Morning: Land at Narita, take the Narita Express to Shinjuku (≈1 hr). Check‑in to a mid‑range hotel, freshen up and enjoy a light coffee at a nearby café.
Afternoon: Stroll through Shinjuku Gyoen for a relaxing garden walk (1‑2 hrs). Have lunch at Ramen Nagi (casual) and try the veggie ramen.
Evening: Visit Tokyo Tower for sunset city views, then dine at Shiba‑Yokohama (mid‑range) offering a vegetarian set.
Find HotelsMorning: Explore historic Asakusa and Senso‑ji Temple; enjoy a street‑food snack (2 hrs).
Afternoon: Walk the Nakamise‑dori market, then take the subway to Ueno Park and visit the Tokyo National Museum (1.5 hrs). Lunch at Veggie Café in Ueno.
Evening: Cruise on the Sumida River to see illuminated bridges, finish with dinner at Hanada Rosso (mid‑range, vegetarian‑friendly).
Find HotelsMorning: Take the Romancecar to Hakone (≈1.5 hr). Check into a ryokan with private onsen.
Afternoon: Ride the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani for volcanic views; then cruise Lake Ashi with a glimpse of Mount Fuji (2 hrs).
Evening: Traditional kaiseki dinner at the ryokan, relax in the onsen under the stars.
Find HotelsMorning: Early train to Maihama (≈30 min). Enter Tokyo DisneySea for a weekday visit (opens 08:00).
Afternoon: Enjoy signature attractions like Journey to the Center of the Earth and Mediterranean Harbor; lunch at Magellanic Bar (vegetarian options).
Evening: Watch the night spectacular, return to Tokyo and have a light dinner at Uobei Sushi (casual).
Find HotelsMorning: Visit the trendy Daikanyama neighborhood, coffee at Onibus Coffee.
Afternoon: Explore the teamLab Borderless digital art museum in Odaiba; lunch at Veggie House.
Evening: Relax at an onsen‑spa in Odaiba, dinner at Gonpachi (mid‑range, vegetarian dishes).
Find HotelsMorning: Check out, take the Hikari Shinkansen to Kyoto (≈2 hr 15 min). Friends arrive via Kansai International Airport, transfer by Haruka Express to Osaka then local train to Kyoto.
Afternoon: Check into a centrally located Kyoto hotel. Light lunch at Mumokuteki Café.
Evening: Evening walk in Gion district, spot geisha, dinner at Shigetsu (vegetarian‑friendly, mid‑range).
Find HotelsMorning: Visit Kinkaku‑ji (Golden Pavilion) and Ryoan‑ji rock garden (2 hrs).
Afternoon: Travel to Arashiyama, stroll the Bamboo Grove, cross the Togetsukyo Bridge, lunch at Arashiyama‑Yudofu (vegetarian tofu set).
Evening: Return to central Kyoto, dinner at Honke Owariya (mid‑range, vegetarian options).
Find HotelsMorning: JR Nara Line to Nara (≈45 min). Visit Tōdai‑ji Temple and see the Great Buddha (1 hr).
Afternoon: Walk through Nara Park, feed the friendly deer, lunch at Kasuga Café (vegetarian).
Evening: Return to Kyoto, enjoy a casual izakaya dinner at Torito (vegetarian dishes available).
Find HotelsMorning: Take the JR Chuo Line to Otsuki, then the Fujikyu Railway to Kawaguchiko (≈2 hr total). Check into a lakeside guesthouse.
Afternoon: Ride the Kachi Kachi Ropeway for panoramic views of Mount Fuji, visit the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum, lunch at Houtou Fudō (vegetarian noodle bowl).
Evening: Relax at an onsen with Fuji views, dinner at the guesthouse (simple vegetarian set).
Find HotelsMorning: Bus from Kawaguchiko to Shinjuku, then Shinkansen back to Kyoto (≈3 hr total). Check out of guesthouse.
