Everyone is talking about Japan, and we don’t blame them! After our first visit in October, we had our second trip booked in December!
We have been to various countries in Asia, including South Korea, China, Thailand, Malaysia, but Japan still tops the list for us.
There is so much information out there that it can get overwhelming, not just from trying to figure out where to go, but how much cash you will need, what rules you need to be aware of, and so on. I’m hoping this blog post will make it easier for your first time! Or give you inspiration for your second!
But before we get into the details, this blog has various links embedded so you can quickly access the things I talk about. Some of those links may be affiliate meaning I earn some commission through them however this is a disclaimer that this does not influence my opinion, or the price of things. I will still share my honest thoughts and only recommend what I would do myself.
The hotels are all linked – just make sure to put in your dates for accurate pricing!
Let’s start with the easiest and most first-time friendly itinerary – the Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka route, but with a twist of visiting Hakone (an Onsen town). If you have not heard of the Onsen culture in Japan, it is not one to miss!
This is how the route looks:
The itinerary is based on the likely case that you will be flying in and out of Tokyo, however if you are country hoping in Asia, my advice is to fly into Tokyo and out of Osaka to save on the return train journey.
And just a heads up, this is not a slow type of itinerary, but aiming to see as much as possible within reason (we’re not trying to burnout!). If you prefer slower travel, my suggestion is looking further into the places and just choosing 2 cities, such as Tokyo and Kyoto, or just Tokyo and doing day trips to surrounding areas.
So, let’s get into it!
Day 1-4 – Tokyo
Aim to split Tokyo into its neighbourhoods to save time travelling around – Tokyo is bigger than London!!!
Advised neighbourhoods: Shibuya and Shinjuku can be combined. Asakusa + Imperial Garden + Minato City can also be done together.
My first tip is to book a hotel in the area you want to experience nightlife in/or not! Shibuya and Shinjuku are popular for night clubs and bars. This is because trains usually stop running around midnight, and resume at 5/6am – so it avoids you getting stuck, unless you pay for an expensive taxi back.
We stayed in Shinjuku for the nightlife and the Golden Gai, which has a series of small bars.
Our hotel was APA Hotel Higashi Shinjuku Kabukicho Higashi as it offered the best prices for the area without staying in a hostel. But we also considered Tokyu Stay Nishi Shinjuku.
Day 1 – Arrival
Depending on the time you arrive, will indicate what you can do in the day, but on this day, you want to take it easy because if you’re coming outside of Asia, you’re likely going to have jetlag!
We arrived in the afternoon, so after checking into our hotel, we walked around to find some food. Definitely check out the 7/11!!!
Day 2 – Shibuya and Shinjuku
Shibuya
- Shibuya crossing – if you want a cheap overview of the crossing in action then head to the Starbucks, get a drink and the view is free (if you can get a spot at the window) – heads up, the crossing is not as overwhelming as everyone makes it out to be!
- Lots of shops – check out the Adidas stores and local clothes shops to get Japan exclusives.
- Meiji Shrine – based in a park surrounded by nature.
Tip: go in the morning to avoid crowds
Harajuku
Harajuku is in between the two neighbourhoods, mainly consisting of shops and cafes.
Shinjuku
- Golden Gai – small bars
- Kabukichō -Tokyo’s red-light district
- 3D Cat screen
- Omoide Yokocho
Day 3 –
Asakusa
- Temple Sensō-ji – worth a visit in the day and then at evening time as it’s less crowded
Imperial Garden + Minato City
- Imperial palace
- Minato city has the famous tokyo tower – advise going at night when it’s lit up
You cannot go inside the actual buildings of the Imperial Palace, but you can visit the East Gardens.
Day 4 – Gōtokuji Temple (lucky Cat Temple) and Shopping
On our last day in Tokyo, we headed to the famous lucky cat temple (Gōtokuji Temple) – if you want to purchase a little lucky cat at the shrine, make sure to get here at like 8/9am or they will be sold out by noon!
The shrine is beautiful on it’s own and has cute history behind it.
Alternatively, you can also do the following things:
- Tokyo Disneyland
- Ginza district (luxury and wealth)
- Mt. Fuji Day trip – make sure to look at the weather forecast as it was too clouded for us to see Mt.Fuji so we decided not to go.
Day 5 & 6 – Hakone Onsen Town
Head to Hakone via a bullet train – you can book the tickets online or via Klook. You can also book them in-person but you risk the train being sold out for your preferred time. We booked around a month in advance via Klook – where you can also book other activities.
What to do in Hakone?
The best thing (in my opinion) is the traditional dinner and Onsen experience. This can be your more pricey stay but it’s definitely worth it to experience at least once!
We stayed at Shiunso because of the good reviews, option for private onsen, balcony overlooking the river and dinner + breakfast included in the price! It was around £250 for one night but we though it was worth it!
We also considered Hotel Green Plaza for the Mt. Fuji view but their Onsen was not tattoo friendly. And we liked Shirayunoyado Yamadaya Hakone Gora as their Onsen was tattoo friendly and they had a private Onsen to rent, but they were sold out for our dates.
