Hi everyone! Please prepare yourselves for a long read! After 10 years of dreaming, my girlfriend and I are finally planning our dream fall trip...
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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/APauloRTS98 on 2025-08-18 16:43:07+00:00.

Hi everyone! Please prepare yourselves for a long read!

After 10 years of dreaming, my girlfriend and I are finally planning our dream fall trip to Japan, and we’d love your feedback on our itinerary! We’ll be there for 22 full days between late October and early November (not counting arrival and departure days).

We’ve spent the last four months planning and have booked all accommodations via Agoda (with flexible cancellation), so we can still tweak plans based on your tips. The itinerary focuses on minimizing travel time while still letting us experience a wide variety of places.

WARNING: This itinerary was NOT generated on Chat-GPT or any other AI model but I did use them to help me write this post!

About Us:

  • Age & fitness: Both in our mid-twenties, in decent shape, and love walking.
  • Pace: We want a balance between packed sightseeing and slower, more relaxing days. We don’t mind early mornings, but we’re not aiming to wake up at dawn (5:00/6:00) every day.
  • Japan experience: First visit! We want to see the major sights but are happy to skip overrated spots for hidden gems.
  • Budget: €3,500–4,000 each. Happy to splurge on experiences that are worth it, but aiming to stay under budget.

Priorities & Interests:

Nature & Scenery

  • Want to visit a mountain region, a coastal town or beach, and at least one waterfall.
  • Mt. Fuji is a dream of ours and a priority while in the area.
  • Want to see peak autumn foliage if possible.

Culture & History

  • Want to visit 1-2 Castles (Preferably in their original state).
  • Want to visit temples that feel unique in setting, architecture, or atmosphere.
  • We love museums and unique art.

Personal Interests

  • I’m fascinated by samurai history, and enjoy anime & video games.
  • My girlfriend loves shopping, especially for personalized & unique souvenirs.

Food

  • We love trying a wide variety of local dishes, often splitting meals to try more without getting full too fast.
  • We have liked every single Japanese dish we have tried to date.
  • My girlfriend can’t handle spicy food.

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So, with all that in mind, here’s our itinerary:

Arrival – Monday: Kansai Airport → Osaka

  • Arrive Kansai Airport (15:50) → Immigration via QR code → Withdraw money from ATM (Revolut/Wise)
  • Train to Tennoji → Hotel check-in next to Tennoji Station
  • Depending on energy:
    • If tired, quick dinner & sleep right away
    • OR Visit Abeno Harukas (21:30 last entry) for sunset/night view
    • &/OR Walk to Shinsekai for dinner/light exploring

Day 1 – Tuesday: Osaka

  • Metro to Daikokucho → Visit Namba Yasaka Jinja (6:00 opening time)
  • Walk Namba Parks → Nipponbashi Denden Town → Kuromon Market (food)
  • Metro to Nippombashi → Explore Nakanoshima Park: Children’s Book Forest, Rose Garden & Central Public Hall
  • Metro to Shinsaibashi → Explore Shinsaibashisuji & Amerika-mura
  • Explore Dotonbori, Hozenji Yokocho & visit Hozenji Temple
  • Metro to Tennoji → Back to hotel

Day 2 – Wednesday: Katsuoji Temple & Minoh Falls

  • Wake up early (~7:00)
  • Metro to Minoh-Kayano → Bus to Katsuo-ji Temple (8:00 opening) → Visit temple
  • Taxi/Uber to Minoh Falls → Explore falls & hike down to Mino-o Station
  • Train to Ishibashi Handai-Mae → Train to Osaka-Umeda → Metro to Tennoji → Back to hotel

Day 3 – Thursday: Osaka

  • Metro to Tanimachi Yonchōme → Explore Osaka Castle area
  • Metro to Nakazakichō → Explore Nakazakicho neighborhood
  • Walk to Osaka Station City and explore: Ghibli Store, Pokémon Center, Nintendo Osaka & Grand Green Osaka (Optional: Visit Umeda Sky Building & Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum)
  • Train to Bentencho → Metro to Osakako → Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan (17:30 entry) → Ride Tempozan Ferris Wheel (21:30 last entry)
  • Metro to Bentencho → Train to Tennoji → Back to hotel

IMPORTANT: Our plan is to buy the JR Kansai + Hiroshima Pass for the next 5 day stretch of the trip.

Day 4 – Friday: Nara

  • Wake up early (~7:00)
  • Train to Tsuruhashi → Train to Kintetsu-Nara → Explore Sanjo Dori Street (Most shops open at 10:00, try mochi at Nakatanidou)
  • Walk around exploring Nara Park: Kofukuji, Yoshikien, Isuien, Todaiji (7:30 opening, visit main hall & Nigatsudo/Sangatsudo), Tamukeyama Hachimangu, Kasuga-taisha & hike Wakakusayama Hill (sunset)
  • Train to Tsuruhashi → Train to Tennoji → Back to hotel

Day 5 – Saturday: Himeji & Kurashiki

  • Wake up early (~7:00)
  • Metro to Shin-Osaka → Shinkansen to Himeji → Visit Himeji Castle (9:00 opening) & Kokoen Garden
  • Shinkansen to Okayama → Train to Kurashiki → Explore Kurashiki Bikan Quarter: Ohara Art Museum, other museums, shops & do a canal boat ride
  • Train to Okayama → Shinkansen to Hiroshima → Hotel check-in next to Hiroshima Station

Day 6 – Sunday: Miyajima

  • Wake up early (~4:30)
  • Train to Miyajimaguchi → Ferry to Miyajima (First departure at 6:25)
  • Visit Itsukushima Shrine (6:30 opening) → Explore Momijidani Park → Ropeway to Mount Misen → Hike down through Daisho-in Temple
  • Ferry to Miyajimaguchi → Train to Hiroshima → Back to hotel