Afternoon: Leisure time to explore Nishiki Market, sample local sweets, lunch at Veganic To Go.
Evening: Optional night visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha lantern path (2 hrs), dinner at Gion Kappa (mid‑range, vegetarian).
Find HotelsMorning: Shinkansen Hikari to Hiroshima (≈2 hr). Check into a mid‑range hotel.
Afternoon: Visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the A‑Bomb Dome, lunch at Okonomimura (vegetarian okonomiyaki).
Evening: Take the ferry to Miyajima island, see the illuminated Itsukushima Shrine, dinner at Ueno (vegetarian set). Stay overnight on Miyajima.
Find HotelsMorning: Explore Miyajima’s Mount Misen via ropeway, breakfast at a local café.
Afternoon: Ferry back to Hiroshima, Shinkansen to Kyoto (≈2 hr). Lunch on the train (bento).
Evening: Rest at the hotel, casual dinner at Yasaka Endo (vegetarian‑friendly).
Find HotelsMorning: Transfer by Shinkansen to Osaka (≈15 min). Store luggage at the station.
Afternoon: Enter Universal Studios Japan on a weekday for lower crowds; enjoy The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Minion Park, lunch at Three Broomsticks (vegetarian option).
Evening: Return to Kyoto, dinner at Vegetable Café Kokoro (casual).
Find HotelsMorning: Shinkansen to Tokyo (≈2 hr 30 min). Check into a business‑district hotel.
Afternoon: Light walk in Hamarikyu Gardens, coffee at Tea House.
Evening: Simple dinner at Chaya (vegetarian ramen).
Find HotelsMorning: Participate in a tea‑ceremony workshop at Meiji Shrine (1 hr).
Afternoon: Lunch at Saido (vegetarian), then visit teamLab Borderless (2 hrs).
Evening: Welcome dinner at Ginza Umeshu (mid‑range, vegetarian menu).
Find HotelsMorning: Company visit, light lunch at hotel.
Afternoon: Second company visit, short break at a nearby park.
Evening: Celebrate with a private kaiseki dinner at Ryotei Kikunoi (vegetarian tasting menu) followed by a cocktail at the Tokyo Skytree observation deck; backup option: Odaiba waterfront stroll with dessert at Gundam Café. If time runs short, a birthday cake can be delivered to the hotel.
Find HotelsMorning: Company meetings, quick coffee at Blue Bottle.
Afternoon: Lunch at Afuri (yuzu‑ramen, vegetarian), final meeting.
Evening: Light dinner at Vegetarian House, early night.
Find HotelsMorning: Shinkansen to Nagoya (≈1 hr), cultural activity at Nagoya Castle (1 hr).
Afternoon: Continue by Shinkansen to Kyoto (≈35 min), check into Kyoto hotel.
Evening: Dinner at Veggie Café Kyo (casual).
Find HotelsMorning: Company session, coffee at hotel.
Afternoon: Lunch at Shigetsu (vegetarian), second session.
Evening: Quiet walk along the Kamogawa River, dinner at Gion Nakae (mid‑range, vegetarian).
Find HotelsMorning: Final company meetings.
Afternoon: Lunch at Veganic, wrap‑up.
Evening: Farewell dinner at Kikunoi Honten (vegetarian kaiseki, upscale).
Find HotelsMorning: Pack, easy breakfast at hotel café.
Afternoon: Transfer to Kansai Airport (JR Haruka, 75 min) for flight home.
Evening: End of trip.
Find HotelsTo shorten the trip, you could skip the Hakone overnight stay and replace it with a day trip from Tokyo, saving one hotel night and travel time. Extending the itinerary by two days after March 14 allows friends to explore Osaka’s neighborhoods, Dotonbori and the Osaka Castle area, and even add a second day at Universal Studios for a relaxed experience. For jet‑lag, aim to get sunlight exposure in the morning of arrival, stay hydrated, and keep the first day’s schedule light with short walks and easy meals.