Start early at Meiji Jingu for a quiet walk beneath the shrine’s towering trees; allow about 1½ hours, including time to pause at the main shrine buildings. The grounds are generally open from sunrise to sunset, with seasonal hours, and entry is free. From Harajuku Station, it’s a short walk to the southern entrance. Keep voices low and follow posted guidance around worship areas.
Walk over to Takeshita Street for an hour of colorful shopfronts and a Japanese-style crêpe—expect queues at popular stands, especially on a Sunday. Shops typically open around 10 or 11 a.m., though hours vary. Then continue south toward Omotesando (about 10–15 minutes on foot) for a slower tree-lined stroll, striking architecture, and window-shopping; set aside around 1½ hours. For lunch, choose a café or casual restaurant on the side streets off Omotesando rather than joining the busiest queues along the avenue.
Head toward Shibuya Scramble Crossing by walking from Omotesando (roughly 25–30 minutes) or taking the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line from Omote-sando to Meiji-jingumae, then the Fukutoshin Line to Shibuya. Arrive in the late afternoon for about an hour around the crossing and nearby viewpoints; Shibuya Sky requires advance timed-entry tickets, so don’t count on walk-up access. Finish at Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka Store, a lively, quick sushi stop where dishes arrive by dedicated lanes; budget about ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person. Sunday evenings can be busy, so expect a possible wait and check the restaurant’s current hours before setting out.
Start around 8:30 at Tsukiji Outer Market and give yourself about two hours to graze: try tamagoyaki, grilled seafood or a small sushi breakfast, and browse the narrow lanes rather than aiming for a full sit-down meal. Many shops open in the morning, but individual stalls keep their own hours and some take Mondays off, so have a second snack in mind. From the market, walk about 15–20 minutes or take a short taxi ride to Hamarikyu Gardens (entry around ¥300; typically 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:30). Allow 1½ hours to wander the tidal ponds and paths, then pause for matcha and sweets at the garden teahouse if it’s open.
Head to Ginza by taxi or subway—allow roughly 15–25 minutes, depending on the route—and spend about two hours browsing its department stores, flagship shops and galleries. Shops generally open around 10:00 or 11:00; gallery hours vary, and some close on Mondays, so treat any particular exhibition as a bonus. For lunch, pick up something in a department-store food hall or sit down in Ginza before walking or taking the subway to Tokyo Station. Give the restored red-brick Marunouchi façade and the station’s busy central halls about 45 minutes; the contrast between the historic exterior and the maze of modern platforms is part of the fun.
Finish at Rokurinsha Tokyo Ramen Street, inside the station’s Yaesu-side basement dining area. Its rich tsukemen—noodles served separately from a hot dipping broth—cost roughly ¥1,000–¥2,000, but queues can build at dinner, so allow extra time and join the line before you’re starving. Follow the station signs for Tokyo Ramen Street; it’s easy to get turned around in the vast concourses, so check whether you’re heading toward Yaesu rather than Marunouchi.
Leave Tokyo early and allow 3–4 hours door to door for checkout, station access, the Shinkansen and getting to your Kyoto hotel or dropping your bags. To make a late-morning arrival at Nishiki Market realistic, aim for an early train; the market’s shops keep different hours, but many are open by late morning. Give yourself about 1½ hours to browse and snack—try Kyoto pickles, yuba or a piece of dashimaki tamago. It’s a narrow, busy arcade, so keep moving and be considerate about eating near the stall where you bought your food.
From Nishiki Market, take the subway or a taxi to Nijō Castle; allow roughly 15–20 minutes for the transfer. Set aside 1½–2 hours for the palace and gardens. The grounds generally open 8:45 a.m.–5 p.m., with last admission around 4 p.m.; the palace has separate entry arrangements and may close on certain days, so check the official schedule before you go. Afterward, head about 20–30 minutes by taxi or bus to Yasaka Shrine in Gion. Spend around 45 minutes at the shrine, then wander the surrounding lanes as the lanterns come on.
Walk through Gion to Gion Tanto for Kyoto-style okonomiyaki; budget about ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person. It’s a small, popular restaurant, so expect a possible wait at dinner and check its current hours before setting out. Keep the evening unhurried—Gion’s side streets are best explored on foot, quietly and respectfully, especially around working geiko and maiko districts.
Start around 7:30 a.m. at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove; it’s free and open at all hours, and the paths are far calmer before the tour groups arrive. Allow about 45 minutes, then walk to Tenryu-ji for its pond garden and temple buildings. The garden typically opens at 8:30 a.m.; admission is about ¥500 for the garden, with an additional fee to enter the buildings. Give yourself 1–1½ hours, then stroll to Togetsukyo Bridge for river and mountain views—about 30 minutes is plenty.
From the bridge, head to Kinkaku-ji by taxi (roughly 25–35 minutes, traffic permitting) or bus and train (often 45–60 minutes). The temple is generally open 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; admission is about ¥500, and the garden route takes around an hour. Expect crowds and occasional queues, especially around the pavilion’s best-known viewpoints.