Here we got to enjoy the traditional kaiseki dinner, sleep on futon beds, listen to the river flowing, and enjoy the Onsen as a couple!
Day set up
Night set up – a futon bed per person
Onsen culture can be experienced all over Japan, however it comes with rules. Usually, the Onsen baths are split in gender and not mixed. You also bathe naked (no swimsuits in most places). And the biggest mistake is that people don’t realize that tattoos in most Onsen baths is a no no! Tattoos are still seen negatively by many and thus many hotels will not allow you to enjoy the bath if you have tattoos. This was the same for our hotel, but they offered private Onsen for a small fee of 3000 yen, which you could also enjoy as a couple. And that’s what we did!
Other things you can do in Hakone:
- Owakudani Volcanic Valley
- Lake Ashi Cruise
- Hakone Shrine & Peace Torii
- Choanji Temple
We only stayed a night in Hakone, so on day 6 (in the afternoon) we headed to Kyoto by train.
Day 7, 8 & 9 – Kyoto
Factoring that you arrived in the afternoon/night of day 6, this gives you 2 full days for Kyoto (day 7 and 8, with day 9 for travel).
We stayed at Elite Inn Kyoto Station which was close to the station and the Tō-ji Temple.
Things to do in Kyoto:
- Tō-ji Temple – highest pagoda in all of Japan
- Thousand Tori Gates temple
- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and monkeys
- Nishiki food market
- Gion District
On day 9 in the afternoon, we headed to Osaka via the train.
Day 10, 11, 12, 13 – Osaka
This will give you 3 full days, with day 13 for travel back to Tokyo or an extra day if you’re flying out of Osaka to Seoul (for example).
We stayed at Noku Osaka – this was out of the main tourist area, but well connected and a peaceful area. The hotel was also more affordable.
Things to do in Osaka:
- Dotonbori
- Namba Yasaka shrine
- Osaka Castle
- Shinsekai
- Kuromon Market
- Round 1
- Nara park (deers) – day trip
- Katsuo-ji Temple (daruma dolls) – day trip
Day 13 – head back to Tokyo via the bullet train for your flight home on day 14.
Top tips:
- Aim to book flights and hotels around 6 months in advance for cheaper prices.
- Non-stop flights are more expensive than one stop flights – usually cheapest is Air China or China Eastern – use skyscanner to put in your desired dates and play around – always check the timings and airports in case of ‘change airport in..’ you want to avoid that – also avoid less than 2hrs transfer time – if in one booking and same airline for both flights, you should be protected in case of a delay and be put on the next flight for free. Always check though! And book direct with airline even if you look at skyscanner.
- Airbnb is not widely used in Japan but Booking.com is reliable – book hotels based on reviews. You can usually get cheaper prices by signing up for the rewards programme.
- For tours and activities, use Klook not GetYourGuide or TripAdvisor as they are not widely used in Asia.
Budget considerations:
Trains and transport – mostly cash, aside from booking bullet trains on Klook or Online. Use google maps for your route and it will show estimate prices. Convert that and a bit more for comfort!
Food – we budgeted around £20 per person per day. That was a mix of 7/11, cafes and restaurants (but nothing high end/luxury) for around 2 meals and snacks a day. If you think you will eat more, then increase the budget and convert all of that into yen!
Shopping – most malls and big brands will take card, but not local shops or markets – you will need cash for that too. Exchange what you would like to spend.
Alternative places to visit in Japan:
For our second trip, taking place in May 2026, we planned a different itinerary, hoping to explore more of Japan, outside of the more touristy places.
I have no photos yet but have a google – you’ll be in awe of some of these places!
Stop 1 – Okinawa
Okinawa is a tropical island, with a slight different culture to mainland Japan. Full of golden beaches and tropical nature.
We will be staying at Rembrandt Style Naha.
Stop 2 – Wakayama Prefecture – Nachi Falls
Wakayama is just next to Osaka, and the Nachi Falls are around 3 hours train ride. The waterfall is a stunning view, with a pagoda in front, and has a sacred hike – Kumano Kodo.
We will be staying at Pals Inn Katsuura.
But if you have a higher budget, consider the KAMENOI HOTEL – some of the rooms have a private Onsen in the room! A dream after a hike! Or the Hotel Urashima – if you don’t have tattoos but want a cave Onsen!
Stop 3 – Osaka
We will also base ourselves in Osaka after Wakayama, as it’s perfect for day trips. You can find affordable accommodation too!
Our day trips:
Kinosaki Onsen Town
A tattoo friendly Onsen town with 7 baths that all have different properties! The town itself looks magical! We plan to stay one night here at Kawaguchiya Kinosaki Riverside Hotel.
Kyoto
We loved Kyoto for the market, so we will be doing a day trip to buy our favourite things, like yuzu honey and so much seasoning!
Minoh Mountains
This is where Katsuo-ji – the Daruma dolls temple is, which we didn’t get to see last time! But we also want to explore the area as it’s full of nature.
Once we are back, I will post the full itinerary and what we got up to – so make sure to check out the blog again at the end of May 🙂
And feel free to ask any questions about Japan 🙂
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