Start at Senso-ji in Asakusa around 8:00–8:30am, before Nakamise-dori becomes crowded. Enter through Kaminarimon, walk the souvenir-lined approach, and take time around the main hall and quieter side streets near the temple. The grounds are free and generally accessible all day, though shops typically open later; allow about two hours. From Asakusa, take the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line to Ueno—roughly 5 minutes, plus walking.
Continue through Ueno Park, where the ponds, shrine paths, and autumn trees make a pleasant late-morning walk. You do not need to visit every museum; simply enjoy the park’s open spaces and choose one gallery if something catches your eye. Museums commonly open around 9:30am and often close on a regular weekly day, so check the official listing if you want an indoor visit. Allow around 90 minutes, and keep a little time for the walk to Ueno Station.
Take the JR Yamanote Line from Ueno to Shinjuku, approximately 25 minutes, then walk to Ain Soph. Ripple for a fully vegan lunch. Their burgers, curry, and desserts are useful choices for a solo traveler who wants a reliable meat-free meal; budget roughly ¥1,500–2,500. Because vegan restaurants can fill quickly on weekends, arriving early is sensible, and verify the current Sunday hours before setting out.
After lunch, ride the JR Yamanote Line from Shinjuku to Harajuku—about 5 minutes—and enter Meiji Jingu through the forested approach. The walk itself is the highlight, offering a surprisingly quiet contrast to Harajuku’s busy streets. The shrine grounds are free, with opening times following daylight and seasonal sunrise/sunset patterns; allow about 90 minutes. Walk onward or take the Yamanote Line one stop to Shibuya for Shibuya Sky. Your reserved timed admission is important, especially for sunset, and you should arrive 20–30 minutes early for ticket checks and the elevator queue. Allow around 90 minutes for the rooftop views; strong wind or rain can affect outdoor access, so keep the indoor observation areas in mind.
Begin at Fushimi Inari Taisha as early as possible, ideally around 8:30am. From Kyoto Station, the JR Nara Line takes about five minutes to Inari Station, which is directly beside the shrine; allow another 10–15 minutes if you are arriving with luggage and need to leave bags at your accommodation. The lower shrine is free and open around the clock. Walk beyond the first densely packed torii gates toward Yotsutsuji Intersection for a rewarding city view—going all the way to the summit takes roughly 2–3 hours, but turning back here keeps the morning comfortable.
Continue by train or taxi to Kiyomizu-dera. From Keihan Fushimi-Inari Station, a train to Kiyomizu-Gojo Station takes about 10 minutes, followed by a 25-minute uphill walk through Higashiyama; a taxi is easier if your legs are tired, though traffic can be slow. Allow about 1½ hours for the temple and terrace. The main hall usually opens around 6:00am, but seasonal special exhibitions and illumination schedules vary, so check the official calendar before relying on a particular admission time. The approach is steep and crowded even on weekdays, so comfortable shoes are worthwhile.
Walk downhill toward Mumokuteki Café in Kawaramachi for lunch, allowing roughly 25–30 minutes from the temple area. It is a convenient vegetarian-friendly stop with set meals and café dishes, generally around ¥1,500–2,500; ask staff to confirm whether any item contains egg or dairy if you prefer fully plant-based food. After lunch, stroll to Nishiki Market, about 10 minutes away. The covered market is best treated as a browsing walk rather than a guaranteed vegetarian meal: look for vegetable pickles, tofu, yuba, sesame sweets, and fruit, while checking for bonito stock, fish-based dashi, and shared cooking oil. Many stalls close by late afternoon, so arriving around 2:30–3:00pm is sensible.
Finish in Gion, reached from Nishiki Market in about 15 minutes on foot. Wander Hanamikoji Street and the quieter lanes around Shirakawa, keeping voices low and avoiding private entrances—this is a working neighborhood, not only a sightseeing district. Continue to Yasaka Shrine, whose grounds are free and open at all hours, then settle into the evening atmosphere as the lanterns come on. For dinner, choose a clearly labelled vegetarian restaurant nearby or return toward Kawaramachi; Kyoto’s specialist vegetarian kitchens can fill quickly, so make a reservation rather than relying on a walk-in. Expect a long day of walking—roughly 8–10 km—so this is a good evening to return to your accommodation early.
After arriving at JR Nara Station, allow about 25–30 minutes to walk or take a short bus ride to Todai-ji. Aim to enter around 9:00am, when the approach is calmer; the temple generally opens from 7:30am in November, though hours and admission can change. The Great Buddha Hall is immense and atmospheric—give yourself roughly 90 minutes, including the surrounding grounds. Admission is about ¥800 for the temple hall. From here, walk through Nara Park for an hour, keeping food tucked away around the deer and buying deer crackers only from official vendors if you want to feed them.
