Hello cappuccini readers!
Today I share with you a complete 15 day itinerary across Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun! This journey includes the visit of Osaka, Nara, Kyoto and Japan, along with 2 extra day trips to Nikko and the iconic Mount Fuji!
So grab a coffee and join me as we discover the beauty of Nara’s parks, the historic charm of Kyoto, and the vibrant energy of Tokyo. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a food lover, or simply eager to experience the unique blend of old and new, this itinerary has something for everyone. In this blog post you’ll get information about what to see at each city, cheap hotels and restaurant suggestions, phone SIMs, transfer tickets and much more. So let’s dive right in!
Day 1: Departure from Home to Osaka
For this trip I departed from Milan with China Airways in October 2023. I had a 900€ return ticket with 2 bags included. This type of journey typically kicks off with an overnight flight. So the first day of this trip is dedicated to the travel journey itself.
Days 2: Arrival in Osaka
After approximately 12 hours of flying, including a pitstop in Beijing Airport, we landed at Osaka Airport. However, before making our way to the hotel for check-in, there are a few things we need to do at the airport, such as:
- Currency exchange or ATM withdrawal in local currency
- Purchase a SIM card. I strongly suggest purchasing a SIM card via Amazon before departing as it is quicker and cheaper. I personally bought a prepaid SIM by SIM2ROAM that lasted 15 days and found it perfect for my trip. Alternatevely, you can evaluate different on-site options such as: Japan Rail Pass eSIM, Holafly, Sakura Mobile, B-Mobile and many others.
- Get your Suica or ICOCA card (you will need it for most transfers in Japan).
- Baggage delivery to hotel. Of course, this is not mandatory, but if you have lot of weight to carry, sending it ahead lets you enjoy the rest of the day without the extra weight.
Once we sorted out these tasks, we headed to Osaka city center by train.
We then had the afternoon and evening free, and took a walk around Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku Tower.
As for the hotels, I would suggest staying near a metro station near Namba, here are a few examples:
- Hotel WBF Namba Motomachi
- Grids Premium Hotel Osaka Namba
- APA Hotel Namba-Eki Higashi
Where to eat:
- Street food (Osaka is famous for its street food, so had a walk around the city center. You’ll find something good on the way for sure!)
- Kushikatsu Daruma in Dobutsuen-mae
Day 3: Full Day in Osaka
Osaka is a city full of culture, where the old and the new come together seamlessly. From ancient spots like Osaka Castle to serene places like Shitennoji Temple, you can feel the city’s rich history. This is how I would break out the day in Osaka:
- Morning: Osaka Castle and Blue Birds Rooftop Terrace
- Afternoon: Tsuruhashi, Shinsekai, Namba, Dotonbori
- Evening: Shitennoji Temple and Sumiyoshi Taisha
- Shopping at various locations, exploring Electric Town, Amerikamura, and Kuromon Market
Day 4: Universal Studios and Transfer to Nara
After visiting Osaka, and diving into it’s culture, why not add a touch of fun to your trip? Reserve Day 4 for a visit to Universal Studios. To make the most of our time, we checked out of our accommodation in the morning and asked to store our luggage at the reception. We then hopped on 2 trains, reaching the studios within an hour. To reach the Universal Citywalk Osaka and Universal Studios Japan, we took the Hanshin-Namba Line and transferred to the JR Yumesaki Line at Nishikujō station, which took approximately 30 minutes.
After a day full of fun, at around 5 PM, we made our way back to the hotel. After retrieving our luggage, we boarded the train from Namba station bound for Kintetsu-Nara Station (this train station was great for us as it was a 5 minute walk from Nara’s park and our hotel). To get to Nara we used the Kintetsu-Nara Line with a Limited Express Ticket (remember that these tickets are not covered by the ICOCA card, so you’ll need to purchase an extra fare).
Once we arrived in Nara we ate something at a local restaurant, had a stroll at night at the park to see the first wild deer, and went to bed.
Where to sleep (better near a metro station and near Nara’s park):
- Bakery Hotel Chateau D’or
- APA Hotel Kintetsu-Nara Ekimae
Suggested Restaurants:
- Dinner at Okonomiyaki Parco or Genkishin
*Local restaurants in Japan typically shut down by 11 PM, so be sure to arrive before closing time. Alternatively, you can rely on 7-Eleven, a lifesaver if you find yourself hungry in the evening or late at night.
