Took my second solo trip to Japan. Was crazier than my previous one honestly... Focused this trip specifically near the Kansai region. This time I took the Kansai wide area pass, not sure if I used it to the fullest but it's worth it imo.

Wanted to recommend a few spots that you ought to appreciate (Note: These I'd say are slightly more underrated or missed out spots so they don't cover the more obvious ones):

1. Kobe's Mt. Maya Ropeway up to Kikuseidai Observation Platform: They said the view from up there is worth a hundred million dollars... And they were probably right... I went around the evening and stayed for about an hour and a half... It is one of Japan's three famous nigjttime views. Kobe itself is a unique city with a European vibe. Rating: 9/10

2. Amanohashidate: The mesmerising pine laden sandbar. Riding across the sandbar on a rented bike, stopping to appreciate the emerald waters was a highlight of this trip. The view from the Kasamatsu park is absolutely breathtaking. One of Japan's top three day time views. Rating: 9/10 (Getting there is not as tough as some people online make it out to be, I took the Hashidate 1 from Kyoto which is direct)

3. Omi-Maiko Nakahama Beach: I absolutely did not intend to come here but my god what a beautiful excursion. Super underrated spot, calm vibe and a mesmerising beach with stunning views across lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake. Short trip from Kyoto on the Kosei line. Rating: 7.5/10

4. Nara's Isuien Garden: Do visit this beautiful garden, super calm and wasn't touristy so quite peaceful. It's a short walk from the deer park. Rating: 7/10

5. Osaka Port Pier and Kaiyukan Aquarium: I've never been to an aquarium as unique as this. I went during the evening so the place was practically empty. The Ferris wheel besides it illuminates beautifully and the whole area has a relaxing vibe. It's relatively close to Universal Osaka. Rating: 8/10

Notable Mentions: Himeji, Otsu, Hikone, Wakayama areas

I myself haven't been to places like Tottori, Okayama etc. Plan to visit later someday!

Hey everyone!
First time going to Japan and travelling solo in November. I’ve spent way too much time planning this and I think I’m finally at the point where I need some outside opinions before I lock everything else in.

I’m 24 And I’m interested in food, walking around different neighbourhoods, culture, nightlife, nature, and just generally seeing what Japan has to offer.

My total budget is around ₹3,00,000 (~$3000 USD) including flights, accommodation, food, transport and activities and shopping.

My flights are currently looking at around ₹61,000 (~$680) round trip from Bangalore to Tokyo Narita.

Itinerary

Nov 11, Wed: Arrive Tokyo
Arrive at Narita around 3:35 PM. Get to my accommodation in Shinjuku, check in, dinner and take it easy.

Nov 12, Thu: Tokyo
Meiji Shrine → Harajuku → Omotesando → Shibuya → Shibuya Crossing / Shibuya area → Shinjuku in the evening.

Nov 13, Fri: Tokyo
Asakusa / Senso-ji → Ueno / Ameyoko → Akihabara → back towards Shinjuku.
Friday night I want to experience Nichome

Nov 14, Sat: Tokyo
Move accommodation within Tokyo.
Tsukiji Outer Market → Ginza → Tokyo Station / Marunouchi → general wandering.

Nov 15, Sun: Tokyo
Currently keeping this fairly open. Thinking about exploring some combination of Shibuya, Ebisu, Daikanyama, Nakameguro, Shinjuku, or wherever people recommend.

Nov 16, Mon: Hakone day trip
Tokyo → Hakone → spend the day exploring, hopefully catch some autumn scenery and experience an onsen → back to Tokyo in the evening.

I considered staying overnight in Hakone but decided against it because I’d rather put that money towards other parts of the trip.

Nov 17, Tue: Tokyo → Kyoto
Shinkansen to Kyoto → check in → easy evening and explore around the area.

Nov 18, Wed: Kyoto
Fushimi Inari → Kiyomizu-dera → Sannenzaka / Ninenzaka → Gion / Pontocho in the evening.

Nov 19, Thu: Kyoto
Arashiyama early morning → Bamboo Grove → Tenryu-ji / Okochi Sanso → Monkey Park if I’m in the mood.
Also want to visit Nishiki Market and I’m open to adding other things around Kyoto.

Nov 20, Fri: Kyoto
Currently planning some combination of Kinkaku-ji, Heian-jingu and other Kyoto areas, but this day is still fairly flexible.

Nov 21, Sat: Kyoto → Osaka
Train to Osaka → Osaka Castle → Umeda → Dotonbori / Namba → food and wandering.

Nov 22, Sun: Osaka
Kuromon Market → Shinsekai → Amerikamura / Orange Street → whatever else looks interesting.

10:30 PM overnight bus from Osaka to Tokyo.

Nov 23, Mon: Tokyo
Arrive in Tokyo around 8 AM.

idk what to do this day

Nov 24, Tue: Tokyo

Final full day in Tokyo. Shopping if I feel like it, otherwise exploring anything I missed earlier and eating/drinking.

Nov 25, Wed: Fly home
Flight from Narita at 2:25 PM.

Budget

Roughly:

• Flights: ₹61,000 (~$680)
• Accommodation: ₹48,824 (~$520)
• Overnight Osaka → Tokyo bus: $50
• Remaining budget for food, local transport, attractions, Hakone, nightlife etc.: $2,000 - Ideslly wouldn’t wanna spend it all so I can put the money to next years travel.

I’m deliberately leaving some of the itinerary flexible because I’m hoping people might suggest things I haven’t even thought about yet. So if you think there’s something beautiful, weird, underrated, fun, delicious or just very “Japan” that I should consider, please throw it at me!

Taking our honeymoon in Japan at the end of November. Some things are still up in the air due to tickets not being available just yet, but wanted some feedback on our current schedule and any recommendations!

Day 1 Nov 17:

Fly from Boston and land in Narita at 4:10 PM. Easy day - check in to hotel - spend the evening around Ueno Park and eat, get used to time change

Day 2 Nov 18:

Shinjuku and Shibuya: spend the day adjusting, go shopping in shinjuku, Shibuya Parco, shibuya sky in the evening, nightlife in Shinjuku, staying at Shinjuku Gracery.

Day 3 Nov 19:

Tokyo Disney Sea (all day)

Day 4 Nov 20:

Paid for all day pass to teamLab Planets, go shopping in Ginza, hit teamLabs at some point, pack up the luggage.

Day 5 Nov 21:

Shinkansen to Kyoto. Nintendo Museum at 2, check in to hotel afterwards, then Yokai Festival at 5:30.

Day 6 Nov 22:

Early morning Fushimi Inari - afternoon Nishiki Market (not sure what else here, maybe just taking it easy?)

Day 7 Nov 23:

Arashiyama Grove (free day in Kyoto, open to recommendations!)

Day 8 Nov 24:

Osaka - Cup Noodle Museum in the AM, afternoon shopping at Osaka Parco, then Dotonbori at night.

Day 9 Nov 25:

Osaka Castle, maybe a trip to Himeji? Not sure what to do here. Hoping to get Pokemon Cafe tickets as well.

Day 10 Nov 26:

Torn between taking a trip to Hakone or spending another day in Osaka.

Day 11 Nov 27:

Final day in Tokyo, maybe final shopping, fly out at 7PM.

I'm planning a 7 to 10 day trip to Tokyo and Osaka with my parents who are both in their early 70s. We really wanna experience modern cityscapes, futuristic architecture and neon areas like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Dotonbori and Umeda Sky.

Our main planning bottleneck is physical mobility and pacing. My dad can walk moderately well but my mom gets tired after about 1500 to 2000 steps which is under a mile and needs regular seated breaks. We don't speak Japanese but we will use translation apps and the GO taxi app.

Our rough plan is to base at hotels along major roads in central Tokyo for 4 to 5 days and central Osaka for 3 to 4 days. We plan to use street taxis and the GO app for almost all point to point transit to bypass massive train stations like Shinjuku and limit our schedule strictly to one major neighborhood or sight per day.

If we rely almost entirely on taxis, how much unavoidable walking is left in pedestrian zones like Shibuya or Dotonbori? Also how hard is it to find seating in these neighborhoods when public benches are scarce like ducking into department store rest areas or cafes without long queues? Are there modern viewing decks or open observation areas that have wide spaces and direct taxi drop offs?

Thanks for any feedback or advice to help keep this manageable

Hi all! I'd like some input about my itinerary and how I could improve on it, I'm going to Japan in October for the first time so I really want to be well organised and efficient!

I keep trying to tell myself that I won't be able to visit every single spot, so I'm really trying to focus down on my main interests.

My main focus would be the main tourist sights and shrines/temples, as well as clothes shopping, anime, stationery.

I'm also looking at which area is best to go on which day of the week.

TOKYO

Day 1 Friday:

Gotokuji temple, [travel to Harajuku], Meiji jinju, hair appointment at 11am, spend the rest of the evening in Harajuku (clothes shopping).

Day 2 Saturday:

Nihonbashi, [walk to] Tokyo Station area (character street shopping), [walk to] Ginza (shopping in Itoya mainly)

(Could I fit something else on this day? Possibly Tokyo Tower? Or Nakano? I also wanted to go to some shrines and temples in the Tokyo Tower area (for goshuin) which I'll guess will be closed by the time I finish with Ginza?)

