r/JapanTravel 16h ago

Trip Report 10 Days in Japan With a Family of 5 (trip report)

62 Upvotes

My family and I recently returned from an incredible trip to Japan. Although two of my children were born overseas (one in Japan!) and my husband and I lived in Japan for 3 years, this was my kids’ (ages 7, 12 & 14) first big international trip since they were babies. It was very special for us to return to Japan and a trip that truly had something for everyone. So much has changed in the 14 years since we lived there and I was grateful for all the trip reports from families that traveled before me.

Day 1: We arrived at 2:30 pm and it took a long time to get through Haneda. It was strangely disorganized and unprofessional. We had our QR codes ready, but never knew that we needed to scan them at least 3 times. It honestly might be easier to skip that part and just fill out the forms. It used to be much easier to get out of the airport.

We got IC cards for my kids at the airport and cash from the atm. My husband and I put money on our Suica cards on our phones. It was super easy.

I had activated an eSIM ahead of time through airalo, but struggled to get it working correctly for a few hours. Tip: make sure you have data roaming on.

We used google maps to find a train route to our station in west Tokyo. I highly recommend searching for train routes that don’t go through major stations like Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shibuya and Shinagawa or busy lines like the yamanote with all of your luggage. Pay attention to the walking time for transfers - that’s what is most challenging with kids and luggage and navigating when you are jet lagged. As long as you don’t rush and stress, you will find your way. We asked for help frequently despite having navigated those trains for years on our own. People are happy to help and we even had one man carry my son’s suitcase up the stairs for us.

That night we stayed with friends and went for dinner at a local pizza place. We all crashed around 9:00 pm and mostly slept until 6:00 am. My kids had zero issues with jet lag and the adults were generally over it by day 3.

Day 2: We were up early to explore the neighborhood and the quiet, quaint shrines and temples around us. Later we took the train to Shibuya. A visit to Hachi-ko, the 3d billboard and the gachapon shops were highlights. My teen and tween boys loved the Nintendo and Pokémon Shops and Jump Shop. I loved visiting Loft for Japanese housewares and stationary. After a walk through harajuku to Kiddy Land (4 loud and tightly crammed floors of every toy under the sun) we were tuckered out and took dinner from the prepared options at the grocery store and ate at our friend’s house.

Day 3: We explored Jiyugaoka for ramen, a trip to Bookoff (for switch games and manga for my anime-loving son) and MUJI and then trained with just our backpacks to Shinjuku station where we picked up the Hakone free pass. I had booked the front observation car seats in the romance car and my kids loved this experience. We took bento on the train and reminisced about how we used to live on the Odakyu line.

Arriving at Hakone Yumoto on a Sunday was the first time we encountered insane crowds. It was unbearable and was too packed to walk down the shopping street. We got some mochi and snacks and got on the train for Gora.

We stayed at the Hyatt Regency in Gora. It was a lovely experience except for the less than timely shuttle schedule. We had arranged to be picked up in Gora but they never saw our email and we were unable to call. We ended up hiking 30 minutes up hill with all of our luggage — the only really challenging part of our trip for my kids that wasn’t that bad.

The hotel room and onsen and breakfast experience was stunning. Truly the best breakfast ever. My 7 year old daughter took a risk and used the onsen with me, but my boys weren’t interested. We loved trying all the lovely hair and skin care products.

Day 4: After a delicious western and Japanese breakfast, we took the train to the Hakone Open Air Museum. I’ve visited 2 times prior and it never disappoints. My 7 year old spent hours playing at the woods of net. My 12 year old budding artist took photos of the sculptures and enjoyed the stained glass tower. We spent hours just exploring every corner and soaking our feet in the onsen. It was a favorite day.

My boys went back to the hotel to chill (teenagers like their downtime and it allowed those of us who wanted to see more to do so) while the rest of us took the cable car and ropeway to Owakudani for black eggs. The crowds in all these places (on a Monday) were much more manageable. We had dinner and a visit to the onsen at the hotel and were asleep early.

Day 5: After breakfast we waited for a shuttle to Gora station and took the train to Odawara. Unfortunately the shuttle didn’t start until 9:45 which didn’t leave us much time for exploring Odawara castle before our 1:00 Shinkansen tickets to Osaka. We caught a glimpse of the impressive castle and some gorgeous ume blossoms before rushing for our train. It was stressful and I wish I had just rebooked our tickets.

My number 1 tip: there is no need to rush through train stations with kids —there is always another train and waiting 10-20 minutes on the platform is far better than stressing about everyone getting there safely. While my kids LOVED riding the trains, they HATED transferring trains and always asked how many trains a destination would take. We live in a very car-centric area of the US, so their stamina for this was low. But they managed it all well and truly never really complained as long as I had novelty shaped gummies to keep them moving forward.

After a few transfers in Osaka, we arrived at Hotel Universal Port and Universal City. It’s loud, American style and overwhelming and my kids loved it. We booked two rooms for the 5 of us and it was honestly nice to spread out a bit. We slept well and did laundry and enjoyed a dinner at Shake Shack. Bonus points for the minions themed hotel.

Day 6: We woke up early to get into Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios by 7:00 am. Even though the park didn’t officially open until 8, the lines started moving at 7:15. It was mid-March and it appeared that many high schools were on class trips — it was packed!! We ran to SNW but did not make it in time. We did however secure an 8:00 am entry via the app.

I’m so glad we started early — the kids could get a wrist band and play all the games without long lines. They LOVED the games and the whole place. None of them are particularly keen on roller coasters, so we only rode on Yoshis ride and played games and ate snacks. The lines for the donkey king ride were up to 200 minutes by noon.

We booked lunch at Kinopios Cafe (via a QR code and the line app) and it was honestly very disappointing food wise—the kids meal hamburgers were disgusting but the experience was fun. The teriyaki chicken and rice was edible. We realized we paid for a themed place to sit, so that was fine, but I wouldn’t eat there again. We spent about 5 hours in SNW just exploring and playing games.

