With six large suitcases, arrange a pre-booked airport van to your hotel rather than tackling crowded trains on arrival. Allow roughly 1–2 hours from Haneda or 1.5–2.5 hours from Narita, depending on traffic and where you’re staying; a private transfer may cost around ¥25,000–¥50,000 total, but confirm the vehicle can take your luggage when booking. After check-in, leave 1–2 hours to settle in and pick up water or simple snacks at a nearby convenience store. Ask the hotel in advance whether breakfast can be made fully vegan—without dairy, eggs, fish, or meat.
If you’re checked in with enough daylight, take a gentle 1–1.5-hour stroll through Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. It’s a lovely place to stretch your legs and look for autumn color; on this Sunday, it should be open, but check the current schedule before setting out. November hours are typically around 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with last entry before closing; admission is about ¥500 for adults and ¥250 for a 14-year-old. If your flight or transfer runs late, skip the garden rather than rushing—the visit depends on arriving before last entry.
Have dinner at AIN SOPH. Journey Shinjuku, a fully vegan restaurant, with meals typically around ¥2,500–¥4,500 per person. It’s a handy first-night choice after travel, but check current opening hours and reserve if possible. Allow about ¥1,000–¥2,000 total for local rides or transit today if needed; your main transport cost will be the airport transfer.
Start early at Senso-ji; the temple grounds are open around the clock, while the main hall is generally open from about 6:00 a.m. (later in winter). Give yourselves roughly 1½ hours to see the main hall and the surrounding precinct before it gets busier. Entry is free. From Senso-ji, walk along Nakamise-dori for about 45–60 minutes of souvenir browsing. Many stalls sell snacks, but ingredients can include fish stock, dairy, or other animal products, so check carefully—or keep this stop to shopping. Nakamise shops typically open in the morning and close in the early evening, but individual hours vary.
Walk or take a short taxi ride to Kappabashi Street for Japanese tableware, knives, kitchen tools, and the famous plastic food displays. Allow 1–1½ hours; shops often close around 5:00 p.m., and some may be closed on Mondays, so check the specific stores you want before setting out. From Asakusa, take the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line to Ueno, then enjoy an easy hour in Ueno Park; a single metro ride is roughly ¥180–¥220 per person. If you’d rather save your legs, a taxi between the areas is usually a short ride, with the fare depending on traffic.
For a reliably animal-free meal, look for T’s Tantan in the Ueno Station area, but confirm the branch and its current hours before you go—locations can change. If there isn’t a suitable Ueno branch operating, the Tokyo Station branch is a practical fallback, though it means travelling back across town. Budget around ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person for a meal. Even at a vegan restaurant, tell staff clearly that you eat no animal products, including fish, and check for any branch-specific menu changes. Set aside about ¥1,000–¥2,000 per person for snacks or small purchases today, beyond any shopping splurges.
Begin at Meiji Jingu, reached from Harajuku Station or Meiji-jingumae Station. The approach through the wooded grounds feels surprisingly quiet once you leave the station area; allow 1–1½ hours, and check the shrine’s seasonal opening hours before setting out. Entry is free. Today is Japan’s Culture Day public holiday, so expect busy trains and popular sights—an early start will make the shrine walk more peaceful.
Walk to Takeshita Street for an hour of browsing fashion and accessories. It’s a lively, crowded street, and many shops open later in the morning, so don’t worry if a few shutters are still down when you arrive. Continue on foot to Vegan Bistro Jangara for fully vegan ramen; budget about ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person (roughly $10–$20). Check today’s hours and any holiday changes before you go, and confirm dishes are fully vegan when ordering.
Browse Omotesando toward Aoyama, taking time for the striking shopfronts as well as the fashion stores; allow 1–1½ hours, with plenty of cafés for a rest. From there, walk or take the train to Shibuya Scramble Crossing and Shibuya Sky. The crossing is free; for the rooftop, reserve a timed ticket in advance and allow 1½–2 hours for entry queues and the visit. Prices vary by date and ticket type, so check the official booking page; set aside roughly ¥2,500–¥3,500 per adult as a planning estimate. Local train rides are usually a few hundred yen per person. Since it’s a holiday and the rooftop is popular, book ahead rather than relying on walk-up availability.
