Japan 13 Days Solo - Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto & Hiroshima - October 2026
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Day 1 - Shinjuku Arrival
Shinjuku Gyoen
Easy afternoon stroll on arrival day. Big landscaped garden mixing French, English and Japanese styles.
Kabukicho
Tokyo's neon nightlife district. Walk through after dinner for the iconic Godzilla view and the giant 3D cat billboard.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory
Free observation deck on the 45th floor. Great Tokyo skyline view, Fuji on clear days.
Omoide Yokocho
Memory Lane. Tiny smoky alleys of yakitori and ramen counters near Shinjuku Station, perfect for a first-night meal.
Day 2 - Asakusa, Akiba & Shibuya
Shibuya Sky
Open-air rooftop observation deck. Book the sunset slot in advance, it sells out.
Mandarake Complex Akihabara
Eight floors of vintage manga, doujinshi, figures and rare artbooks. Note: opens around 12:00, plan accordingly.
Senso-ji
Tokyo's oldest temple. Arrive before 8 AM to walk Nakamise-dori without the crowds.
Meiji Jingu
Forested shrine right next to Harajuku. Magical at golden hour before heading to Shibuya.
Animate Akihabara
Multi-floor manga and anime megastore. New releases, merch and limited editions. Most Akiba shops open 10 to 11.
Day 3 - Kamakura
Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura)
13.35-meter bronze Amida Buddha sitting outdoors since 1252. You can also enter the statue.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
Kamakura's main shrine, sitting at the top of Wakamiya-oji. Stately approach and lotus ponds at the entrance.
Komachi Street
Lively shopping street between Kamakura Station and the shrine. Snacks, matcha treats and souvenirs.
Ramen Matsui
Tiny Yotsuya ramen shop with a Michelin Bib mention. Reservation needed, cash only.
Hasedera Kamakura
Hillside temple with a beautiful garden, the Kannon Hall and a sea view from the upper terrace.
Day 4 - Ghibli & Nakano
Ghibli Museum
Buy tickets via Lawson the moment they go on sale (10th of the month before, 10:00 JST). Sells out in minutes.
Nakano Broadway
Otaku heaven that's calmer than Akiba. Vintage manga, artbooks and many Mandarake specialty floors.
Kichijoji Station
Lunch + Inokashira Park stroll between Ghibli Museum and Nakano. Lots of cute cafes and small shops.
Day 5 - To Hakone
Hakone Open Air Museum
Sculpture park with a Picasso pavilion. Plan 2 to 3 hours. Drop bags at Hakone-Yumoto or Odawara lockers, or forward the suitcase to Kyoto.
Sengokuhara Susuki Grass Fields
Silver pampas grass fields glowing at sunset. Peak season is October to early November, perfect timing for this trip.
Day 6 - Hakone Loop
Owakudani
Volcanic valley with sulfur vents, reached by ropeway. Try the famous black eggs (kuro-tamago).
Hakone Sightseeing Cruise (Lake Ashi)
Pirate-themed cruise across Lake Ashi. Pairs nicely with the ropeway as part of the Hakone loop. Buses can stack up, keep the day flexible.
Day 7 - Kyoto Arrival
Nishiki Market
Kyoto's kitchen, 400 meters of covered food stalls. Tsukemono, dashimaki tamago, soy milk donuts.
Gion
Kyoto's geisha district. Photography is restricted on the private alleys, stay on Hanamikoji and side streets.
Pontocho
Narrow lantern-lit alley along the Kamogawa river. Best at dusk when the lanterns flicker on.
Day 8 - Fushimi & Higashiyama
Kiyomizu-dera
Iconic wooden stage temple over the Higashiyama hillside. Open from 6 AM, go early to avoid the buses.
Ninenzaka
Preserved sloped lane lined with traditional machiya. Connects Kiyomizu to Yasaka.
Sannenzaka
Three-Year Slope. Stone-paved street with old shops, tea houses and one of the prettiest Starbucks in Japan.
No-No-No
Modern kappo-style spot in central Kyoto. Closed Thursdays, open Sundays.
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Get there at dawn, around 6:30 AM. The full hike takes 2 to 3 hours, but the inner shrines clear the worst of the crowd.
Yasaka Shrine
Vermilion shrine at the entrance of Gion. Lit lanterns at night, free to visit.
Day 9 - Arashiyama & North Kyoto
Ryoan-ji
Famous zen rock garden of 15 stones. If Day 9 feels overstuffed, this is the easiest one to cut.
Tenryu-ji
Zen temple right next to the bamboo grove. The Sogenchi pond garden is a must, especially in autumn colors.