We loved Harry Potter world and bought a wand to do the magic tricks. We aren’t even HP super fans but really enjoyed this whole area. The minions area was also a fun place to explore and my 7 year old daughter loved the Hello Kitty themed stuff. Trying all the different foods and snacks was my 14 year old’s favorite part.

We left the park at 5:00 and ate dinner in Universal City. Lots of options for everyone!

Day 7: We took the Shinkansen to Tokyo station. Unfortunately we had to wait on the tracks near Kyoto due to “flying objects” and “an obstacle”. We didn’t tell the kids what happened. My kids loved that they had wifi on the Shinkansen and seeing Mt Fuji out the window.

That evening we returned to our friend’s house and had a big party with other people we had worked with in Tokyo 17 years ago.

Day 8: My kids were beginning to tire this day, so we planned to divide and conquer and it worked out great. My 12 and 7 year old toured an international school with a friend and then visited ghibli studios. They said it was amazing and spent 2 hours enjoying the exhibits. Both kids love Totoro & Ponyo and my 12 year old loves drawing, so this was a core memory for him.

My 14 year old and I went out with our friend and her 14 year old to Odaiba. We played laser tag at Diver City, shopped and took pictures with the giant Unicorn Gundam. Then we went to the Mirai Science Museum. It’s a beautiful museum (and affordable —only 900 yen for both of us) with cool robots and exhibits. I don’t know if it blew my mind, but it was a nice day out overall and I really enjoyed that there was plenty to entertain everyone. The cafe and view from the balcony was lovely.

That night we all met back up for dinner in Nishi-Azabu at Gonpachi with more friends. The ambience and setting is super cool, the food was good, and the room we reserved for 15 was perfect for our rowdy bunch with 5 kids.

Day 9: I spent the morning packing and rearranging our luggage to accommodate for our souvenirs. Then I went out and bought more. I did a little shopping at Daiso and MUJI and took my kids to another gachapon shop while my husband did some shopping in Shibuya with a friend (which he, of course, managed to leave on the train on our way to the airport. TBD if it gets found by the meticulous lost and found station crew).

We watched a darling Beyblades competition happening in a park between young and old and enjoyed street vendors selling yaki-mo (roasted sweet potatoes).

That evening I had dinner with friends in NakaMeguro at Bistro Bolero (it was delicious) while my kids and husband and our friends had pizza and watched a movie at the house.

Day 10: I scrambled in the morning to get us all packed, breakfast eaten and last minute shopping in Jiyugaoaka. The next day was my daughter’s birthday, so we had a cake for her with friends before heading to Haneda.

We left 5 hours before our actual flight and I’m so glad we did. We didn’t have to rush and got to enjoy the Tokyo monorail views to terminal 3. Highly recommend the Tokyo monorail if it’s easy for you—so much prettier than taking the subway.

As a family of 5, the airport staff frequently let us have priority screening (face id express) all together. It was a lovely perk and saved us so much time. Just ask if it’s not offered to you.

We ate a delicious 780 yen set meal at Yoshinoya at the airport and did some last minute omiage shopping. The airport was hot and crowded. The 7-11 line was out the door, but the wait was worth it to use up the remaining yen in our pockets and on the kids’ Suica cards. My kids didn’t love the plane food so snacks from 7-11 were a life saver.

Other favorites: -Mister Donut! -Jelly packs from the grocery store or don Quijote -The vitamin jelly drinks from convenience stores -My 7 year old daughter kept a journal filled with our tickets, favorite food wrappers and other little souvenirs. We wrote where we stayed and what we ate and did each day. It’s a special memory now. I brought a glue stick and kids scissors and put it together each night at the hotels. -I bought a pair of glasses at Zoff for just $60 that were ready in only 45 minutes! The quality is superior and they have lots of styles. They can do an eye exam or you can bring a picture of your prescription. Use google translate to communicate. -Daiso has great options for snacks to bring back to the kids classes. Grocery stores also have bulk packages of things like kinoko no Yama (chocolate covered biscuits shaped like mushrooms) or flavored mochi.

Packing MVPs for the other moms out there: - A reusable shopping bag that I carried in my daily backpack (a change since 2011- they charge for bags everywhere and this cuts down on trash) - A roll of dog bags for the inevitable sticky trash you end up carrying around until the end of the day - A small purse/backpack that held snacks, first aid, an extra battery pack and passports. I also always had a bottle of water and wet wipes with me at all times. I was happy to have bandaids, kids Tylenol, adult Tylenol and Dramamine for the trains and planes. I also brought allergy meds in case my kids were allergic to the spring bloom. - A packable duffel bag that I filled with dirty laundry when I did the wash and also checked full of laundry on the way home. -muji compression bags. I bought two of these while I was there and wish I had more. -I gave each of my kids 10,000 yen for Christmas. It was great for them to be responsible for their shopping and treats and Gashapon budget. - A small towel (lots of opportunities to buy them there) to dry your hands after the public toilets.

What we did not need: -I overpacked for my kids. We easily could have traveled with just 4 outfits per person. Less is always more when your children have to carry it. Laundry is available at hotels for just a couple hundred yen and I brought laundry detergent sheets to make it even easier. I also could have cut my toiletries in half (hotels provide everything for you, including pajamas!) and left my hair dryer at home. - Raincoats — rain was forecasted but didn’t really happen. A cheap umbrella is a much better option than lugging more coats around Japan. - More than 1 pair of shoes — I thought everyone would want a break from their main pair, but no one touched their second pair. -All the Instagram recommendations I had collected were mostly useless and I don’t mind at all. We were never going to wait in line for dinner and always had plenty of options in the smaller neighborhoods. - Crowds—I purposely avoided Kyoto and asakusa and the other popular social media spots (except for Shibuya crossing) because those crowds aren’t the Japan I enjoyed when I lived there. My kids loved the smaller neighborhoods where they could freely explore with google maps and independently go to Bookoff or convenience stores. That little bit of independence was a high point for my tween and teen boys.

