Hello JapanTravel, I initially wrote a first itinerary in this [thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/15pz7wq/travel_plan_osakanarakyotofujitokyo_from_2809_to/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=3&utm_content=1) and after some super useful comments and a change in travel date I rewrote most of it while keeping the main attractions.
# Intro
Young 30ish couple traveling from Europe for partner’s 30th Birthday (surprise trip so a lot of things will be optional depending on the day-to-day unraveling of the trip) traveling from the 25th of October to the 8th of September.
We are foodies, love nature and hikes, Japanese culture (History but also medias such as Ghibli movies, lots of animes,…) and theme parks (but only doing FujiQ on day 6 as USJ and Disney seems meh).
# Detailed schedule
Note: **We plan to walk between the bullet points except if specified (e.g. rainbow bridge and Kinkaku-ji)**
## Day 1 – 2023-09-26 – Osaka
* arrive at 3.30PM
* checkin hotel in Namba
* walk in Ame mura (after dark)
* enjoy food and evening at Dotonbori, Misono building (hallway with bars)
* if restless because of jetlag from Amsterdam time-> shinsekai
## Day 2 – 2023-09-27 – Himeji/Kyoto
* Osaka train station in the morning (not too early as jetlag) to Himeji
* store luggage (is that easy in Himeji?)
* Himeji castle and koekoen garden
* train to Kyoto
* shop at Konjaku Nishimura and Kyoto handicraft center
* Gion corner event in the evening? 6 PM or 7 PM (arrive 10 min in advance), duration 45 minutes
* Restaurant (bamboo for o-tsukidashi or Ramen Muraji) and night in Gion:
* walk to minamiza theater
* Yasaka shrine lanterns
* night visit of Shoren-in? Up to 10PM
* explore Gion
* back to hotel in Gion
## Day 3 – 2023-09-28 – Kyoto
Long day hike:
* Fushimi Inari and the 1000 gates (famous “hidden” Path?) As early as possible
* Tofuku-ji Tsutenkyo Bridge or Kyoto Trail Station 5 Higashiyama
* Kiyomizu-dera
* eat and walk in Sannenzaka
* Maruyama Park
* Shimbashi quarter
* Chion-in Temple (free)
* night walk and eat at pontocho alley (restaurant Manten or Kiyama depending on budget)
* bee’s knees bar
* back on foot to hotel in Gion
## Day 4 – 2023-09-29 – Nara/Osaka
Leave from Kyoto to Nara. Luggage transferred to next hotel in Kyoto (Day 6)
* Famous mochi place @ Nakatanido, mochi pounding
* Nara walk inspired by itineraries such as [https://thenavigatio.com/nara-itinerary-one-day-trip](https://thenavigatio.com/nara-itinerary-one-day-trip)
* eat kaki no hazushi and drink local saké @ Maguro Koya?
* to visit:
* kofuku-ji only exterior (check 2023 reconstruction plan)
* gojuno-to pagoda
* gango-ji
* Naramachi Nigiwau-no-ie, typically century old house, free
* Todai-ji
* train to Osaka
* teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka somewhere between 6.30 and 9.30PM
* shinsekai for the evening, eat there
## Day 5 – 2023-09-30 – Osaka
* Osaka Castle and gardens (just walk by as probably not as good as Himeji Castle)
* Hozenji Yokocho alley, traditional street in the middle of shopping street
* lunch at kuromon market, sea food!
* Namba Yasaka Jinja shrine (giant lion head)
* Abeno Harukas for city view (coffee on 58th floor? Surprising toilets on 59th?)
* nipponbashi
* Shitenno-ji Temple Go back to Kyoto, onsen hotel next to the station, arrive at night as Kyoto station has nice lights.
