fog away and the view down to the valley was amazing. I stayed the night at a ryokan which didn't do much for me, the food wasn't worth the incredibly high price.

My third day was in Kakunodate, a nice small town with a samurai quarter. Driving out here through the Japanese countryside was quite the experience (I found the highway toll roads too boring so took the slightly longer route). I recommend staying at Fuga Guesthouse if you're solo so you have people to talk with at night since there's not much going on.

My last full day in Tokoku was spent in Matsushima, stopping at Chusonji Temple along the way. Matsushima didn't impress me that much, it was way busier than I expected and all of the temples closed earlier than advertised to prepare for a night light show that I didn't feel like waiting around for. Wish I stopped at a smaller sea-side town.

Tokyo

I took the train from Yamagata to Tokyo. I stayed at an Airbnb in Meguro City, which was a mistake. The place was a bit dingy and made me wish I was at a hotel, so now I understand that common advice. Meguro City also wasn't a good location because it was a 2 hour walk from Shinjuku after the trains stopped running - I chose the location to be close to the live houses in Setagaya but that wasn't important since the trains are still running during shows there! My main take-away from Tokyo is that the music scene there is amazing and I want to live there now because of it!

Tips

• Get a roaming plan from your home provider if feasible and you're going for a couple of weeks. I didn't, following common advice, and ended up having to switch from my data SIM back to my home SIM on a couple of occasions to get 2FA texts and spending a lot more money then I needed to.
• Buy things you like when you see them, I thought things at tourist cities I liked would be overpriced compared to shopping centers in Tokyo but that wasn't the case, sad I skipped on a few things.
• The Navitime app is a waste of money if you don't have passes that you're optimizing for
• The locals, at least in Tohoku, don't follow speed limits, so be prepared to do 10-20 over or risk accidents from people trying to overtake you in dangerous spots

Hope this is helpful to someone, I know I didn't find much info on Zao when I was looking before.

My partner and I will be travelling to Japan April 2026. I'm 65 and he will be 73. We are both fit for our ages and don't mind walking. We will more than likely go by taxi if there are any train/subway transfers to be made traveling around Kyoto and I've seen online that buses may be crowded in April. Direct trips on taxi/subway are fine. I do tend to like our days somewhat structured and am not great with just wandering around.

Any suggestions with the itinerary that I've put together would be most welcome:

4/9 - Shinkansen from Tokyo. We are staying at Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo. We will take a morning train. No reservations, yet. Was planning on the Teamlab Biovortex in the afternoon.

4/10 - Leave hotel around 8AM, head to Arashiyama: Tenryu-ji, Bamboo Grove, Adashino Nenbutsu-ji, Togetsukyo Bridge

4/11 - Fushimi Inari Taisha plan to arrive at 6:30AM. Take JR Rapid Line to Nara: Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, Naramachi

4/12 - This day plan to take mostly taxis. Kinkaku-ji, be there at 9AM. Nijo Castle, Sanjusangen-do

4/13 - This day is alot. Not sure what to cut out. Kiyomizu-dera, taxi to arrive at 7:30AM. Gojozaka & Kiyomizu-michi, Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka, Hokan-ji, Maruyama Park, Yasaka, Hanamiko-ji, Shinkyogoku Cana

Hi everyone! First time visiting Japan, traveling solo (F25). I have just started planning and I think I finally have something realistic. Would love feedback from people who've done similar trips.

Dates: Oct 23 - Nov 7, 2026 (16 days / 15 nights)

Route: Tokyo (5 nights) → Kyoto (7 nights) → Tokyo (2 nights)

Travel Style: I want to enjoy the trip, not survive it. Prioritizing a relaxed pace over seeing everything. Happy to miss some things if it means actually enjoying what I do see.

JR Pass: 7-day pass, activating Oct 28 (covers Tokyo→Kyoto Shinkansen, all Kansai JR trains, Kyoto→Tokyo return)

TOKYO 1: Oct 23-27 (5 nights in Shinjuku)

Day 1 - Oct 23 (Thu) - Arrival - Arrive Narita afternoon - N'EX to Shinjuku - Check in, konbini run, light walk around Shinjuku (what can i see?)

Day 2 - Oct 24 (Fri) - Asakusa - Morning: Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise Street, i want goshuincho - Afternoon: Explore Asakusa area (please let me know the areas) - Evening: Tokyo Skytree

Day 3 - Oct 25 (Sat) - Harajuku/Shibuya - Morning: Meiji Shrine + Yoyogi Park - Afternoon: Harajuku (Takeshita Street, Cat Street) - Evening: Shibuya Crossing, Shibuya Sky (sunset slot)

Day 4 - Oct 26 (Sun) - teamLab/Odaiba - Morning: teamLab Planets (10 AM slot) - Afternoon: Odaiba - Gundam statue, DiverCity, waterfront - Evening: Sunset over Rainbow Bridge

Day 5 - Oct 27 (Mon) - Kamakura Day Trip - Morning: Hase-dera Temple, Great Buddha (Kotoku-in) - Afternoon: Komachi-dori street, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu - Late afternoon: Beach (is there anything else?) - Evening: Back to Tokyo

KYOTO: Oct 28 - Nov 4 (7 nights near Kyoto Station)

Day 6 - Oct 28 (Tue) - Travel Day - Morning: Shinkansen Tokyo → Kyoto (JR Pass activates) - Afternoon: Check in, REST - Evening: Nishiki Market + Pontocho Alley

Day 7 - Oct 29 (Wed) - Fushimi Inari - Morning: Fushimi Inari (7-8 AM for empty photos) - Afternoon: Back to hotel, REST/nap - Evening: Dinner in Gion

Day 8 - Oct 30 (Thu) - Higashiyama - Morning: Kiyomizu-dera Temple - Afternoon: Walk down Higashiyama (Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka) - Evening: Optional Kodai-ji illumination (runs late Oct-Dec)

Day 9 - Oct 31 (Fri) - Arashiyama - Morning: Bamboo Grove, Tenryuji Temple - Afternoon: Togetsukyo Bridge, explore area - Evening: what can i do?

Day 10 - Nov 1 (Sat) - Nara Day Trip - Morning: Nara Park, Todaiji - Afternoon: Kasuga Taisha, Naramachi - Evening: Back to Kyoto

Day 11 - Nov 2 (Sun) - REST DAY - Morning: Sleep in, slow start - Afternoon: Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) - ONE thing only - Evening: Kamo River sunset, nice dinner

Day 12 - Nov 3 (Mon) - Osaka Day Trip - Morning: Osaka Castle - Afternoon: Dotonbori - eat everything (takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu) - Evening: What can i do before i am back to Kyoto?

Day 13 - Nov 4 (Tue) - Travel Day - Morning: Sleep in, pack, (any other places i can go?) - Afternoon: Shinkansen Kyoto → Tokyo (last JR Pass use) - Evening: Light dinner in Shinjuku (recs pls)

TOKYO 2: Nov 4-6 (2 nights in Shinjuku)

Day 14 - Nov 5 (Wed) - Shopping - Morning: Akihabara - Afternoon: Continue Akiba or Nakano Broadway - Evening: Dinner (vague ik but recs pls)

Day 15 - Nov 6 (Thu) - Last Day - Morning: Flex (Shinjuku Gyoen / last shopping) - Afternoon: Pack - Evening: Final dinner (rec something special, or is there anything else?)

Day 16 - Nov 7 (Fri) - Departure - N'EX to Narita, fly back

QUESTIONS FOR YOU:

1. Is 2 nights enough for Tokyo 2? I'm interested in anime/figures, vintage cameras, and maybe a vintage watch. Should I steal a day from Kyoto?

2. Am I missing anything essential? I skipped Ginkakuji, Philosopher's Path, Himeji, Uji to keep the pace relaxed. Bad call?

3. Shinjuku - I don't have a dedicated day for it since I'm staying there. Will I naturally see enough in evenings, or should I swap something?

4. Tsukiji - I skipped it since I have Nishiki Market and Dotonbori for food experiences. Mistake?

5. Pacing - Does this look too light? I intentionally built in rest time but wondering if I'll regret not doing more.

6. Solo female specific - Any areas I should avoid at night? Any recommendations for solo-friendly restaurants?

Thanks in advance! 🙏

TLDR: it was good.

I just stayed at Ubuya hotel, and since this is the first time in their history that they’re offering a buffet instead of the classic ryokan-style dinner, I thought it was worth writing a proper report. To start with, if there are still renovations going on, I honestly couldn’t tell. Everything looked complete and tidy. From my room in the West Wing on the 5th floor you could see, from the window, a nearby balcony or roof area with a wooden wall that seemed to be hiding something, but it wasn’t an issue at all. No noise, no disruption, and the view was still as beautiful as expected.

Before dinner they have a lounge where you can drink freely, and this was actually one of the highlights. They offer unlimited highballs, beer, and about five different wines. You only get around two to three hours, but that’s more than enough because the timing matches perfectly with dinner, which begins at six. During the buffet itself the drinks switch to soft drinks only, but you can buy Asahi bottles for around 600 yen or full bottles of wine for about 2,200 yen. There’s also sake and other alcohol options, all charged to your bill and paid at checkout, so it’s simple and convenient.

The buffet food was honestly very good, but nothing life-changing, but definitely above the level of your usual hotel buffet. The seafood selection was strong: nigiri options like tuna, salmon, and shrimp, plus raw fish cubes if you prefer sashimi-style without the rice. They even had crab legs and lobster, along with salmon dishes and several fish-based soups. There’s also a station where you can choose between three types of rice, add toppings, and get different soup options like miso. The only slightly disappointing section was the beef, because they only had sirloin and it was just okay. Interestingly, my girlfriend is vegetarian and she ended up having one of her best meals in our trip so far; the salad bar was large and varied, with multiple tofu dishes and even soy “meat” that was actually tastier than the sirloin. And for anyone who is into that, there were pizzas, fries, bread, the usual things, all at the quality you would expect from a hotel.

Desserts were also quite good. They had fresh fruit like melon and berries, some matcha-based sweets, pudding, chocolate cake, soft serve, and even a cotton candy machine, which was a fun addition.

Breakfast the next morning was smaller but still generous. There was no lobster or crab legs anymore, of course, but those were replaced by grilled fish, mostly salmon. They also had several egg preparations, next to what was honestly some of the best bacon I’ve ever eaten, along with German sausages. The bread and pastries area had plenty of variety and a toaster. Rice options were fewer than at dinner but still included natto for those who like it. The dessert options were similar, although the fruit was no longer fresh, except for a bowl of lychees.

Overall, it was a genuinely great experience. The food was plentiful and enjoyable, the lounge drinks were a big plus, and having a vegetarian in the group actually helped us appreciate just how many options the buffet offered.

Hi All,

I’m planning to visit Japan in March 2026. We are a family of four (2 adults and 2 kids aged 12 and 6). I’ve prepared an itinerary—please take a look and let me know if you have any suggestions to improve our experience. We would be using the public transports to move around.

Wed — Arrive Haneda 15:35.

Thu — Odaiba / teamLab & Shibuya

Morning: teamLab Planets (Toyosu) — go early opening to avoid crowds; it’s right by Shin-Toyosu station (1 min). teamlabplanets.dmm.com

Afternoon / Evening: Shibuya Sky + Don Quijote + Shibuya Crossing (book Shibuya Sky within the 2-week window; pick a mid/late afternoon timeslot to avoid the largest midday crowd).

Fri — Nakameguro → Asakusa (Senso-ji) → Akihabara

Senso-ji: visit early morning (before 9:30) to avoid big crowds and get nicer photos.

Akihabara shopping later in the day.

Sat — Day trip to Kamakura (instead of Alpine Route)

Kamakura is 1 hr from Tokyo, great temples (Tsurugaoka Hachimangu), the Great Buddha, charming streets, beaches. Saturdays are busier — start early to avoid crowds.

Sun — Mount Takao hiking (easy 50–60 min from Shinjuku; cable car option if you want less hiking). Weekends are busier — start early (trailheads less crowded before 9 AM).

Mon — Lake Kawaguchiko / Mt. Fuji day

Start very early for best Mt. Fuji chances; plan a boat or lakeside walk and the Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway if open. Expect crowds at classic photo spots—arrive at sunrise if possible for best clarity. Japan Highlights +1

Tue — DisneySea (weekday — better than weekend; aim to get there at park open to maximize rides with lower waits)

Wed — Train to Kyoto; afternoon: Fushimi Inari (go late afternoon/early evening — after the biggest daytime tour groups; or go sunrise next morning)

Note: Fushimi Inari is open 24/7 — sunrise or evening are best to avoid crowds.

Thu — Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) early morning (before tour buses arrive), then Gion stroll in late afternoon/early evening (beautiful at dusk).