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Get there before 9 AM, ideally before 8. After 9 it becomes a slow conga line.
Kawaramachi-dori
Kyoto's main shopping street. Department stores, Loft, Tower Records, vintage and stationery shops.
Nijo Castle
Shogun residence with nightingale floors that chirp under footsteps. Allow at least 1.5 hours.
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
Gold-leaf pavilion mirrored in the pond. Quick visit, 30 to 45 minutes is enough.
Day 10 - Hiroshima & Miyajima
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
Plan 2 to 3.5 hours. Emotionally heavy. Consider doing Miyajima first if mood matters for the rest of the day.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Cenotaph, A-Bomb Dome, Children's Peace Monument. Plan to walk the park before or after the museum.
Itsukushima Shrine (Floating Torii)
Vermilion shrine on stilts with the floating torii. Check tide tables, the visual changes completely between low and high tide.
Okonomimura
Three floors of okonomiyaki stalls. Touristy but lively, very Hiroshima.
Day 11 - Back to Tokyo
Book-Off Shinjuku Station
Used books, manga and artbooks at low prices. Great for filling the suitcase on the last day.
Kinokuniya Shinjuku Main Store
Massive bookstore with a strong manga and artbook selection. Great place to compare with the Akihabara haul.
Day 12 - teamLab & Den
teamLab Planets Tokyo
Immersive water-and-light art rooms in Toyosu. Book the 10:00 slot online in advance, prepare for bare feet and rolled-up trousers.
Den (Tokyo)
Two Michelin stars, modern Japanese with a sense of humor. Phone booking only, attempt well in advance.
Recommendations
Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory
白髭のシュークリーム工房 More info: http://www.shiro-hige.net/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CwzytXhSvnN/ #food
Gotokuji Temple
豪徳寺 It's famous as the temple where the maneki neko originated. More info: https://gotokuji.jp/en/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/B7nypQdAuwu/ #temple
Ranjatai
Best yakitori in Tokyo? Michelin star. Delicious and friendly owners. Need booking one month in advance. #yakitori
Hokokuji Temple
報国寺 You can enjoy beautiful bamboo and matcha in this temple. More info: https://houkokuji.or.jp/en/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci-CF0zrSSe/?img_index=2 #temple
Tonkatsu Narikura
とんかつ 成蔵 It's one of the popular tonkatsu restaurants in Tokyo. More info: https://twitter.com/Narikura_1010?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Need to make a reservation: https://omakase.in/en/r/qw473765 IG post: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsGgmM-ODGO/ #food
Golden Gai
ゴールデン街 #tokyobynight
Yoridokoro
カフェ ヨリドコロ This is a restaurant specializing in dried fish where you can eat breakfast and lunch with Enoden in front of you. More info: https://yoridocoro.com/en IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci-CF0zrSSe/?img_index=5 #food
Atago Shrine
愛宕神社 It's famous for its steep stone steps along the approach, and in autumn, it's a beautiful shrine with gingko trees. More info: https://www.atago-jinja.com/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CpC0_FrS7MM/ #shrine #autumn
Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue
明治神宮外苑 いちょう並木 There's a row of 146 ginkgo trees, and it's typically stunning from mid-November to early December each year. More info: https://visit-minato-city.tokyo/en/places/989 IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DAYWCOKSfXl/?img_index=2 #autumn
Hie Shrine
日枝神社 It's a popular shrine in Tokyo known for the sight of lined-up torii gates. More info: https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1732/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CklAqGrSkjc/ #shrine #torii
Kongoji Temple (Yasaka Koshindo)
金剛寺（八坂庚申堂) The charm of this temple is adorned with colorful hanging monkey talismans, and its popular precincts are decorated with cute statues. More info: https://ja.kyoto.travel/tourism/single01.php?category_id=7&tourism_id=2007 IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/BlfsrWtF86G/ #temple
Maruyama Park
円山公園 Opened in 1886, it is the oldest park in Kyoto City. Known for its cherry blossoms, especially the famous Gion weeping cherry trees, it has long been the city's premier recreational spot. The illuminated night cherry blossoms are also beautiful. More info: https://kyoto.travel/en/other_attractions/110.html IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/C478_a2y3E2/?img_index=6 #sakura
Narukawa Art Museum in Hakone
成川美術館 From this museum, you can enjoy views of Mount Fuji and Hakone. More info: http://www.narukawamuseum.co.jp/en/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CrqNMyuyM9y/ #Fuji #art
Hakone Shrine