Head first to Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Nishi-Shinjuku; the observatories are free and usually take about an hour, but check the official schedule for the specific tower and any closures before setting out. From Shinjuku Station, allow roughly 10–15 minutes on foot, or take the Oedo Line to Tochomae Station. Afterward, spend about two hours browsing Shinjuku’s shopping district—department stores around Shinjuku Station are handy for clothes and shoes, while electronics shops cluster nearby. Since you’ll be shopping more later, consider sending purchases to your hotel or keeping today’s haul light.
For lunch near Shinjuku Gyoenmae, Ain Soph. Journey Shinjuku is a fully vegan restaurant in the wider Shinjuku area; check its current hours and reserve if possible. Budget about ¥2,500–¥5,000 per person (roughly $15–$30), and confirm ingredients when ordering. Then take the JR Yamanote Line from Shinjuku to Akihabara—about 20 minutes station to station—and give Akihabara Electric Town around two hours for electronics, anime, and hobby shops. It’s easy to get carried away here, so compare prices and check warranty and tax-free conditions before buying.
Continue by JR to Tokyo Station (roughly 5–10 minutes from Akihabara) for Character Street and a look at the station’s Marunouchi exterior; allow 1–1½ hours. For dinner, choose a clearly vegan restaurant in the station area or nearby Marunouchi, checking that sauces and broths contain no fish stock, dashi, or other animal ingredients—these are common even in vegetable dishes. Allow roughly ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person for a casual meal; local train fares for today’s transfers should be around ¥600–¥1,000 per person, excluding shopping and meals.
Take a morning Nozomi from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station; the ride is about 2 hours 15 minutes, but allow extra time for getting to the station, finding your platform and boarding. Reserve three seats together, and add the designated oversized-baggage space for any case whose height, width and depth total more than 160 cm. With six large cases, forwarding some luggage to Kyoto is worth considering; otherwise, make sure you can manage it through the station and your hotel’s entrance. After arriving, allow about 1–1½ hours to reach and check in at your central Kyoto hotel. Confirm that both rooms and breakfast are booked, and ask ahead whether the hotel can provide a vegan breakfast.
Head to Nishiki Market for a 1–1½-hour wander among Kyoto’s food stalls and craft shops. It’s a lively place to browse, but many snacks and prepared foods contain fish stock, bonito flakes or other animal ingredients, so don’t assume a dish is vegetarian—ask about every ingredient, or treat this as a sightseeing stop rather than a meal. Then walk about 10 minutes to the Kyoto International Manga Museum for a relaxed indoor visit; allow 1½–2 hours. Check its current opening days and admission details before setting out, as schedules can change.
Travel back toward Kyoto Station for dinner at Veg Out, a fully vegan café with a menu that makes ordering straightforward for your family. Budget roughly $15–30 per person; check current hours and reserve if needed. Keep the evening easy after the train ride, and remember that a strict vegan meal also means checking sauces and seasonings when dining elsewhere.
Go early to Kiyomizu-dera to enjoy the hillside setting before the lanes fill up. Allow 1½–2 hours; admission is typically around ¥500 per adult, but check current opening arrangements and any access restrictions before you go. From central Kyoto, a taxi is the simplest start; buses to the Higashiyama area are cheaper but can be crowded, especially with day bags. Keep your six large suitcases at the hotel rather than taking them around the old streets.
Walk downhill through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, leaving about 1½ hours to browse ceramics, sweets and craft shops. The stone lanes are charming but uneven and can be busy, so comfortable shoes help. Continue to Kennin-ji in Gion (about 15–20 minutes on foot); allow around an hour and check its current hours and admission, typically about ¥600. Afterward, spend roughly an hour strolling Gion. Enjoy the historic streets quietly, stay on public roads, and don’t photograph residents or enter private lanes.
