Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Tokyo Japan Itinerary

Arrival and Check-in

After landing at Osaka Airport, allow roughly 1–2 hours for baggage collection, meeting the shared-transfer driver, and reaching your hotel. The journey can take about 45–70 minutes depending on whether you arrive at Kansai International Airport or Osaka Itami Airport and on traffic. Check in, leave your luggage, and take a little time to reset—your first evening is best enjoyed on foot rather than packed with sightseeing.

Late Afternoon at Kuromon Ichiba Market

Head to Kuromon Ichiba Market in Nippombashi, usually easiest by subway to Nippombashi Station. Spend about an hour browsing the covered market’s seafood counters, fruit stalls, grilled snacks, and small sweets; budget around ¥1,000–¥2,500 for casual tasting. Most stalls are busiest and best supplied from late morning through the afternoon, with many closing around 5–6pm, so do not leave this stop too late. From the market, Dotonbori is a relaxed 10–15-minute walk through the lively streets of Namba.

Evening in Dotonbori and Namba

Follow the canal through Dotonbori as the signs and restaurant façades begin to glow. This is the right place for Osaka specialties such as takoyaki, okonomiyaki, or kushikatsu, though the main strip can be crowded; look for a side-street counter if queues are long. Afterwards, settle into a Harajuku-style café or traditional kissaten around Namba for coffee and dessert—allow about ¥800–¥1,500 per person, and check closing times since smaller cafés may finish service between 8 and 10pm. End with a slower walk through Hozenji Yokocho, a narrow lantern-lit alley just behind Dotonbori, and visit Hozenji Temple, where the moss-covered Fudo Myoo statue is traditionally splashed with water. It is free to visit and atmospheric after dinner; return to your hotel from Namba Station by subway or on foot, depending on its location.

Morning

Start in Tennoji with the quietest stop of the day at Horikoshi Shrine, a small neighborhood shrine known for its calm atmosphere and the tradition of making one important wish. It is free to enter and generally accessible from early morning; allow about 45 minutes. From there, walk roughly 10 minutes to Shitennoji, entering through the temple grounds and taking time to see its central precinct, five-story pagoda, and historic gates. The inner courtyard and garden areas usually open around 8:30–9:00am and may charge a modest ¥300–¥500 admission, while the outer grounds are free. Give yourself about 1½ hours, and remember that some buildings require shoes to be removed.

Afternoon

Walk or take the short subway ride toward Tennoji Park for Keitakuen Garden, a compact but beautifully composed Japanese landscape garden with ponds, bridges, and carefully clipped greenery. It is an ideal slower-paced break after the temple visit; plan on an hour and check the seasonal closing time, as it is commonly closed on Mondays and may operate roughly from 9:30am to 5:00pm. Afterward, continue to Abeno Harukas Observatory, reached easily via Tennoji or Osaka-Abenobashi Station. The observation decks rise 300 metres above the city, with the best views toward Osaka Bay and the surrounding mountains; admission is typically around ¥2,000, and late afternoon is a good compromise between daylight and the first city lights. Reserve an entry slot online if visibility is good or if you are visiting on a weekend.

Evening

Finish in Shinsekai, strolling beneath the neon around Tsutenkaku and along Janjan Yokocho before dinner. The district is compact, lively, and intentionally nostalgic, but it is more atmospheric than polished—perfect for an unhurried wander and a few street snacks. Eat at Kushikatsu Daruma Shinsekai Sohonten, the famously signposted branch near the tower, where assorted skewers of meat, seafood, and vegetables cost about ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person with drinks. Expect a queue at peak dinner time; arriving around 5:00–5:30pm is easier, and remember the classic rule: do not double-dip in the communal sauce.

Morning

Take an early JR train from Osaka Station to Kyoto Station, then continue to Saga-Arashiyama Station; allow about 50–60 minutes after arriving in Kyoto, plus a short walk to the train platform. Aim to reach Torokko Saga Station around 8:30–9:00am for the reserved Sagano Romantic Train, a roughly 25-minute ride through the wooded Hozugawa River valley. Seats on the river-facing side are popular, so reserve ahead through JR West or the official Sagano Romantic Train website; trains generally operate from around 9:00am, with seasonal variations. After arriving at Torokko Arashiyama Station, walk downhill for approximately 10 minutes to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Go straight into the grove rather than lingering at the entrance—the quieter upper paths are usually best before 10:00am, though the forest itself is free and open around the clock.

Continue toward the river and spend about 30 minutes around Togetsukyo Bridge, where the mountains frame the water particularly beautifully in the morning. From there, it is a pleasant 10-minute walk to Arashiyama Station and the Kimono Forest, a collection of colourful textile cylinders around the station plaza. It is free to view and easy to enjoy while browsing the nearby lanes. For a relaxed lunch, try Arashiyama Yoshimura for soba with river views, or pick up a lighter meal from the station-area food stalls; expect roughly ¥1,200–¥2,500 per person. Arashiyama is busiest from late morning onward, so this is a good point to pause rather than add another major attraction.

