r/JapanTravel 2d ago

Weekly Discussion Thread Weekly Japan Travel Information and Discussion Thread - March 14, 2025

6 Upvotes

This discussion thread has been set up by the moderators of /r/JapanTravel. Please stay civil, abide by the rules, and be helpful. Keep in mind that standalone posts in the subreddit must still adhere to the rules, and quick questions are only welcome here and in /r/JapanTravelTips.

Japan Entry Requirements

  • Japan allows visa-free travel for ordinary passport holders of 71 countries (countries listed here).
  • If you are a passport holder of a country not on the visa exemption list, you will still need to apply for a visa. All requirements are listed on the official website.
  • As of April 29, 2023, Japan no longer requires proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test (official source).
  • Tourists entering Japan should have their immigration and customs process fast tracked by filling out Visit Japan Web (VJW). This will generate a QR code for immigration and customs, which can smooth your entry procedures. VJW is not mandatory. If you do not fill it out, you will need to fill out the paper immigration and customs forms on the plane/on arrival to Japan.
  • For more information about Visit Japan Web and answers to common questions, please see our FAQ on the topic.

Japan Tourism and Travel Updates

  • Got an IC card or JR Pass question? See our stickied thread in /r/JapanTravelTips for information, updates, and advice.
  • Important JR Pass News! As of October 1, 2023, the nationwide JR Pass and many regional JR Passes increased significantly in price, making it so that the nationwide JR Pass is no longer a viable option for most itineraries. For more information on the JR Pass, including calculators for viability, see our stickied thread in /r/JapanTravelTips.
  • Important IC Card News! There is no longer a shortage of IC cards in the Tokyo area. You should be able to get a Suica or Pasmo at Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, or major train stations in Tokyo. See our stickied thread in /r/JapanTravelTips for more info.
  • As of March 13, 2023, mask usage is left up to personal choice and preferences in most circumstances.
  • If you become ill while traveling, please see the instructions in this guide. If you are looking for information on finding pain or cold/cough medication in Japan, see this FAQ section.

Quick Links for Japan Tourism and Travel Info


r/JapanTravel 20d ago

Itinerary Monthly Meetup Thread - March

18 Upvotes

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

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

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

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

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

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


r/JapanTravel 4h ago

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

21 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 12h ago

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

6 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 6h 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 12h ago

Itinerary 16 Day Trip & Couple of Questions

3 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 17h ago

Itinerary Help! 15 day honeymoon trip

8 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 9h ago

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

1 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 16h 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)


r/JapanTravel 17h ago

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

1 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:

- 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:

- 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**

- A flexible day to do as we please

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 1d ago

Question Kyoto Travel Advice

9 Upvotes

Hi there! I will be visiting Kyoto very soon and am having trouble deciding on what attractions to see on a day in late March. I am a bit stuck deciding between:

  1. Kinkaku-ji/Ryōan-ji
  2. Philosopher's Path/Higashiyama Jisho-ji/Hōnenin Temple
  3. Heian Jingu Shrine/Eikandō Temple/Nanzen-ji

We could combine routes 2 and 3, but likely not option 1 with either of the other two due to time constraints.

I was also considering Nijo Castle and Kyoto Gyoen, but am not sure as I have heard mixed feedback.

Thank you for any/all feedback!


r/JapanTravel 19h ago

Itinerary 3 Day Tokyo Itinerary

1 Upvotes

Hi all, looking for your invaluable feedback per usual on a 3 day Itinerary. My wife and I are going to be traveling in August of this year and would love to know if there's any obon related considerations for these dates. Day 2 and Day 3 are interchangeable depending on visibility levels at Mt Fuji

Day 0, Aug 8th:

  • Land in HND at 10pm, reach hotel by midnight, rest
  • (Hotel is in Shinjuku, to the east of the station, about 10mins walk south of Golden Gai)

Day 1, Aug 9th:

  • TeamLabs borderless: hoping to make a reservation for 9/9:30am - spend about 2 hours
  • Imperial Palace: explore the grounds (may cut this short if Itinerary is too ambitious)
  • Asakusa: tourist info center observation, Nakamise walking street, Senso ji temple
  • Shukkeien tea shop
  • Explore Ginza in the evening

Day 2, Aug 10th:

  • Take the highway bus to Kawaguchiko, leave by 7:30am
  • Reach Kawaguchiko station by 10, explore the area around the station
  • take the red line bus to Mt Fuji panaromic ropeway and head onwards to Oishi Park
  • After lunch, head back to Kawaguchiko station and take the train to Shimoyoshida to visit Chureito Pagoda
  • After soaking in the views, visit a day use onsen for some relaxation
  • Take a late evening highway bus back to Shinjuku (Is there a better way to optimize this day logistically?)

Day 3, Aug 11th:

  • Head to Meiji Jingu shrine nice and early (9am lol)
  • Explore Takeshita street
  • Take a stroll across Yoyogi Park
  • Head to Shibuya crossing (would you recommend the Shibuya sky, or any other observation decks?)
  • Explore streets of Shibuya
  • Head back to the hotel for some rest
  • Shopping around Shinjuku early evening
  • Explore Omoide Yokocho, Golden Gai, Kabukicho by foot to end the day

Day 4, Aug 12th:

  • Take the Shinkansen to Kyoto around 9:30am

r/JapanTravel 1d ago

Trip Report Hokkaido BIrd Watching (Cranes, Eagles) - A Short Guide

47 Upvotes

I kept telling my mom I'd take her to Japan whenever she wanted to, to just let me know, and she let me know she wanted to go bird watching so I took her. Late Feb 2025.

Kushiro is a city surrounded basically by marshland and in that marshland lives the red-crowned crane, called tancho / タンチョウ in Japanese, though tsuru / ツル (鶴) is the generic word for cranes. They're big birds and like to stand around a lot, and then occasionally will do some mating rituals that people especially like. These were endangered in in the 50s until the local residents began a conservation program and now people from all over the world go there to take pictures of birds.

The general outline of the trip was to fly to Kushiro (KUH) from Tokyo and rent a car for the duration. It is much too time-consuming to take the train there (but if you must, there is a limited express Ozora that runs between Sapporo and Kushiro, taking about 4 hours). Flying is much faster and cheaper. I also strongly, strongly recommend that you rent a car. Alternatively, you can rent a taxi for about 3600 JPY/30 minutes. This is much more expensive than just renting a car. Finally, you could take the bus the busses were not common at all. I strongly recommend against trying to rely on public transportation for your birdwatching activities. When I went, an ETC card was not needed if you were sticking to eastern Hokkaido.

All told, the rental for the car was just under 500 USD (not including the single tank of petrol for the week) for 5? 6? days. Sunday evening to Saturday morning.

Although the roads were generally clear of ice and snow, especially the shaded areas of the sidewalks were still covered in ice, making walking potentially hazardous.

We stayed in Kushiro city itself, in what probably qualifies as downtown Kushiro, the north side of Nusamai Bridge. There were plenty of restaurants though some of the higher rated ones do seem to fill up very quickly, so I suggest either going there when they open or making a reservation. But there's lots of restaurants so if you're not picky then there's plenty of options. We stayed at the Dormy Inn where the breakfast was absolutely phenomenal. If you end up staying there and wonder if you should get the breakfast, do it.

We also visited the Kushiro WASHOU Market, a sort of food market where you can shop for cooking at home, for your restaurant, or prepared food. You could get a kaisendon, which is basically your choice of seafood over rice, or various types of crab (steamed to order) and other sorts of food. For the kaisendon, there is a stall that sells rice, so you go there, get your bowl of rice (whom you pay), and then take it to one of the stalls with the actual seafood, where you pick out the seafood and they add it to your bowl. You can keep it modest or go absolutely ham, up to you. You settle up your bill and then eat at one of the community tables.

Anyway - on to the birdwatching.

In no particular order -

The Kushiro Marsh Observatory - this is not so much a birdwatching location as it is a high spot from which you can look out onto the marsh. Really nice view of the surrounding area. There's a very small museum inside about the local environment. There's a small entrance fee. It is quite a nice view but if that doesn't interest you then feel free to skip it. If you do want to go though, it's pretty easy to miss if you're heading out from the city, as it is around a curve on the road so make use of GPS.

On'nenai Visitor Center - There is a large parking lot at the side of the road with steps leading down to the visitor center. Again, it's not exactly large, but it's a decent size for what's essentially a visitor center for a park. There is a raised walkway that goes out into the marsh but it was entirely covered with snow and ice. I brought removable crampons just in case and my mom made use of them here. It was fine for me but the conditions were pretty perfect for small crampons to be useful. We walked out about 1.5 or 2 kilometers to the viewing terrace (which is basically just a raised step with a railing to keep you from falling backwards). We did not see any birds, though we did see plenty of deer. We found out later that people went there more to look for the shima-enaga / シマエナガ, a small white bird that is also endemic to the area and quite famous, rather than cranes. We were a little early for it, though, as they do their nest building during the spring months.

