9 Days in Japan for Two - Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka (Anniversary Trip)

Omoide Yokocho

Tiny postwar alley packed with yakitori and izakaya stalls. Smoky, atmospheric, perfect for a first night.

Kabukicho

Shinjuku's neon entertainment district. Walk through at night for the classic Tokyo electric skyline.

Meiji Shrine

Forest shrine in the middle of Tokyo. Go early for calm, the wooded approach alone is worth it.

Takeshita Street

Harajuku's crepe and kawaii street. Touristy and chaotic, but part of the experience. 15 to 20 min walk is enough.

Shibuya Crossing

The iconic scramble. Best viewed from Starbucks Tsutaya window or the MAG's 8 rooftop.

Hachiko Statue

The loyal dog statue outside Shibuya station. Classic meeting point photo.

Shibuya Sky

Rooftop observation deck, 230m up. Arrive 30 min before sunset so you get daylight + golden hour + night skyline.

Ichiran Ramen Shibuya

Tonkotsu in private booths. Dinner queues can hit 90 min here. Hit a 24h location around breakfast for zero wait.

Tsukiji Outer Market

Seafood street food paradise. Go early, many stalls close by 1 or 2 pm. Tamagoyaki skewers, uni, giant scallops.

Ginza

Luxury shopping district. Nice for a coffee and window shopping between Tsukiji and teamLab.

teamLab Borderless

Immersive digital art in Azabudai Hills. The 20:30 slot is dreamy, rooms are less crowded in the evening.

Sanrio Puroland

Hello Kitty indoor theme park in Tama. Worth the trek only if you're a real Sanrio fan, else Sanrioworld Ginza is a fraction of the time.

Odaiba Seaside Park

Waterfront boardwalk on Tokyo Bay with the best Rainbow Bridge view. Very romantic at blue hour.

Odaiba Statue of Liberty

Lady Liberty replica with Rainbow Bridge in the same frame. Surprisingly photogenic.

Tokyo Tower

Classic photo spot at night. The view from the alley behind Zojoji Temple with the tower framed between modern buildings is iconic.

Nishiki Market

Kyoto's 400 year old covered food market. Pickles, tofu, yuba, sweets. Afternoon is fine, many stalls close by 5 pm.

Gion (Hanamikoji)

The most atmospheric Kyoto geisha quarter. Evening walks along Hanamikoji and Shirakawa are magical. Please don't chase maiko.

Yasaka Shrine

The vermilion shrine between Gion and Higashiyama. Lantern lit at night, very photogenic for kimono shots.

Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka

Stone paved slopes with preserved wooden machiya. The most cinematic Kyoto backdrop for kimono photos.

Kiyomizu-dera

The big hillside temple with the wooden stage. Arrive before 9 am to avoid the school trip waves.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

The emerald bamboo corridor. Fantastic at sunrise or right before closing time, otherwise packed.

Shoraian (松籟庵)

Kaiseki tofu restaurant in a former villa overlooking the Hozu river. Easily the most romantic dinner spot in Arashiyama. Reserve.

Togetsukyo Bridge

The Moon Crossing Bridge over the Katsura river. Golden hour here is stunning, mountains glow purple.

Dotonbori

Canal lined with giant neon signs, street food and the running Glico Man. Takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu are a must.

Shinsaibashi

600m covered shopping arcade just north of Dotonbori. Good for rainy afternoons.

Namba

Main transit hub, south end of the Dotonbori/Shinsaibashi loop. Den Den Town (Osaka's Akihabara) is nearby.

Umeda Sky Building

Twin towers with the floating garden observatory. Retro futuristic architecture, the sunset view is actually lovely.

Fushimi Inari Taisha

The thousand torii gates. Arrive by 7 or 7:30 am, it's a completely different experience without the crowds. Full loop is 2 to 3 hrs.

Otagi Nenbutsu-ji

1200 moss covered rakan statues, each with a different funny face. A hidden gem in upper Arashiyama, nearly empty.

Adashino Nenbutsuji

8000 small stone buddhas commemorating forgotten souls, plus a quiet bamboo path. 10 min walk from Otagi.

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)

Gold leaf pavilion floating over a mirror pond. 40 min is enough, try to go when the sun is on the facade.

Kichi Kichi Omurice

Chef Motokichi's theatrical omurice. Reservations open online a month ahead and vanish in minutes.

Kansai International Airport (KIX)

Haruka Express from Kyoto Station goes direct in ~75 min. Give yourself a 3 hr buffer before the flight.

Shibuya Nonbei Yokocho

#tokyobynight

Yasaka no To Pagoda

Golden Gai

ゴールデン街 #tokyobynight

Chidori-ga-fuchi Moat

千鳥ヶ淵ボート場 You can ride a boat while enjoying cherry blossoms. Recently, it's become so popular that there's often a long line to get on. More info: https://www.gotokyo.org/en/spot/45/index.html IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CqIXPiEyXaE/ #sakura

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

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

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

Shinjuku Gyoen National Park

新宿御苑 It's one of the big parks in Tokyo. It's especially popular during cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons. More info: https://fng.or.jp/shinjuku/en/ IG spot: https://www.instagram.com/p/C4NkUZdyYiH/?img_index=5 #sakura #nature

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

Starbucks Coffee - Kyoto Nineizaka Yasaka Chaya

京都二寧坂ヤサカ茶屋店 It's a Starbucks location that's very popular for its traditional Japanese house setting, providing a unique experience for visitors to enjoy. More info: https://www.starbucks.co.jp/press_release/pr2017-2182.php #cafe

Gio-ji Temple

祇王寺

Keage Incline

蹴上インクライン One of Kyoto's popular cherry blossom spots where you can capture both the railway tracks and cherry blossoms together. More info: https://biwakososui.city.kyoto.lg.jp/en/place/detail/23 IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/C4dCrHuy4g-/?img_index=1 #sakura

Hiranoya

平野屋 Ayu (sweetfish) teahouse in Sagano. You can also enjoy matcha and sweets here. More info: http://ayuchaya-hiranoya.com/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CjpzbLorzh1/ #cafe #food

Namba Yasaka Shrine

難波八阪神社 More info: https://osaka-info.jp/en/spot/nanbayasakajinja/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg9T89qL3xs/

Blue Bottle Coffe Kyoto Cafe

ブルーボトルコーヒー 京都カフェ A building over 100 years old has been renovated and now houses a Blue Bottle Coffee. More info: https://store.bluebottlecoffee.jp/pages/kyoto IG post: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1rWRqlSTRn/ #cafe