Afternoon and Evening

From Arashiyama Station, take the JR Sagano Line back toward Kyoto Station, then transfer to the JR Nara Line for Inari Station—the journey is about 35–45 minutes in total, and an IC card works throughout. Spend 1.5–2 hours at Fushimi Inari Taisha, beginning beneath the main shrine buildings and walking through the first dense stretch of vermilion torii gates. The lower circuit is the liveliest; if you want calmer paths, continue uphill for 20–30 minutes before turning back. Entry is free and the shrine grounds are open at all hours, but bring water and wear shoes with a good grip, particularly in August.

Continue from Inari Station to Nara Station on a JR Nara Line train, allowing roughly 45–60 minutes depending on the service. Use the late afternoon for an unhurried walk through Nara Park, where the deer are most active around the open lawns and temple approaches. Deer crackers cost about ¥200, but keep them out of sight once they are gone and avoid feeding animals that appear restless. Allow around two hours before returning from Nara Station; trains to Osaka take roughly 45–55 minutes, while reaching Kyoto takes about 45 minutes. With an early start, you should still have time for dinner near the station—Menya Rokkaku is a convenient choice for ramen, while Naramachi offers quieter traditional streets if you prefer to eat before boarding.

Morning: Kyoto to Nagoya, then the Shinkansen onward

Leave Kyoto Station around 7:00am for Nagoya, allowing about 35 minutes on the Tokaido Shinkansen. Reserve seats in advance through SmartEX or JR Central, and use the oversized-baggage area if any suitcase exceeds 160 cm total dimensions. At Nagoya Station, store luggage in a coin locker or arrange delivery before walking roughly 15 minutes to the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology. Open 9:30am–5:30pm, it takes around two hours and costs about ¥1,000; the textile machinery demonstrations and working automobile exhibits are especially worthwhile. Check the final museum entry time and locker availability before leaving the station.

Afternoon: Arrive in Tokyo and explore Tokyo Station Marunouchi

Return to Nagoya Station with a little margin, then take a reserved Shinkansen to Tokyo Station, roughly 1 hour 40 minutes. After checking in, head back toward the Marunouchi side of the station for an easy first look at the red-brick Tokyo Station Marunouchi façade and the broad avenues around Marunouchi Naka-dori. Give yourself about an hour here; the area is most pleasant in the late afternoon, when office workers begin filling the cafés and the architecture catches the softer light. If you need a break, KITTE Marunouchi has useful cafés, toilets, and a rooftop view of the station.

Evening: Ginza skyline and dinner at Tsukiji Outer Market

From Tokyo Station, take the Marunouchi Line from Tokyo to Ginza, or walk for about 15–20 minutes. Continue to Ginza Six, where the rooftop garden is free and usually open until around 11:00pm, though hours can vary; allow 45 minutes for city views and a quiet pause above the busy shopping streets. Then walk or take a short taxi ride to Tsukiji Outer Market. Most fish stalls close by mid-afternoon, so treat this as a dinner stop rather than a market visit: several restaurants and izakaya remain open into the evening, but choices are more limited than at breakfast or lunch. Budget ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person for seafood, grilled dishes, or sushi, and carry cash as some smaller counters still do not accept cards.

Morning

Begin early at Meiji Jingu, ideally arriving around 8:00am before the Harajuku crowds build. From Harajuku Station, the broad gravel path leads through a peaceful, tree-covered approach to the shrine; allow about 1½ hours, including time to observe the traditional rituals at the temizuya and main shrine buildings. Entry is free, though comfortable shoes are useful on the unpaved paths. Afterward, walk a few minutes to Takeshita Street for a livelier contrast. Shops generally open from about 10:00am, so this is a good time for crêpes, rainbow sweets, or a quick stop at a café while browsing youth fashion and character goods. Expect the street to become very crowded late in the morning.

Lunch

Take the Tokyo Metro from Meiji-jingumae toward Tsukishima—usually around 25–30 minutes with a change—and settle in for lunch along Tsukishima Monja Street. The small restaurants here specialize in monjayaki, a runnier Tokyo-style cousin of okonomiyaki that you cook on the hot table yourself. Popular choices include Monja Kura and Monja Makoto, but queues are common at peak lunchtime, so arriving around 12:00pm is sensible. Budget roughly ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person, depending on toppings and drinks; staff will usually help if you are unsure how to spread and cook the batter.

Afternoon and Evening

After lunch, ride the Yurakucho Line to Tameike-sanno or Nagatacho, then continue toward Azabudai Hills for teamLab Borderless. Allow about two hours, and book a timed ticket in advance—same-day availability is unreliable, especially during weekends and school holidays. The installations involve dark rooms, reflective floors, water, and occasional stairs, so wear practical clothing and avoid skirts or loose footwear. In the evening, head to Shibuya Crossing for the classic scramble and a relaxed walk through the surrounding streets before going up to Shibuya Sky. Reserve a timed entry ahead of time, particularly for sunset; arrive 20–30 minutes early because security and elevator lines can take time. The open-air rooftop is weather-dependent, but even the indoor observation levels offer excellent night views. Finish with dinner around Shibuya, where Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka is an inexpensive conveyor-belt sushi option, or choose one of the quieter izakaya lanes around Ebisu if you want to escape the busiest streets.