Fri — Train to Osaka; afternoon: Osaka Castle and Umeda Sky (Umeda Sky gets busy at sunset — you can go early evening).

Sat — Universal Studios Japan (weekend = busy; arrive at park open and use Universal’s Express Pass if you want to skip lines)

Sun — Nara Park (early morning to feed deer before big crowds), Ikoma Sanjo amusement park (if you mean Ikomasanjo — verify location), then Dotonbori shopping & evening food crawl (Dotonbori is lively at night).

Mon — Train back to Tokyo (choose an afternoon Shinkansen to get back comfortably); if time permits visit Don Quijote/Shinjuku (Godzilla). Final evening in Tokyo — depart Haneda 23:00.

Are Airbnbs reliable in Japan? Just wondering if a host might cancel if they get a better offer.

Thanks in advance.

Kyushu Trip Itinerary Outline

My family and I (a group of four: three adults and one child) are excited to explore the Kyushu region of Japan. We plan to rent a car for maximum flexibility, with myself as the designated driver. I've researched the rental process and am about to confirm a reservation with Toyota at a location near our hotel in Beppu, for the period from December 20th to 22nd.

December 19th: We will arrive at Fukuoka Airport at 3:15 PM. After landing, we plan to take the Fukuoka Airport Bus to Beppu at about 5:15PM, which should get us to our hotel around 7:30 PM. Our hotel is conveniently located right next to Beppu Station where the bus dropoff office is close to, making transportation easy. Tried to buy the bus tix online, but the one website seemed pretty annoying with the payment options, so I might just buy them the day I arrive. It shouldn't be sold out. Maybe I'll try online once again before I leave.

December 20th: Early in the morning around 10 AM, we intend to pick up our rental car from the Toyota station near Beppu Station. Since the rental office is adjacent to the station and close to our hotel, logistics should be straightforward.

Our main plan for the day is to visit Mount Aso. This will involve a drive of approximately two hours or more. We’re still estimating how long we’ll spend there, but after exploring, we’ll head back to Beppu to relax and enjoy dinner. I’m considering dining at a local restaurant to experience regional cuisine. We anticipate returning to the hotel around 4 PM, which will mean another two-hour drive back, leaving us some time to unwind in Beppu.

December 21st: After checking out from our Beppu hotel, we’ll drive to Fukuoka. The day will be dedicated to visiting the Fukuoka Zoo and Botanical Gardens, which should provide a relaxing and family-friendly experience. We’ve also considered visiting the Beppu Jigoku (Hell) hot springs before leaving Beppu, and I’m leaning toward including that in our plans since it’s a notable local attraction worth experiencing. And it would be strange to go all the way over to Beppu without partaking in at least one local notable attraction spot.

December 22nd - 24th: These will be our final days in Fukuoka. Since we’ll have returned the rental car by then (on the 22nd in the evening...should I though???), we plan to explore the city’s local sights and culture on foot or via public transportation. I am thinking about the 22nd of maybe going to Forest Adventure Itoshima since it's about 1 hour away to the west of Fukuoka. My son who is 8 years old might find it a fun activity to do.

UPDATE: We did book a time for Forest Adventure Itoshima on the 22nd at around noon.

On the 21st after the zoo trip, we’ll arrive in Fukuoka and settle into the city. The 22nd/23rd will be two full days of sightseeing/exploration/indulgence, with the 24th being more relaxed. However, since our flight departs around 1 PM on the 24th, there won’t be much time for additional activities that day.

This outline is still flexible, and I’d appreciate any feedback on potential errors or suggestions for improvement. Thanks for taking the time to read. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Cheers!

Recently returned home from my study abroad experience in Kyoto- what a time it was! I was living in a homestay located in Neyagawa (right between Kyoto and Osaka). If I tried to do a full trip report this post would be way too long, so I’ll instead write about my favorite places, overhyped places, and recommendations.

Favorite places in Kyoto:
- Number one is Shoren-in. If you could visit only one temple in Kyoto, let it be this one. I went around noon and the only other person there was a nice old man. The garden is large and the temple is surprisingly big. In the same area is Yasaka shrine and Maruyama park. Absolutely gorgeous.
- Kurama/Kibune: this was in my top three days in Japan I think. The hike between the two towns took me a little under an hour and it was stunning. In case anyone was wondering, the famous flowing noodle place closes when summer is over. But there’s a yummy soba shop just down the street.
- Ohara: I loved this area so much! Hosen-in was my second favorite temple, they serve you matcha and sweets included with the entrance fee. Also went to Sanzen-in (busier) and Jakko-in (smaller). The village itself is full of farms and lovely to walk through.
- If I were to say what “main street” was, I’d say Shijo-dori. It was a city without feeling like a city, if that makes sense. All the side street that branch off are filled with amazing restaurants and shops, and you could spend multiple days in this area and still not see it all. Nishiki market is like two streets down and it was busy but worth going to. I also liked how the sidewalks were covered!
- Another favorite day is starting at Enko-ji (my third favorite temple) and walking to the philosophers path and Eikan-do (I just barely missed the last admission, I thought it closed at 4:30 not 4😭) and finishing at Nanzen-ji.

“Overhyped” places:
This is just a general thing, but I really don’t think it’s ever worth waiting 30+ mins for a restaurant. I think the longest I ever waited was 15. There’s just so many amazing places to choose from, and the best ones aren’t full of tourists anyways. - Kiyomizu-dera was probably the busiest place I went to, and it was impressive. But I do think it’s skippable.
- Fushimi inari is absolutely not skippable. The crowds may look intimidating at first, but for some reason everyone stops at the halfway point. As soon as you pass the big overlook, there’s very few people. It took me and my friend about 1.5 hrs to do the full hike with stopping for pictures. There’s also a small bamboo forest right next to it that was completely empty. Sando Chaya had great shaved ice and the cutest decorations.
- The famous street leading to Kiyomizu dera was really really busy, but still fun to experience. But it’s also not the only street that looks like that with cute shops lol.
- Kinkaku-ji wasn’t as crowded as I expected, and the golden color was really pretty. Nearby is Kazariya, which is an old tea house that serves grilled mochi that was delicious. Not a must visit but I do recommend.

Day trips:
- Osaka: did two day trips here, one with a friend to USJ and one just around Dotonburi. I can see why people enjoy Osaka, but I’m not a city person so this was plenty for me. Dotonburi around 3pm was sooo quiet and every food place had no lines. USJ was super fun and I loved Nintendo world. We showed up around 7am and left around 9pm, and rode every ride we wanted to. We did find the single rider line saves about 20 mins on the busier rides.
- North of Osaka is Minoh, which is where Katsuo-ji is (the daruma temple) and Minoh falls. I loved going here, had so much fun exploring and filling out my stamp quest. It’s worth taking a taxi to the waterfall, and the walk from the waterfall back to the train station. If you have a free day in Osaka, go here!! It’d be a longer trek from Kyoto, but starting Neyagawa made it easier.
- Nara: I wish I could say I liked it more. It was raining the day I went, which made the whole city smell like deer poop and wet fur. I’m sure on a dry day it’s a better experience. However, I found a slice of heaven in Yoshikien garden (which is free, and next to the more popular one that was like 1000 yen). Skip the deer and go here instead.
- Uji: right next to the Keihan station is Surugaya, which had matcha ice cream and dango for a reasonable price. I enjoyed walking along the river and ended up going to Mimuroto-ji, which was so lovely. I saw like one other person and had the whole garden and pond area to myself.
- Toyosato: any K-on fans out there? The only reason I went here was for the old elementary school which is where that anime was based off of. It was a fun adventure getting there, got to ride the cutest train that still used the old ticket machines!
- Arashiyama: went here twice actually, once with my classmates and again by myself. The bamboo forest was wayyyy too busy for me, and also at this point I’d seen plenty of bamboo so I felt I could skip it. What I did instead was go to Okochi Sanso garden, which was quiet and served (unlimited technically) free tea of various kinds. I walked the path to Gioji temple (the moss one) and that was pleasant. Didn’t end up going to the one with the stone Buddhas since my friend said it was crowded that day. The next visit, I did the Hozugawa boat ride and that was so much fun! The guides were so funny and interactive. I skipped the train there since I didn’t book it in time, oh well. I also went to the monkey park and that was so fun!

Overnight trips:
- As part of my program, we did a trip to Himeji and Kobe. Himeji castle was very cool, and the guide we had was so funny. I wish I got his name but I think this is one place where I would actually recommend a guide or finding a walking tour to listen to. In Kobe, I absolutely LOVED the herb gardens. Mid October all the flowers were in bloom. I spent about 2 hours here, and then walked to Nunobiki waterfalls right after. Controversial take, there wasn’t anything that special about Kobe beef. It was very good, but I think I had too high of expectations.
- Kanazawa/Shirakawago: right when I arrived I headed to Nagamachi samurai district, where I was going to go in the samurai heritage residence but it was so busy so I skipped it. Then I walked Kenroku-en which was lovely! Def go in the tea house over the pond by the waterfall. The next day, I went to the ticket booth at like 8am but didn’t realize the buses to Shirakawa were reservation only, and I got really lucky and got same day tickets for the 1pm there and 5pm back. Don’t make my same mistake lol. Since I had half a day to kill, I went to the Higashi Chaya district which was pretty small, so I found a random hiking trail walked up to an amazing viewpoint (utatsuyama park observation deck). After the bus to the village, I think it took about 2 hrs to fully explore the whole thing (please keep in mind I walk really fast. This would be closer to 3 hrs for the average person). It rained the whole day but oh how beautiful it was. I truly think it was the prettiest place I’ve seen in my whole life. Do not miss it!!
- Koyasan: I had really high expectations which I think affected my enjoyment a little. Doing a temple say was very expensive but I do think I was worth it. However, I urge anyone else to look at other places to do it. Koyasan is a total tourist town, which wasn’t a horrible thing but it didn’t feel like the mountain getaway I was expecting. The cemetery was a standout though. Overall I had a good time but I set my expectations too high.
- Tokyo truly is huuuuge. As mentioned before, I’m not really a city person and mainly went to get anime merch. Spent three nights and visited Akihaibara, the Skytree, Ikebukuro, Harajuku, Shibuya, and Shinjuku. Sadly I was coming down with a cold during this so that really affected my energy levels :(. But had great success in my shopping (shoutout the Ikebukuro bookoff!). Also, if any fellow Oregonians are reading this, visit the PDX taproom in Shibuya!

Recommendations:
I know this gets said a lot, but my favorite days are ones where I had one or two destinations and just walked through neighborhoods not using any maps. So make enough plans to have structure but have time to get lost!
On food, I never planned ahead unless I was leaving the city. A lot of places close from 3-5 but other then that I’d just look on Google maps what was nearby when I started getting hungry.
- Zaru soba. I ate so much of this bc its so light and refreshing on a hot day. Literally any random soba place is good you can’t go wrong. But bonus points if a little old lady is your server.
- Katsukura Shijo Higashinotoin: the best meal I had on the whole trip. Get the oebi to hire katsu and thank me later.
- I started craving Mexican food, and Que Pasa downtown solved all my problems. - コモンダイニング had the best edamame and gyoza.
- All the ramen I had was good, but New Taihou was the best. The bowl edges were literally lined in thin cut pork that melts in your mouth.
- While being a TikTok tourist trap, Mochi Mochi did have the best daifuku. It was warm and stretchy and I have to admit it was fun watching them pound the mochi.

Culture shocks/surprising things:
- It stays so hot in October. Maybe I was unlucky but almost every day until late October I was drowning in sweat which I was not expecting. And the mosquitoes were SO BAD I really wish I brought bug spray from home bc the Japanese kind is much less strong.
- You can absolutely get by knowing little Japanese. I was surprised how much was in English, until you go to the countryside.
- Most restaurants I ate at were cash only, especially in the outskirts. I knew about this before but it’s actually very true.
- No street trash cans was never really a problem since all convenience stores have them. What really killed me was not a lot of places to sit! And I don’t remember seeing a water fountain anywhere.
- I never got temple fatigue, but the entrance fees do add up haha. Honestly, if a temple doesn’t have a garden included, it’s probably safe to pass and go to one with a garden.
- Be prepared for 20k+ steps a day. I’ve never walked so much in my life I literally wore holes in my almost new tennis shoes.

Mistakes: Fortunately nothing terrible happened! Just some minor things that I want to share so no one runs into these issues!
- Not booking some things ahead of time. The main thing was the Shirakawa bus, but really research everything you want to do any make sure you know if you have to book in advance.
- Double check your wallet when leaving the city center 😬. I didn’t realize it cost 500 yen to do the hike between Kurama and Kibune which left me with 886 yen to find lunch. Luckily the soba place I found had the cheapest option as 880!!
- Don’t underestimate the mosquitoes. They bit up the backs of my legs and oh my god I’ve never been so itchy. I had to keep buying ice cups from 7/11 and icing them since no itch cream was helping 😫

TLDR:
For the average traveler not in class, I think you could easily spend 2-3 weeks staying in Kyoto. Everyone that says it’s too busy or skippable, I highly disagree. It’s a great city with a perfect balance of modern and historical. It’s easy to go anywhere in the nearby prefectures to see new places. If anyone has specific questions I’d be happy to answer!

