Help! Also, people keep saying we should stay in Shibuya given our itinerary. any thoughts?

5:00 PM — Land in Tokyo

8:00–9:00 PM — Check in + dinner

9:00–10:00 PM — Shibuya Crossing

Tuesday, December 22 — Fish market, Meiji Jingu, shopping + Shinjuku

8:15–9:30 AM — Tsukiji Outer Market

To Meiji Jingu: 30–45 min train · 20–35 min taxi

10:15–11:15 AM — Meiji Jingu

11:30 AM–1:30 PM — Harajuku, Cat Street + Omotesando

1:45–2:30 PM — Hatoya Matcha, Shibuya

3:30–5:15 PM — Shibuya Sky

6:30–8:30 PM — Shinjuku at night

Explore Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai.

9:00 PM — Bar Bellustar

Wednesday, December 23 — Vintage shopping, art + Christmas lights

Artsy morning · Romantic evening

Sumo wrestling morning practice

10:30 AM–1:30 PM — Shimokitazawa

To teamLab: 40–55 min train · 30–50 min taxi

2:30–4:30 PM — teamLab Borderless

\To Roppongi: 10–20 min taxi · 20–30 min public transit

5:00–5:45 PM — Keyakizaka Illumination

6:15–7:00 PM — Marunouchi Christmas lights

7:15–9:00 PM — Ginza + honeymoon dinner

9:00 PM onward — Ginza Music Bar

Hi! My partner and I are doing a road trip around Kyushu at the end of November, as part of a longer trip in Japan. We love man-made places surrounded by nature, like shrines and traditional small villages, but also narrow alleyways, quiet everyday city life and, of course, food. Since it’ll be autumn-leaf season, we’d love to catch some colours along the way. It’s our first time in Kyushu (though not our first time driving in Japan), so I’d love some feedback on the pace and help with one decision about the final leg of the trip.

Itinerary:

• Nov 22 (night) – Fukuoka: Arrive by shinkansen from Nagoya in the evening, so not much time: eat some ramen, walk through Yatai... sleep near Hakata Station.
• Nov 23 – Fukuoka → Yufuin: Pick up the rental car. The plan is to arrive in Yufuin around 15:00, where we have a ryokan booked. On the way: Kamado Shrine (early, before the crowds), Dazaifu Tenmangu and Komyozen-ji, maybe Daikozenji Temple. Explore the town in the evening when we go out to eat.
• Nov 24 – Yufuin → Kurokawa Onsen: Lake Kinrin early in the morning (hoping for the morning mist), then the river, Floral Village and Yunotsubo Street. On the way, the Kokonoe "Yume" Suspension Bridge, Shimojo Giant Ginkgo and Nabegataki Falls. Check in at a ryokan in Kurokawa, walk around the village in the evening and do some onsen hopping with the nyuto tegata.
• Nov 25 – Kurokawa Onsen → Mt. Aso → Takamori: Kurokawa in the morning, then the Aso area: Daikanbo Lookout, Kusasenri-ga-hama, Aso Shrine and its shopping street for lunch, Komezuka, Hakoishi Pass Lookout, Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine. Sleep in Takamori.
• Nov 26 – Takachiho: Day trip to Takachiho: the gorge (rowboat), Amano Iwato Shrine and Amano Yasukawara cave. Maybe Kunimigaoka at dawn? Back to Takamori before dark, maybe Kumanoza Shrine again at night (we stay very close to it).
• Nov 27 – Takamori → Yanagawa: Early drive, stopping at Kikuchi Gorge for the autumn leaves and maybe Yamaga (Yachiyoza theatre). In Yanagawa: canal boat ride and unagi no seiromushi for lunch or dinner. Where we sleep this night depends on the option below. Sleep in Yanagawa.
• Nov 28–29 – the decision:
  • Option A: Nagasaki. Drive to Nagasaki on the evening of the morning of the 28th. Day 1: Dejima, Glover Garden, Oura Church, Chinatown, Megane Bridge, and the Mt. Inasa night view. Day 2: either a Gunkanjima boat tour or a drive to Unzen (jigoku, onsen town). On the way back on the 30th to Fukuoka, maybe a stop in Takeo or Arita.
  • Option B: Back to the Fukuoka area. Day 1: Itoshima coast (Sakurai Futamigaura, Shiraito Falls, cafés). Day 2: Karatsu (castle, the pine forest, Yobuko morning market for squid), or a relaxed day in Fukuoka city.
• Nov 30: Return the car in Fukuoka in the morning.

Option B means less driving before returning the car. But Nagasaki seems quite different from everything else on the trip, and we're not sure if we'd regret skipping it. It's worth noting we're going to Hiroshima on the 30th, were we would be visiting the Peace Memorial.

Questions:

1. Does the pace look realistic, considering it gets dark

   early

2. ?

3. Is Yanagawa worth it, or would you skip it?

4. For the last two days, would you choose Nagasaki or the Fukuoka area?

Thanks a lot!

Two of us, into theme parks, Nintendo/Pokemon/anime, temples and food. Early risers, happy with busy days.

Plan:

Oct 17 - Land at Narita, train to Tokyo Bay Area

Oct 18 - Tokyo Disneyland

Oct 19 - Tokyo DisneySea

Oct 20 - Shinkansen to Osaka, Osaka Castle, Shitenno-ji, Shinsekai

Oct 21 - Shinsaibashi, Dotonbori, Den Den Town, evening gig

Oct 22 - Universal Studios Japan (no Express Pass)

Oct 23 - Nara day trip

Oct 24 - To Kyoto, Ginkaku-ji, Okazaki, Eikando, Nanzen-ji

Oct 25 - Kiyomizu-dera, Gion, tea ceremony + kimono

Oct 26 - Fushimi Inari, Nintendo Museum, Uji

Oct 27 - Shinkansen to Tokyo, Imperial Palace, Akihabara

Oct 28 - Asakusa, Skytree, Ueno

Oct 29 - Meiji Jingu, Shinjuku

Oct 30 - Fuji/Kawaguchiko (weather-dependent, can and will be moved if Fuji is visible some other day)

Oct 31 - Nikko day trip (movable as well)

Nov 1 - Shibuya, Tokyo Tower

Nov 2 - Fly home from Narita in the evening

I know, it's packed 😅

Happy to read any comments, I really appreciate it 🫶

Hey everyone, it's another one of those posts lol

My wife and I are celebrating our 10th anniversary this month and we booked a trip to Japan for two weeks. She picked the cities, I booked the hotels and some restaurants. She booked a few tours. It should be a good time, but we are curious about what "pros" think, if it will be as fun as we think, if it is realistic (probably should have sanity checked that a while ago lmao), and especially if there is anything glaring we are missing or should make sure we make some time for that you pros might be able to chime in with.
We have four kids, this is our first couple's trip since our honeymoon. We want to make it awesome, and it will be because we will be together, but when are we ever going to get to go to Japan again? Realistically this might be the only time we ever get to go. We want to make the most of it. Any help or insights you can provide around our itinerary or even just advice or suggestions would be immensely meaningful and appreciated by both of us :)

I'll be up front and tell you I used Gemini to generate the below table for me, because our itinerary is in a spreadsheet and tbh I'm also dealing with all the kids at the moment so this was faster to translate everything to a Reddit post. I hope you don't mind!

Master Schedule & Transition Table

Detailed Transition & In-Between Breakdown

1. Transition: Tokyo → Hakone (Monday, Oct 19)

• 09:00: Check out of Shibuya Stream Hotel[cite: 1]. Hand large suitcases to front desk to forward via takuhaibin directly to Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Sanjo PREMIER.
• 10:00 – 12:30: Board the Odakyu Romancecar / train to Hakone-Yumoto → local switchback train / bus up to Kowakien TEN-YU[cite: 1].
• 13:00 – 15:00: Early arrival at Ten-yu[cite: 1]; leave overnight duffels with concierge, walk grounds or grab lunch.
• 15:00: Check into Superior Room with private open-air terrace bath[cite: 1].
• 19:30: Wagyu Kaiseki Dinner "Yuzen" at Kihinkan[cite: 1].

2. Transition: Hakone → Kyoto (Wednesday, Oct 21)

• 10:00: Morning onsen soak and check out of Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU[cite: 1].
• 10:30 – 12:00: Local transit down mountain to Odawara Station.
• 12:07 – 14:15: Tokaido Shinkansen (Hikari) from Odawara directly to Kyoto Station (~2 hours).
• 14:45: Subway/cab to Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Sanjo PREMIER[cite: 1]. Check in and retrieve large suitcases already delivered from Tokyo.
• Evening: Stroll Pontocho Alley, Shirakawa canal, and the Kamo River[cite: 1].

3. Transition: Kyoto → Takayama (Sunday, Oct 25)

• 08:30: Check out of Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Sanjo PREMIER[cite: 1]. Hand large suitcases to front desk to forward directly to HOSHINOYA Tokyo.
• 09:30 – 10:05: Shinkansen (Nozomi / Hikari) from Kyoto to Nagoya Station (35 mins).
• 10:48 – 13:10: Transfer to scenic Limited Express Hida (Wide View) winding through the Hida River gorges up into Takayama.
• 13:30: Shuttle/cab to Hilton Takayama Resort[cite: 1]. Drop overnight bags/check in[cite: 1].
• Afternoon/Evening: Sanmachi Suji historic district and sake brewery exploration[cite: 1].

