It’s funny how accurate those videos are about walking 20,000 steps daily when you visit Japan. You need to prepare your feet, legs, and back if you plan to visit this beautiful country. This Japan itinerary requires a lot of energy, patience, and probably those jelly vitamins that you can get from a konbini (our favorite, by the way!).
We hit 5 prefectures on this Japan trip:
- Tokyo
- Sendai
- Nagano
- Osaka
- Kyoto
We will make more detailed posts about each prefecture to describe all the places we visited, activities we tried, and food we had. This post will only show you the day-to-day Japan itinerary so you can visualize how many activities you can actually fit in each day.
Japan Itinerary
Day 1
Tokyo
- arrival at Narita International Airport
- exchanged JR Pass
- checked in at Sotetsu Fresa Inn Nihombashi-Kayabacho
- Nihonbashi and Tokyo Station
It was a 5-hour flight from the Philippines, so we didn’t do much after we arrived. Once we checked in, we walked around Nihonbashi and Tokyo Station.
Day 2
Tokyo to Sendai
- departed Tokyo
- checked in Sotetsu Fresa Inn Sendai
The main reason we visited Sendai was that Kevin wanted to see if Sendai Station looked the same as it does in Persona 5 Strikers.
Other places we explored:
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Kotadai Park
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Sendai Asaichi (Morning Market)
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Hapina Nakakecho
We also checked out Tsukemen Shizuku.
Day 3
Sendai to Hakuba, Nagano
- departed Sendai
- checked in Kizuna Lodge
There are plenty of other things you can do in Sendai if you prefer to stay longer, but in our case, we left the next day to head to Hakuba, Nagano.
It was a long journey—about 5 hours.
We stayed at Kizuna Lodge. Our host picked us up at Hakuba Station and drove us to the supermarket to buy food for our entire stay, as they only offer a free breakfast. We also tried a couple of restaurants in Hakuba.
Day 4
Hakuba
- Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort
- Matsukawa River
- Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium
Our lodge offers a free drop-off every morning.
We visited four spots in Hakuba that day. Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort and Matsu-kawa River are both breathtaking.
Don’t miss the Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium. It was the venue for the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Day 5
Hakuba
- Lake Kizaki
- Uminokuchi Station
- Lake Aoki
We went to visit our host and her dogs at their favorite spot by Lake Kizaki. After that, she showed us Uminokuchi Station, which is the setting for the anime Onegai Teacher.
We then headed to Lake Aoki and tried paddleboarding.
Day 6
Hakuba
- Hakuba Mountain Beach Resort
- Happo Pond
Hakuba Mountain Beach Resort is a must-visit if you want to experience a beach vibe on top of a mountain. Just don’t expect an actual beach—it’s a beach-inspired spot with restaurants, beach chairs, tubs, and more.
If you hike for about 30 minutes to 1 hour, you’ll reach Happo Pond.
Day 7
Hakuba
- Oide Park
We wanted a relaxed day, so we decided to visit Kappa Tei, a popular restaurant in Hakuba with a traditional thatched roof and Japanese tatami mats.
After lunch, we walked around Oide Park. It rained unexpectedly, so we ended up walking back to our place soaking wet—haha!
Day 8
Nagano
- Wakasato Park
- Zenkōji temple
Time to leave Hakuba! The bus ride from Hakuba to Nagano Station takes about an hour. Once we arrived at Nagano Station, we decided to check out some other spots nearby before heading to Osaka. We left our bags in lockers so we could explore freely.
Nagano to Osaka
Day 9
Osaka
- Osaka Castle Museum and Osaka-jo Gozabune Boat
- Dotonbori and Tombori River Cruise
If you’re planning to visit Osaka, getting the Osaka Amazing Pass is a great deal. We purchased the 2-Day Osaka Amazing Pass, which covers about 40 attractions, as well as metro and bus rides.
Above activities are included in the Osaka Amazing Pass.
Day 10
Osaka
- Tsutenkaku Tower and Shinsekai District
- Umeda Sky Building
- HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel
We visited other places like Tsutenkaku Tower, an old tower in the Shinsekai District. Visitors can try the tower slide on weekdays with the Osaka Amazing Pass.
Don’t miss the world’s highest escalator at the Umeda Sky Building!
Day 11
Osaka
- Universal Studios Japan
Who’s going to visit Osaka without going to the famous Universal Studios Japan?