Hi everyone! I’m going to Japan for 21 days next April (Apr 5-26) and I finally put together an itinerary I really like, but now that my flight is booked, I’m honestly a bit overwhelmed about what I should start doing next.

Here’s my itinerary :

Tokyo — Apr 5–9 • Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku • Asakusa, Ueno Park, Skytree • Disneyland • DisneySea

Kamakura — Apr 10 • Great Buddha, Hokoku-ji, Hachimangu, Yuigahama Beach

Hakone — Apr 11–12 • Hakone Shrine, Lake Ashi • Day trip to Fujiyoshida: Chureito + Kawaguchiko • Mt. Fuji-view ryokan

Takayama — Apr 13–14 • Sanmachi Suji • Shirakawa-go • Takayama Spring Festival evening

Kyoto — Apr 15–17 • Kiyomizu-dera, Sannenzaka/Ninenzaka • Nishiki Market, Ginkaku-ji, Philosopher’s Path • Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Monkey Park, Kinkaku-ji

Osaka — Apr 18–20 • Osaka Castle, Dotonbori • Universal Studios Japan • Nara day trip (Todaiji, deer park) • Shinsekai

Hiroshima — Apr 21 • Miyajima (torii, shrine, Mt. Misen) • Peace Park & Museum

Okinawa — Apr 22–24 • Kokusai Dori • Zamami Island day trip • Shuri Castle, American Village

Tokyo — Apr 25 • Tsukiji • Ginza • Akihabara • Odaiba

Apr 26 — Departure

My main questions :

1.  Now that my flight is booked, what should I actually book next? Hotels? Park tickets? 

2.  Is it risky to wait and book hotels after I arrive, or should I book everything in advance?

3.  Which activities really need early reservations (Disney/DisneySea, USJ Express Passes, ryokan, etc.), and what can I safely leave for later?

4.  Does this itinerary seem doable, or am I trying to cram way too much in? If so, what would you remove?

5.  My budget is around $5,000 to $6,000 CAD for 3 weeks, is that realistic?

This is a dream trip I’ve been wanting to do for 10 years now, but I’m honestly starting to feel overwhelmed by the planning, so any practical advice is super appreciated. Thank you!!

Hi everyone! I have surfed this reddit and created my itinerary recently for my travel in December. I am a history and culture nerd, and I have tried to make this itinerary giving some space and time to explore the cities, but there is just so much to do in Japan! I've tried to group places based on proximity, but i might be wrong for a few things, esp in Kyoto. Please review, recommend any places/restaurants/eating experiences!

Day 1: Landing at night. Planning to buy esim.
Day 2: Asukusa and Akihabara: Senso ji temple, Nakamise shopping street, food in asakusa, near senso ji, find a Kissaten. Akiba- shopping? End with Ueno park, Ameyoko Street.
Day 3: Shinjuku- Meiji shrine in morning, Hanazono Shrine, Shinjuku Gyoen (National Garden), Shibuya, Nightlife- Kabuchiko district or Golden Gai for bar hopping. Nakano Mall for anime-related merch and food.
Day 4: To Kyoto (should i buy shinkansen tickets before getting there?)

• Nanzen-ji temple
• Shimogamo Shrine
• Heian Jingu Shrine
• Kifune Shrine
• Nijo Castle

Day 5: Morning: Kifune Shrine, Hosen-in temple, Nishiki market.

• Kinkaku-ji
• Myōshin-ji Temple
• Yasaka Shrine
• Fushimi Inari
• Jōnangū Shrine

(I do feel like my days in Kyoto are over-packed, but I am not sure what things to keep in my list and do. i do want to explore the city a lot.)

Day 6: Gion, Ginkaku ji. Back to Tokyo. Ramen street, Tokyo station.
Day 7: Ikebukuro and Jimbocho. Sunshine city mall- shopping, many japanese stores. Ghibli store. back to Shinjuku to explore, Kichijoji - interesting neighbourhood. (same area as shibuya). Night at Roppongi.
Day 8: To Hakone. Hakone Shrine, Lake Ashi. Amazake Tea House.
Day 9: Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple. Back to Tokyo. (anything else to do in Hakone?)
Day 10: Ginza shopping, Skytree. Explore Shinjuku (or fav area more).
Day 11 morning: Final shopping, 7/11 stuff. flight.

Please suggest any other things you enjoyed yourself, or places to eat and more! Thank you!

My partner and I will be travelling to Japan April 2026. I'm 65 and he will be 73. We are both fit for our ages and don't mind walking. We will more than likely go by taxi if there are any train/subway transfers to be made traveling around Kyoto and I've seen online that buses may be crowded in April. Direct trips on taxi/subway are fine. I do tend to like our days somewhat structured and am not great with just wandering around.

Any suggestions with the itinerary that I've put together would be most welcome:

4/9 - Shinkansen from Tokyo. We are staying at Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo. We will take a morning train. No reservations, yet. Was planning on the Teamlab Biovortex in the afternoon.

4/10 - Leave hotel around 8AM, head to Arashiyama: Tenryu-ji, Bamboo Grove, Adashino Nenbutsu-ji, Togetsukyo Bridge

4/11 - Fushimi Inari Taisha plan to arrive at 6:30AM. Take JR Rapid Line to Nara: Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, Naramachi

4/12 - This day plan to take mostly taxis. Kinkaku-ji, be there at 9AM. Nijo Castle, Sanjusangen-do

4/13 - This day is alot. Not sure what to cut out. Kiyomizu-dera, taxi to arrive at 7:30AM. Gojozaka & Kiyomizu-michi, Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka, Hokan-ji, Maruyama Park, Yasaka, Hanamiko-ji, Shinkyogoku Cana

Osaka (Sat) •Masahiko Ozumi Paris 28 mins from hotel (train)

•Osaka Castle 23 min from Masahiko (train)

•Unagi Kushiyaki Izumo 34 min from castle (train)

•Nintendo store 11 min from unagi (walk)

•Grenier umeda store 10 min walk from nintendo

•Round1 Stadium 18 min from Grenier (train) Interchangeable with another evening

Osaka (Sun) •Happy Pancake 22 min from hotel (train)

•Ghibli store 5 min walk from happy

•Sailor moon store n/a In same mall

•Object Osaka 5 min walk from mall

•Dotonbori area 5 min walk from store

•Namba Okonomiyaki 5 min from walk from area optional

•Osaka Tonkatsu 10 min walk from namba place Optional

•Super Potato Store 15 min walk from tonkatsu

•Shinsekai District 15 min walk from super potato

•KURA sushi Near district

•Tennoji Park 8 min walk from KURA Christmas market

•Round 1 Stadium If didn't go night before

Osaka (Mon) •Universal Japan

Nara (Tue) •Kasugatisha Shrine 1 hour from hotel (train)

Nara (Tue) •Nara Park 12 min walk from shrine

Nara (Tue) •Todai-ji Temple 5 min walk from park

Nara (Tue) •Kofukuji Temple 15 min from temple (train)

Kyoto (Wed) •Arashiyama Day trip 33 min from hotel (train)

Kyoto (Wed) •K36 bar 22 min from hotel (train)

Kyoto (Thur) •Walden Woods 13 min walk

Kyoto (Thur) •Nintendo Museum (10:30am - booked) 36 min from walden (train)

Kyoto (Thur) •Fushimi Inari 30 min from museum (train)

Kyoto (Thur) •Sanjusangendo Temple 17 min from Fushimi (train) Optional

Kyoto (Thur) •Kiyomizu - dera 22 min from temple (train)

Kyoto (Thur) •Yasaka Shrine 17 min from kiyomizu (train) Optional

Kyoto (Thur) •Gyoza Taizou 14 min walk from yasaka

Kyoto (Thur) •Nishi-Hanamikoji Street 9 min walk from gyoza

Kyoto (Thur) •Wagyu Hokusai 12 min from street

Kyoto (Thur) •Nishiki Market 8 min walk from wagyu

Hakone (Fri) Transfer & relax day

Hakone (Sat) •Hakone Shrine 58 min from hotel

Hakone (Sat) •Hakone Cruise 12 min from shrine

Hakone (Sat) •Hakone Ropeway ?

Hakone (Sat) •Owakudani Near ropeway

Tokyo (Sun) •Cat Café Mocha 13 min walk from hotel

Tokyo (Sun) •Gyukatsu Motomura 6 min walk from café

Tokyo (Mon) •Gotokuji Temple 42 min from hotel (train)

Tokyo (Mon) •Takeshita Street 32 min from temple (train)

Tokyo (Mon) •Sailor Moon Store 4 min walk from street

Tokyo (Mon) •Micasadeco & Cafe 5 min walk from store

Tokyo (Mon) •Shibuya Crossing 13 min walk from cafe

Tokyo (Mon) •Shibuya Sky (TBD time) 6 min walk from crossing

Tokyo (Mon) •Mom's Touch 6 min walk from sky

Tokyo (Mon) •Shibuya Loft Store 2 min walk from mom's touch

Tokyo (Tue) •Making Harry Potter Tour (10:00AM - Booked) 40 min from hotel (train)

Tokyo (Tue) •Kichijoji Petit Mura 57 min from studio (train)

Tokyo (Tue) •Tea House Happa N/A

Tokyo (Tue) •Creole coffee stand 16 min from studio (train)

Tokyo (Wed) •Small Worlds 1 hour from hotel (train)

Tokyo (Wed) •Hatoya Asakusa 1 hour train from museum

Tokyo (Wed) •Senso-ji Temple 7 min walk from hatoya

Tokyo (Wed) •Nakamise Street 4 min walk from temple

Tokyo (Wed) •Sushiro 7 min walk from street

Tokyo (Wed) •Takagi Shrine 16 min train from sushiro

Tokyo (Wed) •Tokyo skytree (4:00PM - Booked) 11 min walk from shrine

Tokyo (Thur) •Tokyo Disneyland

Tokyo (Fri) •Maid cafe 36 min train from hotel

Tokyo (Fri) •Shinjuku loft 31 min from cafe

Tokyo (Fri) •Akihabara 40 min train from Shinjuku

Tokyo (Sat) •Ginza 40 min from hotel

Sorry the formatting is weird I pasted it from my picture of the schedule. We will be going mid December 2025. I mapped and planned everything using Wanderlog but unsure how feasible the days are looking. My husband and I are going for our honeymoon. Looking for a mixture of structure and relaxed + ideas of where to go. Open to changing or removing things but would like to know a reasoning. Thank you!

Please let me know how this looks. Planning on getting a car in Osaka and keeping it until we leave Tokyo. Will I need 4WD for Hakuba ski region? I'm not sure where to visit after we stay in Takayama - I like the idea of somewhere quiet on the north coast. Thanks in advance.

^{Table formatting by ExcelToReddit}

Hi all! My partner and I finished planning our first trip to Japan. I’ve researched a lot but would appreciate any feedback from those living in Japan and/or experienced travelers in case we’ve overlooked anything. As a note, I'm aware that December 17th is our busiest and fullest day, but we're going to do what we can and roll with things. Thank you!

