Hi all! I will be traveling for the first time to Japan with my SO in November. We have done some reserach and decided to have following main regions/areas: Osaka/Kyoto/Tokyo with some daytrips inbetween.

A quick overview:

• Osaka (2nd-8th): The first seven days we plan to explore Osaka and do some daytrips to Hiroshima, Nara and Nachi Waterfalls (with overnight stay) and return the following day.

• Kyoto (9th-13th): the following 5 days will be focused in and around Kyoto visiting some Shrines and Temples. We will want to visit Narai-juku and stay one night at Nagoya. Before heading to Tokyo we thought to have a relaxing day at an Onsen near Ito

• Tokyo (16th-23rd): the final week will be in the Tokyo region, again with occasional daytrips to Nikko/Fuji/Kamakura

I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on this itinerary. Unfortunately some dates won't be available for change due to our accommodation schedule, otherwise we hope that this wont be the last time we visit Japan so we don't mind skipping the one or the other thing.

Days 1-7 – Osaka

Day 1 – Arrival at Osaka. We will be arriving around noon after a long flight so our first thought was to get all the organisational stuff done, have a quick stroll around the city centre and also get a stamp book for our upcoming shrine and temple visits. At night we would like to take a walk around Osaka Castle Park and be done for the day.

Day 2

◦ Katsuoji Shrine, Minho Park
◦ Osaka Castle  

Day 3

◦ Himeji Castle 
◦ Kuromon Market 
◦ Hozenji Yokocho
◦ Dotonbori
◦ Umeda 

Day 4 – Hiroshima

◦ Momijidani Park
◦ Itsukushima Jinja
◦ Miyajima Omotesandō Shopping Street
◦ Daigan-jiTemple 

Day 5

◦ Nara Park
◦ Tōdai-ji
◦ Maguro Koya
◦ Salon Naramachi
◦ Higashimuki Shopping Street
◦ Yoshikien Garden

Day 6 – Nachi (with overnight stay)

◦ Nachi Waterfall
◦ Seiganto-ji
◦ Hiro Shrine Place of Worship
◦ Seiganto-ji Temple Sanjuno-to 3-Storied Pagoda

Day 7 back to Osaka Umeda

◦ Yamato Lugge service 
◦ Shopping? 

Day 8-12 – Kyoto

Day 8 from Osaka Umeda to Kyoto by Garaku Line

◦ Nikishi Market💚
◦ Maccha House 
◦ Nishi-Hanamikoji Street
◦ Yasaka Shrine
later that day at night:
◦ Hōkan-ji Temple (Yasaka Pagoda)
◦ Row Alley
◦ Sannenzaka Slope

Day 9 Kyoto

◦ Kuramadera Temple💚
◦ Hirano Shrine
◦ Kitano-temmangū Shrine
◦ Kinkaku-ji
◦ Daitoku-ji Temple
◦ Hyoue Café 
◦ Kifune Shrine
◦ Kuramadera Temple Niōmon

Day 10 Kyoto

◦ Hōkan-ji Temple (Yasaka Pagoda) early morning/ Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka Slopes Start. 5:00 am 
◦ Eikandō Temple💚
◦ Konkai Kōmyō-ji Temple
◦ Kumano Nyakuōji Shrine
◦ Nanzen-ji Temple
◦ Heian Shrine
◦ Philosopher's Path
◦ Konkai Kōmyō-ji Temple
◦ Higashiyama Jisho-ji

Day 11 Kyoto

◦ Sagano Romantic Train 
◦ Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
◦ Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple
◦ Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple💚

Day 12 Kyoto

in the morning

◦ Tea ceremony?
◦ Kimono 💚
◦ Fushimi Inari
◦ Daigo-ji 

afternoon

◦ Ujji
◦ Byodo-in Omotesando
◦ Byodo-in Temple
◦ Uji Shrine

Day 13 Trip to Narai from Kyoto

◦ Narai - juku💚
◦ Soba Noodle Shop
◦ Tea Shop 
◦ Magome? Or skip 
◦ Capsule Hotel in Nagoya

Day 14 Ito

◦ 7:30 - Nagoya - Ito 10:06 AM
◦ Tokaikan
◦ coffee / Lunch 
◦ Onsen   

Day 15-22 – Tokyo

Day 15 Nikko? (leaving early morning from Ito)

◦ Nikko Toshogu
◦ Karakane no Tori’i (Ni no Tori’i)
◦ Shinkyō Bridge
◦ back to the hotel in Tokyo

Day 16 Tokyo

◦ Ginza 
◦ Tsukiji Nippon Fish Port Market
◦ Imperial Palace East Gardens

Day 17 Daytrip to Fuji?

⁃ start Tokyo station 8 AM Bus 
◦ Honcho Street 
◦ Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine
◦ Chureito Pagoda
◦ Arakurayama Sengen Park

Day 18 Tokyo

◦ Team Lab last time slot 
◦ Tokyo Tower 
◦ Roppongi 
◦ Shibuya Sky
◦ Shibuya Nonbei Yokocho at night
◦ Shibuya Parco 

Day 19 daytrip to Karakura

◦ Sasuke Inari Shrine
◦ Hasedera
◦ Kamakura Yuigahama Beach
◦ Kotoku-in - Buddha 
◦ Cafe Yoridokoro
◦ Kotoku-in
◦ Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
◦ Cape Inamuragasaki

Day 20 Tokyo

◦ Akihabara
◦ Shopping 
◦ Nezu shrine 
◦ Asakusa Shrine 
◦ Sensi-jii
◦ Don Quijote
◦ Uneo 
◦ Kappabashi Knife Gallery 2F (Limited Knife shop)
◦ Tokyo Skytree
◦ Giontsujiri Macha Meli 
◦ Takagi Shrine
◦ Ushijima Shrine 

Day 21 Tokyo

◦ Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
◦ Omoide Yokocho
◦ 2D Cafe🍴
◦ Shinjuku Golden-Gai
◦ Shinjuku cat Cafe 
◦ Central Road Shinkuju 
◦ Sushiro Shinjuku Nishiguchi 🍴
◦ Meiji Jingu
◦ Uniqulo

Day 22 day of departure

◦ breakfast / Lunch 
◦ little bit of shopping 
◦ around 3PM leaving to the Airport

That would be pretty much our entire trip. Not every day has all the info yet as we are still gathering and exploring for things to do and also where to eat. We are thankful of every suggestion you can give us, so please let us know.

This itinerary is not set in stone and should only serve as a guide. It has been in our mind for a long time so we want to make the most of our first trip to Japan and still not be overwhelmed with all what Japan has to offer.

I appreciate everyone who has made the effort going through this list and apologize for the long read. Thanks.