From Delhi, allow roughly 14–18 hours door to door to reach Tokyo: flight itinerary may include a connection, then you’ll need time for immigration, baggage and the airport transfer. The route into town depends on whether you land at Haneda or Narita, so check your ticket and hotel location before choosing a train or bus; don’t count on sightseeing until you know your actual arrival time. If you arrive early enough, head to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden for an easy 1–1.5-hour autumn stroll. In November it generally closes in the late afternoon, with last entry before closing, so check the day’s hours and leave airport-transfer time in the plan; admission is around ¥500.
If you still have energy, continue to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Nishi-Shinjuku for a free city-view stop, allowing about 45 minutes. Its observatories usually stay open into the evening, but hours and occasional closures can vary. From Shinjuku, take the JR Chūō Line to Tokyo Station (about 15 minutes), then follow station signs to T’s Tantan for vegan ramen, roughly ¥1,000–¥2,000. It’s a handy, fully plant-based first meal; confirm its current hours and allow extra time to navigate the station’s large concourses. If your flight gets in late or you’re wiped out, keep the garden and viewpoint as optional rather than rushing through them.
Take the train to Harajuku Station and give yourself about 1½ hours at Meiji Jingu. Follow the broad, approach to the shrine; it feels remarkably quiet once you’re away from the station, even on a busy Sunday. Entry is free, and the grounds generally open around sunrise and close around sunset, so check the official hours closer to your visit. At the shrine, keep voices low and follow the posted etiquette for worship.
From the shrine, walk to Takeshita Street for around 45 minutes. Sundays bring crowds, so expect to shuffle along rather than browse at your own pace; go easy on food stalls if you’re strict vegetarian, as ingredients and cooking surfaces may not be clearly labelled. Continue on foot to Omotesando—about 10 minutes away—for a more spacious, relaxed hour among its striking architecture and shops. Many stores open around 11am, but individual hours vary. For a vegetarian lunch, look for a clearly labelled plant-based option or plan to eat later; ask about dashi, bonito and shared cooking oil if you avoid fish or eggs.
Keep the afternoon flexible for lingering over the buildings and shop windows along Omotesando, then head to Ain Soph. Journey in Shinjuku for a fully vegan dinner, roughly ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person. It’s a good fit after a day on foot, but check current opening hours and consider reserving—Sunday evenings can be busy. From Omotesando, allow roughly 20–30 minutes by subway to reach Shinjuku, including station walks.
Start at Sensō-ji in Asakusa early; the temple grounds are open year-round, and the main hall generally opens around 6:30am in November. Allow about 1½ hours, including time to wander the surrounding grounds. Then browse Nakamise-dori, the shop-lined approach beside the temple; many stalls open around 9–10am, so it’s livelier later in the morning. Set aside about 45 minutes, and check ingredients before trying snacks—fish stock, dairy and other animal-derived ingredients are common.
Take the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line from Asakusa Station to Ueno Station (about 5 minutes; roughly ¥180), then spend 1½–2 hours strolling Ueno Park. Monday is a useful day to keep this flexible: several museums in the park, including the Tokyo National Museum, are normally closed on Mondays, though holiday schedules can differ. If you’d like an indoor break, check the museum’s calendar before setting out rather than counting on entry.
At T’s Tantan in Ecute Ueno inside Ueno Station, look for a clearly labelled vegan meal; budget about ¥1,000–¥2,000. Confirm that this branch is open and convenient on the day, as station restaurants can have their own hours. If not, choose a nearby restaurant with clearly identified vegetarian or vegan options, and ask whether dishes contain fish broth or bonito.
Be at Tsukiji Outer Market around 8:30–9am, when many shops are open and it’s lively without being at its busiest. Allow about 1½ hours to browse; most market businesses wind down in the afternoon, and many stalls focus on seafood. As a vegetarian, check ingredients carefully—broths, sauces and dashi may contain fish even when a dish looks meat-free. Then walk about 15–20 minutes to Hamarikyu Gardens for a quieter change of pace. The garden usually opens 9am–5pm (last entry 4:30pm); admission is around ¥300. Give yourself 1½ hours among the ponds, bridges and seasonal foliage.
From Hamarikyu Gardens, walk towards Ginza in about 20 minutes, or take a short taxi if you’d rather save your legs. Spend roughly 1½ hours browsing the department stores, galleries and elegant main streets; shop and gallery hours vary, but many stores open around 10 or 11am. Continue on foot to Tokyo International Forum—about 15 minutes from central Ginza—for a 45-minute look at its dramatic glass-and-steel atrium. Public areas are generally accessible during the day, though events can affect access.
Finish with dinner at Nataraj Ginza, a convenient walk back into Ginza. It’s an Indian restaurant with vegetarian-friendly choices; budget about ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person and confirm current menu options and opening hours before you go. Since you’re vegetarian, mention clearly that you don’t eat meat or fish, and ask whether any sauces or dishes contain fish stock.
Allow 3–4 hours door to door for checkout in Tokyo, station access, the train and reaching your Kyoto accommodation. A morning departure should leave time to drop your bags and get settled before exploring; keep luggage manageable, and check your booking details if you need a particular train departure.
