JJapan Trips

12-day Itinerary Check

  • October 8, 2025

Thanks in advance for anyone who reads all this! We’re a late 20's couple from Canada and will be coming to Japan straight after a trip to Vietnam (hence only 12 days)! My partner is vegetarian and I eat everything. Some things we would like to do are visit nice neighbourhoods, go for coffee/matchas, shopping (thrift/vintage, crafts, denim, list goes on), bars, (eg hifi/record bars), go for bike rides/hikes, concerts, flea markets. I've left some evenings free mainly free to either rest, go for dinner or bars nearby, wander, etc.

I'm also looking to go to a Ryokan / temple (because vegetarian) for our anniversary. I’m pretty stumped on this one and it’s a big question mark in my itinerary – I’ve spent hours researching and could use a push, more on that below.

Osaka (evening) -> Kyoto (5 nights) -> Koyasan, Amami, or Hakone (1 night) -> Tokyo (6 nights)

  • Open questions:
  • Hakone, Koyasan, or Amami
  • Kyoto Halloween recommendations?

  • Best day in my itinerary to bike – arashiyama or philosopher's path?

  • Day 1 Land, Osaka -> Kyoto – Wed Oct 29

    • 2pm – land in KIX, send luggage to Kyoto hotel
    • 4pm – Get to Osaka, hit up Dotonbori and maybe Namba
    • Dinner in Osaka, then late check-in to Kyoto hotel in Gion

  • Day 2 Kyoto – Uji/Fushimi Inari (since some matcha shops are closed weekends?) – Thurs Oct 30

    • Morning in Uji, maybe brunch. Shop for matcha. Matcha workshop at Chazuna 1pm. Byodo-In Temple / Omotesando.
    • Fushimi Inari, hike up for sunset.

  • Day 3 Kyoto – Philosopher's Path – Fri Oct 31

    • Is this a good day to rent a bike?
    • Wife + Husband cafe picnic 1030am
    • If bike, go up Kamo River to demachiyanagi
    • Walk or bike philosopher's path from Hachi Shrine to nanzenji
    • Fushimi Inari if we didn't go yesterday. If we did, dinner and a bar like Beatle momo or hachi
    • OR find something spooky, like the Yokai festival at Toei Studio Park for Halloween.

  • Day 4 Kyoto – Kiyomizudera – Sat Nov 1

    • Early Kiyomizudera, ninenzeka, yasaka-dori
    • Lunch at takinoya
    • Hanamikoji St
    • Chill evening or do something we missed

  • Day 5 Kyoto – Arashiyama + Kinkaku-ji (busy day, maybe offload some to Day 4) – Sun Nov 2

    • Might offload some to Day 4 eg Kinkakuji. Was thinking of biking this day originally but read that Arashiyama might be too busy.
    • Forward luggage to Tokyo hotel
    • Skip the regular forest for at Adashino
    • Gioji, Adashino and Otagi Nenbutsuji temples
    • Okachi Sanso garden
    • Tenryu-ji temple and shigetsu for lunch, or shoraian
    • Time/energy pending, taxi/uber to Kinkaku-ji before 5pm
    • Pontocho Alley evening

  • Day 6 – Ryokan or Temple in Koyasan, Amami, or Hakone – Mon Nov 3 Culture Day

    • The original plan was to stay at a ryokan in Hakone with a private onsen since we have tattoos, as a good midpoint in our trip and a nice recharging anniversary evening. While there’s lots to do, it seems like a copy and paste experience and I’ve seen that it can get busy. I’m also second guessing the ryokan I’ve booked based on reviews (Mikawaya Ryokan).
    • A temple at Koyasan looked promising since we need a vegetarian meal. I'm into the authentic and spiritual vibe of Koyasan but I fear it may not be the most healing physically, especially if we're waking up early for the morning prayer and has no onsen, just a bathhouse.
    • The third option is Nanten-en Inn in Amami which has veg, and can plan a walk, bike, or hike in the town. It's also closer than Koyasan.

  • Day 7 – morning wherever, end up in Tokyo – Tue Nov 4

    • Slow checkout, if in Amami or Koyasan then lunch in Osaka. Shinkansen to Tokyo.
    • Staying at Nui hostel in Kuramae.
    • Evening nearby or go to Shibuya/Shinjuku for the evening. Observatory at Shibuya Sky or the government building.

  • Day 8 – Shibuya/Shinjuku/Harajuku – Wed Nov 5

    • Probably spend the whole day in this area.

  • Day 9 – Kamakura and Enoshima – Thurs Nov 6

    • Day in Kamakura, evening/sunset in Enoshima if we have time/energy.
    • OR some other daytrip like Nikko.

  • Day 9 – Ghibli Museum and Daikoku – Fri Nov 7

    • If we don’t get Ghibli tickets, then TeamLabs or another neighborhood on our list.
    • Tour to Daikoku parking area at night (75% sure on this one)

  • Day 10 – Oi flea market, Ginza, concert hopefully in Shimokitazawa – Sat Nov 8

    • Probably the only time we can go to a fleamarket. We'd also like to visit Shimokitazawa and go to a concert there or elsewhere. If not, then try a different morning to Shimokitazawa.

  • Day 11 – Asakasa/Ueno/Akihabara – Sun Nov 9

    • Definitely Asakasa and Ueno. Akihabara only if we're feeling it on the day.
    • Early Sensoji Temple, Nakamisedori

  • Day 12 – Flight at Narita 4pm

    • Anything we missed in the morning

Not in our itinerary but would like to fit in: Nakano broadway, Shimokitazawa in the daytime, Daikanyamacho, Jimbocho.

by RiceRemix