Hi everyone!
I’ll be traveling to Japan in April 2026 with 2 friends (27M-27M-27M).
It’s our first trip, and we’ve put together a 2-week itinerary covering Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and some small outside trips.
I’d love to get your feedback on pacing, must-sees vs. skips, and any practical tips.
Here’s the day-by-day plan:
Tokyo (April 4 – 10)
Apr 4 (Arrival in Shinjuku): Land at Haneda, check-in to hotel, which is 13 min from Shinjuku metro station , explore Shinjuku area – Giant 3D Cat, Hanazono Shrine, Shinjuku Gyoen, Omoide Yokocho, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
Apr 5 (Harajuku & Shibuya): Meiji Jingu → Yoyogi Park → Takeshita Street/Harajuku (lunch) → Shibuya (Scramble Crossing, Hachiko, Pokémon Center, Shibuya Sky, karaoke).
Apr 6 (Odaiba): Small Worlds Miniature Museum, teamLab Planets, Miraikan, maybe Joypolis or DiverCity.
Apr 7 (Ueno/Asakusa/Skytree): University of Tokyo statue, Ueno Park & shrines, Asakusa + Sensō-ji, Sumida Aquarium, Tokyo Skytree.
Apr 8 (Akihabara): Radio Kaikan, maid café, GiGO, Super Potato, Mandarake, Kanda Myojin Shrine.
Apr 9 (Day trip): undecided – either Kamakura or Nikkō. Do you have any recommendations?
Apr 10 (teamLab Borderless + free day): teamLab Borderless, Tokyo Tower, Zojo-ji, then relax/free exploration.
Kyoto & Nara (April 11 – 14)
Apr 11 (Arrival in Kyoto): Shinkansen from Tokyo, check-in to hotel which is 4 minutes from Sanjo metro station , To-ji Temple, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Nishiki Market.
Apr 12 (East Kyoto): Kyoto Imperial Palace, Heian Jingu, Murin-an Garden, Nanzen-ji, Eikando, Philosopher’s Path, Ginkaku-ji.
Apr 13 (Central & South Kyoto): Nijō Castle, Kyoto Manga Museum, Yasaka Shrine, Kōdaiji, Kiyomizu-dera.
Apr 14 (Arashiyama + Nara + Osaka transfer): Bamboo Grove, Nonomiya Shrine, then head to Nara (Tōdai-ji, Nara Park) before continuing to Osaka.
Osaka (April 15 – 17)
Apr 15: check-in into hotel which is 4 minutes from Osaka-Namba metro station, Osaka Castle, Den Den Town, Tsutenkaku, Namba Yasaka Jinja, Dotonbori.
Apr 16 (Osaka free day): Options include Minoh Park, Katsuo-ji, Cup Noodles Museum, or just exploring food/shopping areas.
Apr 17: Return flight.
Any feedback on whether this is too rushed would be super helpful. Thanks in advance!
by SkyLionx
1 comment
8- you need plans for the morning because almost everything in Akiba starts opening at 11.
9- Kamakura and Nikko are not comparable. Nikko is at the very least a full day trip since it takes twice as long to get there and costs more. You can be done with Kamakura and back in Tokyo in the afternoon or even tag Enoshima or Yokohama after. Even what you can do in each place differs greatly. Choose based on what you like and want to do.
14- If you’re going to Osaka after Nara, then this is your check in day, not Apr. 15. The Arashiyama area doesn’t make sense geographically. Do it on a different day and here do something that’s on the way to Nara, like Fushimi Inari, or at least something that’s close to your hotel and not literally on the opposite side of the city.
15- Impossible. Leave something for the next day.
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