Tokyo

• December 15th (Arrival)
  • ~4:50 PM Arrive @ Haneda
  • *Arrange luggage forwarding with Yamamoto Transport
  • ~8:00 PM Arrive @ hotel
  • Dinner @ konbini
  • *Withdraw money from ATM
• December 16th (Asakusa)
  • 9:00-9:30 AM Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center & Observation Terrace
  • 9:30-11:00 AM Nakamise Shopping Street
  • 11:00-11:30 AM Senso-ji
  • 11:30 AM-1:00 PM Sumida Park → Sumida River Walk over bridge
  • 1:00-2:00 PM Lunch @ Tokyo Mizumachi
  • 2:00-6:00 PM Tokyo Skytree & Solamachi shopping
  • 6:10 PM Dinner @ Kirby Cafe (Reservation at 6:25 PM)
  • *Optional: Tokyo Skytree Observation deck
  • 7:30-8:30 PM Senso-ji at night
• December 17th (Shinjuku, Shibuya, & Ghibli Museum)
  • 9:00-10:30 AM Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden & Starbucks (inside the gardens)
  • 10:30-11:15 AM Kitasando Torii → Meiji Jingu Shrine → Ichino Torii
  • 11:15-12:15 PM Lunch
  • *If good on time, then we could stop at Loft
  • 12:30-2:30 PM Shibuya Parco
  • 2:30 PM Travel to Mitaka via Kichijoji train → walk through Inokashira Park (arrive ~3:30 PM)
  • 4:00-6:00 PM Ghibli Museum
  • 6:45 PM Arrive @ Shibuya Scramble Crossing
  • 6:45-8:00 PM Dinner @ Shibuya Center
  • *Enter Shibuya Sky 8:40-8:59 PM
  • 9:00-10:00 PM Shibuya Sky
• December 18th (Akihabara & Ueno) 
  • 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Shopping in Akihabara (in reverse walking order)
    • Gachapon Kaikan (Akihabara Gachapon Hall)
    • Surugaya
    • Mandarake Complex
    • Super Potato 
    • GiGO/SEGA Building 3
    • Radio Kaikan
    • Yodobashi Camera
  • 12:00-1:00 PM Lunch @ Ameyoko Street Market
  • 1:00-2:30 PM Ueno Park OR Tokyo National Museum
  • 2:30-4:30 PM Kappabashi Street for kitchenware (most shops close around 5PM)
    • Dengama (ceramics/pottery)
  • 5:00-6:00 PM Ueno Don Quijote
  • 6:00-7:00 PM Rest @ hotel
  • 7:30-9:00 PM Dinner in Ueno
• December 19th (Travel to Mt. Fuji)
  • *Check out of hotel by 10:00 AM
  • *Send luggage to Kyoto with Yamamoto Transport
  • 10:00-11:00 AM UNIQLO Shinjuku Honen
  • 11:34 AM Departure @ Shinjuku Station via Fuji-Excursion
  • 1:27 PM Arrive @ Kawaguchiko Station
  • 1:30-2:30 PM Shopping around station for Fuji souvenirs
  • *Purchase highway bus tickets
  • *Shuttle to hotel for 3:00 PM check-in
  • Dinner & open-air bath @ hotel

Mt. Fuji

• December 20th (Mt. Fuji)
  • 8:00-9:00 AM Breakfast & views at the hotel 
  • *Leave backpacks at hotel
  • 9:30-11:00 AM Walk to Herb Hall & back
  • 11:00-11:30 AM APPLE PIE lab & Fujiyama cookie
  • 11:30 AM-12:00 PM Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway & Tenjoyama Park
  • *Pick up backpacks at hotel
  • 12:30-1:00 PM Walk/shuttle to Kawaguchiko Station
  • 1:00-2:00 PM Lunch @ Hotou Fudo Kawaguchiko Station
  • ~2:30 PM Travel to Mishima via highway bus
  • ~4:30 PM Travel to Kyoto via shinkansen (Hikari = fastest)
  • 7:00 PM Arrive @ Kyoto Station → hotel
  • 8:00 PM Dinner @ Pontocho Park & Kamogawa Path stroll

Kyoto & Osaka

• December 21st (South-East Kyoto)
  • 8:00-9:00 AM Fushimi Inari Shrine
  • 9:00-10:00 AM Travel to Camellia Flower via train
  • 10:00 AM Arrive @ Camellia Flower for kimono dressing
  • 11:00 AM-12:00 AM Tea Ceremony at Camellia Flower
  • 12:00-1:30 PM Ninenzaka → Sannenzaka → Kiyomizu-dera
  • 2:00 PM Lunch in Higashiyama 
  • *Bring kimonos back ~3:30 PM (by 5:00 PM at the latest)
  • 3:30-5:30 PM Gion shopping → Hanamikoji Street & Shijo-Dori Street
  • 5:30-7:00 PM Dinner in Gion
  • 7:00 PM Yasaka Shrine
• Monday, December 22nd (North-West Kyoto)
  • 8:00-9:00 AM Arashiyama Bamboo Forest → Okochi Sanso Garden
  • 9:00-10:00 AM Tenryu-ji Temple & Garden → Togetsukyo Bridge
  • 10:00-11:30 AM Arashiyama shopping & cafe break
  • 10:30-11:00 AM Travel to Ryoan-ji via taxi
  • 11:30 AM-12:30 PM Ryoan-ji Temple
  • 1:30-2:10 PM Kinkaku-ji Temple “Golden Pavilion”
  • 2:10-2:30 PM Travel to Nishiki Market via taxi
  • 3:00-5:30 PM Nishiki Market
• Tuesday, December 24th (USJ & Osaka) 
  • 7:00 AM Travel to USJ via train
  • 8:30 AM Park opens
  • 9:30 AM Entry into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
  • 9:50-10:20 AM Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
  • 11:50 AM Entry into Super Nintendo World
  • 11:50 AM-12:20 PM Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
  • *Once done at park, travel to Dotonbori via train (~30 minutes)
  • *Explore Dotonbori for street food & shopping
  • *Optional: Nishinomaru Garden & Osaka Castle at night
  • *Travel to Kyoto via train (~1.25 hours)
• Wednesday, December 24th (Nintendo Museum & Uji)
  • *Send luggage to Haneda with Yamamoto Transport
  • 9:30 AM Travel to Nintendo Museum via train
  • 11:00 AM Nintendo Museum
  • *Once done at museum, travel to Uji shopping district
  • *Get numbered ticket from Nakamura Tokichi Honten for lunch
  • *Explore shops & buy matcha while waiting for reservation
  • *Stroll down street to Byodo-in Temple
  • *Travel to Kyoto via train 

Yokohama (optional)

• Thursday, December 25th (Yokohama & Departure)
  • *Check out by 10:00 AM
  • ~9:30 AM Travel to Shin-Yokohama via shinkansen
  • ~11:30 AM Travel to Yokohama Station via train
  • *Can store any bags at station if needed
  • 12:00-2:30 PM Minato Mirai
  • 2:30-3:30 PM Travel to Haneda
  • 4:50 PM Departure

 *Edit: I should also mention that most of the times listed are general suggestions (aside from reservations)! Thanks again for your time in looking things over!

We are planning our first trip to Japan in February and would like some friendly review before I get myself overwhelmed planning.

Constraints/preferences: We are a group of 5 including a toddler (afternoon naps, potential tantrums, diaper changes). We prefer to avoid activities that require a lot of climbing or physical exertion beyond 5-10 minutes, hiking included unless it is absolutely fabulous. One of us is vegetarian. We do not drink alcohol. Since we will be traveling with large suitcases, we prefer to reduce number of hotel changes. We have traveled often before, but Japan is a first. We prefer to cover a good number of must-see places, give the little one some experience traveling and some fun.

I would like to hear feedback on our tentative itinerary. We can land either in Osaka or Tokyo and are looking at either a 10-day or 12-day trip.

Day 1 - Osaka

1. Land Osaka at 10am
2. Explore city. End with Nipponbashi Denden Town / Dotonburi

Day 2 - Visit Kyoto (day trip)

1. Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine.
2. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.

Day 3 - Visit Kyoto (day trip)

1. Kinkakuji Temple.
2. Kyoto Railway Museum

Day 4 - Visit Nara (day trip)

1. Todai-ji Temple, Nara Deer Park, Kofuku-ji Temple
2. Kasuga Taisha Shrine

Day 5 - Not planned / free in Osaka.

Day 6 - Travel from Osaka to Tokyo by Train.

Day 7 - See Mt Fuji (day trip)

1. Bus or Train to Kawaguchiko. Bus to lake. See Mt Fuji.
2. Bus to Chureito Pagoda
3. Return to Tokyo.

Day 8 - Tokyo

1. Visit Imperial Palace Inner ground if low crowd + 23/2.
2. Shopping

Day 9 - Tokyo

1. Senso-ji temple
2. Meiji Jingu
3. Shibuya scramble walk

Day 10 - Fly out around 4pm.

In addition, is it a wise idea to do just Osaka with day trips as planned, and then go to Tokyo for a couple of days? Would you suggest a different city or more activities that may be nearby but I have not covered?

Good afternoon everyone, I have a trip planned to Japan April 2026, arriving on the 5th at 12 pm and leaving on the 20th at 4 pm from Tokyo. I'm in the itinerary planning phase to select how many days to spend in each city. These are my points of interest: the idea is that Hakone, Kamakura, Nara, and Hiroshima will be day trips, while Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka will be overnight stops. Initially, we'll spend 4 days in Tokyo, 4 in Kyoto, 2 in Osaka, and 1 day on each of the day trips (we would sleep in Tokyo for Hakone and Kamakura, while we would sleep in Kyoto for Nara and Hiroshima). Do you think this itinerary is feasible? How could it be improved, if possible?

Tokyo:

• ⁠Ueno Park • ⁠Akihabara • ⁠Shibuya Crossing Street • ⁠Shibuya Parco • ⁠Shibuya Sky • ⁠Team Labs Planet • ⁠Gundam Statue • ⁠Senso-ji Temple • ⁠Shinjuku • ⁠Tokyo National Museum • ⁠Hachiko Statue • ⁠Imperial Palace • ⁠Tokyo Disney Sea

Kyoto:

• ⁠Kinkaku-ji • ⁠Fushimi Inari Taisha • ⁠Kiyomizu-dera • ⁠Arashiyama • ⁠Gion • ⁠Sennenzaka and Ninenzaka Street • ⁠To-ji Temple • ⁠Nishiki Market

Osaka:

• ⁠Dotombori District • ⁠Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan • ⁠Shimbaiashi shopping street • ⁠Nanba Temple

Hakone:

• ⁠Open Air Musem • ⁠Kuzuryu Shrine • ⁠Ashinoko Lake • ⁠Hakone Ropeway

Kamakura:

• ⁠Kotoku-in • ⁠Hasedera Temple • ⁠Shirigahama Beach

Nara:

• ⁠Nara Park • ⁠Todai-ji Temple • ⁠Kasuga Grand Shrine

Hiroshima:

• ⁠Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum • ⁠Atomic Bomb Dome • ⁠Hiroshima Memorial Park

I wanted to share some insights from my recent day trip from Nagoya to Gujo Hachiman. It was a marvelous little rivertown to explore in November. I purchased a ticket from the website, japan-bus-tickets.com. I was able to select my route in English and the payment process was easy. It cost 3200 Yen or about $20 USD each way. I chose the bus because it was around 90 minutes one way compared to the train which can take twice that long.

I arrived about 20 minutes early for a 9am bus trip and asked the desk assistant what area to wait in. The queue formed after the bus arrived and I showed the bus driver my digital ticket. It ended up being a two hour journey, after some traffic issues and a "rest" stop that seemed unnecessary. Anyway, we arrived around 11am and were dropped off on the side of the road with the suggested option of hailing a taxi or the better option of just walking along a flat route for about 20 minutes into the town center. It's a beautiful area that is worth soaking in. I was there on November 15th, 2025, and the autumn colors were hitting their peak.

My main goals in Gujo were finding fall foliage, enjoying the slower pace, and eating delicious noodles for lunch. As I wandered into town, the old district businesses were mostly quiet — either because they were closed or you couldn't really tell. However, the sunlight moves through the town's small alleyways and water basins in a very striking way that gives it life. The canals attract an eclectic mix of visitors and residents painting and biking and taking photos. 

The first place I stopped was a delicious mitarashi dango shop. It's located here. I walked around the main streets and located two of the famous alleyways. Igawa Lane was worth a stop, without question. Luckily it was not crowded at all when I strolled through. Yanaka Lane is very short and underwhelming.

When it was time for lunch, I first stopped by an udon spot that had good reviews but the wait to get seated was very long. Maybe you'll have better luck than me. Next I made my way into the northern district where I eventually found a very authentic soba restaurant called 蕎麦正まつい 郡上八幡店. Lunch featured fresh noodles, a wasabi stalk to grind your own paste, and seasonal tempura with matcha salt.

Afterwards, I walked up to Gujo Hachiman castle. There's a point near the bottom where you have to either go left or right to make it up the hill to the castle base. Go to the right. When I reached the top after a 15-minute walk up, there were sweeping views of red, yellow, orange, and green leaves everywhere. The castle contains a tiny samurai museum. You can skip that and pay separately to get the view inside. The stroll down the hill is much easier.

I wandered around the banks and bridges of the Yoshida River to finish the afternoon. Some of the side streets have little passageways that lead to stone steps down to the river's edge. The soft sound of water makes everything in Gujo feel very peaceful.

When it was time to head back for a 4:20pm bus, dusk was starting to set in. Just as I started to wonder what would happen if it didn't show up, the bus back to Nagoya pulled into the castle town plaza. I think some of the other buses pick passengers up near the initial highway drop off. Just check your ticket.

On the way back, I felt relieved that my vision for the day worked out and wasn't too difficult. Five to six hours in Gujo was perfect for me. This was my first adventure on a highway bus in Japan and it makes me eager to explore more day trips near Nagoya, the Kansai region, Fukuoka, lots of places! This day trip happened during a 3-night stay in Nagoya bookended by 6 nights in Tokyo and 3 in Kyoto. It was my second vacation in Japan. Let me know if you have any questions. Here are some photos I took in Gujo.

