10 Days in Japan - Tokyo, Mt Fuji, Osaka, Kyoto
Itinerary - November - December
Day 1 - Tokyo - Shinjuku
Day 2 - Ginkgo Ave, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Crossing
Day 3 - Asakusa & Akihabara
Day 4 - Lake Kawaguchiko & Mt Fuji
Day 5 - Osaka - Dotonbori
Day 6 - Osaka Castle & Kyoto Pontocho, Kiyomizu-dera
Day 7 - Kyoto - Fushimi Inari Shrine & Gion Walking Tour
Day 8 - Arashiyama - Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-ji Temple
Day 9 - Tokyo - Gion, Teamlabs
Day 10 - Tokyo - Gion
Day 1 :
Tokyo - Arrival and Explore Golden Gai
Afternoon
We arrived at Tokyo Narita airport around 4pm, cleared immigration, and went straight to the Airport Limousine Bus desk. You can also get to the city by train, however, this bus went straight to our hotel. After a 14 hour flight, it was nice to sit back and be dropped off at the front door for a reasonable price (under $25US per person).
Our first hotel was the Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku. This is a large hotel in a great location and very close to Shinjuku station. It’s a moderately priced hotel and a perfect location for us to start your trip. All the hotels I list in this blog post were priced under $300 a night including taxes for our dates in late November. I do love boutique and luxury hotels however this trip was on a serious budget since we did a lot of travel already this year.
The room was clean, and comfortable and had everything we needed. Check-in was easy and automated. I chose this hotel due to its proximity to the station as well as easy access to Meiju Gardens and the Meiji Temple if you want a nice longer walk. We could also walk to many restaurants, nightlife, Golden Gai, and Omoide Yokocho.
Evening
We were exhausted from our travels and time change but couldn’t resist the urge to explore. First on my list was to see Golden Gai, an area filled with small traditional bars that only seat a very small group. This was such a fun introduction to Tokyo and Japan.
Golden Gai, Tokyo
Golden Gai, located in the Shinjuku area, is known for its narrow alleyways with over 200 small bars.
Day 2:
Tokyo - Ginkgo Ave, Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya Crossing
Morning
We woke up early today due to the time difference. This schedule proved to be an advantage on our trip as we made it to some popular spots before the big crowds.
The weather was lovely so we started our morning with a 40-minute walk to Ginkgo Avenue (Icho Namiki) in Meiji Jingu Gaien. This picturesque street is lined with ginkgo trees that which were in full autumn foliage.
Things to do near Ginko Avenue:
Walk along the avenue
Grab a coffee from a nearby café
Visit the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery
Icho Namiki Jingu Gaien / Gingko Avenue
Late Morning
After visiting Ginko Avenue we walked back towards the Meiji Shrine, one of Tokyo’s most iconic Shinto shrines. This shrine is nestled in a lush forest and is such a nice peaceful respite from the city.
Things to do near Meiji Shrine:
Cleanse your hands and mouth at the cleansing station before offering a prayer.
Write a wish on an ema (wooden plaque) for good luck.
Walk around the Inner Garden or visit Kiyomasa’s Well.
Mid-Day
Nap!
We were starting to feel the effects of the time difference plus all the walking so we grabbed some lunch from 7-11 and headed back to the hotel for a quick nap. If you need something tasty and quick try the egg salad, chicken & egg with teriyaki Sauce or tonkatsu (pork cutlet) sandwiches. They also have a wide variety of chips and desserts. Take a look at the vending machines throughout the city for interesting sodas.
Late afternoon
After recovering we headed out to the Harajuku area of Tokyo. This trendy area is known for its iconic trendy fashion and food. It’s entertaining to walk around and you can also find some yummy crepes.
Things to do near Harajuku:
Shop!
Try sushi or ramen at a local eatery.
Explore Takeshita Street for unique crepes and snacks.
Evening
We headed over to the chaos of Shibuya Crossing, one of the busiest pedestrian intersections in the world. We crossed several times to get video and photos. I wonder if half of the chaos is due to tourists like us crossing the street several times just for the photos.
Things to do near Shibuya Crossing:
Experience crossing the intersection.
Visit the Shibuya Sky observation deck for panoramic views of Tokyo. Book this 30 days in advance if you want to be there at sunset!
Explore Shibuya’s shopping and entertainment district.
Take a photo with the famous Hachiko Statue. This statue memorialized the famous Akita dog that would wait at Shibuya Station for its owner to return from work.
Day 3:
Tokyo - Senso-Ji Temple, Akihabara, Shinjuku
Morning
We woke up early again and headed to Asakusa and Senso-Ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. Nakamise Street leads to the temple and has plenty of food and shopping stalls.
