Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Start at Shibuya Scramble Crossing around 8:30–9:00, before the busiest commuter-and-shopping crowds build. Cross from the station’s Hachikō Exit, then watch the flow from the Starbucks-facing window or the Shibuya Sky area if you want a higher view—though don’t add the observation deck today unless you are happy to trim time elsewhere. Allow about 45 minutes, then take the JR Yamanote Line one stop to Harajuku or walk for roughly 20 minutes to Meiji Shrine. The shrine grounds are free and open from sunrise to sunset, with the forested approach providing a welcome reset from Shibuya; keep voices low near the main shrine buildings and allow 1–1½ hours.
From Meiji Shrine, walk through Harajuku toward the station and take the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line from Meiji-jingumae to Tsukishima, changing for Tsukiji Outer Market—roughly 30–40 minutes door to door. Arrive around 12:30, when the market is lively but some specialist stalls may already be closing; individual businesses set their own hours, so morning is best for the widest selection. Wander the covered lanes and side streets, then have a casual seafood lunch at a counter-style spot such as Sushi Katsura or Tsukiji Kiyomura Sushi—budget ¥1,500–3,500 per person. Leave the market by about 14:30 and take the Toei Oedo Line or a short taxi ride toward Toyosu; allow 30–40 minutes, plus time to queue for teamLab Planets TOKYO. Its timed admission is strongly recommended and availability is not guaranteed without advance booking; expect about two hours, and wear practical clothing because several installations involve water and reflective surfaces.
Continue from teamLab Planets TOKYO to Tokyo Skytree via Toyosu and Oshiage—the subway journey takes around 35–45 minutes, or a taxi is easier if you are tired and carrying shopping. Arrive after dark for the clearest sense of Tokyo’s scale, allowing 1½ hours for security, lifts, both observation decks if included, and possible waiting. Reserve an observation-deck time in advance where available; admission commonly starts around ¥2,100–3,000 depending on the ticket and deck, while last entry and closing times vary by season. For a low-effort dinner afterward, use the restaurants in Tokyo Solamachi beneath the tower rather than traveling across town again; an IC card covers most subway journeys, but keep some cash for market vendors and small eateries.
Begin at Senso-ji in Asakusa around 8:00–8:30, when the temple grounds are atmospheric but not yet packed with tour groups. Walk through Kaminarimon Gate, pause beneath the enormous lantern, and continue toward the main hall; the temple grounds are generally accessible from early morning, while the inner hall opens later, so the courtyard and gates are the best early stop. Allow about 1½ hours, keeping voices low around active worship areas. From the temple, follow Nakamise-dori toward the main gate, browsing rice crackers, ningyō-yaki cakes, craft goods, and souvenirs. Many shops open around 9:00–10:00, and this is a good place for a small snack rather than a full meal.
Continue on foot for roughly 15 minutes to Kappabashi Dougu Street, the long kitchenware district between Asakusa and Ueno. Spend about an hour looking through knife shops, lacquerware stores, restaurant crockery, and the wonderfully kitschy plastic-food displays. Shops commonly keep daytime hours but vary, and some close on Sundays or irregular weekdays, so treat the street as a browsing stroll rather than a guaranteed shopping stop; if buying a knife, ask about engraving, packaging, and luggage transport. From Kappabashi, walk or take the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line from Tawaramachi toward Ueno, then slow down in Ueno Park for around two hours. Choose one museum if you want structure—Tokyo National Museum is the standout—or simply enjoy the ponds, shrine approaches, and broad tree-lined paths. Museum admission is typically about ¥500–¥1,000, with special exhibitions costing more; check the individual museum’s closing day before committing.
Finish in Ameya-Yokocho, reached from Ueno Park via Ueno Station or the short walk toward Okachimachi. This bustling market street is liveliest from late afternoon into the evening, with seafood stalls, izakaya, grilled skewers, gyoza, and standing bars tucked beneath the railway tracks. Allow 1½ hours and budget roughly ¥1,500–3,000 per person; Yakiniku Horumon Banshaku and the small izakaya around the market lanes are good for an informal dinner, though queues and cash-only counters are common. Keep valuables secure in the crowd, and use Ueno or Okachimachi Station for the ride back—both offer straightforward JR and subway connections across Tokyo.
Allow 30–60 minutes after arriving at Shin-Osaka Station to reach Osaka Station in Umeda, collect your bearings, and drop luggage at your hotel or a station locker. The easiest connection is the JR Kyoto Line one stop to Osaka Station; with bags, avoid wandering through the huge underground passages and follow signs for the Midosuji or North Gate areas. From there, walk about 10–15 minutes through Grand Front Osaka toward the Umeda Sky Building. Aim to reach the Floating Garden Observatory in the late morning, when visibility is often better and the viewing decks are less hectic. Admission is typically around ¥2,000, though check the official site for current prices and weather-related restrictions.
After the observatory, spend roughly 1.5 hours browsing Grand Front Osaka, a polished complex of design shops, lifestyle stores, and cafés around the north side of Osaka Station. For lunch, the restaurant floors are convenient, with options such as Sushiro for casual conveyor-belt sushi or Kiji in the nearby Shin-Umeda district for Osaka-style okonomiyaki; budget ¥1,500–3,000 per person and expect a queue at popular counters. Keep the pace relaxed—this is a good place to withdraw cash, pick up essentials, and leave luggage before heading farther east.
