Intro
This itinerary was made after my recent trip to Japan. I stayed for 3 weeks, traveling from city to city across the country. So, I planned out this itinerary for what I think the perfect allotment of time would be if someone were in Japan for 2 weeks. It includes the favorite places I went to, the places I wanted to go to but missed out on, and how I would’ve ideally spent 2 weeks if I were to go back and do it again, knowing everything I do now.
If you are planning on going to Japan for any amount of time that is not exactly 2 weeks, I would still recommend reading this itinerary for ideas of what to do and how long to do them. I include descriptions (and times/prices) of things I loved, tricks/advice I learned, and of course, lots of mistakes I made. Now please use all the information here and anything else you can find online to plan your trip!
Itinerary Overview
4 days Tokyo
3 days Kyoto (possible trip to Nara)
3 days Osaka (possible trip to Kobe)
1 day Hiroshima
2 days Fuji (or similar town)
1 day Extra
Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo
Finally, the plane touches down and you have made it to Japan and its capital city Tokyo, the largest city in the world (by population from when this was written in 2024). Let’s get started. First, you need to get cash and a Japanese transit card (called a SUICA). For cash, the airport will have a currency exchange counter (this had a surprisingly good exchange rate when we went) and an ATM, so you’ll need to stop by one of these to get some Japenese Yen (JPY). Most places in Japan will accept card and Apple Pay in the major cities, but this isn’t 100% certain, so cash is important to have. Now is a good time to mention that if you haven’t read my article [things to know before japan article name], it might be worthwhile to check out before continuing as it has tips and details over preparing for and getting by in Japan. Now for transit – Tokyo’s international airport, Haneda, is about 30-45 minutes from the main areas of the city, so you’ll have to take the train in. Luckily, the Japan Monorail directly connects the airport to major city stations, so it’s easy to find. Walking through the airport, you’ll follow signs for the Monorail and also look for signs that say tickets. To use public transit anywhere in Japan, you will want a SUICA card which you can easily buy and charge up at the ticket kiosks at any metro or train station. Note: For more convenience, if you have an iPhone, you can add a SUICA card to your Apple wallet and charge it with money through that.
Anyways, make sure to get your card, put money on it, and take the Monorail to your accommodation in the city (the best and most reliable way to get anywhere in Japan is using Google Maps).
Once you finally arrive at your accommodation and get checked in, take a second to breathe. The stressful part is over. Now, the rest of the day is set aside to get settled in and do some light exploring in your neighborhood for food as well as any supplies you may need to grab for the rest of the trip. Every trip, I manage to forget something or accidentally get something confiscated by TSA, so this part is included in all of my trip itineraries.
As for food – I know you must be excited to finally try Japanese cuisine. If you aren’t, read up online about it (this article isn’t a bad place to start [insert name] 😉 and get excited. When I traveled to Japan, I heard such amazing things from people raving about the food, so much so that it was probably the thing I was looking forward to most. Okay not to set the bar too high, just go and find out for yourself, which is easy since there are restaurants everywhere, especially in Tokyo. Finding your first steamy bowl of ramen and/or cold plate of fresh sushi is the perfect way to end your first day in Japan.
Day 2: Explore by foot the neighborhoods of Shinjuku, Harajuku, and Shibuya
Put on your comfiest walking shoes because today is where the fun begins. Tokyo covers a large area and is divided into several different neighborhoods, each with its own unique personalities and things to offer. Some of the most popular are Shinjuku, Akihabara, Harajuku, and Shibuya. Since they are all close to each other on the southwest side of the city, you can easily do them all by foot (and train) in a day – you just have to resist the urge to wander around each one for hours. Geographically, it makes most sense to start in Shinjuku or Shibuya and walk through them north-south, but the order doesn’t matter too much. I’ll give you a quick overview of the neighborhoods so you can get an idea of what each one is like and where you might want to spend your time.