Take a taxi or bus toward downtown for Mumokuteki Cafe; budget roughly ¥2,000–¥3,500 per person. Since you eat no animal products—including fish—ask staff to confirm that each dish is fully vegetarian or vegan and contains no fish stock, meat broth, dairy or egg; “vegetarian” can still include dashi in Japan. For the day, allow roughly ¥2,000–¥3,000 per person for temple admission and local transport, plus your meal.
Leave central Kyoto around 7:00–7:30 a.m. for Arashiyama: take the JR Sagano Line from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama (about 15 minutes), then walk roughly 10 minutes to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. The grove is free and open at all hours; an early start is your best chance of enjoying it before the Saturday crowds arrive. Allow 45–60 minutes, then continue to Tenryu-ji. Its garden usually opens around 8:30 a.m.; garden admission is about ¥500 per adult, with a separate charge for the buildings. Give yourselves about an hour to wander the garden and check the temple’s current hours and fees before setting out.
Walk to Togetsukyo Bridge for river and mountain views, allowing 30–45 minutes for photos and a relaxed riverside pause. Then tackle Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama: the entrance is near the south end of the bridge, and the uphill walk takes around 20–30 minutes each way, with time at the top bringing the visit to roughly 1½–2 hours. Admission is typically about ¥600 for adults and ¥300 for children; the climb can be tiring, so take water and go at your family’s pace. For lunch, look for an Arashiyama restaurant with a clearly vegan meal, but confirm that the broth, dashi, sauces and cooking fats contain no fish or other animal ingredients. Menus can be limited, so check ahead—or pick up a fully vegan meal before leaving central Kyoto. Budget roughly ¥2,000–¥3,500 per person.
After lunch, keep the rest of the afternoon flexible for a gentle riverside stroll or a break before heading back. Return from Saga-Arashiyama to Kyoto Station on the JR Sagano Line, then continue to your hotel; allow about 30–45 minutes station-to-station, plus your hotel transfer. Carry a translation note stating that you eat no meat, fish, seafood, dashi or other animal products, and ask staff to confirm ingredients rather than relying on a “vegetarian” label.
Reach Fushimi Inari Taisha around 6:30–7:00 a.m.; its grounds are open all day, and an early start makes the lower torii-gate paths far less crowded. Allow 2–3 hours if you climb well up the mountain, but with several stops ahead, consider turning back after the main gate tunnels and a viewpoint. Entry is free. From central Kyoto, take the Keihan Line to Fushimi-Inari Station or the JR Nara Line to Inari Station; both are close to the shrine.
Continue to Tofuku-ji by train or taxi, allowing extra time for November crowds. Its gardens and famous autumn scenery are especially popular this month; check the temple’s current seasonal arrangements before you go. Budget roughly ¥500–¥1,000 per person, depending on which areas are open and visited, and about 1½ hours on site. Then head to the Fushimi sake district for a relaxed canal-side walk through its historic streets—about an hour is enough, and you can simply enjoy the scenery without doing any tastings. Allow around 20–30 minutes to reach Kyoto Railway Museum from the Fushimi area by transit, plus station walks; it’s a good two-hour stop, with adult admission typically around ¥1,500. Check its official calendar before setting out, as opening days can vary.
Finish with a fully vegan dinner at TowZen near Kyoto Station. Set aside about $15–30 per person, and check today’s hours and whether a reservation is advisable. This is a full day with several transfers, so keep the hike moderate and leave the museum a little flexible if the autumn crowds slow you down.
After the roughly 30-minute train ride from Kyoto, allow 1–1½ hours door to door for station access, getting to your hotel and check-in. With six large suitcases, avoid the busiest commuter period; if the hotel can’t store your bags before check-in, ask about forwarding them from Kyoto or leaving them at reception. A Namba or Umeda base makes the next few days easier. Confirm directly with the hotel that breakfast can be fully vegan, and make clear that you eat no fish or other animal products.