## Day 6 – 2023-10-01 – Kyoto
Only walk except bus to Kinkaku-ji and return trip in the evening
* take a picnic at Nishiki Market
* Bus to Kinkaku-ji temple
* Ryoan-ji temple
* pass-by Ninna-ji (court is free)
* Daikaku-ji Temple. Once there buy tickets for Kangetsu-no-yube (Moon-viewing party) around 3PM
* time left for monkey park? Count 45 minutes in
* Arashiyama’s bamboo grove
* sagano scenic train from Arashiyama torokko to Hozukyo torokko
* walk down back to Daikaku-ji Temple and eat at Ayuchaya Hiranoya
* Kangetsu-no-yube (if weather OK)
* Gion quarter at night or Arashyiama ?
* Return to hotel next to station
## Day 7 – 2023-10-02 – Kyoto/Tokyo
* check out and store luggage
* pass by Higashi Hongan-ji Temple (free) and Toji temple (highest pagoda)
* Shinkansen to Tokyo Shinjuku
* if lunch time eat @ Uogashi Nihon-ichi
* Omoide Yokochō
* Shibuya with:
* crossing
* Pokémon center
* Harajuku
* Meijer jingu shrine
* Hachiko statue
* get lost…
* dinner @ Shirubee
* continue in Shibuya for the evening
* finish at Kabuchiko w/ golden gai
## Day 8 – 2023-10-03 – Tokyo/Kawaguchiko
* forward luggage to next Tokyo hotel
* Ghibli museum? Or Day 10 and do:
* shinjuku gyoen garden, cafè @ hananoki?
* eat lunch @ Tokyu food show (R p. 202)
* passby Omotesando shopping street and Meiji Jingu sanctuary
* train from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko
* checkin around 4PM in hotel next to Kawaguchiko station
* Mt Fuji panoramic ropeway
* walk up to Arakura sengen park and the pagoda with Mt. Fuji view
* eat somewhere (recommendations?)
* back to hotel
## Day 9 – 2023-10-04 – Kawaguchiko
Birthday day
* FUJI-Q with day pass!!!! As early as possible
* enjoy Ryokan with private onsen and dinner there
## Day 10 – 2023-10-05 – Kawaguchiko/Tokyo
* Ryokan breakfast
* is Ghibli museum handy that day? If tickets not on that day just swap with day 8
* pass-by Suga jinja (stairs in “your name”) and Yasukuni Jinja (war memorial)
* impérial palace with Kitanomarou park (free) east impérial gardens
* Tokyo Daijingu
* Kanda Shrine
* eat at Tamahide
* night in Kanda
* Check-in hotel in Ningyocho (midnight)
## Day 11 – 2023-10-06 – Tokyo
* shopping in Akihabara, manga and cosplay
* skytree ?
* kaminarimon gate
* Senso-ji temple (free)
* Ameyoko Shopping District
* Ishibashiinari Shrine
* Ameyayokocho, market for shopping
* Ueno Toshogu Shrine
* lotus pond at Ueno park for sunset (Shinobazu no Ike pond)
* Kappabashi Dougu Street
* eat @ Yakitori Omino
* Nakamise-dori Street at night
* Asakusa for the night and restaurant there
## Day 12 – 2023-10-07 – Tokyo
* pass by nihonbashi bridge
* eat early at Tsukiji fish market, eat aji fish
* teamlab planet, not sure we’ll like it but let’s try if no better idea
* Lunch somewhere, sushidai Tokyo? If lunch time after Teamlab
* take automated subway over rainbow bridge through Yurikamome line to reach Shimbashi (first wagon for view!!!!)
* Tokyo tower (climb up?)
* Ginza (Saturday so street closed)
* Hamarikyu garden (tea place inside Nakajima-no-ochaya)
* Restaurant godaime hanayama Udon
* Daifuku at Ginza Akebono
* Hayao Miyazaki’s clock
## 5.9 Day 13 – 2023-10-08 – Tokyo
Travel back through Nerita 10
# Conclusion
Thanks for reading if you have any ideas, comments, suggestions I am happy to take them.
Remaining things to do:
* book restaurants (quickly…)
* book ghibli museum (wake up at 3 AM on the 10th September to get tickets)
* check if JRpass is still not worth it with the new itinerary
* should I actually buy suica or Kansai one in my case with that few planned bus/subway trips (2 planned)
Also I know that some day are very packed and plan to drop based on partner preferences but for that I need enough choices.