Hello! I'm hoping to get some final advice on an itinerary for my Japan trip. Me and my partner have never been before. I've spent a lot of time looking at youtube videos, reading this page, as well as getting recommendations from family and friends who have traveled to Japan before. Just hoping to catch something on the itinerary that looks awful that maybe I'm not aware of. Right now I'm aware that we have a lot of open space during our time in Tokyo that isn't really filled. Looking for a healthy blend of established plans/activities and then being able just to free ball when we might be interested in something. We're also trying to keep costs down reasonably as we're both on a student budget. Open to any feedback and recommendations, thank you!!
Japan Itinerary (Sept 2 – Sept 17, 2025)
Arrival: Sept 3 in Osaka (KIX) (Around 3 PM)
Day 1 – Sept 3 (Osaka): Land in Osaka, Check into hotel, Dinner in Dotonbori, Mega Don Quijote, Glico Running Man, Explore!
Day 2 – Sept 4 (Osaka): Shinsaibashi Shopping Street?, Ride LUUP bikes around the city
Day 3 – Sept 5 (Osaka): Shinsekai?, Kuromon Ichiba Market, Nightlife: Club Ghost or Club Giraffe
Day 4 – Sept 6 (Osaka → Kyoto): Check out Osaka hotel, Check in Kyoto hotel, Gion District, Nishiki Market, Dinner
Day 5 – Sept 7 (Kyoto): Fushimi Inari Shrine, Arashiyama Monkey Park, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Explore Arashiyama Park, Dinner in Arashiyama?
Day 6 – Sept 8 (Kyoto / Nara Day Trip): Visit Nara, Nakatanidou (mochi shop), Todaiji Temple & Giant Buddha, Kasuga Taisha Shrine????, Nightlife: Bees Knees Bar
Day 7 – Sept 9 (Kyoto → Kamakura): Check out Kyoto Airbnb, Check in Kamakura Airbnb, Day activities TBD
Day 8 – Sept 10 (Kamakura → Tokyo): Check out Kamakura Airbnb, Head to Tokyo, Nightlife: Club Womb, Club TK, Club Warp, or Wander?, Visit Edogawa Park
Day 9 – Sept 11 (Tokyo): Tokyo National Museum, Kappabashi Kitchen Street, Gyukatsu Motomura, Ueno Park
Day 10 – Sept 12 (Tokyo): TeamLab Borderless, Lunch (Omakase), Akihabara
Day 11 – Sept 13 (Tokyo): Empty day, looking at a day trip to Mount Takao
Day 12 – Sept 14 (Tokyo): Oi Racecourse Flea Market, Takeshita Street, Hachiko Statue, Shibuya Crossing, Memory Lane, Shibuya Sky (evening?), Tone River Fireworks Festival
Day 13 – Sept 15 (Tokyo): Shimokitazawa Shopping Street, Gotokuji Cat Temple, Asakusa – Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise Shopping Street
Day 14 – Sept 16 (Tokyo): (Piss Alley, Golden Gai, Hanazono Shrine), Mostly empty day
Day 15 – Sept 17 (Tokyo → Seattle): Check out hotel, Flight departs HND at 9:15 PM
by hmanrulz