Day 3 Sunday:

Akihabara day! Spend the entire day here.

Day 4 Monday:

Shibuya, mainly clothes shopping, Shibuya sky.

(Could I fit something else here? There are quite a few clothing stores I'd like to shop at, but realistically I'm unsure how long it would take. Could I possible fit Tokyo Tower area in the morning, or Nakano in the evening?)

Day 5 Tuesday:

Shinjuku and Kabukicho. My hotel is in shinjuku so this will hopefully be a more chill day, though there are still some stores I want to shop at: Seria, Sekaido, Kinokuniya, Tools.

Day 6 Wedneaday:

Asakusa and Ueno. Tokyo sky tree, Bandai Namco museum, some character goods shopping in Solamachi, possible kimono photos.

Maybe walk around Yanaka if I still have energy.

Day 7 Thursday:

Yokohama, mostly sightseeing.

Day 8 Friday:

Ikebukuro, Anime Tokyo Station, anime shopping, possibly pokemon cafe. At 6pm I'm going to a gig in Ikebukuro.

Day 9 Saturday (last day):

Odaiba, hopefully chill day. Unko museum, some character goods shopping, some sightseeing, hachitama observation room.

KYOTO

I'm trying to map out efficient routes, so any help is appreciated!

I want to spend these few days as a kind of detox, to do a lot of walking and visiting shrines and temples, and minimal shopping.

Day 1 Sunday (will get shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, so possibly half day):

Drop bags at ryokan (in Higashiyama), [walk 5 mins to] Sanjusangendo temple, [taxi 5 mins to] Otani Hombyo, Otani cemetery, Kiyomizu dera, Zuigu do, sannenzaka, ninenzaka, Yasaka Pagoda, Yasaka koshin do temple, Kodai ji temple, Maruyama park, head to Gion, Yasui konpiragu shrine, kenninji-ji, spend the rest of the evening in Gion.

Day 2 Monday:

Fushimi Inari, [take subway and then taxi to] Kinkaku-ji, [walk 15 mins to] ryoan-ji temple, [taxi 5 mins to] kitano tenmangu shrine, Ichijo Yokai Street, [taxi 15 mins to] nishiki market, nishiki tenmangu shrine, teramachi and shinkyogoku shopping streets, shijo kawaramachi, shijo bridge, kano river, pontocho alley

Day 3 Tuesday:

Subway to keage station, walk through Waterway Pavilion (Suirokaku), nanzen ji temple, eikan do temple, philosopher's path, kumano nyokuoji temple, otoyo shrine, honen-in temple, ginkaku ji, [taxi 5 mins to] okasaki shrine, heian shrine.

Day 4 Wednesday:

Check out of Ryokan, travel to arashiyama, tenryu ji temple, kimono forest, travel to Osaka.

OSAKA

Day 1 Wednesday (possibly half day):

Arrive at Osaka-umeda station, (do some shopping), Lucua, toki no hiroba plaza, umeda Sky Building, (possibly kuchu teien observatory), shin umeda shokudogai street, hankyu, HEP five, EST, donki, oishi mono yokocho.

Day 2 thursday:

Namba area. Namba Yasaka shrine, sennichimae doguyasuji, den den town, [take subway to] Shinsaibashi, pokemon center, amerikamura, hozenji yokocho, dotonbori.

Day 3, 4: USJ!

Day 5 Sunday:

Tennoji area. Shitennoji temple, isshin temple, Tennoji park, Jan Jan yokocho, shinsekai Inari shrine, [travel to] Abeno Q's mall, Abeno Harukas.

Day 6 Monday:

Day trip to miyajima

Any help or input is appreciated!

Ok i got 4 days in Tokyo - 11th Oct to 15th Oct after visiting kyoto and Fuji with family.

I have made some day wise itineraries sharing with you all, need your advice..

Day-1
As i am staying in Asakusa, day 1 i will start with -

Sensoji Temple in the morning
Asakusa cruise to Odaiba Island (this has a question below)
Kimono dress
Kimone Tea ceremony
Kappabashi street shopping
Nakamise street shopping

Also if time allows, will visit Ueno park and end day at Hoppy street. we are really into Zoo, national park and aquariums. we are even visiting Osaka aquarium before coming to Tokyo.

Day-2

Kamakura & Enoshima day trip. Kept whole day for this trip.

Day 3

Team lab planets in the morning and then visit Ginza for Uniqlo, Loft and Itoya shopping. I am not sure about this day.

Day 4

I have kept this day for Shibuya - Shinjuku - and Harajuku. day is not planned yet. but will start with Meiji shrine and then visit Shibuya sky, Shibuya crossing in the night. Takeshita street.

Now the confusion starts here -

1. I really wanted to do Asakusa river cruise which ends at Odaiba that really connect well with Team lab planets but i have kept a separate day for that with Ginza shopping.
2. Should i do both Tokyo sky tree and Shibuya sky both, are they worth it? maybe i can do one in day and one in night
3. Am i missing out on anything here, i do not wanted to rush on the 1st day so kept it slow and did teamlabs on 3rd day. Also they Ginza is very crowded for shopping Onitsu tiger and other stuff. Guys need your help to make a semi-perfect itinerary for 4 days
4. We really wanted to get fresh eyeware for my mom and dad in Tokyo too.

Hello community.

I was hoping to get some feedback on my itinerary. Most itineraries I read people are really cramming in a lot into one day. This is my second trip, but we are also bringing along some slower parentals who maybe only be able to site see for half a day, maybe 3/4s of a day. Or some version of a day with a good 3 hour mid day rest. While I have been to Kyoto before, we did a lot by bike so I’m not entirely sure distances with walking or time spent at locations. I’m trying to stagger temple/shrine/garden visits. We are not going to the popular hot spots: Fushimi Inari, The Golden Pavillion, Kiyomizu-dera during the day (maybe at night for the illumination).

Our goal was actually to not have an itinerary and wander, but I wanted a blue print so I personally could see some stuff and have kind of a plan for each day. Our goal is to eat lots of great food, see some gorgeous gardens, and enjoy the beauty of fall foliage. We all love flea markets and antiques so I was incorporating some of those, however, the rents aren’t wanting to buy much to bring back. Just small souvenirs. So let me know if I’m missing something really cool, or overdoing things in other areas.  We are in Kyoto for a lot of days. I did this intentionally as hotel hopping was exhausting. I am stressed about longer day trips because I don’t want to overdo it with the rents so I wanted more Kyoto days to allow for doing less in one day but still seeing many things.

Day 1

Land at KIX late, stay near airport

Day 2

Head to Osaka near Osaka Castle, head spa, wander, orient to time zone

Day 3

AM Osaka Castle, head to Kyoto – wander around Gion area and continue to orient to time zone

Day 4

Kimono Tea Ceremony in Gion, Maruyama Park and all the temples and shrines nearby, Nishiki Market midday (mistake to go midday?) Knife shopping. Basically explore around the Kamo River, alleys, eating things. I intentionally have very little planned in these first few days due to unknown of how well the rents will adjust to new time zone. I want to stay near hotel for naps.

Day 5

Heian Shrine, Okazaki Shring, Eikan-do Shrine, (Skipping Nanzenji though I know it’s beautiful), walk up Philosopher’s Path, hit up a cute hidden antique store I found last time when we went to Mo-an. We did this last time by bike, this is the first time by foot. I’m worried it’s already too much but hoped it wouldn’t be so long we could get a rest before a 4PM Kintsugi Workshop. Is the workshop dumb? The description does not share much, but I know about the art and wanted to learn how to do it for many of my broken ceramics at home.

Day 6
Taxi to Otagi Temple, head south through Adashino Nenbutsu-ji and preserved street. Romantic Train (if we can book it), Possibly the cultural museum to see the exhibit on display. Making the rents walk a lot over two days so they get the evening to rest.

Day 7

Start at Tofukuji when they open, I’m really excited about seeing this place with fall colors. Then walk (or bus, depending on the rents) to To-Ji for the weekend market and to see the temple. Will likely be busy because of the market, and I’m fine with not going to this early. I figured two temples in one day was enough. Evening we play by ear

Day 8

Nara Day trip

Day 9

The boys go do a knife making class in North. I’ll stay with mamma rent and figure out something. Mostly free day to choose whatever we want, but the evening I booked an evening tour and dinner. Staying out late.

Day 10
Canal Cruise to Otsu at 10:55 AM (sleep in after our late evening). It’s two hours, after that is done, I don’t know if we should explore Otsu area, or add in something else. We are trying not to do complicated buses when possible and some of the other spots I wanted to see may be hard to get to from Otsu like Fushimi Jukoku sake region. I know it’s known for canals as well, but maybe a tour of a sake distillery would be fun.

Day 11

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, also a market day. Then head to Kamishichiken to wander the streets, eat, and maybe head to Nishijin Textile Center.

Day 12

Day trip to Uji

Day 13

Leave Kyoto and relax at Arima Onsen

Days 14 on :Kobe for a few days then we leave.

