I will be traveling to Japan with my family for the first time. I was tasked with making an itinerary a few days ago, so I hope I was able to come up with a decent one. Feel free to make any comments, drop any questions, or give any advice. By any chance, does anyone know how to have your luggage shipped from a hotel in Tokyo to a hotel in Osaka? Is there a Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka that gives a view of Mount Fuji?
Japan Plans:
Week 1: Tokyo
Monday:
– Harajuku Shopping District
– Shibuya Crossing & Hachiko Statue
– explore Shibuya (Lashinbang, Animate, Mandarake (women's shopping store)
– Shibuya Sky
– Shimokitazawa (thrift district, optional)
Tuesday:
– Daytime Shinjuku (around 19-28 min train ride from hotel to Shinjuku station)
a. Hachiko statue
– Try to visit Shinjuku goyen
– Explore Kabukicho
– Nakano Broadway (more anime stuff, optional)
Wednesday:
– Visit the area of the Gundam Statue in the Morning (DiverCity Tokyo Plaza)
– One Piece Mugiwara store
– Ginza shopping district
– If possible: Sensō-ji Temple
Thursday:
– Mount Fuji Day Tour
Friday:
– Tokyo Small Worlds
– teamLABs Borderless in the afternoon
– Possibly Akihabara if we have time
Saturday:
– Akihabara All Day
Sunday:
– Checkout
– Arrive in Osaka
Week 2: Osaka
Monday:
– Walk around Dotonbori: see the Glico Running Man sign, canal boats, try takoyaki & okonomiyaki
– Browse Don Quijote (Mega Donki Dotonbori) — it’s right by the canal, open late, and great for quirky shopping
Tuesday:
– Osaka Castle Museum
– Shitenno-ji Temple (historic Buddhist site)
– Shinsekai → retro Osaka vibes and kushikatsu skewer
Wednesday: Day Trip to Nara
– Train from Namba → Nara
– Nara Park → feed the friendly bowing deer
– Todai-ji Temple → massive Great Buddha Hall
– Kasuga Taisha Shrine → lantern-lined paths
Thursday: Day Trip to Kyoto
– Train from Namba (usually via Umeda or Yodoyabashi) → Kyoto
Suggested route:
a. Morning → Fushimi Inari Shrine (iconic red torii gates). Fushimi Inari Gates
– Afternoon → Kiyomizu-dera Temple + Higashiyama streets (traditional shopping alleys)
– Evening → Gion (geisha district, lantern-lit streets)
– Fu-ka (alternate Omurice spot instead of Kichi Kichi) (right near the Hachi shrine in Kyoto)
– Return to Osaka at night
Friday:
OPTIONAL: Umeda Sky Building → panoramic views of the city
OPTIONAL: HEP Five Ferris Wheel → bright red Ferris wheel over a shopping mall
Grand Front Osaka (modern shopping + dining)
OPTIONAL: Evening: street food crawl in Namba
Saturday 9/13:
– Checkout
Food places:
– Ichiran Ramen
– Kichi Kichi (Omurice Guy; requires reservation)
– Nakiryu (Michelin-starred)
– Gyukatsu Motomura
– Uogashi Nihon-Ichi
– SUSHI TOKYO TEN, Shibuya
– Kyoto: Nishiki Market
by aviatingtheextreme31