Take the Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line from Higashi-Umeda Station to Tenjimbashisuji 6-chome, about 10 minutes, then walk directly to the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living. Its reconstructed Edo-period streetscape is indoors and atmospheric, with lighting that shifts from daylight to evening; allow about 1.5 hours. Admission is generally around ¥600, but museum hours and occasional closures should be checked before setting out. Afterwards, step onto Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street and stroll south through the covered arcade toward Tenma, Japan’s longest shopping street. Try a small snack rather than a full second meal—takoyaki, taiyaki, or a fresh croquette from one of the local counters—and browse the small clothing, kitchenware, and old-fashioned sweet shops. The area is livelier toward Tenma Station, making it a natural place to end the day without adding another major sight.
Start at Osaka Castle around 8:30–9:00, reaching the Osakajokoen area by JR or Osaka Metro and allowing extra time for the walk across the grounds. Spend roughly 2½ hours between the castle museum and the surrounding park; the museum typically opens around 9:00, but check the official schedule because hours and last admission can vary. Expect queues at the entrance and elevator, with admission generally around ¥1,200. The outer grounds are spacious and pleasant for a slower wander, especially around the moats and stone walls.
Walk or take the Osaka Metro from Osakajokoen toward Osaka Museum of History, beside Osaka Castle Park—roughly 15–25 minutes depending on your exit and walking pace. Allow about 1½ hours for the exhibits, which are especially good at explaining how Osaka grew from an ancient port and merchant city into the metropolis you see today. The museum usually operates roughly 9:30–17:00, with last admission earlier, and is commonly closed on Tuesdays; verify before setting out. For lunch, keep it simple at a nearby café or restaurant around Tanimachi 4-chome, rather than detouring far from the afternoon route.
From Tanimachi 4-chome, take the Osaka Metro to Nippombashi and walk toward Hozenji Yokocho, allowing about 25–35 minutes door to door. This narrow, lantern-lit alley is best enjoyed slowly: look into the small restaurants, then pause at Hozenji Temple to splash water over the moss-covered Fudo statue. Continue into Dotonbori for about 1½ hours as the signs come alive after dusk; walk along the canal, but use the parallel streets when the main promenade becomes congested. Finish with dinner at Kuromon Ichiba Market, a short walk north from Dotonbori. Many stalls close in the late afternoon or early evening, so arrive around 18:00–19:00 rather than leaving it too late; budget approximately ¥2,000–4,000 per person for seafood, grilled items, fruit, and drinks, and check each vendor’s seating and payment rules.
Take the early JR Kyoto Line Special Rapid from Osaka Station to Kyoto Station, then continue by taxi or city bus to Kinkaku-ji. Allow roughly 60–75 minutes from Osaka hotel door to the temple entrance, including the transfer and a little station navigation. Arriving around opening time gives you the best chance of seeing the Golden Pavilion reflected in the pond before the tour groups arrive. The visit takes about 1½ hours; admission is typically around ¥500, but verify current hours and entry arrangements before setting out.
From Kinkaku-ji, take a short taxi ride or local bus to Ryoan-ji. Give yourself about an hour to sit with the famous dry landscape garden rather than simply photographing it—late morning is noticeably calmer than midday. The garden and temple grounds generally open in the morning, with admission usually around ¥500; allow extra time if buses are congested.
Continue toward central Kyoto by bus or taxi to Nishiki Market, budgeting roughly 30–45 minutes depending on traffic. Spend about 1½ hours grazing through the covered arcade: try yuba, pickles, grilled seafood, Kyoto-style sweets, and other small portions rather than committing to one large meal. Many stalls are cash-friendly, and ¥1,500–3,000 per person is a sensible lunch budget. Keep moving with the flow, avoid eating while walking, and don’t photograph vendors or food displays unless permitted.
At the market’s eastern end, step into Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine for a peaceful half-hour amid the bustle of Shinkyogoku. Afterwards, leave the shopping arcades and walk or take a short taxi ride toward Gion, arriving in the early evening for a relaxed stroll around Hanamikoji Street and the traditional lanes. The area is most atmospheric as lanterns come on, but keep voices low, stay off private property, and do not photograph geiko or maiko without clear permission. Finish with dinner in Gion or nearby Pontocho; reservations are helpful, especially for a small kaiseki or seasonal Kyoto restaurant.
Start early at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, ideally around 7:30–8:00, before the tour groups and selfie stops fill the narrow paths. From central Kyoto, take the JR Sagano Line to Saga-Arashiyama Station—about 15 minutes from Kyoto Station—then walk roughly 15 minutes. The grove itself is free and open at all hours; keep expectations realistic, as the famous central stretch is short, but the quiet side lanes around Okochi Sanso Garden are much more atmospheric. Continue to Tenryu-ji, where the temple buildings and garden usually open from around 8:30 (roughly ¥500 for the garden, with an additional fee for some buildings). Spend about 1½ hours here, especially in the pond garden, before walking toward Togetsukyo Bridge for river and mountain views. Allow 45 minutes for the bridge and waterfront, with a snack from a local shop rather than committing to a long sit-down meal.