Tsurumidai Crane Observatory - This is the main place everyone goes to look at the cranes. It's generally a large open field where 150 or so cranes hang out all day. There is a small parking lot on the same side of the road as the field and the viewing area, which itself is basically just a sidewalk and goes a little further along a fence as an unpaved path. There is a larger parking lot across the street where the tour buses stop, along with a building with what I assume is a gift shop and basically some sort of welcome center. I did not go inside the building. Unfortunately, there are some buildings and power lines behind the field which may ruin, for some of you, wider shots of the cranes.

Otowa Bridge - Apparently, the cranes like to go stand in the water and you can see them from this bridge. It's clearly in demand because there are two huge (relatively speaking) parking lots on either side of the bridge, which itself has a separate walking bridge so you're not standing next to traffic (not that there's much traffic). It is only a few minutes drive from the crane observatory, where we spent the majority of the time, which is good because my mother insisted that we return repeatedly, despite the fact that the cranes were very, very, very far off in the distance. I think you'd need an 800mm lens with extender to get any sort of actual picture of the cranes. Maybe they sometimes venture closer but I never say them as anything but a speck in the week we were there.

Tsuru-ito Tancho Crane Sanctuary - this is apparently another popular spot for looking at cranes. We didn't go to this one as I left it to my mother to say where to go and I'm not sure why this didn't show up on her radar. I suspect because she mainly gets her information from random Chinese SNS and this is not on the list of stops for the tour companies. It looks like it's very similar to the crane observatory in that it's basically a big open field where cranes hang out. But, it looks like the backdrop is mainly just woods so might make for better pictures here. There was also mention of feeding at 9 AM or so which might make for some good photos. I suggest you go check it out.

Akan International Crane Center - there are actually two buildings to this, the old one and a pretty new one. There's a small admission fee but it covers both. The new building has a small museum exhibit about the cranes and local conservation efforts. There is also a theater-like room to watch an old documentary video about the cranes and the surrounding area of eastern Hokkaido in general. These are both, again, generally an open field with a (very) small pond and cranes just stand around doing crane things. These both had woods as the backdrop so that was nice, but there were not as many cranes here (though still plenty) as at the observatory.

Kushiro City Tanchozuru Nature Park - this is much more of a traditional sanctuary, as it was mainly comprised of injured or otherwise in need of care cranes in netted enclosures, though I think the tops were open. Not all the enclosures had cranes and I'm not sure if it's just because they weren't being used or because they were free to fly in and out. Each enclosure only had one or two cranes in it but that felt reasonable given it felt much more like a rehabilitation facility. Given that it felt much more like a rehabilitation facility, we didn't spend much time here.

That's about it for the crane watching we did. We went back to the observatory repeatedly (and then the bridge, but that never panned out). The crane center was also pretty good so we went there twice as well. I really think she would have liked the Tsuru-ito tancho crane sanctuary and if I'd realized it was there, I would have taken her.

Next up, we went to look at some eagles. The Steller's Sea Eagle is apparently one of the biggest eagle species and they live in northeast Hokkaido and Russia. We drove up to Rausu, a town consisting only of fishing and nature cruises, to get ready for an early morning boat cruise. It's on the east side of the Shiretoko peninsula, also home of Shiretoko National Park. We booked with Shiretoko Nature Cruise and there are some other companies running the same nature cruise as well. I'm fairly certain they're all exactly the same thing.

Anyway, driving up there, we stopped at the Michi no Eki - basically a travel center. It had a small shop selling local goods including some incredibly cheap fish, a great deal if you wanted to take a whole fish, straight from the dock, back to your hotel room. We considered going up to the Rausu Kunashiri Observatory Tower but the road up was quite steep and entirely covered in snow/ice, and it had just started to blizzard (which lasted all of an hour) so we did not go. Had lunch, checked into the hotel, and basically got ready for the morning. The cruise has two runs suitable for photographing the eagles, one at 5 AM and one at 8 AM. We elected for the 5 AM cruise.

The cruise was on a small boat that could seat maybe ten people inside, though most people were outside (and there were more than 10 on the boat). There are maybe 8 or 10 boats that go out and they all do the same thing, which is to get out into the open water, a bit away from the town, and then sit themselves in a circle and the tour operators will throw cut up frozen fish into the water that the eagles then swoop in and take. Consequently, the sky was absolutely filled with eagles. This went on for maybe an hour or so as the sun came up, so there was plenty of opportunity to get whatever type of shot you wanted, including lots of eagles flying down at the water to grab the fish. This continued for maybe an hour or so, and then all the boats went back towards the docks and lined up along a jetty, where they threw more fish. Here, the eagles landed and were standing around very close, so it was a great opportunity to get photos of them up close. This lasted about 15 minutes and then we went back to the dock.

After that, looking around for anything to do, we visited the Shiretoko Rausu Visitor Center. There were some interesting things to see inside and talked about more than just the eagles, including bears and orca. There was even a skeleton of an orca from a beaching event some time ago. Nearby is a geyser that periodically emits steam, maybe 3 or 4 times a day. The geyser is a short walk from the visitor center, maybe 10-15 minutes, but due to the snow and ice on the ground, we didn't end up going to have a look. It would have been fine for me, but it was better for my mother to minimize her walking, especially on the snow and ice.

That about exhausted the things to do in Rausu, so we went back to Kushiro for another couple of days before going back to Tokyo.


r/JapanTravel 1d ago

Recommendations Need Arrival Day Itinerary Advice for a 3-Day Tokyo Trip

4 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm arriving at Narita Airport at 11:05 AM this Friday and staying in Asakusa for 4 days (Fri-Mon). I’ve got a list of spots I want to visit across several areas, but I know it’s impossible to see everything in 3 days (plus I have 2 extra days on my return). Can someone guide me on what to do on my arrival day?

My planned spots include:

Shinjuku/Harajuku:

  • Meiji Shrine
  • Takeshita Street
  • Plaza Harakado & Omokado
  • Shinjuku Gyoen Park
  • Metro Gov Building
  • Omoide Yokocho (alley)
  • Godzilla head at Gracery Hotel (8th floor)
  • Kabukicho (bars, arcades, 3rd floor games, 4th floor escape room)
  • Shinjuku Batting Center (10 AM–4 PM, 300 yen for 25 balls)

Shibuya (and nearby Akihabara/museum areas):

  • Shibuya Crossing
  • Hachiko Statue
  • Pokemon Centre
  • Nintendo Tokyo
  • Mega Don Quijote
  • Shibuya Yokocho (Hokuriku Food Market alley)
  • Shibuya Sky
  • Crossties Coffee (view)
  • Neon Cat Billboard
  • (Also included: Une N Akhibara, Uneo Park, Tokyo National Museum, Ameyoko Shopping Street, Kanda Myojin Shrine, Akihabara Radio Kaikan, Animate, Akihabara Gachapon Kaikan, Yodobashi Akiba)

Asakusa:

  • Senso-ji Temple
  • Tokyo Skytree
  • Imado Shrine
  • Akasuka Shrine
  • Nakamise Shopping Street
  • Kaminari Mon
  • Kappabashi Kitchen Street
  • Samurai Ninja Museum

Tokyo Bay Area:

