50 Things to Do in Japan | THE ULTIMATE ITINERARY ✨
Japan is just about the only country other than the U.S. where I can envision myself living for a long time. I admire their emphasis on craftsmanship and their unique take on everyday experiences (even going to the public bathroom is quite an experience)!
Here, you’ll find all of my favorite experiences from my recent trip to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Feel free to click on my packing list photo to download it for free. All of my favorite travel items are linked below as well!
If you’ve been to Japan, I’d love to hear about your favorite experiences in the comments below! If not, feel free to share which experiences you’d like to try the most. 😊 Enjoy the goodies!
| DAY | EVENT | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive at Tokyo | |
| Check in at Hotel | ||
| Ichiran Ramen, or if Michelin, Ginza Hachigo or Nakiryu (or check options) | https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g14129573-d15604861-Reviews-Ginza_Hachigo-Ginza_Chuo_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html | |
| Watch fireflies at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo Garden (ends at 10pm) | 2-10-8 Sekiguchi within Hotel Chizanso Tokyo Garden, Bunkyo 112-8667 Tokyo Prefecture | |
| Day 2 | Reissue Cafe for Anh's drink | Tanji Bldg 2F, 3-25-7 Jingumae, Shibuya |
| Visit ANAKUMA CAFE for Jon's drink | 1 Chome-23-28 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan | |
| Kiddy Land Harajuku (for nanoblocks & toys galore) | 6-1-9 Jingumae, Shibuya | |
| Thrift @ 2nd Street, New York Joe Exchange, Kinji, or Kilo Shop | Embroider matching Uniqlo bags https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cr7ON5PAxci/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== | |
| Shop men's clothing @ Beams | TOKYU PLAZA SHIBUYA 2F, 1-2-3 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo | |
| Vintage QOO Tokyo | ||
| LOFT for stationery | 21-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya 150-0042 Tokyo Prefecture | |
| Lunch @ An Di | 3-42-12 Jingumae, Shibuya | |
| Visit Teamlab Planets | ||
| Dinner @ Sushi Yoshitake (call for res: +81 3-6253-7331) or Amamoto | 7-8-13 Brown Place 9F, Ginza, Chuo 104-0061 Tokyo Prefecture | |
| Shop stationaries @ the 12-floor Ginza Itoya Hontren | 2-7-15, Ginza, Chuo 104-0061 Tokyo Prefecture | |
| Watch fireflies at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo Garden (ends at 10pm) / Visit The Roof Bar @ Shibuya Sky (NEED TIX IN ADVANCE) | 2-10-8 Sekiguchi within Hotel Chizanso Tokyo Garden, Bunkyo 112-8667 Tokyo Prefecture | |
| Day 3 | Coffee @ Onibus, SHOZO, or Dotcom Space | https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1066450-d12236287-Reviews-Onibus_Coffee_Nakameguro-Meguro_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html |
| Hang out at Tsukiji Market | Try these foods: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CntZ8vphDgl/?igshid=YjNmNGQ3MDY= | |
| Lunch at Tentenpura Uchitsu (or Sushi Hashimoto) if still hungry | 5-25-4 Takara Bldg 1F, Hiroo, Shibuya Tokyo Prefecture | |
| Pack & Check Out | ||
| Ride Shinkansen to Kyoto (buy cute bento) | Book seats D,E if normal train https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoPT2sBjJZP/?igshid=YjNmNGQ3MDY= / Look for Mt. Fuji at the Shin Fuji station | |
| Check in at The Mitsui | ||
| Dinner @ Shimogamo Saryo Honten (call for res: +81 75-701-5185) | 62 Shimogamoizumigawa-cho Sakyoku, Kyoto 606-0807 Kyoto Prefecture | |
| Go back to hotel & enjoy private onsen! | ||