Days 11 and 12 I may swap so our last day in Kyoto is more of a half day so we can pack, do forwarding luggage to Kobe but then we’d miss the market. However, we may get marketed out and that will be fine.

In the evenings where nothing is “planned” I have  list of options to choose from. I want to wander around at night as much as possible, see all the illuminations of the temples. There are some antique stores and other shops we could head to. I imagine wandering around different spots to find food is going to be a fun adventure in of itself. This openness also always for flexibility if we learn about something on the spot and we can just go. However, maybe it’s too open. This trip is partly for me and my partner, but the rents have wanted to go for so long and we are their tour guides. Last time we filled in each day so hard we were up super early, out late, got little sleep, and it was so exhausting. We look back and realized the parts we loved most was the times we were wandering around and found things randomly (food, shops, beautiful streets). So I think we were hoping for more of that vibe. I originally had days heading up to Ohara and Tifune, but because they were half days in of themselves, I wasn’t sure how to make that work.

My fiancée and I are planning our honeymoon in Japan this October.

We’re aiming for a mix of first-time Japan highlights and slower honeymoon time, rather than trying to see everything.

Tokyo — Oct 15–19

Oct 15: Arrive in Tokyo, check in around Tomigaya/Yoyogi Park and have a relaxed evening exploring the neighborhood.
Oct 16: Shibuya Crossing, Shibuya Sky and Hachiko → walk around Daikanyama → cafés/restaurants.
Oct 17: Shinjuku (Kabukicho, Godzilla, Omoide Yokocho) → Shimokitazawa in the afternoon/evening.
Oct 18: Flexible Tokyo day. Current options are Meiji Jingu/Harajuku, TeamLab + Ginza, Asakusa/Senso-ji or Akihabara. Kamakura is another possibility if we feel like doing a day trip.
Oct 19: Final morning in Tokyo → travel to Hakone.

Hakone — Oct 19–20

Oct 19: Check into a ryokan, private onsen and kaiseki dinner. Mainly a relaxation day after Tokyo.
Oct 20: Explore Hakone in the morning, potentially Lake Ashi / Hakone Shrine / ropeway depending on weather → travel to Kyoto in the afternoon.

Kyoto — Oct 20–24

Oct 20: Arrive in Kyoto, check in around Higashiyama/Gion and explore the surrounding area in the evening.
Oct 21: Early Fushimi Inari → Kiyomizu-dera → Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka → Higashiyama → Gion/Hanamikoji. Matcha/café and dinner in the area.
Oct 22: Early Arashiyama → Bamboo Forest + Tenryu-ji → explore the surrounding area → return to central Kyoto for Nishiki Market/Kawaramachi/Pontocho if we have time.
Oct 23: Planned Nara day trip: Todai-ji, Nara Park and Kasuga Taisha. We’re considering keeping this as a Kyoto day instead if we feel we need more time in the city.
Oct 24: Final Kyoto morning → travel to Osaka → flight to Ishigaki.

Ishigaki — Oct 24–29

Oct 24: Arrive in Ishigaki, pick up rental car and check in.
Oct 25: Explore Ishigaki by car — beaches, viewpoints and snorkeling.
Oct 26: Taketomi day trip, exploring the island and beaches.
Oct 27: Iriomote day trip, ideally kayaking/mangroves and exploring the island.
Oct 28: Completely flexible beach/relaxation day, depending on weather.
Oct 29: Relaxed morning/early afternoon in Ishigaki → afternoon flight back to Tokyo.

Tokyo — Oct 29–31

Oct 29: Arrive around 18:30, check in around Tsukiji/Ginza and have dinner nearby.
Oct 30: Tsukiji Outer Market → Ginza/Yurakucho/Tokyo Station area, with time for shopping and food. We’ll also revisit anything we missed during our first Tokyo stay.
Oct 31: Flexible final day for anything we haven’t done yet → late-night flight home.

We’ve already picked up a ton of great advice from this subreddit while planning the trip, so thank you to everyone who contributes here.

Any recommendations or changes that could make the trip better would be hugely appreciated!

Thanks!

Hi!

Thank you everyone for your super helpful posts on this subreddit. It has helped me with my planning for our first Japan trip. We have waited quite a long time for this trip with life getting in the way and wanted to enjoy our first time to the fullest. We (early 30s couple) enjoy anime, video games, random city finds, books and cooking (eating). We are also coming from a country big on walking so we prefer walking at least up to 45 minutes if it means we can explore the city better.

I would love for some feedback especially during our Tokyo leg of the trip. Our main goal was to have a base from where we can do day trips from instead of hotel hopping. I also tried to group up the activities by day and leave plenty of buffer to just walk around and explore the cities by walking.

We picked Kanazawa to get an experience outside of the golden route and are quite interested in edo period/Samurais so this looked interesting.

Anywhere there is "free explore" and if there is definitely something to see that I haven't put into the itinerary then I'd love to hear some thoughts!

Day 1 -> Osaka : Drop bags at hotel near Namba St -> find somewhere to have dinner -> sleep

Day 2 -> Osaka : Osaka Castle (won't enter, mostly check it out from the outside) -> Lunch at Dotonbori -> Denden town -> Namba parks at night -> free explore around city -> Dinner

Day 3 (Day Trip) -> Osaka -> Kyoto -> Train to Kyoto 7am -> Reserved breakfast at 8 -> Kameoka Station -> Hozugawa River Ride at 10 -> Arashiyama bamboo forest -> Walk Chikurin Bamboo Forest + visit Temples, Otagi Nenbutsuji-> Lunch -> Nishiki Markets -> free explore -> Train to Osaka

Day 4 (Day Trip) -> Osaka -> Kyoto -> Train to Kyoto at 7am -> Breakfast -> Gion -> Kodaji Temple -> Senbon Tori gates + walk up Mt Inari -> Kyoto center for some matcha shopping -> free explore ->back to Osaka

Day 5 (Day Trip) -> Osaka -> Nara -> Breakfast -> Train to Kintetsu Nara St -> City loop bus to Kasuga Taisha Shrine -> Deers/Temple/Todaji -> Higashimuki + Lunch -> free explore -> Dinner -> Train to Osaka

Day 6 -> Osaka -> Kanazawa -> Checkout from Osaka -> Send big luggages to Tokyo -> Breakfast -> Shinkansen to Kanazawa -> Check in to hotel -> Walk to Omicho Market -> Nomura-ke Samurai House -> Nagamachi Samurai District -> free explore

Day 7 -> Kanazawa : Kanazawa Castle -> Kenrokuen Gardens -> Higashi Chaya District -> Geisha tea ceremony -> free explore

Day 8 -> Kanazawa : Day trip to Shirakawa-go -> take bus from Kanazawa to Shirakawa

Day 9 -> Kanazawa -> Tokyo -> Checkout from Kanazawa -> Breakfast -> Head to Tokyo -> check in to hotel in Ueno -> explore Shinjuku -> Square Enix store -> Golden Gai -> Godzilla -> Metropolitan Building view -> Tokyo Tower -> free explore

Day 10 -> Tokyo : explore Ueno Kappabashi Street shopping -> Ameyoko Market -> Nishi-Sando shopping street until 4pm -> Ghibli Museum (reserved time at 4pm) till 6pm -> Back to Ueno and chill/explore

Day 11 -> Tokyo : Shibuya -> Shibuya Crossing -> Don Quijote -> Harajuku

Day 12 -> Tokyo : Chiyoda -> Don Quijote -> Animate Akihabara -> Akihabara Electric Town -> Mandarake -> Eorzea Cafe -> teamLab Borderless

Day 13 -> Tokyo : Shopping day / Uniqulo/ Muji/ Loft/ take it chill (Can change this if there is something more interesting to do)

Day 14 (Day Trip)? -> Tokyo -> Day trip to Nikko? (waterfalls and hike)?

Day 15 -> Tokyo : Last day in Tokyo, YOLO / repeat any area we enjoyed

Day 16 -> Tokyo -> Shizuoka (Rendaiji) -> Send luggage to Osaka -> Take train to ryokan in Rendaiji -> explore Rendaiji -> Inubashiri Island -> Beach

Day 17 -> Shizuoka (Rendaiji) : Onsen , Chill, no plan

Day 18 -> Shizuoka -> Osaka -> Check out -> train to Fuji St. to see Mt Fuji -> head to Osaka -> check in -> Shinsaibashi Shopping Street -> free explore

Day 19 -> Osaka : Universal Studios Japan full day

Day 20 -> Osaka : Last day -> Umeda sky building -> Pokemon Center -> Tenjinbashi-suji St

Day 21 -> Checkout at 4am and catch 7am flight.

Hello everyone,

I am planning a solo trip to Japan for first time mid november (Nov 9 - Nov 22). I have finalised the itinerary and wanted feedback on any critical issues and recommendations for any changes. I have mainly used multiple LLMs to plan this (cross review each others output) and japan-guide website

I prefer doing activities (more than sightseeing), anime & games related stuff, roaming around, don't like temples & architecture.

Regarding food - Dont really want to try popular restaurants, will just try any local restaurant that looks good.