Things to do near Senso-Ji Temple:
Walk through the Kaminarimon Gate and explore Nakamise Street for traditional snacks and souvenirs.
Admire the main temple hall and the five-story pagoda.
Light incense at the temple’s giant cauldron for blessings.
Enjoy views of the Tokyo Skytree.
Late Morning and Lunch
Next, we headed to Akihabara, Tokyo’s hub for electronics, anime, and gaming culture. This district is a must for anime and pop culture fans. We wandered through the shops and arcades.
For lunch, we stopped at Shogun Burger for a tasty Wagyu Burger After lunch, I made the mistake of visiting the Don Quijote store. Do not enter this store if you are tired, or sensitive to sound or crowds. It was just too overwhelming for me with recorded messages coming at you from every aisle. Noise and crowds aside, these stores are all over Japan and are a great place to find inexpensive souvenirs.
Things to do near Akihabara:
Visit electronics megastores to browse the latest gadgets.
Explore anime and manga shops.
Experience themed cafés or retro gaming bars.
Look out for collectible anime figurines
Lunch Recommendations:
Shogun Burger
Yodobashi Camera restaurants
Evening
After recovering at our hotel we headed towards Shinjuku Station to hunt down some Japanese pancakes. These aren’t just any pancakes. These are fluffy (some say jiggly). We ordered them with custard filling, strawberries and whipped cream and they were the most amazing pancakes I have ever eaten. You can find them in several different areas of Tokyo and we had ours at The Original Pancake House inside the Lumine shopping area next to the Shinjuku Station.
Full of delicious pancakes, we headed towards the red light district with a stop to view the famous 3D Cat, also known as Shunkjuku Cat. The cat has several routines and even connects up with another billboard. We are a bit cat-obsessed and Tokyo truly embraces cats.
We continued along to see the red light and nightlife district also known as Kabukichō. Here you will find host and hostess clubs, nightclubs, restaurants and even a large Godzilla head. It’s not a particularly dangerous area but may not be appropriate with small children. Kabukichō is also home to Golden Gai, the area with lots of small bars that we visited on our first night.
After a quick walk around Kabukichō we headed to Omoide Yokocho, also known as “Memory Lane” or “Piss Alley”. This alley has been around since post-war Tokyo and while it began as a black market it has transformed into small restaurants serving yakatori, sushi and ramen. It is worth a walk-through even if you don’t eat there. We did go back the next night for food. More on that later.
Things to do in Shinjuku:
View the 3D Shinjuku Cat
Get a drink in Golden Gai
Have dinner or just wander through Omoide Yokocho,
Visit the observation deck at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building for free panoramic views of the city.
Day 4 - Thursday
Lake Kawaguchiko and Mt Fuji
I spend hours creating detailed itineraries (side note - I actually enjoy it, it’s sort of my hobby) however I try to leave room to be as flexible as possible. We had heard Mt Fuji is often socked in with clouds so I wanted a weather report before booking our bus from Tokyo to Lake Kawaguchiko. Unfortunately, I waited too long and everything was sold out. We ended up booking a tour and it worked out perfectly! After a few days of walking around Tokyo until we passed out, it was so nice to sit back and let someone else take the lead. We didn’t have to think about the logistics of getting around Lake Kawaguchiko so it was more relaxing.
First stop was Mt. Nikura Asama Park. We arrived fairly early in the morning and made the climb to the top view. This is a must-see stop for the shrine and view of Mt Fuji. I know I said this before however you must get here very early to avoid massive crowds in season!
Next stop was the main town so we could walk around the lake. I wish we had more time here and if I go back I want to stay overnight, ride a bike around the lake, and try an onsen (hot spring bath). For now, it was enough just to see the town and view Mt Fuji. We also had a tasty cheesecake from Kawaguchiko Cheesecake Garden.
After exploring the lake for a bit we went back to the bus to head to Oishi Park, another perfect view of Mt Fuji. Oishi Park is famous for its gorgeous flower blocks. Of course, it wasn’t the right time of year for flowers but it’s still a nice stop. There is a shop with amazing ice cream and nice souvenirs.
The last stop for the day was Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nenba village. This reconstructed thatch village is an open-air museum with crafts. They have a location where you can dress up in a kimono or samurai outfit. The best part is the view of Mt Fuji.
