From Delhi, allow roughly 12–16 hours door to door, including arriving at the airport around three hours before departure, the flight, immigration and the trip into town; the exact flight and airport aren’t specified, so keep tonight loose. From Haneda, the Keikyu Line or Tokyo Monorail connects with the city rail network, with the transfer to Shinjuku typically taking around 40–60 minutes. From Narita, the Narita Express runs directly to Shinjuku in roughly 80–90 minutes. Allow extra time for queues, luggage and your hotel transfer, then check in before heading out.
Take a gentle 30–45-minute stroll through Shinjuku Southern Terrace, beside Shinjuku Station’s south exit. Its walkways and shops are easy to explore without committing to a big sightseeing outing; seasonal lights may be up by late November, but displays and timings vary. From there, walk about 10–15 minutes to Omoide Yokocho for yakitori dinner. The narrow, atmospheric lanes are lined with tiny eateries, so you may need to wait or choose another spot if one is full. Budget around ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person; some small places prefer cash, and seating can be close together.
If you still have energy, walk about 10 minutes to Shinjuku Golden Gai for a 30-minute look around its compact lanes of little bars. Many venues are small and may have a cover charge, so check the sign or ask before sitting down; it’s fine to skip the bars and simply wander. Jet lag is likely to catch up quickly, so call it an early night if it does.
Start around 7:30 at Meiji Jingu, when the gravel paths through the forest are quiet; the shrine grounds open around sunrise and admission is free. Give yourself about 90 minutes, and check the seasonal closing time before you go—the grounds close around sunset. From there, walk about 10 minutes to Takeshita Street. It’s liveliest later in the morning, so some shops may still be opening when you arrive; browse the colorful storefronts and pick up a crepe or other sweet snack (roughly ¥500–¥1,000).
Walk about 15–20 minutes, or take a short taxi, to Maisen Aoyama Honten for tonkatsu. Budget ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person, and expect a possible wait at lunchtime on a Saturday; arriving near opening, around 11:00, can help. After lunch, spend about 90 minutes strolling Omotesando, where the avenue’s striking buildings and design shops make the walk as much of the attraction as the shopping. Shops generally open around 11:00 and often stay open into the evening.
Walk roughly 20 minutes from Omotesando to Shibuya Scramble Crossing, or take the subway from Omotesando Station to Shibuya Station for a quick ride. Arrive as the lights come on, then watch the crossing from street level and wander the surrounding streets for about an hour. The whole day works well on foot, with a short taxi or subway ride as an easy energy-saver; allow extra time for Saturday crowds, especially around Takeshita Street and Shibuya.
Head to Asakusa early for Senso-ji; on a Sunday, arriving around 8:00 helps you enjoy the temple grounds before the busiest crowds. The grounds are open all day, while the main hall generally opens from 6:30 a.m. in November and closes around 5 p.m.; entry is free. Allow about 90 minutes, then browse Nakamise-dori for around 45 minutes. Many stalls open around 9–10 a.m., so some may still be setting up if you arrive early. Try a freshly made ningyo-yaki cake, and keep a little cash handy.
Walk to Asakusa Imahan Honten for sukiyaki, a Tokyo classic. Budget roughly ¥4,000–¥8,000 per person and allow 90 minutes; Sunday lunch can be popular, so check whether a reservation is available rather than relying on a walk-in. After lunch, stroll through Sumida Park for a relaxed hour by the Sumida River, with views toward Tokyo Skytree across the water.
From the park, walk toward Tokyo Skytree—allow about 20–30 minutes—or take a short local train or subway ride to Oshiage. Aim to reach the tower before dusk; late-November sunsets are around 4:30 p.m., and the changing light is a lovely time for the views. Set aside about two hours for the observation decks. Timed tickets are worth booking ahead if you want a particular entry time; prices vary by ticket and deck, so check the official booking site.