TOKYO (Days 1–6, 6 nights) — Stay: Shinjuku

Day 1: Arrive Tokyo → Shinjuku

• Evening: roam around Kabukicho / Omoide Yokocho

Day 2: Akihabara full day

• Radio Kaikan, Super Potato, Mandarake, Animate, AKIBA-HOBBY, arcades

Day 3: teamLab + Shibuya Sky + shopping

• Morning: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (free observatory)
• Afternoon: teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills)
• Sunset: Shibuya Sky

Day 4: Tokyo DisneySea (full day)

Day 5: Fuji-Q Highland day trip

Day 6: Flex day + Kawaguchi Fireworks festival

HAKONE (Days 7–8, 2 nights)

Day 7: Tokyo → Hakone

• Morning: Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku (85 min)
• Afternoon: Check into ryokan, relax, onsen

Day 8: Full Hakone Loop + second ryokan night

Day 9 : Hakone → Osaka

• Morning: Shinkansen (Odawara → Shin-Osaka, ~3h)
• Afternoon: Check into Namba hotel
• Evening: Dotonbori + Midosuji Illumination

OSAKA (Days 9–13, 4 nights) — Stay: Namba/Dotonbori

Day 10: Kyoto #1

• Morning: Fushimi Inari
• Afternoon: Gion/Higashiyama (traditional streets, wooden machiya houses, boutiques, cafés)
• Evening: Pontocho Alley (narrow dining alley along Kamo River)

Day 11: Osaka Aquarium + Tennoji Zoo

• Morning: Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
• Afternoon: Tennoji Zoo

Day 12: Universal Studios Japan (USJ)

Day 13: Flex, will go to Kyoto again if i liked it, else will roam around or decide during trip

Day 14: Depart from KIX

I need help with below -

1. If any of the days look not possible to do, any critical feedback?
2. Are there any places that are popular but not worth it? Any other place or activity you would recommend specifically for the flex days or replace something?
3. Do the places I am staying makes sense or should i change them considering travel time optimization or other factors?
4. Is there any scope of doing sky diving? Can i just walk up and do it somewhere in half-day? Or will it be too much of a hassle?

Thank you

Hi everyone! My mum and I are travelling to Japan from Australia this week (4 September), and it will be our first time visiting Japan. I’d love to get some feedback on our itinerary, particularly if there are any changes you would recommend.

We’re mainly interested in nature and lush greenery, shopping, and hiking, so I’d love to hear any recommendations for places we might be missing or things we should reconsider.

4th Sept: Arrive at Narita at 2:30pm and go to hotel in Shinjuku. Explore Shinjuku at night.

5th Sept: Meiji Jingu Shrine, Harajuku (for shopping) and Shibuya at night

6th Sept: Ueno - shopping, stroll through Ueno Sakuragi Atari. Visit Akihabara at night.

7th Sept: Ginza and Tokyo tower at night

8th Sept: Catch bus from Shinjuku to Kamikochi (arrive at 12pm). Catch the 5:15pm bus/train from Kamikochi and check into hotel near Matsumoto station.

9th Sept: Travel from Matsumoto station to Ogizawa for the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. Arrive in Toyama around 6pm and check into hotel near station.

10th Sept: Travel from Toyama to Kyoto - arrive around 3pm. Go to Kiyomizu temple around 6pm.

11th Sept: Arashiyama - visit Yusei-tei gallery, Gioji Temple, Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street and Okochi sanso garden.

12th Sept: Nara day trip

13th Sept: Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji and Philosopher's path

14th Sept: Travel from Kyoto to KIX for flight

I’m also a little concerned about the weather forecast, as it’s currently predicting rain for most/all of our time in Japan. For anyone who has visited Japan in September, how much would you let the weather influence these plans?

Any recommendations or feedback would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

Hey all. So a few weeks ago I posted here with the first itinerary for my Wife and I's first year anniversary/honeymoon to Japan. You guys helped so much and we have revised our itinerary and cut some cities out as suggested. I was hoping you all could take a look and give any feedback or suggestions for our days. Stuff we may have overlooked or just not known about.

To give more detail too for suggestions purposes: we love animals (mainly cats), Pokémon, some anime, Halloween (we got married on Halloween) and I proposed at Disney (hence why Disney and Universal is in here too).

We haven't included food places as we will look maybe into that closer to the time, but if you want to suggest anything, feel free. We will take all comments into consideration as I'm a massive foodie and will try almost any food.

[(October) Thurs 22nd - UK>Tokyo NRA]

Flight from the UK to Japan.

[Friday 23rd - Tokyo]

NRT Flight - Arriving at 1pm, travel to Tokyo Hotel in Asakusa, have a general walk around and get used to our surroundings, then visit the Pokémon Center Skytree and other stores in the Skytree until our Booked Tokyo Skytree Deck at 8pm.

[Sat 24th - Tokyo]

Visit the Meiji Jingu Temple, thinking of booking a nearby Capybara Cafe, visit the Pokémon Center Shibuya, whilst here go Shibuya Crossing, maybe wanting to go to a walk-in tattoo studio whilst at Shibuya then end the night at Akihabara Electric I guess for arcades, drinks, gatcha and stuff?

[Sun 25th - Tokyo]

Booked Tokyo Disneyland

[Mon 26th - Tokyo>Kyoto]

Trying to Book Pokémon Cafe Tokyo as we are going the Pokémon Center DX Tokyo anyways. We then travel to our Kyoto Hotel near Shimogyo Ward and we will visit To-Ji Temple just because it's near our hotel.

[Tue 27th - Kyoto]

Visit Arashiyama Bamboo Forest whilst here also go further in a d check out Otagi Nenbutsuji Shrine then we are going to book Arashiyama Monkey Park afterwards going to Book Romance Train to Kameoka and don't really know what from there.

[Wed 28th - Kyoto]

Day Trip to Nara, visit the Deer Park go to Kasugataisha Shrine, Kofuku-ji Temple and Todai-ji Temple. That's all we have so far.

[Thurs 29th - Kyoto]

Day trip to Osaka, visit the Osaka Castle, Namba Jinja Shrine, we are thinking of booking Zauo Fishing Restaurant but the wife isn't big in seafood or the idea of fishing what I eat hah. Then just general walking around Osaka.

[Fri 30th - Kyoto]

Booked Kimono Tea Ceremony Maikoya, Pokémon Center Kyoto then visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Not really much planned for this day.

[Sat 31st - Kyoto]

Day Trip to Osaka for Universal Studios for our 1st Year Wedding Anniversary. Going on rides and seeing the Halloween Parade.

[(November) Sun 1st - Kyoto>Hakone]

Travel to Hakone Hotel / Ichinoyu Ryokan, visit the Choanji Temple (near Ryokan) and thinking of going to the Hakone Botanical Wetlands Garden.

[Mon 2nd - Hakone]

Booking the Hakone 2 Day Pass and taking the Hakone Ropeway upto Mt. Hakone (yes we will try a black eggs haha). Maybe stroll around Lake Ashi (not going on the boat) and visit the Hakone Shrine. Really want to see views of Mt. Fuji and we don't really have any ideas for this day other than the above.

[Tue 3rd - Hakone>Tokyo]

Travel to our Tokyo Hotel in Minato City and then Booked PokéPark Kanto. Nothing else planned for this day as it's travel and then PokePark.

NOTE! These half travel days; we have purposely added less because we are unsure how much time we will have for stuff to do. If you folks think we could add stuff in, please suggest away!

[Wed 4th - Tokyo]

Booked Tokyo Disneysea

[Thurs 5th - Tokyo>UK]

Booked TeamLab Digital Art Borderless for morning time and then we travel to NRA Airport to go home.

Again, we really appreciated all the comments last time. This will be our last revision after this next set of comments as we are only 50 days away now and we are in full-on Japan mode. Thanks folks!

*Edit: Structure and formatting of the post.

Hi All

Traveling solo in the middle of October!! So excited :)

If anyone has experience with the hostels mentioned below, let me know. I am looking for some social vibe, to connect with other travelers, if possible. But I know I can't rely on that solely, I am fine with hostels since it's cheaper too.

Current structure: Tokyo 3N → Fuji 1N → Matsumoto 2N → Kyoto 6N → Tokyo 4N.

