Hello! I will be visiting Japan for the first time in October! I am a solo traveller and would like to get any tips/advice on my itinerary!
– I will traveling from Tokyo to Osaka and back, as well as round trips from Osaka to Kyoto and Nara. My question is; with the current price of the JR Pass, it seems like it’s barely worth it. Is there anywhere I can check whether or not the price hike will also raise prices when you just buy the tickets?
– I would also love to know how much other travelers have budgeted for food and entertainment (I know it varies but I just want somewhere to start!)
Thanks in advance!
(Edited for formatting)
10.01.23 through 10.08.23
Japan Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo
– Arrive in Narita Airport
– Get onto train and head to Tokyo
– Check into AirBnB
– Head into the city and get something to eat, as well as some snacks
– Head back to the hotel and shower/get some rest
Day 2: Tokyo
– Wake up and head to 7/11 for a breakfast sandwich
– Head into Akihabara and spend the morning looking for souvenirs
РHead to the Pok̩mon Center in Tokyo and buy more souvenirs
– Grab lunch
– Go back and find some stuff to do in Tokyo
– Grab a light dinner and head back to the hotel and get some rest
Day 3: Travel to Osaka (Tuesday, October 3rd)
– Take morning train to Osaka
– Arrive in Osaka and check into hotel
– Explore Osaka temples during the day
– Get Lunch
– During the afternoon, head to Osaka Central
– Spend the evening exploring the nightlife in Osaka eating different foods
– Head back to the hotel and get some rest
Day 4: Osaka and Nara (Wednesday, October 4th)
– Spend time in Osaka and get some breakfast
– Head into town and get some souvenirs
– Get on the train and spend the afternoon in Nara
– Head back to Osaka, get dinner and go to bed
Day 5: Kyoto (Thursday, October 5th)
– Wake up early and head to Kyoto
– Go to Fushimi Inari and see the shrines
– Visit the bamboo forest
– Spend the evening in the Gion District
– Head back to Osaka and get some rest
Day 6: Tokyo – History and Shopping (Friday, October 6th)
– Wake up, check out of hotel and head back to Tokyo
– Check into hotel in Tokyo
– Visit Asakusa and buy knick knacks there
– Head to Shibuya Crossing and visit Hachi’s statue
– Relax and drink coffee by Shibuya crossing
– Go to 7/11 and buy some snacks
Day 7: Tokyo – Gameboy and Coffee (Saturday, October 7th)
– Last full day in Tokyo
– Spend the day buying last minute souvenirs, candy, and tying any loose ends (buy my little brother a Gameboy)
– If theres time, visit the Sky Tower and take pictures from the top
Day 8: Departure from Narita (Sunday, October 8th)
– Check out of hotel and head to Narita
– Wait for flight and come home
4 comments
From what it sounds like, you would only really need a Shinkansen/bullet train from Osaka -> Tokyo and back. Round trips from Osaka to Kyoto/Nara with JR Shinkansen are excessive (unless you have a shit ton of luggage, then maybe I’d suggest)–subway would only take about 40-45 minutes longer.
You’re also slightly underplanning for Tokyo and Osaka (Days 2, 3, 6, 7)–they’re fundamentally massive, and you have to cherry pick your destinations! Where’s your AirBnB? That might decide some things.
I don’t think you’d be able to fit both Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama Bamboo Forest on the same say–if you’re planning on summiting the shrine it’s exhausting. I went immediately home afterwards, it took upwards of 2 hours and I’m relatively healthy.
I’d also suggest more than an afternoon in Nara–it’s a beautiful place that requires an entire day.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
There have not been announcement of price hike for individual tickets, so right now you can assume it will remain the same.
For food my personal budget is around 3500 yen a day. Konbini breakfast ans two meal in restaurant, usually in the 500-1500 yen range (average at around 1000), likely 99% of my meals where under 2500 yen. Of course it can be more expensive depending on type of food. Then it depend if you want to add some snacks/desert and drinks.
For activities it’s more difficult to say, there is a big difference if you do a couple of sub 500 yen by activity in one day compared to doing 3000+ yen art museum and observation deck or if you go to amusement parks.
​
Akihabara is not a good morning spot, as any shopping spot is not a good morning spot. Shops start to open at 10-11am (sometimes 12).
Explore “Osaka temples” is extremely vague, you should know where you are going otherwise it does not make much sense.
For the afternoon in Nara, keep in ming that most attractions will close around 5pm
Fushimi Inari-taisha and Arashiyama bamboo forest (assuming it is the one you want to see) are on opposite side of Kyoto, then Gion is also the opposite. If you are only interested to see some bamboo, there is some at Kodai-ji temple, so it would all be on the same side of Kyoto.
Haha, guess I’ll skip the bullet train and do some subway sightseeing! Thanks for the advice!
Hello, I’m Japanese, and know Osaka and Kyoto well. I have some suggestions for your Kansai area portion.
Day 3
When you come to Osaka from Tokyo, it will likely to be close to noon. I would get an Ekiben (a bento box sold at a station) and have it as a brunch on the way to Osaka if I were you in order to save time. You will have more than enough time to do on Shinkansen.
I usually use a coin locker to keep my luggage until I may check in to my hotel. When you get off Shinkansen, go to JR Osaka Station. It is the biggest hub for all the JR and subway lines in the city, and the redevelopment of the station and its surrounding areas is being beautifully done. Even if your hotel is in Namba/Shinsaibashi, I would still recommend keeping your stuff at Osaka Station to start as it’s more spacious and I believe there are more coin lockers.
Day 4
When you wake up, go straight to Nara. You can have breakfast on the train. By doing so, you will be able to spend more time in Nara, and you won’t regret it. Nara is a beautiful city, and it’s worth spending a whole day to me. You can do souvenir shopping in both Nara and Osaka.
Day 5
Pick one place or area you want to explore and stick with it. For instance, if you want to visit Fushimi Inari, I would go to the shrine and then spend the rest of the day in Gion. If you want to go to Arashiyama, you want to spend a half to full day there.