Start around 8:00 at Tsukiji Outer Market for a relaxed breakfast crawl: try tamagoyaki, grilled seafood or a small bowl of sushi, and browse the narrow lanes while the stalls are lively. Allow about 1½ hours and budget ¥1,500–¥3,500. Many shops open in the morning, but hours vary and some may adjust for the public holiday, so check individual listings before setting out. From the market, walk about 10 minutes to Hama-rikyu Gardens; entry is around ¥300, and the garden is usually open 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (last entry 4:30 p.m.). Give its ponds, pine trees and teahouse setting about 1½ hours.
Walk or take a short taxi ride from the garden to Ginza Six. Browse the shops—typically open around 10:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.—and take a breather in the rooftop garden, usually open from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.; holiday hours can differ. Then head to Ginza Kagari for its rich chicken-paitan ramen. Expect roughly ¥1,500–¥2,500 and a possible queue; allow an hour, and check the branch’s holiday hours before you go. Finish at Tokyo International Forum, about a 15-minute walk away, to see its dramatic glass atrium and the surrounding Marunouchi streets. Public areas are generally free, though access can change during events, so leave around 45 minutes and check the venue calendar. Today is a national holiday, so expect busier streets and verify opening times for each stop.
Take an early Nozomi from Tokyo Station so you reach Kyoto with enough daylight for the planned stops. Allow 4–5 hours door to door for checkout, getting to the station, the train and your transfer in Kyoto. Leave luggage at your hotel or a station locker, then head to Nishiki Market—a good first stop for a quick lunch of market snacks and Kyoto specialties. Many stalls wind down by late afternoon, so browse and eat as you go rather than saving lunch for later; allow about 1–1½ hours.
Walk to Ippodo Tea Kyoto Main Store in Teramachi for a tea break and a look at its selection of Japanese teas. Allow around an hour and budget ¥1,000–¥2,500 per person; if time is slipping, make this a shorter cup of tea and browse. From there, take a taxi or allow roughly 20–25 minutes by public transport to Nijo Castle. Set out promptly: the grounds generally close at 5 p.m., with last entry earlier, and the palace’s opening arrangements can differ. Check the current hours before you go and prioritize the main sights and gardens within your roughly two-hour visit.
Return to central Kyoto for dinner in Pontocho Alley, where narrow lanes and traditional wooden facades make a lovely first-night setting. Expect about ¥3,000–¥7,000 per person; some restaurants are small, so book ahead if you have a particular place in mind, or arrive early and browse. It’s a full day after the train, so keep the evening to dinner and an unhurried stroll.
Get to Fushimi Inari Taisha around 7:00–7:30; the grounds are open around the clock, and the early start means cooler air and fewer people on the lower paths. Allow 2–3 hours: you can turn back whenever you’ve had enough of the uphill walk beneath the torii gates. There’s no admission fee. From the shrine, walk to Keihan Fushimi-Inari Station and ride south toward Chushojima (about 15 minutes, plus walking) for the next stops.
Wander the canal-side lanes of the Fushimi Sake District before visiting the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum. Set aside about 1½ hours for the district and an hour for the museum; check its current hours, admission and reservation requirements before setting out, as these can change. Then walk to Torisei Honten for lunch—budget roughly ¥1,500–¥3,500 per person, and expect a possible wait at peak lunchtime. Its chicken dishes pair naturally with local sake, but save the tasting for after your walk if you’re driving or cycling.
Take the Keihan line from Fushimi-Momoyama Station to Tofukuji Station, then walk to Tofuku-ji; allow around 20–30 minutes door to door. Spend 1½–2 hours among the temple buildings and gardens. Late November is a popular foliage period, so crowds and queues can add time; check the day’s admission arrangements and fees for the gardens and bridge area before you go. Keep the rest of the afternoon flexible rather than trying to squeeze in another major sight.
Take the JR Sagano Line from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama (about 15–20 minutes), then walk roughly 10 minutes to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Aim to arrive around 7:30–8:00; the path is open at all hours, and early is your best chance of a quieter walk. Allow about 45 minutes, then continue to nearby Tenryu-ji. Its garden usually opens at 8:30; garden admission is around ¥500, with an extra charge to enter the temple buildings. Give yourself about 1½ hours, and check current hours and any special-entry arrangements before you go. Late-November foliage draws large crowds, so expect bottlenecks.
