Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
From Narita Airport, allow roughly 1.5–2.5 hours door-to-door: immigration and luggage can take 45–90 minutes, then the Narita Express takes about 55–85 minutes to Shibuya depending on the train and connections. From Haneda Airport, the Keikyu Line or Tokyo Monorail route takes about 30–45 minutes to central Tokyo, but allow closer to 90 minutes overall with arrival formalities and hotel check-in. Drop your bags first if the room is not ready; avoid squeezing in a full sightseeing stop before you know how you feel after the flight.
Head to Shibuya Crossing once you are settled. The best first look is from the pavement near Shibuya Station, then cross toward the Center-gai side and wander a little through the surrounding neon streets. Allow about 45 minutes, longer if you want coffee or need time to orient yourself. Trains and station exits are busy, so follow signs carefully and keep luggage compact; a Suica or PASMO makes local travel much easier.
Continue to Shibuya Sky, reached directly from Shibuya Scramble Square. Reserve a timed entry in advance—sunset slots are especially popular, and rooftop access can be restricted during strong wind or rain. Allow about 1.5 hours, including security and elevator queues; the observatory usually operates into the evening, but check the official schedule for your travel period. Afterward, walk toward Nonbei Yokocho, the tiny lantern-lit lanes beside the station, for an atmospheric first dinner in Tokyo. Small counters fill quickly and many accept cash only, so expect around ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person and be prepared to wait briefly or choose a neighboring izakaya. Keep the first night relaxed: Shibuya is lively late, but jet lag is likely to catch up with you.
Start early at Meiji Jingu, ideally around 8:00–8:30am, when the broad forest paths are quiet and the shrine atmosphere is at its best. Allow about an hour for the walk from the Harajuku entrance, the main shrine buildings, and a slow look at the sake barrels along the approach. Admission is free; the shrine grounds open from dawn until dusk, though the exact closing time changes seasonally. From here, Takeshita Street is a short walk away—expect it to become noticeably busier from late morning. Spend about an hour browsing its youth-fashion shops and trying snacks such as crepes or freshly made sweets, allowing roughly ¥1,000–¥2,000 for small bites.
Walk or take the Tokyo Metro from Meiji-jingumae toward Aoyama for the Nezu Museum; the journey is roughly 15–20 minutes on foot, or about 10 minutes by train plus walking. Its collection of Japanese and East Asian art is beautifully presented, but the real treat is the garden, which gives you a peaceful reset after Harajuku. Allow two hours, and check the museum’s closure day before travelling—many Tokyo museums close on Mondays. General admission is commonly around ¥1,500–¥2,000, with special exhibitions sometimes costing more. The museum café is a pleasant lunch option, though nearby Kotto-dori has more casual cafés if you prefer not to wait.
From Aoyama, take the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line to Tsukiji—allow about 25–35 minutes including the walk—and arrive by roughly 1:30–2:00pm. The Tsukiji Outer Market is best treated as a grazing stop rather than a formal lunch: try tamagoyaki, grilled seafood, tuna bowls, and seasonal fruit while wandering the narrow lanes. Budget ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person, and bring cash because some smaller stalls still prefer it. Many vendors begin closing in the mid-afternoon, so do not leave this stop too late. Finish at teamLab Planets TOKYO in Toyosu, reached from Tsukiji in about 25–35 minutes via the Yurakucho Line and a short walk. Allow two hours, wear clothes that can be rolled above the knees, and expect some barefoot, water-based rooms. Entry is by timed ticket and should be booked in advance; leave a 15-minute buffer for queues and check-in. Afterward, Toyosu has straightforward dinner options around the station and waterfront, making it easier to eat nearby rather than rushing back across the city.
After arriving at Kyoto Station, allow about 30–45 minutes to leave your luggage at the hotel or a station locker and reach Kiyomizu-dera. A taxi is simplest with bags; otherwise take a local bus toward Gojozaka and walk uphill for 10–15 minutes. Aim to enter around 9:00am, before the Higashiyama lanes become crowded. Spend roughly two hours around the wooden terrace, pagoda viewpoints, and hillside paths. The temple generally opens from 6:00am, though hours and admission fees can change; budget about ¥500 and check the official site if you want to visit a specific hall.
From the temple, walk downhill through Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, allowing around 90 minutes for the atmospheric stone lanes rather than treating them as a quick passage. Browse small pottery, confectionery, and incense shops, but keep an eye on the steep steps and crowds. This is a good place for an early lunch: Omen Kodai-ji is reliable for handmade udon, while Hisago is known for oyakodon; expect roughly ¥1,500–¥2,500 per person and possible queues.
Continue a few minutes to Kodai-ji, where the refined gardens, bamboo grove, and temple buildings make a quieter contrast to the shopping streets. Allow about 90 minutes. Standard daytime admission is usually around ¥600, with seasonal evening illuminations offered on selected dates—these are especially popular and may require timed or advance arrangements, so treat them as a bonus rather than counting on entry. From there, walk downhill toward Yasaka Shrine in about 15 minutes, arriving with time to see the lantern-lined grounds and lively central precinct; the shrine grounds are open at all hours, while individual buildings and ceremonies follow their own schedules.
Finish with an unhurried walk through Gion, especially along Hanamikoji Street and the quieter lanes near the Shirakawa Canal. Please stay on public paths and avoid photographing geiko or maiko without permission. For dinner, Gion Tanto is a friendly choice for okonomiyaki, while Gion Kappa offers a broader Japanese menu; allow ¥3,000–¥6,000 per person, and reserve if possible. From Gion-Shijo Station, the Keihan Line is convenient for returning toward eastern Kyoto, while a taxi is often worth considering after a full day on the hills.