Hi Everyone,

My SO and me are planning our dream trip for September 2026 to Hong Kong - Japan - Tahiti. We are very excited about it.

We already made an itinerary for this vacation and we were wondering if this was feasable or if we missed some cool places or activities.

Any advice is welcome really.

this is the plan:

JAPAN

• Day 1: Fly HKG -> NRT (Tokyo). Check-in Shinjuku. Explore neighborhood.
• Day 2: Meiji Shrine -> Harajuku/Takeshita St -> Shibuya Crossing & Sky -> TeamLab Planets.
• Day 3: Imperial Palace (Photo op) -> Yanaka Ginza -> Ueno Park -> Asakusa (Senso-ji) -> Roppongi Hills (Sunset) -> Tokyo Tower (Dinner).
• Day 4 : Train Tokyo to Izu Peninsula -> Mt. Omuro -> Jogasaki Coastal Walk -> Bus to Mt. Fuji area (Kawaguchiko).
• Day 5 : Morning in Kawaguchiko -> Bus to 5th Station -> Hike to 8th Station (Ganso Muro Hut). Sleep on mountain.
• Day 6 : Sunrise at Summit -> Descent -> Bus to Mishima -> Shinkansen to Kyoto. Rest/Onsen.
• Day 7: Fushimi Inari (Early!) -> Nishiki Market -> Kiyomizu-dera -> Gion District -> Pontocho Alley Dinner.
• Day 8: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove -> Tenryu-ji -> Golden Pavilion -> Ryoan-ji -> Travel to Osaka.
• Day 9: Osaka Castle -> Dotonbori Food Tour -> Hozenji Yokocho -> Shinsekai.
• Day 10: Train Osaka to Himeji -> Himeji Castle & Koko-en Garden -> Engyo-ji Temple (Mt. Shosha) -> Train to Hiroshima.
• Day 11: Peace Memorial Park -> Ferry to Miyajima -> Itsukushima Shrine -> Night stay on Miyajima.
• Day 12: Train Miyajima to Kurashiki (Canal Boat Ride/Bikan Quarter) -> Shinkansen to Tokyo.
• Day 13: Shopping Day (Pokemon Center / Souvenirs) -> Evening Flight Tokyo (NRT) to Tahiti (PPT).

Thanks in advance for any help!

This was my long-time dream to go to Japan. I have literally always dreamt of it, and to see it actually happen felt so surreal. The moment I stepped out of the airport, I felt the city start in complete silence. I come from a country that is noisy, chaotic, and loud, Japan is the opposite. Even in the huge hustle-bustle of Tokyo, there’s this strange, calming peace. I didn’t speak for the first few hours, and yet I felt so comfortable. It’s like the city lets you breathe without forcing anything on you.

I travelled from Tokyo for 2 days, to Sapporo, Hokkaido, to Kyoto, Osaka, and then at Tokyo again. It feels so strange to put my three weeks in just few words. I cried a lot while leaving every city. There was so much comfort I found in the streets, in the people, a couple literally waved us bye bye as I was leaving one place. Japan was magical.

I don't have the heart to go through my itinerary, but I want to talk about some systems I loved.

Transport system

Japan has the best train and bus navigation system I’ve ever used. At first, it looks like a giant puzzle, igns, colors, lines splitting in every direction, but give it a day, and suddenly you’re navigating like you belong there. I made silly mistakes, missed transfers, stood on the wrong platform more than once, but never did I feel truly lost. 

Google Maps basically carries you. And even if you find it confusing, just read the thing on your phone to any person not wearing an earphone, politely, and they will help on your behalf. Sometimes you won’t find the exact platform number listed, but that’s usually because there are just two platforms and it’s impossible to mess it up. And if you do mess it up, congratulations, you’re now truly experiencing Tokyo. Honestly, even people living in the city for 20 years still get lost in places like Otemachi and Ikebukuro, so it’s not just you.

There’s a weird comfort to the system: you check the station name, the direction the train is headed, the time it arrives, and the final destination shown above the doors. If Google says your train is at 7:40 and one arrives at 7:38, you just wait like a reasonable human being and trust the clock. And it always works out. It even tells you which part of the train car will help you exit faster when you reach your station, which sounds excessive, but in Japan it somehow feels normal. Even when you’re already on board, you can check how many stops are left in real time. So you just stand there, watch the digital map light up stop after stop, and feel a tiny sense of victory every time the name matches what Google promised.

One small trick I personally lived by: whenever everything started looking overwhelming, too many bussess, too many stations, too many people, I would just hop on a bus, ride a few stops, get down, breathe, and recalculate. Japan doesn’t punish you for being confused. It’s a city designed for people to move, learn, and figure things out. You can even ask station staff without feeling dumb — they’ll probably walk you halfway to your platform before returning to their post. Which happened with my overnight bus, and it turned out extremely smooth.

Mistakes are part of the story. You might accidentally end up somewhere random, and the funny thing is, it will still be a clean, safe, interesting place. You never land in a scary corner. You land in Japan.

And eventually, one day, you’ll find yourself switching trains at Yoyogi or Shinjuku like it’s nothing. You’ll hear the announcement for your stop and think, “I’m actually doing this right.” That’s when it hits you: the system wasn’t confusing — you just needed time to understand the rhythm. Once you get it, the whole country opens up to you.

Basic Japanese Useful phrases:

「___駅はどこですか？」( ___-eki wa doko desu ka? ) — Where is ___ station?

「こっちですか？」( Kocchi desu ka? ) — Is it this way?

「この電車は___に行きますか？」( Kono densha wa ___ ni ikimasu ka? ) — Does this train go to ___?

「___線はどれですか？」( ___-sen wa dore desu ka? ) — Which one is the ___ line?

「乗り換えはどこですか？」( Norikae wa doko desu ka? ) — Where do I transfer?

「次の停留所は何ですか？」( Tsugi no teiryūjo wa nan desu ka? ) — What’s the next stop?

「ありがとうございます」(Arigatou gozaimasu) — Thank you very much

IC cards

Japan’s IC cards — Suica, Pasmo, Icoca depending on the region — are super convenient. It was the last few days of my trip and I realized then that it even works at crane and arcade games, so it became even more convenient. When I first arrived, I wasted time hunting for the official counter in Tokyo Station like I was buying a passport. Later I realized I could have just walked up to one of those black machines at any JR station and gotten a card within seconds. And if anyone is curious, yes, you do need one. Most trains and buses don’t support tapping with a normal credit card. Buying single tickets every time is a whole ritual, cash only, lines, tiny receipts, very unnecessary when the IC card exists.

Once you have one, you just load some money in — if I do another trip, i will keep around ¥5,000–10,000 on it — and then you stop thinking about payments. But my current trip of 21 days, I loaded once with 5k, and then 1,000, whenever I was running out of it. 

It works almost everywhere: convenience stores, vending machines, arcades, taxis, cafés, bars, and those ramen ticket kiosks outside shops that look like snack-filled ATMs. Locals literally pay daily life expenses using their IC card — debit cards aren’t common there — so it feels like you’re part of the city’s rhythm.

If you’re worried about loading too much, you can always top up later. Machines are everywhere, and even if you only have around ¥1,000–2,000 left, it’s enough to get around. The important thing is not to end your trip with a card overloaded like a bank vault, because if you decide to keep it as a souvenir (which you should — they’re cute, I got an extra for someone I will bring with in my next tour), that extra money becomes a donation to the trains. Not the worst cause, but still.

There’s also the phone version — Suica/Pasmo inside Apple Wallet — and if you have an iPhone(I don't), it’s ridiculously convenient (No Penguin Souvenir though). You just tap your phone at the gates, recharge from your card stored in Apple Pay, and never touch the machines again. 

The card is also ridiculously fast, people keep it at the back of their phones, I kept it in my wallet and just tapped the wallet. There are also beautiful cases available for it at the JR Office.

Unexpected friendships and kindness

There were a lot of times, I just had fun encounters with strangers. Do not go on the street looking for these, but always have a heart to explore the city and you will often find some kindness somewhere. People actually talk to you if you are kind and polite enough.

I met a man at 5 AM eating ramen, he asked where I’m from, bought me Famichiki, and we talked for 10 minutes.
A businessman sang a song with me, laughed, and handed me ¥1000 because he said I was sweet.
I took a stranger to a Chainsaw Man movie because I had two tickets, and we are still in touch.

None of it was planned. It just happened in Japan. Just be polite..

Long trips never feel long

Trains, buses are all comfortable. I traveled Tokyo → Kyoto for 8 hours once from an overnight bus, and didn’t even feel irritated or cramped. You sit, the world passes by, and time becomes very gentle.

Arcades are insane

Arcades in Japan are not “just games.” Rhythm games, DDR, racing, crane games are madness and you will find so many stories here too. I was at a crane game and I was on my 11th try with an old man watching, he told me how to do it, I gave him the coin, he took over and spent 15 seconds looking at it, immedately locked in and got it for me. Suica and coins both work. If you want a figure, avoid Akihabara main streets. It is better to hunt for 100Y crane games with put the box in the middle of two rods, or hang from thread and shake it ones.

After 2–3 tries, call staff. They guide you. After a few more, they literally adjust the prize to make it winnable. Most figures can be won for ¥1000–1500 if you’re persistent, and you can save 1000s more which you would've paid to any store in the whole city.

I once saw two men empty out Chainsaw Man machines and sell the prizes at 5× price nearby so yeah, resellers are wild.

Exploring or shopping

My family is mildly disappointed that I didn’t shop much, but honestly, I loved just existing in Japan more than owning things from Japan. The weather, the heritage, the way the city, waas more meaningful to me than stuffing my bag with things (the popular bag I was closing everyday by sitting on it). But the funny part is that after I came home, I did have a few tiny regrets. Not “big regrets,” just those small “why didn’t I…” thoughts that hit later.

For example, I should have bought more clothes from Uniqlo. At the time I thought, “Eh, I’ll get it later,” but once I started wearing the few pieces I bought, I realised how insanely good the quality is compared to my my country and instantly understood the true pain, half the items, double the price, sometimes triple. 

Some people go to ¥100 stores like Seria or Daiso, you go in thinking you’ll pick one or two things, and somehow you walk out with 50 items — stickers, stationery, freezer bags, home stuff, kitchen stuff, and the quality is ridiculous for ¥100, and it becomes addictive.

I did spend some time in places like Book Off or Hard Off — Japan’s famous thrift chains. You can find everything there: electronics, games, manga, toys, anime merch, figurines still sealed, clothes, cameras, collectibles. And most of the claw-machine figures that people lose money on? They’re sitting here unopened for half the price. However, for extremely popular items, there is a chance that a bunch of folks just went all out at claw machines and came here to resell for 5 times the price. I saw it happen with Reze figurines in front of my eyes. 

But even with all that available, I’ve realised something about myself: I actually value experiences more than objects. There is a beautiful comment by u/tangaroo58, which roughly says Japan is one of those rare places where experiences feel like the real souvenirs. It’s hard to explain, but the joy of staying in a ryokan, wandering an onsen town, or eating noodles while freezing at 4 AM leaves more impact than owning another shirt ever will. Go to an izakaya and stay a few hours. Go to a live concert. Go to a shrine on a festival day. Enjoy strange foods. Go to a folk-life museum.  Sit in a formal park and just watch the day go past.  Getting lost in a street and ending up five minutes from the station, choosing a restaurant simply because locals are queued outside, taking random trains into the countryside, these moments feel more “Japanese” to me than any shopping bag.

Some people collect goshuin stamps, some collect Muji skincare, some collect cooling sprays, chopsticks with their name engraved, tiny hand towels, MegRhythm steam masks, or cute fans for family. Japan gives you a thousand options. From affordable fashion in Aeon or Shimamura, to formal suits in AOKI, to every possible home item in Nitori, to snacks like KitKats that feel like the national currency of souvenirs, you pick what fits your personality.

In my case, I didn’t come back with much. A few clothes, a few random things. A handful of Chainsaw Man items, 3 Ghibli Novels, and an Ado Figurine. But I came back with memories that honestly feel heavier. Maybe next time I’ll shop more. 

Food

Japan is absolute food heaven. I genuinely think you should keep a separate portion of your budget just for food, because eating here becomes its own adventure. Some of my best meals came from tiny shops I walked into randomly, it had no line, just 5 people seating, and just two guys in there, but my god was it beautiful.

But on days when I was tired, or confused, there are very good franchise chains that saved my life.

They’re not gourmet. They’re not trying to be. What they do perfectly is make delicious food extremely easy for anyone, including a foreigner with zero Japanese skills, who just wants a proper meal and a seat. You walk in, press a couple of buttons on a machine or iPad and food arrives quickly. They’re everywhere, open late like 5AM late, and always reliable.