# Day 1 — Saturday | Tokyo — Shibuya

* Arrive Haneda \~3 PM
* Check into **Hotel Graphy Shibuya**
* Prescription glasses lol
* Walk around Shibuya

# Day 2 — Sunday | Harajuku + Shibuya

* Meiji Jingu
* Takeshita Street
* Harajuku
* Cat Street
* Omotesando
* Onitsuka Tiger shopping
* Shibuya Sky at sunset

# Day 3 — Monday | Tsukiji + teamLab + Shinjuku Night

* Tsukiji Outer Market early
* teamLab Planets
* Odaiba / Toyosu
* Ginza
* Evening:
* Omoide Yokocho / Piss Alley
* Golden Gai

# Day 4 — Tuesday | Kawaguchiko / Mt. Fuji 🗻

* Early bus/train from Tokyo
* Chureito Pagoda if Fuji visibility is good
* Lake Kawaguchi
* Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
* Fuji viewpoints / photography
* Check into ryokan/hotel around 3 PM
* Yukata
* Private onsen
* Relax

# Day 5 — Wednesday | Fuji → Matsumoto

* Slow Fuji morning
* Kawaguchiko → Kofu → Matsumoto
* Check into **Tabino Hotel Matsumoto**
* Matsumoto Castle
* Nawate Street
* Nakamachi

# Day 6 — Thursday | KAMIKOCHI 🥾🏔️

* Leave Matsumoto very early
* Taisho Pond
* Tashiro Marsh
* Kappa Bridge
* Myojin
* Myojin Pond
* Continue toward Tokusawa if weather, daylight and energy cooperate
* Return to Kappa Bridge/bus terminal

# Day 7 — Friday | Matsumoto → Kyoto

* **Daio Wasabi Farm**

Then:

* Matsumoto → Nagoya → Kyoto
* Check into **The Millennials Kyoto**
* Explore around Kawaramachi/Kamo River
* Social hostel evening

# Day 8 — Saturday | Classic Kyoto 👘🍵💍

* Fushimi Inari early
* Kimono experience + tea ceremony
* Kiyomizu-dera
* Sannenzaka
* Ninenzaka
* glänta ring-making workshop
* Yasaka area
* Gion

# Day 9 — Sunday | Arashiyama + Central Kyoto + Macho Bar

* Arashiyama Bamboo Grove very early
* Tenryu-ji
* Optional Monkey Park
* Return to central Kyoto
* Nishiki Market
* Engraved chopsticks-making experience
* Kamo River / central Kyoto wandering
* Macho Bar at night lol

# Day 10 — Monday | UJI MATCHA DAY 🍵

* Train to Uji
* Byodo-in
* Uji River
* Tea streets
* Proper matcha/tea experience
* Possibly matcha stone-grinding experience
* Shop for:
* Matcha tins
* Chawan / matcha bowl
* Chasen / bamboo whisk
* Whisk stand
* Chashaku / scoop

# Day 11 — Tuesday | Nara 🦌

* Nara Park
* Todai-ji
* Kasuga Taisha
* Forest paths
* Naramachi if time
* Deer, obviously

# Day 12 — Wednesday | Osaka

* **Minoh Falls** in the morning
* Umeda
* Dotonbori
* Shinsekai
* Arcades
* Karaoke if you meet people / feel like it

# Day 13 — Thursday | Kyoto → Tokyo / Asakusa

* Shinkansen to Tokyo
* Check into final Tokyo hostel
* Senso-ji
* Fortune reading
* Nakamise
* Asakusa
* Kappabashi
* Japanese knife shopping
* Tokyo Skytree

# Day 14 — Friday | Gotokuji + Tokyo Exploring + Nightlife

**Activities**

* **Gotokuji cat temple**
* Optional cat café
* Akihabara OR return to Harajuku/Shibuya
* Pick up prescription glasses if ready
* More Onitsuka Tiger shopping if needed
* General shopping

# Day 15 — Saturday | TOKYO DISNEYSEA 🎢🌋

Tokyo DisneySea

# Day 16 — Sunday | Shopping + Catch-Up + Final Dinner

This day is deliberately unstructured/shopping day

* Donki
* Onitsuka Tiger
* Clothes
* Jewelry
* Skincare
* Stationery
* Snacks to take home
* More matcha
* Souvenirs
* Akihabara if not done
* Cat café if not done
* Skytree if weather/day 13 didn't work
* Anything you discovered during the trip that you suddenly want to see

**$100–200 omakase (recommendations?)**

# Day 17 — Monday | Departure ✈️

* Sleep in, Pack, Weigh suitcases
* Pick up glasses if somehow still needed
* Last-minute shopping
* Head to Haneda with plenty of time for \~5 PM departure

Hello all,
We are a family of 3 traveling with our 10 year old boy.

We enjoy history, castles, distinctive neighborhoods, local food and a few major family attractions. We prefer at least two nights per hotel, efficient routes with minimal backtracking, and a pace that works for a child. Also, I regret booking a non refundable hotel in Nagoya (friend's wedding in Nagoya canceled) so our itinerary is making the best of it. Maybe we can get another Kyoto day in there. Lemme know. Here's my detailed itinerary:

Day 1 - Arrive in Japan / continue to Osaka
International arrival in Tokyo, then a domestic connection to Osaka. Check in and have a simple convenience-store dinner.

Day 2 - Osaka
Osaka Castle and park -> Hokoku Shrine -> Shinsekai/Janjan Yokocho -> Den Den Town -> Dotonbori/Tonbori River Walk. Optional Pokemon Center.
Food ideas: takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu, sushi or yakiniku.

Day 3 - Universal Studios Japan
Full park day. We will have an Express Pass with timed entries for major attractions, including Super Nintendo World.

Osaka (same hotel)
Day 4 - Kyoto day trip
Early Fushimi Inari -> Kiyomizu-dera -> Sannenzaka -> Yasaka Pagoda area -> Kodai-ji -> Gion -> Pontocho.
Food ideas: inari-zushi, yatsuhashi, tofu/obanzai lunch, matcha dessert.

Day 5 - Nara and Iga, then Nagoya
Check out of Osaka. Nara Park and Todai-ji, then continue to Iga for the ninja museum/show, Iga Ueno Castle and an
Iga beef meal. Continue to Nagoya for check-in.
This is the day we are most concerned may be too ambitious, especially with luggage.

Day 6 - Inuyama day trip
Inuyama Castle -> Sanko Inari Shrine -> castle town / cultural history museum. Return to Nagoya.
Plan to graze on local snacks rather than reserve a full lunch.

Day 7 - Gujo Hachiman day trip
Gujo Hachiman Castle -> old town waterways -> Yanaka Lane -> food replica workshop. Return to Nagoya.
Food ideas: Hida beef, keichan chicken, ayu or soba.

Day 8 - Nagoya to Hakone
Travel to Hakone and arrive at the ryokan early enough to enjoy the onsen, property and included dinner.
This is intentionally a slow/rest day.

Day 9 - Hakone to Tokyo / Asakusa
Check out and travel to Tokyo. If timing and energy allow: Senso-ji -> Nakamise -> Sumida River Walk -> Tokyo Skytree and nearby shopping.
Tokyo (Ariake/Odaiba area)

Day 10 - teamLab and Odaiba
Morning teamLab Planets -> Odaiba Seaside Park -> Unicorn Gundam -> DiverCity.
Short, lower-key day near the hotel.

Day 11 - Tokyo Disney
Full day at Tokyo Disneyland.

Tokyo (same hotel)
Day 12 - Harajuku, Shibuya and Shinjuku
Meiji Jingu / Harajuku -> Shibuya Crossing, Hachiko and shopping -> Shinjuku lights and the free metropolitan observatory.
This may be cut down if it feels rushed after Disney.

Day 13 - Flexible Tokyo day
Open day for anything missed, shopping, rest, or a neighborhood recommendation.
Tokyo (same hotel)

Day 14 - Fly home
Check out, allow plenty of time for the airport and depart Japan.
No sightseeing planned.

Questions for itinerary feedback
The main decisions where local or recent traveler advice would help
• Is Day 5 (Nara + Iga + transfer to Nagoya) realistically doable by public transportation, or should we choose only Nara or Iga?
• Would you keep both Inuyama and Gujo Hachiman, or replace one with a day in Nagoya?
• Is the Kyoto route in a sensible order, and is it too much for one day with a 10-year-old?
• On the Hakone-to-Tokyo day, should we skip Asakusa/Skytree and go straight to the hotel?
• Are Harajuku, Shibuya and Shinjuku too much in one day after a full Disney day?
• Any family-friendly food or small-town recommendations that fit this route without major detours?
• For luggage, would you forward bags from Osaka to Nagoya and from Nagoya to Tokyo, carrying only an overnight
bag to Hakone?
Planning assumptions
We expect to use trains and local transit rather than rent a car. We will travel light and can use luggage forwarding. Major
attraction tickets and the ryokan are already arranged, so the feedback we need is mainly about pacing, route efficiency
and what to cut.

This is the second time I’ve booked a hotel or apartment via Booking.com where the listing states the bed width is 131–150 cm (I’m looking for a double bed), yet after paying, I receive a message saying the bed is actually only 120 cm wide. How am I supposed to understand this?

Hi everyone!

I’m going to Japan solo in October and I’m so excited lol. This will be my first time in Japan. I’ve been planning for a while and I think I finally have the general itinerary where I want it, but I’d love a sanity check before I start locking in some of the remaining reservations.

I’m 26F and traveling solo. I’m trying to find a balance between sightseeing, shopping, food, some nature/hiking, and having enough downtime that I’m not miserable by the second week.

My current route is:

Tokyo 3 nights → Kawaguchiko 1 night → Matsumoto 2 nights → Kyoto 6 nights → Tokyo 4 nights

I’m staying in a mix of hotels/hostels. I’m hoping the hostel portions give me at least some opportunities to meet other travelers, but I’m also completely fine doing things alone.

