Japan - Tokyo and Kyoto with Day Trips to Mt Fuji, Osaka, Nara, and Uji

Japan was amazing. This is the itinerary we followed. We opted to stay at less expensive hotels which were all comfortable and conveniently located. If you want to upgrade, I’d recommend a more traditional Japanese hotel experience while staying in Kyoto. I included some of our favorite places that we ate at in this itinerary, but mostly we just ate as we were walking around.

This itinerary was built with some flexibility and lots of free time. We found we had tons of extra time especially in the morning which was best for parks since nothing really opened until 10/11 am. We traveled during Japan’s Golden week, which was fun since there were lots of festivals and things going on, but made taking the bullet train more difficult – make sure to pre order your JR pass and pick it up when you arrive plus reserve any seats you might need!

Highlights of our trip were anything with animals – Kyoto Arashiyama Monkey Park, Animal Cafes (Owl, mipig especially), and Nara Deer park. I understand if you don’t support animal cafes, they are quite common in Asia but some may not like them for animal rights reasons. We also really enjoyed the Mt Fuji day trip, the Fushimiinari Shrine, and the the Ashikaga Flower park as I love Wisteria and planned this trip around the time to try to see the Wisteria blooms!

The Sagano Onsen in Kyoto was also AMAZING. If you have tattoos you probably won’t be allowed entry. Its not a place to be shy as you will be completely naked the whole time you are in the bath house!

Here is the Itinerary:

Two Weeks in Japan (Tokyo & Kyoto)

Apr 28 – May 12, 2023

Fri, Apr 28

6:35 AM CDT AUS to MSP

Delta Air Lines

9:21AM CDT Arrive Minneapolis (MSP)

1h, 44m layover

11:05 AM CDT MSP to HND

Sat, Apr 29

2:20 PM JST Arrive Tokyo (HND)

Get starting amount of cash from ATM at airport. Get Japan Rail (JR) Passes at Airport or Shinagawa Station and reserve seats on JR to and from Kyoto (We got ours at Shinagawa since the line was much shorter, and we reserved our seats since it was holiday week.)

Arrive Akihabara Washington Hotel is expecting you on April 29

Check-In: 2:00pm

101-0025, Tokyo, Chiyoda Ward, Chiyoda-ku Kanda Sakuma-cho 1-8-3 101-0025, 東京都, 千代田区, 千代田区神田佐久間町1-8-3

Booked on Booking.com

Cost: USD $384.19 for four nights

7:00 PM JST Dinner at Sushi-no-darihan in Shibuya

9:00 PM JST Shibuya City Night Excursion – Dogenzaka Church – The Church Bar

Sun, Apr 30

9:00 AM JST Nezu Shrine and Ueno Park

11:50 AM JST Owl Cafe “Fukurou” – Pre Reserved Date/Time

Japan, 〒101-0022 東京都千代田区神田練塀町６７

11:50am to 12:30pm

+81 3-6206-4095

https://akiba2960.com/jp/

12:30 PM JST Explore Akihabara (Get lunch/coffee at a Maid Café)

2:30 Ameyoko Shopping Street and Yanaka

4:00 PM JST Kameido Tenjin Shrine (Wisteria Flowers)

6:00 PM JST Tokyo Sky Tree

Mon, May 1

8:00 AM JST From Tokyo: Mt. Fuji Full-Day Sightseeing Trip

Booked on GetYourGuide

http://www.getyourguide.com/

Total cost for two people: US$ 160.00

Tue, May 2

8:00 AM JST Public Bathhouse – Daikoku-yu

10:00 AM JST Lunch at Tonkatsu Hasegawa (opens at 11, get there early to avoid crazy long line)

1:00 PM JST Ashikaga Flower Park (Take Train)

Wed, May 3

Check out Akihabara Washington Hotel – Store luggage at Tokyo station

12:00 PM JST Explore Imperial Palace and Gardens

4:10 PM JST JR East – Shinagawa Station to Kyoto Station (arrive at least 2 hrs early during holiday week)

Depart Shinagawa Station 3-chōme-26-27 Takanawa, Minato City, Tokyo 108-0074, Japan

6:00 PM JST Arrive Kyoto Station Higashishiokoji Kamadonocho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8216, Japan

Arrive Hotel Aru Kyoto Sanjo Kiyamachi Do-ri

Check-In: 6:30pm

Nakagyo Kawaramachi Daikokucho 48 Kyoto, Japan 604-8031

Booked on Booking.com

Total cost: $547.39 for seven nights

6:30 PM JST Dinner at Hyakusai Beef Noodles – Explore Mall

8:00 PM JST Yasaka Shrine for night time view of lanterns

Thu, May 4

8:00 AM JST Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple (Train Then Walk)

10:00 AM JST Walk down Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street

11:00 AM JST Lunch at Jurakuan (Herring with Soba, Red Bean Soup, and Matcha)

12:30 PM JST Arashiyama Monkey Park

3:00 PM JST Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

6:00 PM JST Walk Gion, Nineizaka, Sanneizaka, Kiyomizu-dera

Fri, May 5

7:30 AM JST JR Train to Nara (Get there early to feed the deer before they are full!)

8:00 AM JST Explore Nara Park including Todai-ji, Kofuku-ji, Isuien, Etc. Walk back to station down Hisashimuki Shopping Street

12:00 PM JST Jr Train to Uji

11:00 AM JST Lunch in Uji (Wisteria Ice Cream, Soba Noodles), Explore Uji – Byodoin Temple, and Fukujuen Uji – Uji Tea Factory

3:30 PM JST JR Train to Kyoto

5:00 PM JST Loutre Otter Café

Sat, May 6

8:00 AM JSTJR Train to Osaka

12:15 PM JST Osaka Aquarium

2:00 PM JST Fox And Cat Cafe

アニマルカフェ妖精のお部屋【Animal Cafe Fairy Room]

Japan, 〒542-0086 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Nishishinsaibashi, 2 Chome−4−6 おおきに花月久左衛門町ビル 4F

3:00 PM JST Donguri Kyowakoku (Ghibli Store) and Explore Dotonburi

7:00 PM JST JR Train to Kyoto (Take back whenever ready – check schedule for last train)

Sun, May 7

10:00 AM JST Baby Pig Cafe

Mipig café Kyoto

Japan, 〒604-8042 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Nakanocho, 560-2 七宝新京極ビル

2:00 PM JST Sagano Onsen

Japan, 〒616-8315 Kyoto, Ukyo Ward, Saganomiyanomotochō, 峨野宮ノ元町55-4-7

Sagano Onsen Tenzan-no-yu

+81 75-863-1126

https://www.hotespa.net/spa/fufu/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=gbp&utm_campaign=gbpurl

3:00 PM JST Odai Sushi

9-22 Sagakariwakecho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8342, Japan

Mon, May 8

10:00 AM JST Sagano Sight-Seeing Train – Torokko Arashiyama Sta. to Kameoka Station – Pre Book tickets

Depart Torokko Arashiyama Sta. 4-2 Sagaogurayama Tabuchiyamachō, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8394, Japan

10:30 AM JST Arrive Kameoka Station Tanisuji-1-1 Oiwakechō, Kameoka, Kyoto 621-0804, Japan