Japan 9 Day Itinerary
TOKYO
Day ONE:
Eat Ramen at restaurant de nouilles (ramen): the best ramen I had in Tokyo!
Shiba Park and Zojo-Ji to get a good view of the Tokyo Tower
Take bus/uber to Super Potato (closes 8pm) in Akihabara for retro gaming collectibles (overpriced compared to other places, but more of a museum)
Don Quijote - 5 stories of funky and affordable souvenirs (arcade on 6th and 7th floors-closes at 8pm)
Meguro River: nice spot to see the cherry blossoms IF the cherry blossoms are blooming at the time you go
TOKYO
Day TWO
Shibuya Crossing: one of the world’s busiest intersections. Take the subway to Shibuya Station and head upstairs to the Starbucks, where you’ll have an overhead view of all the action
Shibuya Sky: Panoramic views of Tokyo (Buy tickets online in advance) Take one of the elevators on the 1st or 2nd floor on the exterior of Shibuya Scramble Crossing in order to reach the 14th floor where the Shibuya Sky entry gates are. From there, you’ll be directed to another elevator that goes directly up to Shibuya Sky.
Shopping at Shibuya: Shibuya Loft (stationary/souvenirs) and Miyashita Park (big mall with restaurants).
Chiku-Chiku Cafe: hedgehog cafe (5280 yen, about $30) (Buy tickets online in advance)
Yoyogi Park: Inside this magical, tree-filled green space lies Meiji Jingu, a large shrine complex with a famous iris garden that blooms in June. You’ll also find the much-photographed wall of ceremonial sake barrels not far from the shrine’s entrance
Walk to Harajuku: Tokyo’s epicenter of all things cute and cool.
Get lunch at Gyukatsu Motomura (Harajuku Branch) (Tonkotsu Ramen)
Harry Harajuku Terrace- cute animal cafe with otters (Buy tickets online in advance)
Uber/bus to observation deck at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building: Free, You can access the observation decks via the 1st floor elevator, though be prepared for a short-ish queue depending on the day and time of your visit.
Cat Cafe Mocha Shinjuku- biggest cat cafe in Japan (no reservation required, walk in, last entry 7:30pm)
Tucked away next to the tracks of Shinjuku Station, Omoide Yokocho is one of the coolest places you’ll visit during this 10 day Japan itinerary. Meaning “Memory Lane”, this lantern-lit alley is jam-packed with tiny izakaya (Japanese pubs), yakitori shops, and watering holes.
Note: If you arrive to Shinjuku early, check out Shinjuku gyoen national garden (closes 5-5:30pm): a massive green space in the heart of Tokyo. Pay the 200 yen admission fee and wander the numerous garden paths, which are lined with cherry blossoms in the spring. There’s also a greenhouse, Chinese garden, and an open field with great views of the city skyline.
Day THREE
Tokyo Disneysea
KANAZAWA
Day FOUR
From Tokyo Station take the Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train) to Kanazawa. Ride is 2.5 hours. (Train runs about twice an hour)
Roam around the Higashi Chaya District and find lunch- one of the most picturesque parts of Kanazawa. It is a part of Japan that is still untouched by time. ‘Chaya’ means tea house
-Get gold leaf ice cream here. Kanazawa produces 99% of Japan’s gold leafs
Can also check out Kazue-machi Chaya District
Uber/Bus to Sake tasting at SAKE SHOP Fukumitsuya Kanazawaten (Buy tickets online in advance) (SAKE SHOP Fukumitsuya Kanazawaten, 2 Chome-8-3 Ishibiki, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0935, Japan- apparently a lot of people go to the wrong address)
Kanazawa Castle: can enjoy the exterior but $2 to enter (the inside doesn’t have anything interesting) and Kenroku-en, one of the “Three Great Gardens” of Japan. This impressive green space includes reflecting pools, moss gardens, a traditional tea house, and panoramic viewpoints over the city.
-admission $5 and worth it (closes at 6pm)
Nomura Clan Samurai House (closes at 5:30pm)
KYOTO:
Day FIVE
Take the 7am JR Thunderbird from Kanazawa to Kyoto Station for an early start
Take the bus to Kinkakuji, a.k.a. the Golden Pavilion. Kinkakuji is a glittering Zen temple covered in gold leaf, and the view of the building from across the reflecting pool is unforgettable.
Take the bus to Ginkakuji, a.k.a. the Silver Pavilion. The temple has a slightly confusing name because it’s not actually silver! Ginkakuji has two fantastic gardens, including one made of raked sand.