On our way back to Tokyo we had a nice recovery nap. I wanted to go back to Omode Yokocho for dinner since this was our last night in the Shinjuku area. I will admit to doing zero research on where to eat and we just picked a place. While I am an adventurous eater this was just a bit outside my comfort zone. I ordered Yakatori which I thought were regular chicken skewers however these were made of many different chicken parts. I tried a bit of all the skewers but it wasn’t for me. After some research, I realized I had just ordered the wrong dish for me or picked the wrong restaurant. There were plenty of other options. Maybe next time…
Things to do in Lake Kawaguchiko:
Climb up Mt. Nikura Asama Park. This is where you find the iconic view of Mt Fuji with a pagoda in the foreground.
Walk or cycle along the lake’s perimeter to enjoy panoramic views.
Ride the Mt Fuji Ropeway
Visit Oishi Park (get an ice cream)
Visit an onsen (or better yet stay overnight at one)
Day 4 - Friday
Train to Osaka, Dotonbori
We headed to Shinagawa Station station to take the bullet train to Osaka. I had booked the Green Car (upper class) well in advance so the price wasn’t much more than the regular seats. We paid around $100 per person and booked several weeks in advance. I also picked seats on the right side of the train which gave us another gorgeous view of Mt Fuji. It’s only a 2.5 hour ride so there is no need for the Green Car however it was nice and we had our own row of two rather than the possibility of sharing a row of 3.
In Osaka we stayed at the Caption Hyatt Namba Osaka for one night. This hotel has a hip vibe and a short walk to restaurants and nightlife. The room is cozy, well-equipped and fun. Check out the Samurai sword closet bar in the video below.
After settling in we decided to head out to see Osaka. First up was an early dinner at Fukutaro. We showed up at 5pm and there was no line. We dined on Okonomiyaki (savory pancake) and noodles served on a teppan grill at our table. When we left the restaurant there was a line and they do not take reservations.
Next up was a walk through Dotonbori, the big nightlife area of Osaka. Osaka was a last minute add to this trip so I didn’t do a lot of planning. It was so much fun to just wander around and end up in something completely unexpected. This area borders the Dotonbori river and has been around since the 1600’s. There are so many restaurants and street stalls to choose from or just walk around and admire the bright lights and crazy restaurant fronts.
Day 6 Saturday
Osaka Castle - Kyoto
We had a half day to explore Osaka before heading to Kyoto so we went out early and headed for Osaka Castle. Osaka Castle has a fantastic view of the city and a museum about the castle’s history and Japan.
On the way back to the hotel we stopped at the Kuromon Ichiba Market. This is a great place to wander around and try different foods including takoyaki (fried octopus in balls) and other local specialties. You can also try pufferfish here.
Things to do in Osaka:
See Osaka Castle
Eat your way through Dotonbori
Eat your way through Kuromon Ichiba Market (did I mention that Osaka is known as Japan’s Kitchen due to all the amazing food)
Visit Universal Studios Japan
In the afternoon we took the train from Osaka to Kyoto and checked into The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo. The hotel is in a great location within easy walking distance of Gion and many shops and restaurants. Also, in Japan many hotels have self-service laundry facilities and we were able to easily do our own laundry without paying for a laundry service.
After a quick rest, we headed out again. First up was Pontocho, a seemingly endless alley with many restaurants and bars. Definitely wander through here even if you don’t stop to eat.
Next up was a temple illumination. Many of the temples in Kyoto have special night illuminations during peak periods like foliage or cherry blossom seasons. We wanted to catch the last night of fall illumination at Kiyomizu-dera Temple. This was such a nice experience and introduction to Kyoto. I grabbed a matcha ice cream on the way home as a treat for already having walked over 20,000 steps. We also treated ourselves to a taxi back to the hotel. You can also take a bus or long walk.
Day 7 Sunday
Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nishiki Market, Gion Walking Tour
Morning
Sunrise at Fushimi Inari Shrine
Again, we started our day off very early. Seriously, this is so important if you want to avoid crowds. We made our way at sunrise to Fushimi Inari Shrine, one of Kyoto’s most iconic landmarks. This Shinto shrine is dedicated to Inari, the deity of rice and prosperity, and is famous for its paths of torii gates.
Starting at the main gate we made our way up Mount Inari. There are plenty of views and photographic scenery even if you don’t go to the top
The climb takes about 2-3 hours round trip. The Yotsutsuji Intersection is roughly halfway up and has panoramic views of Kyoto city. It’s a perfect spot to catch your breath. You could also just climb to this spot as it has the best view.
On the way down we paused for more photos, ran into some cats and just enjoyed the peacefulness of our surroundings.
Fushimi Inari Morning Walk
View from Fushimi Inari Walk
Late Morning
After descending from Mount Inari, it was time for a snack and there are plenty of small cafes and street vendors nearby. We stopped at Vermillion, a coffee and pastry shop, and devoured a matcha latte and hot chocolate along with a pastry. Everything we had was delicious.