Day 7 – Monday: Hiroshima

  • Walk to Inarimachi Station Shrine → Tram to Genbaku Dome-Mae → Visit Peace Memorial Park & Museum
  • Free/optional exploration: Orizuru Tower, Art Museum, Hiroshima Castle, Shukkeien Garden & Toshogu Shrine (close to Hiroshima Station)
  • Back to hotel

Day 8 – Tuesday: Kyoto

  • Wake up early (~8:00)
  • Shinkansen to Kyoto → Leave bags at hotel next to Kyoto Station & early check-in (if possible)
  • Visit Kyo-o-gokoku-ji, Nishi & Higashi Honganji, Sanjūsangen-dō (16:30 last entry) & Shorinji Temple → If still not tired also visit Tofukuji Temple & Komyo-in
  • Back to hotel

Day 9 – Wednesday: Kyoto

  • Wake up early (~4:30)
  • Bus to Kiyomizu-michi → Visit Kiyomizu-dera (6:00 opening)
  • Explore Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka → Glanta Custom Ring Workshop (reservation required 2 months in advance)
  • Visit Yasaka Koshin-do, Kodaiji, Kenninji & Yasaka Jinja
  • Explore Hanamikoji Street & Pontocho Alley
  • Bus to Shiokoji Takakura → Back to hotel

Day 10 – Thursday: Kyoto

  • Wake up early (~7:30)
  • Train to Saga-Arashiyama → Taxi/Uber to Otagi Nenbutsuji → Visit Otagi Nenbutsuji (9:00 opening) & Adashino Nenbutsuji
  • Walk down Saga Toriimoto Street → Arashiyama Bamboo Forest → Tenryuji Temple
  • Boat ride on Katsura River → Walk Togetsukyo Bridge → Hike Arashiyama Monkey Park
  • Train to Kyoto Station → Back to hotel

Day 11 – Friday: Kyoto + Uji

  • Wake up early (~5:30)
  • Train to Inari → Hike Fushimi Inari
  • Train to Uji → Visit Uji Bridge, Byodo-in, To-no-shima Island, Kosho-ji, Uji Shrine & Ujigami Shrine
  • Train to Kyoto Station → Back to hotel

Day 12 – Saturday: Kyoto

  • Wake up early (~7:00)
  • Bus to Kinkakuji-michi → Visit Kinkakuji Temple (9:00 opening)
  • Bus to Okazaki Jinja-mae → Visit Okazaki Jinja
  • Bus to Ginkakuji-michi → Visit Ginkaku-ji
  • Walk Philosopher’s Path → Visit Zenrinji, Nanzenji & Tenjuan → Finish at Keage Incline
  • Metro to Karasuma Oike → Metro to Kyoto Station → Back to hotel

Day 13 – Sunday: Hakone

  • Shinkansen to Odawara → Train to Hakone-Yumoto → Ryokan check-in
  • Visit Fukazawa Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine → Relax at private onsen (Reservation required)
  • Private kaiseki dinner at 18:30

Day 14 – Monday: Hakone

  • Wake up early (depending on breakfast schedules)
  • Bus to Hakone-jinja-iriguchi → Visit Hakone Shrine
  • Explore Narukawa Art Museum, Old Tōkaidō Road, Onshi Hakone Park & Hakone Checkpoint
  • Pirate Boat to Togendai → Ropeway to Owakudani → Explore & eat black egg
  • Ropeway to Sounzan → Cable Car to Gora → Explore Gora: Hakone Museum of Art, Gora Park, Museum of Photography, Open-Air Museum (Choose on the day)
  • Train to Hakone-Yumoto → Train to Odawara → Train to Ofuna → Train to Kamakura → Hotel check-in next to Kamakura Station (Last check-in at 00:00)

Day 15 – Tuesday: Kamakura

  • Wake up early (~7:00)
  • Train to Hase → Visit Hase-dera (8:00 opening) & Kotoku-in (8:00 opening)
  • Depending on energy (1 option):
    • Taxi/Uber to Sasuke Inari OR Zeniarai Benten
    • OR Train to Kamakura
  • Lunch at Komachi-Dori
  • Depending on energy and how much time we have until sunset (1 option or none):
    • Train to Kita-Kamakura → Walk down to Meigetsu-in and visit temples and shrines on the way down
    • Bus to Jomyoji → Visit Hokokuji Temple
  • Visit Tsurugaoka Hachimangu → Walk Danzakura → Yuigahama Beach for sunset (16:38)
  • Train to Shinjuku → Train to Mejiro → Hotel check-in next to Mejiro Station

Day 16 – Wednesday: Tokyo

  • Train to Yoyogi → Visit Meiji Shrine (6:10 opening)
  • Depending on how tired we are (1/2 options or none):
    • Explore Harajuku (Takeshita Street & Togo Shrine)
    • Explore Yoyogi Park
    • Explore Omotesando (Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Omokado Mirror Entrance, Espace LV, Zenkoji Temple & Cat Street next to Gyra)
  • Explore Shibuya: Shibuya Crossing, Miyashita Park & Hachiko Statue → Visit Shibuya Sky → Shibuya Nonbei Yokocho
  • Train to Shinjuku → Light shows at Tokyo Metropolitan Government → Explore Shinjuku: Kabukicho, Omoide Yokocho, Golden Gai, Hanazono Shrine & Godzilla Head
  • Train to Mejiro → Return to hotel

Day 17 – Thursday: Tokyo

  • Train to Ebisu → Metro to Naka-Meguro Breakfast → Starbucks Reserve Roastery (7:00
  • opening)
  • Walk along Meguro River → Visit Daikanyama T-Site, Kyu Asakura House & Teien Art Museum (17:00 last entry) → Dinner a…

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