Philosopher’s Path. This scenic footpath runs along a canal and is lined with charming cafes, shops, and cherry blossoms in the spring.
Tea ceremony Airbnb Experience
Consider eating in Pontocho district- This long, lantern-filled alley is lined with old-fashioned wooden facades and mysterious entrances to dark narrow corridors.
KYOTO
Day SIX
Take bus to Fushimi Inari-Taisha: the most famous shrine in Japan. The orange arch pics you have probably seen online (recommended to come before 8am to avoid crowds)
Take bus to Daimaru. It’s Kyoto’s 2nd largest, with 10 floors packed with clothes, accessories, electronics, and more. But the best thing about Daimaru is the enormous basement food hall, where hundreds of stalls sell everything from tempura to bread to traditional sweets.
Sushi Making Airbnb experience (Recommend https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/333490)
Get a handmade knife engraved at Aritsugu in Nishiki Market
Food Tour Airbnb experience (Recommend https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/4655150)
If you have more time in Kyoto:
Kiyomizu-dera temple. Easily the most popular temple in Kyoto (if not all of Japan), Kiyomizu-dera is a large complex of buildings and gardens set on a hill among a forest of trees and bamboo.The multi-story wooden main hall has an observation deck with outstanding views over Kyoto, and it’s especially magical when the leaves turn red and gold in autumn. (However VERY crowded)
Nijo Castle: historic castle built in 1603 as the official Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo period
Nanzen-ji Temple: The temple is particularly beautiful in the autumn when the surrounding maple trees change color, and during the cherry blossom season in spring.
Various events and exhibitions are held throughout the year, showcasing Zen art, calligraphy, and traditional Japanese culture.
OSAKA
Day SEVEN
It takes about 30 minutes to get from Kyoto to Osaka by train
Morning at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Osaka Food Tour Airbnb experience (Recommend: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/181327)
Explore Dotonbori more after tour especially after sunset is filled with towering neon signs, clubs, bars, and restaurants serving up local specialties (looks amazing at night)
OSAKA
Day EIGHT
Ramen making Airbnb experience (Recommend: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/4710272)
Walk through Tennoji Park, a huge green space in the middle of Osaka. The red zen bridges and view of the radio tower make for yet another striking combo in this urban landscape. Explore Shinsekai, the Insta-famous street with a view of Tsutenkaku tower. The whole place has the feel of a carnival with music, game centers, and abundant street food vendors
Kaiseki at Rakushin (Get reservation online in advance - Michelin star
Walk to Umeda Sky Building. The 40th floor observation deck provides unparalleled panoramic views over Osaka (Buy ticket online in advance- ticket is good for the whole day)
Other things you can do if you have time in Osaka:
-Harukas 300 offers the highest views of Osaka. The observation deck occupies the top three floors of the Abeno Harukas building. (best at night)
-Minoo Park: picturesque nature reserve with a hiking trail and waterfall
Getting to Minoo Park
Start at Osaka-umeda Station
Take the Hankyu Takarazu Line Express Train to Tazarazuka
Stop at Ishibashi Handai-mae Station and transfer onto the Hankyu-Minoo line towards Minoo. The train journey takes approximately 25 minutes in total
From Minoo Station, it’s a 1-hour walk to the falls along a pretty forest trail
Please note that the journey to Minoo Falls is not covered by the JR Pass
-Cup noodle museum (Closed Tuesdays)
NARA
Day NINE
Day trip to Nara with the roaming deer
Train from Osaka takes about one hour to Nara
Nara deer park The main highlight of the park is the deers, thousands of them roaming freely. They are considered sacred and have been the inhabitants of this region since centuries. You can feed them Shika Senbei or Deer cookies which are available for 150 Yen.
Relax at Isuien Garden ($5 entry fee) Built in the 17th century, it is a lovely Japanese landscape garden consisting of many ponds, a few tea houses and walking trails. Next door to Yoshiki-en Garden which is free if you show your passport. Then visit Tōdai-ji Temple- The most famous temple in the whole of Nara. Inside the Tōdai-ji temple is a 15 metre high Buddha, which is also very impressive ($4).
Get mochi at Nakatanidou: claim to fame is their dramatic mochi-pounding process, a tradition known as mochitsuki in Japanese. They perform high-speed mochitsuki every day at the shop, churning out hundreds of pieces of mochi, fresh and warm from the pounding.
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