Once checked in, head to Osaka Museum of Housing and Living in Tenjinbashisuji. It recreates an old Osaka streetscape indoors; allow about 1½ hours. It is generally open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. with last admission around 4:30 p.m., but check the current schedule before setting out. Admission is typically about ¥600 for adults, with a reduced rate for students; bring the 14-year-old’s student ID if available. From there, wander Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street, a covered arcade with small shops, everyday goods and snack stops. You don’t need to walk its full length—choose a section, browse at an easy pace and leave time to get across town for dinner.
Take the subway or a taxi to Paprika Shokudo Vegan in Shinsaibashi for dinner. It serves fully vegan Japanese and Western-style dishes; budget roughly ¥2,000–¥4,500 per person (about $15–30), depending on what you order. Check its current opening hours and reserve if possible, and mention that your group avoids fish as well as meat, dairy and eggs. Set aside around ¥600–¥1,500 per person for local transport today, depending on how much you use the subway or taxis.
Start at Osaka Castle Park for the moats, stone walls and exterior views; allow 1–1½ hours, and don’t feel you need to rush around the extensive grounds. Then visit the Osaka Castle Museum inside the main tower. It usually opens around 9:00 a.m. and closes at 6:00 p.m., with last entry before closing; check the current schedule before you go. Admission is roughly ¥1,200 for adults and may be reduced for students—confirm the rate for your 14-year-old. The museum can get busy, so allow 1½–2 hours including queues. From the castle area, a taxi is the easiest link to your next stop; public transport is also straightforward, but involves some walking.
Take a slower riverside break at Nakanoshima Park (free; allow 45–60 minutes), then head to Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street for your planned two hours of browsing clothes, shoes and everyday goods. It’s a long covered arcade, so you can keep shopping even if the weather turns; allow roughly 15–25 minutes by taxi from Nakanoshima Park, or use the subway and expect a short walk at either end. For dinner, contact Oko Fun Okonomiyaki Bar ahead of time and be explicit that all three of you eat strictly vegetarian: no meat, fish, bonito flakes, dashi, egg or dairy. If they can’t confirm a fully suitable okonomiyaki, choose another fully vegan restaurant in Namba rather than relying on a last-minute modification. Budget about $15–30 per person for dinner; allow roughly $5–10 per person for local transport and around $25–45 per person for the museum and meals, excluding shopping.
Start at Kuromon Ichiba Market in Namba and allow about an hour to browse. It’s lively and fun for seeing Osaka’s market culture, but most ready-to-eat stalls serve seafood or use fish-based broth, so treat it as a stroll rather than a dependable vegetarian meal. Ask specifically about fish stock, bonito, dashi, and animal-derived sauces; “vegetarian” may not mean fish-free. From central Namba, it’s an easy walk or short subway ride. The market is generally busiest from late morning, and individual stall hours vary.
Walk to Namba Yasaka Shrine (about 30–45 minutes), known for its enormous lion-head stage, then continue toward Den Den Town in Nipponbashi. Give yourselves 1½–2 hours to browse electronics, games, anime goods, and second-hand shops; check product prices and warranties before buying, and keep receipts together for any tax-free purchases. Finish at Dotonbori for the canal, bright signs, and people-watching. Allow about an hour, but don’t assume the street-food stalls are vegetarian: takoyaki, sauces, and noodles commonly contain seafood or fish stock. These sights are close enough to link on foot; otherwise, local subway rides are usually a few hundred yen per person.
Have dinner at a fully vegan restaurant in Namba, choosing a venue that is open on the day and confirming its current menu and cross-contact policy before setting out. Tell staff clearly that you eat no animal products, including fish, fish stock, bonito, and dashi. Budget about $15–30 per person for dinner. For today’s local transport, allow roughly ¥500–¥1,000 per person depending on how much you walk; attraction visits listed here are generally free.