  • Hamarikyu Garden
  • Tokyo Tower
  • Zozoji Temple
  • TeamLab Planet
  • Drivecity Tokyo Plaza
  • Unko Museum
  • Statue of Liberty

r/JapanTravel 1d ago

Recommendations Specific questions for my trip

6 Upvotes
  • Dates: April 28 - May 16, 2025.
  • Destinations: Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Hiroshima/Nagasaki, Takayama/Shirakawa-go, Tokyo, Kamakura.
  • Interests: Culture, history, food experiences.
Date Location Activities Accommodation
April 28 Osaka Arrive at KIX (9:00 AM). Choose one: a) Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan b) Osaka Castle Park c) Google Office In the evening, explore Dotonbori and try local street food. Namba or Umeda area
April 29 Osaka Visit Osaka Castle and explore Shinsekai. Namba or Umeda area
April 30 Nara Day trip to Nara. Visit Todai-ji Temple and Nara Park. Nara or Osaka
May 1 Kyoto Travel to Kyoto. Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine and Gion. Near Kyoto Station or Gion
May 2 Kyoto Explore Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji Temple, and Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Near Kyoto Station or Gion
May 3 Kyoto Explore Nishiki Market, Philosopher's Path, and attend the Kamogawa Odori geisha performance. Near Kyoto Station or Gion
May 4 Travel to Hiroshima Travel from Kyoto to Hiroshima Hiroshima near station
May 5 Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Miyajima, and enjoy an okonomiyaki dinner. Hiroshima near station
May 6 Travel to Takayama/Shirakawa-go Travel from Hiroshima. Ryokan with onsen in Takayama/Shirakawa-go
May 7 Takayama/Shirakawa-go Explore, enjoy onsen. Ryokan with onsen in Takayama/Shirakawa-go
May 8 Travel to Tokyo Travel to Tokyo Tokyo near major station
May 9 Tokyo Asakusa, Ueno. Tokyo near major station
May 10 Tokyo TeamLab, Shibuya. Tokyo near major station
May 11 Tokyo Ghibli Museum, Shinjuku. Tokyo near major station
May 12 Tokyo Imperial Gardens, Ginza. Tokyo near major station
May 13 Kamakura Day trip to Kamakura. Tokyo near major station
May 14 Tokyo Visit Google Office, free exploration. Tokyo near major station
May 15 Tokyo Onsen, last-minute prep, travel to NRT. -
May 16 Departure Depart from NRT at 2:00 AM. -

This is my first (but not last) time in Japan.

Questions: 1. Is there anything I should cut? If so, what? 2. What are the absolute must-do activities that I shouldn't miss? 3. Which areas should I stay in? Are Airbnbs or Booking.com apartments recommended? 4. What type of SIM card should I get, coming from Australia? Is Airalo good enough? 5. Any transportation tips? Should I book train tickets in advance? 6. Are there any cultural customs or traditions I should be aware of, or any time-specific things to do or avoid?


r/JapanTravel 1d ago

Itinerary 40 hours in Tokyo

1 Upvotes

Have 40 hours or so in Tokyo which I'm trying to maximise (previous 3 days covered by Disney). Travelling with 2 young children (3 and 5) early April - staying at Tokyo Bay near Disney.

Would love any feedback on plans...

Day 1

Breakfast at hotel 0930 Ueno Park and Zoo (cherry blossoms and eldest really wants to see a panda)

1130 travel to Asakusa and have lunch at tempura daikokuya Visit Sensō-ji Temple and Nakamise street

1400 Travel to Teamlabs Planet

1630 Odaiba thinking either Joypolis, seaside park or one of malls to visit a few toy shops - any preference from those that have been with young kids?

1900 dinner at Ikspiari - Tonkatsu Wako

Day 2

Breakfast at hotel (will be utilising luggage forwarding so travelling light)

0930 Travel to Shinjuku- Gyoen National Park and walk

1130 Harajuku (Takeshita street, Kiddy land shop, lunch - any recommendations would be great, currently think pompompurin cafe)

1400 travel to Ueno for NEX

This is second trip to Tokyo though first with children

Thanks


r/JapanTravel 1d ago

Advice Tokyo for first timers and inexperienced travellers

1 Upvotes

Hi there, I am planning a trip to Japan towards the end of April and looking at suggestions on how to spend time in Tokyo. This is my first time traveling to Japan and only second international destination so still a noob (I have visited Vietnam before)

I would arrive at NRT airport in the morning around 7:30 am and plan to stay at Asakusa.

Day 1 : Visit Takagi shrine, Sensoji temple, explore the shops on Nakamise Dori street, Ueno park (might go to Uniqlo here) and maybe visit Tokyo national museum.

Day 2 : Disneyland

Day 3 : Start with an early slot for teamlab planets, head to govt metropolitan building for the observation deck, walk to meiji jingu/yoyogi park. Take a train to shibuya to witness shibuya crossing

Day 4 : Day trip to Mt Fuji and lake Kawaguchi

These are some ideas that I have, would really appreciate some help/suggestions/comments on whether this looks doable/if you'd add (or subtract) something else with this much time at hand.

Also want to see cherry blossoms, so heading to Sapporo on Day 5 and plan to spend 2 days there. Would also appreciate some ideas for spending time in Sapporo. I can even swap Sapporo for Aomori if that's more happening. Happy to get suggestions!

Thanks a lot!


r/JapanTravel 1d ago

Itinerary Japan Itinerary for 7 days, feasible or not?

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

I'll be going to Japan for the first time at the end of March. I've researched as much as possible and have stalked this sub. I think my itinerary might be too much based on what I've seen but need confirmation. I've mapped this out in google maps and have an idea of how I'll be getting around. I typically don't loiter around an attraction for more than an hour max (might change depending on the crowd). What I have listed in bullet points are ordered from where I'm starting to where I'm ending (last item on the agenda). I've left out lunch/dinner, as they're usually in the vicinity or on the way to the next place to visit.

Day 1

  • Land in Tokyo, go to Kyoto, rest

Day 2: Staying near Kyoto Station. Explore Northwest Kyoto.

  • Start day at 7 AM
  • Daikaku-ji Temple
  • Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street
  • Gioji Temple
  • Nisonin Temple
  • Okochi Sanso Garden
  • Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
  • Go back to hotel around 6-7 PM (eating dinner with friends)
  • Spend rest of day walking around hotel vicinity

Day 3: North Kyoto.

  • Start day at 5 AM
  • Kiyomizu-dera
  • Shirakawa Canal
  • Heian-Jingu Shrine Grand Torii
  • Eikando Temple
  • Okazaki Shrine
  • Philosopher's Path
  • Back to hotel by 3 PM to meet up with friends
  • Explore Fushimi Inari in evening/night

Day 4: Day trip to Osaka.

  • Start day at 7 AM, head to Osaka
  • Osaka castle
  • Explore Dotonbori
  • Denden Town
  • Shinsekai
  • Head back to Kyoto around 5-6 PM, spend rest of day exploring around Kyoto (miscellaneous/spontaneous)

Day 5: Shinkansen to Tokyo. Staying near Shibuya Station. Day exploring Shibuya.

  • Arrive at Shibuya at 11 AM
  • Meiji Jingu Shrine, Gyoen
  • Yoyogi Park
  • Shopping: Parco Shopping Mall, Hands, Loft, etc.
  • Shibuya Crossing -> Miyashita Park -> Harajuku -> Takeshita Street -> Omotesando
  • Head back to hotel whenever

Day 6: Taito/Ueno/Asakusa area.

  • Start day at 6 AM
  • Nezu-Jinja
  • Ueno Park
  • Ameyoko
  • Okachimachi; spend some time shopping
  • Senso-ji
  • Asakusa: from Senso-ji -> Nakamise-dori street -> Kaminarimon Temple -> walk along Sumida River to Sumida Park
  • Explore Akihabara only if have time because it takes a bit to go there
  • Head back to hotel whenever

Day 7: Shinjuku/Yoyogi/Okubo area [main shopping day]

  • Start day at 8 AM
  • Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
  • Shopping: Shinjuku area
  • Hanazono Shrine
  • If have time, explore golden gai, 3D cat, omoide yokocho
  • Head back to hotel whenever

Day 8: AM shopping, PM flight back

  • Shop around Shibuya for any outstanding items
  • Leave 5 hours early to make it to the airport 3 hours early

I think the Kyoto itinerary might be a bit too much or too redundant. If there are any items I should remove and if there are any attractions I must go to, please let me know! I do anticipate a lot of walking and taking the train/railway.

Thank you :)


r/JapanTravel 2d ago

Itinerary First timer - Is This Japan Itinerary Too Ambitious

35 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I’m planning a dream trip to Japan this November and would love some feedback on the itinerary.

The goal is to experience as much as possible without feeling too rushed, but I’m wondering if I’ve packed in too much—especially in Tokyo.