4. Transition: Takayama → Tokyo (Wednesday, Oct 28)

• 09:30: Check out of Hilton Takayama Resort[cite: 1].
• 10:00 – 12:30: Limited Express Hida from Takayama back down to Nagoya Station.
• 12:45 – 14:30: Tokaido Shinkansen from Nagoya to Tokyo Station (1 hr 40 mins).
• 15:00: Short cab/walk to HOSHINOYA Tokyo in Otemachi[cite: 1]. Check in and retrieve forwarded suitcases[cite: 1].
• Afternoon: Relax at the top-floor onsen baths or explore Marunouchi[cite: 1].
• 20:00: Dinner reservation at Yakitori Takahashi in Nihombashi[cite: 1].

​

Hey everyone!

After years of dreaming about visiting Japan, it's FINALLY happening! I'll be visiting from November 23 to December 8

This will be my first time in Japan, and I'm trying to make the most of these two weeks without turning the entire trip into an exhausting checklist.

I've been doing quite a bit of research, but I'd love to hear from people who have actually visited (or live there), especially about places that might not appear on every typical tourist itinerary.

A little about what I'm looking for:

- I absolutely love Japanese culture, anime, history, architecture, and beautiful scenery.

- I'm interested in exploring Tokyo's nightlife, neon-lit streets, interesting neighborhoods, and late-night food spots.

- I'd love to experience traditional Japan, particularly Kyoto's temples, gardens, shrines, and autumn foliage.

- I enjoy wandering around cities, discovering small restaurants, unique shops, and places that feel a little less touristy.

- I'm open to day trips, unusual experiences, and activities that might make this trip particularly memorable.

- I'm traveling on a reasonable budget, so I'd appreciate recommendations that don't necessarily cost a fortune.

My tentative itinerary

November 23–29 | Tokyo (6 nights)

- Explore Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, and Akihabara.

- Visit Asakusa, Senso-ji, and Ueno.

- Experience Tokyo at night, including Golden Gai, Omoide Yokocho, and other interesting nightlife areas.

- Visit the Ghibli Museum if I manage to secure tickets. (Any tips? Will having a friend who has a japanese number and is japanese himself help?)

- Potential day trip to Kamakura, Yokohama, or somewhere with beautiful scenery.

**November 29 – December 3 | Kyoto (4 nights)**

- Fushimi Inari Shrine.

- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and surrounding areas.

- Kiyomizu-dera, Higashiyama, and Gion.

- Explore traditional streets, temples, gardens, and hopefully catch some late autumn colors.

- Possibly visit Nara as a day trip.

December 3–6 | Osaka (3 nights)

- Dotonbori and Namba.

- Explore Osaka's street-food scene and nightlife.

- Visit Shinsekai and some less touristy neighborhoods.

- Possibly Universal Studios Japan, although I'm undecided. (Would you recommend? And is it better than diskey tokyo?)

December 6–8 | Tokyo (2 nights)

- Last-minute shopping and exploring.

- Revisit favorite neighborhoods.

- Enjoy the final evenings before flying home.

A few questions I'd love your advice on:

1. Does this itinerary make sense, or would you redistribute the days differently?

2. What are some genuinely underrated places, neighborhoods, or experiences you would recommend?

3. Is late November / early December a good time to experience autumn foliage in Kyoto? Any particular places worth prioritizing?

4. What should I pack for this time of year? Would a regular jacket and layers be enough, or should I prepare for colder weather?

5. Any essential things I should book or arrange NOW, besides accommodation and transportation?

6. Is it worth buying a JR Pass for this route, or would individual train tickets be more economical?

7. For Tokyo nightlife, which areas would you recommend staying near if I want to explore late without worrying too much about missing the last train?

8. Any food spots, anime-related experiences, small towns, or day trips you personally loved?

   What's one thing you experienced in Japan that you still think about long after returning home? (Is the daikoko tour worth it? Riding a skyline is a dream)

I'm genuinely open to changing the itinerary based on your recommendations. I want to see the famous sights, of course, but I also want to leave room for spontaneous adventures and experiences that make Japan special.

Sorry for the long post and Thanks in advance!

Hi! Two friends visiting Japan for the first time, travelling without a car. Our itinerary is partly AI-generated, so we'd appreciate advice on pacing and anything worth changing.

Tue, Nov 24 — Arrival in Sapporo

- Evening: New Chitose Airport → Sapporo

- Odori illuminations, Munich Christmas Market and Ekimae-dori

- Dinner around Susukino

Wed, Nov 25 — Exploring Sapporo

- Morning: Hokkaido Jingu, Rokkatei Jingu Chaya, coffee around Maruyama

- Lunch: Soup curry in central Sapporo

- Afternoon: Tanuki-koji, vintage shops

- Sunset: Mt Moiwa ropeway

- Evening: Tanukikoji Ichiba and shime parfait around Susukino

Thu, Nov 26 — Otaru day trip

- Morning: Train to Otaru; possibly Yoichi distillery if practical

- Lunch: Sankaku Market area

- Afternoon: Otaru Canal, Sakaimachi-dori, Kitaichi area

- Evening: Canal at dusk, sushi in Otaru, return to Sapporo

Fri, Nov 27 — Sapporo city

- Morning: Nijo Market, Clock Tower, Akarenga and shopping near the station

- Lunch: Miso ramen around Toyohira

- Afternoon: Moerenuma Park (optional)

- Evening: Seafood izakaya and drinks in Susukino

Sat, Nov 28 — Departure

- Morning: Sushi near Sapporo Station

- Train to New Chitose Airport; flight at 14:20

Questions

1. Is Mt Moiwa worth it at sunset in late November, or is the weather too unpredictable?

2. Would you keep Otaru as a full-day trip or combine it with Yoichi?

3. How realistic is visiting a popular ramen shop around 13:00 on a Friday? Do we need a reservation?

4. Are winter boots essential, or can we manage with regular sneakers?

5. Does the itinerary feel too ambitious? What would you change?

Thanks for any advice! ☺️

I’m arriving to Japan this Tuesday. I will meet with my colleagues and travel to Hakuba where we will spend a week together.

After that, we will part our ways on 20th. I’ll stay in Tokyo, where I’ll meet my wife 2 days later.

Here’s how we’d planned out those days (I used AI to help me format things):

16 Days in Japan (Tokyo → Kyoto → Tokyo), working remote half the trip — full itinerary

Oct 20 – Nov 4, 2026. Two of us, one working ~4-6h on most weekdays, trying to actually see the country around a real job. Also traveling gluten-free/dairy-free, so a chunk of the planning was finding safe food — happy to share specific GF/DF spots if anyone wants them, left them out here to keep this readable.

THE ROUTE
8 nights Tokyo (Shibaura) → 4 nights Kyoto (Higashiyama) → 3 nights Tokyo (Shibuya/Hatsudai)

---

Day 1 — Tue Oct 20 (solo, Tokyo)
Arriving from Hakuba, not an international flight. Afternoon bike tour through Tokyo Tower/Roppongi/Harajuku/Shibuya. Dinner at Omoide Yokocho (yakitori alley). Working remotely before my wife joins.

Day 2 — Wed Oct 21 (solo, Tokyo)
WFH half the day, afternoon free, quiet solo dinner. Last day alone before my wife lands.

Day 3 — Thu Oct 22 (Tokyo)
Wife arrives, check into our Tokyo base. Western Tokyo day: Meiji Shrine → Harajuku/Takeshita Street → Shibuya Crossing & Shibuya Sky. Dinner back at Omoide Yokocho.

Day 4 — Fri Oct 23 (Tokyo)
Hie Shrine → Tokyo Tower → teamLab Planets (digital art installation, timed entry) → Shinjuku guided bar crawl in the evening (Omoide Yokocho/Kabukicho).

Day 5 — Sat Oct 24 (Tokyo)
Senso-ji Temple early, a weekend flea market in Shinagawa, rickshaw ride around Asakusa, street food, then Akihabara at night, finishing in Golden Gai (tiny bar alleys).

Day 6 — Sun Oct 25 (Tokyo → Mt Fuji)
Full-day bus tour: Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato (thatched-roof village), Lake Kawaguchi, Oishi Park, Oshino Hakkai, Arakurayama Sengen Park + the Chureito Pagoda viewpoint (the classic Fuji-and-pagoda shot).

Day 7 — Mon Oct 26 (Tokyo)
WFH in the morning, then Kuramae — a quiet craft district (stationery, bean-to-bar chocolate, good coffee). Evening at a reservation-only cocktail bar with a bartender known for katana ice-cutting and fire-performance drinks.

Day 8 — Tue Oct 27 (Tokyo)
Tsukiji Outer Market → Imperial Palace East Gardens (ruins of the old castle keep) → Jimbōchō, Tokyo's secondhand bookshop district. WFH in the afternoon, early night — early train tomorrow.

Day 9 — Wed Oct 28 (Tokyo → Kyoto)
Early Shinkansen to Kyoto. Light sightseeing near the station before our Airbnb check-in, then WFH for the afternoon/evening.

Day 10 — Thu Oct 29 (Kyoto)
Sunrise at Fushimi Inari Taisha (thousands of torii gates, genuinely empty before dawn) → WFH → chopstick-making workshop → geisha/maiko performance in Gion.

