If it helps with the map routes, here is what we used: [https://wanderlog.com/view/ysvzpbwjhc/trip-to-japan/shared](https://wanderlog.com/view/ysvzpbwjhc/trip-to-japan/shared)
**May 1, Osaka Day 1**
Arrival @ Tokyo, 8-9 AM
Shin-Osaka Station, Osaka
Welina Hotel, Osaka
Don Quijote Dotonbori
Ebisu Tower Ferris Wheel
**May 2, Osaka Day 2**
Kuromon Ichiba Market
Osaka Castle
Umeda Sky Building
Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel
Universal Studios Japan (Just passing by for picture)
Dotonbori
**May 3, Kyoto Day 1**
Welina Hotel, Osaka
Namba Station, Osaka
Kyoto Station
Gion Geisha Museum
Higashiyama Ward
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Ato Hotel, Kyoto
**May 4, Kyoto Day 2**
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Romantic Scenic Railway
Kinkaku-ji
Kiyomizu-dera
**May 5, Tokyo Day 1**
Nishiki Market, Kyoto
Ueno Hotel, Tokyo
Shibuya Cross
Hachiko Memorial Statue
Yoyogi Park
Mipig Cafe Harajuku
Shibuya Sky
**May 6, Tokyo Day 2**
Lake Kawaguchi
Shimoyoshida Honcho Street
Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Kabukicho
**May 7, Tokyo Day 3**
Tsukiji Outer Market
TeamLab Planets Tokyo
Asakusa
Senso-ji
Tokyo Skytree
**May 8, Tokyo Day 4**
Ueno Park
Ameyoko Shopping District
Akihabara
Imperial Palace
Yakitori Alley
**May 9, Tokyo Day 5**
Ueno Hotel
Narita Airport
5 comments
Hi!
This is not meant to be rude.
I know you want to use a JR Pass, but the best way to get from Shinsaibashi to your hotel in Kyoto is via the Keihan private line. Your hotel is right next to Keihan Sanjo Station. You want to take the subway to Yotsubashi Station and then take the Keihan to Keihan Sanjo Station. It will cost you all of 620 yen per person and will save you a lot of time.
With your original route you will have to use either a subway or a bus once you get to Kyoto, because there is no way to use JR to get anywhere near your hotel.
I think you might have a hard time getting everything in you want to do on May 4th
I think you will have a hard time getting everything in on May 5th, because Nishiki Market doesn’t tend to open until 10ish or later and you then need to get from there back to Kyoto Station to take a train 2.5 hours to get to Tokyo.
I think May 6th is going to be very hard to impossible as well. Kawaguchiko is 2 hours by bus from Shinjuku Station (not covered by a JR pass, there are partially covered trains, they can book out and they vary in how often they run and always take at least 2 hours as well.) You must be inside Shinjuku Gyoen by 5:30 pm, it closes at 6.
Team Lab can sell out and you are going on Sunday. I would check ticket availability, if you do not currently have tickets.
Good luck!
Your 6th May is probably pushing it in terms of timing. The bus is the easiest and most direct route, but if you can book a train, you can take the JR train from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko station. But you then need to take a local train or bus backwards towards Mt Fuji station or Shimoyoshida Station. Walking from Kawaguchiko station will add a lot of time.
Also allow some time to take turns for photos. There were 15-20 other people at that popular instagram spot all taking turns for a photo.
Alternatively, from Kawaguchiko station, hire a bicycle for a couple of hours and do a quick cycle to the other end of lake Kawaguchi. It’s a nice ride. You could then cycle to Honcho street and back.
But it’s still going to be a big day.
May 7th is a Sunday, I think Tsukiji market is closed then.
Keep in mind that you’re going during golden week, which is a series of holidays for Japan. It’s likely there will be certain places closed and high traffic on transportation routes.
I think you should consider this in your itinerary.
I go to Kyoto once a month. I live in Osaka.
I can tell you right now, that during GW, that schedule is gonna kill you. Doable yea but it’s ain’t gonna be that much fun