We are a couple in our 30s (Germany) travelling to Japan for the first time in mid-April until the end of the first week in May. We watched tons of videos (Reddit Posts were very helpful too), read more articles, and used AI to come up with a good plan, but we are worried that it is either too many stops or that we missed a major hidden gem on our way.
Our focus is city strolling, nature, gardens, temples, unique experiences, and food. I also do photography, and I will try to find cosplayers or attend an event to take some new photos. Street photography is also on our top list. We will be travelling light, each with a backpack and a carry-on. We also want to buy some tea tools or pens, etc., as gifts and souvenirs. I want to get a used Japanese watch (appreciate opinions & recommendations). We are used to crowds, but we would appreciate some calm days and nights.
I am also a Martial Arts fan, if you have any recommendations for getting a glimpse of that scene in Japan or sword-making workshops etc.
Another point: to avoid frequent hotel jumping, we thought of using Osaka as a base to visit Kyoto, as they are very close by and Osaka is cheaper.
Tokyo (Fri Apr 17 → Fri Apr 25) — 8 nights (Multiple day trips to near by cities)
Hakone (ryokan) (Sat Apr 25 → Sun Apr 26) — 1 night
Kanazawa (Sun Apr 26 → Tue Apr 28) — 2 nights
Takayama (Tue Apr 28 → Wed Apr 29) — 1 night
Kyoto (Wed Apr 29 → Fri May 1) — 2 nights
Hiroshima (Fri May 1 → Sat May 2) — 1 night
Miyajima (ryokan) (Sat May 2 → Sun May 3) — 1 night
Osaka (Sun May 3 → Thu May 8 late flight) — 5 nights (Multiple day trips to near by cities)
D1 • Fri Apr 17 — Arrive Tokyo (~13:00)
• PM: Train to Ikebukuro hotel. Light stroll to get bearings.
• 18:30–22:00: Night photography: Ikebukuro East Exit neon + ramen/izakaya.
D2 • Sat Apr 18 — Old→Modern Tokyo
• 06:00 Asakusa (Senso ji at dawn; empty streets)
• 09:00 Breakfast → 10:30 Ueno Ameyoko market
• 12:30 Yanaka Ginza (retro alleys)
• 15:00 Ginza architecture walk
• 17:00–20:00 Hamarikyu Garden (golden hour) → Zojo ji/Tokyo Tower (blue hour)
D3 • Sun Apr 19 — Cameras + Subculture
• 10:00–12:30 Akihabara (electronics; retro arcades)
• 13:30–15:00 Nakano Broadway (Fujiya Camera, subculture shops)
• 16:00–21:00 Shibuya: Shibuya Sky sunset → scramble night set
D4 • Mon Apr 20 — Gardens & Shrine
• 08:00 Shinjuku Gyoen
• 11:00 Meiji Shrine → 13:00 Omotesando architecture/cafés
• 18:30–21:00 Roppongi Hills view or Rainbow Bridge night set (Odaiba)
D5 • Tue Apr 21 — Yokohama (day trip module A)
• 09:30 Train to Yokohama (~30 min)
• 10:15–12:15 Sankeien Garden
• 12:45 Chinatown lunch + street shots
• 16:30–20:30 Minato Mirai → Osanbashi Pier night skyline
• 21:30 Back to Tokyo
If rain/wind: swap D5 with a Tokyo museums/indoor photo day.
D6 • Wed Apr 22 — Free / Martial Arts
• Late start
• 11:00–13:00 Kendo/Iaido experience or sword smith shops (Asakusa)
• 15:00–17:00 Koishikawa Korakuen (beautiful daimyo garden)
• 19:00–21:00 Shinjuku neon loop or Daikanyama/Nakameguro for calm night shots
D7 • Thu Apr 23 — Day trip module B: Nikko or Kamakura
• Nikko: Toshogu Shrine complex + forested avenues (heritage feel)
• Kamakura: Hokoku ji bamboo, Hase dera, Great Buddha, seaside sunset
• 20:00 Return to Ikebukuro
Pick only one. If you’re tired, keep this as a Tokyo free day.
D8 • Fri Apr 24 — Cosplay Day (primary day)
• Venue: Likely acosta! @ Sunshine City, Ikebukuro (walkable).
• 09:00–18:00 All day cosplay photography (outdoor/indoor sets).
• 19:00–21:00 Ikebukuro night portraits or chill dinner.
Backup: If the event lands on Sat Apr 25 instead, simply swap D8↔D9 morning plans (below). We keep your travel to Hakone in the late afternoon on the 25th either way.