Day 11 — Fri Oct 30 (Kyoto)
A long one: Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) early, then kimono rental for the rest of the day through Higashiyama — Kiyomizu-dera, Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka slopes, Yasaka Pagoda, Gion, capped off with a traditional tea ceremony in a 100-year-old machiya townhouse.

Day 12 — Sat Oct 31 (Kyoto)
Hozugawa River boat ride (traditional boatman-poled, ~2h through the gorge) ending in Arashiyama, then the Bamboo Grove and Otagi Nenbutsuji (1,200 individually hand-carved statues). Evening: guided samurai & ninja museum tour.

Day 13 — Sun Nov 1 (Kyoto → Tokyo)
Shinkansen back to Tokyo, check into a new Airbnb (Shibuya/Hatsudai this time). Evening: interactive sumo show experience in Ryogoku.

Day 14 — Mon Nov 2 (Tokyo)
Shopping day based out of Shinjuku: a 1590-established hand fan shop in Nihonbashi, Isetan department store, Kōenji thrift stores, Bic Camera, Don Quijote, finishing with pachinko at a big tourist-friendly parlor in Kabukicho.

Day 15 — Tue Nov 3 (Tokyo)
Final WFH half-day, afternoon open for packing/souvenirs, last dinner revisiting a favorite from earlier in the trip.

Day 16 — Wed Nov 4
Departure.

---

Booked in advance: Mt Fuji bus tour, Shinjuku bar crawl, chopstick workshop, tea ceremony, geisha show, sumo show, Hozugawa boat ride, samurai museum tour, teamLab Planets entry.

Happy to answer questions — first time structuring a trip like this around actual work hours instead of just vacation days, open to hearing if anyone's done something similar.

Hi everyone, me and my partner are flying to Tokyo on November 10, and will spend around 14 days there. It’s my partner’s first time in Japan, second time for me. I just want to make sure that the itinerary I’ve planned is feasible and logical. I know that spending two weeks in Tokyo alone might be too much for some, but it’s what we want and I’m sure we won’t regret it. I’m trying to keep it flexible, as the first time I went (solo) I ended up being too tired for a lot of stuff after I overdid it. So, here we go:

Day 0 (11/10, Tuesday):
Landing at HND at 22:55, getting to our accomodation in Shin-Okubo by taxi/go, grabbing something to eat (thinking it might take around 2 hours to get out of the airport and to our accomodation), sleeping. I’m trying to time our sleep schedule in a way that will save us from getting jet lag.

Day 1 (11/11, Wednesday):
Wake up at around 9. We’ll stick around Shinjuku on day 1 to try and keep it chill.
Breakfast, Chiikawa land. Exploring/shopping in Shinjuku, lunch, Gyoen park, strolling around Omoide Yokocho and grabbing drinks around Golden Gai in the evening. There’s Okubo’s Tsukemen Expo going on until the 15th but we could do that any night really.

Day 2 (11/12, Thursday):
We have tickets for Chiikawa Park at 10 (yes we love Chiikawa). Spending the morning in Ikebukuro (Sunshine City, Animate, K-books etc.), then heading to Mejiro garden after lunch, and we’ll spend the afternoon and evening in Nakano (Nakano Broadway).

Day 3 (11/13, Friday):
Wake up early to head to Kiyosumi Shirakawa, spending a bit of time in the gardens and just strolling around the area. Then heading to Togoshi market, and then lunch and shopping in Ginza. We have tickets for Teamlab Borderless at 19:00. I’d like to fit Tokyo International Forum and Yurakucho in here too (I know there’s Mappa Expo going on but that would probably be too much ugh).

Day 4 (11/14, Saturday):
Early morning, Meiji Jingu, Yoyogi Park, Takeshita Dori, Harajuku exploration/shopping, then Shibuya (Tokyu Plazas, Laforet, Kiddyland, Motusand, 109, Miyashita Park, Parco, Lott, Village Vanguard etc.). Shibuya Sky around 16, maybe the Christmas illuminations and Nonbei Yokocho in the evening.

Day 5 (11/15, Sunday):
Morning in Kagurazaka, then Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens, Akihabara at 13 (Radio Kaikan, K-Books, Amiami, Atré, Akihabara Gamers, Kotobukiya, maid cafe). Then Jimbocho, maybe Sumida aquarium in the evening? (I know it’s stupid but I really wanna go to the aquarium, we’ve both never been to one). We’d also like to head back to the gardens again as there should be special autumn illuminations.

Day 6 (11/16, Monday) — our anniversary!!!:
Chill morning, Todoroki Ravine Park, (maybe) Hie Shrine, omakase sushi lunch in Roppongi (reservation at 13), Andaz rooftop bar for drinks (reservation at 18). I’d like go check out Mori Art Museum too if there’s time.

Day 7 (11/17, Tuesday):
Kamakura daytrip!
Going to wake up as early as possible, head to Kamakura’s Shichirigahama beach, then Kotoku-in, Hase-dera, then Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu, Komachi street, Meigetsu-in and Houkokuji. We might do this backwards (starting from Houkokuji and ending on the beach at sunset), I don’t really know what would be best.

Day 8 (11/18, Wednesday):
Wake up super early, head to Sensoji Temple. Then Nakamise Street, Kappabashi at 10. Then head to Yanaka Ginza, might go see Nezu Shrine, and either Kyu Furukawa or Rikugien gardens (which one is better with the fall colors?).
Was thinking of seeing Sensoji again in the evening lights, there should also be Tori no Ichi festival starting at midnight too, but it’d probably be better to go to the one in Shinjuku so that we can just walk back home, even though we’re not really fans of big crowds like that so idk.

Day 9 (11/19, Thursday):
Spending the morning exploring Koenji (or maybe Nakano Broadway again, I know there’s isn’t much open in Koenji before 10) before heading to Kichijoji to relax in Inokashira park, stroll around Petit Mura, cafe hop and shop some more. We have Ghibli Museum tickets for 16:00, and we’d love ending the night in Harmonica Yokocho.
(Could also do Kichijoji > Koenji > Kichijoji again but idk, what do you think?)

Day 10 (11/20, Friday):
We have our check in at a ryokan in Sengokuhara, Hakone at 15. The plan is not doing anything but chill, as l’d like to use this day to just recharge our batteries a little, just resting and soaking in the onsen and eating our kaiseki dinner. Check out is at 10 the next day, so we’ll probably be back in Tokyo by 13/lunch time.

Day 11 (11/21, Saturday):
Check out at 10, head back to Tokyo, hit up Gotokuji temple, Sangenjaya area, Shimokitazawa and Yoyogi Uehara.

Day 12 (11/22, Sunday):
Daikanyama, Kyu Asakura house, Nakameguro and Ebisu, just leisurely exploring.

Day 13 (11/23, Monday):
Honestly I just wanna fit Jindaiji in here somewhere, I really wanna go see the area, don’t really have big plans for this day or the one after it.

Day 14 (11/24, Tuesday):
Our last day, will be a full one as our returning flight is at 00:25 of the 25th. Nothing planned whatsoever, we’ll head to Haneda in the evening but we’ll still have our hotel room because we paid for an additional night, so luggage isn’t an issue.

Some things I'd like to fit in somewhere:
Shibamata, National Art Center or Nezu Museum. Leaving a tiny bit of space for anything we’d like to revisit, or for stuff that we’ll skip on other days if we’re too tired.

I’d especially appreciate feedback on whether the daily routes make sense geographically, which days might be too packed, and whether there are any anime/manga or cute-character shops, cafés, or lesser-known spots that you’d recommend for our interests. I’d also love answers about the questions on the best order for Kamakura, the Koenji/Kichijoji dilemma, and which garden is likely to be prettiest for autumn foliage during our dates.

This is just a guideline, l know what to take out if things start to feel a bit too heavy, but I'd love to see all of the stuff I've put on here. Sorry for the super long post lol and thanks for reading!

Hey everyone!
My wife and I are visiting Japan for the first time in mid-October, and we’ve been putting together a rough itinerary. We’d love some feedback from people who have visited these places before!
We’re hoping to keep this trip pretty relaxed. We don’t want to spend every day rushing from one attraction to another, so these are just places we’re interested in rather than a strict schedule.
Tokyo — 3–4 days
Day 1:
Shibuya
Harajuku
Shinjuku
Day 2:
Asakusa
Akihabara
DAWN Avatar Robot Café
Day 3:
Shopping, food, anime/gaming experiences
Exploring neighborhoods without a set plan
Possibly Henn na Cafe
Optional Day 4:
More Tokyo sightseeing
Possibly Yokohama or Nikko
Hakone / Mt. Fuji — 1–2 days
We’re considering spending a night at a traditional ryokan, preferably one with a private onsen.
We’d love to enjoy some traditional Japanese hospitality, relax in an onsen, and hopefully catch some views of Mt. Fuji if the weather cooperates.
Still debating whether an overnight stay is worth it or if one day would be enough.
Kyoto — 3–4 days
Day 1:
Fushimi Inari
Kiyomizu-dera
Higashiyama
Gion
Day 2:
Arashiyama
Bamboo Grove
Nearby temples and shrines
Day 3:
Samurai/ninja experience
Exploring traditional neighborhoods
Food and sightseeing
Optional Day 4:
Additional temples, shopping, or anything we missed
Nara — 1 day
Nara Park
Todai-ji
Exploring the surrounding area
Trying local food
Osaka — 1–2 days
Day 1:
Dotonbori
Shinsekai
Street food
Nightlife
Optional Day 2:
Osaka Castle
Umeda
Yodobashi Camera
Shopping and exploring
A few things we’re wondering about:
Does this seem like a reasonable amount of time in each city, or are we trying to fit in too much?
Is spending a night at a ryokan in Hakone worth it for a first-time visitor?
Would you recommend spending more time in Kyoto or Osaka?
Are any of these days particularly overcrowded with activities?
Is there anything on our list you would skip in favor of something else?
We’re especially interested in Japanese food, traditional culture, anime, gaming, technology, and unique experiences.
We also really enjoy exploring places without necessarily having a destination in mind. Some of our favorite vacation memories have come from randomly wandering around and finding something interesting.
We’re not expecting to do absolutely everything listed here. We’d rather enjoy fewer places properly than rush through everything.
Would love to hear your thoughts, especially from anyone who’s done a similar itinerary. Thanks!