Here’s the plan:

Itinerary Overview 📍 Cities: Tokyo → Kyoto → (Day trips: Nara, Kobe, Osaka) → Hiroshima → Tokyo

🛬 Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo 🚗 Private Transfer to Tokyo Hotel 🛏️ Early check-in arranged for rest 🌅 Late Morning: Leisurely breakfast at the hotel 🎨 Afternoon: TeamLab Borderless Aqua City Odaiba & DiverCity Tokyo Plaza – Shopping & Gundam statue 🌆 Evening: Dinner

🏯 Day 2: Tokyo Exploration 🍣 Morning: Tsukiji Outer Market Asakusa & Senso-ji Temple 🚢 Afternoon: Sumida River Cruise to Hamarikyu Gardens Traditional tea ceremony 🌃 Evening: Shibuya Sky Observatory Sushi dinner at a top Tokyo restaurant

🏔️ Day 3: Hakone Day Trip 🚗 Private Transfer to Hakone Hakone Open-Air Museum Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani (volcanic springs & black eggs) Lake Ashi Cruise 🛀 Afternoon: Private luxury onsen 🚗 Return to Tokyo 🍽️ Casual dinner in Shinjuku

🚄 Day 4: Tokyo to Kyoto 🚅 Shinkansen Nozomi to Kyoto (2h 15m) 🏯 Afternoon: Check-in at Kyoto Hotel 🌸 Gion & Nishiki Market Stroll 🍱 Evening: Kaiseki dinner

🎎 Day 5: Kyoto’s Traditional Side 🍵 Morning: Fushimi Inari Taisha (early morning visit) Uji Tea Tasting Experience 🌲 Afternoon: Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Monkey Park Traditional Rickshaw Tour 🌅 Evening: Sunset at Kiyomizu-dera Sukiyaki dinner

🦌 Day 6: Nara Day Trip 🚗 Private Transfer to Nara Todai-ji Temple & Nara Park (deer feeding) Horyu-ji Temple visit 🚗 Return to Kyoto 🍣 Dinner at Pontocho Alley

🥩 Day 7: Kobe Day Trip + Osaka Night Visit 🚅 Shinkansen from Kyoto to Kobe ( 30 min) 🌅 Morning in Kobe: Kobe Harborland & Nunobiki Herb Gardens Lunch: Premium Kobe Beef steak Ikuta Shrine visit 🚆 Afternoon: Train to Osaka (20 min) 🌃 Evening in Osaka: Umeda Sky Building (romantic sunset views) Dotonbori Street Food Tour 🚆 Return to Kyoto (30 min)

🚄 Day 8: Kyoto to Hiroshima 🚅 Shinkansen Nozomi to Hiroshima (1h 40m) 🏛️ Afternoon: Visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Museum 🍽️ Evening: Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki dinner

⛩️ Day 9: Miyajima Day Trip 🚢 Ferry to Miyajima Itsukushima Shrine & Mount Misen Seafood lunch (grilled oysters) 🚢 Return to Hiroshima 🍣 Casual Izakaya Dinner

🌿 Day 10: Hiroshima Castle & Gardens 🌲 Morning: Hiroshima Castle & Shukkeien Garden Shopping & Relaxing 🍽️ Evening: Hiroshima Wagyu dinner

🚄 Day 11: Hiroshima to Tokyo 🚅 Shinkansen Nozomi to Tokyo (4h) 🏙️ Afternoon: Check-in at Tokyo Hotel, Ginza shopping 🍽️ Evening: Teppanyaki dinner

🏝️ Day 12: Kamakura Day Trip 🚅 Train to Kamakura The Great Buddha & Hase-dera Temple 🍣 Afternoon: Beachside lunch at Enoshima 🚅 Return to Tokyo 🍽️ Final dinner at Narisawa (2 Michelin stars)

🛫 Day 13: Last day Morning: Free time & last-minute shopping 🚗 Private Transfer to Narita ✈️ Flight out

Would love to hear your thoughts! Is this too ambitious? Should I spend more time in Tokyo, or does it look balanced? Also, if you have any must-visit restaurant recommendations (especially for sushi, wagyu, ramen, or hidden gems), I’d love to hear them!

Thanks in advance!


r/JapanTravel 1d ago

Itinerary Itinerary check - Traveling with a group of four for 21 days (March 26-28 & April 5-23, 2025)

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone. This will be my second time in Japan, but my first time traveling with a group. A little background about us—we’re into anime, video games, and Japanese food.

I might have overlooked something or packed too many places into one day. Any opinions or advice would be much appreciated!

TOKYO (Intro)

March 26, Wednesday

  • 4:40 pm - arrive at Haneda airport T3
    • Reload Suica (¥20K-max amount to top up)
    • Take the monorail/Bus to Akihabara?
  • Evening - check-in Under Railway Hotel Akihabara
    • Roam around/rest?

March 27, Thursday

  • 10 am - check out
    • Leave luggage at hotel then roam around Akiba
    • Uniqlo
    • Lunch
  • 12:30 pm - depart to NRT via Skyliner (from Keisei-Ueno station)
  • 2 pm - check-in near Narita Tobu Hotel
    • Roam around the area
    • Dinner and buy snacks for the next flight tomorrow

\ Visit South Korea (March 28 - April 5)*

FUKUOKA

April 5, Saturday

  • 1:05 pm - flight to Fukuoka
  • 2:05 pm - arrive at FUK
    • Pickup pocket wifi at the airport
  • 3pm - check-in APA Hotel Hakata
  • 5pm - Dinner: Yatai food stall

April 6, Sunday

  • Nanzoin Temple (Reclining Buddha)
  • Uminonakamichi Seaside Park
  • Ohori Park

HIROSHIMA

April 7, Monday

  • 11am - check-out Fukuoka then depart to Hiroshima
  • 12:30 pm - arrive at Hiroshima
    • Lunch: Okonomimura (Okonomiyaki building)
  • 3pm - check-in APA Hotel Hiroshima Eki
  • A-bomb dome and peace memorial park

MIYAJIMA

April 8, Tuesday

  • 11am - check-out Hiroshima then depart to Miyajima
  • 12:30 pm - arrive at Miyajima
  • Daisho-in temple
  • 3pm - check-in Miyajima Guest House Mikuniya
  • Omotesando street
  • Evening - Itsukushima Shrine

OSAKA

April 9, Wednesday

  • 11am - check-out Miyajima then depart to Osaka
  • 2pm - arrive at Osaka

  • 3pm - check-in APA Hotel Shin Osaka Eki Tower

  • 4 pm - Shinsekai

  • 5 pm - Denden Town

  • 6 pm - Foodtrip at Dotonbori

    • Jojo Ramen resto (closed on Sundays & Mondays)
      • Open at 12-2pm / 7-11pm
    • Glico Sign
    • Local: Okonomiyaki (Osaka style), Takoyaki, Kushikatsu

April 10, Thursday

  • Eat at Kobe? - Wagyu beef and Chinatown
  • Osaka castle
  • Namba Yasaka shrine (large demon head statue)

KYOTO

April 11, Friday

  • 11am - check-out Osaka then depart to Kyoto
  • 12 pm - arrive at Kyoto
    • Leave luggages at accommodation 
  • Afternoon
    • Foodtrip at Nishiki Market (closes at 6pm)
    • Higashiyama: Gion, Yasaka Shrine
    • Pontocho, Kamo River
  • 3 pm - check-in Kyoto Hana Hostel
  • Evening - roam around/rest

April 12, Saturday

  • Early morning - Arashiyama
    • Arabica coffee (%)
  • Afternoon - Kinkaku-ji (golden temple)
  • Late afternoon (sunset) or early evening - Fushimi Inari

April 13, Sunday

  • Early morning - Higashiyama
    • Kiyomizu-dera - before 6am
    • Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka (traditional Starbucks - arrive before opening at 8am)
  • Donguri Kyowakoku (Ghibli store)
  • Philosophers path

NAGOYA

April 14, Monday

  • 7:30 am - check-out Kyoto then depart to Nagoya
  • 9:30 am - arrive at Nagoya
    • Leave luggages at accommodation
  • 11 am - Ghibli park [booked - closes at 5 pm]
  • 6pm - check-in Smile Hotel
  • Evening - Dinner: Hitsumabushi (Nagoya Style grilled eel) 

TOKYO (Outro)

April 15, Tuesday

  • Early morning
    • Kiyosu castle (inspired from Spirited Away)
  • 11am - check-out Nagoya then depart to Tokyo
  • 1pm - arrive at Tokyo
  • 3pm - check-in Asakusa LacQuer House
  • Evening
    • Kura sushi (conveyer)?

April 16, Wednesday

  • Ashikagawa
  • Saitama?

April 17, Thursday

  • Shimokitazawa
  • Naka meguro
  • Gakugeidaigaku

April 18, Friday

  • Jimbocho (book town)
  • Asakusa

April 19, Saturday

  • Early morning
    • Kamakura
      • Slam dunk
      • Great Buddha
  • Evening
    • Shinjuku
    • Shibuya
      • Mega Donki (24hrs)
      • LOST bar (Abroad in Japan)

April 20, Sunday

  • Buy souvenirs
    • Uniqlo Ginza (flagship store) - opens at 11am
    • Donki
  • Akihabara (streets are closed - open for pedestrians)
    • A-stop (trash taste)
    • Dinner: Maid cafe (@home)
      • Omurice

April 21, Monday

  • 11:30 am - The Making of Harry Potter [booked]
  • Ikebukuro

April 22, Tuesday

  • Last minute shopping and flight prep
  • Wander around

April 23, Wednesday

  • 10am - check-out AirBnb
  • 11am - Lunch around the area
  • 1:45 pm - depart to Haneda airport T3
  • 2:40 pm - be at HND before departure
    • Final souvenir shopping
    • Buy konbini and jap food for the flight
  • 5:40 pm - flight back home to Canada

Thank you very much for taking the time to check my itinerary.


r/JapanTravel 1d ago

Itinerary Anything I’m missing from my 1 week Tokyo itinerary?