| Day 4 | Eat a traditional in-room breakfast | |
| Walk Gion - North Side [Gion Shirakawa] & South Side [Hanamikoji St] | ||
| Machiya Starbucks | https://goo.gl/maps/41rQ7ARTwH42 | |
| Check out Arashiyama Bamboo Forest | ||
| Try matcha cloud cakes at Kumonocha Cafe | 20-13 Sagatenryuji Tsukurimichicho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8384 | |
| Arashiyama Monkey Park | ||
| Visit Fushimi Inari 10,000 gates | ||
| Lunch @ Mokubei (call for res: +81-75-525-0115) | ||
| Thrift @ Three Star | 583-2 Shinkyogokudori Shijo Agaru Nakanomachi, Nakagyo-ku Mimatsu Kaikan, Kyoto 604-8042 Kyoto Prefecture | |
| Visit a sticker shop! | B-Side Label, Kyoto, Japan | |
| See the sunset over the river from a rooftop bar (In the Moon) | 200 Nakanocho, Higashiyama-ku Kamogawa Bldg. RF, Kyoto 605-0075 Kyoto Prefecture | |
| Dinner Sushi Rakumi (call for res: +81 90-4566-3733) | 332-6 Miyoshicho, Higashiyama-Ku, Kyoto 605-0081 Kyoto Prefecture | |
| Go back to hotel for a massage & private onsen! | ||
| Day 5 | Coffee @ Kurasu | 552 Higashi Aburanokojicho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8235 Kyoto Prefecture |
| Grab fresh baos (551 Horai) + egg salad sandwich & picnic at Kamogawa River | 901 Higashishiokojicho, Shimogyoku Kyoto Station, Kyoto 600-8216 Kyoto Prefecture | |
| Visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple | 1-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0862 Kyoto Prefecture | |
| Lunch @ Kibune Kiraku | 47 Kuramakibunecho Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto 601-1112 Kyoto Prefecture | |
| Buy matcha powder at Gion Tsujiri | 573-3 Gionmachi Minamigawa Shijo Dori Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0074 Kyoto Prefecture | |
| Try delicious traditional mochi at Demachi Futaba | 236 Seiryucho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-0822 Kyoto Prefecture | |
| Walk around Sanneizaka | ||
| Visit Toji Temple | 1 Kujyomachi, Minami-ku, Kyoto 601-8473 Kyoto Prefecture | |
| Dinner @ Hiramatsu Kodaiji (Michelin Star) | 353 Masuyacho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, 605-0826, Japan | |
| Go back to hotel for a massage & private onsen! | ||
| Day 6 | Breakfast at Hyotei Bekkan (call for res: +81 75-771-4116) | 35 Nanzenji Kusagawacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8437 Kyoto Prefecture |
| Thrift @ Jam | 51 Benkeiishi-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto | |
| Check out Nishiki Market | Nakauoyacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto 604-8054 Kyoto Prefecture | |
| Try aburi mochi @ Kazariya (or @ Nishiki Market) | 96 Murasakino Imamiyacho, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8243 Kyoto Prefecture | |
| Pack & Check Out :( | ||
| Ride the Shinkansen to Osaka | Book seats D,E if normal train https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoPT2sBjJZP/?igshid=YjNmNGQ3MDY=/ Look for Mt. Fuji at the Shin Fuji station | |
| Check in at Zentis Hotel | ||
| Hang out at Dotomburi | Chuo-ku, Dotombori, Chuo, Osaka 542-0076 Osaka Prefecture | |
| Dinner @ Ad Hoc (call for res: +81 6-6225-8814) | 1-1-48 Fukushima, Fukushima-Ku, Osaka 553-0003 Osaka Prefecture | |
| Check out Harukas 300 Observation Deck | 1-1-43 Abenosuji, Abeno-Ku Abeno Harukas, Osaka 545-0052 Osaka Prefecture | |
| Day 7 | Breakfast at UPSTAIRZ (Zentis hotel - ends at 10 AM) | |
| Coffee @ Wad Omotenashi Cafe | 4-9-3 Minamisenba Toshin Bldg. 2F, Chuo, Osaka 542-0081 Osaka Prefecture | |
| Visit Osaka Aquarium | 1-1-10 Kaigandori, Minato-ku, Osaka 552-0022 Osaka Prefecture | |