D9 • Sat Apr 25 — Tokyo → Hakone (Ryokan)
• 08:30 If cosplay was yesterday, enjoy a lazy breakfast + short Tokyo stroll.
• 10:30–12:00 Train to Hakone Yumoto/Gora (~1.5 h).
• Afternoon: Lake Ashi cruise / Ropeway (Fuji if clear).
• 18:00 Onsen + kaiseki dinner (ryokan).
• Luggage: Send big suitcase Ikebukuro → Kanazawa today (TA Q BIN).
D10 • Sun Apr 26 — Hakone → Kanazawa (2N)
• 08:30 Odawara → Tokyo → Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa (~3 h).
• 12:30 Check in (bag should be delivered).
• 14:00–17:00 Kenrokuen Garden (top 3 in Japan)
• 18:30–21:00 Higashi Chaya lantern streets (night photos)
D11 • Mon Apr 27 — Kanazawa deep
• 08:00 Nagamachi Samurai District (quiet lanes)
• 10:30 Omicho Market brunch
• 14:00 Gold leaf workshop (unique souvenir) or museum exteriors
• 18:30–20:30 Kazue machi riverside dusk
D12 • Tue Apr 28 — Kanazawa → Takayama (1N)
• 09:00 Ltd Express to Takayama (~2 h 15)
• 12:00 Soba/Hida beef lunch, check in near Sanmachi Suji
• 15:00 Hida Folk Village or sake breweries
• 17:30–20:30 Old Town at dusk (this is the reason to sleep here)
D13 • Wed Apr 29 — Takayama → Kyoto (2N) (Golden Week starts)
• 06:30–08:00 Morning markets + empty streets
• 08:30–12:00 Train to Kyoto (via Nagoya; ~3–3.5 h)
• 15:30–20:30 Fushimi Inari late start → stay through blue hour
• Night: Gion Shirakawa or Pontocho
D14 • Thu Apr 30 — Kyoto crowd smart
• 06:30 Arashiyama Bamboo (dawn) → Tenryu ji garden
• 11:30 Ryoan ji (Zen rock garden)
• 17:30–20:30 Kiyomizu dera sunset → Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka at night
D15 • Fri May 1 — Kyoto → Hiroshima (1N)
Activate the 5 Day JR WEST Hiroshima Area Pass today.
• 09:30–11:30 Shinkansen to Hiroshima (~2 h)
• 13:30–17:30 Peace Memorial Park & Museum (unhurried)
• Evening Hiroshima style okonomiyaki
D16 • Sat May 2 — Hiroshima → Miyajima (Ryokan, 1N)
• 09:00–10:00 JR to Miyajimaguchi + JR ferry (pass covers)
• 10:30 Drop bags at Miyajima ryokan
• 11:00–15:30 Itsukushima Shrine + Mt. Misen ropeway
• 17:30–20:30 Torii sunset & blue hour (tripod set). Island is quiet at night.
D17 • Sun May 3 — Miyajima → Osaka (5N)
• 09:30–12:00 Ferry + Shinkansen to Osaka (~1.5 h from Hiroshima)
• 12:30 Check in Namba/Shinsaibashi
• 15:30–22:00 Amerikamura street scenes → Dotonbori & Shinsekai neon
D18 • Mon May 4 — Day trip module C: Nara (½ day) or Nachi Waterfall.
• 08:30–13:30 Nara: Tōdai ji (Great Buddha), deer park, Kasuga Taisha lanterns
• PM/Evening Osaka food crawl + night photography
D19 • Tue May 5 — Day trip module D: Himeji + Kobe
• AM Himeji Castle + Koko en garden
• PM/Evening Kobe Harborland sunset → back to Osaka
D20 • Wed May 6 — Osaka flex
• Option 1: Camera shopping (Yodobashi Umeda, DenDen town used lenses)
• Option 2: Umeda Sky Building + Nakazakicho alleys (retro night)
• Option 3: Rest day—laundry, café hopping
D21 • Thu May 7 — Day trip module E: Okayama + Kurashiki (optional) or Kibune & Kurama
• AM Okayama: Korakuen Garden + castle backdrop
• PM Kurashiki: Bikan Canal Quarter (dreamy canal photos)
• Evening Back to Osaka
If you’re tired by Golden Week, simply skip D21 and enjoy Osaka—nothing essential breaks.
D22 • Fri May 8 — Osaka last day → late flight (22:00)
• Day Pack, souvenirs, last shots of Dotonbori or Shinsekai
• Evening Early dinner → Airport (allow generous time for GW airport lines)
by Wild_Department_930