Shinjuku: My personal favorite, I would describe Shinjuku as an all-in-one neighborhood that encompasses all the different aspects you could want from a Japanese city. During the day, you can find tons of small, local restaurants crammed in the streets behind downtown Shinjuku (yes, the neighborhood has a downtown), malls and bigger department stores for shopping, and nature-y areas with several shrines and the garden of Tokyo which is filled with Cherry Blossoms in the spring and summer. Then during the nighttime, Golden Gai is the go-to area, which consists of streets/alleys packed with tiny bars (tiny as in 4-8 seats and no wiggle room tiny) and izakayas, which are bars/restaurants known for cheap drinks and small food dishes. We went to one that only had one sign on the door and a staircase that led to a room with a narrow bar, no chairs, a few locals, and a window where you could see the blurry activity of the street below. Then later in the night, there are a number of local clubs you can walk to and dance the night away after you’re done bar hopping.
Harajuku: If I could describe Harajuku in one word, it would be ‘vintage’. The area is known for its shopping scene of vintage and second-hand clothing (American retro is apparently a popular style) and unique storefronts (I stopped into a CBD cafe, a tattoo parlor/art store, and a kebab stand on the same street). Also, the streets themselves look vintage as it is made up of stone alleyways that contain way more pedestrians than cars. Outside of shopping and food, however, Harajuku doesn’t have much in terms of bars/clubs, so it’s best to visit around the morning or midday.
Shibuya: If you close your eyes and imagine what you think Tokyo looks like, especially if you’ve seen it portrayed in movies, I bet that picture looks pretty close to what Shibuya looks like – tall, modern buildings, colorful advertisement screens, and waves of people. Shibuya is even home to the largest pedestrian crossing in the world, Shibuya Crossing, which is a unique thing to see and even more so to be a part of. Here you can find shopping, restaurants, bars, clubs, and really whatever else. It’s also the area most regarded for its nightlife, which includes many large clubs that don’t close until the metro opens in the morning at 4:30 am.
Another neighborhood worth mentioning is Akihabara. This one isn’t included in the foot tour because it is on the opposite side of the city, but if you have the time, you should check it out, especially if you like anime/manga (there are countless shops for merchandise and collectibles), Pokemon (Tokyo’s Pokémon Center is located here), or arcades (the streets are lined with multi-story arcade and gaming buildings).
Day 3: Sightsee (and eat) at Tokyo’s Fish Markets and See the Imperial Palace
[insert name and credentials] has said that the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo is his favorite place in the world; I can see why. Let me provide some context – there are two main fish markets in Tokyo, the Toyosu Wholesale (or Inner) Market and the Tsukiji (Outer) Market. The former is an actual commercial wholesaler. Fish (dead and alive) are brought in during the early hours of the morning and sold to buyers via live auctions. Here is the famous tuna auction, which takes place every morning (except Sundays and Wednesdays) at 4:30 am. The latter is more popular as it resembles a typical market which consists of streets that are lined with vendors of food, coffee/juice, produce, physical goods, souvenirs, and of course, fish. Here you can try lots of different kinds of traditional street food, mainly seafood-based, but you can also find wagyu skewers with some of the best meat you’ll ever eat.
In my opinion, both markets are worth going to, although it takes a little bit of planning. If you look up the two markets on Google Maps, you’ll see they are not together. They used to be one in the same, known as the Inner and Outer markets, but this changed in [year] when the Toyosu market moved across the bay to its current location. You can visit both of them easily, but if you want to see the tuna auction (which is really the only reason to visit the Toyosu), you need to get there by 4:30-5 in the morning since the auction starts at 4:30. Then directly afterward, you can catch the end of the other live fish auctions in the building. To get to the market this early, you will likely need a taxi since the first metro doesn’t begin until 5, getting you there at 5:30 at the earliest. When I went, I made the mistake of waiting for the first metro and arrived at the market at 6. By the time I got there, the auctions were completed, and they were already loading the giant tunas onto trucks to take away. It was cool to see, but if I had the chance again, I would wake up earlier and get there at 4:30 for the full experience.