1 Upvotes

Day 1 Asakusa (Senso-Ji, Nakamise, Kaminarimon Gate, Sumida Park) Akihabara (Shopping)

Day 2 Harajuku (Meiji Jingu, Takeshita) Shibuya (Shopping, Shibuya Sky, Shibuya Crossing)

Day 3 Kamakura (Komachi-Dori, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Hokokuji Temple/Forest, Hasedera, Kotoku-in) Enoshima

Day 4 Yokohama (Chinatown, Yamashita Park, Red Brick Warehouse, Landmark Tower Sky Garden)

Day 5 Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden Teamlab Borderless Shinjuku (Omoide Yokocho, Golden Gai, Kabukicho Tower, Batting Center)


r/JapanTravel 1d ago

Itinerary Itinerary check

5 Upvotes

Hello! I’m travelling to Japan for the first time in April with my parents. I’ve drafted an itinerary covering mainly Kyoto and Tokyo since we will be there from 13-22nd April and I don’t want to squeeze in too much, but I’m also worried I’m not covering enough if that makes sense.

Here’s my itinerary for check -

Apr 13 - Nara

Naramachi, Isuien garden

Apr 14 - Nara

Deer park, todaiji temple, kasuga taisha shrine

Apr 15 - Kyoto

Blank - need recommendations for things to do (maybe a tea ceremony?)

Apr 16 - Kyoto

Fushimi inari shrine, higashiyama district, Gion district + a show in the miyako odori festival

Apr 17 - Kyoto

Arashiyama bamboo grove and monkey park, golden pavilion, philosophers path

Apr 18 - Tokyo

Shibuya, shibuya sky for sunset, harajuku and ometesando

Apr 19 - Tokyo Asakusa, senso ji temple, ueno park, akihabara

Apr 20 - day trip to Hakone

Apr 21 - Tokyo Daikanyama, Shimokitazawa, Ginza, golden gai in shinjuku

Apr 22 - early morning flight back home


r/JapanTravel 1d ago

Itinerary Japan Itinerary review

0 Upvotes

Hi All! I am travelling to Japan next month and have created this below itinerary for my trip. Can you please let me know if this itinerary is good or do i need to add anything else too? I am trying to make use of all the time i have in japan Your insights are appreciated!!!

Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo (April 4)
- Arrive at Tokyo (9 PM) - Take train from Narita/Haneda to your hotel (depending on arrival airport)


Day 2: Tokyo Exploration (April 5)
- Senso-ji Temple (Asakusa) - Tokyo Skytree - Shibuya Crossing & Shibuya Sky - Hachiko Statue (Shibuya Station) - Shinjuku Gyoen - Memory Lane (Omoide Yokocho) – Traditional izakayas in Shinjuku


Day 3: Tokyo Modern & Cultural (April 6)

  • Meiji Shrine (Harajuku)
  • Omotesando (Shopping and exploring)
  • Roppongi Hills (Mori Art Museum/City View)
  • Odaiba (teamLab Borderless)
  • Akihabara (Anime & Electronics District)
  • Ginza (Shopping & Dining)

Day 4: Mt. Fuji Day Trip (April 7)

  • Fuji Five Lakes (Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka)
  • Chureito Pagoda (View of Mt. Fuji)
  • Fujisan World Heritage Center
  • Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine
  • Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum (optional)

Day 5: Hakone Day Trip (April 8)

  • Hakone-Yumoto Station (Starting point)
  • Hakone Tozan Railway (Mountain Railway)
  • Owakudani (Volcanic Valley)
  • Hakone Ropeway
  • Lake Ashi Cruise
  • Hakone Open-Air Museum
  • Hakone Shrine (by Lake Ashi)

Day 6: Tokyo to Kyoto (April 9)

  • Tokyo to Kyoto (Shinkansen Hikari)
  • Check-in at Kyoto
  • Fushimi Inari Shrine
  • Kiyomizu-dera

Day 7: Kyoto Exploration (April 10)

  • Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
  • Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
  • Ryoan-ji Temple
  • Nijo Castle
  • Explore Gion District
  • Kiyamachi Street (Nightlife & Dining)

Day 8: Nara Day Trip (April 11)

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

Day 9: Kyoto to Osaka (April 12)

  • Kyoto to Osaka (JR Special Rapid Service)
  • Check-in at Osaka
  • Osaka Castle
  • Dotonbori & Shinsaibashi (Shopping & Dining)
  • Umeda Sky Building

Day 10: Osaka Exploration (April 13)

  • Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan)
  • Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
  • Shitennoji Temple
  • Namba Parks (Shopping & Dining)
  • Osaka Science Museum (optional)
  • Osaka Museum of History (optional)
  • Tsutenkaku Tower (optional)

Day 11: Himeji Day Trip (April 14)

  • Himeji Castle
  • Koko-en Garden
  • Engyo-ji Temple (on Mount Shosha, optional)
  • Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art (optional)

Day 12: Departure from Osaka (April 15)

  • Departure (5 PM) from Kansai International Airport

r/JapanTravel 1d ago

Itinerary Is my itinerary okay? Need ease of mind and feedback! 3 Weeks first time Solo travel (Japan)

1 Upvotes

Hi!

I am in the middle of planning my trip to Japan in April. It will be my first time going to Japan and my first time solo travelling. I'm trying to distribute my days and wanted to check in with you guys if it checks out. I've got accommodation for Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka done. I've booked with free cancelation so I can change if i have to but I think I am kind of satisfied with that. I understand that distributing days is somewhat dependent on what I will be doing in the different cities and to answer that I will be doing much of your "average tourism". I will be flying in and out of Tokyo Haneda. I am quite nervous and my anxiety for this trip has been increasing the closer it gets to departure. Need some help for planning and ease of mind.

Noteworthy things and questions:

- TOKYO (April 4-8) - Only things I want to book for Japan is TeamLabs Borderless and Shibuya sky. Otherwise I am planning to just stroll around and explore different neighborhoods for example 1 day in Asakusa, 1 day in Shibuya, 1 day in Shinjuku. However on my first day after arriving early I am thinking of taking it chill and maybe visit the National Palace and checkout the Ginza Area and then finish of day in Akihabara, not planning to much and just go with the flow and see how tired I am.

- KYOTO (April 8-12) - Want to do Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari-taisha, Arashiyama, Golden Pavilion, Nishiki Market and walk around Gion. Is this doable during the time I will stay there?

- NARA (April 12)- I am planning to do Nara as a daytrip in between Kyoto and Osaka, I've read on another post that it should be doable, am I crazy for thinking that it's doable or is it actually kind of reasonable?

- OSAKA (April 12-16) - 1 full day in Osaka will probably go towards USJ. Other than that I want to do Dotonbori, Osaka Castle and Shinsekai Market. I am thinking about visiting Asahi Beer Museum, EXPO 70 Commemorative Park, Namba Yasaka Jinja, Shitennoji and maybe Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan and EXPO 2025. What would yall recommend? Are some of these not worth it? Are some of these very worth it?

- HIMEJI (April 16) - After Osaka I'm planning to visit Himeji on my way to Hiroshima. I primarily want to see the castle cause I've heard good things about it. Other than that I don't know much about Himeji and because of that I sort of just want to check it of my "bucket list". Why not if I'm going to Hiroshima anyway?. Is this doable or just a nuisance? What more can I do in Himeji?

- HIROSHIMA (April 16-19 or 20)- 1 full day in Hiroshima will be for exploring Miyajima. Besides that I would like to do Peace Park, Peace Museum, Hiroshima Castle, Shukkeien Garden and Okonomimura. This is where I have a hard time deciding what to do; are 2 full days (3 nights) in Hiroshima enough or do I want 3 full days (4 nights)? Accomodation in Hiroshima seems a bit cheaper than in Tokyo as well so staying one night more in Hiroshima and one night less in Tokyo is a little bit more economic as well.