Day 1 - Saturday - Tokyo
Arrive at Haneda around 3 PM and head to Hotel Graphy Shibuya. I’m not planning much for this day because I know I’ll probably be tired. I want to get checked in, walk around Shibuya, eat something and hopefully get my prescription glasses ordered because I’d like to pick them up later in the trip.

Day 2 - Sunday - Harajuku/Shibuya
Planning to start around Meiji Jingu and then work my way through Takeshita Street, Harajuku, Cat Street and Omotesando.

I also want to shop at Onitsuka Tiger at some point.
I’m hoping to get Shibuya Sky around sunset if I can get the right ticket time.

Day 3 - Monday - Tsukiji/teamLab/Shinjuku
Early morning at Tsukiji Outer Market, then teamLab Planets.

Afterward I was thinking of wandering around Toyosu/Odaiba and eventually making my way toward Ginza.
At night I’d like to go to Shinjuku and see Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai. I’m solo so this will probably depend on how brave/social I’m feeling by then lol.

Day 4 - Tuesday - Kawaguchiko
Leave Tokyo early for Kawaguchiko.The main goal is obviously Mt. Fuji, so I’m trying not to over-plan this day since I know visibility will decide a lot.

If the weather is clear, I’d like to do Chureito Pagoda, Lake Kawaguchi, the Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway and just spend time walking around/getting photos.

Check into my ryokan around 3 PM and then basically enjoy the ryokan, wear the yukata, use the private onsen and relax.

Day 5 - Wednesday - Kawaguchiko to Matsumoto
I’d like to have a slower morning in Kawaguchiko and then take the route through Kofu to Matsumoto.

After checking into Tabino Hotel Matsumoto, I’m hoping I’ll still have enough time for Matsumoto Castle and then Nawate Street/Nakamachi.

This is one of the days I’m not sure about timing-wise.

Day 6 - Thursday - Kamikochi
This is one of the things I’m most excited about.
Planning to leave Matsumoto very early and start around Taisho Pond, then Tashiro Marsh, Kappa Bridge, Myojin and Myojin Pond.

If the weather is good, there’s enough daylight and my legs aren’t protesting, I’d love to continue toward Tokusawa for a bit before turning around.

I know October weather in Kamikochi can be unpredictable, so I’m definitely willing to shorten this if needed.

Day 7 - Friday - Matsumoto to Kyoto
I’m considering going to Daio Wasabi Farm in the morning before leaving the area. After that: Matsumoto → Nagoya → Kyoto.

I’ll check into The Millennials Kyoto and probably spend the rest of the evening walking around Kawaramachi/Kamo River and hopefully socializing a little at the hostel. I’m debating whether the wasabi farm makes this travel day unnecessarily complicated.

Day 8 - Saturday - Kyoto
Early Fushimi Inari. After that I want to do a kimono + tea ceremony experience and spend most of the day around the Higashiyama/Gion area: Kiyomizu-dera, Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka, Yasaka area and Gion.

I also really want to do the glänta ring-making workshop while I’m in Kyoto.

I’m aware this may be too much for one day depending on where I book the kimono/tea experience.

Day 9 - Sunday - Arashiyama/Kyoto
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove very early, Tenryu-ji and possibly Monkey Park.

Then head back into central Kyoto for Nishiki Market.
I found an engraved chopstick-making experience that looks cute, so I may do that too.

Otherwise I’d like some time to wander around central Kyoto/Kamo River without having every hour planned.
And yes, I’m planning to go to Macho Bar at night. 😂

Day 10 - Monday - Uji
Basically my matcha day.
I want to see Byodo-in and walk around the Uji River/tea streets, but I’ll admit the main reason I’m going is the matcha.

I’d love to do a proper tea experience and possibly one of the matcha stone-grinding experiences. I also want to buy good matcha to bring home plus a chawan, chasen, whisk stand and chashaku.

I’m giving Uji most of the day because I don’t want to rush through it just to say I went.

Day 11 - Tuesday - Nara
Day trip from Kyoto. Nara Park, Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, some of the forest paths and Naramachi if I still have time/energy.

And obviously I fully expect to spend an unreasonable amount of time with the deer.

Day 12 - Wednesday - Osaka
This is another day I’m unsure about.
I currently have Minoh Falls in the morning and then Osaka afterward. In Osaka I mainly want to see Umeda, Dotonbori and Shinsekai, play some arcade games, eat and wander around.

If I happen to meet people who want to do karaoke, even better.

I’m wondering if Minoh Falls + Osaka is trying to cram two different days into one.

Day 13 - Thursday - Kyoto to Tokyo / Asakusa
Shinkansen back to Tokyo and check into my final hostel/hotel.

Then spend the day around Asakusa: Senso-ji, Nakamise, fortune reading, walking around the area and Kappabashi.
I specifically want to shop for a Japanese kitchen knife in Kappabashi.

If timing/weather works, Tokyo Skytree afterward.

Day 14 - Friday - Tokyo
I really want to see Gotokuji because cats.
After that I’m keeping things pretty open.
Possibly Akihabara, a cat café, more Harajuku/Shibuya, general shopping and picking up my prescription glasses if they’re ready.
This is also my backup day for anything I missed during the first Tokyo stay.

Day 15 - Saturday - DisneySea
Entire day at Tokyo DisneySea.

Day 16 - Sunday - Shopping/catch-up day
I deliberately left this day mostly empty because I know myself and I’m going to find 47 things during the trip that I suddenly need to go back for.
Likely shopping for clothes, Onitsuka Tigers, jewelry, skincare, stationery, snacks, souvenirs, Donki and probably more matcha.
Akihabara, a cat café or Skytree can also move here if I didn’t get to them earlier.
I’d also like to finish the trip with a nicer omakase dinner in roughly the $100-200 USD range, although I can research that separately.

Day 17 - Monday - Departure
Sleep in, pack, discover that my suitcases somehow gained 20 kg during the trip, weigh everything, do any truly last-minute shopping and head to Haneda with plenty of time for my flight around 5 PM.

A few things I’d especially love feedback on:

Is 6 nights based in Kyoto too much? Two of those days are Nara and Uji and another is being used for Osaka, so I’m technically only spending about 3 full sightseeing days in Kyoto itself.

Is Kawaguchiko → Kofu → Matsumoto realistic on Day 5 while still having enough time for Matsumoto Castle that afternoon?

Thank you! I’ve changed this itinerary about 500 times already, so I’m hoping I’m finally getting close. :)

Me and my husband are visiting Japan this November for the first time. Figured out a rough Itinerary for Kyoto, would love to get some feedback. For Kyoto itself there are not many details yet (a LOT of things we want to see, but we still need to prioritise/structure them).

We are okay with walking a lot. Of course still don't want to rush or overplan things.

• 23.11 (Monday): Arrival from Tokyo. Check in
• 24.11 (Tuesday):
  • Early: Arashiyama. If possible, including the Hozu River Cruise. Maybe including monkey park (if not too full). Can be changed with another Kyoto-Weekday if weather is bad.
  • Evening: TeamLab Biovortex 6pm evening slot
• 25.11 (Wednesday):
  • Some Kyoto stuff (nothing specific yet). Maybe including Kimono photo shoot, and/or some traditional show.
  • Fushimi Inary in the early morning (arriving before sunset) or in the late evening (when it’s dark already)
• 26.11 (Thursday):
  • Early: Shinkansen to Himeji. Visiting the castle and gardens.
  • When finished (midday/afternoon): Take the train to Osaka. Dotonbori etc. Castle is maybe not necessary because of Himeji. Maybe doing some shopping, exploring the city in the dark. Food is not a priority. Get back to Kyoto late.
• 27.11 (Friday):
  • Another day for Kyoto itself. Photo shoot and/or visiting some show is also possible here.
  • If Osaka was too short, maybe another (half) day trip here.
  • If not - maybe night illumination in the evening.
• 28.11 (Saturday):
  • Early: Half Day Trip to Uji. Very interested in Matcha stuff.
  • Midday/Noon: Half Day Trip to Nara. Todaji-ji etc.
• 29.11 (Sunday): Leaving not too late: Travel day to Miyajima.

Apart from general feedback, I have some other questions:

• Trying to avoid the crowds as much as possible, that's why the Kyoto plans are on weekdays, while Uji/Nara is on saturday. I felt like the Nara park is maybe so big that it can handle crowds a little bit better...Does it make sense? If not, maybe putting Himeji/Osaka on Saturday instead?
• Is Himeji/Osaka on one day a stupid idea? In general, I think we're more interested in Kyoto than Osaka. Should we maybe split it: One day Himeji, one day Osaka? I'm just worried we won't have enough time in Kyoto itself.
• Does the Biovortex Slot after the Arashiyama day make sense?
• Maybe a bit off topic - but if you have any recommendations for shows in Kyoto that might be enjoyable as a tourist... Like we thought about GEAR, but not sure if we'll like it. Something more traditional like a Geisha Show, Drum Show, Kabuki theatre?, ... might be interesting - want to experience something traditional while also maybe having a small break from all the walking.

Planning a 16-day trip to Japan for three adults from May 16 to June 2, 2027, using a hub-and-spoke model with quiet suburban home bases in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo to minimize luggage friction. The itinerary balances cultural immersion, photograph ywith strictly vetted vegetarian (milk and eggs allowed), intentionally avoiding a rushed pace by including soft mornings and weather-flex days to protect group energy.