Start early in Arashiyama, ideally arriving around 7:30–8:00am before the bamboo paths become crowded. From central Kyoto, take the JR Sagano Line to Saga-Arashiyama Station—about 15 minutes from Kyoto Station—then walk roughly 15 minutes to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. The grove itself takes about an hour at an unhurried pace; the quietest stretch is toward the north end, beyond the main photo stops. Entry is free, but arrive early because tour groups gather quickly later in the morning.
Continue on foot to Tenryu-ji, one of Arashiyama’s finest temples, allowing around 1½ hours for the buildings and the pond garden. The temple and garden generally open from 8:30am, with separate admission of roughly ¥500–¥800 depending on which areas you enter. From there, walk down toward Togetsukyo Bridge for riverside views and a relaxed 45-minute pause. If the weather is clear, the mountains behind the river make this one of the best places in Kyoto simply to slow down; avoid lingering on the busiest central section of the bridge if you want quieter photographs.
From Arashiyama, take a taxi to Kinkaku-ji—usually 25–35 minutes, traffic permitting—or combine the JR train with a city bus if keeping costs down. Allow about an hour at the Golden Pavilion, including the pond circuit and garden. It normally opens from 9:00am to 5:00pm, with admission around ¥500; there is no practical way to enter the pavilion itself, so treat it as a scenic garden visit rather than a full temple interior tour. Taxis are worthwhile here because the transfer by bus can be slow and crowded.
Finish downtown at Nishiki Market, reached by taxi or bus in roughly 25–40 minutes. Spend about 1½ hours browsing pickles, grilled seafood, tofu specialties, sweets, and Kyoto-style seasonings, with lunch costing approximately ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person. The market is usually busiest around midday and many stalls close by late afternoon, so try to arrive by 2:30–3:00pm. Eat from the stalls where permitted rather than walking while eating, and remember that the narrow arcade is primarily a shopping street, not just a food court.
Take the JR Kyoto Line Special Rapid from Kyoto Station to Osaka Station, then continue by Osaka Metro or taxi toward Osaka Castle; allow roughly 60–75 minutes door to door, including the transfer and a little station orientation. Start around 7:30–8:00am so you reach the castle area before the larger tour groups. Spend about two hours walking through the park and visiting the tower museum. The grounds are free, while the tower admission is usually around ¥1,200; opening hours and ticket queues can vary, so check the official site before leaving Kyoto.
From Osaka Castle, take the Osaka Metro to Nippombashi—normally about 25–35 minutes with one transfer—and spend around 90 minutes at Kuromon Ichiba Market. It is best for grazing rather than a formal lunch: look for grilled scallops, sea urchin, wagyu skewers, fresh fruit, and takoyaki, budgeting approximately ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person. Go before mid-afternoon, when some stalls begin closing, and carry cash as smaller vendors may not accept cards. From the market, a 10-minute walk brings you into Hozenji Yokocho, where the narrow lantern-lit lanes and moss-covered Hozenji Temple make a pleasant, slower counterpoint to the market; allow about 45 minutes.
Continue on foot into Dotonbori, just a few minutes away, for the canal-side neon and dinner. Try kushikatsu, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, or crab at one of the established restaurants rather than stopping at the first aggressively advertised chain; allow roughly ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person and expect queues from 6:00pm onward. After dinner, take the Osaka Metro from Namba to Umeda, then walk through the Umeda Sky Building complex to the observation deck. Allow about 1.5 hours, with the final admission typically in the evening and subject to weather and same-day availability; confirm closing time before setting out. It is a good place to finish because Osaka Station is nearby, with frequent trains and taxis for returning to your accommodation.
Leave Osaka early enough to reach Shin-Osaka Station with time for the platform and a breakfast purchase—around 6:15–6:30am is sensible for a 7:00am departure. The Shinkansen ride to Hiroshima Station takes about 1 hour 25 minutes, but allow 2.5–3 hours door to door for getting out of your Osaka hotel, station access, and the onward tram or taxi. Store larger luggage at your Hiroshima accommodation or a station locker; travelling to Miyajima with only a day bag makes the later ferry connection much easier.
From Hiroshima Station, take a tram or taxi to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, allowing roughly 25–35 minutes by tram depending on the service and traffic. Spend about two hours inside, and expect a queue even with a reserved or timed entry if one is required; check the official booking page before travelling, as entry procedures and exhibits can change. Continue on foot through Peace Memorial Park to the Atomic Bomb Dome, about 10 minutes away. The Dome itself takes around 30 minutes, and the riverbank is a good place to pause before moving on. The museum can be emotionally heavy, so avoid cramming in another major attraction here.
From Hiroshima Station, take the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi—about 25 minutes—then walk to the ferry terminal. Allow around 1.5 hours for the train, station navigation, ferry wait, and the crossing to Miyajima; the ferry ride is roughly 10 minutes. At Itsukushima Shrine, allow 1–1.5 hours to follow the wooden corridors and see the torii from the shoreline. Check the tide table before setting out: at high tide the torii appears to float, while at low tide you may be able to walk closer to it. Entry is about ¥300, with a combined aquarium ticket costing more if you decide to add it, though this day is already full.
Return by ferry and JR train in the evening. Reaching a Hiroshima hotel usually takes 1.5–2 hours from Miyajima, including the walk back to the station and waiting time. Returning all the way to Osaka the same night is possible only with a very late finish and is not a good fit after the museum and Miyajima; it requires another Shinkansen journey and late hotel check-in. The comfortable plan is to sleep in Hiroshima, or, if your Osaka accommodation is fixed, leave Miyajima earlier and reserve an evening Shinkansen from Hiroshima Station with a generous connection buffer.
No packing list attached yet.