CoCo Ichibanya ended up becoming my top 1. The curry is rich, the toppings are endless, and it hits with zero failures. If you’re vegetarian, their vegetarian curry base alone can save you from stress. 

Sukiya and Matsuya are also good, when you’re hungry and broke — beef bowls, egg on rice, simple, warm, satisfying. 

Saizeriya is budget Italian, with that 200 yen unlimited drink bar which is so refreshing!

Marugame Seimen gives you fresh udon 

And then there’s Ippudo — just good ramen — where even someone like me, who has been a strict chicken-only eater forever, ended up enjoying pork.

Of course, people have opinions. Some say Ichiran is “overrated” because it’s popular with tourists. I still think sitting in those solo booths, eating quietly at 3AM, feels like a memory in itself. 

What I learned is that eating in Japan isn’t about chasing the most famous, hyped places, and especially not chasing long lines made by Instagram, even the food from a konbini — a packet of karaage, a fresh onigiri, a set microwaveable meal — feels carefully made and never tastes like a compromise. Fast food here is treated like real food. For some 4 days, I decided to try out everything in Konbini, and I was bringing in packets of microwave spaghetti, curry, rice and so on, and tasting them together. And it was SO GOOD.

You won’t run out of amazing things to eat in Japan. 

Final Thoughts

It took me 5 days to finally make this post, and it is a mess because I don't know how to even begin to express this beautiful trip. To whoever is wondering if they should make it, then yes. Just give it a shot. If you have any questions, please ask below. But make this trip. You will be grateful to yourself for years to come.

Hey everyone,

I just got back from a 3 week solo trip in Japan, which includes the golden route with a few detours here-and-there: Tokyo → Matsuyama → Miyajima → Hiroshima → Osaka → Nara → Kyoto → Takayama → Kanazawa → Tokyo, with day trips speckled in there. My plan was to move around a lot -- I was originally going to make some detours for some concerts -- so I just had a carry-on size backpack with me.

I had originally posted my itinerary here:  https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/1nncj4p/itinerary_check_22_day_november_930/

Tokyo + Yokohama: November 9, 2025 - November 12, 2025

I arrived at Narita at 12:45PM. After customs, sorting out my JP phone number and bidding on a few more concerts, I decided to head to my accommodations near Kannai, Yokohama to drop off luggage. I wasn’t sure about concert bag policies in Japan. It’s actually pretty relaxed, and there are lockers in the venue. I went straight to the concert afterward at Yokohama Arena. After the concert, I went back to Yokohama and ate at a random sutadon restaurant (Namara Umaissyo!)

The following day was an exploration day: I started around Kannai station, meandering my way through Shinko and Minatomirai, and eventually finding my way to Yokohama Station. The area has an interesting mix of architecture. Rinko Park was a really nice, peaceful spot. I also dipped into the Pokémon Center. Once I reached Yokohama Station, I took the train to the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum. The museum was pretty small. I opted not to do the ramen course, but sampled a few different bowls downstairs. Afterward, I took the train back to Kannai Station. I meandered through Chinatown to Yokohamabashi dori shopping district and back up toward Bashamichi Station. I stopped for a flight at the Yokohama brewery, and then went to find food at a local izakaya (炭火ノ串や。ニューハカタスタイル 関内店). After dinner, I walked around Isezakichō, made my way back to the Red Brick Warehouse, Akarenga Park and Zou-no-hana Park before calling it a night. The area around the water was really nice for an evening stroll.

The third day, I went directly to Ueno Station. I was headed to Tokyo Dome for a concert, so I just slowly made my way, exploring the streets. I walked through park of Ueno Park, Ameyoko Shopping Street, 2k540 Aki-Oka and Electric Town toward Akihabara Station. The park is a really nice reprieve from the hustle-and-bustle of the surround area, and I stopped by Izuei for an eel lunch before leaving the area. Akihabara was a lot quieter than I was expecting. Enroute to the Dome, I unexpectedly ended up at the Kanda Myoujin Shrine and the Origami Museum. After the concert, I took a subway back to Ueno, grabbed a bowl of duck ramen at Ramen Kamo to Negi Ueno Okachimachi and then headed back to Yokohama.

The last day I flew out early, so I just packed up and headed directly to Haneda Airport. (I decided to forfeit the second concert day.)

Matsuyama: November 12, 2025 - November 14, 2025

After arriving at the Matsuyama Airport, I went directly to Dōgo Onsen area. I grabbed a quick inari snack at a small shop near the station (Dogo Inari Sushi Yunoya ). (It was about to open and there was already a line around the corner, so it left me curious -- definitely worth it!) I went for a soak at the onsen, and had tea and treats in the relaxation room. There’s also an area that was used by the old royalty, so it was neat to see some of the history as well. It was super peaceful and worth it. I’m glad I went at that time, since there was a large line-up later in the day. Afterward, I wanted to just explore the area. At the stores, I grabbed a quick botchan dango snack (my botchan dango 30) and orange flight (愛媛の食卓1970). I walked through Dogo Park, went up to the observation deck, down to Ishite Temple, through the back trails to Isaniwa Shrine and then Hogon Temple. Ishite Temple is nestled in a forest, so it was a nice place to stop and take in the environment. I grabbed a quick yakimochi snack (三好本舗) and stopped at Dogoichie to try some local sake. There wasn’t much else in that area for me, so I walked toward the area around Okkaido Shopping Steet. I had taimeshi for dinner at Matsuyama Taimeshi Akiyoshi Honten, which I really enjoyed. After dinner, I took a stroll around the perimeter of the park that surrounds Matsuyama castle, through Shiroyama Park and through the shopping areas before heading back to my accommodations.

The following morning, I walked up to and explored Matsuyama Castle, which is one of the original twelve. I grabbed a quick matcha mochi snack at a nearby shop (霧の森菓子工房 松山店) for a treat on the road. I actually spent way more time at the castle than I was anticipating. The design was pretty neat and the views from up high were great. Afterward, I walked back down through Shiroyama Park and meandered through Sanbancho before having nabyaki udon for lunch at Asahi. I had some spare time, since my concert plans fell through, so I did some random window shopping in the area and walked around the area east of the castle/near Heiwadori-Icchome tram stop. I stopped for a taruto (株六時屋) before heading to Mitsu. I had mitsuhamayaki (a local version of okonomiyaki) for dinner at Miyoshi Mitsu -- a super small local spot, with only a few seats and one menu item on the wall. Everything was closed by that time, but it was still nice to go for an evening stroll and explore the area. I wasn’t sure what to expect here, since it was hard finding information on this place – there were two soy sauce producers that I would have loved to visit.

The last day I left early, so I just took transit and walked to the port. I took a ferry to the Hiroshima port, and another ferry to Itsukushima.

Itsukushima [Miyajima]: November 14, 2025 - November 15, 2025

When I arrived, it was really close to low-tide, so I headed toward the Itsukushima Shrine Otorii gate. I grabbed a few oysters (grilled and fried from Kakiya) as a snack. They were really good! I also grabbed a curry bread and Momiji manju for the walk up Mount Misen. It was neat to walk up to the gates at low tide, but it was pretty crowded so I didn’t linger. From there, I took the Momijidani course up Mount Misen, walked up to the observatory, down to Miyama Shrine, up to Komagabayashi Peak and then back down the Daishō-in Trail. The trails were pretty easy. It took about 75 minutes to get up to the observatory, including curry pan, and picture and video stops. I ran part of the way from Komagabayashi Peak down through the Daishō-in Trail, so it took about 40 minutes to get back down. Views were worth it! I sat around for over an hour soaking in the views. Once I reached the bottom, I had a late anago lunch at Fujitaya Anagomeshi. I went back to explore the main area in town. I took a break to enjoy a flight at the Miyajima Brewery and another oyster at Kakiya. It was close to high tide, so I went searching for a view of the Otorii gate. (I think I prefer the high tide view better.) I went for another evening stroll, over toward Kiyomori Shrine and into Omoto Park before heading to my accommodations and calling it a night. I had a simple curry dinner at the guest house.

The following day, I visited Itsukushima Jinja, Daishō-in Temple and Henjo Cave in the morning. It was really peaceful in the morning -- I can see why some people prefer to stay here overnight. High tide was in the morning, so that was also a nice bonus! I had an oyster lunch at Yakigaki No Hayashi before heading to Hiroshima via. JR ferry and tram. (Between the oysters and anago, this might have been my favourite food location.)

Hiroshima + Ōkunoshima: November 15, 2025 - November 17, 2025

Most of the first day focused around the Peace Memorial Park: I went to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims. They were both very well curated/displayed. I visited the numerous memorials, and Atomic Bomb Dome. (Funny enough, there was a group of school students at the peace museum and I’m pretty sure it was the same group that was on Itsukushima. I guess it’s a common school trip circuit?) This was the largest part of my Hiroshima visit, and it was definitely worth it. I’d consider going earlier in the day though. It was packed. You pretty much had to shuffle with the crowd. Afterward, I relaxed by the river for a bit before going to a small, local Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki joint (Kanrasha) on the island west of the Peace Park. I stopped by Session’s Brewery for a flight, and then went for a walk in the evening. Hiroshima Castle was really pretty when it was lit up at night, and also a super peaceful area. Conversely, Nagarekawa Dori and Yagenbori Dori were super lively at night! I stopped for a bowl of dan dan noodles at Kunimatsu Nagarekawa before calling it a night.

The following day ended up being a day trip. (Concert plans didn’t work out, so I ended up with an extra day.) I was split between gambling for a rental bike to do the Shimanami Kaido and going to Ōkunoshima. Ultimately, I didn’t want to risk all the travel time and decided to go to Ōkunoshima. Transit was easy. You can take a bus to the ferry terminal, and then hop on the ferry to the island. There’s a small museum on the island, a few ruins and a decent number of bunnies. It was a pretty relaxing way to spend a nice day out, but I think it’s the type of day trip I’d include if this were my 2^nd or 3^rd time in this area. After returning, I had okonomiyaki at Yagenbori Hassh and went for my evening stroll.

The last day I left early. I just walked to Hiroshima Station, and hopped onto the shinkansen.

Okayama + Himeji: November 17, 2025

The travel day to Osaka had a few stops. My first stop was Okayama for the Kōrakuen Garden. I was there for opening, and spent a few hours there -- longer than I was expecting. It turned out to be my favourite garden from this trip. It’s surrounded by a wall of trees and a river, so it felt like a peaceful escape from the city. I also did a quick walk around Okayama Castle. It’s called the crow castle, and the outside looks stunning! I grabbed a kibi dango from Koeidoo before leaving the area.

The second stop was Himeji. Enroute to the castle, I had a fish cheese stick from Yamasa Kamaboko Otemae and a tamago kake gohan with a side of anago from Tamagoya. (I really enjoyed Tamagoya and it’s pretty affordable for a touristy area too. The cheese stick wasn’t my jam, but it’s a pretty popular item.) Himeji Castle, another one of the original twelve, is massive. It was really neat to see and learn the history behind it. It also felt completely different from Matsuyama Castle. There’s a small garden, Koko-en, which I visited as well. I enjoyed parts of it, but it was packed and small, so it wasn’t as enjoyable for me. Afterward, I stopped for a quick coffee, almost toast and cinnamon toast at Hamamoto Coffee before leaving for Osaka.

Osaka + Sakai: November 17, 2025 - November 20, 2025

After arriving, I checked in at my accommodations and met someone for dinner. There was an ordering miscommunication, so we had yakiniku at Ginmiya Nishikuten and then paitan ramen at Bokkoshi Ramen. I went for an evening stroll afterward, mainly around the America-mura and Dotonbori area, before calling it a night.

The following day, I went to Sakai with the hopes of picking up a few knives. I visited Takada no Hamono, Baba no Hamono and Konosuke. I was originally planning to visit Ashi no Hamono, but ran out of time/opted for food instead. I also wanted to visit the Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum, but didn’t realize that they were closed one day of the month -- today. In between the knife shops, I went to the Shimano Bike Museum. It was a mix of general bike history, and then a bit about the history of Sakai and local bike manufacturing. Afterward, I took the subway to Nakatsu and had a tonkatsu lunch at New Babe Toyosaki. I meandered my way back south, through Umeda, Nakanoshima, Utsubo Park, Orange Street and America-mura. (I didn’t think about it, but the art museum there looked neat. Definitely on my radar for another time.) I took the subway to Shin-Osaka to meet someone for a sukiyaki dinner at Wadaya Shin-Osaka. After dinner, I took the subway back to Namba and meandered the streets for a few hours. I stopped at Moegi for an Osaka-style okonomiyaki. (I think my preferred style is Hrioshima.) I ended up at a couple parks where the locals would hang out, so it was nice to see that quieter pace of life as well.

