JJapan Trips

Itinerary Sanity check for a large group

  • September 29, 2025

My friends and I (7 total, mid 20s) are planning our first trip to Japan this December, and we've put together a detailed 11-day itinerary. We're hoping you can help us with a few logistics questions, especially since we're a large group. We would greatly appreciate any and all feedback!

Edit:

  • My friends also want to do Disney Sea in Tokyo. Is it worth it?
  • We are planning to skip Nara altogether but I feel we can go for few hours (1-2hr)? Any suggestion on this?

Here is our day-by-day plan:

Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo & Asakusa Charm

  • Arrival: Arrive at NRT, clear customs, and acquire IC cards (Welcome Suica) and pocket WiFi/ eSim.
  • Intercity Travel: Take the high-speed Keisei Skyliner from NRT to Ueno Station, then a short subway ride to Asakusa.
  • Activities: Explore the historic Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise-dori street in Asakusa.

Day 2: Tokyo – Ueno, Akihabara & TeamLab

  • Activities:
    • Explore Ueno Park and the nearby Ameyoko Market.
    • Dive into anime and gaming culture in Akihabara's Electric Town.
    • Visit the immersive digital art museum, TeamLab Planets, in Toyosu.

Day 3: Tokyo – Harry Potter Studio & Harajuku

  • Activities:
    • Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter: Take the Toei Oedo Line to Toshimaen Station for a half-day trip to the studio tour. We plan to pre-book our tickets online as far in advance as possible.
    • Harajuku: Travel to Harajuku via the JR Yamanote Line to visit the serene Meiji Jingu Shrine and the lively Takeshita Street.
    • Shibuya: Walk or take a short train ride to Shibuya to see the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing and get city views from Shibuya Sky.

Day 4: Mt. Fuji / Kawaguchiko Escape

  • Intercity Travel: Take a highway bus from Tokyo's Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal directly to Kawaguchiko. We'll book tickets in advance, which is essential for a large group.
  • Activities:
    • Explore the area around Lake Kawaguchi by renting bikes or using the local sightseeing bus.
    • Climb to the iconic Chureito Pagoda for the classic Mt. Fuji photo opportunity.

Day 5: Scenic Journey to Kyoto & Gion's Elegance

  • Intercity Travel: This is a two-step process:
    1. Kawaguchiko to Mishima: Take the Fujikyu Express Bus (approx. 1.5-2 hours).
    2. Mishima to Kyoto: Board the Shinkansen bullet train from Mishima Station to Kyoto Station (approx. 2-2.5 hours). For a group of 7, we will book reserved seats and oversized baggage space in advance.
  • Activities: Settle into our hotel in central Kyoto and then explore the historic Gion district in the evening.

Day 6: Kyoto – Iconic Gates & Bamboo Serenity

  • Activities:
    • Fushimi Inari Shrine: Go early to walk through the thousands of red torii gates before the crowds arrive.
    • Arashiyama: Travel via the JR Sagano Line to Saga-Arashiyama Station to walk through the famous Bamboo Grove and visit the Tenryū-ji Temple.

Day 7: Kyoto – Golden Temple & Market Flavors

  • Activities:
    • Visit the stunning Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) via Kyoto City Bus.
    • Explore Nijō Castle and then immerse ourselves in the food and goods at Nishiki Market.

Day 8: Travel to Osaka & Dotonbori Delights

  • Intercity Travel: Take the JR Special Rapid Service from Kyoto Station to Osaka Station (approx. 30 minutes). This is a frequent local train service, so we don't need to pre-book tickets.
  • Activities: Settle into our hotel and then explore the vibrant Dotonbori entertainment district.

Day 9: Nara Day Trip (Might skip or limit to 1-2hr)

  • Intercity Travel: Take a local train (either the Kintetsu Nara Line or the JR Yamatoji Rapid Service) from Osaka to Nara. Tickets are easily available at the station.
  • Activities: Spend the day feeding the deer at Nara Park and visiting the Tōdai-ji Temple.

Day 10: Universal Studios Japan

  • Activities: A full day at Universal Studios Japan. We'll pre-purchase timed-entry tickets for Super Nintendo World and Express Passes online to save time.
  • Internal Travel: Travel to USJ via the JR Yumesaki Line from central Osaka.

Day 11: Return to Tokyo & Departure

  • Intercity Travel: Take the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Tokyo Station.
  • Travel to Airport: From Tokyo Station, we'll take the Narita Express (N'EX) directly to Narita Airport (NRT). We'll pre-book this to ensure a smooth journey.

Key Questions for the Community:

  • Accommodation: Any recommendations for hotels or guesthouses that can accommodate a large group of 7 in the areas we've chosen / suggestion for better areas in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka?
  • Luggage Management: We're planning to use Takkyubin to forward our large bags between cities (Tokyo -> Kyoto, Kyoto -> Osaka, and Osaka -> NRT). Is this a reliable strategy? Is it easy to arrange at hotel front desks?
  • Intercity Travel: We are using a combination of highway buses, local trains, and Shinkansen. Is this a good approach for our itinerary? We plan to buy individual Shinkansen and Highway bus tickets and use Welcome Suica IC card for the rest.
  • Advance Bookings: Besides accommodation, Shinkansen, TeamLab, USJ, and Harry Potter, are there any other crucial bookings you'd recommend for a group of 7 traveling in December?
  • Vegetarian Food: We have a few dietary restrictions in our group. Any recommendations for apps (HappyCow), resources, or specific restaurants/ convenience stores that have good vegan/vegetarian options in these cities?
  • Please do suggest if we are missing anything?

What We've Researched:

  • Shinkansen Tickets: We understand that tickets can be booked through official sites like SmartEX a month in advance. We're considering services like Klook for peace of mind, as they allow us to purchase tickets up to 90 days in advance, although we know they fulfill the booking once the 30-day window opens. We're curious if this is a worthwhile strategy.
  • IC Card: We plan to get a Welcome Suica card at the airport. Our understanding is that this will work for buses, metro, and local trains in all the cities we're visiting, but it's not valid for long-distance trains like the Shinkansen, which require a separate ticket.

Thank you so much for your help! We're excited to make this trip a reality.

by OutlandishnessNo1371