• May 17 | Osaka (Arrival): Arrive KIX. Settle into Osaka base (Nishinari Ward). Evening: Shinsekai retro walk, dinner at Restaurant.
• May 18 | Osaka (City Pulse): Morning: Rest/Recover. Afternoon/Evening: Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi arcade, dinner at El Pancho.
• May 19 | Osaka (Flex Day): Unstructured personal exploration. Evening: Dinner at Aoi Napoli (Tenshiba Park).
• May 20 | Nara (Day Trip): Morning (8:30 AM): Todai-ji & Deer Park. Lunch: Vegan ramen at Zagin Kintetsu. Afternoon: Naramachi.
• May 21 | Kobe (Day Trip): Morning (10:00 AM soft start): Nunobiki Ropeway & Herb Gardens. Lunch: Modernark Pharm Cafe. Evening: Chinatown.
• May 22 | Kyoto (Transit): Transfer to Kyoto base (Shimogyo Ward). Evening: Gion night walk & izakaya culture.
• May 23 | Kyoto (Early Strike): Morning (6:30 AM): Kiyomizu-dera & Sannenzaka to beat crowds. Afternoon: Unscripted rest/recovery.
• May 24 | Kyoto (Flex Day): Unstructured personal exploration (Nakagyo area). Evening: Dinner at Tadka 2.
• May 25 | Fushimi & Uji: Morning: Fushimi Inari (hike to Yotsutsuji viewpoint only). Afternoon: Uji for matcha grinding & river walk.
• May 26 | Ohara (Day Trip): Morning: Bus to Ohara Village (Sanzen-in moss gardens). Evening: Pontocho alley bar hopping.
• May 27 | Tokyo (Transit): Shinkansen to Tokyo base (Kita City). Evening: Shibuya Scramble & Harajuku.
• May 28 | Kamakura (Day Trip): Coastal trip to Great Buddha & Hasedera. Evening: Dinner at Chimaki (Omori).
• May 29 | Tokyo (Tech/Art): Morning: Shinjuku (Map Camera, Sekaido art supplies). Evening: teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills).
• May 30 | Tokyo (Anime/Pop): Morning: Akihabara (Sunday Pedestrian Paradise street closure). Afternoon: Ikebukuro (Sunshine City).
• May 31 | Mt. Fuji (Day Trip): Highway bus to Kawaguchiko (Oishi Park). Note: Floating day—will swap with June 1 if raining.
• June 1 | Tokyo (Flex Day): Final shopping (Traveler’s Factory, Pigment Tokyo). Evening: Farewell dinner at Nirvana New York.
• June 2 | Departure: Morning checkout..

The recommendation to visit Kamikochi was excellent. We had such a wonderful time. We visited today from Takayama (8/31/26). We followed others tips and joined the line at the Nohi bus terminal at 5:30am for the 6am bus. The line was already pretty healthy! Doors opened at 5:45am and we quickly purchased our round trip tickets which were ¥5800 each. We tried to buy them yesterday when our train arrived but were told to buy in the morning. Even in the heat of summer it was quite the destination!

When we arrived at Kamikochi (transfer at Hirayu Onsen), we tried to follow the recommendation and reserve a bus back, but were turned away. Later at the bus stop we saw they had signs that said they were no longer allowing this.

I was a little worried about the bus with all the warnings here but we still had a wonderful time. Instead of going to Tashiro Pond, we went the other way on the left side of Kappabashi Bridge and hiked toward Myojin Bridge. We encountered hundreds of monkeys on the trail at this time. There were 2 locals and us Americans. It felt very special.

It took us about 2 hours to complete the 4.5 mile “moderate hike” (it felt very easy to us), and were back in the valley around 9:30am. We had pizza and a beer and then joined the 11:00am queue back to Hirayu Onsen, which was already very large. We got on the bus though, and now we’re back in Takayama enjoying the onsen.

Hey,

Aim: Low stress, no rushing.

Travelling with 3 adults and an 8 year old, tried to put together a reasonably easy itinerary but apparently Tokyo is quite big :-) , even robbed a day from another part of our trip to donate to the schedule.

Trying not to speed run Tokyo and tried to factor in places where we can just sit down and chill for an hour or two. Some of the open ended things might be influenced by 8 year old's tolerance for shrines, museums and walking.

Feedback / tweaks welcome.

Tue 23 Mar

• Land at NRT (No jet lag, travelling from same time zone)
• Check in to hotel Ueno/Asakusa about 6
• Easy first night - Orientation Wander, Konbini supplies
• Probably visit Sensō-ji for early evening walk of the grounds even if things are closing
  

Wed 24 Mar

• Meiji Jingu
• Harajuku / Takeshita
• Shibuya Crossing
• Shibuya Sky
• PARCO - Flex option, if there's time/energy

Thu 25 Mar

• Tokyo DisneySea

Fri 26 Mar

• Shimokitazawa
• Back to hotel for some general down time
• Shinjuku - Casual wander - Maybe visit 3D Cat/Godzilla/ random stuff / possible detour to TMG for a projection show.
• Omoide Yokochō for dinner - main reason for heading out this direction.

Sat 27 Mar

• Yokohama
• Cup Noodles Museum
• Minato Mirai
• Tokyo Station / Character Street

Sun 28 Mar

• Sanrio Puroland

Mon 29 Mar

• Tsukiji Outer Market
• Hama-rikyu Gardens
• Pokémon Café / Tokyo DX
• Ginza / Itoya

Tue 30 Mar

• Ueno Park
• National Museum of Nature & Science
• Ameyoko
• Akihabara ( possible family karaoke ??)

Wed 31 Mar

• Imperial Palace East Gardens
• teamLab Planets
• KidZania (2nd shift starts at 16:00)

Thu 1 Apr

• Check out
• Kamakura ("Lite" version, Skipping Enoshima)
• Hakone

Hi all — looking for feedback on a Japan itinerary for 2 adults + a 21-month-old toddler. Flying in/out of Narita, Nov 17–27. Interests: food, fall scenery, gardens, old towns, illuminations, and slower historic areas.

Main question: is the Nagano/Matsumoto/Narai section realistic with a toddler, or should we simplify?

Nov 17: Arrive Narita → Tokyo. Stay around Akihabara Station area. No real plans.

Nov 18: Ginza shopping

Nov 19: Afternoon teamLab Borderless, PST for dinner, optional Roppongi illuminations.

Nov 20: Tokyo → Kanazawa by Hokuriku Shinkansen. Easy evening.

Nov 21: Kanazawa highlights: Kenrokuen, Castle Park, Higashi Chaya/Nagamachi, Omicho if timing works.

Nov 22: Shirakawa-go day trip from Kanazawa

Nov 23: Kanazawa → Nagano by shinkansen. Stay near Nagano Station. Maybe Zenko-ji in the late afternoon.

Nov 24: Unsure: - Option A: Nagano → Matsumoto Castle + Nawate-dori, return Nagano - Option B: Nagano → Matsumoto Castle → Narai-juku → Nagano - Option C: Spend one night in Matsumoto and do Narai-juku from there

Nov 25: Slow Nagano day / maybe Obuse. Birthday dinner in Nagano.

Nov 26: Weather-dependent Monkey Park + maybe onsen.

Nov 27: Nagano → Tokyo → Narita for 6pm flight. Lunch in Tokyo Station

Questions: 1. Is this too ambitious with a 21-month-old? 2. Is Narai-juku worth the effort from Nagano, or should we just do Matsumoto/Obuse? 3. Would you add one night in Matsumoto or keep Nagano as the base?

Thanks!

hi, i will be travelling to Fukuoka with my husband (for his work trip) for a week in early December and would really appreciate any advice about travelling to Fukuoka with an 8 month old!

i’m looking for:
• general advice about travelling with an 8-month old (6-hour red-eye direct flight)
• Fukuoka-specific advice/recommendations (will mainly be based in Hakata/Tenjin)
• feedback on my very rough itinerary (planning to keep it free and easy)

————————————

Day 1: arrive, check-in, chill, leaving it open for a meal/sightseeing with husband’s boss
- arrive at Fukuoka airport at 8am
- D1-D4 at Hotel Okura Fukuoka
- Mina Tenjin for JINS (i love making specs in Japan lol), drugstore to buy baby supplies like diapers, other shopping like Uniqlo, GU, etc., and probably a meal here

Days 2-4: solo with baby during the day, dinner near hotel or husband’s work location, early nights since husband has to work
possible outings for me to go alone with baby these 3 days:
- shopping at malls nearby Mina Tenjin / Canal City Hakata
- chill at cafes near the hotel
- Ohori Park (nursing room at Fukuoka Art Museum)

Days 5-7: free and easy with 1-2 main activity/attraction planned, depending on weather and baby
[looking for hotel recs]
main activity options:
- Hakata River Cruise
- Marine World / Uminonakamichi Seaside Park
- Fukuoka Food & Culture Museum Haku Haku
- Ohori Park, Maizuri Park
- Canal City Hakata (water fountain & light show at night)
- Fukuoka Toy Art Museum

Day 8: depart early morning
- flight departing at 930am

————————————

tips i have gathered from the internet thus far:

[general]
- flight: choose bassinet seats (which we already have)
- equipment: bring along baby carrier and travel stroller
\*we’re currently looking at getting a second-hand Joolz Aer 1/+/2, if possible - any recommendations for other more affordable options that work just as well and are cabin sized?*
- clothes: wear layers for winter
\*would you recommend a footmuff with the stroller for early December weather?*

[Japan-specific]
- Tabelog app with “children welcome” filter for child/family-friendly restaurants
- MamaPapa app for nearby baby changing and feeding facilities (typically department stores will have nursing rooms)
- accessibility: turn on wheelchair accessible on Google maps (for stroller)
\*i have an ICOCA card, does it work with all trains and local busses operating within Hakata?)*
- baby supplies: buy diapers etc. from drugstores
- baby food: baby packet foods available at supermarkets/konbinis (baby is currently exclusively breastfed so if all goes smoothly i won’t need formula/bottles)

i hope this is the right place to post, thank you in advance for any advice and recommendation!