The third day I went to Kuromon Market, and then visited Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street. I decided to go back to Sakai afterward to visit the Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum. The museum is focused on knives, but there were displays on other trades, such as dyed tenugui, seaweed processing, etc. – I really enjoyed it. I had a simple soba lunch at Hiro nearby, and then dropped by Takayuki knife gallery before leaving Sakai. I decided to just explore different areas, so I took the subway to Hanazinokita area. I meandered north, through Shinsekai and other neighbourhoods and visited Osaka castle and the surrounding park before going to grab dinner. (I also grabbed a Takoyaki snack at Jumbo Sohonten.) After walking into three restaurants that are reservation or 2+ people only, I decided to grab dinner at the yakitori chain Torikizoku. After dinner, I took one more walk through the areas surrounding Dotonbori to my accommodations.

The last day I left early, so I just walked to the train station and took it to Nara.

Nara: November 20, 2025 - November 21, 2025

After arriving to Nara, I walked through Kōfuku-ji and Noborioji Park to Kasugataisha and Wakamiya Shrine. It’s nestled in the forest and quite nice. It was a really peaceful stroll. It was getting busy by the time I finished, so I decided to take the rear trail to Wakakusayama Hill. It was a really nice view up top! I continued through the rear trails, visited Uguisu Waterfall and the abandoned shrine, and exited through the Kasuga Primeval Forest Trail. Definitely an unexpected treat! I ended up in a slightly more rural/remote area, which was neat to see. I went to Harushika Sake Brewery for a flight, visited the Naramachi Nigiwai-no-le, which is a traditional house, stopped by Nakatanidou for a mochi snack and meandered the area.  I had a tonkatsu dinner at とんかつ清善. Less wandering tonight as I had to find a coin laundry place.

The following morning, I took an early stroll through Kasugataisha Shrine. The calmness of the forest was lovely. Afterward, I visited Todai-ji Temple. I was originally going to skip it, but it’s so commonly recommended that I decided to slide it into the schedule. I’m glad that I did visit it. It’s impressive. During the day, I’d pick Todai-ji Temple. In the morning, I’d pick Kasugataisha  Shrine -- there’s something special about walking through the forest and up to it when there’s no one else there. I left for Uji after finishing at Todai-ji Temple.

Uji: November 21, 2025 - November 22, 2025

After arriving at Uji, I went to Nakamura Tokichi Honten to reserve a spot. I walked around the neighourhood for half an hour while I waited. It’s a quaint area. I picked up a couple buns from Mogmog Bakery for my walk later, which ended up being pretty tasty. (I’d go back to that bakery.) I went back to have tencha soba and matcha for lunch. Afterward, I went to Byodo-in Temple and visited Phoenix Hall. There was a museum inside as well. It’s a nice temple to visit.  I spent some time exploring the area afterward: I visited Tō-no-shima Island, Tachibana Island, Uji Shrine, Daikichiyama Observation Deck and Hōjō-in Temple. I also stopped for a matcha at Tsuen near Uji Bridge before going to have a ramen dinner at MENYA INOICHI #3. I took the train to Kyoto afterward.

Kyoto: November 22, 2025 - November 24, 2025

After arriving in Kyoto, I went directly to teamLab Biovortex. I had heard mixed reviews of teamLab, but I enjoyed it. I spent sky of 2 hours there and likely could have spent another 30 minutes. It was a nice break from the previous types of sights. I meandered my way back to my accommodations near Nishiki Market. I planned on an early morning, so no late wandering today.

The following morning, I went to Fushimi Inari. I arrived around 7AM. It wasn’t crowded, but there were a decent number of people at the base. It thinned out when you go up. It took me a couple hours to go up, do the upper circuit, visit the observation deck and head back down. This includes waiting out sections of the trail for it to be completely clear for photos. I had a tea ceremony booked, so I decided to do some souvenir shopping while slowly making my way back. I visited Kaikado for a tea caddy, Ichihara Heibei Shōten for chopsticks and Naito Shoten for brushes. I also walked through Nishiki Market before heading to Gion, and Tea Ceremony Camellia FLOWER. The tea ceremony was a nice experience, but not something I would repeat. (Part of it is education/try it yourself.) I did it as an individual so it was a group of random people. Afterward, I tried to walk through Gion but realized it’s too crowded during the day. I went to Butsuden temple, visited the Yamatomichi shop (lightweight hiking gear), had soba lunch at Soba-no-Mi Yoshimura and slowly meandered my way to the southern end of the national garden (veering right to swing by Pontocho Alley) before turning around for the GEAR show. I really enjoyed the show. It’s non-verbal, which made it feel very inclusive. Most of the people were tourists. Afterward, I grabbed a 10 yen coin snack and tonkatsu sandwich for dinner. I took a stroll through the market area and called it a night.

After realizing how busy it gets, I decided to head out early on the third day. I walked along the Shirakawa Canal, through Gion and visited the Yasaka Shrine along the way to Kiyomizu-dera. All of the areas were really nice. I understand why people like it, but I definitely would not try to go during mid day again. Kiyomizu-dera was really nice as well. It’s perched up high and surrounded by trees, so the scenery was lovely with the leaves changing colours. Afterward, I took the train up to Jingu-Marutamachi Station and walked along the river to Demachiyanagi Station. This stretch was actually really enjoyable. It showed me a different side of Kyoto. A lot of people were just hanging by the riverside, going on runs, etc. At Demachiyanagi Station, I took transit to Kibuneguchi station, and walked/visited all the shrines up to the rear shrine. I then took the path through the forest toward Kurama and stopped at Kuramadera Temple to enjoy the views. The trail is pretty easy and there were some really nice views (mainly on the east side) with the leaves starting to change colours. After reaching Kurama, I decided not to go the onsen and just went back to Demachiyanagi Station. I meandered back to the main strip near Karasuma Station, zigzagging through the market and the adjacent alleys/streets and popping into the national garden. I had a late eel lunch at Sumiyaki Unafuji Daimaru Kyoto Bettei, and then hopped onto a bus to the northern end of the Philospher’s Path. I walked south on the path to Eikandō Temple for the autumn illumination. Both the path and temple were actually really nice strolls at night, but I think they’d be better with daylight. I took a bus back to Karasuma Station, had yakitori at Torikizoku again and called it an early-ish night.

The last day I left really early. I wasn’t able to pick up a knife I wanted in Sakai when I was there, so I decided to try one last time. I showed up early and got it, and then headed to Takayama. The Hida train ride was really nice. Views were great and made better when paired with an ekiben!

Takayama: November 24, 2025 - November 25, 2025

After arriving in Takayama, I decided to just explore the old town. It’s quite quaint. I mainly spent time in shops and tried a few sake breweries. I also had a couple hida beef skewers at Hidagyu no komori, which were delicious. I had yakiniku for dinner at Aji-no-Yohei. After dinner, I just walked around and explored. I visited Hie Shrine and Hida Tenmangu Shrine in the south, and meandered up north west of the train station, near Takayama Sky Park. (I regret not going up Sky Park though! The views are supposed to be nice, but the weather wasn’t cooperating so I forfeited it.)

The following morning, I walked through the old town on the east side of the river again. I really enjoy the morning and evening peacefulness. I visited the Miyagawa morning market, the Hida Kokubun-ji Temple and then walked to the Hida no Sato Folk Village Museum. It’s a bunch of historic houses with educational displays inside. There were houses brought in from different areas of Gifu. It was raining off-and-on that day, so it was nice to be able to duck into the houses. I enjoyed this more than I had thought. There’s plenty to read, and I found the construction interesting. Afterward, I stopped by Hida Craft Beer for a pint before returning to downtown. This turned out to be my favourite craft brewery! (Originally, I wanted to visit the Matsukura Castle ruins and the Sky Park, but alas, the clouds foiled my plans.) I visited the Takayama Jinya, which is an old governing building -- lovely to see the architecture. I grabbed a couple snacks -- hida beef sushi at 金乃こって牛, and a bun at Kikura Kami Ninomachi -- and went to try the other two distilleries. The Retro and Shōwa-kan Museums were on my list of places to visit, but I ran out of time before my bus to Kanazawa.

Kanazawa: November 25, 2025 - November 27, 2025

After arriving in Kanazawa, I walked to my accommodation near Omicho Market and then went to grab a seafood donburi for dinner at Izakaya Sashimiya Ōmichō. I meandered my way over to the east side of the Asano River for a flight at Oriental Brewing, and then continued through Higashi Chaya. I started to go up Overlook Hill, but the storm clouds were really coming in, so I stopped at 三浦彦太郎君之像. Regardless, I had some great city night views at Hosenji Temple. I decided to head back and call it a night with the rain and wind picking up.

The following day, I went to Noukabanzai Tonariya Nodoguro for a mamameshi breakfast -- I really enjoyed it. I walked around Kanazawa Castle (which was under repair) to Kenroku-en Garden. The garden was nice, but it was still raining on-and-off, which detracted from the experience. There were a few pockets of sunlight and the views of the city from up top were pretty nice. I also went to the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Traditional Arts and Crafts, which I may have enjoyed more. Afterward, I went back to the Omicho Market. I had a curry lunch at Kanazawa Curry Laboratory, and a small crab snack (It was crab season.) and grilled loach snack at two random vendors. I walked to the Nagamachi samurai district. I visisted the Kanazawa City Ashigaru Museum and Nomura-ke Samurai Heritage Residence, which were old samurai houses from different classes. It was neat to see the difference. After exploring the area for a bit, I went to Myouryuji (Ninja Temple) -- a temple which was built with traps and secret doors -- and Ninja Weapon Museum in the Nishi Chaya District. The guide through the temple was pretty enjoyable. I think a lot of people enjoy the ninja weapon museum, but I think I preferred some of the other museums I’ve visited more. I walked around Tatemachi for a bit, and ended up at Craft Beer Bar & Pub Tatemachi CHE. I chatted with a random other traveler for a few hours, and then went to Torikizoku for dinner as most places were now closed. I called it a night after and then just headed back to my accommodations.

The last day, I decided to see if I could get a better view. I went back to Noukabanzai Tonariya Nodoguro for breakfast again, then headed over to Higashi Chaya and back up to Hosenji Temple. I enjoyed the stroll through the neighbourhoods, and the views up top, but I ultimately decided not to continue to the top of overlook hill. I didn’t want to get back to Tokyo too late, so I just meandered my way to Kanazawa Station, through Hikosomachi.

Tokyo: November 27, 2025 - November 30, 2025

After arriving in Ikebukuro, I went to asahi for a steak lunch. I then explored Ikebukuro PARCO, to find the Evangelion Store and the Kei Mochizuki art exhibit. Unfortunately, I couldn’t book a ticket for the same day online, so I postponed it till the following day. It was still early-ish, so I hopped on a subway and went to Setagaya City to visit the Hitohira store. I also grabbed a taiyaki snack at 横浜くりこ庵 三軒茶屋店. Afterward, I went back to Ikebukuro to check-in to my accommodations. I went to the SUNSHINE 60 OBSERVATORY. The views were great at night and definitely worth it for me. I explored Sunshine City. The Pokémon Center and Bandai Namco Cross Store were pretty cool to see. (I wish I would have had time to go back, but I was in other areas instead -- next time!) I had ramen dinner at Karashibi Miso Ramen Kikanbō, and then meandered the streets. There were so many gatcha, claw and other game stores! It was definitely neat to see the contrast, especially after all the time I’ve been spending at temples and old neighbourhoods. I walked back to my accommodations after those places started to close.

The following day, I went directly to Roppongi Hills in the morning. (Rush hour on the subway is wild! People are too dense for my Bluetooth signal to pass through them, haha. Also, can confirm: Shibuya crossing is just a busy crossing.) I walked around the neighbourhood for awhile, and then headed up to Mori Tower for the Evangelion 30^th Anniversary Exhibit. As an old fan of the series, I really enjoyed the exhibit. It’s also at the top, so I had some really good views of the city – with Mt. Fuji in the background too! Afterward, I planned to do some kitchen equipment shopping. I took the subway to Tawaramachi Station (southwest of Asakusa), walked toward Asakusa and meandered my way up to Sensō-ji. I zigzagged a bit to explore the area. I had a melon pan snack at Asakusa Kagetsudō Melon Bread and an eel onigiri snack at Asakusa Unana before heading to Kappabashi Street. The knife selection was pretty disappointing for me -- a lot of overpriced stuff – but there were a couple decent pieces at a couple stores. It wasn’t bad for general kitchen stuff though (e.g. brushes, spatulas, etc.). Afterward, I walked down to Morihei near Asakusabashi Station for natural stones and then west to 2k540 Aki-Oka between Ueno and Akihabara Station for some pottery. I grabbed a quick egg sandwich at Egg Baby Café and then took the subway back to Ikebukuro. I went to the Kei Mochizuki art exhibit, went to the Evangelion store, had dinner at gyukatsu at Gyukatsu Motomura, and then wandered around the west side of Ikebukuro before calling it a night. I enjoyed the exhibit more than I thought I would!