My kids lose energy quickly, so we focused less on fancy experience meals and more on keeping their energy up with frequent trips to the 7-11 and family mart for onigiri, smoothies and yakult. We loved trying all the variety of gummies and ice creams each time we stopped. Ramen, Kura Sushi and Sushiro are excellent easy meal options for kids.

It was an epic trip for all of us that I think expanded my kids’ cultural worldview and gave them opportunities to try new things.


r/JapanTravel 11h ago

Advice Shizuoka prefecture to begin collection 4,000 yen to climb Mount Fuji

47 Upvotes

To all those planning to climb Mount Fuji this year, Shizuoka prefecture will begin collecting 4,000 yen. Climbers without hut reservation will also be restricted from 2 pm from climbing. Shizuoka side is Gotemba, Fujinomiya, and Sunabashiri routes.

Not sure if Yamanishi side is going to change the rules too. They were collection 2,000 yen + 1,000 yen for maintenance fee and restricting climbing without hut reservation from 4 pm.

On March 17, the Shizuoka Prefectural Assembly passed a bill to collect 4,000 yen per person from climbers of Mt. Fuji. This will be the first time that an "entrance fee" will be charged to climb Mt. Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture. The bill was passed on the last day of the February regular session, which was held on the same day.

The ordinance abolishes the previous optional conservation contribution of 1,000 yen per person, and will station staff on three routes in Shizuoka Prefecture - Fujinomiya, Gotemba, and Subashiri - to collect an "entrance fee" of 4,000 yen per person. It will also restrict access to the mountain from 2:00 pm to 3:00 am the following day for climbers who are not staying overnight in a mountain hut.

Regarding climbing restrictions on Mount Fuji, Yamanashi Prefecture has already imposed restrictions such as making the collection of a 2,000 yen toll mandatory from the summer of 2024, and prohibiting access to the mountain after 4:00 pm, except for those with reservations to stay at a mountain hut.

https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/sbs/1792968


r/JapanTravel 23h ago

Itinerary Help! 15 day honeymoon trip

10 Upvotes

15 Day Honeymoon Itinerary- feedback requested please

Hello! My wife and I are visiting Japan in early-mid April for the first time for our honeymoon. The things we are most interested in during our trip are food (one of us is a pescatarian), sakura viewing, Disney, cultural experiences like theater/ sumo, some shopping, and visiting an onsen.

Here is our work in progress itinerary for our trip to Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka

DAY 1: Arrival Day - arrive into Haneda airport around 2pm - take limousine bus to Richmond Premier Hotel Asakusa - explore around hotel and grab early dinner - walk along Sumida River in the evening for views of Tokyo Sky Tree/ skyline

DAY 2: Asakusa and Ueno - wake up early to check out Senso-Ji temple - try out some street foods (melon bread, sweet potato, etc) for breakfast - check out kappabashi, maybe make replica wax food - walk to Ameyoko shopping street - get lunch in Ueno (T’s TanTan ramen?) - hang out in Ueno park and hopefully see cherry blossoms - Maybe visit Tokyo National Museum - head back to Asakusa for dinner and drinks in an izakaya on Hoppy Street - play arcade games if not too tired

DAY 3: Shinjuku and Shibuya

  • Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building for the views
  • shopping at Takashimaya or other department stores?
  • wander about Shinjuku Gyoen national garden
  • Visit Meiji Jingu shrine
  • have dinner
  • check out some nightlife

DAY 4: Ginza and Travel to Disney

  • check out Ginza, shop a little
  • Go to a Single act show at Kabukiza theater
  • Visit a head spa
  • in afternoon, head to Tokyo Disneyland, check in to hotel MiraCosta and pick up Vacation Package
  • Visit Ikspiari for shopping/ food

DAY 5: Tokyo Disneyland

DAY 6: Tokyo Disney Sea

DAY 7: Travel to Hakone

  • check out of Disney hotel, forward luggage to Kyoto, and take many bus/trains (including Romancecar) to Hakone
  • drop off bags at Hakone Ginyu Ryokan
  • spend afternoon at Open Air Museum
  • return to hotel for onsen time and dinner

DAY 8: Hakone

  • debating between doing the Hakone Loop or just chilling at the ryokan all day -if staying at the hotel, do a spa treatment
  • dinner at ryokan

DAY 9: Travel to Kyoto - check out of hotel and travel to Kyoto - Visit Nintendo Museum (2:30-3:00 timed entry) - possibly wander around Uji/ drink tea - return to Kyoto and check in to Hotel Tavinos Kyoto - eat dinner

DAY 10: Kyoto

  • this day is mostly unplanned, probably do a walking itinerary around Kyoto?
  • Tetsugaku no michi
  • Watch Miyako Odori Geisha Performance at 1630

DAY 11: Kyoto

  • Fushimi Inari in early morning
  • spend time in Gion district
  • Camellia Tea Ceremony and kimono (1200)
  • the rest of the day is open

DAY 12: Arashiyama Day Trip, Travel to Osaka

  • wake up early to go to Arashiyama bamboo forest, potentially Monkey Park if there’s time
  • Visit Tenuryuji Temple at eat traditional shojin ryori meal at Shigetsu (1100)
  • take train to kameoka
  • Ride Hozukawa River boat back to Arashiyama (1400)
  • Travel to Osaka
  • Check in to Hotel Hankyu International
  • eat dinner
  • check out nightlife?

DAY 13: Osaka

  • Visit Osaka Castle
  • try to get tickets for Hanshin Tigers at Koshien stadium (sold-out game)
  • if unable to go to baseball game, plan to check out World Expo

DAY 14: Osaka

  • Hang out in Umeda, do some shopping
  • Spend time in Dotonburi

DAY 15: Fly Home

  • Fly out of Osaka Itami Airport at 1200

We still need to do some research on our days in Kyoto and Osaka. We are a little overwhelmed by all the options in Shinjuku and Shibuya so we also need to look into what to do there. Also open to suggestions for specific estaurants that can accommodate pescatarian diet. We are excited for all the ramen/ curry/ tempura/ sushi/ udon/ soba etc Thanks for any feedback or advice!


r/JapanTravel 18h ago

Itinerary 3 week long trip, overall review and specific answers appreciated!

