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.

Would love feedback on flow, timing, or what to tweak!

🧩 Logistics Questions for Feedback:

1. Will Welcome Suica work across all cities — Tokyo, Kamakura, Kawaguchiko, Osaka, and Kyoto (for local trains, subways, and buses)?
2. For long intercity routes (like Kawaguchiko → Mishima → Osaka and Kyoto → Tokyo), we plan to book individual Shinkansen and highway bus tickets.
3. Do local buses in Kawaguchiko and Enoden trains in Kamakura accept Suica?

Stay Base:

• Tokyo base: Asakusa area
• Osaka base: Namba area
• Kyoto base: Near Kyoto station

Day 0: Arrival in the afternoon

🚆Travel:

• Transfer to Asakusa (Keisei)

🏯: Senso-ji & Nakamise Street: stroll, buy snacks & souvenirs, iconic first Tokyo experience.

🍱: Dinner:

Day 1: Tokyo

🚆Local Travel: local transfers in Tokyo (use Welcome Suica IC card).

🍱: Breakfast: Connivence Store

 🏯: Ueno Park & Ameyoko Market: Peaceful park stroll + lively market for snacks and souvenirs.

 🏯: Akihabara Electric Town:

• 🛍️Yodobashi Camera Akihabara: Multi-story electronics and gadget paradise.
• 🛍️BIC Camera Akihabara: Large electronics store, cameras, and tech goods.
• 🛍️Don Quijote Akihabara: 24/7 discount store for quirky souvenirs, snacks, and gadgets.
• Maid Cafe (e.g., "@home Cafe"): Playful themed cafe with maid service experience.
• Cat Cafe (e.g., Mocha Cat Cafe): Relax with friendly cats, drinks included.
• Retro Gaming & Arcades (optional): SEGA arcades and Super Potato for classic games.

🍱: Lunch:

🏯: Imperial Palace East Gardens: Serene historic gardens with scenic paths and traditional architecture, perfect for a peaceful stroll. (last entry ~4 PM)

🏯: Tokyo Skytree: Iconic Tokyo skyline view from the observation deck. [Book in Advance]

🍱: Dinner:

🎶: ROKUSAN ANGEL (Night Club): Will also get view of Iconic Tokyo tower from this area

Day 2: Tokyo

🍱: Breakfast: Connivence Store

🛍️: Onitsuka Tiger Omotesando Store: Iconic flagship store for stylish sneakers and apparel

🏯: Meiji Jingu Shrine: Peaceful Shinto shrine surrounded by a serene forested park.

🏯: Takeshita Street: Vibrant youth fashion street with quirky shops, themed snacks.

🏯: Shibuya Scramble Crossing: World-famous pedestrian scramble with energetic city vibe.

🍱: Lunch:

🏯: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden: Spacious and serene garden blending traditional Japanese, English, and French landscapes.

🏯: Your Name Stairs: Popular “Your Name” anime photo spot in Shinjuku, great for quick photos.

🏯: Shinjuku Golden Gai: Tiny alleys with themed bars, nightlife hub, and iconic Tokyo evening experience.

🍱: Dinner:

Day 3: [Weekday] Tokyo [Split Group]

🎢: Tokyo DisneySea (Full Day): [Book in Advance]

🏯: Kamakura Day Trip

• Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
• 🛍️: Komachi Yokomichi Street
• Big Buddha at Kotoku-in
• Hasedera Temple
• 🍱: Bills Cafe Lunch: (Vegan available on request)
• Shichirigahama Beach
• Kamakurakōkō-Mae Station (Slam Dunk Anime Location)
• Walk till Koshigoe Station and take a Enoden line train back to Kamakura Station
• 🍵: Have matcha at Hatoya Kamakura before heading back

Day 4: Travel to Kawaguchiko

🚆 Major Travel :

• Morning (Travel to Kawaguchiko – approx. 2–2.5 hrs):
• Mode: Highway Bus: [Book in Advance]
• Departure points: Shibuya Mark City 5F Bus Terminal (From Asakusa hotel takes 1hr via Ginza Line)
  • Access to Bus Station from Shibuya Station
• Arrival: Kawaguchiko Station by 11/12pm
  •  Cost: Approx. ¥2,000–¥2,600 per person.

🍱: Brunch / Lunch:

🏯: Lake Kawaguchi: 

• Rent a bike, ride around the lake
• Take pictures at Ubuyagasaki Shrine
• Ice cream at Oishi Park

🏯: Chureito Pagoda: Scenic pagoda + Fuji view; free, 400 stairs climb needed.