Climb into Okochi Sanso Garden around midday; the admission fee is about ¥1,000 and includes a small refreshment, and the hillside paths can be steeper than they look. Give yourself 1–1½ hours, wearing shoes with decent grip, then have a relaxed lunch in Arashiyama—Arashiyama Yoshimura is convenient for soba, though a wait is common, while the quieter streets north of the main shopping strip offer simpler set meals. In mid-afternoon, take the JR Sagano Line from Saga-Arashiyama Station to Inari Station, usually around 20–25 minutes including the short walk and transfer; avoid relying on a taxi at this hour, when Arashiyama traffic can be slow. Finish at Fushimi Inari Taisha, whose grounds are always open and free. Walk beyond the first crowded torii tunnel toward the halfway viewpoint; the full summit takes 2–3 hours and involves substantial stairs, while the shorter route still gives you the atmosphere without exhausting the rest of the trip.
End with coffee at Vermillion - Espresso Bar near the shrine, budgeting about ¥700–1,500 per person. It is a good early-evening pause, but check the day’s closing time before setting out because café hours can vary. From Fushimi Inari, JR Inari Station returns to Kyoto Station in about five minutes, or Keihan Fushimi-Inari Station connects toward Gion-Shijo and central Kyoto; allow extra time for the crowded platforms and a short walk from the shrine.
Begin at Todai-ji Temple around 9:00, when the approach through the quieter eastern side of Nara Park is still relatively calm. Allow about 1½ hours for the Great Buddha Hall, one of Japan’s most extraordinary wooden buildings, plus the surrounding temple grounds. Admission is typically around ¥800, and opening hours vary seasonally, so check the official site if you are relying on an early entry. From Kintetsu-Nara Station, it is roughly a 20-minute walk; buses and taxis are useful if you have luggage, but walking is more pleasant once you reach the park.
Afterward, spend another 1½ hours wandering through Nara Park, keeping some distance from the deer and feeding them only approved senbei crackers. The deer are accustomed to visitors but can tug at maps and bags, especially when they see food. Follow the quieter paths eastward toward Kasuga Taisha, where the transition from open parkland into cedar forest is particularly beautiful.
Continue to Kasuga Taisha for its lantern-lined approach and vermilion shrine buildings. The main shrine area generally opens from around 6:30, with seasonal variations, and some inner areas require a modest admission fee; the forest paths and outer grounds are free. Allow about 1½ hours, and wear comfortable shoes—the approach is shaded but uneven in places. From here, walk or take a short bus ride back toward central Nara, then explore Naramachi, the preserved merchant quarter, at an unhurried pace. Its narrow lanes are ideal for browsing small craft shops, old machiya houses, and neighborhood cafés rather than ticking off individual sights.
Finish with a relaxed stop at Kameya in Naramachi for a traditional Nara-style lunch or sweets break. Budget roughly ¥1,500–3,000 per person, and check same-day opening hours because smaller local restaurants may close between lunch and dinner or take an occasional weekday break. Leave a little unscheduled time afterward to continue exploring Naramachi before returning to Kintetsu-Nara Station; the station is about a 15–20-minute walk from the district, or a short taxi ride if your feet are tired.
After arriving from Nara, leave luggage at your hotel or a station locker and head to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Allow roughly 30–45 minutes from Hiroshima Station by tram or bus, plus time for the walk through the park; arriving around 10:30 is realistic after the intercity transfer. Spend about two quiet hours along the riverfront, visiting the Children’s Peace Monument, Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims, and Peace Flame. Keep the pace contemplative—this is not a place to rush between sights.
Continue to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, only a short walk away. Allow around two hours, and expect possible entry queues, particularly during busy periods; a timed or advance ticket may be required depending on the operating system that day. The exhibits are emotionally difficult, so leave a little decompression time afterward. For lunch, walk toward Hondori Shopping Street and choose a simple set meal or noodles rather than trying to fit in a long restaurant stop.
Walk back toward the river to see the Atomic Bomb Dome, allowing about 30 minutes for the exterior, river views, and photographs from the opposite bank. From there, it is roughly a 15–20-minute walk or a short tram/taxi ride to Hiroshima Castle. Explore the reconstructed keep and grounds for about 1½ hours; the castle museum generally operates during daytime hours, but check same-day opening information, as hours and last admission can vary. If your museum visit runs late, prioritize the castle grounds and exterior rather than hurrying through both attractions.
Finish in Okonomimura, a compact downtown building devoted to Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. Go around 18:00–18:30 to avoid the longest dinner queues, and expect roughly ¥1,500–3,000 per person. Counters are intimate, so join the first appealing stall with available seats rather than waiting for a “famous” one—watching the layered cabbage, noodles, batter, and toppings cooked in front of you is part of the experience. Hondori Shopping Street and the nearby Nagarekawa area are convenient for a gentle post-dinner stroll; Hiroshima Station is about 10–15 minutes away by tram or taxi.
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