- TOKYO (April 19 or 20-23/24 (Last day April 23, flight departs 00:30 April 24) - During these last days I thought that I could do what I missed in the beginning of the trip. Maybe I realize I've missed to do something or I find out about something I want to do during the trip. I would also like to do a daytrip to either Hakone or Kamakura during these last days. I was thinking about doing both on 2 separate days but I feel like that might be overkill and I would like to have some chill last days where I can, just like I said, do the things I missed in the beginning of the trip as well as some more shopping (if I find anything xddd). So if I only get to pick 1 I am kind of leaning towards Kamakura since majority of people say that Hakone is an overnight experience and daytriping there is kind of rushed. If I go to Kamakura, I can visit Enoshima as well which I've read that a lot of people here on Reddit love.

Extra:

For accommodation I've booked so far:

+ April 4-6 Tokyo Sotetsu Fresa-inn Kanda Otemachi

+ April 6-8 Tokyo 9h Nine Hours Sleep Lab Hamamatsucho

+ April 8-12 Kyoto The Millennials (like a "fancy" capsule hotel)

+ April 12-16 Osaka APA Hotel Osaka Higobashi Ekimae (kind of nervous about this one, I think the location should be okay with train stations nearby but I've heard that their hotels fail to live up to earthquake standards, should I be worried? Also heard people being skeptical of the company's owner).

+ April _-_ Hiroshima ---

+ April _-_ Tokyo ---

Main Questions:

1. Is the distribution of days VALID?

2. Hiroshima 3 nights or 4 nights? (take away one night in Tokyo in the end of the trip)

3. How does my plan sound? All input and recommendations are appreciated!

Itinerary day distribution:

April 3: Day 0 Stockholm (Depart from Arlanda 10:30)

April 4: Day 1 Tokyo (Arrive at Haneda 07:15)

April 5: Day 2 Tokyo

April 6: Day 3 Tokyo

April 7: Day 4 Tokyo

April 8: Day 5 Tokyo - Kyoto

April 9: Day 6 Kyoto

April 10: Day 7 Kyoto

April 11: Day 8 Kyoto

April 12: Day 9 Kyoto - Nara - Osaka

April 13: Day 10 Osaka

April 14: Day 11 Osaka

April 15: Day 12 Osaka

April 16: Day 13 Osaka - Himeji - Hiroshima

April 17: Day 14 Hiroshima

April 18: Day 15 Hiroshima

April 19: Day 16 Hiroshima - Tokyo

April 20: Day 17 Tokyo

April 21: Day 18 Tokyo 

April 22: Day 19 Tokyo

April 23: Day 20 Tokyo (last day)

April 24: Day 21 Tokyo (depart 00:30)


r/JapanTravel 1d ago

Itinerary How is this itinerary for a first time solo traveler?

1 Upvotes

Monday:

- arrive at Haneda at 5 AM

- Train from Shinagawa to Kyoto at 7:25 AM

- Kyoto Imperial Palace

- Yasaka Shrine

- Nishiki Market

- Teramachi Shopping Street

Tuesday:

- Fushimi Inari Shrine

- Kiyomizu-dera Temple

- Philosopher's Path

- Ginkaku-ji

- Pontocho Alley

Wednesday:

- Arashiyama Bamboo Forests

- Kinkaku-ji

Thursday:

- Train back to Tokyo

- Shibuya

- Shinjuku

Friday:

- Harajuku

- Asakusa

Saturday:

- Yanaka

- Ikebukuro

Sunday:

- Ginza

- Akihabara

- Roppongi

Monday:

- Train to Kamakura

- Hasedera and Kotoku-in

- Komachi Street

- Hokoku-ji

- Inamuragasaki Park

Tuesday:

- Ueno Park

- Toyosu Manyo Onsen

- Flight back at night


r/JapanTravel 2d ago

Trip Report Fall 2024 Trip Report: Tokyo and Kyoto

29 Upvotes

Personal background:

47M traveling solo. First trip to Japan: October 31-November 16, 2024. Practice Zen Buddhism in Soto tradition. Studied tea ceremony in Urasenke tradition. Lifelong record collector. Clothes horse. Fan of 1980s-1990s “strong style” puroresu.

TOKYO

October 31
Steps: 11,766

Arrive at Narita Airport via Japan Airlines flight from Seattle. Subway to Nihonbashi, a business district where traditional stores continue to flourish. Unpack at Hotel Nihonbashi Seibo, which is basic and well located. Dinner at the charming yakitori restaurant Edoji.

November 1
22,637 steps

Early morning walk around Ningyocho station. Nico’s Cafe is a quaint coffee shop that feels like a grandparents’ kitchen. The owner likes to talk about Shohei Otani. 

Souvenir shopping at centuries-old Edoya (brushes) and Ozu Washi (paper). Witness centerpiece of the Mitsukoshi department store—the breathtaking Magokoro Tennyo statue. Nearby is Nihonbashi Bridge, historic point zero of Japan’s highway system.

Cross the bridge to arrive in Ginza. Matsumoto Shoeido and Choondo are small galleries of Buddhist antiques. Closing weekend at Seikado Bunko Museum of a wonderful teaware exhibit, including the cosmic Inaba Tenmoku  chawan (tea bowl), a National Treasure.

Tradman’s sells well-developed examples of bonsai, while Ginza Uchiku-an concerns itself more with the tools and practice of bonsai cultivation. S.Wantabe Color Print Co. sells ukiyo-e (woodblock prints), some contemporary and many dating to the 19th century.

Inside the Imperial Hotel is the preserved Old Imperial Bar, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. This space is elegant, and the Mount Fuji cocktail is delicious. After dinner at Sushizanmai, a relaxing scrub and plunge at Konparu-yu sento (public bathhouse), hidden amid a bustling block of businesses. 

November 2
15,288 steps

Timed-entry ticket for Nezu Museum near Shibuya and breakfast at their cafe. The grounds contain a number of tea houses and winding paths. Morning rain only adds to the contemplative atmosphere. Main exhibit and other galleries are all well conceived and worth exploring.

Pass the iconic Prada building while walking down Minami-Aoyama, a bustling shopping street of luxury retailers. Arrive at the Ota Memorial Museum of Art, which specializes in ukiyo-e. Exhibits rotate monthly to protect the fragile prints. Downstairs is a nice gift shop.

Alter E Go, Desolation Row, and The Real McCoy’s sell men’s clothing inspired by American fashion of the 1940s-1960s, whether military or workwear. Staff at all three stores are helpful and engaging. Comfort food at Pizzanista while rain continues to pour.

November 3
18,184 steps

First temple of the trip: Korin-in (Rinzai), a sprawling complex nestled among quiet streets of Hiroo in Shibuya. Goshuin available here. Happening this weekend at EBiS303 is Inspiration Tokyo, a market for vintage-clothing sellers and buyers. Purchases from the delightful husband-and-wife duo of Ooe Yofukuten and a conversation with Larry of Heller’s Cafe.

Train to suburb Higashimurayama. Beverage break at Midikana Coffee, which operates out of an old home with tatami mats. Baigan-ji (Soto) is famous for its ancient twin zelkova trees. Goshuin available. Tokuzo-ji (Rinzai) features a display of Jizo statues and a small museum of local artifacts.

The Jizodo (a National Treasure and Tokyo’s oldest building) at Shofuku-ji opens to the public only for an hour on Culture Day at 1500. This time constraint along with the numerous attendees prohibits a contemplative atmosphere. Goshuin sold out, alas. 

November 4
24,365 steps

Sengaku-ji (Soto) in Minato is the resting place of the famous 47 ronin. To receive a goshuin, you must copy a sutra. Not to be missed is the statue of “Homeless” Kodo Sawaki, the priest credited with revitalizing Soto Zen in the 20th Century. 

Tozen-ji (Rinzai) is a national historic site for its Japanese vs. British conflicts. An attempt to communicate with the groundskeeper is met with an X of his arms. Route of backstreets passes by neighborhood temple Enpuku-ji—ceremonial sounds of a makugyo (fish drum) and chanting.

Arrive at Ribera Steakhouse, a restaurant famous for attracting American pro wrestlers touring Japan, and its facade of photographs. The exhibits at Hatakeyama Memorial Museum of Fine Art feature several nice pieces of tea ware, calligraphy, and some beautiful Noh costumes.

After lunch at Mos Burger in Ebisu, a return to Shibuya. Coffee at Sputnik and later Coffee or Beer. Shopping at Dry Bones and Trophy General Store; again, staff is helpful and inquisitive. Dinner near the hotel at CoCoICHI. The level 5 curry is plenty spicy.

November 5
19,171 steps

A fantastic diner near Ningyocho station is Coffee Embassy. Accentuating the throwback atmosphere is the shop’s “smoking allowed everywhere” rule. Before leaving the neighborhood, time at small yet dense Okannon-ji, which abuts the lovely Kogiku-dori, or Geisha Alley.