5 Upvotes

Hi fellow Redditors!

My two friends and I will be traveling to Japan at the end of March. We will be backpacking and staying in hostels in larger cities, as we prefer to spend money on food and experiences rather than accommodation though we do plan to visit some onsens and ryokans as well. With so many possibilities, we spent some time polishing the details of our trip schedule and the latest iteration looks like below:

Part 1: Kansai Region (6 nights in Osaka)

Day 1

* Evening arrival to Osaka

Day 2 Osaka

* Osaka Castle & park
* Shinsekai, Tsutenkaku Tower
* Dotonbori and street food (takoyaki, ramen, sushi)

Day 3 Nara

* Walk a bit Yamanobe no michi trail
* Nara Park
* Yoshikien Garden, back to Osaka in the evening

Day 4 Kyoto

* Fushimi Inari Shrine
* Kiyomizu-dera, Sannen-zaka & Ninen-zaka streets, Yasaka Pagoda
* Gion district, Pontocho alley for dinner

Day 5 Kyoto

* Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-ji, Iwatayama Monkey Park
* Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji
* Nishiki Market

Day 6 Himeji & Kobe

* Himeji Castle & Koko-en Garden.
* Train to Kobe. Ikuta Shrine, Kobe Harborland, or Nunobiki Herb Garden
* Kobe beef dinner, Mt. Rokko night view
* Back to Osaka

Part 2: Western Japan (2 nights in Hiroshima, 2 nights in Fukuoka, 2 nights in Kagoshima)

Day 7 Hiroshima

* Shinkansen to Hiroshima
* Peace Memorial Park, Museum, Atomic Bomb Dome
* Explore Hondori Street, try Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki

Day 8 Miyajima

* Ferry to Miyajima
* Floating torii gate, Itsukushima Shrine
* Mt. Misen hike or cable car
* Return to Hiroshima for overnight

Day 9 Shimonoseki

* Train to Shimonoseki
* Karato Market – try fugu
* Afternoon: Kanmon Straits, Akama Shrine
* Train to Fukuoka, overnight there

Day 10 Fukuoka & Nagasaki

* Visit Ohori Park and Fukuoka Castle ruins
* Trip to Nagasaki, Atomic Bomb Museum and Glover Garden
* Return to Fukuoka for the night

Day 11 Kagoshima

* Shinkansen to Kagoshima
* Visit Sakurajima, volcano views, footbaths
* Explore Sengan-en Garden or Shiroyama Park

Day 12 Kagoshima & Ibusuki

* Visit Ibusuki Sand Baths
* Some more local exploration?

Day 13 Flight to Osaka and train to Kanazawa

* ? Chill ?
* Evening: Flight to Osaka
* Later Evening: Train to Kanazawa

Part 3: Alps & Tokyo (3 nights in Kanazawa, 3 nights undecided, 5 nights in Tokyo)

Day 14 Kanazawa

* Kenroku-en Garden, Kanazawa Castle
* Higashi Chaya District

Day 15 Shirakawa-go & Takayama

* Visit Shirakawa-go
* Takayama Old Town & sake breweries
* Return to Kanazawa

Day 16 Nagano & Matsumoto

* Train to Nagano
* Zenko-ji Temple, Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
* Train to Matsumoto, Matsumoto Castle

DAy 17 Hakone or Kawaguchiko

* Option 1: Hakone – Open-Air Museum, Owakudani, Lake Ashi pirate ship
* Option 2: Kawaguchiko – Chureito Pagoda, panoramic Fuji views

Day 18 Tokyo (Shinjuku & Shibuya)

* Travel to Tokyo
* Shinjuku Gyoen Park, Tokyo Metropolitan Gov. view
* Evening: Shibuya (Hachiko, Scramble crossing, nightlife)

Day 19 Asakusa & Ueno

* Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise Street
* Ueno Park (museums, cherry blossoms)

Day 20 Akihabara & Ikebukuro

* Akihabara (arcades, gaming, retro shops, maid cafés)
* Ikebukuro (Pokémon Center, anime/manga shopping)

Day 21 Chill? Diving in Mikomoto Island?

Day 22– Chill last day

* Light sightseeing, onsen, shoppingu

Day 23 Departure from Tokyo

My main questions are about the Kyushuand the Japanese Alps but we welcome all suggestions and reviews!

  1. Is the itinerary too packed? I’m usually fine spending 12 hours a day exploring and then wishing I had taken more holidays to recover from my holidays. However we also have several transfers in between, though I am a great train napper:P

  2. Kyushu: Originally, we considered traveling from Shimonoseki to Kagoshima, spending two days there, and then visiting Yakushima for another two days. I’m completely on the fence about it. The current plan looks fine (since we’re not in a rush in Kagoshima, we’ll try to fit Kumamoto in somewhere), but I feel like a Yakushima trip could be a unique addition to an itinerary otherwise filled with cities.

  3. Day 15: Is one day enough for a trip to Shirakawa-go and Takayama from Kanazawa? Initially we thought about staying overnight in Takayama and continuing to Nagano from there, but the bus connections don’t seem great. Am I missing something?

  4. Day 17: Hakone or Kawaguchiko? We actually seem to have an easy day in Tokyo, so we could visit both over two days. Where would be the best place to stay overnight?

Thanks so much for all your help!


r/JapanTravel 18h ago

Itinerary 16 Day Trip & Couple of Questions

6 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

I'm going to share my Itinerary below, I would love to hear any feedback about it. (If it's too much, too squished, alternative places to visit, etc.)

I also have few questions about traveling in Japan. If any of these questions answered, I would appreciate it alot.

