osaka – kyoto – tokyo itinerary

First time traveller to Japan. Main questions are, is this itinerary feasible? How do people get from osaka to nara/kyoto and kyoto/osaka to tokyo? (what are the usual price ranges and do we purchase tickets online versus in person?) Where do you usually place your luggage if planning for a day trip (any specific locker places/ any tips?) Lastly, as I will be travelling during christmas period, will appreciate any recommendations for light up events.

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* day 1: osaka
* arrive in osaka (kansai intl) mid afternoon
* dotonbori for dinner
* tombori river walk
* day 2: osaka
* Kuromon ichiba Market
* Shinsekai
* Namba Yasaka Shrine
* Osaka Castle Park
* day 3: nara
* to Kintetsu-Nara Station (Via Kintetsu Limited Express)
* Kofukuji Temple
* Nara Park
* Ukimido Pavilion and Sagike Pond
* Araike
* Todai-ji
* Nakatanidou (Mochi)
* day 4: kyoto
* travel from osaka to kyoto via hankyu railways
* Arashiyama bamboo forest
* Nishiki Market
* Fushimi Inari Taisha
* Philosoher’s Path
* Sannenzaka
* Kiyomizudera
* travel from kyoto to tokyo if possible?
* or else travel back to osaka for the night then travel to tokyo the next day?
* day 5: tokyo
* Shibuya crossing
* Hachiko memorial statue
* Tokyu Plaza Omotesando
* harajuku
* shibuya sky (sunset)
* day 6: mount fuji
* highway bus from Shinjuku Station to Kawaguchiko Station
* shimoyoshida station > chureito pagoda
* mount fuji panoramic ropeway
* kawaguchiko antural living centre
* back to tokyo
* day 7: tokyo
* tokosu fish market
* ueno park
* asakusa > sensoji temple
* hie shrine
* meiji jingu shrine
* shopping at ginza
* day 8: tokyo
* morning plane back home (narita intl)

2 comments
  1. Flip days 6 & 7. Mt Fuji is on the way to Tokyo. With such a short trip you need to maximize time!

    Yes, the Shinkansen stops in Kyoto. I’d stay in Kyoto longer if possible. It’s much more interesting than Osaka. Local train to Nara.

    You’re probably better off doing Osaka->Nara->Kyoto spending a night in each. Drop the Philosoher’s Path, your day is insanely busy and it’s not that interesting unless it’s Sakura season

    > Where do you usually place your luggage if planning for a day trip

    Every larger train station has lockers

  2. The routes you listed all make sense, just use Google maps to see the prices. No difference buying tickets online from JR (using smart ex)or at any JR station. But there is reseller that will sell tickets for much more.

    There is coin lockers in about every train station.

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