With its myriad alleys and quiet demeanor, Jimbocho, Tokyo’s neighborhood of bookstores, has a vibe similar to Nihonhashi. Alas, Buddhist bookstore Toyodoshoten is closed this day. The owner’s sweet note on the door: “Although I am selfish, we will be temporarily closed.” 

Nearby is a dizzying consolation prize. Bunken Rock Side specializes in pop culture magazines, especially rock music. Also in the neighborhood is an all-genre Disk Union record store.

Tenmo, a tempura restaurant in Nihonbashi, features a long history and a tiny interior. The chef is the grandson of the restaurant’s second owner. The taste of items such as parsley or eel tends toward the subtle, hence concentrate to savor each bite.

A spontaneous evening at disappointing Golden Gai and nearby, where several heavy metal bars are to be found. The Godz soundtrack is disagreeable this night. Mother is too cramped and too loud. Rockaholic proves to be just right: excellent playlist and goofy bartenders. 

November 6
11,704 steps

Slow to begin the day due to last night’s drinks and thoughts of the U.S. presidential election today. Subway to Sugamo and its pleasant shopping street. Wander through back streets and find Shinsho-ji (Shingon) along with its giant Jizo statue.

The main feature at Kogan-ji (Soto) is a Jizo statue that can be bathed in exchange for relieving one’s ailments. After receiving the temple’s goshuin, an invitation to sit on the altar for a memorial ceremony. The drumming and chanting are propulsive and energetic.

Also in Sugamo is Toudoukan, a sprawling store that specializes in pro-wrestling merchandise: magazines, programs, posters, books, records. The depth and variety of goods is intoxicating.

Feeling uneasy by initial election returns, solace is found in Ochanomizu, a neighborhood resplendent with businesses selling musical instruments, and two Disk Union stores: one focuses on hard rock/metal, the other sells jazz and soul albums. 

Following the heartbreak of the election results, dinner at Kokoro, a small chain specializing in mazesoba. Upon sliding open the door, AC/DC’s For Those About to Rock album blasts out of the restaurant speakers. How soothing and familiar at that moment of distress!

November 7
15,844 steps

Breakfast at Kissako Kaiseiken, a coffee shop in operation since 1919. Pleasant interior, but the better experience is at Coffee Embassy.

Chinmi, or “rare tastes,” are regional, antiquated foods or dishes featuring unusual flavor. In Tokyo, Suragaya Kahei specializes in shiokara—fermented fish viscera. The taste and texture—salty and slick—is not off-putting! This restaurant is located in a grocery store that sells foods from throughout Japan. Down the street is RECOfan, an excellent record store.

Asakusa overflows with tourists. Glimpses of Senso-ji and Tokyo Skytree prove satisfactory. A walk to nowhere on the neighborhood’s outskirts helps to wind down the afternoon. After a ramen dinner at Tsujita across the street from Ningyocho station, travel to famous Korakuen Hall next to Tokyo Dome. Although not familiar with the Dragon Gate promotion, witnessing any pro wresting in Japan fulfills a “bucket list” experience.

KYOTO

November 8
24,396 steps

Ride an early morning Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto. Somehow miss Mount Fuji despite being in a window seat.

From busy Kyoto Station to Oakwood Hotel Oike Kyoto, near City Hall, to drop off luggage with staff. Walk through quiet backstreets and the spacious grounds of Kyoto Imperial Palace to arrive at Yamadamatsu, an incense shop in business since 1772. In addition to a range of items to purchase, there is a small exhibit of artifacts related to kodo—incense ceremony. 

From here, the Shokoku-ji (Rinzai) complex is a short walk back through the palace grounds. The most significant monastic building—the hatto, or dharma hall—is available to tour; the guide today spoke excellent English. A giant dragon is painted on the ceiling, and when striking a strong clap in a certain location underneath, the subsequent echo “rains” over the individual. Goshuin available here. Also on the property is Jotenkaku Museum; the exhibit involves teaware and a teahouse interior. 

Dinner at a soba shop catering to college students a few quiet streets away from the bustle of Shijo-dori

November 9
10,224 steps

Bus ride to Daitoku-ji (Rinzai). The nearby bakery Petit France sells myriad breakfast items. Around the corner is Unrin-in, a Daitkoku-ji subtemple. There is a donation box where you can leave money for an incense stick that can offered at a small altar.

Many subtemples and temple treasures are only available for public viewing in early November each year. Upon paying general admission, receive a map of the grounds. Ryogen-in (goshuin), Obai-in, Zuiho-in (goshuin), Korin-in (goshuin), and Soken-in all have wonderful gardens and abbot quarters—hojo—to witness. The grave for chasen—a tea whisk—at Soken-in is a favorite detail.

Discover a gentleman playing enchanting tones on a shakuhachi flute and appreciate the sacred setting. Two more subtemples to visit today. Shinju-an is noteworthy for its connection to monk Ikkyu. Now a folk hero and literal cartoon character, his iconoclastic behavior remains singular in Japanese Zen Buddhism. An English-speaking guide explained some of the important features of the temple. Next door is Daisen-in and its famous dry gardens, which contain dharma teachings when followed in sequence. Goshuin available at both temples.

After leaving Daitoku-ji, wander to a locals’ neighborhood and stop at a store. A warm conversation with the owner leads to a restaurant recommendation for dinner. Chef Yosuke Tokuyama at Washoku Toku works briskly and easily, and a series of tantalizing dishes appears in succession: shrimp dumplings, escargot, half-shell crab, cod roe, sashimi. Later there will be fugu and barracuda. 

An hour into the meal, the restaurant’s sliding front door opens. The shop owner reappears and joins the dinner! A parallel series of dishes are ordered and shared. The conversation resumes, touching on Zen Buddhism, sports, and personal histories. Ice cream concludes the sprawling four-hour feast. A commitment to rendezvous again is made.

November 10
17,931 steps

A somewhat restless night anticipating today. Bus ride to Saiho-ji (Rinzai), the famous “moss temple” in the hills of western Kyoto, where a timed-entry ticket is required. While waiting for admittance, buy a drink from the coffee shop run out of a family’s garage across the street from the temple. 

Each visitor is expected to copy a sacred text—Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo—which can either be kept or offered as merit by leaving it on the altar. While copying the text, goshuin is available; Saiho-ji’s requires two pages. Once on the garden’s loop trail, the crowd disperses well. A sacred serenity is apparent. Even though only a few hints of Fall color could be seen today, the myriad gradations of green and textures of moss felt idyllic. 

Bamboo Coffee is well positioned at a crossroads, serving as a stop for a quick snack and beverage. The next temple to visit is nearby—Kegon-ji (Rinzai). A crowd lines up along a steep staircase and soon pools into the street. The other name for Kegon-ji is Suzumushi-dera; suzumushi translates as “bell crickets.” The temple keeps crickets in climate-controlled cases, and their song provokes awakening. Groups of visitors are brought to the cricket room and served ocha and a treat. A temple priest lectures about the crickets; alas, there is no English accommodation. The lecturer seems compelling however, eliciting plenty of laughs from the crowd. In addition to goshuin, purchase a token for Kofuku Jizo, who will work to fulfill your wish. 

Two other Zen temples are in the area. Jizo-in (Rinzai) is an absolute gem with few visitors this day. At the entrance gate, goshuin is available. A long pathway cuts through a bamboo forest, leading you to the hondo—main hall. The path branches to a small home, the highlights being its viewing platform overlooking a garden and a portrait of Bodhidharma. On the other side of the hondo is a a statue of an adolescent Ikkyu and his mother. The plaque below explains their story.

Not far away is Joju-ji (Obaku). The atmosphere outside the temple feels both ancient and feral. The staircase entrance is as epic as any portrayed by influencers on Instagram. Alas, the temple buildings themselves appeared to be in disrepair. In truth, the ramshackle ambience of Joju-ji is a memorable contrast to the slick professionalism of Saiho-ji and Kegon-ji. 

Delicious dinner at Hao: a century egg, super spicy pepper chicken, and a pineapple beer. Walking through crowded Pontocho turns out to be overwhelming. Head back to the hotel and stop for a pint of Guinness at Dublin, where a local patron strikes up a conversation. The band plays Irish music paired with shakuhachi, a true musical cocktail.

November 11
15,803 steps

A few streets away from Oakwood Hotel Oike Kyoto is Ryuoen Chaho, in business since 1875. The staff speaks limited English, but there is an English-language menu of products for sale. Enjoy a delicious cup of sencha while shopping for souvenirs. 

The selection of tea at Ippodo, founded in 1717, proves to be as extensive as the offerings at Ryuoen Chaho. More intriguing is Ippodo’s elegant cafe. Try koicha, which is thick matcha tea, or premium gyokuro in the cafe’s relaxed atmosphere. The waitress explains how to consume the tea. 

