23 Days In Japan: Our Exact Itinerary
A fun, food-filled, culture-packed family adventure through Tokyo, Hakone, Osaka, and Kyoto. Here's the day-by-day plan with transit, stops, and links included for future reference.
Before You Go
eSIM: Set up Airalo for internet.
Transportation: Learn how to use Suica cards.
Luggage transport: Pre-book luggage forwarding.
Airport food: Pack: Cup noodles, beef jerky, wraps, fruit, veggies, cheese sticks, fruit leather, and treats.
Essentials: Pack passports, toothpicks, and Wisps.
Day 1: Fly to Japan ✈️
Day 2: Arrive in Tokyo 🏙
Buy Suica at Terminal 3 (R EAST Travel Center or vending machines).
Stay: Minn Nihonbashi, Chuo City.
Light evening: Explore Shinjuku, see the Godzilla Head, and eat at Ameyoko Market (Ueno).
Day 3: Harajuku & Shibuya 🎀
Morning: Meiji Jingu Shrine, Ota Memorial Museum of Art
Midday: Explore Takeshita Street + Harajuku shopping
Lunch: Aoyama Flower Market Tea House
Animal Café: Otters, hedgehogs, chinchillas
Afternoon: Shibuya Crossing, Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo
Dinner: Miyashita Park + Mega Don Quijote shopping
Day 4: Science, Shopping & Style ⚙️📚
Museum: Miraikan (Odaiba)
Lunch: Café at Ginza Tsutaya Books
Shops: Seiko Museum, Onitsuka Tiger (custom shoes), Takeo Kikuchi Bookstore
Dinner: Ginza Lion Beer Hall
Day 5: Akihabara + TeamLab Planets 🌈
Morning: Arcades (Taito Station, Super Potato), Square Enix Café
Afternoon: TeamLab Planets (2:30 PM entry)
Day 6: Day Trip to Kamakura 🧘♀️
Train: JR Yokosuka Line to Kamakura Station
Stops: Great Buddha, Hase-dera, Hokokuji Bamboo Grove + Tea House, Komachi Street
Snack: Buddha head desserts at Tomoya Kamakurakomachi
Day 7: Asakusa Adventures 🍵
Morning: Senso-ji Temple, Chazen Tea Ceremony
Afternoon: Ninja Experience Café, Kappabashi Kitchen Street
Dinner: With a friend in Tokyo
Day 8: Azabudai Hills + TeamLab Borderless 🖼
Explore: Azabudai Hills, Tokyo Tower, Zojoji Temple
Lunch: Udon Maruka
Afternoon: TeamLab Borderless at Garden Plaza B
Optional: Tokyo Skytree observation deck
Day 9: DisneySea Day 🎢
Full day at Tokyo DisneySea (tickets and app required)
Day 10: Tokyo → Hakone 🚅
Train: Shinkansen to Odawara (11:27 AM)
Transport Pass: Get Hakone Freepass at Odawara Station
Bags: Use Yamato Transport
Breakfast: Tsukiji Outer Market
Hotel: Rakuten Stay, Motohakone
Explore: Hakone Ropeway, Children's Forest
Day 11: Hakone Arts & Culture 🖼
Must-see: Open Air Museum
Optional: Okada Museum, Pola Museum, Hakone Shrine
Day 12: Spa Day 💦
Activity: Hakone Kowakien Yunessun (fun spa for kids and adults)
Day 13: Museums & Lake Cruise 🛳
Visit: Venetian Glass Museum, Lake Ashi Cruise
Optional: Narukawa Art Museum
Day 14: Hakone → Osaka 🎡
Train: Odawara → Shin-Osaka via Shinkansen (tickets booked)
Hotel: Osaka Station Hotel
Evening: Amerikamura, Genrokuzushi sushi, Shinsekai or Umeda izakaya
Day 15: Osaka Expo + Food Tour 🏙
Morning: Osaka Expo
Dinner: Dotonbori food crawl, melon pan ice cream, river cruise
Explore: Mega Donki, capsule toys, Kuromon Market
Day 16: Free Day in Osaka
Optional exploration or downtime
Day 17: Family Fun + Sumo Experience 👘
Morning: Round1 Stadium arcade/karaoke
Lunch: Mizuno Okonomiyaki
Afternoon: Sumo Hall Hirakuza Osaka (booked)
Explore: Nakazakicho indie bookstores + cafes
Dinner: Wagyu at Kobe Aburi-bokujo
Day 18: Osaka Icons & Parks 🏯
Visit: Osaka Aquarium, Osaka Castle, Hozenji Yokocho
Optional: Expo ’70 Commemorative Park
Day 19: Osaka → Kyoto 🚃
Train: Kyo-train Garaku (Hankyu Line)
Hotel: Minn Gion Sanjo
Afternoon: Kyoto Handicraft Center, Yojiya Café, BBQ dinner in Pontocho
Day 20: Kyoto Shrines + River Adventure ⛩
Morning: Fushimi Inari Shrine
Midday: Sagano Scenic Train → Hozugawa River Boat Ride
Afternoon: Japanese sweets making class (Wagashi Issho)
Dinner: Ramen Street at Kyoto Station
Day 21: Arashiyama Bike Tour 🚴♀️
Activity: Bamboo Forest morning tour (booked)
Day 22: Kyoto → Tokyo 🛤
Train: Kyoto → Tokyo (booked)
Hotel: Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport
Optional: Explore Haneda Innovation City (footbath + art)
Day 23: Fly Home ✈️
