Japan: The 14 Days Itinerary for First-Timers

Golden Gai

Six narrow lanes of micro-bars, each seating 4-8 people. Some have cover charges, look for English-friendly signs.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Free panoramic view of Tokyo from the 45F observation deck. Great first taste of the city, especially at sunset.

Omoide Yokocho

Tiny postwar alley packed with yakitori counters. Smoky, lively, perfect first-night dinner.

Shinjuku Gyoen

Big calm garden with French, English and Japanese sections. Great if you arrive early and need to reset jet lag.

Yayoi Kusama Museum

Tiny five-floor museum dedicated to Kusama in a quiet corner of Shinjuku. Tickets sell out a month ahead, book online. Skippable if your queue tolerance is low; unmissable if you love her work.

Tokyo Skytree

634m tower with two observation decks. Skip if cloudy. Good combined ticket if visibility is decent.

Sensoji Temple

Tokyo's oldest temple, in Asakusa. Go through Kaminarimon gate, walk the Nakamise approach, visit the main hall.

Nakamise-dori

250m approach to Sensoji lined with snack stalls and souvenir shops. Try ningyo-yaki and melon-pan.

Meiji Jingu

Forest shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji. Massive torii, gravel paths, often a Shinto wedding procession to spot.

Shibuya Sky

Open-air rooftop 230m up. Best Tokyo view at sunset, book the timed ticket online a few days ahead.

Takeshita Street

Harajuku's pedestrian shopping street. Crepes, kawaii fashion, candy. Loud and crowded, peak Tokyo teen energy.

Shibuya Crossing

The world's busiest intersection. Watch from the Starbucks above or Mag's Park rooftop. Hachiko statue is right there.

Omotesando

The Champs-Elysees of Tokyo. Designer flagships and boutique architecture. Walk it after Takeshita for the contrast.

teamLab Planets Tokyo

Walk through water and infinity light rooms. Book online for a specific time slot. Wear shorts or roll-up pants.

Tsukiji Outer Market

Old fish market is gone but the outer market still rules for breakfast. Tamagoyaki skewers, tuna sushi, uni rice bowls.

Imperial Palace East Gardens

Free, the only part of the palace grounds open to the public. Old castle ruins and traditional gardens.

Ginza

Tokyo's upscale district. Architecture-spotting and department stores. Chuo-dori is car-free on weekend afternoons.

Hama-rikyu Gardens

Edo-period garden surrounded by skyscrapers. Tea house in the middle of a salt pond. Walkable from Tsukiji.

Ameya-Yokocho

Old open-air market under the Yamanote tracks. Cheap clothes, dried fish, fresh fruit, standing izakayas.

Akihabara

Anime, manga, retro games and electronics. Visit Super Potato, Mandarake, Yodobashi Camera. Maid cafes if curious.

Ueno Park

Big park with multiple museums and a small zoo. Cherry blossoms in spring. Tokyo National Museum is here.

Hakone Shrine Torii

The iconic red torii standing in Lake Ashi. Long photo line on weekends. The shrine itself is up the cedar-lined steps.

Hakone Open-Air Museum

Outdoor sculpture park with a Picasso pavilion and a foot onsen. First stop on the Hakone loop from Hakone-Yumoto.

Lake Ashi

Caldera lake with a Mt Fuji view on clear days. Take the pirate-ship cruise from Togendai to Motohakone.

Owakudani

Volcanic valley with sulfuric vents. Famous black eggs (kuro tamago) boiled in the hot springs. Ropeway access.

Sanjusangendo

Wooden hall with 1001 carved Kannon statues lined up shoulder to shoulder. Quietly stunning, low-key famous.

Tofuku-ji

Zen temple with the Tsutenkyo bridge over a maple ravine. Best in November. Quick stop near Fushimi Inari.

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Thousands of vermilion torii up Mt Inari. Go at sunrise to beat the crowds. The full hike loops in 2-3h.

Pontocho Alley

Narrow lantern-lit alley along the Kamogawa. Best in the evening for dinner. Many restaurants have summer riverside terraces.

Hanamikoji Street

The main Gion lane, lined with old machiya and ochaya. Don't chase geiko for photos, locals hate it.

Yasaka Shrine

Lantern-lit shrine at the Gion entrance. Sits between Higashiyama temples and the geisha district. Open 24h.

Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka

Stone-paved old streets between Kiyomizu and Yasaka. Most photogenic Kyoto lanes. Go early to avoid the crush.

Nishiki Market

Kyoto's covered food street. Tako tamago, yuba, dashimaki, matcha sweets. Best for lunch grazing.

