Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Head to Asakusa once you’re checked in and ready to explore; if you’re coming from elsewhere in Tokyo, the subway is usually simplest, with Asakusa Station served by the Ginza and Asakusa lines. Start at Sensō-ji and give yourself about 1½ hours for the temple grounds. In April, the main hall is generally open until around 5 p.m., though the grounds remain accessible later; check the current schedule if you expect to arrive near closing.
After the temple, browse Nakamise-dori Street for traditional sweets and souvenirs. Many stalls close in the late afternoon, so this stop may feel quieter if you arrive late. Then settle in for sukiyaki at Asakusa Imahan Kokusai-dori Honten; allow about 1½ hours and budget roughly ¥5,000–¥10,000 per person. Booking ahead is wise, especially for dinner. Finish with an easy 45-minute stroll through Sumida Park along the river. Spring blossoms can be lovely, but their timing varies; bring your light jacket for the cooler evening air.
Start early at Meiji Jingu, entering from the Harajuku side for the quietest walk through the forested approach. The grounds open around sunrise and are free; allow about 1½ hours, and remember to keep your voice low near the shrine buildings. From the shrine’s south entrance, it’s a short walk to Takeshita Street. Browse the fashion shops and snack stalls for about an hour—many shops open around 11 a.m., so arriving earlier is good for a less crowded stroll, but some places may not yet be open.
Have lunch around Harajuku, then walk toward Omotesando (about 10–15 minutes from Takeshita Street). Take your time with the avenue’s architecture, side streets, and shops; cafés along nearby Cat Street make an easy break. Set aside roughly 1½ hours, but check individual shop hours if there’s something specific you want to browse.
Continue to Nezu Museum, a short walk from Omotesando’s quieter Aoyama end. Budget about 1½ hours for the collection and garden; admission is typically around ¥1,500, but confirm the current fee and hours before you go. The museum is generally closed on Mondays (with occasional holiday-related changes), so check its calendar before building the day around it; on an open day, aim to arrive well before its usual 5 p.m. closing. Finish at Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka for touchscreen-ordered sushi—expect roughly ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person and possible waits at dinner. It’s about a 10–15-minute walk from the museum area toward Shibuya; the restaurant is near Shibuya Station.
Allow roughly 3.5–4.5 hours door to door for hotel checkout, getting to the station, the train, and reaching your Kyoto hotel or first stop; an early departure is what makes this afternoon route workable. After dropping bags, head to Kiyomizu-dera. From Kyoto Station, the trip to the temple area typically takes around 30–45 minutes by bus or taxi, with traffic affecting road travel. Give the hillside grounds and wooden stage about 1½ hours. Admission is usually around ¥500; hours and entry arrangements can vary, so check before you go and leave time for queues.
Walk downhill into Sannenzaka, allowing about an hour to browse its sloping lanes, small shops, and traditional streetscape. The stone paving can be steep and uneven, so comfortable sneakers are a better choice than slip-ons here. Continue toward Yasaka Shrine in Gion, about a 20–30-minute walk depending on your route and stops. The shrine grounds are generally open around the clock and free to visit; late afternoon is a lovely time to see the lanterns come on, though the approach may still be busy.
Finish with okonomiyaki at Gion Tanto, budgeting about ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person and roughly an hour for dinner. It’s a popular, relaxed spot, so expect a possible wait; check its current hours and whether it accepts reservations before setting out. Keep a light layer handy for the walk back—April evenings can feel chilly after sunset.
Take the JR Sagano Line from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station—about 15 minutes, plus a 10–15-minute walk to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Aim to arrive around 7:30–8:00 a.m.; the path is open to the public and free, but it feels much calmer before tour groups arrive. Allow about 45 minutes to stroll through the bamboo and nearby lanes.
Continue to Tenryu-ji, right beside the grove. Its garden usually opens at 8:30 a.m.; allow about 1½ hours, and check current hours and admission before you go. The garden ticket is typically around ¥500, with an additional charge for the temple buildings. From there, walk toward Togetsukyo Bridge for the river and mountain views; the crossing and a relaxed riverside pause take about 45 minutes. The riverside gets busy, so step aside for photos and keep the bridge clear.
Have soba at Arashiyama Yoshimura, overlooking the Katsura River; budget roughly ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person and expect a possible wait around lunch. Check its current opening hours before setting out, and arrive near opening if you’d rather not queue. After lunch, walk back toward the bamboo grove entrance for Okochi Sanso Garden. Set aside about 1½ hours for its winding paths and broad city views; admission is typically around ¥1,000, often including tea, but confirm current details. It’s a lovely, quieter finish to the day—bring your light jacket for the shaded paths, and keep a little cash handy.