Head to Nishiki Market for a relaxed browse of its covered lanes; allow 1–1½ hours. Many stalls and shops keep roughly 10am–6pm hours, but schedules vary, and some vendors close on Wednesdays, so you may find a quieter market today. Vegetarian travellers should ask about dashi (fish stock), bonito flakes and other hidden seafood ingredients—“vegetarian” is bejitarian in Japanese. From central Kyoto, take a bus or taxi to Kyoto Imperial Palace Park in Kamigyo for a walk beneath the autumn-coloured trees; allow about an hour. The park is free to enter, while access to the palace buildings requires a separate visit arrangement.
Return to central Kyoto for dinner at Mumokuteki Cafe, known for its vegetarian-friendly menu. Budget around ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person, and check its current hours before setting out. From the park, a taxi is the simplest option; by public transport, allow extra time for the bus ride and walk.
Head to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest early, before the tour groups arrive; the grove is open to walk through at any time and is free. From central Kyoto, take the JR Sagano Line to Saga-Arashiyama Station, then walk about 10 minutes to the grove. Allow around 45 minutes for the path and a little unhurried wandering.
Continue to Tenryu-ji, next to the bamboo grove, for its garden and temple grounds; allow about 1½ hours. The garden typically opens around 8:30am, with admission roughly ¥500; visiting temple buildings costs extra. Hours and admission arrangements can change, so check before you go. Take your time in the garden—the pond and autumn colors make a lovely contrast to the close-packed bamboo.
Walk on to Togetsukyo Bridge for riverside views toward the surrounding hills, allowing about 45 minutes. Then have lunch at Shigetsu, inside Tenryu-ji, for shōjin ryōri, traditional Buddhist vegetarian cooking. Expect roughly ¥3,000–¥5,000 per person; reserve ahead and confirm that lunch service is available on your visit. As a vegetarian, mention any dietary needs when booking, since Buddhist cuisine is meat-free but may not match every interpretation of vegetarian eating.
Start early at Fushimi Inari Taisha; the shrine grounds are open around the clock and are free to enter. From central Kyoto, take the JR Nara Line to Inari Station, right by the entrance. Give yourself 2–3 hours for the torii-lined path, but you don’t need to climb to the summit to enjoy it. Continue to Tofuku-ji: it’s one stop back on the JR line to Tofukuji Station, then roughly a 10–15-minute walk. Allow about 1½ hours for the temple and its autumn foliage. This is peak colour season, so expect crowds; the famous bridge and garden areas may have separate, seasonal admission fees, so check the temple’s current entry arrangements before you go.
From Tofuku-ji, head to the Kyoto National Museum by local bus or taxi; allow roughly 15–25 minutes, depending on traffic. Set aside 1½–2 hours for the galleries. Opening schedules and exhibitions vary, so check that it’s open on Friday, 20 November, and confirm admission for the exhibition you want to see. Finish at Veg Out, near Kyoto Station, for a relaxed plant-based meal; budget around ¥1,500–¥3,000. It’s a convenient final stop, but check its current opening days and hours before setting out, as café schedules can change.
Allow 1½–2 hours door to door to check out in Kyoto, reach your Osaka accommodation and drop your bags; then head to Osaka Castle Park in Chūō. The expansive grounds are free to wander, and about 1½ hours gives you time for a relaxed loop and views of the castle from outside. In autumn, the park is especially pleasant for a stroll, though it can be busy on a Saturday.
Walk to the Osaka Museum of History, beside the park, for a look at the city’s past and broad views towards the castle. Allow around 1½ hours; admission is roughly ¥600, and the museum is generally open 9:30am–5pm, with last entry at 4:30pm. Check its schedule before setting out, as hours or closures can change.
Head to Dotonbori in Namba for an hour’s canal-side wander beneath the glowing signs, then walk to Paprika Shokudo Vegan in Shinsaibashi for dinner. It’s fully vegan, with a typical meal around ¥2,000–¥4,000; booking ahead is a good idea, especially on Saturday. If you browse food stalls along the way, ask about ingredients—broths and sauces may contain fish or other animal products.
If your flight is late enough, start at Umeda Sky Building for the Kuchu Teien Observatory: allow about 1½ hours, including the walk from Osaka Station and time for the lifts. It usually opens from mid-morning, but check the current hours and admission price before setting out. Then spend about an hour browsing Grand Front Osaka, the shopping and dining complex beside the station; it’s an easy, mostly indoor stop if the November weather is chilly.
Take the Midosuji Line from Umeda to Honmachi for lunch at Green Earth; allow roughly ¥1,000–¥2,000 and confirm its current service before you go. One important catch: this is Sunday, and the restaurant may be closed, so check directly rather than relying on it for your only meal plan. For the journey to the airport, first confirm whether your ticket departs from Kansai International Airport (KIX) or Itami (ITM). From central Osaka, allow roughly 1–1½ hours to KIX by train, or around 30–50 minutes to ITM by airport limousine bus, then add ample time for the international check-in and security deadlines specified by your airline. Don’t attempt the Umeda visit unless your flight time leaves a generous buffer for lunch, the airport transfer and check-in.
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