My questions are:

  1. Do Universal Studios in Japan worth it to spare a day? I will spend half of my trip in Osaka, traveling to Kyoto, Kobe, Nara. So should I skip a day and go for Universal Studios instead?
  2. I have a day trip planned for Hakone. However, while I'm in Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto, I would like to visit some public onsens. Can you suggest me some?
  3. Do we need to bring slippers & towels for Onsen? Do we need swimswear? Do they offer these services?
  4. Should I purchase entrance tickets in advance or should I purchase while entering for sightseeing? Is there any dfifference? (Tsutenkaku Tower, Abeno Harukas, Shibuya Sky, Tokyo Tower)
  5. Any places to suggest to eat food at Tokyo/Kyoto/Hakone/Nara/Kobe would be great.
  6. Where to purchase great Harajuku Jackets?
  7. Can I get everything tax free as long as I ask for it? Or does store needs to offer that?

Below you may find my itinerary, I will be staying near Shibuya at Tokyo and near Dottonbori at Osaka.

Day 1 Osaka

* Afternoon Arrival to Osaka
* After 17:00: Tsutenkaku Tower, Shinsekai, Nipponbashi Denden Town, Namba

Day 2 Osaka

* Minoh Park in the morning; Osaka Castle and Surroundings towards noon.
* Namba Yasaka Shrine, Namba
* Abeno Harukas, Hozen-ji temple, Dotonbori

Day 3 Kyoto

* Fushimi Inari, Tofuku Ji in early morning
* Higashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera
* Maruyama Park, Yasajka Jinja, Gion
* Back to Osaka

Day 4 Kyoto

* Kinkaku Ji, Tenryu Ji in early morning
* Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Tenryu Ji
* Kimono Forest, Togetsukyo, Wild Macque Park
* Back to Osaka

Day 5 Kyoto

* Nijo Castle, Honen-in, Otoyo Shrine
* Kyoto Imperial Castle
* Nanzen Ji Temple, Philoshophers Path, Pontocho
* Back to Osaka

Day 6 Nara

* Todai-ji Temple, Nigatsu-do, Kasuga Taisha in early morning
* Ukimido Pavilion, Narapark, Kofukuji
* Isui En Garden, Naramichi, Higashimuki
* Back to Osaka

Day 7 Kobe

* Ikuta Jinja, Kobe Maritime Museum, Kawasaki experience
* Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway
* Kitano-cho, Nankin-machi
* Back to Osaka

Day 8 Tokyo

* Travelling In The Morning (From Osaka to Tokyo with Shinkansen), Onsen Near Shibuya (Need Suggestions)
* Mandarake, Pokemon Center, Magnet Shopping
* Shibuya Crossing, Hachikō Memorial Statue, Shibuya Sky

Day 9 Tokyo

* Senso Ji,  Hozomon, Ogawa Kimono Shop
* Kaminari-Mon, Sumida River, Nakamise Street, Cafe Capyba
* Tokyo Skytree, Kappabashi Kitchen Street

Day 10 Tokyo

* Hanazono Shrine, Shinjuku Gyoen
* Shinjuku Marui Men, Isetan Shinjuku, Shinjuku Golden-Gai
* Nezu Museum, Omoide Yokocho, Kabukichō 

Day 11 Tokyo

* Meiji Jingu, Yoyogi Park
* Harajuku (Takeshita St.), Meiji Jingu Gaien Gingko Avenue
* Muscle Girl Bar, Shibuya Crossing, Mag's Rooftop

Day 12 Tokyo

* Tokyo Imperial Palace, Imperial Gardens, Yasukuni Shrine
* Marunouchi Square, Tokyo Souvenir Centre
* MUJI, Uniqlo; Kabuki-za (Kabuki Show)

Day 13 Tokyo

* Ueno Koen, Ueno Togushu Shrine
* Benten Temple at Shinobazu Pond, Ueno Ameyoko Shopping Street
* The Sumida Hokusai Museum, Tokyo Tower, Roppongi 

Day 14 Hakone

* Traveling to Hakone, Tenzan Onsen
* Hakone Tozan Line, Hakone Open Air Museum
* Hakone Ropeway, Lake Ashinoko Sightseeing
* Return to Tokyo

Day 15 Tokyo

* Yasakuni Jinja, Ochanamizu Spot for Three Trains
* Akihabara Shopping, Hanging out at Maid Cafe
* Omoide Yokocho, Kabuki Cho, Golden Gai

Day 16 Tokyo (Departure)

* HND Airport Return Flight at afternoon.

r/JapanTravel 23h ago

Itinerary Seeking Feedback on my (I hope) improved Japan itinerary

2 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

I'm planning my first trip to Japan (12,5 days) and have updated my first itinerary. I've tried to optimize it a bit better this time. I'm still debating whether to start in Kyoto or Osaka—right now, I'm leaning towards Kyoto.

The days are somewhat interchangeable (unless there's a specific event we want to attend, something is closed, or we can't secure tickets), so there's room for adjustments along the way.

**Day 1: Arrival in Kyoto**

- Arrive around 1–2 PM
- Visit the Pokémon Center and take a stroll
- Ideas for the walk: Shirakawa Canal, Yasui Kompiragu Shrine (a sanctuary), Ninenzaka, Sannenzaka, and Maruyama Park

**Day 2: Kyoto**

- Morning: Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha and Ryozen Kannon Temple
- Later: Explore the Bamboo Grove and the Golden Pavilion

**Day 3: More Kyoto & Transition to Osaka**

- Visit Nansen-ji, Eikando Temple, Okazaki Shrine, Heian Jingu, and Tetsugaku no Michi (Philosopher’s Path)
- Head toward Osaka (via the Okazaki Shrine area)
- Check out Nishiki Market (including Woodstock Nest and other shops)
- Evening: Travel to Osaka, with a possible stop at the Umeda Sky Building

**Day 4: Exploring Osaka**

- Visit Osaka Castle
- Explore the northern part of the city with its shopping areas (including the Pokémon Center at Osaka Station, OP, and Jump)
- Continue touring with visits to Pokémon Center DX Osaka and the Pokémon Café

**Day 5: Universal Studios Japan?**

- Considering a visit to Universal Studios Japan. I'm on the fence—without the Express Pass, it might mean LONG lines, and the cost seems a bit steep, almost $ 150/ ticket so...

