Hey!

My brother and I are visiting Japan from the end of October to mid-November. We don’t want to plan out every single detail in advance, since we prefer not to be tied to a strict schedule. Still, I’ve put together a rough outline to guide us.

We haven’t booked many activities yet, and I’ve tried to keep things flexible by only planning one main activity per day. Since I know myself—and I tend to get overwhelmed and end up just staying in the hotel (something I always regret later)—I wanted to share our plan here and maybe get some suggestions for things that would be smart to book ahead. That way I’ll have a bit of extra motivation to actually leave the hotel and make the most of the trip.

Day 1 (Friday):
Arrival in Osaka. Check-in and maybe a short walk around the area. We land around 3 P.M., so after ~17 hours of travel I don’t think we’ll have much energy left.

Day 2 (Saturday):
Day trip to Kobe – the idea is to avoid big crowds at the main attractions during the weekend and to slowly settle in. Current plans:

• Eat Kobe beef at a Yakiniku restaurant (found via Tabelog)
• Maybe visit Kobe Harborland
• Maybe visit Sorakuen Garden We’re very open to suggestions here! Since we’ll still be adjusting to the time zone, I don’t want this day to be too packed.

Day 3 (Sunday):
Trip to Nara. We’re unsure if it’s worth booking a guided tour (via GetYourGuide) or if it’s better to just go by ourselves. Sunday will probably be crowded, but since we’re only in Osaka for 5 days, it’s one of our few chances to visit.

Day 4 (Monday):
Kyoto day trip: Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera, Hōkan-ji Temple, and Gion. Since one evening isn’t really enough to explore Gion properly, we were thinking of booking an evening walking tour there.

Day 5 (Tuesday):
Our last full day in Osaka. Plans include visiting the Pokémon Center and Pokémon Café, plus Osaka Castle (still debating if we should go inside). We also thought about going to Universal Studios Japan (USJ). Do you think it’s worth dedicating a whole day to USJ, even if that makes the other days a bit more rushed? I enjoy theme parks, but I don’t like standing in long lines—so maybe an Express Pass would be worth it?

Day 6 (Wednesday):
Shinkansen transfer from Osaka to Tokyo. In the evening: maybe Shibuya Sky, as a kind of “welcome to Tokyo” experience. Our hotel is the APA Hotel in Shinjuku.

Day 7 (Thursday):
Day tour around Mt. Fuji (via GetYourGuide). This will probably be a long day, and we’ll be tired afterwards.

Day 8 (Friday):
Plan to visit Small Worlds Japan (maybe move this to the second week if it fits better). In the evening, we booked a drive to Daikoku Parking Area in a JDM car (via GetYourGuide). Do you think this will work fine? We’re both over 190 cm tall, and I’m a bit worried about fitting into a Supra MK4 or Skyline R34 together!

Day 9 (Saturday):
Travis Scott concert at Belluna Dome. I read that it’s common to arrive early for merch—how early would you recommend? This concert is the highlight of our trip, and one of the main reasons we’re traveling to Japan. Nothing else planned for this day, except Ichiran ramen after the concert.

Day 10 (Sunday):
First real rest day, since we’ll probably be exhausted after the concert. We’d love recommendations for an Onsen (preferably a private one, but it’s been hard to find good info).

Day 11 (Monday):
Currently free. Maybe visit the Pokémon Center in Nihonbashi and explore Akihabara.

Day 12 (Tuesday):
TeamLab Borderless in the morning, followed by a chopstick-making workshop. The rest of the day is free. In the evening, maybe an Omakase dinner in Ginza.

Day 13 (Wednesday):
Still free. Considering a visit to Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree. I’d also like to see the Pokémon Center in Ikebukuro, which would fit nicely into this day.

Day 14 (Thursday):
Our last full day in Tokyo. As a grand finale, we want to spend the day at Tokyo Disneyland.

Day 15 (Friday):
Departure day, flight from Narita.

Why I’m posting this:

I’m looking for tips and ideas on how to enjoy the trip without getting overwhelmed. Starting in Osaka should help, but I worry that I’ll end up staying in the hotel too much, like I’ve done on past shorter trips somewhere els. I want to make sure I actually go out and enjoy things.

We’re both big anime fans, and I’m especially into Godzilla.

If you see any activities or places that could be grouped together better, I’d love your suggestions. Right now, the first week looks very full, while the second week seems a lot lighter.