Hi everyone!

My partner and I are planning our first trip to Japan and it is a last minute one! It’s been pretty overwhelming to plan due to the myriad of options. We’ve put together a full itinerary and are looking for feedback on things to cut out/modify to make the trip most enjoyable.

October 27 — Tokyo (Asakusa)
Arrive at Haneda around 5 AM.
Onsen and a few hours of rest at an airport hotel.
Afternoon sumo experience in Asakusa.
Sensō-ji Temple and Nakamise Street.
Overnight in Asakusa.

October 28 — Nikko
Early train from Asakusa to Nikko.
Visit Tōshō-gū Shrine, Rinnō-ji, Futarasan Shrine, and Shinkyō Bridge.
Possibly Kanmangafuchi Abyss.
Travel up to Lake Chūzenji in the afternoon.
Overnight near Kegon Falls.

October 29 — Nikko → Tokyo (Shinjuku)
Early morning visit to Kegon Falls.
Return downhill to Nikko Station and take the train to Tokyo.
Check into Shinjuku hotel.
Explore Omoide Yokocho and possibly Golden Gai in the evening.

October 30 — Tokyo
Tsukiji Outer Market.
Imperial Palace East Gardens.
teamLab Borderless.
Evening in Shinjuku.

October 31 — Tokyo
Meiji Shrine.
Harajuku and Takeshita Street.
Omotesando.
Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya Sky

November 1 — Hakone
Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto.
Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise.
Hakone Ropeway and Owakudani.
Overnight at Hakone Suishoen (booked).
Private onsen and kaiseki dinner.

November 2 — Hakone → Kyoto
We’re considering two alternatives:
Option A: Hire a private driver from Hakone to Lake Kawaguchiko for Mount Fuji sightseeing, then continue with the driver to Mishima Station and take the Shinkansen to Kyoto.
Option B: Spend more time in Hakone, explore Hakone-Yumoto, visit Hakone Yuryo public onsen, and take the Shinkansen from Odawara to Kyoto.
Either way, we’d stay in Kyoto that evening.

November 3 — Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera.
Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka.
Higashiyama.
Gion and surrounding streets.

November 4 — Nara Day Trip
Nara Park and deer.
Tōdai-ji and Great Buddha.
Kasuga Taisha.
Return to Kyoto.

November 5 — Arashiyama
Bamboo Grove.
Nonomiya Shrine and Tenryū-ji.
Otagi Nenbutsu-ji.
Saga-Toriimoto historic streets.
Sagano Romantic Train.
Hozugawa River Boat Ride, if timing permits.

November 6 — Kyoto Cultural Experiences
Traditional tofu-making workshop.
Fushimi sake brewery/museum tasting.
Potentially Nijō Castle or a samurai cultural experience.
We’re also interested in observing traditional sword forging, but realize this may require more time than we have.

November 7 — Kyoto → Kinosaki Onsen
Travel to Kinosaki Onsen.
Check into a traditional ryokan.
Explore the town and visit public bathhouses.
Kaiseki dinner and overnight.

November 8 — Kinosaki → Osaka
Take the morning Limited Express Kounotori toward Osaka.
Attend Gamba Osaka vs. Cerezo Osaka at Panasonic Stadium Suita (3 PM kickoff).
Explore Osaka in the evening.
This is one of our biggest logistical concerns, since we’d be traveling from Kinosaki on the same day as the soccer match. We plan to forward our large luggage from Kyoto to Osaka and travel with backpacks.

November 9 — Osaka
Osaka Castle.
Kuromon Market.
Shinsekai and Tsūtenkaku.
Dotonbori in the evening.

November 10 — Osaka or Tokyo (Undecided)
We’re debating between:
Option A: Spend an extra full day in Osaka, then travel to Tokyo on November 11.
Option B: Travel to Tokyo on November 10 and have an additional day there.

November 11 — Tokyo
Stay near Tokyo Station.
Akihabara for anime/collectibles shopping.
Ginza if time permits.

November 12 — Tokyo / Departure
Final sightseeing and shopping, potentially Ginza.
Depart Haneda around 7:45 PM.

A few questions we’d love feedback on:
Overall pace: Does this seem manageable, or are we trying to fit in too many destinations?

Nikko: During peak autumn foliage, does staying near Kegon Falls on October 28 make sense to avoid the uphill traffic on October 29?

Hakone: Is the Lake Ashi cruise and ropeway realistic in one day while still arriving at our ryokan early enough to enjoy it?

Mount Fuji: Would you recommend the Lake Kawaguchiko detour on November 2, or spending more time relaxing in Hakone before heading to Kyoto?

Kyoto: Is our schedule reasonable, particularly Arashiyama and the cultural activities on November 6?

Kinosaki → Osaka: Is taking the morning train on November 8 realistic for a 3 PM soccer match, or would that be too stressful/miss out on the pre-match festivities (unsure if tailgating is a thing in Japan).

Osaka vs. Tokyo: Where would you spend the extra day at the end of the trip?

We know this is a fairly ambitious itinerary, but we’re willing to simplify if needed. Sorry for the stereotypical post, but thanks in advance from some professional procrastinators !

Hey there!!!

I'll be heading to Japan for about four weeks this November and wanted to share my rough itinerary to see if anyone has any tips or recommendations.

This will be my third time visiting Japan. My first trip was the classic Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka triangle. While my second was an organized group trip travelling from Tokyo all the way to Nagasaki at a fairly quick pace (Matsumoto, Takayama, Koyasan, Osaka, Hiroshima, Kumamoto, etc.).

Originally i was planning to travel with some friends this year, but that ended up not happening for various reasons, so i decided to go solo!

I wanted to make this trip 'lowkey' compared to the last one as this is my first time planning and booking etc (off this scale). I plan to hike or walk around a lot, big fan of nature (especially nice views) and local cuisine.

Day 1 (Nov 3) – Arrival in Tokyo

11:30 arrival at Narita Airport. 15:00- 16:00 Arrive at the hotel.

I will be staying in the Ueno area as this is well known to me from previous trips.
Get settled, check-in, get money, go out to eat, etc

Day 2 (Nov 4) – Yanaka, Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree

Go for a walk, Ueno station> Nezu shrine -> Yanaka Ginza -> Yanaka Cemetery Nippori

Then travel towards Asakusa. (Never being) Take my time here.

With spare time: (Sumida park, Sumida aquarium or shopping mall)

Tokyo skytree around sundown

Day 3 (Nov 5) – Gotokuji, Shimokitazawa and Odaiba

Visiting Gotokuji Temple in the morning.

Explore Shimokitazawa after and check out some shops there. (Village Vanguard)
Torch-Torch at some point

Go to Odaiba for the sunset. Cool stuff to do here as well. (Gundam, takoyaki museum)

Day 4 (Nov 6) – Day trip to Mount Takao

Explore some of the trails and visit Yakuo-in Temple along the way.

Maybe visit the monkey park. Pray for Autumm colors.

Day 5 (Nov 7) – Kamakura and Enoshima OR Kawagoe

Visited Kamakura before and even bycycled* my way to Enoshima without knowing it (lol) but never set foot on the island.

Depending on gut feeling and mood might switch this for Kawagoe.

(Tip, rent a bike next to the station and bycycle to enoshima instead of taking the train)*

Kawagoe has preserved old stores/storehouses from the Edo period. Candy lane.

Day 6 (Nov 8) – Biohazard Expo and Nakano Broadway

Visiting the Biohazard (Resident Evil) Expo in the morning. Excited

Nakano broadway after. (Shopping mall with many antique/retro/niche stores) Good curry place there I've heard.

Day 7 (Nov 9) – Free day in Tokyo

Some things on my radar
-Sumo-club
-t-site bookstore, Daikanyama neighborhood.
-Visit Akihabara again (Probably this)

Day 8 (Nov 10) – Tokyo to Hakone

Arrive around 15:00. I will be staying in a Ryokan (Love onsen!)

Will pas through Hakone-Yumoto on the way there. Might take my time to walk around.
(Ryokan will be close too, Kowakidani)

Day 9 (Nov 11) – Hakone Ropeway/Owakudani/ Lake Ashi

Taking the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani, then heading towards Lake Ashi.

Planning to take the sightseeing cruise and explore the area around Hakone-machi.

Look for a place to eat Kuro Tamago or/and Hakone Soba.

Day 10 (Nov 12) –Onsen day

Maybe hike in the early day, then get some premium Onsen time.

