Me and a group of friends (7 people total, all in our low 20’s if that matters) are planning a 10 day trip to Japan May 11th to May 21st. Please rip into this if you feel it’s necessary. I put most of this together and idk what I’m doing, but I did my best.
The overall plan is Tokyo (3 days) -> Kyoto (3 days) -> Osaka (2.5 days)
Let me know if ya’ll think this is too much or something. We decided to not get the JR pass, but might get some IC cards.
**May 11th: Fly all day**
**May 12th: Tokyo**
* Fly into Haneda Airport at around 4PM. Go through airport and take a 1 hr train ride to hotel.
* I assume we’ll get to our hotel around 6PM, so no plans. Get settled, walk around the area a little bit.
**May 13th: Tokyo.** Wake up @ 7-7:30
* Take \~20 minute train ride from hotel to Asakusa area. Hang around Senso-Ji temple.
* \~30 minute walk to Akihabara.
* \~40 minute walk to Chiyoda City and check out the Imperial Palace.
* \~10 minute walk to Ginza and shop around.
* Go to an art museum called TeamLab Planets after Ginza. Take \~15 min train ride from Ginza station to Shin-Toyosu Station.
* Train back to hotel.
**May 14th: Tokyo.** Wake up @ 7:30-8
* Take \~30 min train ride from hotel to Shinjuku Station. Walk around until Gyeon National Garden opens at 9AM.
* \~20 min walk to Meiji Jingu Shrine and Yoyogi Park.
* \~15 min walk from Yoyogi Park to Harajuku. Shop around, hit up that otter cafe.
* \~20 min walk to Shibuya Crossing after Harajuku.
* Shibuya Sky Tower around dusk/night.
* After that, take a \~5 min train ride to Shinjuku to enjoy the night life.
**May 15th: Kyoto.** Sleep in until 9
* Breakfast around area and hang out until check out.
* Take 2.5 hr train ride to Kyoto. Hang around in train station until 3PM to check in. Do Japan hotels allow early check-in if it’s available?
* Check in, \~35 min walk to Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka to eat and shop around.
* \~10 min walk to Kiyomizu-Dera afterwards at dusk time. Take \~20 min train back hotel and chill.
**May 16th: Kyoto.** Wake up @ 7-7:30
* \~20 min train ride to Fushimi Shrine trying to get there before 9AM to beat the major crowds.
* Take \~25 min train ride to Kyoto Imperial Palace.
* \~10 min walk to Nijo Castle.
* \~25 min train ride to hotel.
* \~15 minute walk to Aeon Mall. Back to hotel when done.
**May 17th: Kyoto.** Wake up @ 6:30-7
* Take \~30 min train to Arashiyama and Tenryu-Ji temple. Spend half the day there chillin.
* Train back to hotel. Catch our breath, relax for a minute.
* 5 min walk to Kyoto Tower and do that during the day time.
* Relax for rest of the day since I assume we’ll be tired from the Arashiyama trip.
**May 18th: Osaka.** Sleep in until 8:30
* Do breakfast. Check out.
* 20 min train ride to Osaka. Hang around till check in time.
* Check into Osaka hotel.
* Walk to Dotonbori for the night, shop, and eat.
**May 19th: Osaka.** Wake up @ 8
* Breakfast.
* \~25 min train ride to Osaka Aquarium from hotel. Leave by 9AM and spend half the day there.
* Go back to hotel and chill for a bit. \~35 min walk to Kuchu Teien Observatory.
* Spend some time there and head into the observatory around dusk.
* Walk back and chill at hotel.
**May 20th: Osaka.** Wake up @ 8
* \~40 min walk to Osaka Castle. Hang out and shop around.
* Get lunch at Tenjinbashi-Suji shopping street on our way to Osaka Tenmangu (30 min walk).
* Do Osaka Tenmangu around 2PM.
* 30 min walk back to hotel. Chill out. Expect to be good by 5PM.
* 30 min walk to Dotonbori, Namba, and Shinsaibashi-Suji.
* Walk back to hotel. Hang out.
**May 21th: Leave.**
* Check out from Osaka hotel at like 7AM.
* Train to Tokyo, Narita International Airport (NRT) for 4.5 hrs. Expect to get to airport around 12:30PM.
* Plane leaves at 5:30PM.
3 comments
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I personally think that what is essentially 8.5 days isn’t long enough to properly do both Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka. I think you should either focus on Tokyo or on Kyoto + Osaka.
If you’re dead-set on it, though, I would flip the balance a bit. Maybe 4.5 days in Tokyo, 4 in Kyoto + Osaka.
Why are you walking so much? There’s excellent public transport in Tokyo and Osaka, and most other Japanese cities have at least OK public transport systems. You’ll do lots of walking on top of taking public transport, so walking everywhere is a good way to waste lots of time and wear yourself out.
I’d suggest looking for activities to fill the time you’re just “hanging around”. You can store luggage at hotels or at lockers at major train stations.