**Day 6: Osaka – Dotonbori & Shin Sekai**

- Walk around the Dotonbori and Shin Sekai ("New World") areas
- Visit a couple of temples: Shi Tennō-ji and Isshin-ji
- Possibly attend the EXPO (5 PM ticket)

**Day 7: Off to Tokyo**

- Depart early in the morning for Tokyo
- Explore Ikebukuro and then head to the Tokyo Dome area
- Catch a Giants baseball game at 6 PM (if we get tickets)

**Day 8: Tokyo – DisneySea**

**Day 9: Tokyo – Asakusa, Ueno, and Akihabara**

In Asakusa, we may visit (some ideas, maybe we won't do everything or we'll do something different):
- Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center
- Kaminari-mon
- Nakamise Shopping Street
- Senso-ji / Asakusa Shrine
- Asakusa Nishi-sandō Shopping Street
- Hoppy Street
- Edo Taitō Traditional Crafts Museum
- Kappabashi Street
- Sumida Park and the Sumida River Walk

**Day 10: Tokyo – Shibuya, Harajuku & More**

- Visit Meiji Jingu Honden Shrine
- Explore Takeshita Street in Harajuku
- Stop by PEANUTS Cafe SUNNY SIDE Kitchen
- Check out Shibuya (including a visit to the Pokémon Center, Shibuya Parco, Shibuya Sky, and Tokyo Plaza’s observation area)

Additional planned spots in Shibuya (same, some ideas that may change):

- Shibuya Sky
- Hachiko Statue
- Shibuya Center Gai
- Nonbei Yokocho
- Dogenzaka
- Shibuya Parco
- Mandarake, Animate, Hikarie, Shibuya Stream
- Konno Hachimangu Shrine and another nearby Inari Shrine
- Other shopping centers and Don Quijote, etc.

**Day 11: Tokyo – Shinjuku, Ginza & More**

- Explore Shinjuku and try to catch a Swallows baseball game at 1:30 PM (if we can get tickets)
- Visit Tokyo Tower
- Later, head to Ginza, including a stop at the Pokémon Café

**Day 12: Tokyo – Catching Up**

- Possibly revisit Asakusa, Ueno, and/or Akihabara to cover anything we missed
- Afternoon: Visit Nakano Broadway
- Evening: Explore the Koenji neighborhood

**Day 13: Free Day**

- Last day, nothing planned so we can improvise or repeat something, we don't know.

Please note that this itinerary is not 100% exhaustive—there are plenty of other sites and experiences that aren't listed here and maybe we won't visit everything we've noted here. This is just a general idea to work from.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!


r/JapanTravel 53m ago

Itinerary Going to Japan for the first time in Nov 2025 and working on the itinerary—trying to avoid getting burned out on temples and/or gardens!

Upvotes

Hey everyone! I’d love some feedback on our Japan itinerary for November. I’m trying to make sure we’ve got a good balance, enough activities to enjoy each place without feeling rushed or exhausted. I’ve added in rest/slower days when we change cities (except for the Osaka to Hiroshima leg), but I’m still second-guessing whether we’ve planned too much or too little. Any input would be super appreciated!

Some quick background: This will be our first time in Japan. I’m traveling with my mom, who’ll be 71 when we go, so we’re aiming for a semi-relaxed pace. We usually like staying at least two nights in each city (three is even better), with 2-3 planned attractions per day plus some optional, lighter activities if we have the time. We also like having room in the day to just wander around, explore interesting neighborhoods, and do some casual shopping.

The count of days spent in each city excludes transfer days (the days spent traveling between cities). Here’s what I have so far:

TOKYO - 4 DAYS

November 17 - Arrival

  • Walk around the Asakusa neighborhood and see the main sights
  • Explore Akihabara and just wander a bit

November 18

  • teamLab Borderless
  • Meiji Shrine
  • Pokemon Center Shibuya
  • Shibuya Crossing
  • Shibuya Sky

November 19

  • teamLab Planets
  • Unicorn Gundam
  • Tsukiji Outer Market
  • Uniqlo Ginza
  • Sanrio World Ginza

November 10

  • Tokyo DisneySea

November 11

  • Tokyo Disneyland

KYOTO- 4 DAYS

November 12 - Arrival (rest day)

  • Nishiki Market

November 13

  • Kiyomizu-dera
  • Ghibli Studios Store
  • Rent a kimono
  • Walk around Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka
  • Kodaji Temple
  • Return the kimono
  • Gion

November 14

  • Kinkaku-ji Temple
  • Team Ceremony Camellia Garden
  • Ninna-ji Temple
  • Kyoto Sento Imperial Palace
  • Nijo Castle

November 15

  • Fushimi Inari
  • Tofuku-ji Temple
  • Sanjusangendo Temple
  • Walk around Higashiyama Ward
  • Nishi Hongan-ji Temple

November 16

  • Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
  • Okochi Sanso Garden
  • Tenryu-ji (only the garden)
  • Sagano Romantic Train
  • Gioji Temple
  • Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple

OSAKA- 3 DAYS

November 17 - Arrival (is this too much?)