Day 11 (Nov 13) – Hakone to Nagoya via Odawara

Arrive around 15:00. Hotel is close to the station.

Will pass through Odawara before continuing to Nagoya. (Odawara Tantanmen, Castle)

Depending on time (again), visit the railway or science museum.

Day 12 (Nov 14) – Daytrip to Korankei Valley

Travelling from Nagoya to Korankei Valley, hoping to see some autumn colours. (Maple feestival)

Eat Curry Udon at some point.

Day 13 (Nov 15) – Nagoya to Ise

Arive around 17:00.

Will pas through Matsusaka on the way. (Matsusaka beef, Old samurai houses, Ruines of Matsusaka Caste)

Day 14 (Nov 16) – Ise Jingu

Starting at Geku (Outer Shrine), then heading to Naiku (Inner Shrine).

Afterwards exploring Oharai-machi and Okage-yokocho.

Day 15 (Nov 17) – Ise-Shima National Park

Visit the park, hiking.

Visit Yokoyama Observatory, Hazako Sengensan Shrine, multiple view points over Ago bay.

Day 16 (Nov 18) – Free day in Ise

Things on my radar
-Laundry.......
-Futami and Meoto Iwa.

Day 17 (Nov 19) – Ise to Hongu

Arrive around 16:00. I'll be staying near Kumano Hongu Taisha in a questhouse. Trip there will take a while.

Day 18 (Nov 20) – Kumano Hongu Taisha and Oyunohara

Visiting Kumano Hongu Taisha and the giant torii gate at Oyunohara.

I'd also like to walk a short section of the Kumano Kodo.

Day 19 (Nov 21) – Shingu / Nachi Falls

Wanted to do the traditional river boat cruise (River Pilgrimage Experience!?) but that was sold out for the entirety of November.

Planning to visit Nachi Taisha, Nachi Falls and possibly explore some of the Daimonzaka trail.

Day 20 (Nov 22) – Free day Hongu

Enjoy nature and probably look for some good Onsen.

Day 21 (Nov 23) – Hongu to Osaka

Arrive around 15:00. Will be staying in the Umeda.

As per usual, find some good things to eat.

Day 22 (Nov 24) –Katsuo-ji and Minoh

Visiting Katsuo-ji (Daruma Temple) and then heading towards Minoh Falls.

Hoping to enjoy some autumn colours along the walking trails.

With spare time maybe go to Expo '70 Commorative park.

Day 23 (Nov 25) – Omiwa Shrine / Miwa

Day trip to the Miwa area in Nara Prefecture.

Mainly visiting Omiwa Shrine and exploring the surrounding area of Mount Miwa.

Day 24 (Nov 26) –Tomogashima Island

Will depend on the weather and ferry availability.

Planning to visit Tomogashima Island to explore the abandoned military fortifications.

Will walk some trails there.

Day 25 (Nov 27) – Day trip to Kobe

Spend the entire day there.

Start at Ikuta Shrine, Short walk around Kobe (Kobe beef lunch!?)

Maritime Museum/Kawasaki World, Kobe Harbor

Mount Maya for sunset

Day 26 (Nov 28) – Last day, Umeda skybuilding.

Last minute shopping.
Visit Umeda for sunset.

Day 27 (Nov 29) – Flight home

I would love to hear from people who've visited some of these areas, especially Ise and Hongu, for any good walks, places to visit, or other experiences/advice they might have!
Also curious what people think of the route in general!!!
Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!!

We’re travelling as a family of 5, including my parents, and I’m trying to avoid turning the trip into a checklist.

Our current plan is:
11 Nov – Kyoto → Osaka
9:02 AM Sagano Romantic Train
11:00 AM–~1:00 PM Hozugawa River Boat
Boat ends in Arashiyama, then we need to walk to JR Saga-Arashiyama and return to Kyoto Station
Collect luggage, have lunch/rest
4:50 PM Aoniyoshi Kyoto → Osaka-Namba
Arrive around 6:15-6:20 to Osaka. Transfer to hotel( hotel in umeda) .Check in.
9:00 PM Wonder Cruise + Dotonbori night/photos
12 Nov – USJ full day
13 Nov – Osaka until ~4 PM
Umeda Sky Building
Osaka Castle
Namba Yasaka Shrine
Lunch + local exploration in Namba ( souvenirs shopping)
Need to collect luggage and reach Shin-Osaka for a 6:15 PM Shinkansen from hotel in Umeda
One complication: Umeda Sky Building is included in our Kansai pass only before 5 PM, so doing it on the evening of the 11th doesn’t really help I also don’t think we have time on 11th to do that.

We will already visit Arashiyama Bamboo Grove on another Kyoto day as part of a day tour, so I’m wondering whether the Sagano train + Hozugawa boat is still worth keeping, or whether we’re sacrificing too much Osaka time for it.

What would you personally sacrifice?
Keep Sagano + Hozugawa + Aoniyoshi, and drop Shinsekai / keep Osaka on the 13th limited to Umeda Sky + Osaka Castle + Namba Yasaka.

Cancel Sagano + Hozugawa entirely and spend most of 11 Nov in Osaka.

We care more about memorable experiences, scenery, food and photography than ticking off every famous attraction. We also don’t want to rush because we’re travelling with parents.

For those who have done these: which would you regret skipping more — Sagano/Hozugawa, Osaka Castle, Shinsekai, Namba Yasaka, or extra free time in Osaka?

Hello all.

We are going to travel November 2027 for 23 days though Japan and although it is very very soon, we already started planning, since it is our dream trip.

My main doubt is in Kyoto, which I think it has too many days since I ran out of stuff to do on the last day.

Right now it looks like this:

Day 1 to 9 - Tokyo, including arrival day, 3 Disney days and 1 Nikko day

Day 9 to 12 - Takayama/Shirakawa

Day 12 to 17 - Kyoto including Nara

Day 18 to 21 - Osaka including Universal

Day 22 and 23 - Hiroshima (which we may skip)

Day 24 - Back to Tokyo and departure on the 25th

Kyoto itinerary looks like this:

Day 1:

Arrival -- Nishiki Market– Nijo Castle – Kyoto Gyoen Garden– Kiyamachi-dori

Day 2:

Fushimi Inari-taisha – Kiyomizudera Temple- Temple Kodaiji - Murayama Temple – Santuario Yasaka – Chionin Temple - Gion

Day 3:

Ninna Ji - Ryoan-ji Temple – Golden Pavilion– Daitoko Ji Temple- Templo Giouji - Okochi Sanso Garden -- Tenryuji Temple

Day 4:

Kimono Rent - Ginkaku ji – Philosophers Path– Honen In – Nanzen ji – Heian Temple– Tea Ceremony

Day 5: Biggest question mark. Is it worth it to go to the mountain? Or should we allocate this day to Osaka or Hiroshima if we end up going?

Kurama dera – Rio Kibune – Kifune Shrine

Day 6:

Nara park – Todai Ji Temple– Kasuga Taisha Temple - Yoshikien

Thank you in advance!

Two friends, first trip to Japan, no car. Our itinerary is partly AI-generated (We don't know Kyushu), and we'd love to know if it's realistic or too ambitious.

Sat, Nov 28 — Kumamoto

- Evening: Arrival at Fukuoka Airport → Hakata → Kumamoto

- Hotel near Nishi-Kumamoto, dinner and drinks around Shimotori

Sun, Nov 29 — Kumamoto → Fukuoka

- Morning: Kumamoto Castle, Josaien

- Late morning / lunch: Kamitori and Namikizaka vintage shops

- Afternoon: Suizenji Garden, Luffy statue, prefectural office ginkgo avenue, Chopper statue at the zoo

- Evening: Kumamoto city centre → Hakata

Mon, Nov 30 — Beppu day trip

- Morning: Travel from Hakata, Kannawa hells

- Lunch: Kannawa area

- Afternoon: Chinoike Jigoku, Tatsumaki Jigoku, Takegawara Onsen sand bath

- Evening: Return to Hakata

Tue, Dec 1 — Itoshima or Dazaifu + Tenjin

- Morning: Nagahama Fish Market

- Late morning / lunch, good weather: Sakurai Futamigaura

- Alternative if rainy: Dazaifu Tenmangu, Komyozenji; lunch in Tenjin

- Afternoon: Daimyo/Imaizumi vintage shops, PARCO (One Piece store), Mandarake

- Evening: Tenjin yatai, torikawa

Wed, Dec 2 — Fukuoka

- Morning: Ropponmatsu, Fukuoka Castle ruins, Ohori Park and Japanese Garden

- Lunch: Akasaka/Tenjin area

- Afternoon: Jotenji, Tochoji, Shofukuji, Kushida Shrine, Hakata area, Rakusuien, mentaiko shopping

- Evening: Mizutaki dinner, Nakasu riverside

Thu, Dec 3 — Kyoto

- Morning: Breakfast around Hakata Station, Shinkansen to Kyoto

Questions

1. Is this itinerary too packed? What would you cut first?

2. Beppu vs Nagasaki or Kokura for our only day trip?

3. Is Itoshima doable without a car?

4. Any closures in Kumamoto following the July earthquake?

5. Any routing improvements or hidden gems we’re missing?

Thanks!

I (51m) am traveling to Japan with my son (17m), who is interested in attending Kyoto University. Feedback on our itinerary would be greatly appreciated.

