Osaka – Kyoto – Tokyo
Japan has become ever more popular as a travel destination. The currency exchange rate is a big reason for its increased popularity, but I believe what Japan has to offer is an even bigger motivation. I visited Japan for the first time this year and was blown away by what I felt was an incredible value in every experience. Japan boasts amazing food, shopping, art, and entertainment, there is truly something for everybody. But with so much to offer there comes the desire to do it all. So here is my two week itinerary for the ambitious traveler.
Osaka Hotel: The Royal Park Canvas Hotel
Day 1: Arrive in Osaka
Your flight will most likely arrive late in the evening. Take either the JR Haruka Hello Kitty Train or a Limousine Bus into the city, then catch a short taxi or take the metro to your hotel. The GO app is like Uber for Taxis in Japan and generally offers the best price. Check into your hotel and if it’s too late for dinner head to your nearest convenience store: 7-11, Family Mart, or Lawsons, for all sorts of great food, snack, and drink options. Japan is known for their convenience stores that put American ones to shame. Many people report traveling to Japan and happily eating most of their meals from convenience stores and don’t worry about hot water for ramen, your hotel room will be stocked with a kettle. Get some rest, you’ll need it.
Day 2: Osaka Castle
Start your day at Osaka Castle. The morning will be less crowded than mid-day. Buy your tickets ahead of time on Klook and skip the line. You can take the elevator up to the observation deck, but there will most likely be a line. If you’re up for it, take the stairs up and stop on each floor to explore the exhibits full of Japanese history and get a feel for what life would have been like at the castle in the age of the Samurai. On your way out don’t miss getting a commemorative coin engraved and collecting the castle stamp.
In the afternoon head to Dontonburi to explore Osaka’s famous Entertainment district. There the streets are packed with eateries, shops, bars, and clubs. Sample strawberry mochi, takoyaki, and ten yen cheese coins from the many street stalls and then find a cafe like Hoshino Coffee with a view of the river and watch the boats pass by.
For Dinner head to one of my favorite ramen spots, Hanamaruken Namba Hozenji, they serve traditional ramen packed with flavor and served with juicy pork and a soft boiled egg. If you’re feeling hungry from all that walking around make sure to order some gyoza as well and wash it all down with a Japanese beer or a lemon sour. Like most ramen shop there will be a kiosk near the front door where you place your order and pay, the machine will print your order and the staff will take your ticket before seating you. Don’t worry you can get up and order more, but generally the Japanese dinning practice is to order once, enjoy, and leave. You might find the fast paced dinning experience a little jarring, but remember that there is no tipping in Japan so businesses like to turn tables and keep lines moving. If you want to relax and stay awhile then cafes and bars are where you’ll be more comfortable.
End your day with the teamLabs Botanical Gardens Experience. An interactive art piece set up in Osaka’s Nagai Park. The experience starts after sunset and dazzles with many different light pieces that are interact with people, nature, and sound.
Day 3: Kobe Day Trip
Get an early start and take the train, about 30 minutes from Osaka station, to Sannomiya station in Kobe. From the station you can walk over the Kobe’s Chinatown, which is packed with great food options for breakfast if you haven’t grabbed any yet or lunch if you didn’t get as early of a start.
Afterwards head over to the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens Rope Way. You can brave the walk, grab a short taxi, or take the local Seishin-Yamate line for one stop. You can buy your rope way ticket when you arrive, but I recommend securing your spot ahead of time by buying your ticket online with Klook. The gondola lift takes about ten minutes and gives you a stunning view of Kobe city and of the Nunobiki waterfalls down below. From the observation deck wonder down through the different gardens with flower and herbs for every season. Don’t miss the green house full of exotic tropical plants and one of the best parts of the park, a hot spring foot bath with a view. Afterward to save on time take the gondola back down from the mid-way station.
From the Shin-Kobe station take the train over to Kobe Animal Kingdom for an afternoon up close with some of the internets current favorite animals. This zoo has a lot of interactive animal exhibits like their large bird and lemur room where the animals free roam with visitors. But the real draw for the zoo could be their red pandas, pallas cats, harbor seals, river otters, sloths, or capybara. The cafe inside also makes instagramable animal treats and snacks.
Finish the day off with an absolutely necessary Kobe steak dinner before heading back to Osaka. Steakland Kobe-kan is a great place to get that authentic experience without breaking the bank. I have truly never had a better steak, Kobe beef is definitely worth the hype.