箱根神社 It's the most famous shrine in Hakone, and there can be long queues to take photos of this torii gate during the daytime. More info: https://www.hakonenavi.jp/international/en/spot/523 IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/C5BG6Obykpz/?img_index=1 #shrine #torii
Nanzenji Temple
南禅寺 During the autumn foliage season, you can enjoy the vibrant red leaves surrounding the large Sanmon gate. At other times of the year, it tends to be relatively quiet and enjoyable. More info: https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1175/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CzyWMZ2S1ri/?img_index=10 #temple #autumn
Kamakurakoko-Mae Station
鎌倉高校前駅 A place that is so popular as a location featured in the anime "Slam Dunk". More info: https://www.enoden.co.jp/en/train/station/kamakurakokomae/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci-CF0zrSSe/?img_index=4 #station #train
The Yasaka Pagoda
八坂の塔 It's an iconic spot in Kyoto. In the morning, there are few people around, so you can enjoy taking photos quietly since it's close to residential areas. More info: https://kyoto.travel/en/shrine_temple/155.html IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CjIV__hrih1/ #architecture
Photo Spot for Mt.Fuji & Enoden
富士山と江ノ電の写真スポット 8-minute walk along the seaside from Shichirigahama Station. When the air is clear, you can see Mt.Fuji🗻 IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci-CF0zrSSe/?img_index=6 #train #Fuji
Kodai-ji Temple
高台寺 The garden, which changes its decoration with the seasons, is very beautiful. More info: https://www.kodaiji.com/e_index.html IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj5RLgbL39R/?img_index=8 #temple
Tenjuan at Nanzenji
南禅寺 天授庵 It is one of the sub-temples of Nanzen-ji. The autumn foliage is beautiful. More info: https://souda-kyoto.jp/guide/spot/nanzenji-tenjuan.html IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CzyWMZ2S1ri/?img_index=1 #autumn #temple
Daishoin
大聖院 More info: https://daisho-in.com/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/Csi1grvSo6Z/
Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple
愛宕念仏寺 It's a temple with numerous stone statues seen in the early scenes of "Spirited Away." It also boasts beautiful autumn foliage and a serene bamboo grove to explore. More info: https://www.otagiji.com/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CjpzbLorzh1/ #temple #autumn
Suirokaku (Waterway Bridge)
This aqueduct bridge at Nanzenji Temple was originally built to transport water from Lake Biwa to Kyoto City. More info: https://biwakososui.city.kyoto.lg.jp/en/place/detail/32 IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/C4dCrHuy4g-/?img_index=2 #architecture
Arashiyama Yusaitei
嵐山 祐斎亭 It is a dye art gallery. There are several rooms, the autumn leaves seen from each window were very beautiful. You can also enjoy it during the fresh green season. More info: https://yusai.kyoto/en/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/ClbE0enS7tI/ #autumn #art
Toei Kyoto Studio Park
東映太秦映画村 It’s a theme park where you can experience old Japanese townscapes, as well as enjoy ninja experiences and transformation experiences (costume dress-up). More info: https://global.toei-eigamura.com/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DALbrQsShTF/
Hiroshima Castle
広島城 More info: https://www.rijo-castle.jp/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CbzwGThrm2Y/
Mikane Shrine
御金神社 There's a small shrine with a golden torii gate known for bringing good fortune and prosperity, but if you visit during the daytime, you may encounter lines. More info: https://mikane-jinja.or.jp/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CpC0_FrS7MM/ #shrine #torii
Nintendo TOKYO
Official Nintendo store on the 6th floor of Shibuya Parco. Mario, Zelda, Splatoon merch you won't find back home. Same floor as Pokemon Center.
Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama
Make your own cup noodle from scratch (cup design + flavor combo). A fun, cheap detour if Day 11 ends up routing through Yokohama.
Pokemon Center Kyoto
Kyoto-exclusive Pokemon merch (kimono Pikachu etc.) at Daimaru on Shijo. Quick stop while in central Kyoto.
Yokohama Chinatown
Largest Chinatown in Japan. Steamed buns, lunchtime sets, the photogenic Zenrinmon gate. Easy add-on if breaking up Hiroshima->Tokyo on Day 11.
Super Potato Akihabara
Iconic retro game shop in Akiba. Famicom, Super Famicom, GameBoy carts and old arcade cabinets on the top floor. Perfect detour from Mandarake/Animate.
Kyoto International Manga Museum
300,000+ manga volumes you can pull off shelves and read on the lawn or in the corridors. Old converted school building, very atmospheric. Required stop for a manga fan in Kyoto.
Pokemon Center Shibuya
Big Pokemon flagship inside Shibuya Parco, with a giant Mewtwo display. Pairs with Nintendo Tokyo, both on the same floor.
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