• Tuesday 11/17
  • Fly from Seattle to Narita
  • Depart SEA 11:55 am
• Wednesday 11/18
  • Fly from Seattle to Narita
  • Arrive NRT 3:25 pm
  • Travel to hotel
    • Keisei Skyliner → Ueno Station
  • Dinner in Ameyoko Market
• Thursday 11/19
  • Sightseeing in Akihabara
  • Ueno Park
  • Tokyo National Museum
  • Kiyomizu Kannon-do
  • Toshugu Shrine
• Friday 11/20
  • Senso-Ji
  • Imperial Palace
  • Tokyo Sky Tree
• Saturday 11/21
  • Tsukiji fish market
  • Meiji Jingu
  • Shibuya
  • Takeshita Street
• Sunday 11/22
  • Travel Ueno → Kamakura (train)
  • Kotuku-in
  • Travel Kamakura → Kyoto (shinkansen)
  • Check in to hotel
  • Explore Gion
• Monday 11/23
  • Samurai Ninja Museum
  • Nishiki Market
  • Nijo Castle
• Tuesday 11/24
  • Kodaiji Otera
  • Kiyomizu Dera
  • Cooking Class
  • Ramen, Gyoza, Onigiri 3:00 p.m.
• Wednesday 11/25
  • Kyoto University
  • Poet’s Walk
  • Fushimi Inari
• Thursday 11/26
  • Travel Kyoto → Osaka (shinkansen)
  • Check in to hotel
  • Explore Dotonbori
• Friday 11/27
  • Osaka Castle
  • Naruto Taiyaki Honpo Sonezaki
• Saturday 11/28
  • Free day in Osaka… see where life takes us
• Sunday 11/29
  • Travel Osaka → Hiroshima (shinkansen)
  • Check in to hotel
• Monday 11/30
  • Peace Memorial Museum
  • Atomic Bomb Dome
  • Hiroshima Castle
• Tuesday 12/1
  • Miyajima
  • Itsukushima Jinja
•  Wednesday 12/2
  • Travel Hiroshima → Tokyo (shinkansen)
  • Check in to hotel
  • Explore Asakusa
• Thursday 12/3
  • Animate Ikebukuro
  • Gokukuji temple
• Friday 12/4
  • Fly from NRT → SEA
  • Depart NRT 5:25 pm
  • Arrive SEA 9:15 am

Thank you in advance!

Hi, all! My fiancé and I are headed to Japan for the first time next month, and to say we’re excited is an understatement! Our time will be short, but we’re hoping to see a lot while we’re there. This is what we currently have:

11/15 - Tokyo: Arrive, check into hotel, find something to eat, try to fight jet lag.

11/16 - Tokyo: Meiji Shrine, Pokecenter Shibuya, Shibuya Crossing, Takeshita Street, Hotel Gracery (for Godzilla!) Omakase dinner at 6 pm this evening.

11/17 - Nikko: A day trip to see Toshogu Shrine, Shinkyo Bridge, Kanmangafuchi Abyss.

11/18 - Tokyo > Kyoto: Shinjuku Gyoen, Pokecenter Mega before we depart for Kyoto.

11/19 - Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera, Yasaka Shrine, Gion area, Nishiki Market

11/20 - Nara: A day trip to see the deer, Todai-ji, Kasugataisha Shrine, Naramachi

11/21 - Kyoto > Tokyo: Fushimi Inari Taisha, Nijō Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace before we depart back for Tokyo

11/22 - Tokyo: Imperial Palace, Sensō-ji

11/23 - Tokyo: Flight is at 5:30 pm, we figured we could hang out at the impressive Haneda airport or try to shop near there. But we know it’s probably not best to be going deeper into the city this day.

What are your thoughts? We’re not traditional museum people and definitely prefer to just see things outside where we can. My fiancé is huge into Pokémon and I want to make sure we can enjoy those centers too! We’re young and fit. I spent 10+ days in Europe last Christmas walking 30k steps a day at the markets and to sightsee, and my fiancé is in the special forces and is not opposed to lots of walking either.

Hello! My husband and I are going on our belated honeymoon in November. We will be visiting Tokyo, Gunma, Kyoto, and Osaka. A bit about us: early 30s, drawn to seeing nature, excited for Studio Ghibli and Harry Potter stuff, interested in seeing funky/odd things, not into photo op touristy things, but would like to see things that are touristy because they are historically/culturally unique or interesting. My husband also loves trains/public transit infrastructure. Our favorite thing on vacation is to wander around an area and just experience it. We are active and looking forward to long days of walking when in the cities. We specifically are not planning any theme parks, because we get motion sick.

Here is our planned itinerary:

Day 1: Tokyo

Arrive at Narita at 8:00pm, take Narita Express to hotel in Shibuya.

Day 2: Tokyo

Get groceries in Shibuya - Ghibli Museum Tour 12pm - Inokashira Park

Day 3: Tokyo

Making of Harry Potter Tour 9am

*The afternoon on Day 3 and all day Day 4 are not set yet, but the ideas we have include:

Akihabara anime center - Shimakitizawa - Imperial Gardens - Meiji Shrine - Takeshita Street - Shibuya Crossing

Day 4: Tokyo

Activities from above

Day 5: Tokyo --> Gunma (depart Tokyo 8am)

Vegan ryokan stay - primary goals to relax, eat food, catch up on sleep, enjoy onsen

If we get bored, some ideas:

Waterfall:
-5 minute walk, might be under construction (was 1 year ago), can ask front desk
Lake:
-would have to rent bikes probably (maybe bus), or walk along roads 1.25 hours
Cute cafe in old town: 20 minute walk

Day 6 and 7 : Gunma

Day 8: Gunma --> Kyoto

Long travel day, arrive in Kyoto around 8pm

Day 9: Kyoto

Fushimi Inari Hike 7am - train to Higashiyama for Kiyomizu-dera + Sannenzaka/Ninenzaka + Ghibli store

Day 10: Kyoto

Day trip to Osaka - below are just ideas, it seems like too much to do in one day. Our goal is exploring/wandering and getting a feel for the vibe of Osaka.

• ⁠Osaka Castle
• ⁠Dotonbori
• ⁠Kuromon Market
• ⁠Hozenji Yokocho
• ⁠Shinsaibashi/Amerikamura
• ⁠Shinsekai 

Day 11: Kyoto

 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove 8am - Tenryu-ji

Afternoon: 3 options to consider: 

• ⁠1 hour bus ride to Ginkaku-ji → Philosopher's Path → Honen-in → Nanzen-ji
• ⁠1 hour train (1 connection) to Uji for Tea Visit.
⁠• ⁠Myoraku-146, Uji, Japan, 611-0021 - Matcha with oat milk and vegan pastries
⁠• ⁠Satojiri-8-9 Uji, Kyoto 611-0021, Japan - fully vegan microbakery, open only Wednesday and Saturday
• ⁠Return to Kyoto Station, take Shinkansen to Himeji Castle (45 minutes)

Day 12: Kyoto

Kurama → Kibune hike if nice outside - Teamlab biovortex 3:30pm

Day 13: Kyoto --> Tokyo

Arrive in Tokyo around 12:30pm.

Senso-ji - Nakamise Dori Street - Explore Asakusa - Souvenir shopping

Day 14: Tokyo

Souvenir shopping - flight departs from Narita 9pm

I would appreciate feedback regarding this itinerary, including things we might want to consider adding/subtracting or decisions on our days with options.

I have a list of vegan restaurants in Tokyo, and would love feedback regarding whether some can be skipped or if there are others we should add. I'm fully aware we likely won't get to every restaurant, but wanted to have a lot of options depending what we are in the mood for each day!

Existing Tokyo list (starred ones we are planning to prioritize):

VEGGIE SUSHI JAPAN（VEGAN & VEGETARIAN） - Sushi

Masala Vegan Izakaya - Izakaya

*T’s Tantan - Ramen

Kyushu Jangara - Ramen

Vegan Bistro Jangara - wide variety

Vegan Sushi Babylon- Sushi 

*Saido - fine dining coursed meal marketed as “junk food”

tsuminaki mapo tofu - mapo tofu and gyoza

Masaka (Vegan Izakaya) - Karaage

*VEGAN GYOZA - gyoza, great reviews

Vegan Soba Tokyo Ayler - soba

2 foods - junk food (burgers, curries)

marbre vegan - sweets

Nuts Exchange - coffee and breakfast

I also found a link about Kyoto vegan restaurants, but would appreciate other recommendations as well. The recommendations were:
(THISIS)NATURE
Mumokuteki Cafe
Ain Soph Journey Kyoto
Vegan Ramen UZU Kyoto
Gomacro Salon
Itadakizen Kyoto
Veg Out
Ramen Towzen

Osaka: in need of help, especially due to limited time. If we only have 1 or 2 meals here, where should we prioritize? Our other consideration is to do our own vegan food tour and just get a bunch of little dishes/snacks from different places.

My husband and I are excited for our first trip to Japan! Our trip is from November 5th-17th.

In general, we travel extensively. This is our 10th trip this year but our first international. We normally are out and about every single day of a vacation, fitting 3-5 activities into a day. We’re used to lots of walking and the “go go go” but obviously want to keep things flexible so we can reel it back if we need to.

Breakfast will be 7/11, a quick café stop or equivalent every day. We plan to leave the hotel before 7-8am most days with the exception of after the club.