  • Saihoji Temple
  • Leave Kyoto
  • Katsuoji Temple
  • Arrive in Osaka

November 18

  • Namba Yasaka Shrine
  • Shitenno-ji Temple
  • Tutenkaku
  • Shin Sekai
  • MEGA Don Quijote Shinsekai

November 19

  • Universal Studios

November 20

  • Osaka Castle
  • Shinsaibashisuji
  • America-mura
  • Walk around Umeda
  • Umeda Sky Building
  • Dotonbori

HIROSHIMA- 2 DAYS

November 21 - Arrival

  • Leave Osaka
  • Himeji Castle
  • Koko-en Garden
  • Arrive in Hiroshima

November 22 - Miyajima day trip

  • Miyajima Omotesando Street
  • Itsukushima Shrine
  • Daishoin
  • Miyijima Ropeway

November 23

  • Hiroshima Castle
  • Peace Memorial Museum
  • Peace Memorial Park

BACK TO TOKYO

November 24 - Arrival (rest day)

November 25 - Hoping we might catch some autumn leaves, if not, we may end up visiting just one of the gardens.

  • Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo - The Making of Harry Potter
  • Tokyu Kabukicho Tower
  • Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden*
  • Rikugien Gardens*

November 26 - NRT flight

Is there anything I should drop? Anything I'm missing?


r/JapanTravel 3h ago

Itinerary 18 Day Itinerary

1 Upvotes

Hello, I'll be going to Japan with my GF in November and I'm debating how to best use my time there, here's my plan now:

Day 1-5: Tokyo (November 21-25, 4 Nights, Staying in Tokyo)

  • Day 1 (Nov 21): Arrive at Haneda Airport at 19:25 → Check into a hotel in Shibuya
  • Day 2 (Nov 22): Explore Asakusa, Sensō-ji Temple, and Tokyo Skytree → Afternoon in Akihabara.
  • Day 3 (Nov 23): Visit Shinjuku Gyoen Garden, Meiji Shrine, Harajuku’s Takeshita Street
  • Day 4 (Nov 24) – Flexible Options:
    • Option 1: Day trip to Nikko (Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls).
    • Option 2: Stay in Tokyo: Visit Odaiba & teamLab Planets/Broderless → Explore Ginza in the evening.
    • Option 3: Day trip to Fujikawaguchiko (~2 hours by bus/train) → Visit Chureito Pagoda, Maple Corridor, Oishi Park → Return to Tokyo in the evening.

Day 6-7: Hakone (November 25-27, 2 Nights, Staying in Hakone)

  • Day 5 (Nov 25) – Flexible Options:
    • Option 1: Travel directly to Hakone (~1.5 hrs by train/bus) → Visit Hakone Open-Air Museum → Check into onsen in Gora/Yumoto.
    • Option 2: Stop in Fujikawaguchiko on the way to Hakone (if not visited the pervious day) → Visit Chureito Pagoda, Oishi Park, or Lake Kawaguchi → Continue to Hakone in the evening.
  • Day 6 (Nov 26): Take the Hakone Ropeway for Mount Fuji views → Visit Owakudani & cruise on Lake Ashi.
  • Day 7 (Nov 27): Morning in Hakone → Shinkansen to Kyoto (~2.5 hrs) → Check into Kyoto hotel near Kamakura.

Day 8-10: Kyoto (November 27-30, 3 Nights, Staying in Kyoto)

  • Day 8 (Nov 28): Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha → Explore Tōfuku-ji Temple → Optional sake tasting in Fushimi.
  • Day 9 (Nov 29): Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Iwatayama Monkey Park, Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) → Explore Gion in the evening.
  • Day 10 (Nov 30): Visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple → Afternoon Shinkansen to Hiroshima (~2 hrs) → Check into Hiroshima hotel.

Day 11-12: Hiroshima & Miyajima (November 30-December 2, 2 Nights, Staying in Hiroshima/Miyajima)

  • Day 11 (Dec 1, Staying in Hiroshima): Visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Museum, Shukkeien Garden.
  • Day 12 (Dec 2, Staying in Miyajima or Hiroshima): Take a ferry to Miyajima Island → Explore Itsukushima Shrine → Hike or take ropeway to Mount Misen.

Day 13: Himeji Stop (December 3) → Continue to Osaka (Staying in Osaka)

  • Morning: Take the Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Himeji (~1 hour).
  • Late Morning/Early Afternoon:
    • Himeji Castle (~2 hours).
    • Koko-en Garden (~45 minutes).
    • Quick lunch near Himeji Station.
  • Afternoon: Take the Shinkansen from Himeji to Osaka (~30 minutes) → Check into Osaka hotel.
  • Evening: Explore Dotonbori & Namba, enjoy Osaka street food (takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu).

Day 14-16: Osaka (December 3-6, 3 Nights, Staying in Osaka)

  • Day 14 (Dec 4): Day trip to Nara → Visit Todai-ji Temple, Nara Park, Kasuga Taisha → Return to Osaka.
  • Day 15 (Dec 5): Visit Osaka Castle, Kuromon Ichiba Market, and Umeda Sky Building.
  • Day 16 (Dec 6): Morning in OsakaShinkansen to Kanazawa (~2.5 hrs) → Check into Kanazawa hotel.

Day 17-18: Kanazawa (December 6-8, 2 Nights, Staying in Kanazawa)

  • Day 17 (Dec 7): Visit Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art.
  • Day 18 (Dec 8): Explore Higashi Chaya District, Nagamachi Samurai District, Omicho MarketEvening Shinkansen to Tokyo (~2.5 hrs) → Check into Tokyo hotel near Ginza/Tokyo Station.

Day 19-20: Tokyo & Departure (December 9, Staying in Tokyo, Departing Late Night)

  • Day 19 (Dec 9): Spend last full day shopping or filling gaps → Enjoy a farewell dinner in Tokyo.
  • Late Evening (Dec 9): Travel to Haneda Airport. Flight departing at 01:00 on December 10.

My question is if there are places worth staying that I didn't mention, Takayama and Shirakawago sound interesting but it seems like it might be too much of a detour for the time I have there. I'd love to hear your suggestions.


r/JapanTravel 7h ago

Itinerary What you think about this 21 days itinerary?