Finish back in Arashiyama at Yudofu Sagano, near the bamboo grove. It’s a lovely place to slow down over Kyoto-style tofu, with meals typically around ¥3,000–¥5,000 per person; check its current hours and reservation policy before setting out, as a late lunch can run close to service’s end. Returning from Kinkaku-ji takes roughly 30–50 minutes by taxi or bus, depending on traffic and connections.
Leave Kyoto in the morning and allow about 1–1½ hours door to door, including getting to the station and onward from Nara’s station area. Aim to reach Nara Park in the morning, when the paths are cooler and less busy; give yourself about 1½ hours to wander among the deer. They roam freely, so keep food tucked away and buy deer crackers only if you’re ready for an enthusiastic crowd of them.
Walk through the park to Tōdai-ji (roughly 20 minutes from the park’s central paths) for the Great Buddha Hall, a vast wooden space that’s worth taking slowly. In October, the hall generally opens at 7:30 a.m. and admission is about ¥800; check the temple’s current hours before setting out. From there, allow around 30–40 minutes to walk to Kasuga Taisha, following the wooded approach and its rows of stone lanterns. Plan 1–1½ hours here; the shrine grounds are free to explore, while access to some inner areas may have a fee or limited hours.
Finish at Mizuya Chaya, tucked among the trees in Nara Park, for noodles or a Japanese set meal—budget roughly ¥1,000–¥2,000 per person. It’s a welcome sit-down pause after the walk; check its opening hours on the day, as small restaurants can keep seasonal or irregular schedules. From Kasuga Taisha, allow about 15–20 minutes on foot, and leave time afterward to stroll back toward the station.
Allow 1½–2 hours door to door to check out in Nara, take the train to Osaka, and drop your bags before heading to Osaka Castle. Aim to arrive around late morning; the grounds are open daily and free to wander, while the castle museum is generally open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (last entry 4:30 p.m.; admission about ¥1,200). Give the castle and its grounds roughly 2–3 hours, allowing extra time for queues. The museum has several floors of exhibits, so you can focus on the periods that interest you rather than trying to read every panel.
Walk about 15 minutes to the Osaka Museum of History, across the road from the castle park. It’s open 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. on Fridays (last entry 4:30 p.m.; admission around ¥600), and its upper-floor windows give you a particularly good view back toward the castle. Allow about 1½ hours, then take the metro from Tanimachi 4-chome toward Namba—roughly 15 minutes, depending on the connection—or taxi if you’d rather save your feet.
Spend about 1½ hours strolling Dotonbori along the canal as the signs light up; the best plan is to wander the side lanes too, where it’s easier to find a quieter spot for a drink. Have okonomiyaki at Mizuno, a longtime favorite on Dotonbori: expect to pay about ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person and possibly wait, especially at dinner. If the queue is long, put your name down and enjoy a short canal-side stroll while you wait.
Allow 3–4 hours door to door to check out in Osaka, reach the station, take the Shinkansen, and get from Hiroshima Station into the city. Leave early; once you arrive, head to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Peace Memorial Park. The museum is generally open daily, but check current hours, ticket prices, and entry arrangements before you go; allow 2–3 hours, and expect queues at busy times.
After the museum, spend 1–1½ hours walking the paths of Peace Memorial Park, pausing at the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims and Children’s Peace Monument. Then visit the Atomic Bomb Dome, about a 30-minute stop. The sites are close together, so walking is the simplest way to get around; keep the pace unhurried, as this is a moving and emotionally demanding visit.
Walk or take a short tram ride toward Shintenchi for Okonomimura, a multi-floor building of small counters serving Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. Choose a counter that has a seat and watch the cooks work the griddles; budget about ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person. It’s a lively, casual finish, though you may need to wait for a table at dinner time.
From central Hiroshima, take the JR Sanyō Line to Miyajimaguchi (about 30 minutes), then the ferry to Miyajima (about 10 minutes). Allow 1½–2 hours door to door each way, including station access and waiting; check Sunday ferry times before leaving and set out in the morning. The JR ferry is convenient if you have a pass that covers it; otherwise, budget roughly ¥200 each way for the ferry, plus Miyajima’s ¥100 visitor tax. Visit Itsukushima Shrine first, allowing about 1½ hours. Admission is around ¥300; check the day’s tide times, since the great torii looks very different at high and low water.
Walk on to Daishō-in, an atmospheric temple at the foot of Mount Misen; allow 1–1½ hours to explore its halls, lanterns and hillside steps. Then browse Omotesando Shopping Street for a casual lunch and local treats. Grilled oysters are a Miyajima specialty, and momiji manju—maple-leaf-shaped cakes—are an easy snack to take along. Budget about ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person for lunch and browsing, and leave some unhurried time for the lane’s small shops before heading back.
Retrace your route by ferry to Miyajimaguchi and JR train to central Hiroshima; again, allow 1½–2 hours door to door and check the return ferry schedule so you’re not rushing for the last convenient connection. Sunday services run, but timings and frequency can vary, especially later in the day.
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