JJapan Trips

Need suggestions or help in rearranging itinerary

  • November 13, 2025

Hello! My partner and I will be travelling around japan with the typical route from Osaka -> Kyoto -> Hakone -> Tokyo from 29th Nov till 9th December '25. We have booked our flight tickets, and currently planning the itinerary and accommodations. However, I'm running into some issues as we have changed the dates last minute.

I'm fully in charge of the itinerary while my partner only has 3 places he'd like to go:- Osaka aquarium, USJ and Gundam Base in Odaiba.

This would be my 3rd time visiting, but the first time with a "relaxed" pace of travelling, and it is his first time in japan, so I would like to cover the typical tourist spots for a first time japan experience (only the important ones, while also trying to fit in some non conventional ones)

There are two time gated places we would like to go:

  1. Universal Studio Japan (Definitely not on the weekends, the only day I could allocate it now is on Monday 1st December)
  2. Hakone (Sadly, based on the current arrangement, it falls on the weekends (Sat-Sun). Trying to avoid weekends as it is almost fully booked and extremely expensive on the weekends, would like to move them towards Fri-Sat or Sun-Mon)

I need advice in rearranging or removing some of the places in order to fit Hakone outside of weekends, or perhaps some other locations which will give a similar ryokan + onsen experience? Or what are some places that I could ignore entirely?

I honestly can't think of any other way other than cutting kyoto trip short and having to stay more days in tokyo (But I love kyoto and tokyo is boring for me!)

The tentative itinerary: –

Day 1 (29th Nov, Sat)  (Osaka, 3 nights)

  • Arrival in Osaka (09:45am)
  • Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan (4-5 hours)
  • Umeda Sky Building (After sunset, before 10pm)
  • Kuromon Market

Day 2 (30th Nov, Sun)

  • Katsuoji Temple (Daruma Temple) + Minoh Falls OR Otori Taisha (Otori Shrine)
  • Explore Central Osaka, Osaka Castle (Osaja-ko), etc
  • Nakazakicho Station (Café/food places nearby this station)

Day 3 (1st Dec, Mon)

  • Universal Studio Japan (One full day)
  • Dotonburi at night

Day 4 (2nd Dec, Tue) (Kyoto, 4 nights)

  • Osaka -> Kyoto (1 hour w/ train)
  • Explore Arashimara District (Iwatayama Summit, Togetsukyo Bridge, Kimono Forest, etc, Bamboo Grove since we are already there)
  • Sagano Scenic Railway Train (Beautiful during foliage season)
  • Shrines and Temples nearby
  • (Leave arashimara area tentatively around 5-6pm)
  • Gion (Geisha district) at night

Day 5 (3rd Dec, Wed)

  • Fushimi Inari (2-3 hours)
  • Unsure yet

Day 6 (4th Dec. Thu)

  • Lake Biwa / Shiga (Day trip)
    • Can consider onsen here, I guess
    • ***Biwako Valley (Terrace & Ropeway closed until 19th December)***
  • OR Amanohashidate (Might be a lil rushed for a day trip)

Day 7 (5th Dec, Fri)

  • Uji + Nara (Day trip)

Day 8 (6th Dec, Sat) ***NEED TO MOVE TO OTHER DATES\*

  • Kyoto -> Hakone (2 – 3 hours; Shinkansen)
  • Explore around Hakone

(Wanted to visit Kawaguchiko too, but doesn't seem feasible for such a short time frame) – Please tell me if its possible!

Day 9 (7th Dec, Sun)

  • Hakone -> Tokyo (2.5 hours)
  • Explore around the city
  • Asakusa

Day 10 (8th Dec, Mon)

  • Gotokuji Temple
  • Edo outdoor museum

Day 11 (9th Dec, Tue)

  • Gundam Base (Odaiba),
  • Last minute shopping & city walks
  • Narita Airport (6:30 must leave Tokyo city centre – 9:50pm flight)

Any advice is appreciated!

by sauteedbacon