I’m traveling at the end of this month going into the first week of February. A friend of mine lives in Osaka and will be tagging along as we loop from there to Tokyo, Kyoto, and back. Want to check if this itinerary we’ve come up with makes sense, or if we need to cut or add anything along the way. Accommodations for each city are already taken care of.
**Day 1 – Osaka**
Arrive at airport during evening, so no specific plans besides dinner in the city
**Day 2 – Osaka**
Back to the city early in the morning
Themed café in Osaka
Osaka Castle
Amerika-mura
Shopping in Shinsaibashi
Finish in Dotonbori
**Day 3 – Tokyo**
Leave via a morning shinkansen to Tokyo
Walk through Harajuku (shopping, Big Love Records)
Meiji Jingu shrine
Head to Shibuya for more shopping and record stores
Finish at Red Room music bar
**Day 4 – Tokyo**
Engaku-ji Temple (visiting Yasujiro Ozu’s grave)
Akihabara
Maid café for lunch
Head to Shinjuku
Finish with bar crawl in Golden Gai
**Day 5 – Tokyo**
Robot cafe
TeamLab Planets (originally planned for Ghibili Museum but I believe tickets are sold out this day).
Tsukiji fish market for lunch
Senso-ji Temple
Tokyo Tower
**Day 6 – Kyoto**
Morning shinkansen to Kyoto
Walk Fushimi Inari (depending on when we arrive, maybe move this to the second day)
Kyoto Market
Kiyomizudera Temple
Dinner in Gion
**Day 7 – Kyoto**
Arashima Monkey Park + Bamboo Grove
Kinkanku-ji Temple
Kyoto International Manga Museum
**Day 8 – Osaka**
Train back to Osaka
Namba Yasaka shrine
Kuromon market
Check out Shinsekai
Sing Karaoke
**Day 9 – Osaka**
Any last minute ideas, exploration, or relaxation before leaving via airport in afternoon
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Beyond all this, after the JR Pass’s price doubled beyond my budget, I planned on taking direct shinkansen via the Tokaido line, but I now notice that the Osaka-Tokyo Hokuriku Arch pass might give me an OK deal that connects me to where I’m going, but with about 2 hours added travel time from one end to the other. Do I understand that correctly?
Any advice or feedback is very much appreciated. Thank you!
by MrZebrowskisPenis