If you decide to wake up to visit the Toyosu market, then you should be done seeing everything around 6-6:30 am, the perfect time to head to the Tsukiji market since it’s so early that you’ll pretty much have the whole place to yourself (a luxury you will see from photos later in the day). Don’t worry, there are plenty of vendors that sell coffee and breakfast items. For something more traditional, try one of the seafood treats like fish cakes or freshly grilled oysters for breakfast.
If you decide not to visit the Toyosu market and only go to the Tsukiji, you have a bit more time on your hands. However, I would still recommend getting to the market early, around 7-8 am, because people start to flood in after that time. The difference between the market in the morning and in the late morning is extreme. Make sure to check out some of the knife shops there, specifically [Mina’s shop’s name], the oldest knife-making company in Japan.
After you are done exploring and eating to your heart’s content at the market, you will continue the sightseeing by visiting the nearby Imperial Palace. Make sure to check ahead for availability; I did not when I planned to go and missed it because it was closed that day! Learn from my mistakes and give yourself the chance to see the Imperial Palace and its grounds and gardens while in the capital city.
Day 4: Bullet Train to Kyoto and Explore
Onto the second stop of the journey: Kyoto. The old capital of imperial Japan, Kyoto is a lot smaller and calmer than Tokyo, but make no mistake, it’s definitely not a small town. Getting from Tokyo to Kyoto is as simple as buying a JR Shinkansen (bullet train) ticket at the station kiosks and hopping on. The ride takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes and costs 13,000 JPY (90 USD). Yes, this is a little pricey, but you’ll find that any Shinkansen ticket is in this price range. There is another cheaper option which is the overnight highway buses that connect most cities in Japan. So if you want to save some money and don’t mind an overnight journey, the bus that connects Tokyo and Kyoto costs about 6,000 JPY (40 USD), departing Tokyo between 9-10 pm and arriving in Kyoto early the following morning. I took a night bus elsewhere in Japan; the journey was surprisingly comfortable and definitely worth the savings for me. Keep in mind that you should book bus tickets online at least the day before, as the cheaper tickets tend to sell out.
Okay, now once you get to Kyoto, take the rest of the day to explore the city on foot. The area around Nishiki Market is walkable (Nishiki market is also a not-to-miss food market), and you can spend the evening finding temples, food, miscellaneous shops, and picture-worthy spots. For some ideas of sights/areas to see that are within the city, I would recommend Yasaka-jinja Shrine, Yasaka Pagoda, and Shinbashi Dori. Then at night, head over to the Pontocho for smaller local spots for dinner and drinks. This area is known for its lively bar scene which is mainly composed of Izakayas tucked away around every corner. If you’ve got it in you, stop by several different ones to try new places to meet more locals and travelers.
But, just make sure to get to bed at a decent hour because tomorrow you embark on an awesome nearby hike that is even more rewarding if you wake up and get going before the crowds.
Day 5: Fushimi Inari Hike, Samurai/Ninja Museum
The earlier you can start the day today, the better. I promise it will be worth it for the unobstructed views from the mountain and the ability to take pictures of the famous 10,000 Tori gates without having to squeeze through crowds of people. The Fushimi Inari hike was my most memorable highlight from Kyoto due to the views of the city and the look into Japanese Buddhist culture through the many shrines and gates that are scattered along the hike. I keep calling it a hike, but don’t be scared; it’s really not very long or difficult to get to the summit, especially since the trail is mostly paved and has a lot of stairs too. The entire trail should take about 2 hours, but I would give yourself more time than that to stop and soak in the scenery, take pictures, and have lunch at the restaurant on top of the hill (the views are unmatched).
The hike should take up a good chunk of the morning and into the afternoon, so once you get back it will be the perfect time to stop at the Nishiki market to look around for some lunch. Here you’ll find all kinds of delicious street foods to fill up on.