Take a morning Nozomi from Shin-Osaka Station to Tokyo Station; the train ride is about 2½ hours, and you’ll need extra time for hotel-to-station travel, boarding and getting from Tokyo Station to your hotel. Reserve three seats together. Any suitcase whose length + width + height exceeds 160 cm needs an oversized-baggage seat reservation; with six large cases, consider forwarding some luggage to Tokyo ahead of time. The listed adult fare is about ¥14,700 each; a child fare is generally half the adult fare, so budget roughly ¥36,750 total for two adults and your 14-year-old, subject to the fare at booking. After reaching your hotel, allow 1–1½ hours to check in or leave bags and freshen up.
Head to Imperial Palace East Gardens for a gentle 1–1½-hour walk, then continue on foot to Marunouchi to browse the shops and admire the station-area architecture. The gardens are free, but their schedule and last-entry time vary seasonally; check the official calendar before setting out, as closure days can affect access. Allow another 1–1½ hours for Marunouchi, and keep the afternoon flexible after the intercity transfer.
Finish at T’s Tantan near Tokyo Station for fully vegan ramen and other plant-based options; budget about $10–20 per person. Check the current branch location and hours before you go, since some station locations may be inside the ticket gates and require a valid train ticket to reach. Ask staff about ingredients if you have any additional dietary restrictions.
Head to teamLab Planets TOKYO in Toyosu for 2–3 hours; it’s an immersive, barefoot exhibition, so wear trousers you can roll up and shoes that are easy to take off. Book a timed ticket in advance—entry depends on availability—and check the ticket’s arrival window and current price (budget roughly ¥3,800–¥4,800 each). From central Tokyo, take the Yurakucho Line to Toyosu Station and continue on the Yurikamome to Shin-Toyosu Station, or use a taxi if that’s easier. Afterward, travel on to Ginza for about two hours of department stores, Japanese labels and gift browsing; allow roughly 20–30 minutes by transit, depending on your starting point.
For lunch in Ginza, check the current menu and hours at AIN SOPH. GINZA before setting out; it’s a fully plant-based restaurant, but confirm that your choices contain no fish stock, dairy, egg or other animal ingredients. Budget around ¥2,300–¥4,500 per person ($15–$30). Then take a short taxi or transit ride to Hamarikyu Gardens in Shiodome for a quieter change of pace among ponds, bridges and landscaped paths. Allow 1–1½ hours; admission is typically around ¥300, but check current hours and fees before you go.
Finish at Don Quijote Shinjuku Kabukicho for 1–1½ hours of snacks, toiletries and souvenirs. It’s a large, busy store, so keep your bags close and check labels carefully for animal-derived ingredients if buying food. From Shiodome, take the Oedo Line toward Shinjuku or use a taxi; leave enough time to get back to your hotel, sort purchases and check your airline’s baggage limits before packing tonight.
Allow 30–45 minutes to check out, settle any hotel charges and make sure all six large suitcases and three carry-ons are accounted for. Confirm the pickup time and vehicle size with your pre-booked driver; with this much luggage, a standard taxi or ordinary ride-hail car is unlikely to fit everyone and everything. Allow roughly 1–2 hours to Haneda or 1½–2½ hours to Narita, depending on your hotel, traffic and the airport terminal. Build in your airline’s recommended check-in buffer on top of that, and verify the terminal before you leave.
Leave 45–60 minutes for a meal before check-in or security, depending on your flight schedule. Airport options vary by terminal, so check menus directly and tell staff clearly that you eat no animal products—including fish, seafood, fish stock or dashi; also ask about egg and dairy if you avoid those. Don’t assume a dish marked “vegetable” is fish-free. Keep snacks handy in case suitable food is limited.
For three people, the earlier indicative estimate of $8,500–$11,500 covers 13 hotel nights in two rooms at your stated target, two meals a day, domestic and local transport, and moderate sightseeing admissions. It excludes international flights, shopping, travel insurance and any unusually costly airport transfer; the final amount depends especially on hotel rates, breakfast inclusion, meal choices and your airport. Keep the transfer booking and hotel receipts together, and check that any last-minute shopping still fits your airline’s baggage allowance.
No packing list attached yet.