Hi, me and my friend (24 and 27) are flying to japan on the 19th of november, arriving in Haneda at 14:35 on the 20th and staying until 10 December. We have been planning out our itinerary and would appreciate some feedback. Since it's our first time the focus is the golden route. The itinerary is not set in stone, and we are open to small and even big changes. We also have not booked hotels yet, only flights.

Some information:

• Route: Tokyo (6) → Hakone (2) → Kyoto (5) → Osaka (3) → Tokyo (4)
• Bases: Shinjuku for both Tokyo blocks, ryokan in Hakone, central Kyoto
• We planned November purely for peak folliage in Kyoto, so those dates are important to us.
• Interests: JDM/car culture, anime + retro gaming + arcades, (vintage) watches (seiko, citizen), perfume, clothes (streetwear and basics like gu/uniqlo), pc peripherals (think artisan mousepads...), autumn foliage and illuminations.
• Dietary: Halal meat only, no alcohol. Seafood is fine.
• We're arriving with almost no clothes and buying everything in Japan, which is why Uniqlo appears early.
• We plan on shopping a lot, and expect to use the forward lugging service all the way assuming that is possible. I see a lot of people on this reddit advicing against going big with shopping or having a lot of luggage in general, but we believe that by using forward

luggage

• services from hotel to hotel (and only having a backpack on hand) should be fine.- pls correct if mistaken. We have 2x 23kg suitcases each and 1 small suitcase with Finair. I plan on buying 1 suitcase in Japan, and taking 1 big and 1 small one with me.
• We appreciate a mix of city and nature, we can get bored quickly and do like moving fast, but for things that truly ''wow'' us, we'd take our time.

Osaka isn't planned in detail yet. Everything below is.

TOKYO — PART 1 (20–25 Nov)

Fri 20 Nov — Arrival

• 17:15 Check in, Shinjuku
• Uniqlo + GU Shinjuku for immediate basics needed during trip (tshirts, vests, trousers, a jacket). We will take underwear/socks etc with us.
• Metropolitan Government Building (free observatory)
• Dinner in Shin-Okubo (Halal food)

Sat 21 Nov — Asakusa → Ueno → Ginza

• 07:30 Senso-ji + Nakamise (early, before the crowds)
• 11:00 Ameyoko market, vintage watch dealers
• 15:00 Uniqlo Ginza flagship
• 17:00 GU Ginza
• 18:00 Marunouchi Nakadori illumination

Sun 22 Nov — Harajuku + Aoyama

• 09:00 Meiji Jingu
• 10:30 Takeshita Street
• 12:30 Omotesando
• 15:00 Meiji Jingu Gaien ginkgo avenue

Mon 23 Nov — Shibuya (public holiday)

• 10:30 Scramble Crossing
• 11:00 Shibuya PARCO 6F
• 14:00 Miyashita Park, Don Quijote, Bic Camera
• 16:00 Shibuya Sky (sunset slot)
• 17:45 GiGO Shibuya

Tue 24 Nov — Akihabara

• 10:00 Yodobashi Akiba
• 13:00 Sofmap / ark / TSUKUMO (gaming peripherals)
• 14:30 Omocha no Maru, Animate
• 16:30 Don Quijote Akihabara
• 17:30 Arcades — GiGO or Hey

Wed 25 Nov — Street karting + Shinjuku

• 10:00 Street Kart Shibuya (~3 h)
• 14:30 Shinjuku Gyoen
• Evening: Kabukicho, Omoide Yokocho

HAKONE (26–27 Nov)

Thu 26 Nov — The loop

• 08:30 Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku
• 10:30 Hakone Tozan Railway to Gora
• 11:45 Cable car + ropeway to Owakudani
• 13:45 Pirate ship across Lake Ashi
• 14:30 Hakone Shrine / Heiwa no Torii
• Evening: ryokan, onsen

Fri 27 Nov — Fun2Drive

• Morning: Fun2Drive "Ultimate Hakone Drive" — self-drive convoy, Hakone Turnpike / Ashinoko Skyline
• Afternoon and evening: Onsen

Sat 28 Nov — Odawara → Kyoto (~2 h)

Ryokan is a room with a private open-air bath, booked room-only rather than with kaiseki.

KYOTO (28 Nov – 2 Dec)

Sat 28 Nov — Arrival + Northwest

• 14:30 Kinkaku-ji
• 16:00 Ryoan-ji
• 18:00 Nishiki Market, then Pontocho

Sun 29 Nov — Southern Higashiyama

• 06:30 Kiyomizu-dera (opens 06:00)
• 08:00 Sannenzaka / Ninenzaka, Yasaka Pagoda
• 09:30 Kodai-ji
• 11:00 Yasaka Shrine + Maruyama Park
• 13:30 Chion-in
• 15:00 Shoren-in
• 16:30 Gion / Hanamikoji at dusk
• 18:00 Kodai-ji or Shoren-in illumination

Mon 30 Nov — South + Nijo (long day)

• 06:30 Fushimi Inari at dawn
• 08:15 Tofuku-ji (queue before the 08:30 opening)
• 10:45 Sanjusangen-do
• 13:30 Nijo Castle
• 15:45 To-ji
• 18:30 To-ji illumination

Tue 1 Dec — Northern Higashiyama

• 09:00 Ginkaku-ji
• 10:15 Honen-in
• 11:00 Philosopher's Path
• 12:00 Nanzen-ji
• 15:00 Heian Jingu
• 17:30 Eikando illumination

Wed 2 Dec — Arashiyama

• 07:30 Bamboo Grove (early, before it fills)
• 08:30 Tenryu-ji
• 10:30 Sagano Romantic Train
• 11:30 Hozugawa river boat (~2 h)
• 14:30 Iwatayama Monkey Park

Thu 3 Dec — Kyoto → Osaka

OSAKA (3–5 Dec)

Not planned yet. Currently on the list: Dotonbori, Don Quijote / Ebisu Tower, Round1 Namba, Shinsekai, Osaka Castle, Den Den Town, Dojimahama observation deck, Kuromon Market.

TOKYO — PART 2 (6–9 Dec)

Sun 6 Dec — Osaka → Tokyo, then Nakano

• Afternoon: Nakano Broadway (vintage watches)
• Evening: Shinjuku

Mon 7 Dec — Minato

• 11:00 teamLab Borderless
• 15:00 Roppongi Hills
• 16:30 Keyakizaka illumination
• 17:30 Tokyo Tower

Tue 8 Dec — Foliage + Ikebukuro

• 09:30 Koishikawa Korakuen
• 12:30 Animate Ikebukuro
• 15:30 Rikugien (maples should be near peak)

Wed 9 Dec — Final shopping

• Ginza / GU for the last round
• Sort tax-free receipts
• Move to a hotel near Haneda for the early flight

Thu 10 Dec — 08:20 departure

Where I'd like input

1. Is Kyoto over-templed? Five days, and days 2–4 are back-to-back temple districts. Worried about it blurring together.
2. Two 06:30 starts in Kyoto (Kiyomizu, then Fushimi/Tofuku-ji) — realistic in peak foliage week, or are we kidding ourselves? and Mon 30 Nov runs 06:30 to 20:00. Too much?
3. Hakone at 2 nights — enough for the loop plus a driving day plus actually using the onsen? We skipped Kawaguchiko to make it fit, which means no classic Fuji view. Regrettable or fine?
4. Tokyo at 10 nights split 6+4 — too much Tokyo? What would you cut?
5. Late Nov / early Dec foliage timing — Kyoto 28 Nov–2 Dec, Tokyo maples on 8 Dec. Are we landing right?
6. Early flight vs tax refund. 08:20 departure and we're buying a lot. Has anyone done the export-confirmation kiosks at Haneda that early, and are they even open?
7. Anything obviously missing for first time travellers going down the golden route, or any of this in a dumb order?

Note:
Yes this itinerary and text was largely generated by claude, but we have done extensive research on the activities and locations. What we're still clueless about is whether all of this fits distance wise, time and public transit.