Then, close by is the Samurai & Ninja Museum/Experience which is worth a visit. You will learn a lot about the history of the samurai and ninjas, how they fit into the state of Japan throughout the centuries, and facts from fiction (some things are pretty surprising). Plus, you get to throw ninja stars. No, they’re not real metal so don’t get too excited, but it’s still fun. Afterward, you can wander around the outdoor shopping mall streets (hard to describe what this looks like, but it’s a popular concept in Japan) where the museum is located. Then at night, you could wander around near your accommodation (we found an awesome local bar near our Airbnb that had great food), or you can’t go wrong with heading back to Pontocho.
Day 6: Bamboo Forests and Hugawaya River Boat Ride
This day can really get started as early as you like, but as always, the more time the better. And, since there aren’t many cafes or breakfast spots that are open early in Japan, you might as well just grab a coffee and snack from Seven-Eleven to hold you over until lunch and get going. The area near Tokyo is home to two popular bamboo forests, Arashiyama and Adashino. Since they are very close to each other, you can see both of them easily, and here’s how. First, you’ll want to start at the Arashiyama forest earlier in the morning since this one is way more popular among tourists even by 9-10 am it will start getting crowded with people. You can take the local bus there easily (all bus rides cost 230 JPY, ~1.75 USD). Plus, getting there earlier with fewer people is nice since this is probably the better forest for pictures since it is larger and has the popular, Instagrammable if I dare to say, walkway through the middle of it. The pictures you have seen online if you looked up the forest were probably taken from here.
After you’re done exploring the first forest, you can head on over to the second, smaller one – only another 15-minute bus ride away. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to go into this one due to a closure for bad weather, but from what I saw, I think I would have liked it a lot better. First of all, the walk to get to the bamboo pathway from the bus stop is super cool because you go through these nice neighborhoods and admire the houses, gardens, small shops, and of course bamboo you see along the way. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a monkey chilling around the trees and in the bamboo. The signage to the bamboo walkway is clearly marked, so you’ll know when you arrive, and then you pay a small entrance fee to get in (I don’t remember what it is exactly, but I think it’s just a few hundred yen). This forest is smaller, but the trail looks peaceful and at the back end of it is a garden with hundreds of small Buddha statues, so it’s pretty impressive. It’s also much less crowded than Arashiyama, so you can take your time to relax and soak it all in.
As I said, take your time admiring the forests, but don’t take all day because next up is a nature-y boat ride down the Hozugawa River. I mention the time because the boat rides depart at set times, with the latest at 2:30 or 3:00 pm depending on the season, and the starting point is about a 45-minute train ride away from the city. The boat ride lasts almost 2 hours as you travel slowly down the river, being guided only by a bamboo stick and an oar. Along the way, you’ll see picturesque Japanese countryside-looking landscapes, wildlife (mainly different species of birds), and scattered trains passing overhead on the bridges. I went in the winter, so my pictures look a bit less colorful, but just try to imagine them with the sides dotted with pink cherry blossoms, the sun shining brightly, and happy, smiling passengers who are not freezing cold. After 2 hours, you’ll float into the town of Arashiyama, which you’ll recognize after passing through it this morning to go to the forests. It’s a quaint part of the city with several small shops and cafes and is also a seemingly popular spot among Japanese locals for taking pictures. It’s definitely a good spot to grab a cup of coffee, warm up a bit, and wander around after the boat ride.
Now, we get to our last evening/night in Kyoto. Walk around to any areas you haven’t seen much of yet, find some more spots for drinks and food on Pontocho street, or maybe find an onsen where you can sit and relax for a while. There are lots of these around Kyoto since it is an old capital, and the entrance fees aren’t too bad either. Just remember to check before you go if a particular onsen allows non-guests (most are in hotels) or tattoos if you have any.