Kiyomizu-dera

Wooden stage temple with a city view. Go early or just before closing for fewer people. Spring/autumn evening illuminations.

Tenryu-ji

Zen head temple with a Sogenchi pond garden, designed in the 14th century. Back gate exits straight into the bamboo grove.

Kinkaku-ji

Golden Pavilion floating over a mirror pond. Quick visit, one fixed loop, but unmissable. Pair with Ryoan-ji.

Togetsukyo Bridge

The wooden bridge over the Hozugawa. Backdrop for many Arashiyama photos. Good cherry/maple framing.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

The famous bamboo path. Short walk, very crowded by 9am, magical at dawn or dusk.

Ryoan-ji

The most famous zen rock garden. Sit on the veranda, count the stones, you'll never see all 15 from one angle.

Otagi Nenbutsu-ji

Hidden temple uphill from Arashiyama. 1200 hand-carved stone rakan statues covered in moss, each with its own face — laughing, meditating, in clear existential doubt. Almost no tourists. Walk up via Saga Toriimoto preserved street.

Kasuga Taisha

Shrine famous for thousands of stone and bronze lanterns lining the forest path. Lit twice a year (Feb + August).

Todai-ji

Houses the Great Buddha (15m bronze). Massive wooden hall, one of the largest in the world. Don't miss the column with a hole kids crawl through.

Nara Park

Free-roaming sika deer that bow for shika senbei crackers. Don't tease them, they nip. Wraps around Todai-ji and Kasuga.

Osaka Castle

Reconstructed donjon, museum inside, viewing deck on top. The park itself is the better part, especially in plum/cherry season.

Hozenji Temple

Tiny moss-covered Buddha statue tucked in a stone alley off Dotonbori. Pour water on him for luck. Hidden corner.

Dotonbori

Neon canal with the Glico running man sign. Takoyaki, kushikatsu, kani-doraku crab. Eat your way through.

Tsutenkaku

Retro tower in the old Shinsekai district. Around it: kushikatsu, fugu, gachapon. Glorious Showa-era vibes.

Atomic Bomb Dome

The skeletal remains of the building closest to the hypocentre. UNESCO. Walk the riverside before crossing into the park.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Survivor testimonies and personal artifacts. Heavy and unforgettable. Allow at least 90 minutes.

Itsukushima Shrine

The floating torii on Miyajima. Check the tide chart, high tide gives the iconic photo, low tide lets you walk to it.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Cenotaph, Children's Peace Monument, eternal flame. Combine with the museum for a heavy but essential visit.

Tomonoura (Ponyo village)

Old port town that inspired the setting of Ghibli's Ponyo. Miyazaki stayed here while writing it. Tiny harbor, stone steps, narrow lanes, sea-bream ramen. A quieter add to the Hiroshima leg if you have a flex day.

Okunoshima (Rabbit Island)

Small island off Hiroshima overrun by friendly wild rabbits. Buy carrots/cabbage on the mainland (none sold on island). Doable as a long day trip from Hiroshima with the Miyajima ferry day if you start very early.

Umeda Sky Building

Twin towers with a futuristic skybridge observatory. Sunset and night view rivals Tokyo's. Combine with Yodobashi shopping.

Kuromon Ichiba

Osaka's kitchen. Fresh sashimi, oysters, wagyu skewers. Best for a long lazy market lunch on the last day.

Shinsaibashi

Covered shopping arcade running north from Dotonbori. Last-day souvenir hunt: drugstores, fashion, character shops.

Okuno Building

Pairon

#chinese

Shibuya Nonbei Yokocho

#tokyobynight

Meiji Jingu Iris Garden

Coordinates: 35.6726,139.7002

Ginza Ishizaki

#wagyu #meat

Kōdaiji Temple

Kanda Myojin Shrine

https://www.gotokyo.org/en/spot/ev270/index.html (3.26 - 4.10)

Yama No Hoteru

http://www.hakone-hoteldeyama.jp/blog/

Ranjatai

Best yakitori in Tokyo? Michelin star. Delicious and friendly owners. Need booking one month in advance. #yakitori

Mamma Luisa's Table

#italian #best

Amagasaki Yokocho

尼崎横丁

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (River Walk)

北野天満宮

Daishōin Temple

大聖院

Maishima Incineration Plant

大阪広域環境施設組合 舞洲工場

Kifune Shrine

Haradani Garden

原谷苑 #sakura

Special Umbrella Photo Spot

I need a photo of this! At the Sports Club level, there is a window somewhere. Open it, and look down with your camera!