Day 4: Universal Studios Japan
The Japanese love amusement parks and pop culture, so I believe that visiting some amusement parks is a must when visiting Japan. If it’s your visit then I think it’s worth it to go to Universal Studios Japan where the fist Super Nintendo World is located as well as other unique to Japan anime attractions, like the Demon Slayer VR coaster. The park opens official at 8:30 or 9am, but will often start letting people in earlier, so if you want to take full advantage of the shorter lines in the morning then you should probably arrive around 7:30am because the Japanese are not afraid of a queue or showing up early. A ticket to the park will usually be around $50-65 and I think to really enjoy your day you should get the extra Express Pass so that you guarantee your entry to Super Nintendo World and Harry Potter World as well as fast passes for several big rides. Otherwise you will spend your park day standing in long lines.
The most popular, and arguably best, restaurant in the park is Kinopio’s Cafe in Super Nintendo World. For the best chance of getting in and not waiting too long in line try to eat at an off hour like the middle of the afternoon because the Japanese tend to like to eat at exact meal times.
Day 5: Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Start your day at the world renown Osaka Aquarium. Tickets for the aquarium can only be purchased online about two weeks out, so set yourself a reminder for purchase. The tickets are also time slotted and the best time slots are at opening at 10-10:30am, to be there when it’s least crowded.
After you manage to pull yourself away from the blue dreamy depths of the aquarium head on over to the Tempozan Ferris Wheel next door for a view of the city. Tickets can be bought from the counter or kiosk one floor below the ferris wheel entrance. If heights don’t bother you too much make sure to line up for one of the glass bottom carriages.
For lunch head on over to Next Shikaku, a ramen shop and art installation all in one. Their specialty is an oyster broth with a surprising umami flavor.
I suggest heading back to your accommodation for some rest in the afternoon so that you can appreciate some late night Osaka fun. After resting get some onigiri to go from one of Osaka’s most popular onigiri shops, Onigiri Gorichan.
Head over to the Umeda Sky Building and try to get in for the sunset but don’t fret if you don’t made it as the night view is still spectacular and the glow in the dark art feature makes the night time worth it. We sat on a bench underneath the lit Umeda Sky Building and enjoyed our onigiri.
Keep your energy up for some late night fun at Round1 Stadium Sennichimae, a seven story entertainment center. Its got go kart, karaoke, arcade games, and so much more. You can also make time to go during the day but I find part of the fun being to take advantage of their 24hr operation. They charge by the hour so you can stay for as little or as long as you want.
For a late night dinner grab some amazing sushi at Sakae Sushi. Sushi is made to order here right in front of you by the very skilled sushi chefs and prices are very reasonable.
Day 6: Nara stop over
While many on social media have talked up the luggage delivery services that any hotel in Japan will arrange for you when transferring cities they fail to mention that even a delivery between Osaka and Kyoto, two cities relatively close to each other, will take over 24 hours. Meaning you will have to go a night without your luggage. To me that defeated the point of convenience. So I found what I believe to be one of if not the only same day luggage delivery service on Klook, Luggagent. They’re a little pricey at about $50 a bag but I think it’s worth it to give yourself a luggage free travel day spent frolicking in Nara. After booking and arranging the service all you have to do is inform your concierge of the pick up and leave you bags with them in the morning before you check out.
After divesting yourself of your heavy bags head out to catch the Limited Express Aoniyoshi train from Osaka-Namba station to Nara. You’ll travel in style on this beautifully decorated train. Make sure to book the window facing seats to get the best view of the foliage. In the Spring you can admire the cherry blossoms and in the Fall the maple leaves.
If your budget is tight you can bring your luggage with you and place them in a locker at Kintetsu-Nara station for the day, but be aware you’ll have to brave bringing them through both the Osaka metro and the Kyoto metro or get taxis to/from your accommodations in the morning and evening.
From the train station walk straight into Nara park and look for the cracker sellers. They’ll be where the crowds of hungry deer are. The famous bowing deer of Nara can be a little aggressive in their desires for their cracker snacks so just be aware when you have them in hand and don’t be stingy. A bit of clothes pulling and head butting is to be expected from those who believe you’re holding out on them, so try to walk away from the largest crowds after buying your crackers and don’t crouch down or you risk being knocked over. Also if the animals intimidate you don’t feel obligated to buy them a snack for they are very docile when there’s no food about.
For Lunch find Mizuya Chaya and enjoy their delicious udon and I highly recommend trying their matcha latte as well.
After lunch head on over to Kasuga Taisha and purchase a fortune or charm from the temple maidens. Be advised that it is considered rude to take pictures or video of the temple maidens, so please be respectful. The classic deer fortune makes for a great souvenir.
Make sure you save some time to visit the famous mochi pounders of Nara. Located on a charming street lined with shops is Nakatanidou, a shop that pounds fresh mochi all day long.
