21-Day Japan Itinerary & Essential Tips!
old.reddit.com
Hi everyone! Just back from a fantastic 21-day Japan trip with my partner. Here’s our full itinerary plus some valuable insights, reflections,...
This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/ifthenelsecatch on 2025-06-16 21:20:41+00:00.

Hi everyone! Just back from a fantastic 21-day Japan trip with my partner. Here’s our full itinerary plus some valuable insights, reflections, and practical advice for future travelers. Hope it helps!

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 0 (Arrival in Tokyo)

  • Evening: Tokyo Station underground street dinner.

Day 1 (Tokyo)

  • Imperial Palace Gardens, Tsukiji Fish Market (grilled squid)
  • Botanical gardens (roses)
  • Shibuya Scramble, shopping, Kanto-style gyoza & beer, dinner at Sushiro (Tokyo Station)

Day 2 (Kamakura Day Trip)

  • Giant Buddha, local train experience
  • Evening: Shopping in Shibuya (Uniqlo), dinner at Tokyo Station

Day 3 (Nikko & Asakusa)

  • Brief morning in Asakusa (temples, shopping streets)
  • Nikko (missed Tobu Limited Express but saw main temple area & pagoda)
  • Returned to Tokyo around 5 PM

Day 4 (Tokyo → Osaka)

  • Shinkansen to Osaka, boxed lunch
  • Afternoon: Namba area, Den Den Town, cookware street, takoyaki
  • Dinner: Wagyu beef BBQ

Day 5 (Osaka)

  • Universal Studios Japan (Express Pass recommended)
  • Dinner: Nakago Sushi

Day 6 (Nara Day Trip)

  • Lunch at Mizuya Chaya (Udon)
  • Evening: Americana Village, giant sushi rolls

Day 7 (Osaka)

  • Osaka Expo (crowded), Osaka Castle
  • Rest afternoon, dinner wagyu beef

Day 8 (Osaka → Kyoto)

  • Nishiki Market lunch, walking tour
  • Hotel Ala Kyoto (highly recommended)

Day 9 (Kyoto)

  • Fushimi Inari Shrine, Yodobashi Camera shopping
  • Evening: Geisha district (Gion), rooftop dinner

Day 10 (Kyoto)

  • Arashiyama bamboo forest, preservation street, Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji)
  • Laundry mishap (hotel)

Day 11 (Kyoto → Kanazawa)

  • Hotel Kanazawa Nikko
  • Omicho Market lunch, Kanazawa Castle, Kenrokuen Garden
  • Dinner: Tempura

Day 13 (Kanazawa)

  • Yamashiro Onsen public bath (Kaga Onsen)
  • Nagamachi Samurai district, Geisha district
  • Dinner: Sushi at Akamechan

Day 14 (Kanazawa → Tokyo)

  • Shinkansen to Ikebukuro, Hotel Metropolitan
  • Anime/manga exploration, Bic Camera flagship store
  • Dinner: Kura Sushi

Day 15 (Tokyo)

  • Shiba Park, Tokyo Tower, Roppongi Hills
  • Rainy evening in Shinjuku

Day 16 (Ueno, Tokyo)

  • Ueno Park, Ameyoko shopping street, specialty knife shopping
  • Dinner at the apartment

Day 17 (Asakusa & Akihabara)

  • Sky clothes shopping in Asakusa, Akihabara side streets
  • Yodobashi mega store, dinner at Sushiro

Day 18 (Odaiba & Shinjuku)

  • Odaiba Island, Tokyo Bay, motorcycle accessories shopping
  • Night in Shinjuku: Memory Lane & Golden Gai

Day 19 (Shibuya)

  • Shibuya Stream Hotel
  • Harajuku shopping, Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi Park, convenience store lunch in the park
  • Shopping and steak dinner near hotel

Day 20 (Last Shibuya Day)

  • Final shopping: Loft, Daiso, Hands, Don Quijote
  • Purchased extra suitcase (many souvenirs!)
  • Dinner at Sushiro

Day 21 (Final day, rainy)

  • Last-minute shopping (drugstores, toys, Donki)
  • Pasta lunch at hotel mall (Pasta Brothers)

💡 Essential Tips & Observations:

  • Trains & Shinkansen:
    • No reservation needed for Shinkansen; buying tickets on the day was easy.
    • Google Maps was extremely accurate (use exact hotel-to-destination addresses).
  • Daily Activity:
    • Averaged 25,000 steps/day. Pack light!
  • Shopping & Specialization:
    • Japan has unmatched variety. Found everything imaginable from model kits to washing machines in a single store.
    • Bic Camera & Yodobashi were impressive for tech/gadgets.
  • Universal Studios:
    • Highly recommend Express Pass to avoid 50-min queues.
  • Cash & Cards:
    • Cash is king, especially at smaller eateries.
    • Apple Pay limited; physical card preferred where accepted.
  • Japanese Courtesy:
    • Locals were incredibly helpful, often using translators to assist.
  • Bathrooms & Convenience:
    • Clean, free bathrooms everywhere—extremely traveler-friendly.
  • Food Adventures:
    • Language barriers led to surprise dishes—always delicious. If you’re picky, be cautious!
  • Rush Hour:
    • Less chaotic than expected, especially if you travel against the main flow.
  • Style & Vehicles:
    • Noticeably stylish locals, each with unique fashion.
    • Incredible variety of cars and motorcycles, from luxury Ferraris to quirky designs.

🗒️ Key Recommendations:

  1. Buy a Japan Rail Pass if extensively traveling by train.
  2. Use Google Maps extensively (platforms, entrances, exits).

Balance card usage with plenty of cash. 4. Embrace food surprises—part of the fun! 5. Reserve an Express Pass for major theme parks.

✈️ Final Reflection:

Japan seamlessly blends traditional charm and futuristic efficiency. Each day brought delightful surprises, making us constantly eager for “just one more block” exploration. Truly unforgettable.

Happy travels! Feel free to ask for more tips or details.