Note: Most onsens in Japan are not tattoo-friendly. If you have a smaller tattoo, you can probably get by covering it up with stick-on tattoo coverings that you can buy at convenience stores or pharmacies, that’s what I did. If you have a bigger tattoo though, you will likely need to find an explicitly tattoo-friendly onsen.
Day 7: Half-day Trip to Nara (optional) and Travel to Osaka
Okay, so I’m going to start with a disclaimer here – Nara has very mixed reviews in my experience. Some people have really loved their trip there, and some have not liked it at all, which is why I have it listed as ‘optional’. I hate to be a hater, but I am more in the group of those who didn’t love Nara, but let me explain why. I initially wanted to check out Nara because I knew it was a popular day trip from Kyoto/Osaka, and it had some intriguing attractions such as the deer park, the traditional mochi-making shop, and the Todaiji Temple, whose Great Hall Building is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world that houses one of the largest bronze statues of the Buddha in the world.
Starting with the first attraction, Nara Deer Park is famous because it is 1) filled with wild deer everywhere and 2) those deer are supposedly friendly and even bow to you. While it is true, and incredibly unique, that the deer do bow to you if you give them a cracker, they are also aggressive and downright rude (they kept biting our butts for some reason). All this said, however, if the idea of spending an afternoon hanging out in a park surrounded by admittedly cute Japanese deer appeals to you, you should definitely go here.
Next up – the mochi shop. I found out about this shop from Instagram and looked it up to find out that it is famous because they still practice the traditional art of making mochi from scratch several times a day in their part-open, part-windowed kitchen. If you don’t know, mochi is a Japanese treat made from chewy rice flour dough and traditionally filled with a sweet red bean paste. The entire mochi-making process is cool to witness as it gives you a glimpse of a traditional part of the culture, but honestly the mochi itself was just not for me. Some people love it, so it’s worth a try. And if you want to see how it’s made, I’d recommend coming here. But, you can also find mochi just about anywhere in Japan in many different varieties, so it’s your decision.
And finally, Nara is home to the Todaiji Temple, which contains one of the largest wooden structures in the world and houses one of the largest bronze statues of the Buddha. It’s a short walk from the deer park, and it’s an impressive sight up close, but we really just admired it for a few minutes then left. However, I’m sure that if you either love carpentry/architecture or are Buddhist, you can appreciate the shrine a lot more than I did. But anyway, that’s Nara in a nutshell. For real there isn’t really anything else there. However, it’s such a short train ride from Kyoto (less than 1 hour), that spending a morning to see everything isn’t the biggest commitment, so all-in-all I’d say just go for it, you might love it.
Now, whether you spent the morning chilling out in Kyoto or seeing the sights of Nara, the goal for the next half of the day is getting to Osaka, my personal favorite of Japan’s major cities. It is just a 30-minute, 560 JPY (~4 USD) trip from Kyoto, so you’ll be able to get there easily and quickly. Here’s a quick History Channel-style introduction of Osaka:
The 2nd largest city in Japan and the 10th largest city in the world, Osaka is best known as the nation’s kitchen due to its plethora of restaurants, from Michelin-starred to hole-in-the-wall, but it is also regarded for its lively nightlife scene, featuring bars and clubs that continue partying until the wee hours of the morning as well as its rich history, a former capital of Japan and home to the famous Osaka Castle. With plenty to eat, drink, do, and see, Osaka is at the top of the list of must-visit cities in Japan.
So now that you have an idea of where you’re headed, let’s get started right in the heart of the city, an area known as Dotonbori. Once you get checked in to your accommodation and make your way to Dotonbori, you’ll feel the energy of the city pick up, especially if you visit at nighttime. This area is filled with large bright signs, restaurants, bars, street foods, music, and lots of people. Spend the afternoon or evening here wandering the streets finding a place to eat; finding isn’t the hard part, choosing is. Most options will be high quality since they have to compete with all the top-rated restaurants in the area, so don’t stress about the choice too much. Just pick a spot and follow the vibes of the night with good food, drinks, and company.