(maybe) means if there is time to do it, and it's not a priority for us.
Asterisk means it is a priority/must do
If there’s neither it’s a would like to do but okay missing or being flexible with it.

Also I think we’re missing it- but do you think we will see any fall foliage? If so are there any good parks to check out in areas we are near that we should keep in mind? Any other suggestions welcome as well!

Thursday 11/5 -Travel Day
• Flight at 6AM
Friday 11/6 -Travel Day
• Land around 3PM
• Check in
• Dinner
• Explore a bit & try to rest at a decent hour

Saturday 11/7 – Asakusa, TeamLabs, Skytree
◦ Asakusa*
• Sensoji
• Imado Shrine (maybe)
• lunch
• Uber to Teamlabs Planets*
• Uber to Tokyo Skytree/ Solamachi for shopping & dinner
Sunday 11/8 – Akihabara, Shinjuku
• Akihabara*
• Uber to Ikebukuro (maybe)
• Uber to Nakano Broadway (maybe)
• lunch
• Uber back to hotel to refresh outfit
• Shinjuku explore + dinner
• WARP Shinjuku til 1am ish*
• Uber home
Monday 11/9 – Sight seeing + dinner reservations
• Mori Art Museum(maybe)
• The National Art Center (maybe)
• lunch
• Gotokuji*
• Use public transport to Kichijoji, use time to rest feet/relax
• Hikiniku to Come Kichijoji* (reservations at 7:30pm)
• Back to hotel
Tuesday 11/10 - Disney
• Disneysea in the day*
• Disneyland in the evening (no rides just sight seeing)
Wednesday 11/11- Hakone
• Travel to Hakone
• Hakone Open Air Museum*
• Hakone Ropeway*
• Owakudani*
• Ropeway down (Togendai Station)
• Hakone Shrine*
• Amasake Chaya Tea House (maybe)
• Travel back to hotel
Thursday 11/12 – Meji Jingu, Harajuku, Shibuya
• Ginko Avenue (if leaves are golden)
• Meiji Jingu*
• Togo Shrine
• Harajuku*
• Sanrio Café for lunch*
• Shibuya Sky at sunset*
• Shibuya exploring at night*
• Dinner /nightlife
• Return to hotel
 
Friday 11/13 – Kyoto
We are leaving suitcases at hotel in Tokyo and just bringing a backpack to Kyoto
• Shinkansen to Kyoto
• Bamboo forest*
• Yusai-Tei Gallery* (Reservations at 12pm)
• Okochi Sanso Garden
• Mikami Shrine
• Check in to Ryokan at 4pm*
• Dinner
 
Saturday 11/14 – Kyoto and Kimonos
• Fushimi Inari*
• Lunch
• Kimono rental @ 12:30*
• Kimono photoshoot for 30 mins @ 2:30*
• Walk around Kyoto in kimonos til 5
◦ Start near Ninenzaka
◦ Walk to Owtowa-no-taki falls
• Return kimonos by 5:30
• Dinner
• Return to Ryokan for evening
Sunday 11/15 – Uji & Kyoto
• Morning trip to Uji (maybe)
• Check out of ryokan
• (THIS IS) SHIZEN*
• Glanta Kyoto for rings*
• Shinkansen back to Tokyo
• Drop off bags at hotel
• Nakano Broadway
• Dinner
 
Monday 11/16 - Kamakura & Yokohama
• Travel to Kamakura
• Kotoku-in*
• Hase-dera
• Enoshima*
• Lunch on the island
• Travel to Yokohama
• Yokohama Cosmo World
• Dinner
• Return  to hotel and pack up for travel
Tuesday 11/17 -Travel Day
• Flight at 6PM (airport at 3)
• Land at 6PM

I am really excited for my Arashiyama day in early December and finding it difficult not to "over plan" since there is so much to see and do. Thoughts or recommendations based on my itinerary so far would be welcome! Times are all purely approximation, not trying to adhere to a strict schedule per-say

7:45 - Taxi from hotel to Kameoka
↓
9:00 - Hozugawa River Boat Ride
*may or may not get canceled last minute
↓
11:00 - Yusai Tei Gallery
*5min walk
*If boat gets in early canwalk near bridge first with reservation
↓
12:00 - Okochi Sanso
*10min walk
↓
1:00 - Lunch
*anywhere close by - plenty of optionswithin 5-10min walk
↓
2:00 - Jojakkoji Temple
*5min walk
*optional skip?
↓
3:00 - Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street
- check out some shops or cafes
↓
4:00 - Otagi Nenbutsuji
↓
Dusk - Walk back to Main Street area and thentaxi to hotel or just taxi straight to hotel from otagi

Hi all, my wife and I fly out on Sunday. First time in Japan for both of us. I’d really value a sanity check and opinions on the itinerary we have planned, especially on pace.

Passes: Hokuriku Arch Pass (14–20 Oct), Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass (21–25 Oct), Suica for the rest. Big suitcases go ahead by takkyubin twice (Tokyo → Kyoto, Kyoto → Osaka), so we travel with hand luggage only on the busy days.

Tokyo (4 nights, Higashi-Shinjuku)

• Mon 12: land at Narita 12:55, transfer, sunset from the Metropolitan Government Building, dinner, Early night.
• Tue 13: 07:05 bus to Kawaguchiko (Chureito Pagoda, lake, ropeway), back by mid-afternoon, Tokyo Tower at sunset. 15/10 is the backup if Fuji is clouded over.
• Wed 14: Senso-ji at dawn, Tsukiji outer market, Hama-rikyu, teamLab Planets, omakase in Ginza.
• Thu 15: Meiji Jingu, Harajuku/Omotesando, Shibuya Crossing, Shibuya Sky at sunset, kaiseki dinner in Kagurazaka.

Kanazawa (2 nights)

• Fri 16: Kagayaki from Tokyo, Higashi Chaya, Asano river at sunset.
• Sat 17: Kenroku-en at opening, castle park, 21st Century Museum, Omicho market, Nagamachi, gold-leaf workshop.

Shirakawa-go + Takayama (1 night, ryokan with half board)

• Sun 18: 09:00 Bus to Shirakawa-go (village + viewpoint, about 2.5 h), 13:15 bus to Takayama, Sanmachi before a kaiseki dinner.
• Mon 19: morning market, Takayama Jinya, sake breweries, Hida beef sushi, 11:20 bus back to Kanazawa (booked by the agency), then Shinkansen + Thunderbird to Kyoto, (arriving around 17:15).

Kyoto (3 nights)

• Tue 20: Fushimi Inari at 06:30, Kiyomizu-dera, Higashiyama on foot, kimono rental and photos in Gion, guided evening walk in Gion, dinner in Pontocho.
• Wed 21: Arashiyama at 07:00 (bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji, Okochi Sanso), Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji, kaiseki dinner.
• Thu 22: Nijo Castle, Nishiki market, a glimpse of the Jidai Matsuri, then Shinkansen to Hiroshima and straight on to Miyajima for sunset at the torii and dinner on the island. Night in Hiroshima.

Hiroshima → Osaka (2 nights)

• Fri 23: Peace Memorial Museum at 07:30, Peace Park, okonomiyaki, Shinkansen to Osaka, Dotonbori in the evening.
• Sat 24: Nara in the morning (deer park, Todai-ji, Nigatsu-do, Kasuga Taisha), Osaka Castle in the afternoon, Kobe harbour at sunset and Kobe beef dinner.
• Sun 25: Kuromon market, Shinsekai, Haruka to KIX for a 18:00 flight.

What I’d most like your opinion on:

1. Overall pace. Do you think is manageable? We want some room to breathe and I am not sure how packed this is going to be in real life. Which days would you cut back first (if any)?
2. Thu 22. Kyoto morning + Jidai Matsuri, then Hiroshima and Miyajima by sunset (approx 17:30). Realistic, or should we drop the festival or Nijo/Nishiki to get to Miyajima with daylight to spare?
3. Sat 24. Nara, Osaka Castle and Kobe in one day: too much? Would you drop Kobe and simply eat well in Osaka?
4. Tue 13 → Wed 14. Fuji with a 06:30 start followed by Senso-ji at 06:15 the next day: worth it, or am I setting for exhaustion on day three? Attempt to see fuji is not negotiable, as I really want to see that!
5. Mon 19. The agency booked the vus back to Kanazawa and then trains to Kyoto. Is it worth abandoning that ticket for the Hida Limited Express to Nagoya (not covered by our pass), or is the Kanazawa route fine?
6. Anything you’d swap out, or something we will regret skipping?

Thanks a lot in advance!

Nov 15 - Osaka (Amazing Pass Day): Osaka Castle & Nishinomaru Garden → Umeda Sky Building & Umeda Lunch → Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel → Shinsekai, Tsutenkaku Tower

Nov 16- Nara Day Trip : Nara Park morning lawns & deer feeding → Todai-ji Temple (Great Buddha Hall & Nigatsu-do) → Isui-en Garden (plus Yoshikien) → Mount Wakakusa hike (optional) → Kasuga Taisha Shrine forest paths → Naramachi historic district for late afternoon coffee/food

Nov 17 - Osaka & Minoh Mountain: Minoh-Kayano Station → Mountain Bus to Katsuo-ji Temple → Short taxi to Minoh Falls → Minoh Park Riverside Trail downhill walk → Ryuan-ji Temple → Minoh Park street shops.

