I think I have a rough itinerary planned out for Japan but looking for any advice on: better order of travel, specific spots/foods/attractions in each area and if my budget is anywhere near realistic 😅.
Going as a group of 4, it’s looking towards the $10k mark from my napkin maths. Thanks in advance for any advice! Trying to get most things fully pinned down well in advance as I’m taking my autistic brother and his autistic partner with me and my SO, so feel like the pressure is on a bit for me to keep the trip as smooth as possible!
Anyway here’s the plan so far:
Osaka.
Day 1: fly into Osaka, hopefully pm to am flight, find our airbnb around the Dotonbori area ($100/n) – using Airbnb exclusively to let us pack lighter, plus it’s a fully seperated space should my brother or his partner need to get away – spend the rest of the day finding our feet a little, get supplies to cover breakfasts etc ($50), get some takoyaki ($50) and see Osaka castle/grounds ($20). In the evening visit umeda sky building ($60) and find a restaurant for okonomiyaki ($80).
Day 2: Osaka aquarium first half of the day ($120), second half of the day visit Den-den town. Mix some ramen/street food in between there somewhere ($50). In the evening find a kushikatsu restaurant ($80).
Day 3: day trip to Hiroshima. Visit the museum/memorial park ($10) and Hiroshima castle($20). Try Hiroshima’s okonomiyaki ($80). In the evening try Osaka ramen ($50)**Possibly visit rabbit island prior to Hiroshima but unsure if that would be too busy/too travel heavy?**
Day 4: day trip to Nara. Hit the park, todai-ji, isuien garden and kofuku-ji($50 for entries/crackers) Suggestions on Nara specific foods to try? ($50). In the evening eat at the zauo(?) fishing restaurant($200).
Osaka – Airbnb $400, food $690, attractions $280. ($1370 total)
Kyoto
Day 5: arrive in Kyoto, same as Osaka find Airbnb to the east of the centre, near kamo river ($250/n, looking at more expensive, town house type places), get breakfast supplies ($50), Visit Kyoto Imperial palace. In the evening have kaiseki ($500? open to low-mid range recommendations here).
Day 6 + 7: Temples temples temples! I’m honestly completely overwhelmed here, seems like the main routes are to hit the east side one day and the west/north another, but I need to read a bunch more before I can wrap my head around an actual itinerary! Very much open to suggestions! But I’ll assume entries ($50) and street food ($140) across both days along with ramen/sushi/other cheap ish options in the evening ($200).
Day 8: chill day (maybe put this between temple days?), Go to a traditional sweet/tea shop ($50? Again open to recommendations here), hit an izakaya or similar in the evening ($80).
Kyoto – Airbnb $1000, food $1020, attractions $50. ($2070 total).
Tokyo
Day 9: you know the drill by now, Airbnb around akihabara/ueno ($100/n), supplies ($50), cheap ramen/tonkatsu/sushi for lunch and evening($100), ueno park.
Day 10: Shibuya crossing, yoyogi park/Meiji shrine. Shinjuku, gyoen park ($20), government building in the evening for skyline. Picnic type lunch ($50), conveyor belt sushi in the evening ($50).
Day 11: chill/random shopping day, see senso-ji, akihabara, go to a mega don. Cheap eats again ($100).
Day 12: fly home
Tokyo – Airbnb $300, food $350, attractions $20 ($670 total).
Extras.
Major travel – Flights $4000, 7 day JR passes $855.
Minor travel – suica type journeys $300(ish?).
Total – $9265 ($5265 w/o flights).