Day 8: Find Osaka’s Top Attractions
For your first full day in Osaka, you’re going to visit the must-sees, starting with the famous and historic Osaka Castle. Osaka Castle was originally built in 1583 and rebuilt in 1931 and has lived through a lot, especially during the Warring States period of Japan for which the castle played a prominent role. Also, it’s a big castle with traditional architecture and a moat, so it’s pretty awesome just to look at. The park surrounding the castle is peaceful and well-kept, so it’s a great place to start the day with a coffee and a walk through the grounds right up to the castle itself. You can even go inside the castle for a fee of 600 JPY (4.5 USD), so it is a unique activity if you’re interested. We were content only admiring the castle from the outside, so we continued on through the grounds.
The next items on the agenda are the Pokemon Center and Nintendo Store followed by a trip up the Umeda Sky Building. It’s important to note that in my opinion, the Sky Building is a much better activity for evening (sunset and on) because of the views of the city at night. So, in order to time this accordingly, before heading up there you’re going to want to stop by the Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi area for some food. Spend some time in a restaurant taking a nice lunch and maybe looking around a bit, then start making your way to the Pokemon Center and Nintendo Store (they are in the same building). If Nintendo and Pokemon games were a huge part of your childhood like they were mine, these stores are going to make you feel like a giddy child again. They are filled with merchandise, action figures, stuffed animals, and even video games you can play all featuring your favorite characters. I spent at least half an hour just looking at the little figures of all the Super Smash Bros. characters. And even if you weren’t a Nintendo/Pokemon nerd growing up, the stores are still cool to see because they are unique and you get to see how much this style of video and video games is a part of Japanese culture.
After this, it’s on to the Umeda Sky Building. You may have seen pictures of this before, as it is known for its futuristic-looking, architectural feat of a design with two towers rising 170m in the air and connected at the top by a viewing floor that for some reason also has a giant hole in the middle (don’t worry you cannot fall through). Needless to say, it’s hard to describe, but really it’s a spectacular sight. This is especially true when you go from standing at the base to riding the elevator all the way up to the top. The cost is 1500 JPY (14 USD) and is worth every yen. The views from the top are one of a kind, and it includes tables you can sit at and enjoy the view along with a cup of coffee or an ice cream from the cafe (all of which are surprisingly reasonably priced). You’ll definitely want to spend some time taking the view and some pictures too, of course. Only after you’re satisfied with your evening above the city do you go back down to ground level. Tonight can be spent exploring the many bars and restaurants of Dotonbori (again, yes) and if it’s a weekend and you’re up for a late night of fun, try a night out in one of the many nightclubs that are in the area. As I mentioned earlier, Osaka is also known for its incredible nightlife scene. The bars are plentiful and lively, but the nightclubs take it to the next level. Nightclubs here do not typically fill up with people until 12-1 am and the height of the party continues until around 4-5 am. The Japanese know how to party, so be ready to match that energy.
Day 9: Half-day Trip to Kobe (Optional) and Explore Tsutenkaku and Koreatown
You’ve probably heard of Kobe beef before, regarded as the finest beef in the world. There’s a chance you thought it was Wagyu, and you would also be correct. I learned that Kobe beef is just a specific type of Wagyu beef that comes from the Hyogo prefecture, where you guessed it, you can find the city of Kobe. Okay, long intro for a small city, but that’s by far the main reason people go to Kobe – for the beef. It is still a relatively large city with a scenic mountainous landscape next to the sea, but it’s not incredibly unique from other cities in this regard. However, if you have the time and you’re down to explore another city, you can make the trip to Kobe from Osaka-Umeda station in 30 min on the local train for just a few bucks (320 JPY, 2.5 USD). Explore around for sure, but really just make sure that when in town, you get a meal with some Kobe beef.