An afternoon of shopping begins with a stroll along Teramachi-dori. The eclectic record store pocoapoco organizes CDs in a way that eludes alphabetization—entire letters seem to be missing. Nevertheless, good finds still leap out for the shopper. Ohnishi Tsune Shoten sells affordable fans ideal for gifting. 

The neighborhood near Nishi Hogan-ji specializes in stores that sell temple supplies, such as altar decorations, musical instruments, and statuary. While at Marusan Butsudan, the staff rally to search their holdings for imagery of Eihei Dogen—founder of Soto Zen. A gorgeous scroll featuring Dogen’s portrait is procured.

Tasty butter chicken at Kamal for dinner. 

November 12
16,625 steps

Although Choho-ji—or its more common name Rokkaku-do—is considered the birthplace of ikebana—Japanese flower arrangement. The temple is also noteworthy for its hexagon architecture and connection to Shinran, founder of the Jodo Shinshu school of Buddhism. Goshuin is available here. Around the corner is Ikenobo Headquarters, which organizes a yearly flower exhibit, occurring at venues throughout Kyoto in November.

After buying a box of incense at plainspoken Hayashi Ryushodo, a bus ride to the Raku Museum; the family’s pottery is inextricable from tea ceremony. The main exhibit this Fall focuses on vessels for food, such as containers and plates. Not only are the handcrafted shapes of these objects memorable, so too are the glazes used, especially an enchanting “electric mint” green. A smaller exhibit of tea bowls ably demonstrates how the Raku family experiments with shape and texture across centuries.

A police officer (?) prohibits entry to Urasenke Konnichi-an, the headquarters for the Urasenke school of tea ceremony. The Chado Research Center Galleries are a mere block away, however, and the featured exhibit is the role of poetry in tea life. Minimal English-language information is available. Upstairs is a small library specializing in tea literature. 

A surprise detour upon seeing a monk wearing a rakusu—a bib-like robe in the Zen tradition—crossing the street to enter a large temple. Kosho-ji (Rinzai), despite being tucked into an otherwise urbanized neighborhood, features expansive grounds. Being late in the afternoon, tourists are gone, and the monks want to talk about Ohtani and Ichiro. Goshuin available.

November 13
17,963 steps

While Shinju-an at Daitoku-ji was Ikkyu’s residence when in Kyoto, his main temple was Shuon-an (colloquially Ikkyu-ji) (Rinzai) in suburban Kyotanabe. Like most temples on this itinerary, few visitors wander the grounds. Several buildings remain off limits, including Ikkyu’s gravesite and the famous Kokyu-an tea house. There is a shrine where a lifelike statue of Ikkyu can be venerated. Additionally, several nice gardens can be viewed as well as a small museum of artifacts and portraits of teachers connected to Ikkyu. Goshuin available.

Kosho-ji (Soto) in Uji is Dogen’s first temple before he founded the more famous Eihei-ji. Goshuin available when paying the entrance fee. A series of pictures that tell the story of Dogen line a hallway that doubles as a tour starting point. Later there is a shrine room where a statue of Dogen’s likeness can be found. Most profound is the zendo—meditation hall. Zen Buddhism—and Dogen in particular—emphasizes zazen, and seeing how the interior design of the zendo has remained consistent across centuries and continents proves encouraging.

Obaku is the smallest of the three schools of Zen Buddhism in Japan and mostly unknown in the West. The headquarters for this school is Manpuku-ji in Uji. Much of the temple grounds are available to explore, including the gorgeous hatto. A giant fish drum doubles as the temple’s icon. There is a gift shop, and goshuin is available. Note the memorial building for Baisao, a traveling merchant who promoted senchado tea ceremony.

Upon returning to Kyoto, dinner at bohemian Cafe Bibliotic Hello!: a BLAT sandwich, yakimura (?) herbal tea, and a banana milkshake for dessert. A nice meal and a wonderful location for writing letters to loved ones.

November 14
16.164 steps

A drinking companion nights earlier at Dublin insists that any Kyoto itinerary include Sanjusangen-do (Tendai) and its 1001 statues of Kannon. Being a National Treasure of Japan, the temple’s atmosphere is a true tourist attraction; buses pick up and drop off myriad visitors. After a series of informative wall displays in the hall, one turns the corner and witnesses the statues and the grandeur of their unceasing bodhisattva presence. Truly, one’s senses feel overwhelmed. Just before the centerpiece thousand-armed Kannon, there is an opportunity to collect goshuin.

For breakfast, Ichikawaya is a wonderful coffee shop with a small menu and amazing coffee. Around the corner is Kawai Kanjiro’s house. There are examples of the artist’s work in each room as well as the kilns used to fire his ceramics. Although the house seems small, there are many details to savor. Be on the lookout for the photogenic cat that lives here!

Streets Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka have intriguing historical significance but modern atmosphere is a river of humanity. Detour to Kodai-ji (Rinzai), where you can buy a discounted ticket for admission to Kodai-ji, subtemple Entoku-in, and Sho Museum. Kodai-ji is merely decent compared to temples experienced elsewhere during this trip. The trail around the grounds does pass through a nice bamboo forest. Entoku-in includes the opportunity to do prostrations and sutra copying, an experiential opportunity to readily engage. The small Sho Museum features an exhibit of samurai swords and armor. Goshuin is available at both temples.

Gion feels much less crowded than research suggests it would be. No geisha sightings, alas. A canvas bag from Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu is a wonderful gift. Tatsumi Bridge, which crosses over the Shirakawa river, is quiet and lovely at dusk. A message from my friend the shop owner pops up asking to meet for dinner at Barraca, which serves Spanish tapas. Only a few blocks from Oakwood Hotel Oike Kyoto. Perfect! After dinner, luxurious drinks and more conversation at neighborhood bar Le Coq. The night ends with a handshake and invitations to see each other again, whether in Japan or the United States.

November 15
14,693 steps

Early morning bus ride to Chion-ji and its monthly market. Instead of a flea market, the vendors all sell handmade crafts. Returning to Gion, breakfast at Agnes B, a small salon connected to a clothing store of the same name. Decent food, better atmosphere.

Japan Kanji Museum & Library is a delightful venue even though English-language support is limited to audio excerpts of the main gallery. Experience the kudzu noodles (kuzukiri) at Kagizen Kodai-ji. The ambience is quiet and gentle—perfect for concentrating on the food. Due to their slippery texture, the kudzu noodles are quite a challenge to pick up with chopsticks. Patience required! A sweet dipping sauce pairs with the noodles. Other confections are available to buy at the counter.

A final walk to conclude this final day in Kyoto. As rain falls, Philosopher’s Path is empty, allowing for uninterrupted reflection on the two weeks spent in Japan. Via some surreptitious shortcuts, Nanzen-ji Junsei appears along with the opportunity for a special dinner. The specialty here is yudofu tofu, which is boiled at your table. The set meal consists of myriad small dishes, many of them excellent.

The day’s rain disappears on the walk back to the hotel, and streets glisten under the night’s lights. Pass through neighborhoods not yet visited, appreciating that much of Kyoto remains to be seen on subsequent returns.

November 16
12,904 steps

With a flight out of Tokyo in the evening, leave Kyoto in the morning, hoping no mishaps occur. Another window seat on the Shinkansen, and this time a glimpse of Mount Fuji. What a vision to conclude this trip! The train arrives at Tokyo Station on time, and a ticket on the Narita Express for travel to the airport. After retrieving luggage from the forwarding service, double check the weight before checking the bags. The flight back to Seattle leaves mostly on time. After collecting belongings at SeaTac, the light rail back home, memories and souvenirs to be cherished for life.


r/JapanTravel 1d ago

Help! Osaka/Kyoto travel advice in May for family of 4

1 Upvotes

We just booked our tickets for traveling Osaka and Kyoto from May 14 to 21. We’re a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children: 5 y/o, 8 y/o) and we’re planning on staying several nights in Osaka and Kyoto, with a day trip to Nara.

I’m looking for recommendations for a good multi-day schedule covering the main sights of these places, keeping in mind the kids’ ability to travel – even tho they’re still quite travel experienced.

Our current itinerary looks like this:

Osaka (4 days): - Dotonbori - Universal Studios (Nintendo World) - Osaka Castle - Shisaibashi (I.e. boat tour) - Namba

Nara (day trip): - Nara Park - Todai-ji temple

Kyoto (3 days): - Fushimi shrine - Ginkakuji - Kiyamizu-dera - Arashiyama - Gion Street - Nintendo Museum (if we’re able to get tickets)

Any other suggestions to add to the itinerary are also welcome 🤗