Hi everyone,
My wife and I are planning our first trip to Japan. We prefer to cover all the major experiences and we do not want to switch hotels too often to avoid luggage handling.
Please suggest me if this is looking good or I should make any changes?
Overview:
• 9 nights
• 4 nights Kyoto
• 5 nights Tokyo
Mid March 2026
Day 1 – Land in Tokyo → Kyoto
– Land early morning in Tokyo
– Transfer directly to Kyoto via Shinkansen
– Light evening in Gion and along Kamo River
\[Since our flight would land early morning, so we thought it would be better to just transfer to Kyoto and save some time before we get check-in in hotels\]
Day 2 – Universal Studios Japan
Full day at USJ
Return to Kyoto at night
Day 3 – Nara + Osaka
Morning:
• Nara Park
• Todai-ji
• Deer park walk
Evening:
• Dotonbori in Osaka
• Return to Kyoto
Day 4 – Fushimi Inari + Arashiyama
• Early morning Fushimi Inari
• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
• Tenryu-ji
• Relaxed evening back in Kyoto
Day 5 – Kyoto → Tokyo + Central Tokyo
• Shinkansen to Tokyo
• Meiji Shrine
• Harajuku
• Shibuya
• teamLab Planets in evening
Day 6 – East Tokyo
• Ueno Park
• Asakusa
• Senso-ji
• Nakamise Street
• Sumida River walk
Day 7 – Mount Fuji Day Trip
• Kawaguchiko area
• Flexible depending on weather
Day 8 – Tokyo DisneySea
• Full day
Day 9 – Slow Tokyo
• Ginza
• Shopping
• Relaxed final evening
Day 10 – Morning Departure from Tokyo
\- We are okay with 15–20k steps.
\- Have our hotels near the main train stations
We are early risers and like to get out of the hotel in the morning early to explore.
PS – I love safaris and I saw the Fuji Safari has great reviews and really want to cover that. Would you recommend renting a car for a day from Tokyo and visit Mt Fuji and Fuji Safari Park? I want to have the experience of driving in Japan too.
by ashugupta_tech