10 Day Japan Itinerary Check/Help – Tokyo -> Mt Fuji -> Osaka -> Kyoto -> Nara -> Tokyo

Hi Reddit, This will be my first trip in 4 years and I’m struggling a bit with some of the logistics and would like to request some input on my itinerary. I’ve spent a ton of time looking at 10-day itineraries on this subreddit, and have made my own below.

I am a solo 31 year old blonde /blue eyed male traveling from the Southeastern United States. For Japan, I am interested in Nature, Wildlife, Hiking, Nintendo/ Video Games, Anime, Food, Nightlife, and Temples. I have tried to incorporate these into the below. I have read about the street touters, and have previously visited Peru, Thailand, Mexico, Belize, Norway, and Finland.

1. Do you see anyway I can optimize my itinerary, or perhaps some things I should remove from any days below? Or add in place of existing items that better fit my interests or are of higher quality? I’m a little indifferent about some of the Odaiba day (Nov 24th), but I saw a lot of that stuff on most people’s itineraries, so I added it.
2. I’m very confused about the logistics of Nov 27th- exploring around Mt Fuji on my way down to Osaka from Tokyo- perhaps I can train from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko with my luggage, and then securely store my luggage closeby, adventure, then that night get my luggage and continue on to Osaka? Or send my luggage same-day that morning? I would really like to spend a day exploring around Mt Fuji.
3. I have not booked my lodging, I was looking at booking one single AirBnB in Shinjuku for all of Nov 23rd- Nov 27th, and then lodging in Osaka as my base from Nov 27th- Dec 1/Dec2. I will have a suitcase and backpack, so I thought switching lodging too much would take time away, but maybe it would be better than staying in one place for many days?
4. I’m not sure what to do with my last 2 days, Dec 2nd and Dec 3rd. My flight back to the USA leaves at 5pm on Sunday Dec 3rd- I could leave from Osaka that morning or come back to Tokyo on Dec 2nd for better proximity. Curious to hear your thoughts- I really appreciate any insight!

# Tokyo: Nov 23 Thu: (Arrival -> Shinjuku)

* 3:30 PM Arrive Narita NRT Airport
* Get a SIM card and Train Rail Pass from store(?)
* Train to Shinjuku hotel (pick lodging within 5 min walk of a station)
* Explore Shinjuku arcades, shops, and illuminations.
* Dinner

​

# Nov 24 Fri: (Shinjuku -> Odaiba -> Shinjuku)

* Train to Odaiba
* Tsukiji Fish Market and Tokyo Bay views
* Gundam Base Rainbow Bridge (connects to Odaiba island, good view from DECKS Tokyo Beach)
* TeamLab Planets (reservation needed)
* Optionals to Swap for the above in Odaiba
* Small Worlds Miniature Museum
* Tokyo Tower Area (12 min taxi from Odaiba)
* MORI Art Museum and Roppongi
* Mori Tower Sky Deck
* Shiba Park (next to Tokyo Tower)
* Train back to Shinjuku
* Nightclub or Golden Gai- Tiny Bars (Bars open around 9pm)

​

# Nov 25 Sat: (Shinjuku -> Akihabara -> Nakano -> Shinjuku)

* Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (AM- closes at 4:30pm)
* Park Hyatt Hotel Visit
* Train to Akihabara (Shops open around 10am)
* Electric Town, game centers.
* Sega Akihabara 1st
* Maid/Owl Cafes
* Train to Nakano if time (5 mins from Shinjuku station)
* Nakano Broadway anime shopping complex
* Train back to Shinjuku
* Omoide Yokochō (Shinjuku food alleyway)
* Nightclub or Golden Gai- Tiny Bar alleys (Bars open around 9pm)

​

# Nov 26 Sun: (Shinjuku -> Shibuya -> Shinjuku)

* Train to Shibuya
* Meiji Jingu Shrine (Opens early)
* Parco Mall Anime/Video Game Floor:
* Nintendo Store, Pokemon Center, Shonen Jump Store
* Shibuya Crossing
* Shibuya Sky (Rooftop of Shibuya Scramble Square)
* Nonbei Yokocho – “Drunkards Alley” tiny bars
* OPTIONAL: Harajaku area?
* Takeshita Dori shopping strip if time
* Train back to Shinjuku
* Nightclub or Golden Gai- Tiny Bar alleys (Bars open around 9pm)

​

# Nov 27 Mon: Shinjuku -> Mt Fuji? Path Unknown

* Send Luggage to Osaka same-day? Reliable storage locker for suitcase in Kawaguchiko?
* Mt Fuji (2 hr 45 min train ride or 2hr bus from Shinjuku Station to Kawaguchiko Station. Check Fuji Cam in the AM for visibility)
* Kawaguchiko (Can rent eBike and loop lake, good Fuji views, cafe overlooking lake)
* Chureito Pagoda
* Backup options?
* Mt Fuji Ropeway?
* Fuji Five Lakes?
* Oishi Park?
* Continue on to Osaka at night if I was able to send luggage in advance from Tokyo or find storage lockers in Kawa, or go back to Tokyo Shinjuku another night if I wasn’t? Stay in Kawaguchiko?

​

# Nov 28 Tue: Path Unknown -> Osaka

* Train to Osaka hotel (if not already there from night before) (Stay near Umeda, not Namba line)
* Dotonbori District (Times Square of Osaka)
* Dotonbori Canal from Nipponbashi Bridge
* Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
* Osaka Castle
* Shinsekai (Retro Area, OG Pacman etc)

​

# Nov 29 Wed: Osaka -> Kyoto -> Osaka

* Train to Kyoto (30 min)
* Hidden Kyoto E-Biking Tour (3h 45m)
* Kinkakuji (UNESCO WH Site), Daitoku-ji, Kitano Tenmangu, Koto-in ([https://tinyurl.com/Kyoto-eBike-Tour-Route](https://tinyurl.com/Kyoto-eBike-Tour-Route))
* Afternoon Arashiyami Bamboo Forest & Monkey Park Bike Tour? Or go solo.
* Arashiyama (Western Kyoto)
* Monkey Park Iwatayama (Western Kyoto)
* Northern Kyoto: Golden Pavillion if in the area.
* Train back to Osaka

# Nov 30 Thu: Osaka -> Kyoto -> Osaka

* Train to Kyoto [https://tinyurl.com/Kyoto-Market-Hike-Temple-Loop](https://tinyurl.com/Kyoto-Market-Hike-Temple-Loop)
* Nishiki Market
* Fushimi Inari-Taishi Hike to Temple (3 mile loop, 1.5 hours)
* Kiyomizu-dera Temple
* Sannenzaka
* Eikan-do Zenrinji Temple
* Gion Geisha District
* Pontocho Alley (Dinner, pretty at night) Train back to Osaka
* Train back to Osaka

# Dec 1 Fri: Osaka -> Nara -> Osaka

* Train to Nara (Former capital of Tokyo)
* Nara Park (Day trip from Kyoto/Osaka)
* Todai-Ji Temple
* Train back to Osaka

# Dec 2 Sat: Osaka -> Path Unknown

* Explore more in Osaka or head back to Tokyo to be safe for flight. If staying in Osaka, could do Nintendo World, or add in a day trip to Nagano for the snow monkeys earlier in the itinerary from Tokyo?

# Dec 3 Sun: Osaka(?) -> NRT Airport

(3 hr 40 min by train- should arrive 3 hours before flight departs at 5:35pm). If I wake up in Kyoto, need to leave by 9am’ish.