After a full day of exploring Nara its time to head back to the station and catch the Limited Express once again and travel to Kyoto. I reccomend checking out the bar car and getting some wine to make the journey even more enjoyable. After arriving at Kyoto station you can transfer to a city metro line or get a taxi to your Kyoto accommodation.
For a great budget hotel I recommend Hale Kyoto at either their Tambaguchi or Toji locations and for a more elevated experience I recommend Renka-no-Yu On-Yada NONO Kyoto Shinchijo, a hotel and onsen.
Kyoto Hotel: Hale Kyoto Tambaguchi
Kyoto Hotel: Renka-no-Yu On-Yada NONO Kyoto Shinchijo
For dinner find Gion Duck Rice by its signs “🦆🍚” this instagram worthy meal is much more elaborate than its name or its menu makes it seem and for only about $15 a meal its a can’t miss in Kyoto.
Day 7: Kimono Rental
For your first full day in Kyoto rent a kimono and explore the geisha district. There are many Kimono rental shops in Kyoto and most cater to foreigners. I had a great experience with Kimono Rental Miyabi and recommend booking ahead of time online. For the best experience try to get the first available booking time so that you can have first pick of the kimono and so you get the most time with you rental. Most shop require returning the rental around 5pm and charge extra fees for next day return.
After getting all dressed up head right up the street to Yasaka Shrine to get some iconic shrine photos in your kimono.
For lunch go to French Gion Bar. This upscale restaurant has great lunch specials for an affordable price and a great ambiance for dinning while all dressed up.
After lunch take your time exploring the crowded geisha district and keep your eyes peeled for the working geisha. Kyoto has recently had some trouble with bad behaving tourists bothering geisha, so just remember to be respectful by giving the geisha space, don’t follow them, and generally don’t approach them. Taking photos on main streets from a distance is generally ok, but be aware of any no photo signs, usually posted in alleys and side streets.
Take photos in front of Hōkan-ji Temple and check out the great shops and cafes in the neighborhood. Some shops not to miss are 京・嵐山ものがたり八坂店 (sorry no english name), My Only Fragrance Kiyomizu, Made in Japan Chopsticks, and Ghibli Studios Shop Kyoto.
京・嵐山ものがたり八坂店 is a great souvenir shop that sells these adorable towels, many of which are Studio Ghibli themed, that they will embroider for free. I suggest converting your name into kanji for the embroidery. Use a site like https://japanesenameconverter.nolanlawson.com/ to show the clerk your name spelled in kanji.
Made in Japan Chopsticks, located next to the Ghibli Shop also offers free engraving on most purchased chopsticks, which I also suggest getting your name in kanji on.
My Only Fragrance is a very cool perfumery that makes all their scents in house. They also offer a make your own perfume workshop which is a highly recommended activity.
There is also a Starbucks that blends in perfectly with the historical neighborhood and makes for the perfect photo spot while dressed in kimono, it has traditional tatami floors and seating. It does get very busy though so be prepared for a crowd.
After returning your kimono rental head over to K36 a rooftop bar with an amazing view of the city. Don’t worry if it’s cold there are plenty of heat lamps and the staff are ready with blankets and hand warmers. Make a reservation for sunset to get those golden hour pics.
Day 8: Exploring Arashiyama
For your second full day in Kyoto head out bright and early to Arashiyama, a neighborhood on the West side of the city, to see the bamboo forests before the crowds. If you get to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest around 8am you’ll have the perfect amount of time to wander around before getting to the Garden of Hundred Flowers right when they open at 8:30am.
Next head over to Monkey Park to take in the views and observe the playful monkeys. Be aware that they are wild animals though so keep a distance and don’t bring any food out. It is a hike up to the top so wear proper shoes.
For lunch make a river view reservation at Arashiyama Itsukischaya. This charming restaurant serves a seasonal set of traditional food and unique flavors.
If you have time grab a coffee and some adorable snacks from the Miffy Sakura Kitchen.
After lunch hop on the Sagano Romantic Train for a ride along the scenic Katsura River. Make sure to prebook your ticket to secure your spot. This scenic train ride along the Katsura River with nature views. In the spring it’s great for cherry blossom viewing and in the Fall it’s great for viewing the fall leaves.
After reaching Kameoka take the Hozugawa River Boat Ride back to Arashiyama. It is also a good idea to prebook the River Boat Ride. If you have the time it’s not too bad of a walk from Torokko Kameoka Station, where the Sagano Romantic Train drops you off, to the boat ride meeting point. If you are shorter on time and up for a little challenge you can rent ebikes located at the station. The COGICOGI Smart bike app is in Japanese but with some screenshots and Google Translate it’s not too difficult to figure out. There is a bike drop off spot at the main Kameok station neat Hozugawa River Boat Ride.