Allow 1–1½ hours door to door to check out in Kyoto, reach your Osaka accommodation from Osaka Station, and drop your bags; if your room isn’t ready, ask the hotel to hold them. Then head to Osaka Castle Park in Chūō—take the JR Osaka Loop Line toward Osakajōkōen or Morinomiya, depending on which entrance you want. Give the broad grounds about 1½ hours for a relaxed stroll and castle views. The park is free and open daily; entering the castle museum costs around ¥1,200 and adds time, so check current hours and leave room for queues if you decide to go in.
From the park, make your way to Kuromon Ichiba Market in Nipponbashi, roughly 20–30 minutes by transit depending on your starting point. This covered market is best enjoyed as a graze rather than a sit-down meal: browse the seafood and produce stalls, and budget about ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person for snacks. Many shops generally operate from late morning into the afternoon, but hours vary and some close earlier, so don’t leave lunch too late.
After lunch, head toward Namba and Hozenji Yokocho, a short, stone-paved lane tucked just off the shopping streets. Allow around 30 minutes to wander and pause at Hozenji Temple; the moss-covered Mizukake Fudō is a local favorite, and the temple grounds are free. From there it’s an easy walk to Dotonbori for the canal, glowing signs, and lively evening street scene. An hour is enough for a first look, but you can linger for dinner or street food—bring your reusable shopping bag, and keep a little cash handy for smaller vendors.
Allow 5–7 hours door to door from your Osaka accommodation to your Seoul hotel, including the trip to Kansai International Airport, airport check-in, the flight, immigration and the onward transfer. Build in 2–3 hours at the airport before departure, and check your airline’s baggage rules—especially if you’re flying a low-cost carrier. If you land at Incheon International Airport, the AREX train or an airport bus can get you into the city; choose based on your hotel’s location and how much luggage you have. These evening stops work best with an earlier arrival, so don’t count on fitting them all in after a late flight.
Once checked in, head to Hongdae Walking Street for an easy orientation stroll through the neighborhood’s shops, cafés and lively performance spots. Give it about an hour; street performances are informal and vary by evening, so enjoy whatever’s happening rather than planning around a particular act. From the Hongik University area, walk over to Gyeongui Line Forest Park, the leafy former railway corridor, for a quieter 45-minute wander. If travel delays leave you short on time, keep this stretch relaxed rather than rushing between stops.
From Hongik University Station, take Seoul Subway Line 2 to Euljiro 1-ga Station and walk to Myeongdong Kyoja Main Store—allow roughly 30–40 minutes door to door, including the station walks. Set aside about an hour for the restaurant’s kalguksu and mandu; budget around ₩10,000–₩20,000 per person, and expect a queue at busy dinner times. Hours can change, so check before setting out; if your flight arrives too late for dinner here, save it for your next Seoul day rather than trying to squeeze in a rushed meal.
Start at Gyeongbokgung Palace when it opens, usually at 9 a.m.; allow about two hours for the courtyards and halls. Admission is around ₩3,000, and April hours are generally longer than in winter, but check the official schedule before you go. The palace is normally closed on Tuesdays, so if your day falls on a Tuesday, you’ll need to move this visit to another day rather than count on entering. From the palace, walk about 15–20 minutes uphill to Bukchon Hanok Village for an hour among its traditional lanes. This is a living residential neighborhood: keep voices low, stay on the public paths, and follow any posted visitor-hour restrictions.
Walk or take a short taxi ride to Insadong—roughly 15–20 minutes on foot—for galleries, craft shops, and traditional tea houses. Many shops open around 10 or 11 a.m.; leave about 1½ hours to browse and pause for tea. It’s a good area for a relaxed lunch, with plenty of casual Korean restaurants tucked just off the main street.
From Insadong, it’s about a 10-minute walk to Jogyesa Temple. Spend around 45 minutes in the temple grounds; it’s an active place of worship, so keep your voice down and be respectful if a service is underway. Finish at Tosokchon Samgyetang in Seochon, about a 15-minute walk from the temple. Budget roughly ₩20,000–₩30,000 per person for the ginseng chicken soup; early dinner can help you avoid the busiest queue, though waits vary.
No packing list attached yet.