Japan 16 Days - April/May 2026
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Day 1 - Arrival & Shinsekai
Shinsekai
Osaka's retro entertainment district. Neon signs, kushikatsu joints, and Tsutenkaku tower. Great for a first-night stroll.
Day 2 - Universal Studios
Universal Studios Japan
Full day here. Buy Express Passes in advance — the Nintendo World area alone is worth the trip. Book early, Golden Week is approaching.
Day 3 - Osaka Castle & Dotonbori
Osaka Castle
Iconic Osaka landmark. The castle keep is a museum inside. Beautiful park grounds with moats.
Shitennoji Temple
Japan's oldest officially administered Buddhist temple, founded in 593. Serene grounds and a five-story pagoda.
DenDen Town
Osaka's version of Akihabara — electronics, anime shops, retro games, and manga. Fun to browse even if you don't buy.
Dotonbori
Osaka's most vibrant food street. Neon signs, the Glico Running Man, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and canal views.
Hozenji Temple
Tiny moss-covered temple tucked in an alley near Dotonbori. Splash water on the stone statue for good luck. A peaceful surprise.
Day 4 - Minoh Falls & Harukas
Minoh Falls
Beautiful waterfall at the end of a scenic forest trail (about 40 min walk from the station). Try the maple leaf tempura!
Abeno Harukas
Japan's tallest skyscraper. The observation deck on the top floors offers panoramic views of Osaka. Great at sunset.
Day 5 - Hiroshima & Miyajima
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
Powerful and moving museum about the atomic bombing. Allow 2+ hours. The Atomic Bomb Dome is right outside in the Peace Memorial Park.
Itsukushima Shrine
Miyajima's iconic floating torii gate and shrine. Take the ferry from Hiroshima. The island is also great for wandering — deer, shops, and views.
Day 6 - Himeji & Kyoto Arrival
Himeji Castle
Japan's most spectacular original castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The white exterior is stunning. Allow 2 hours to explore.
Kokoen Garden
Beautiful traditional garden right next to Himeji Castle. Nine distinct garden styles. A peaceful complement to the castle visit.
Pontocho Alley
Narrow atmospheric lane in Kyoto lined with restaurants and tea houses. Beautiful in the evening with lantern light.
Day 7 - Higashiyama & Gion
Kiyomizu-dera
One of Kyoto's most celebrated temples, famous for its wooden stage with sweeping views. The approach through Ninenzaka is part of the experience.
Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka
Picturesque stone-paved lanes leading up to Kiyomizu-dera. Traditional shops, tea houses, and photo ops.
Yasaka Pagoda
Iconic five-story pagoda visible from the Higashiyama streets. One of Kyoto's most photographed landmarks.
Gion
Kyoto's famous geisha district. Traditional wooden machiya houses, tea houses, and if lucky you'll spot a maiko.
Hanamikoji Street
The main street of Gion lined with traditional restaurants and ochaya (tea houses). Beautiful in the evening.
Day 8 - Uji & Nara
Byodo-in Temple
The Phoenix Hall featured on the 10-yen coin. Elegant Heian-era architecture reflected in a pond. A must-see in Uji.
Nara Park
Home to over 1,000 free-roaming deer. Buy deer crackers and prepare to be mobbed! Fun for the whole family.
Todai-ji
Houses the Great Buddha — one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world. The wooden hall itself is massive and awe-inspiring.
Nigatsu-do
A hall on the hillside behind Todai-ji with a beautiful veranda overlooking Nara. Great sunset spot. Worth the short climb.
Day 9 - Fushimi Inari & Kitano
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Thousands of vermillion torii gates winding up the mountain. The full hike takes 2-3 hours but you can turn around at any point. Go early!
Tofuku-ji Temple
Famous for its stunning garden and the Tsutenkyo Bridge. Best known for autumn foliage but beautiful in any season.
Kitano Tenmangu
Shrine dedicated to the god of learning. Home to the Nippon Fest event. Beautiful plum trees and atmospheric grounds.
Day 10 - Arashiyama & North Kyoto
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Towering bamboo stalks creating an otherworldly tunnel. Go early morning for fewer crowds. Combine with Tenryu-ji Temple next door.
Kinkaku-ji
The Golden Pavilion — one of Kyoto's most iconic sights. The gold-leaf temple reflected in the mirror pond is breathtaking.
Ryoan-ji
Famous for its enigmatic Zen rock garden — 15 stones arranged so you can never see all of them at once. Meditative and beautiful.
Ninna-ji
UNESCO World Heritage temple known for its late-blooming Omuro cherry trees — they may still be in bloom in late April! A hidden gem.
Day 11 - Hakone Loop
Hakone-Yumoto Station
Gateway to Hakone. The station area has souvenir shops and onsen foot baths. Start of the Hakone Loop.
Hakone Open Air Museum
Outdoor sculpture museum with works by Picasso, Henry Moore, and more set against mountain scenery. Fun and family-friendly.
Owakudani
Active volcanic valley reached by ropeway. Steaming vents and sulfur smell. Try the famous black eggs — said to add 7 years to your life!
Lake Ashi Sightseeing Cruise
Pirate ship cruise across Lake Ashi with views of Mt. Fuji on clear days. A fun and scenic ride.
Hakone Shrine
Beautiful shrine in a cedar forest by the lake. The red torii gate standing in Lake Ashi is one of Hakone's most iconic photos.
Day 12 - Hakone & Tokyo
Onshi-Hakone Park
Peaceful park on a peninsula in Lake Ashi. Gorgeous views of the lake and Mt. Fuji on clear days. A quiet escape from the tourist loop.
Recommendations
Daishōin Temple
大聖院
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
Gion Shirakawa
祇園白川 It's an area with a nostalgic atmosphere where traditional townhouses with lattice-patterned red shutters line the cobblestone streets of Gion. More info: https://souda-kyoto.jp/guide/spot/gionshirakawa.html IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CjIV__hrih1/ #architecture
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
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/
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
Kuromon Market
黒門市場 If you want to enjoy eating while walking through a market in Osaka, this is the place to go. Recently, many vendors cater more to tourists than to locals. More info: https://kuromon.com/en/ #food
Sensoji Temple
浅草寺 It's one of the most famous temples in Tokyo. More info: https://www.senso-ji.jp/english/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6lgPEVSrGZ/?img_index=9 #temple
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
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
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
Kameido Tenjin Shrine
亀戸天神社 Depending on the season, you can enjoy plum blossoms or wisteria at this shrine. The distinctive feature is the red arched bridge inside the precincts. More info: https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1702/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CnWtwN_yShn/ #shrine #flower
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
Omoide Yokocho
思い出横丁 It's a nostalgic drinking district near Shinjuku Station, where scenes of old Japan still remain. More info: https://en.shinjuku-omoide.com/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/B0N9uL7gucA/ #food
Meiji Shrine
明治神宮 It is one of the most famous shrines in Tokyo, founded in 1920. Despite being in the heart of Tokyo, it is a sacred place surrounded by greenery. More info: https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/en/ IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/C8whbY4PEL4/ #shrine #torii
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
東京都美術館 Located within Ueno Park, this art museum has both free and paid areas, making it easily accessible. More info: https://www.tobikan.jp/en/index.html #art
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