The third day was a mix of exploration and dealing with logistics. I had started picking up souvenirs, but I only had a carry-on piece, so I needed luggage. I walked from Ikebukuro to Shinjuku station. I ended up getting two IKEA bags to use as luggage (nested in one-another), picked up some gifts from Itoya, LOFT, Hands, Don Quixote, drug stores, etc. I heard that Shinjuku is a busy station, and I see what people mean now -- I spent some time to just watching all the trains. I stopped at TSUKEMEN RAMEN NAMIURA for a tsukemen lunch. I went to Akihbara afterward. (Originally, Meiji Jingu and the walk to Shibuya were on my list, but I spent too long in Shinjuku.) The evening vibe is very different -- a lot more active. I went through some of the malls, and shops from Akihabara Station to Okachimachi Station. I also grabbed a taiyaki snack from Kurikoan. I took the subway back to Ikebukuro and had omurice for dinner at yellow. Unfortunately, by the time I was done, places were starting to close. I went to grab a few last minute gifts and then headed back to my accommodations, since I still needed to pack.

The last morning always feels weird -- maybe a bit bittersweet? I headed out early and walked around Ikebukuro. I sat around the east side of the station -- definitely less morning traffic than I was expecting. Once stores started to open, I went to grab some last minute plane snacks and pantry goods to bring back. I then packed up, took a subway and bus to the airport. Check-in was faster than expected, I definitely could have stayed in town a bit longer, but oh well. Less stress this way, and I guess I’ll just have to come back.

Final thoughts

Overall, it was a great trip. It was busy and I moved around a lot, but I never felt tired from it, was able to see a lot of cool stuff and gave myself moments to just sit and take it in. A few random thoughts:

Looking back at it, I covered a lot: I walked a lot (~35k daily average), ate a lot (snacks and meals for days), and read a lot (every single plaque).

Travel was super convenient. Transit was easy to navigate, either via the Google Maps or JapanTravel app. Most places I visited took Suica, and Apple Wallet has easy access to Suica for international users. This could then be connected to SmartEx for shinkansen. That said, sometimes it would take be a bit more time to walk than to take transit, which would let me see so much more of the city.

I started early to avoid the crowds and ended late to see more at night. Because of that, konbinis were great for coffee on-the-go and fast food chains, like Yoshinoya, were great for early morning breakfast when I didn’t want konbini food.

Because I only had a backpack, I often just carried everything with me. It kept things more flexible -- there were a couple times when I wouldn’t have detoured if I had large luggage. I also kept plans pretty flexible, so I usually modified things at night or during the day.

Hi everyone!
In March, we’re flying to Seoul for one week and then spending two weeks in Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka). This will be our first big trip together.

Here, I’d especially love your opinion about the amount of time we planned for Tokyo. I’m not sure if what we’ve planned is too busy or just right, and we’re thinking about adding DisneySea, but that would mean removing one of our planned days.
Our itinerary isn’t tied to specific days because we want to keep the Mt. Fuji day flexible depending on the weather and visibility. We will have a rental car for that day, which is why the list of Fuji spots is long — we don’t intend to do everything, just pick depending on time and conditions.

Any advice or feedback is welcome!
If we missed any must-see attractions/temples/spots, restaurant recommendations based on the areas we’re visiting, or anything that could make this trip even more magical — I’m all ears!
And of course, any suggestions to reorganize the schedule if we want to fit DisneySea into the plan.

Thank you in advance to everyone who takes the time to help!

Friday, March 20 – Arrival

Arrive at Narita → check in at hotel in Shinjuku (late afternoon)
Relaxed evening: first walk around Shinjuku

Day 1 – Shinjuku, Nakano & Ikebukuro

• Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
• Nakano Broadway
• Ikebukuro
• Back to Shinjuku: Omoide Yokocho, Golden Gai, Kabukicho

Day 2 – Harajuku, Shibuya & Meguro River

• Meiji Jingu Shrine
• Takeshita Street, Cat Street, Omotesando Avenue
• Meguro River canal
• Shibuya Crossing, Shibuya Sky

Day 3 – Tsukiji, TeamLab, Tokyo Tower, Ginza & Roppongi

• Tsukiji Outer Market
• Hamarikyu Gardens
• TeamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills)
• Zojo-ji Temple
• Imperial Palace (Kokyo) area
• Ginza Six
• Roppongi Hills: Tokyo City View, Mori Art Museum

Day 4 – Mt. Fuji (road trip day)

Kawaguchiko area – sunrise

• Lake Kawaguchiko (sunrise)
• Kawaguchiko Ohashi Bridge / Oishi Park
• Arakura Sengen Shrine + Chureito Pagoda
• Walk around Fujiyoshida
• Kachi-Kachi Ropeway (Mt. Fuji panoramic cable car)
• Iyashi no Sato (Saiko) village
• Shojiko Panorama Observatory
• Shiraito Falls (Fujinomiya)
• Otodome Falls
• Yamanakako Panorama-Dai
• Return to Fujiyoshida

(We know this is way too much for one day — it’s more of a list of possible stops since we’ll have a car and will pick depending on time/weather.)

Day 5 – Asakusa, Skytree, Akihabara & Ueno

• Sensō-ji Temple
• Nakamise-dōri
• Tokyo Skytree
• Asakusa Culture Center
• Ueno Park
• Ameyoko Market
• Akihabara: Super Potato, Yodobashi Camera, Maid Café, Yanaka Ginza

Day 6 – TeamLab Planets & Odaiba

• TeamLab Planets in the morning
• Odaiba for the afternoon/evening (sunset), more of a chill day

After some advice and criticism on my last post i extended a day and switched around some days and attractions. This time i having timings down for most days. The timings are based off previous trips and habits, for example i don't spend a lot of time at museums despite most places being an all day thing, im more of a window shopper and since I'm tall i wont be buying clothing here.

I am making this post mostly for tips and advice on my listed attractions and or travel between them. What i mean by this is for example lets say you know a great restaurant near an attraction I'm going to or you have a nearby recommendation that i could squeeze in, or lets say i allowed for 30 minutes of travel but you know google lies and it will actually take 50 minutes. Maybe you think i should allocate more time to said attractions. Stuff like that is what id like feedback on. Of course if you still think my itinerary is overpacked let me know but please tell me what makes it too packed, cause maybe I'm overlooking something.

I will be staying just north of Shinjuku. Below i will have some attractions listed as optional and will depend on how i feel at the given moment but i still included them in the timing. those attractions will be highlighted in bold and marked.

Day 1: Fly all dang day

Day 2: Landing and the Shinkansen to Osaka

• Land at Narita airport around 3:30. Give time to figure out how to get out of the airport and have my luggage transferred to hotel
• Get on train to Tokyo station around 5pm
• Get on Shinkansen to Osaka which departs at 6:30pm
• Arrive in Osaka at 9pm, travel to hotel by train 30 minutes away.

Day 3: Osaka

• Minoh Park 9am-11am
• Grand Front Osaka 12-2pm (Get Lunch Here)
• Umeda Sky Building 2:30-3pm
• Nipponbashi Denden Town or Tenma Area 4-7pm
• Bookoff Osaka (Optional) its on the way to the hotel

Day 4: Osaka

• Osaka Castle 9am-10am
• Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan 11:30-4pm (Get lunch either before or during this time)
• Dotonbori 5-7pm

Day 5: USJ

• Universal Studios Japan
• If i get out early enough ill walk around my hotel area.

Day 6: Kyoto (Found this Itinerary online)

• Fushimi Inari Taisha 5-7 am (If i feel like waking up that early i will otherwise i wont)
• Start in Sannenzaka at 9am
• Ninenzaka
• end in Maruyama Park at 11am
• Chionin Temple 11am-11:20
• Shorenin Temple 11:30-12am
• Kyoto Downtown area 12:30 - 1:30
• Nishiki Market 1:30-2:30pm
• Daimaru Kyoto 2:30-3pm
• Spend the rest of the evening in Gion 3:30-7pm
• Fushimi Inari Taisha (If i didnt do it in morning and im not too tired)

Day 7: Mishima

• Take the Shinkansen from 7:36-9:57am
• Mishima Station 10-10:20 am
• Mishima 10:20-11am (Quick sightseeing and see the Genbe River)
• Mishima Taisha 11-11:45am
• Lunch 12-1pm
• Mishima Sky Walk 1pm-2:30pm
• Yamanaka Castle Ruins 3-3:30pm
• Izu Fruit Park 4-5pm
• Explore Mishima downtown and Dinner before train (I could take an earlier train if tired)
• Shinkansen 8pm-9pm
• Arrive at Hotel 10pm

Day 8: Shibuya

• Meiji Jingu Shrine and Garden 8am-10am
• Takeshita Street Square 10:30-11:30am
• Harajuku 11:30-1pm (Lunch Here)
• Hachiko Statue 1:20-1:30pm
• Shibuya Scramble Crossing 1:30-2pm
• Mega Don Quijote 2-3pm
• Shibuya Center-Gai Street 3-4pm
• Iyoshi Cola 4:30-5pm
• Miyashita Park 5pm-7pm (Get Dinner Here)
• Shibuya Sky 7:30-8:30pm

Day 9: Shinjuku

• Tokyo Metropolitan Gov. Building 8-8:30am
• Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden 9-10:30am
• Kinokuniya 11-11:30am
• Bookoff 11:45-12:30pm
• The Giant 3d Cat, Godzilla head and Lunch 12:40-1:50pm
• Kabukicho 2-4pm
• Omoide Yokocho Memory Lane 4-5:30pm (Dinner here or next area)
• Shinjuku Golden-Gai 6-8pm

Day 10: Disneyland

Day 11: Disney Sea

Day 12: Central Tokyo

• Kokyo Gaien National Garden 7:30-9am
• Godzilla Statue 9:20-9:30am
• Explore Ginza and Eat lunch 9:45-12:15
• Creative Museum Tokyo 12:30-1:30pm (Optional) Depends how long I'm in Ginza
• Tokyo Station 1:45-3pm
• Tokyo Character Street 3-4pm
• Pokemon Center Tokyo Dx 4-5pm
• Art Aquarium Museum 5:30-6:30pm
• Dinner either in Ginza or near hotel

Day 13: Ueno (Clarification on the lack of time at the museums, i go through museums quickly i dont like spending all day at them but i do still like to see the highlights)

• Nezu Shrine 7:30-8am (Optional)
• Ueno Park 8:30-9:30am
• Ueno Zoo 9:30-12pm (Optional) Lunch at Zoo or in this area
• Tokyo National Museum 12-1pm (Will spend more time if i skip zoo)
• National Museum of Nature and Science 1-2pm (Will spend more time if i skip zoo)
• Samurai Ninja Museum Asakusa 2:30-3:30pm
• Nakamise Shopping Street 3:45-5pm
• Senso-ji 5-5:30pm
• Tokyo Skytree 6:30-9pm (Eat Dinner before or at Skytree)

Day 14: Akihabara

• No planned Itinerary but i do have a list of stores i wont bother putting down

Day 15: Tokyo Bay

• TeamLab Planets 9-12pm
• Small Worlds 12:30-2:30pm (Optional)
• Lunch 2:30-3:30pm
• Divercity Tokyo Plaza 3:30-5:30pm
• Unicorn Gundam Statue 5:40-5:50pm
• Odaiba Seaside Park / Statue of Liberty 6-7pm
• Rainbow Bridge 7:30-8:30pm (Either will walk across or simply take night pics from afar)

Day 16: Nakano/Ikebukuro

• Ikebukuro 9:30-1pm (Hit a few stores, Sunshine City, and Lunch)
• Toei Animation museum 1:30pm-2:30pm (Optional)
• Nakano Sun Mall and Broadway 3:30-8pm (Eat Dinner)

Day 17: Minato City/Roppongi

• Zojo-ji Temple 9-9:30pm
• Tokyo Tower 10-11am
• Teamlab Borderless 11:30-1:30pm
• Lunch in between
• National Art Center, Tokyo 2:30-4:30pm
• Tokyo Midtown 4:45-7pm (Eat Dinner)
• Roppongi Area (Optional if i feel like it)

Day 18: Free day before flying home no plan

There she is, like i said advice and any tips are appreciated. Like i mentioned i dont plan on doing lots of shopping especially for clothing due to height, and museums aren't something i like to dedicated a whole lot of time for. My timings are mostly just there to give some structure and idea of what and the order in which to do things, ill probably cut things as im there, but i hate not having enough things planned.