Japan Itinerary – 12 nights (Tokyo – Hakone – Kyoto – Osaka)

I am hoping to get feedback on the itinerary I created. My husband and I are going to Japan in March 2025 for 12 nights. Flight are booked, as are hotels. However, hotels have free cancellation.

It has been so helpful reading other people's posts and we look forward to any additional comments / feedback! Of note, though we want to see as much as we can, we also dont want to hate ourselves and be utterly exhausted, so if you think these days are too packed, that would be helpful! Also, open to any restaurant or bar recommendations.

Thank you 🙂

~Tokyo (Day 1, Thursday)~

• 2:20 PM: Arrive HND
• Check into hotel in Shinjuku
• No plans this day, just doing whatever feels right

~Tokyo (Day 2, Friday)~

• Meiji Jingu Shrine
• Yoyogi Park
• Walk / Shop around Harajuku (Takeshita Street, Cat Street)
• Sushi lunch at Maguro to Shari
• Walk around Shibuya (Shibuya Scramble, Omotesando Street)
• Hoping to make sunset reservation at Shibuya Sky (sunset at 605 PM, reserve for 5 PM)
• Nonbei Yokocho
• Rainbow Karaoke

~Tokyo (Day 3, Saturday)~

• 7:00 AM: Tsukiji Outer Market (sushi dai or seagen; maruni)
• TeamLab Planets Museum (hoping for 9 AM reservation)
• Tokyo Imperial Palace (take taxi from TeamLab)
• Zojo-ji Temple grounds
• Explore Ginza (Ginza6, Ginza Itoya)
• Omakase dinner at XX

~Tokyo (Day 4, Sunday)~

• Sensoji Temple
• Walk around Asakusa
• Lunch on Hoppy Street
• Ueno Park
• Explore Akihabara

~Hakone (Day 5, Monday)~

• 11:00 AM: Check out of hotel, forward luggage to Kyoto
• Take Romance Car Train to Hakone
• Visit Open Air Museum
• 2:00 PM: Check into Ryokan and relax

~Kyoto (Day 6, Tuesday)~

• 11:00 AM: Check out of Ryokan
• Shinkansen to Kyoto
• 3:00 PM: Check into Hotel in Kyoto
• Nishiki Market (Horaido Tea Stall)

~Kyoto (Day 7, Wednesday)~

• Hire 10-hour private car charter to see the following:
  • Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
  • Nonomiya Shrine
  • Kameyama-Koen Monkey Park
  • Tenryu-ji Temple
  • Mikami Shrine
  • Gioji Temple & Garden
  • Ryoan-ji Temple
  • Kinkaku-Ji Golden Pavilion
• Dinner in Pontocho Alley

~Kyoto (Day 8, Thursday)~

• 7:30 AM: Fushimi Inari Taisha
• Cab to Philosophers Path Walk
• Walk around Geisha District (Higashiyama and Gion)
• ?Tea Ceremony somewhere

~Day Trip to Uji (Day 9, Friday)~

• Take train to Uji
  • Walk / Shop around Omotesando St.
  • Walk through Uji Park to Ujigami- jinja Shrine
  • Tsuen Tea House
  • ?tea ceremony (if not done day before)
  • Matcha Factory Tour at Marukyu Koyamean Factory
• Train back to Kyoto
• Drinks at Bar le Coq

~Osaka (Day 10, Saturday)~

• 12:00 PM: Check out of Hotel in Kyoto, forward luggage to Tokyo
• Train to Osaka
• 3:00 PM: Check into Osaka Hotel
• Osaka Castle (only viewing outside, skipping inside tour; considering skipping entirely)
• Umeda Sky Tower
• Yodobashi Camera Store
• Namba Shrine
• Shinsaibashi-Suji
• ?denden town (might have to skip this, seems out of the way, is it better than Akihabara?)
• ?Food Tour around dinner time
• this day is chaotic, i need to narrow down places

~Osaka (Day 11, Sunday)~

• Consider breakfast reservation at Happy Pancake
• Shinsekai
  • Tsutenkaku Tower
• 1:45 PM – 6:00 PM: See Sumo Tournament at Edion Arena (tickets on sale 2/8/25, use service to reserve)
• 6:30 PM: Dinner at Dotonbori 

~Tokyo (Day 12, Monday)~

• 11:00 AM: Check out of Osaka Hotel
• Shinkansen to Tokyo
• 3:00 PM: Check into hotel in Tokyo
• Free afternoon in Tokyo
• Dinner & Drinks in Golden Gai and/or Omoide Yokocho Street

~Tokyo (Day 13, Tuesday)~

• 11:00 AM: Check out of hotel
• Free time for last minute errands 
• 6:25 PM: Depart Tokyo from HND