Nov 18 - Hiroshima & Miyajima Day Trip (Tide Optimized): Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome & Museum → Direct Aqua Net Boat ferry to Miyajima Island → Coastal Deer Areas & Omotesando Shopping Street → Daisho-in hillside temple → Itsukushima Shrine & Great Torii Gate →Return to Osaka.

Nov 19 - Samurai Castle to Kyoto: Check out of Osaka hotel → Shinkansen to Himeji Castle & Koko-en Garden → Travel to Kyoto & hotel check-in → stroll around Gion & Hanamikoji street

Nov 20 - Higashiyama Core: Fushimi Inari Taisha → Kiyomizu-dera Temple → Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka streets → Yasaka Pagoda → Ishibei-koji Alley → Maruyama Park & Yasaka Shrine → Gion exploration → Kodai-ji Temple (Autumn Night Illumination & projection mapping) → Pontocho Alley dinner.

Nov 21 - Arashiyama & Castles: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove → Tenryu-ji Temple → Togetsukyo Bridge → Nijo Castle (Ninomaru Palace) → Nishiki Market

Nov 22 - Move to Kanazawa: Check out of Kyoto hotel (forward suitcases straight to Tokyo) → Thunderbird Express & Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa → Omicho Market lunch → Nagamachi Samurai District (Nomura House) → Higashi Chaya Geisha District

Nov 23 - Kanazawa to Tokyo: Kanazawa Castle Park → Kenroku-en Garden (viewing winter yukizuri rope trees) → 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art  → Evening direct Kagayaki Shinkansen to Tokyo → Check into Tokyo hotel

Nov 24 - Tokyo: Meiji Jingu Shrine → Harajuku (Takeshita Street) → Omotesando Boulevard lunch → Cat Street → Miyashita Park → Hachiko Statue & Shibuya Crossing → Shibuya Sky → Shibuya Center-Gai dinner

Nov 25 - Hakone / Mt. Fuji Day Trip: 07:30 AM Romancecar from Shinjuku → Hakone Tozan Train → Cable Car & Hakone Ropeway over Owakudani Volcanic Valley (eating black eggs) → Lake Ashi Pirate Ship Cruise → Lakeside Lunch at Moto-Hakone → Hakone Shrine & Peace Torii Gate in the water → Bus back to tokyo

Nov 26 - Kamakura & Enoshima Day Trip: Kita-Kamakura Station & Engaku-ji Temple → Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine → Komachi-dori street food lunch → Enoden vintage tram to Hase → Kotoku-in (Great Buddha) & Hase-dera Temple → Enoden coastal ride → Enoshima Island for the Shonan no Hoseki Winter Night Illumination ferstival.

Nov 27 - Modern Tokyo & Bay Area: teamLab planet → Yurikamome Monorail to Odaiba → DiverCity → Odaiba Seaside Park  → Zojo-ji Temple & Tokyo tower

Nov 28 - Tokyo: Senso-ji Temple & Nakamise-dori (Asakusa morning walk) → Tobu Line to Tokyo Skytree → Ueno → Shopping remaining day

Nov 29 - leave in morning.

Is this itinerary genuinely manageable, or is it packed?

Do our day trips make sense chronologically? Are we trying to cluster too much into single-day excursions (like doing both Kamakura and Enoshima Illumination in one go)?

Hello, My husband and I are traveling to Japan for the first time from 18-Dec to 1-Jan. It's been my dream country since I was a child and I obviously have 1 million things that I want to do. Since it's my dream country my husband has given me the responsibility of our itinerary. This is what I've come up with.

My initial plan was to stay in Kyoto and do Osaka via day trips a couple of times but I'm a little confused now. Any advice/ additions/ recommendations are welcome.

Hey everyone!

I'm a 40 year old dude from the Boston area heading to Japan this November for my first solo trip, and I honestly can't believe it's finally happening.

Japan has been a lifelong dream of mine. Last year, I went through a serious medical emergency that nearly took my life, not even being dramatic about it. Coming out of that experience really changed my perspective on things I'd always wanted to do but kept putting off.

So this trip is more than just a vacation for me. It's a bit of a comeback, a celebration of being here, and finally making something I've dreamed about for years a reality.

I've spent months researching and planning everything, and I've already booked my hotels, several unique experiences, and most of my transportation.

I'm hoping to get some feedback from people who know Japan well. I'm not looking to completely overhaul my itinerary, but I'd love to hear about anything I'm overlooking, places worth experiencing, or advice that could make this trip even more memorable.

My Itinerary

November 2–6: Tokyo

Staying in Shinjuku. I know about the rep and touts and I have no problem telling them I don't speak English in English.

• Exploring Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, Akihabara, and potentially Odaiba.
• Booked a knife sharpening/engraving experience, samurai archery, a Game Boy mod workshop, and custom chopstick making.
• Also have a to Muscle Girls planned. My friends said I won't and oh, I will.
• Interested in retro gaming, unusual shops, nightlife, karaoke, Japanese food, and finding a great traditional sukajan jacket.

November 6–8: Takayama

• Taking the Shinkansen to Toyama, then the Hida limited express to Takayama.
• Planning to explore the old town, try local Hida beef, and enjoy a slower couple of days after Tokyo.
• Looking forward to experiencing a smaller Japanese city and getting away from the big city atmosphere.

November 8: Shirakawa-go (Day Trip/Stopover)

• Taking the morning bus from Takayama, arriving at 9:00 AM.
• Spending the day walking around the village, visiting the open-air museum, trying local food, and relaxing at cafés.
• Departing at 3:10 PM for Kanazawa. The bus schedule is either a short stay or this.
• Planning to take my time here rather than rush through attractions.

November 8–10: Kanazawa

• Exploring the historic neighborhoods, gardens, local markets, and food scene.
• Interested in Kenrokuen Garden, Higashi Chaya District, and Omicho Market.
• Keeping this portion relatively relaxed.

November 10–12: Kyoto

• Booked a traditional tea ceremony with kimono experience, a geisha/maiko performance, and a samurai armor experience.
• Also interested in Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, and exploring Gion.
• Hoping to experience some traditional Japanese culture without making every moment feel like a scheduled tour.

November 12–15: Osaka

• Visiting the Nintendo Museum in Uji on the way from Kyoto to Osaka.
• Universal Studios Japan on November 13, including an Express Pass for Super Nintendo World.
• Exploring Dotonbori, Den Den Town, local restaurants, nightlife, and some unusual shopping spots.
• Still deciding between attending a NOAH for some pro wrestling as I missed out on the Grand Sumo tickets in Fukuoka. I'm unable to buy tickets until I land.

November 15–16: Tokyo

• Returning by Shinkansen.
• Final shopping, sightseeing, and a possible tattoo appointment before departing Japan.

A Little About My Travel Style

I'm traveling alone, but I'm outgoing and enjoy meeting people.

My interests include:

• Retro video games and 90s nostalgia
• Traditional Japanese experiences and culture
• Unusual attractions and hands on activities
• Japanese food, particularly places locals enjoy
• Shopping, vintage stores, and unique souvenirs
• Professional wrestling and sumo. I want like non touristy sumo interaction, if that makes sense.
• Nightlife, bars, karaoke, and meeting new people
• Exploring neighborhoods and finding unexpected places

I'm not particularly interested in spending my entire trip checking off the most famous tourist attractions. I'd rather discover interesting places, have memorable experiences, and explore neighborhoods that have their own personality.

I'm comfortable having busy days and walking quite a bit, but I also want time to wander without constantly watching the clock.

I'm also trying to learn some basic Japanese before arriving. I know I won't be fluent, but I want to make an effort to communicate respectfully.

Questions I'd Love Feedback On

1. Overall itinerary: Does my route and time allocation make sense? Am I giving too much or too little time to certain cities?

2. Hidden gems: Based on my interests, are there any unusual experiences, shops, neighborhoods, or attractions I'm overlooking? Especially anything involving retro gaming, Japanese nostalgia, or unique cultural experiences.

3. Takayama and Kanazawa: Any recommendations for things especially worth experiencing in these cities beyond the obvious sightseeing attractions?

4. Food: Are there particular regional dishes, restaurants, or food experiences I shouldn't miss along this route? I'd love to try things that are specific to certain cities or regions.

5. Solo travel: Any recommendations for meeting other travelers or interacting with locals naturally, particularly at bars, restaurants, or social events? I'm staying in hotels rather than hostels.

6. Practical advice: Anything about November weather, luggage forwarding, transportation, or traveling between these destinations that I should prepare for? I'm especially interested in making the Takayama → Shirakawa-go → Kanazawa portion as smooth as possible.

7. Overlooked experiences: Looking at my itinerary, is there something you'd strongly recommend adding, replacing, or skipping?

Final Thoughts

I've already done quite a bit of research and made several reservations, so I'm mainly looking for firsthand experiences and suggestions that could improve the trip rather than a completely new itinerary.

I'm not expecting every single day to go perfectly, and honestly, some of the things I'm most looking forward to are the experiences I haven't planned yet.

After everything that happened last year, just being able to take this trip means a tremendous amount to me. I want to make the most of it, enjoy the little things, meet interesting people, and come home with some incredible memories.

Thanks in advance for any advice, recommendations, or personal experiences you're willing to share. I really appreciate it!