Walk to Arashiyama Yoshimura for soba and river views; budget around ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person and allow 1–1½ hours. It can be busy at lunchtime, so check its current opening hours and queue arrangements before setting out. After lunch, stroll across Togetsukyo Bridge and along the riverside for about an hour; the mountain-and-river scenery is especially lovely in autumn, though the bridge area gets lively. Finish at Okochi Sanso Garden, a short walk away. Set aside about 1½ hours for its winding paths and mountain views; it generally opens 9:00–17:00, with admission around ¥1,000, typically including a cup of tea and a sweet. Check the last-entry time, and leave enough daylight for the garden walk.
Check out in Kyoto and allow 2–3 hours door to door for station access, the train and getting to your Osaka hotel or leaving bags there. An early start gives you time for Osaka Castle: aim to reach the grounds by about 10:00. The park is free to explore; the castle museum typically opens 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with last entry around 4:30, and admission is about ¥1,200. Allow 2–3 hours, including time for ticket queues and the exhibits.
Head to Mizuno in Dotonbori for Osaka-style okonomiyaki. It’s a well-known spot, so expect a possible wait around lunchtime; budget ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person and allow 1–1½ hours. Check its hours before setting out, as they can change.
After lunch, stroll to Hozenji Yokocho, a narrow, atmospheric lane just off the main bustle, and stop at Hozenji temple; about 45 minutes is plenty. Then spend around 1½ hours exploring Dotonbori after dark, when the canal and neon signs come alive. It’s an easy area to wander on foot, but Friday evenings get busy—take your time and leave room for a snack or drink along the canal.
Start around 9:00 at Kuromon Ichiba Market in Namba and graze your way along the covered lanes: pick a few small bites such as grilled seafood, tamagoyaki or fruit rather than committing to a full sit-down breakfast. Allow about 1½ hours and budget ¥1,500–¥3,500 per person. Many stalls open in the morning, but hours vary and some close earlier than others; Saturday gets busy, so go early and bring cash as a backup. From the market, take the Osaka Metro toward Shinsekai—allow roughly 20–30 minutes, including the walk and station transfer.
Spend about an hour wandering Shinsekai, with its retro signs, old-school arcades and lively streets. Then sit down at Daruma Shinsekai Sohonten for Osaka-style kushikatsu—skewers of meat and vegetables fried in a crisp coating. Expect about ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person and allow 1–1½ hours; there may be a wait at lunchtime, and follow the familiar rule: no double-dipping in the shared sauce. After lunch, head to Tsutenkaku, the neighborhood’s landmark tower. Allow around 1½ hours for the observation areas and possible queues; check current admission prices and entry arrangements before you go, as these can change.
From Tsutenkaku, make your way to Abeno Harukas in Tennoji by metro or on foot, allowing about 20–30 minutes door to door. Save roughly 1½ hours for the observatory and try to arrive before sunset—the late-November light fades early, and the city views are especially good as the lights come on. Check the current observatory hours and admission details, and consider booking ahead for your preferred time, particularly on a Saturday.
Take an easy final riverside stroll through Nakanoshima Park—about 45 minutes is plenty, and the paths and rose garden are free to enjoy. From there, head to Osaka Tenmangu in Tenma; allow roughly 15–25 minutes by taxi or about 25–35 minutes using public transport, depending on your starting point. The shrine grounds are generally open during the day, with the main office typically closing around 5 p.m.; entry is free. Keep your luggage stored at your hotel or in a station locker so you can walk comfortably.
Walk to Harukoma Sushi for an early lunch, budgeting ¥1,500–¥3,500 per person and allowing about an hour, including a possible queue. Check its Sunday hours before setting out, and don’t let lunch run late: leave central Osaka around 4½–5½ hours before your international flight as a sensible starting buffer, then adjust once you confirm the airport and flight time. For Kansai International Airport, allow roughly 45–70 minutes by train from central Osaka, plus time to reach the station and check in; for Itami Airport, an airport bus or taxi commonly takes about 25–40 minutes, subject to traffic. Aim to arrive at the airport around three hours before an international departure, and confirm whether your flight leaves from KIX or Itami before choosing your route.
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