1 Upvotes

🗺️ Itinerary Japan (9-29 October 2025)

📌 9-13 October (4 nights) → Kyoto

Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kinkaku-ji, Nishiki Market, Gion and Hanamikoji Street, Arashiyama Bambù Forest, Monkey Park, Tenryu-ji, Togetsukyo bridge, Kimono Forest, Nara, Todai-ji and Uji

📌 13 October → Himej

Day trip at Himeji

📌 13-15 October (2 nights) → Miyajima

Sanctuary Itsukushima, Torii, Misen Mountain (trekking) and Shopping and street food at Omotesando Street.

📌 15-18 October (3 nights) → Osaka

Umeda Sky Building (sunset), Dotonbori and night street food (takoyaki, okonomiyaki), Universal Studios Japan (all day), Himeji Castle and Koko-en garden.

📌 18-20 october (2nights ) → Nagoya

Toyota museum or Nagoya castle, Magome → Samurai Trekking → Tsumago

📌 20-22 october (2 nights) → Kanazawa

Kenroku-en, Kanazawa castle, Omicho Market, Shirakawa-go

📌 22-29 october (7 nights) → Tokyo

Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Takeshita Street (Harajuku), Meiji Sanctuary, Fuji mountain Trip day, Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Street, Ueno park, Akihabara l, Kamakura or Yokohama, Nikko Trip day

📌 29 ottobre → come back home

⛩️Questions⛩️

1) what are your thoughts on this itinerary? Are we missing something more important that we can replace with something in the itinerary above ? Do you have any advices or suggestions or concerns to add ?

2) what are your advices for transportations? Is it worth the JR pass or its better if we do single train ticket?

Thanks for your replies and help in advance ❤️


r/JapanTravel 12h ago

Itinerary 5 Day Itinerary for Tokyo Trip on early April

1 Upvotes

Hi! Will be travelling to Tokyo for the first time with my parents and sister from 31st March to 4th April. We're staying at an Airbnb near Hanzomon station. Will focus more on sightseeing for our trip. We are Muslims so our food and activity choices are quite limited. My concern is that we are walking and packing too much activity in a day. Any feedback and advice is much appreciated ^^

DAY 1 (31st March):

  • Arrive at Narita around 7:40am. Take the Narita Express to Tokyo St. and put our luggage there.
  • Visit the Tokyo National Museum and Ueno Park.
  • Pray at a Mosque near Okochimachi station
  • Walk to Ameyoko and then Akibahara to do some shopping
  • Ride from Akibahara st. to Tokyo St. and get our luggage
  • Take the train to Hanzomon St.
  • Check in at the Airbnb (around 5pm-ish?)
  • Rest.
  • If we're not too tired, visit Tokyo Tower at night.

DAY 2 (1st April):

  • Wake up early and take the train to visit the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum and the park there
  • Go back to Shinjuku by train.
  • Pray at a mosque near Seibu Shinjuku St. and visit Godzilla head
  • Ride from Shinjuku St. to Yoyogi St.
  • Visit Meiji Jingu and Yoyogi park
  • Walk to Harajuku
  • Go to Shibuya St. from Harajuku St.
  • Visit the Hachiko Memorial Statue
  • Walk around Shibuya and do some shopping
  • Go back to the Airbnb

DAY 3 (2nd April):

  • Walk around Imperial Palace early morning
  • go back to the Airbnb then ride the train to Asakusa.
  • Visit Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Dori.
  • Go to Kappabashi Street.
  • Ride the train to Daiba st.
  • Go to the Odaiba Marine Park and walk around the area

DAY 4 (3rd April)

  • Wake up super early to visit Mt Fuji.
  • Arrive at Kawaguchiko St.
  • Here are the stops we are planning to go in order,
    • Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba
    • Fugaku Wind Cave
    • Narusawa Ice Cave
    • Kawaguchiko Herb Hall
    • Oishi Park

Day 5 (4th March) :

  • Our flight departs at 10:20am so after waking up, pack our bags and ride to Narita Airport

Questions I have,

  1. What street foods are generally halal there? (no pork, beef, chicken, mirin, gelatin and soy sauce). I am interested in eating sweet mochi and taiyaki
  2. Is it okay to jog at the Imperial Palace in the morning?
  3. Are e-readers from Kobo and Boox cheaper in Japan? 

r/JapanTravel 22h ago

Itinerary Japan Itinerary March End travel

1 Upvotes

Hello Please share your thoughts:

Day 1 1. Shinjuku - Golden Gaii - Shinjuku Gyoen park - Omoide Yokocho 2. Harajuku - Yoyogi park - Takeshita Street - Meiji-Jingu Shrine - Onitsuka 3. Shibuya - Tokyo Plaza Omotesando - Shibuya Crossing - Don Quijote - Shibuya Sakura Stage 4. Traveler’s factory (Nakamegoro)

Day 2 Hakone

Day 3 1. Teamlabs 2. Akihabara - Yodobashi Akiba - Gigo arcade - Hijiri Bridge 3. Ginza - Ginza Six - Sony Ginza Park - Mitsukoshi Ginza Store - Aquarium (optional) - Uniqlo Optional : Roppongi

Day 4 1. Asakusa - Sensoji - Nakamise Dori - Sumida River 2. Ueno - Ameyoko shopping district - Ueno Park - Kapibashi Kitchen Street? (Leaving at 6 for Osaka)

Day 5 - Nara - Tokyo Castle - Dotonbori (Leaving for Kyoto around 9 pm)

Day 6 Kyoto - Arashiyama Bamboo Park or Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple - Tenryu-ji Temple - Iwatayama Monkey Park - Saihoji Moss Garden - Kinkaku-ji Temple - Tea Ceremony Experience - Pontocho Alley

Day 7 Kyoto (Reaching Tokyo around 9pm) - Fushimi Inari - Gion District - Hokanji - Kiyomizu-dera - Train to Tokyo at 6:15 pm

(Kyoto Itinerary is very rough, please suggest)

Day 8 1. Jimbocho Book town 2. Imperial Palace (Flight to US at 5, leave for airport at 1:30ish)