After getting back take some time to peruse the shops and cafes for great treats and souvenirs. I definitely recommend trying the matcha cake from Kyo-Baum Arashiyama.
For dinner try Kobushi Ramen, a Michelin star ramen shop.
Day 9: Off to Tokyo
If you’re up for squeezing one more attraction into your Kyoto visit before leaving for Tokyo then I suggest getting up early to visit Nijo Castle and Ninomaru-Goten Palace. The grounds are beautiful in the spring with its cherry blossoms and plum blossoms, but I think the best part is walking through Ninomaru-Goten Palace and seeing the beautiful tatami rooms with all of the different screen print art.
Before catching the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Tokyo make sure to buy a bento box and some drinks from the station for the ride. The bento boxes at major stations are often elaborate and unique without ever breaking the bank. Be sure to book your Shinkansen tickets in advance. Select seats on the left side of the car or the seats shown at the top of the seat chart to get the best view of Mt. Fuji on the way. Luggage storage is only available if you reserve in advance otherwise you will have to fit what you have on the floor by your feet or on the overhead rack. You can fit large check luggage on the overhead rack so long as you can lift it yourself.
Tokyo Hotel: Hotel Tavinos Asakusa
I recommend staying in Asakusa because it’s a lively neighborhood with great restaurants and less crowds than other neighborhoods like Shibuya.
If you’re staying in Asakusa then you can take an evening walk after checking in to your hotel. Check out the iconic Sensō-ji Temple and pick up a fortune.
From Sensō-ji you can walk over to Sumida park where you can see cherry blossoms in the spring. Then head over the Sumida River Walk bridge to Tokyo Skytree for shopping and food. My favorite shops here are Miffy Style and Donguri Republic, a Ghibli store.
For Dinner check out Kura Sushi’s Global Flagship store. There are two Kura Sushis here on floor 1 and 2 that operate independently so check the wait time for both before putting your name in.
Day 10: Those Tokyo Tiktok Spots
The first full day in Tokyo is full of Instagram/Tiktok spots so dress accordingly. Grab some breakfast from the closest convenience store and head out to teamLab Borderless. Book this ticket in advance as it tends to sell out, especially the morning slots as they are the least crowded.
Next get your photo at the not so secret Tokyo Tower Photo Spot, just look for the line of people and you’ll know you’re in the right spot.
Head over to Shibuya for a quick bite at Luke’s Lobster.
To truly appreciate Shibuya crossing head up to Magnet by Shibuya109, a rooftop bar with a stellar view of the crossing below. Purchase of a drink is necessary for entry.
If you don’t already know Loft is a great shop to buy souvenirs from and the Shibuya location is a must visit.
For Dinner get a reservation at the viral Kumachan Onsen. This adorable bear themed restaurant serves delicious Japanese hot pot.
After dinner head up to Shibuya Sky for a night view of the city. This is another book in advance ticket as it does sell out. If you can, try to get the coveted sunset time slot. Be prepared for some cold night winds as well.
Day 11: Mitaka
Mitaka city is a suburb of Tokyo with a great park and plenty of charm. Mitaka is also where the Ghibli museum is, like many Tokyo attractions you should book this ticket in advance to secure your spot. The museum is located in Inokashira Park, which is a great place to stroll around and enjoy the cherry blossoms.
Grab lunch at Kichikōji Petit Muru. This viral cat cafe looks like a little fantasy cat village. The cats here are friendly and well looked after.
Afterwards check out the shops along the same avenue. There are many boutiques and thrift stores in the area.
If you want to do some serious thrifting get back on the Chuo line and head further out to the Bookoff Super Bazaar at Tachikawa station.
Day 12: Disneysea
Tokyo Disney has two parks, Disneyland and Disneysea. Disneyland has some attractions unique to Tokyo like the Baymax ride and their new Disney Springs but is otherwise modeled after the OG Disneyland. Disneysea however is a totally unique park only found in Tokyo. So if you only have one day for Disney on your trip I think it is more worth it to check out Disneysea. Tokyo Disney does not offer park hopper tickets so if you only have one day you have to choose one park.
Familiarize yourself with the Tokyo Disney app before visiting the park so that you will be ready to take advantage of their ride and restaurant reservation system. Some rides can be reserved for free with the “40th anniversary Priority Pass” and others you can pay for with “Disney Premier Access.”
The really great part about Tokyo Disney is that it is so affordable. The tickets are about $55 each, the food is reasonable and the price of the merch will shock you. For reference ears at Tokyo Disney cost about $15.
