Japan 20 Days - Tokyo, Niigata, Sado Island, Kanazawa, Kyoto & Osaka - Autumn 2026

Tokyo Skytree

634m tower with city-wide views, lit up after dark.

Shibuya Sky

Open-air rooftop deck over the Shibuya scramble. Book a sunset slot.

Omoide Yokocho

Tiny smoky alley of yakitori stalls by Shinjuku Station.

Tsukiji Outer Market

Street-food maze for sushi, tamago and seafood. Go hungry in the morning.

Hamarikyu Gardens

Edo lord's garden with a teahouse on the pond, skyscrapers behind.

teamLab Planets

Immersive barefoot digital art museum. Book timed tickets ahead.

Yanaka Ginza

Old-town shopping street, the local everyday Tokyo you are after.

Ameyoko Market

Lively market street under the Ueno train tracks.

Senso-ji (Asakusa)

Tokyo's oldest temple, the Nakamise street and the giant red lantern.

Toki no Kane (Kawagoe)

Edo bell tower over Kawagoe's warehouse street, an easy day trip.

Zenko-ji Temple

Nagano's great temple, with an underground 'key to paradise' pitch-dark walk.

Jigokudani Monkey Park

Snow monkeys in the hot spring. Late October is early, they may be sparse.

Matsumoto Castle

Original black 'Crow Castle', striking with autumn color. Commenters debated if it earns the detour.

Daio Wasabi Farm

Photogenic wasabi farm with water wheels, in Azumino near Matsumoto.

Ponshukan (Sake Tasting)

Coin-op tasting wall of 100+ Niigata sakes, right in the station.

Pier Bandai Market

Riverside market hall for fresh seafood bowls and local food.

Old Saito Family Villa

Niigata merchant villa with a tiered garden, gorgeous in autumn.

Sado Kinzan Gold Mine

Edo-era gold mine you walk through, Sado's signature sight.

Kitazawa Flotation Plant

Mossy ruins of a huge ore-processing plant, a Laputa-like sight on Sado.

Ryotsu Port (Sado Ferry)

Main Sado ferry port. Note the fast ferry lands far from the gold mine, plan the day.

Kenroku-en Garden

One of Japan's three great gardens, glowing in autumn color.

Kanazawa Castle Park

Reconstructed castle and grounds beside Kenrokuen.

Higashi Chaya District

Preserved geisha teahouse district with gold-leaf shops.

Nagamachi Samurai District

Earthen-walled lanes of the old samurai quarter.

Omicho Market

Kanazawa's lively market for seafood bowls and snacks.

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)

The Golden Pavilion shimmering over its pond. Pair with Ryoan-ji nearby.

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Endless vermilion torii up the mountain. Go before 8am to beat the crowds.

Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)

The Silver Pavilion and its raked sand cone, lovely in autumn.

Philosopher's Path

Canal-side walk from Ginkaku-ji toward Nanzen-ji, golden in late autumn.

Kiyomizu-dera

Hillside temple with the big wooden stage. Peak crowds and peak views in fall.

Nishiki Market

Kyoto's narrow food market, snacks, pickles and knives.

Ryoan-ji

The famous zen rock garden. Pair it with Kinkaku-ji.

Sanjusangendo

Hall of 1001 golden Kannon statues, quietly stunning.

Nijo Castle

Shogun's palace with squeaking nightingale floors.

Osaka Castle

Landmark castle and park. Himeji is the better castle if you can swap.

Dotonbori

Neon canal of street food, the Glico sign and takoyaki.

Shinsekai

Retro Osaka district under Tsutenkaku tower, kushikatsu central.

Katsuo-ji (Daruma Temple)

Hillside daruma temple north of Osaka, beautiful autumn foliage.

Todai-ji & Nara Park

Great Buddha hall and the free-roaming deer of Nara Park.

Himeji Castle

Japan's finest original castle, the White Heron. A strong day trip from Osaka.

Kitano Ijinkan (Kobe)

Kobe's hillside district of old Western merchant houses.

Yahiko Shrine

弥彦神社

Pontocho Area

Shukunegi

Kamikochi

上高地公式

Narai

奈良井 #village

Otagi Nenbutsu-ji

Iwato-Ochiba Shrine

岩戸落葉神社 #torii

Sanzen-in Temple

Coordinates: 35.1197,135.8344

Ogi Coast

The Ogi Coast stretches about 16 km from Shiroyamadai in Ogi to Mikoiwa in Sawasaki. The varied coastline, formed by volcanic activity, is designated as a Japan National Monument and Scenic Site under the name of Sado Ogi Coast. The area is home to many scenic spots, such as Yajima and Kyojima, Nansenkyo, and a plateau of pillow lava in Sawasaki. The Ogi Coast is also known for its tub-boat fishing, on which people can get around rocky shores easily.

Iwakubi Shoryu Tanada

The terraced rice field stretches in the mountains over 350m high in the Iwakubi area. The rice paddies have been passed down since around the Edo Period, and about 460 paddies remain until today. Making full use of the land with a steep slope, local people cultivate the rice fields in various size and shapes, which stretch to the top of the mountain like a dragon rising high into the sky.

Hōryū-ji

Minoh Waterfall

Arashiyama

Imaicho Town

今井町 #village

Tsuruhashi

Tsuruhashi is the center of Osaka's Korea Town, and it is well known for its many Korean restaurants, Korean shops, and Korean super markets.

Jinaimachi

A town protected by moats or earthworks with Buddhist temples at its center. Jinai-machi of Tondabayashi was built around 1558-1569.