Whether you decide to go to Kobe or not, you are going to spend the rest of the day in Osaka, and you still have some cool areas to see. The first one up is Tsutenkaku. This area is known for its old style and retro feel and is marked by the Tsutenkaku Tower, which looks like a smaller, redder version of the Eiffel Tower. The tower is a local landmark and an attraction where you can go up to see great views of the city and slide down on a see-through, 3-story slide that wraps around the outside of the tower. Sounds pretty cool, right? Then, you can wander the streets of the neighborhood by foot to find tasty izakayas, colorful alleys, retro arcade games, and smiling demon statues whose feet you should rub for good luck, so they say. I had heard that the Tsutenkaku area is known to be more dangerous than other areas of Osaka, and a local friend I met told me this is true, but only really if you walk around alone at night. Plus, I’d never met anyone who had any problems there, so I’d say you’d be fine to go here without worry.
Make sure not to eat too much in Tsutenkaku though, because you’re going to want all the stomach space you have when you make your way to Osaka’s Koreatown. The area around Tsuruhashi Station is known as the largest Koreatown in Japan and in my opinion, the tastiest. You’ll know you’re there once you get out of the station. The streets are lively and filled with people, food carts, and lots of small restaurants. Before deciding on a place to eat, spend some time wandering through the streets and alleys, looking into all the stalls and corners as you go. But eventually, yes, pick a place to sit and eat. I don’t have any specific recommendations, as we just wandered until we found a place that I never knew the name of, so I’d recommend just doing that too. If the place looks cozy and has some locals in it, that’s probably a pretty solid spot. And if you don’t know what to order, try the grilled beef or the Korean omelet; those were two of my favorites.
Day 10: Day Trip to Hiroshima
When traveling, I always like to try and visit sites of historical and/or religious significance. I think that 1) they are important and interesting to see and 2) the feeling of standing in a place where some of the greatest (or worst) moments in history took place is surreal. Today, you can see one of those places first-hand: Hiroshima. I believe this is an important place for all people to visit since it is the first and one of the only sites in the world where you can see (and feel) the impact of nuclear warfare. Regardless of your opinion on the morality of dropping the atomic bomb, the loss of life in Hiroshima was tragic. Then, learning and seeing how the Japanese people lived through this tragedy, rebuilt their city, and now fight (peacefully) for the end of nuclear warfare today is just as hopeful.
Okay, before you embark on your day trip, we need to plan out a few things first. Over the next few days, the plan is to see Hiroshima for a day, then transit to an area around Mt. Fuji to stay at a Ryokan (or Ryokan-style hotel), then transit back to Tokyo before leaving. There are many ways you could do this depending on the time and budget you have, but here is what I would suggest:
Take the Shinkansen from Osaka to Hiroshima this morning, which takes 1.5 hours and costs 9710 JPY (68 USD). Stay the day in Hiroshima, but take the overnight bus to Tokyo since Tokyo is a lot closer to any place you may be staying near Mt. Fuji such as Fuji, Kawaguchiko, or Hakone (bus tickets can be booked the day before for 9000-10000 JPY, 65-70 USD). Then, after arriving in Tokyo in the morning, you can go straight to the destination of your Ryokan stay, which should be closer and cheaper to get to from there. However, if an overnight bus is not for you, you can stay the night in Hiroshima and take the Shinkansen to Tokyo in the morning (4 hours, 18500 JPY, 123 USD) and then go from there.
Note: Staying at a traditional Japanese-style Ryokan will be a highlight of the trip, so
spend some time beforehand looking for stays around Mt. Fuji. There are a wide variety of options in different towns and for different budgets, all depending on what you want your experience to be. For reference, traveling on a tight budget we stayed at the Fuji Matsuzono Hotel near Kawaguchiko. This was not a traditional Ryokan, but a hotel with similar features such as views of Fuji, shared onsens, and kimonos/yukatas, which were the basics of what we were looking for.