Regardless of which day you visit, expect long lines, especially if you’re in a pair or group. In addition to the studio pass, we also purchased the express pass to partially skip the lines. If you’re traveling alone, you don’t need to buy the express pass, as they usually ask solo visitors to fill any empty spots.
Day 12
Osaka to Kyoto
- departed Osaka
- Hōkan-ji Temple (Yasaka Pagoda)
- Higashiyama District
- Kiyomizu-dera
We left Osaka early to head to Kyoto. After dropping our stuff off at the hotel, we started our long day trip to Hōkan-ji Temple and the famous Higashiyama District, where you can find the popular Starbucks in a traditional Japanese house.
If you love matcha, don’t miss Maccha House!
Day 13
Kyoto
- Nijo Castle
- Bungo Restaurant
It was another relaxed day since we just wanted to stay in our hotel, though we walked a little bit around Nijo Castle.
We only stayed one night at Nazuna Kyoto Nijo-jo because it’s quite pricey! Haha. But it was definitely worth it. The room, amenities, food, and services were all great!
For dinner, we went to Bungo, located in their other hotel. It was our fancy wagyu experience!
Day 14
Kyoto
- Higashi Hongan-ji Temple
- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
- Menbaka Fire Ramen
Another popular place in Kyoto is the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Make sure to find a perfect spot for a photo because it gets busy throughout the day!
Also, be sure to visit Menbaka Fire Ramen. Expect a line when you get there, but it’s definitely worth it for a great ramen experience and a little ramen show!
Day 15
Kyoto
- Fushimi Inari
Of course, don’t miss Fushimi Inari! It took us more than 2 hours to reach the top. It was raining, so we made a lot of stops, and it was pretty tiring going up—haha. In total, we hiked for 4 hours!
If you’re short on time, you can take the shorter route, which will only take about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Kyoto to Tokyo
Day 16
Tokyo
- Ramen Street Tokyo Station
On this Japan trip, we had ramen every other day. When we arrived in Tokyo, we explored the ramen street at Tokyo Station. This was actually part of our Japan itinerary—having ramen the entire trip. Hahaha!
You’ll feel overwhelmed by all the ramen restaurants to choose from!
Day 17
Tokyo
- Tokyo Joypolis
- Small Worlds Miniature Museum
- teamLabs Planet
Staying in Tokyo for a week meant we had a lot of things to do that aren’t very common for other tourists.
Tokyo Joypolis is an indoor amusement park in Odaiba. If you’re a Sega fan, you’ll enjoy this! Another cute spot is the Small Worlds Miniature Museum, perfect for miniature and Evangelion lovers. If you’re more of an interactive museum fan, teamLab Planet is a must!
Day 18
Tokyo
- Shibuya
You’re not going to skip the busy Shibuya Crossing. Expect a lot of people taking videos and photos. After that, make sure to check out the stores and restaurants around the area.
Day 19
Tokyo
- Tokyo DisneySea
No one is ever too old for Disney! If you prefer more adventurous rides, go to DisneySea. But if you want to check out both Disneyland and DisneySea, that would be perfect!
We enjoyed the Tower of Terror, but I will never do it again! Haha.
Day 20
Tokyo
- Tokyo Skytree
If you’re looking to get a full view of the city, this is definitely a must-visit! Tokyo Skytree is an amazing spot to check out at any time of day, but if you want a more dramatic experience, try visiting during sunset.
If you’re a fan of Ghibli, don’t miss the Ghibli Store located outside the shopping center!
Day 21
Tokyo
- Akihabara
If you’re looking for electronic gadgets, anime merchandise, or even the famous maid cafés, then Akihabara is a must-visit.
Be sure to check out the popular restaurant in the area, Gyukatsu Ichi Ni San!
Day 22
Tokyo
- Sanrio Puroland
The last part of our Japan itinerary before leaving is the Sanrio Puroland.
Only an hour away from Tokyo, you can visit Sanrio Puroland. Ideal for visitors of all ages, whether you’re a family with kids or adults who want to see Hello Kitty and other Sanrio Characters.
Day 23
Tokyo
- departed Narita
It’s time to say goodbye to this amazing country! We are definitely missing the feeling of being in a real-life anime! Haha
End of Japan itinerary~
Read our preparation for this Japan trip here.