Day 13: Those Tokyo Tiktok Spots p.2
For breakfast go to Asakusa Unana for an onigiri topped with a crazy fat piece of unagi.
It might seem like overkill to do a third teamLab experience, but each has its own unique art that makes them each memorable. So once again reserve your time slot ahead of time for teamLab Planets.
Make a reservation for The Grand Lounge for a strawberry themed afternoon tea experience in Ginza.
Afterwards check out the Converse store downstairs. Converse in Japan is owned by a Japanese company and so gives the brand a more luxury feel and the shoes are actually of higher quality than the American brand, which many have said has gone downhill since it was acquired by Nike.
Just down the street is another shop to check out, the Ginza Uniqlo is 12 floors and provides unique experiences like custom embroidery, custom printing, and a photo booth for customers. Be aware if you are only in the city for a limited time that embroidery and printing from this location may take up to a week for completion.
Later check out the Art Aquarium Museum. This art exhibit utilizes water light and live fish for a mind blowing visual experience. Also a great instagram spot.
Catch the sunset from the observation deck at Azabudai Hills Mori JPTower. This is free to do but can get crowded.
Get in line at Tendon Kanekohannosuke for dinner and I promise it will be worth the wait. With a counter that only has about six seats, this spot is serving up only a few menu items which a variations of their tempura donbori. If you don’t already know donbori is a rice bowl.
Day 14: Visiting Mt. Fuji
If you are visiting Japan in the Spring or Fall then a day trip to see Mt Fuji is a must. When the weather is colder the mountain is more often clear to see, so during summer months there is usually cloud coverage and disappointing views. You will need a car for the day but don’t worry you can get an affordable rental with Klook. It is a good idea to get an International Drivers Permit for Japan.
Set out early for the driver and make your first stop at The Park for brunch. Next to lake Yamanakako this quaint spot is serving fluffy pancakes and views.
After brunch head over to Fuji Yurari Onsen and ask for a private bath. This onsen does not really cater to foreigners but their baths have amazing views of Mt. Fuji. The onsen entrance fee is less than $10 each and the private bath for one or two people for an hour is a little over $20. Tattoos are not allowed at this onsen.
After the onsen head over to the iconic Chureito Pagoda. Be prepared for a little hike up the hill.
After heading back to the city have a well deserved yakiniku dinner at 焼肉だん 浅草. This spot has a great ambiance and horigotatsu, sunken tables on tatami floor. You can make a reservation by DMing them on Instagram.
If you have the energy then nows a great time to do some tax free shopping at Don Quijote for all the souvenir and Japanese products you want to bring back home.
Day 15: Last Call
When you fly out of Japan you will probably get a late flight which leaves you with almost a whole day more in Japan. So to take full advantage pack up your bags in the morning and store them either with your concierge or the hotel lockers if they have them and spend your last day checking off any last minute items and do any last minute shopping.
To start off right check out Age.3 a recently viral fried bread shop serving both sweet and savory options.
Then get a photo of some iconic tori gates at Hie Shrine in the middle of the city. Bonus is this shrine will most likely free of any crowds you would see at more popular tori gates like Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto.
Make a reservation for another viral spot, Haute Couture Cafe, in Shibuya for their seasonal afternoon tea. In the Spring the theme is Sakura of course.
After tea check out Harajuku and its unique shops. Two shops not to be missed by the girls is the Sailor Moon store and the Sanrio Cute Cube, where you can make your own custom Sanrio stamp.
If you collect vinyls then you can’t miss the Tower Records location in Shibuya. It is nine floors and has a cafe. Like Converse Tower Records Japan separated from the main chain and exists independently.
After your last full day head back to your hotel and get ready to head to the airport, it’s time to go home. At this point you probably have way more baggage than when you started your trip so take a taxi or do yourself a favor and prebook a private transfer to the airport and don’t bother with braving public transit.
Helpful Information
The easiest way to get around Japan is by train and metro so a metro card is a must.
For iPhone user the Suica will be the easiest metro card option because you can add it to your apple wallet without needing to get a physical card. Go to your apple wallet, add a new card with the “+” button, select transit card, and then search Suica.
For Android users you will need to purchase a physical metro card once you arrive in Japan, which you can then add to your phone wallet. It is easiest to get a card from the airport, so make sure to do that when you arrive. There is a physical Suica shortage at the moment but any other provider works just the same, like Pasmo or Icoca.
These metro passes work for almost any type of public transportation in Japan and can also be used as a form of payment at many shops, like convenience stores.
The Thatch Map
This is my full map of Japan with hundreds of places to eat, drink, and see. You can check it out on my thatch.
Alex Travels 
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