🌆: Onsen (Hot Spring) in the evening — Relaxing bath with mountain view at the hotel; paid (~¥1,500–¥2,000), reservation optional.

🍱: Dinner:

Day 5: Travel to Osaka | Reach by 3-4pm

🚆 Major Travel :

• Step 1: Kawaguchiko → Mishima — Fujikyu Express Bus. Approx 1.5–2 hrs, cost ~¥2,300–¥2,500. [Book in Advance]
• Step 2: Mishima → Osaka by Tokaido Shinkansen (Hikari / Kodama); approx ~2.5 hrs; fare ¥8,000 to ¥12,000 range for single-seat bookings. [Book in Advance]
  • Luggage already forwarded from Tokyo to Osaka.

🍱: Lunch:

🏯: Namba Yasaka Shrine: quirky lion-head shrine (10-min visit, 5–10 min walk)

🏯: Dotonbori Walk: explore canal area, giant billboards (Glico Man), street shopping, lively music

🏯: America-mura: for youth fashion, thrift shops, arcades (fun vibe like Harajuku)

🍱: Dinner:

Day 6: [Weekday] — Osaka [Split Group]

🎢 : USJ (Universal Studios Japan): [Book in Advance] [with Express Pass]

• Flying Dinosaur (Jurassic Park World)
• Harry Potter: The Forbidden Journey (The Wizarding World of Harry Potter)
• The Hollywood Dream (Hollywood Area)
• Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge (Super Nintendo World)
• Jaws (Amity Village area)

 🏯: Day Trip to Hiroshima:

Day 7: Osaka

🍱: Breakfast: Connivence Store

🏯: Osaka Castle & Park: Historic samurai-era castle surrounded by scenic gardens and a moat

🍱: Lunch:

🏯: Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan): One of the world’s largest aquariums, tank with whale and sharks.

🏯: Umeda Sky Building: Twin-tower skyscraper with a futuristic Floating Garden Observatory.

🍱: Dinner:

Day 8: Travel to Kyoto | 40 min in the morning

🚆 Major Travel :

• Osaka → Tokyo (JR Special Rapid / local Shinkansen).
• Check-in at the hotel

🍱: Breakfast: Connivence Store

🏯: TeamLabs Kyoto:  [Book in Advance]

🍱: Lunch: KYOTO ENGINE RAMEN (Non-veg & Veg both) [Book in Advance]

🏯: Nishiki Market: Vibrant food street; free entry, buy what you like.

🏯: Gion District & Hanami-koji Street: Traditional wooden streets, possible geisha sightings | ⏱ ~2 hrs

🍱: Dinner:

• Gion Tanto (Non-veg & Veg both)
• Bee’s Knees Bar

Day 9: Kyoto

🏯: Fushimi Inari Taisha: Famous thousands of red torii gates shrine

🍱: Breakfast: Connivence Store

🏯: Kiyomizu-dera: Iconic hilltop temple with city view; ¥400, tickets onsite.

🏯: Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion): Stunning gold-leaf temple set in reflective pond; ¥400, tickets onsite. 

🍱: Lunch: 

• AIN SOPH. Journey KYOTO (Vegan only) (Can [Book in Advance] for Veg folks)

🚲: Arashiyama Experience (Afternoon)

Full Arashiyama district loop — Kyoto’s most scenic and lively area.

• 🚆 Get down at Saga-Arashiyama Station (~25 min)
• 🚴 Rent bicycles near station (~¥800 to ¥1,000 for 3 to 4 hrs)

Cycling route will include:

🌉: Togetsukyo Bridge & Riverside – Scenic river views, street snacks & group photos

🌿: Arashiyama Bamboo Forest – Iconic serene bamboo path

🏯: Tenryu-ji Temple – UNESCO Zen temple beside the forest; ¥500

🪷: Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple – Peaceful hillside temple with stone statues & a small bamboo grove

🍱: Dinner: Omen Ginkaku-ji area / Shijo Ponto-cho area (Reservation by call) (Non-veg & Veg both)

Day 10: Travel to Tokyo from Kyoto

🚆 Major Travel :

• Morning (Travel to Tokyo – Shinkansen from Kyoto): Take Tokaido Shinkansen (Nozomi/Hikari/Kodama). Journey ≈ 3 hrs; [Book in Advance]
• Transfer Tokyo → Narita: Narita Express to reach NRT by late afternoon.

(last-minute shopping in Tokyo)

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