| Umeda Sky Building KUCHU-TEIEN OBSERVATORY | 1-1-88 Oyodonaka, Kita-Ku Umeda Sky Bldg., Osaka 531-0076 Osaka Prefecture | |
| Make our own cup noods at Cup Noodles Museum | Cup Noodles Museum, 8-25 Masumicho, Ikeda, Osaka 563-0041, Japan | |
| Lunch at Kuromon Market, try Rikuro's cheesecake | 2-4-1, Nippombashi, Chuo, Osaka 542-0073 Osaka Prefecture | |
| Check out Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street | ||
| Dinner @ Iroha (call for res: +81 6-6344-7355) | 1-3-19 Sonezakishinchi, Kita-Ku Kitashinchi Bldg. 5F, Osaka 530-0002 Osaka Prefecture | |
| Hang out at Shinsekai | 1 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwaku, Osaka 556-0002 Osaka Prefecture | |
| Day 8 | Coffee @ Moto Coffee (or 9 Borden Coffee) | 2-1-1 Uchikitahama Kitahama Lion Bldg., Chuo, Osaka 541-0041 Osaka Prefecture |
| Mochi @ Mochisho Shizuku | 1-17-17 Shimmachi, Nishi-Ku Shimmachi House 1F, Osaka 550-0013 Osaka Prefecture | |
| Visit Osaka Maishima Yurien Garden | 2 Hokukoryokuchi, Konohana-ku, Osaka 554-0042 Osaka Prefecture | |
| Visit Flower Expo Memorial Park Tsurumi Ryokuchi | 2-163 Ryokuchikoen, Tsurumi-Ku, Osaka 538-0036 Osaka Prefecture | |
| Take the Sightseeing Limited Express to explore Nara Park | 469 Zoshicho, Nara 630-8501 Nara Prefecture | |
| Eat fresh mochi at Nakatanidou (live show only during parts of the day) | 29, 橋本町 Nara, Nara Prefecture 630-8217, Japan | |
| Dinner @ CAFE&RESTAURANT POOL (in Nara: +81 742-42-6430) | 7 Funahashicho, Nara 630-8258 Nara Prefecture | |
| Ride the Tempozan Ferris Wheel | 1-1-10 Kaigandori Minatoku, Osaka 552-0022 Osaka Prefecture | |
| Hang out at Dotomburi |
One of my favorite parts of our trip was taking film photos for the first time! I used the Holga 120GCFN, which is known as a toy camera because of its plastic components, but I love the grain and vignetting that it produces. These photos were so fun to develop! Check out my faves below:
Besides the film photos, we also documented quite a bit with our Sony A7Riii. This is the same camera that I use to shoot all of my YouTube videos and Instagram photos. I’ve had it since 2019 and it has only continued to impress me each year! See our fave shots below:
TIPS:
1. Get the welcome suica card
The Welcome Suica is an e-money card for transportation and shopping. It can be reloaded multiple times and can be used for 28 days from the date of purchase. Get it shipped to you via mail for maximum efficiency. Trust me, you don’t want to stand in line for this when you get there. This card will save you a ton of headaches when traveling by subway around the country! 😊
2. Stand on the right side - In Tokyo, it is courteous to stand on the right side of escalators so people can pass you on the left. In Osaka, it’s the opposite—stand on the left so people can pass you on the right. When in doubt, just pay attention to what the locals are doing! 😉
3. Don’t talk on public transportation - It’s generally discouraged to talk loudly on subways, although most would prefer if you didn’t talk at all. Don’t worry, some cities are more lax than others. 😆
4. Bring your passport when shopping - You will only get your tax-free benefits if you bring your passport when shopping in mainstream stores and malls.
5. Book the Shinkansen beforehand - If you’re traveling between large cities, book the Shinkansen (or the bullet train) online. Get seats D or E on the green car for the best views of Mt. Fuji if you’re traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto.
BEST Travel Items
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