Day 5: Nara and transfer to Kyoto
Nara is such a gem in Japan, with it’s magical park and the wild dear, every second strolling around was countless. When we woke up we had breakfast, checked-out and asked the reception to hold our luggage for free. We took the day visiting the park with healthy hikes and visiting temples. This is what you shouldn’t miss:
- Nara Park and Isuien Garden
- Todai-ji
- Kasuga Taisha
- Kofukuji Temple
At around 5 PM, we felt that dedicating just one day of the itinerary to Nara was enough. We then headed for Kyoto via train. We took in particular the Kintetsu-Nara Line train and the Keihan Main Line metro to get by the hotel that was 1 min walk from the station!
Suggested hotels:
- APA Hotel Kyoto Gion Excellent
Day 6: Kyoto and Gion
I think Kyoto was our favourite part of the trip, I would for sure dedicate at least 3-4 days to visit the city. This is how the first day was divided:
- Morning: Kinkaku-ji
- Afternoon: Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka streets, Hokanji Temple, Kiyomizu-dera
- Evening: Arabica coffee, Vintage Kimono AN Gion, and Gion night tour
The Gion night tour was booked via getyourguide.com here. The tour was in English and we had an amazing experience. Definitely a must if you are into Geishas!
Day 7: Fushimi Inari and Samurai in Kyoto
- Morning: Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Afternoon: Samurai Museum with Experience, Nijo Castle, Nishiki Market, Pontocho Alley
Restaurants:
- Dinner at Menbaka Fire Ramen
- Ippudo Ramen
- Kichi Kichi Omurice (reserved seats are hard to get, so make sure to book in advance!)
Day 8: Bamboo Forest and Arashiyama
- Morning: Bamboo Forest and Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
- Afternoon: Traditional tea ceremony.
- Shopping in Kyoto
Day 9: Arrival in Tokyo
Today, we took the Shinkansen, purchasing tickets directly at the station. It was quite chaotic as I struggled to understand the ticket machine and distinguish the various pieces of paper provided for security controls – nearly 10 that all appeared identical. I recommend opting for online ticket purchase where instructions are in English and maybe simpler with a QR code.
Here’s how the first day in Tokyo was planned:
- Breakfast at Starbucks Coffee – Kyoto Nineizaka Yasaka Chaya (unique experience for coffee lovers!)
- Shinkansen journey from Kyoto to Tokyo (aproximately 2h and 40 minutes – be sure to spot Mount Fuji from the window!)
- Evening: Shibuja Sky visit (what a breathtaking view!)
- Shibuya Crossing, Harajuku, and Love Hotel Hill
Suggested hotel:
- APA Hotel Higashi Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower
Suggested restaurants:
- Any ramen place with spots available
- Dinner at Sushi no Midori Shibuya
- Ichiran Ramen
Day 10: Taito
- Akihabara Electric Town
- Yanaka Ginza
- Ueno Park
- Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa and Kaminarimon
Day 11: Ancient Nikko and Games at Shinjuku
- Day trip to Nikko
- Evening: Kabukicho Tower – Namco game center
- Omoide Yokocho
- Golden Gai
Day 12: Immersive Art and Spiritual Walk
- Morning: TeamLab Planets in Koto, Tokyo Tower. This was definitely one of my favourity experiences in Tokyo. Be sure to book your ticket in advance, as it is usually crowded.
- Afternoon: Relaxing walk at Meiji Shrine
- Late afternoon: Free/ Shopping
Day 13: Mount Fuji Day Trip
Day 13 is dedicated to a trip to Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi. For this kind of activity I highly recommed booking a guided tour with trasfer from getyourguide.com. I personally booked this one because it includes a visit to Oishi Park, Arakurayama Sengen Park, Sky Palace and Oshino Hakkai.
Day 14: Final Day in Tokyo
Today is the last day of this amazing journey. After packing up all of our stuff and checking out from the hotel we headed to the airport. We were tired but very happy 🙂
Day 15: Arrival at home
Let’s remember to consider an overnight flight. It is now time to finally rest.
How much I paid for this trip?
Let’s have a look at how much I paid (price is intended for 1 person for 15 days in Japan):
- Hotel with breakfast: 750 €
- Prepaid SIM: 24,99 €
- Flights: 900 €
- Axa travel insurance: 68,78 €
- Restaurants and food: 750 € (aproximately 50€ a day)
- Transfers: 250 €
- Gifts, souvenirs and attractions: 400€
For a TOTAL of: 3143,77 €
Conclusion
This is all! I hope you enjoyed this itinerary and find the information you need before departing for this great adventure. Stay tuned for more itineries!