You could also head to Nishiki Market where you can sample a variety of local dishes, from fresh sashimi to grilled yakitori.
Evening
Towards the evening we walked over to the Gion District for a walking tour to learn about the area and Geisha’s.
The Gion District is known for its historic wooden machiya houses and geisha culture. This is a wonderful area to wander around on a tour or your own.
Our guide walked us through Shirakawa area with it’s willow lined canal, Hanami-koji or “blossom viewing lane”, Tatsumi Bridge, Yasaka Shrine, Hanamikoji Street and ended at Gion Corner. We learned so much about Geisha culture and traditions
Things to do in Kyoto:
Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine
Visit temples! There are too many to list however some must sees are Kiyomizu-dera and Kinkaku-ji Temple.
Walk and shop in the Gion and Higashiyama district
Walk the Philosopher’s Path
Visit Nishiki Market
There is so much to see in Kyoto, this is just a very short list of must see’s
Stay in a Ryokan (traditional Japanese Inn)
Day 8
Monday - Arashiyama
We headed out again before sunrise because I wanted to get to the Bamboo Forest before it got crowded. There were a few of us there but it was far from crowded. We were able to wander through the forest and catch a breathtaking fall foliage filled view from the back of the park.
Next up was Tenryu-ji Temple, which is just a short walk from the bamboo grove. This is one of Kyoto’s most important Zen temples. It was busy but still had a very peaceful atmosphere. I highly recommend walking around the gardens.
There is so much more to see in Arashiyama. If you have time you take a boat ride on Hozugawa River or ride the Sagano Romantic Train. We went back to the hotel to recuperate so we would have energy to go out later.
Before going to the hotel we did a quick walk-through of Nishiki Market. Definitely worth seeing and try to go off hours for a more relaxed experience.
After a nap we walked back to the Gion area as well as Kenninji Temple. The night before was a great introduction however we love to just wander around and take photos. We saw some Geisha heading to work, we were respectful and did not take photos.
Things to do in Arashiyama:
Visit the Bamboo Forest
Views from Togetsukyo Bridge
Visit Tenryu-ji Temple and the grounds
Take a boat ride on the Hozugawa River
View the area from the Sagano Romantic Train
Hike Mount Arashiyama
Kenninji Temple
Day 9 - Wednesday
Kyoto - Tokyo, TeamLabs Borderless Tokyo
Sadly our time in Kyoto came to an end. When planning this itinerary I knew I wanted more time in Kyoto and this was definitely the feeling I had when leaving. There is so much to see and experience.
We headed to the Kyoto train station to catch the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Tokyo. While it’s not a long ride to Tokyo I knew I wanted to try the Ekiben (train bento box) tradition. We found a fried chicken-style box that was delicious.
After arriving at Tokyo station we made our way to our hotel at the Tokyu Stay Ginza. We could not check in early so we wandered around Ginza for a bit. We noticed many hotels stick to the check-in times even if they have rooms available. The rooms seem to magically be available right at the check-in time and not a minute earlier. The hotel was clean and comfortable and very quiet. I booked a room with a washer/dryer and we were able to have clean clothes for our flight home the next day.
In the evening we made our way to TeamLabs Borderless. This is a very popular immersive art exhibit in Azubadai Hills. I booked this well in advance as it is highly recommended by other visitors. Plan for a few hours to take this all in.
After TeamLabs we stopped by Tokyo Tower before heading back to the hotel.
Day 10
Wednesday - Home
Today was our return flight to Boston. I barely did any shopping so I headed to the Ginza Don Quijote store. We got there just after opening and it was night and day from my other experience. I was able to stock up on kit cats, mochi and other gifts to bring home without dealing with the crowds.
After checking out of the hotel we took the bus back to the airport. Again, so much easier than bringing our luggage on the train. I travel with just a backpack and carry-on rolling bag but it was still heavy! Japan also has an amazing luggage delivery service where you can send your bag ahead to your next destination.
We treated ourselves to business class on Japan Airlines for the return trip using miles on American Airlines. The Sakura lounge was spacious and had a wonderful meal service. I didn’t eat too much because I heard the in-flight meal choices on JAL are amazing. I decided to have one last Japanese meal on the way home. There were 2 heavy courses before dessert. For the first time in my life I said no to dessert and promptly fell asleep with a full belly.
The wrap up
We had an amazing (some would say epic) time. It was not enough time given our focus on photography and sightseeing. I want to go back already and participate in more cultural experiences. Japan is an easy place to tour with the help of online maps and a translation app. I highly recommend it to anyone. I did spend months carefully researching and planning this itinerary. Contact me if you want help planning your adventure
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