Continue east along the park paths toward Kasuga Taisha, allowing 20–30 minutes on foot. Its stone lanterns, mossy forest, and quieter approach make it feel very different from Todai-ji; the shrine grounds are free, while some inner areas charge admission. Set aside about 90 minutes, and wear shoes with good grip—the forest paths can be damp in November. For lunch, walk back toward Naramachi and eat at Onwa, a small restaurant known for carefully prepared vegetarian and vegan Japanese food. Budget approximately ¥2,000–4,000, and check its current opening days and reservation policy before setting out, as independent restaurants may close on irregular days.
Spend the rest of the afternoon wandering Naramachi, where narrow lanes pass former merchant houses, lattice-fronted machiya, craft shops, and tiny cafés. Rather than trying to cover every street, follow Naramachi-dori and turn into the quieter lanes around Gangoji; the neighborhood is particularly pleasant after the main temple crowds have thinned. Allow about two hours, with time for small purchases such as Nara-made textiles or traditional stationery. If you are returning to Osaka tonight, walk back toward JR Nara Station for the JR Yamatoji Rapid; the ride takes roughly 50 minutes, and leaving around 4:00–5:00pm gives you a comfortable arrival buffer.
From JR Nara Station, take the JR Yamatoji Rapid to Osaka Station—about 50 minutes, ¥840, with an ICOCA or Suica. Allow roughly 30 minutes onward for the Osaka Metro and walking, so a late-morning arrival is more realistic after leaving Nara. Start at Osaka Castle and its surrounding park; spend about two hours exploring the grounds and exterior before deciding whether to enter the museum tower (roughly ¥1,200, with possible queues). The park is spacious and pleasant for a break, while the tower can be busy, so don’t let it consume the whole morning.
From Osaka Castle, take the Osaka Metro toward Nippombashi and walk to Kuromon Ichiba Market, allowing around 25–35 minutes door to door. The market is fun for its atmosphere, but it is not vegetarian-only: many stalls handle seafood and meat, and shared grills or broths are common. Look for clearly labeled vegetable items, fruit, grilled corn, pickles, or plain rice, and treat this as a browsing stop rather than your main meal. For a dependable lunch, continue by Metro or walk north-west to Paprika Shokudo Vegan in Shinsaibashi—a fully vegan restaurant where a meal is usually around ¥1,500–2,500. Check its current Wednesday hours before setting out, as small restaurants sometimes adjust schedules.
After lunch, wander through America-Mura, especially the lanes around Triangle Park, vintage shops, record stores, and independent clothing boutiques. It is compact and easy to explore on foot; allow about 90 minutes, with plenty of flexibility for coffee or shopping. In the evening, walk toward Dotonbori—roughly 15 minutes from America-Mura—and follow the canal between Ebisubashi Bridge and Hozenji Yokocho for the classic neon views. The area is crowded after 6:00pm, so keep your bag in front and avoid assuming that takoyaki, okonomiyaki, or noodle sauces are vegetarian. For dinner, return to Paprika Shokudo Vegan if you prefer a guaranteed vegetarian-only meal, or confirm ingredients carefully at a restaurant displaying vegan labels; reserve or arrive early if possible, since reliable vegan options in central Osaka can fill quickly.
After arriving in Hiroshima from Osaka, head first to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Peace Memorial Park. Allow about 15–20 minutes from Hiroshima Station by tram to Genbaku-Domu-mae, then walk a few minutes to the museum; with the early train, arriving around 9:00–9:30am is realistic. Plan roughly two hours, and expect queues and emotionally heavy exhibits. Tickets are commonly around ¥200, but check the official site for current entry procedures and consider reserving if timed admission is operating. Afterward, take a quiet half-hour beside the Atomic Bomb Dome, preserved on the Motoyasu River—this is a place for a slow walk rather than a rushed photograph.
For lunch, walk to Nagata-ya, just across from the park, and request the vegetarian okonomiyaki option clearly. Confirm that the batter, sauce, stock, and toppings are vegetarian, as recipes can change; allow about an hour and ¥1,500–2,500. Because this is a popular small restaurant, a wait is possible. From there, take a tram or walk roughly 20 minutes toward Shukkeien Garden, a peaceful Edo-period landscape with ponds, bridges, and maple trees that are often beginning to color in early November. Allow about 1½ hours; admission is usually around ¥260, with seasonal opening hours best checked before leaving.