Now to continue with today, you should get to Hiroshima sometime in the morning, and from there you can check in to your accommodation or store your bags at the station if necessary and get right to Hiroshima Peace Park. Most everything you’ll want to see in Hiroshima will be in this area, so once here, take your time to wander through the park, read the signs, feel the gravity of the historical sights, and allow plenty of time for the museum. There isn’t much more to say, as you have to experience it for yourself. Take your time, and just make sure to get to the bus station 45min-1hr before your bus departs, if you’re on the overnight bus.
Day 11: Get to the Ryokan …and Relax
Good morning, bright and early from Tokyo 🙂 I know that after an overnight bus it’s going to feel like a long morning, but you have just one more excursion waiting for you. The bus will arrive at Shinjuku station early, around 6-7 am, and from here you’ll connect to whichever city is closest to your chosen Ryokan stay. To find out how to get there, just type it into Google Maps and choose the route that works best (it will show you accurate prices too!). Then, either buy a ticket from a kiosk or grab your SUICA card and find the platform you need. Soon enough, Google willing, you’ll be at your Ryokan. Now, you can get a hot cup of green tea, put on your kimono or yukata, and let out a huge sigh of relief. You’ve made it to the last few days of the trip and the relaxing haven of a Japanese Ryokan. Before I leave you to a peaceful next few days, here are a few things to know.
Onsens are generally shared and gender divided. Unless specified as private, don’t expect to be alone or with an opposite-gender partner.
Also, tattoos may not be allowed in the onsen. So, for smaller tattoos, keep them hidden using a tattoo cover (found at convenience stores) or something similar. And for larger tattoos, you’ll probably need a tattoo-friendly ryokan as mentioned earlier.
Day 12: Relax, Relax, Relax
Ah yes, one more day in the onsen is just what you need after a long trip. Along with this, you can take your time exploring around the town you’re in to find attractions, food, and lots of good views of Mt. Fuji. In Kawaguchiko, there is a small shrine on a hill with an unobstructed view of Fuji, and all around Lake Yamanakako is scenic with the mountain always in the background. I spent an afternoon walking and jogging around it on the trail, which was my own form of exercise and relaxation. There are bound to be spots with great views, popular or hidden, that you can find – you just have to go find them. And of course, stop in the onsen every chance you get. Also, remember to pack up because tomorrow you return to Tokyo for your flight home.
Day 13: Return to Tokyo
Finally, regrettably, your trip is coming to an end. Depending on your flight, you may need to go straight to the airport, or you may have the flexibility to spend some more time, even another night, in Tokyo. The good news is that Mt. Fuji and the towns around it are close to Tokyo, at most a 2-hour journey. Spend the day traveling back, and if you don’t leave today, visit any parts of Tokyo that you either haven’t seen yet (I promise you have not seen everything) or parts that you loved so much that you want to go back to. You really can’t go wrong here. Buy that last souvenir you wanted so badly, savor that last bowl of ramen or bite of sushi, and enjoy your last day!
Day 14: Extra???
If you were reading the Day 13 description about it being the last day in Japan and thinking to yourself that I can’t count or must be confused about how many days are in a week. Not to worry though, it was not an oversight. I planned out the itinerary to span only 13 days, not 14. This is because if you really only have 14 days on your trip, you can do everything you want with one day to spare. Trust me, having one day to spare on a trip is an invaluable gift. At its worst, you have a buffer day in case anything goes wrong, like missing a train or a bus to the next city. And, at its best, you have an extra day that you can spend wherever doing whatever you’d like. For real, you’re bound to fall in love with at least one spot along the way, just wishing you could spend a little more time there. When you get to that place, you’ll know, and you’ll be glad you have the flexibility to stay another day – so go for it. Personally, I loved Osaka so much that I traveled back to it for another day before returning to Tokyo to fly out. Now, that wasn’t the most time or economically-friendly decision, so I’d recommend just staying somewhere for another day while you’re already there, but hey, the choice is yours. Use it wisely 🙂
