Fly from Delhi to Tokyo; allow roughly 12–16 hours door to door, including airport time, immigration and the ride into town. Your actual journey and arrival time depend on your booked flight and whether you land at Haneda Airport or Narita Airport. From Haneda, the train or monorail into central Tokyo often takes around 30–45 minutes; from Narita, allow about 60–90 minutes by rail, plus time to reach your hotel and drop your bags. Keep the first evening flexible—queues at immigration and the airport transfer can make arrival unpredictable.
If you reach Shinjuku with enough evening left, head to Omoide Yokocho, a snug maze of lantern-lit lanes and tiny yakitori counters near the station. Dinner is typically around ¥2,000–¥5,000 per person; many stalls are compact, and some add a small seating charge, so check the menu before settling in. Then take a brief wander through Shinjuku Golden Gai nearby: its close-set alleys are atmospheric, but individual bars have their own hours and cover charges, and some are geared toward regulars. After the long journey, keep it to a look around rather than a late night.
Pick up a simple breakfast from a convenience store near your hotel, or ask the hotel about an early breakfast option, so you can get going easily the next morning. If you arrive too late or feel wiped out, skip the evening wander and make the hotel your first stop.
Start early at Sensō-ji in Asakusa. The temple grounds are open around the clock, while the main hall generally opens at 6am in October; arriving around 7–8am gives you a quieter look at the temple and its lantern-hung gate. Allow about 1½ hours, then stroll Nakamise-dori on the approach to the temple. Most stalls open later in the morning, often around 9–10am, so if you arrive early, enjoy the temple first and return to browse once the shops are trading. Keep a little cash handy for snacks and small souvenirs.
Take the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line from Asakusa to Ueno—about 5 minutes on the train, plus station access—and unwind with a walk through Ueno Park (allow 1½–2 hours). The park is free; its museums charge admission, so choose one only if you’re happy to spend longer indoors. Next, explore Ameyoko Shopping Street, a lively cluster of market lanes near Ueno Station. It’s a good place for a casual lunch: budget roughly ¥1,000–¥2,500 per person, depending on what you order.
Finish at Tokyo Skytree in Sumida. From Ameyoko, allow roughly 20–30 minutes by train and on foot, depending on your route; check current connections on the day. Set aside 1½–2 hours for the observation decks, including possible queues. Tickets cost extra, and booking ahead is sensible if you want a particular entry time—especially for sunset, when views over the city are at their best.
After the 3–4-hour door-to-door transfer from Tokyo, drop your bags at your Kyoto hotel or use station lockers; then head to Kiyomizu-dera in Higashiyama. Allow 1½–2 hours for the hillside approach, temple grounds and wooden terrace, which draws crowds even on weekdays. The temple generally opens at 6am and closes around 6pm in autumn; admission is about ¥500. If your train arrival or hotel check-in runs late, keep an eye on the closing time.
Walk downhill through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, taking about 1–1½ hours for the preserved lanes, small shops and a snack stop. From there, make your way to Nishiki Market for a late lunch: budget ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person to sample Kyoto specialties. Many stalls wind down around 5pm, and individual hours vary, so aim to arrive by mid-afternoon rather than leaving the market until late.
Finish with an unhurried walk through Gion, then choose dinner nearby; expect roughly ¥3,000–¥7,000 per person, depending on the restaurant. The lanes are atmospheric after dark, but please keep to public streets and avoid photographing residents or geiko without permission. Taxis can save time between central Kyoto and Higashiyama; city buses are cheaper but can be slow in traffic, so allow extra time if you use one.
Take the JR Special Rapid from Kyoto Station to Osaka Station (about 30 minutes; roughly ¥580, payable with an IC card). Allow 1½–2 hours door to door for checkout, reaching the station and getting into Osaka. Store your bags at Osaka Station or, if you’ll finish near Namba, in lockers there; then head to Osaka Castle. The grounds are free to explore, while the museum inside the main tower usually charges about ¥1,200 and is generally open 9am–5pm, with last entry before closing. Give the castle and its grounds 1½–2 hours, more if you’re going inside.
Travel south to Kuromon Ichiba Market in Namba for a one-hour browse and lunch; budget around ¥1,500–¥3,500 per person depending on what you sample. Stall hours vary, so don’t leave lunch too late. From there, wander over to Dōtonbori for the canal-side signs and lively streets. Keep this stop brief if your flight is later today—and check your flight time before setting out, as an early departure may mean skipping the sightseeing.
From central Osaka, take the Nankai train from Namba to Kansai International Airport (KIX), or use the JR Haruka from Tennoji or Shin-Osaka if that better fits your location; check the day’s timetable and allow roughly 45–75 minutes on the train, plus time to reach the station. Leave a generous buffer for the airport journey and follow your airline’s international check-in guidance. If your flight is early, head straight to KIX rather than trying to fit in the city stops; confirm the departure airport and flight time before planning the day.
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