Continue to Miyajima from central Hiroshima: allow about 30 minutes by JR or tram to Miyajimaguchi, followed by a 10–15-minute ferry crossing. Spend four to five hours wandering the island and visiting Itsukushima Shrine, ideally checking the tide table first so the famous torii appears in the water. Late afternoon brings softer light and fewer day-trippers, but watch the final ferry and train times—particularly if returning to Hiroshima rather than staying overnight on the island. Vegetarian food is limited after lunch, so carry a snack or finish your main meal in Hiroshima; also avoid feeding the deer, which can be persistent around the shrine and shopping streets.
After the early Hiroshima–Kanazawa connection, allow roughly 30–45 minutes from Kanazawa Station to your hotel or the garden area for luggage drop-off and local buses. Start at Kenrokuen Garden, ideally by about 11:30am if the train connections run smoothly. In early November, the garden’s autumn color should be developing, and the ponds, stone lanterns, streams, and carefully shaped pines are especially atmospheric. It is open from around 7:00am to 5:00pm in this season; admission is approximately ¥320. Allow 1½ hours, and wear shoes suitable for damp paths.
Walk directly across the street to Kanazawa Castle Park for the restored gates, broad courtyards, and long wooden corridors. The park grounds are free, while selected interiors such as Gojukken Nagaya require admission, usually around ¥320. Continue through the castle grounds to Gyokusen-immaru Garden, a smaller and quieter landscaped garden with striking stone arrangements and a pond. Together, these sights make a relaxed late morning and early afternoon; allow about 1½ hours for the castle park and 45 minutes for Gyokusen-immaru.
For lunch, head to 菜喰 安心院 (Saishoku Anjinin) in central Kanazawa. This is the day’s important vegetarian meal, with seasonal Japanese dishes rather than a quick café-style plate. Confirm the opening day, menu, and whether a reservation is required before visiting—vegetarian restaurants in Kanazawa can have limited seating and may close between lunch and dinner. Budget approximately ¥3,000–6,000 and allow about 1½ hours. If the restaurant cannot accommodate you, do not assume that ordinary “vegetable” dishes are vegetarian: ask clearly about fish stock, bonito flakes, meat, and oyster sauce.
After lunch, take a local bus or walk toward Higashi Chaya District, allowing roughly 20–30 minutes depending on your exact starting point. Spend about two hours wandering the preserved teahouse streets, especially the quieter lanes away from the main approach. Traditional sweets and tea are easy to find, but check ingredients if you avoid dairy, eggs, or gelatin. Most shops generally operate from late morning into the late afternoon, so arrive before 5:00pm. Return toward the center by bus or on foot and finish at Omicho Market, where you can browse produce, pickles, chestnuts, sweet potatoes, and other seasonal snacks before stalls begin closing—often around 5:00–6:00pm. For a fully vegetarian dinner, arrange another reservation in advance rather than relying on the market, since much of its prepared food contains seafood.
Take an early Hokuriku Shinkansen from Kanazawa Station to Tokyo Station, allowing about 3–3½ hours door to door with station access, luggage, and boarding time. A departure around 6:30–7:00am is the best fit; reserve a seat in advance through JR East Train Reservation or at Kanazawa Station, and check the exact timetable closer to the trip. On arrival, use the lockers or staffed luggage storage around Tokyo Station—large suitcases can be awkward in the underground passages—then come up to the Marunouchi side for the historic red-brick facade and the broad palace-side boulevard. Allow about an hour here, including photos and a coffee stop.
Walk roughly 10 minutes west to the Imperial Palace East Gardens. The gardens are free and an easy place to slow down after the long train ride, with stone walls, former castle foundations, ponds, and good November foliage. Check the official opening calendar before leaving Kanazawa: the gardens close on certain days and may have seasonal hours, so keep Tokyo Station Marunouchi as your fallback wandering area if they are closed. Plan about 1½ hours, and remember that the grounds have uneven paths and limited food options. For lunch, return to Tokyo Station for T’s Tantan, a fully vegan ramen restaurant inside the station’s ticketed area. Expect roughly ¥1,000–1,500; you will need a valid train ticket or may have to enter through the appropriate station gate, so allow a little extra time if transferring from outside.
After lunch, take the Tokyo Metro from Otemachi or Tokyo toward Azabu-juban, then walk into Azabudai Hills for teamLab Borderless—allow around 25–35 minutes, depending on the connection. This is a good final activity because it is indoors and immersive, but wear comfortable shoes: the experience involves dark rooms, reflective floors, stairs, and some areas where you may need to crouch or wait. Timed admission frequently sells out, so book the official entry slot well ahead and arrive 15–20 minutes early; allow about two hours inside. If you still have energy afterward, the surrounding Azabudai Hills complex is convenient for a relaxed drink or early dinner, but for a strictly vegetarian-only meal, confirm current restaurant menus and closing times rather than relying on last-minute options.
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