Many people have been asking me to share my itinerary from my Japan trip, so here's a post on the key places to visit and foods to try in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Takayama!

TOKYO

Tsukiji Fish Market

• Fresh sushi!! Morning/lunch activity
• Outer Market: typically 5:00 to 14:00; Wholesale Area: open to visitors after 9:00am ; Tuna Auction: open to visitors from 5:25am to 6:15am (restricted to 120 visitors/day. Should arrive by 2am to get in – P.S. we didn’t wake up to do this lol)
• Closed Sunday and Wednesdays

Shibuya

• Trendiest shopping, people watching
• Hachiko Exit at Shibuya Station
  • Hachi dog statue!
  • Shibuya crossing
  • Tokyu Food Show – amazing food court in the department store basement
• Shibuya 109 – women’s fashion dept store
• Center Gai – narrow crowded street where you will find Tokyo’s cutting edge fashion and boutiques
• Meiji Shrine

Harajuku

• Younger, eclectic shopping, cosplayers
• Takeshita Dori – busiest street in Harajuku, younger crowd, counterculture
• Harajuku crepes
• largest Daiso store (4 floors)

Shinjuku

• Shopping & nightlife
• Shinjuku Gyoen (giant park & gardens)
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building – free observation deck
• Kabukicho Area
  • Japan's largest red light district features countless restaurants, bars, nightclubs, pachinko parlors, love hotels
• On the northwest side of Shinjuku Station is Omoide Yokocho, a small network of alleyways colloquially known as Piss Alley. The narrow lanes are filled with dozens of tiny eateries serving mostly yakitori, but also ramen, soba or kushiyaki.
• Taito Station – multiple floors of arcade & purikura (Japanese photo booth)
• Try: Mo-Mo Paradise (AYCE sukiyaki & shabu shabu)

Asakusa

• Sensoji Temple
  • traditional tourist place w/ marketplace of desserts & souvenirs
• Tokyo Skytree
  • tallest observation deck, night view of Tokyo, mall

Akihabara

• electronics & anime area

Ginza

• upscale, luxury shops – “rodeo drive” of Tokyo

Ueno

• Ueno Park – museums & parks including Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, the zoo, etc.

RyoGoku

• Sumo Wrestling Village w/ Kokugikan Sumo Stadium
• Try: Chanko – sumo stew

Hakone (Day Trip)

• 2 hr train ride from Tokyo, famous for its onsens/hot springs
• Went to Hakone Yuryu onsen
• free 3 min shuttle ride from the station
• indoor & outdoor baths and sauna in nature
• Try: Hakone pudding

There’s also an onsen theme park in Odaiba in Tokyo (we didn’t go, but in case you're interested)

Odaiba

• Oedo Onsen Monogotari – Onsen Theme park

KYOTO

Eastern Kyoto

Full day Itinerary (bolded = what we did)

• Ginkakuji – Silver Pavilion; a Zen temple along Kyoto's eastern mountains (Higashiyama).
  • tons of street food around here; try the mochi (especially matcha green tea, black sesame, white sesame flavors)
• Philosopher's Path – Sightseeing walk
• Nazenji Temple
• Keage Incline – Trail
• Heian Shrine – shrine & huge gardens
• Yasaka Shrine – Sightseeing
• Kodaiji
• Higashiyama Streets – Street shopping
• Kiyomizudera Temple – great view of Kyoto

Central Kyoto

• Kyoto Imperial Palace
  • 9:00-15:30 (Last admission at 15:30)
  • ** No walk-ins. Need to go to their office to sign up for a guided tour time slot **
• Nijo Castle
• Nishiki Market – food market, day time
• Gion – Geisha area, restaurants, fun night place
• Pontocho – long narrow alley of restaurants, historic
• Round 1 – huge 24 hr arcade & purikura

Southern Kyoto

• Fushimi Inari Shrine
  • temples & hike with red gates

Northern Kyoto

• Kinkakuji – golden pavilion
• Ryoan-ji Temple – Japan's most famous rock garden

OSAKA

Sightseeing

• Osaka Castle
• Osakajo Pier – river cruise in the city (by Osaka Castle)
  • Aqualiner bus 1 hour – 1700 yen
• Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden – tall unique building with observation deck
• Sumiyoshi-taisha shrine (south) – Purely Japanese shinto shrine

Shopping, Food & Nightlife

Most of these shopping/food neighborhoods are clustered together & super walkable. It’s hard to tell where one area ends and another begins.

• Namba – downtown, dining & shopping
  • Try: Okonimiyaki – Chibo, restaurant in Namba
• Dotonburi – “times square” for food, shopping, night lights
• Shinsaibashi – for shopaholics, tons of food (north of namba)
  • Enjoy a leisurely breakfast as most of the Shinsaibashi's shops open between 10-11am
• Kuromon ichiba – Seafood arcade, cheap fresh seafood food vendors
• Umeda (Osaka Station area)
• Kitashinchi District
• TenjimBashisuji shopping arcade

TAKAYAMA

• The Nagoya-Takayama train is one of the most scenic, beautiful rides ever
• Moriyama morning market
• Jinja morning market (smaller)
• Hidanosato (Hida Folk Village)
  • gorgeous old folk village – 15 min bus from Takayama station
• Higashiyama walking course – 2+ hr walk through Takayama's temples and shrines
• Foods to try: Hida beef, shabu shabu/yakiniku, beef croquette (street food)
• B&B: We stayed at Pension Hida No Mori, an adorable, peaceful bed & breakfast cottage

I hope these notes can help you in your travels. I want to note that I did not have one bad meal in Japan—ALL the food was amazing and unforgettable. I especially love sushi, soba, ramen, udon, mochi, sukiyaki, shabu shabu, yakiniku, okonomiyaki, rice bowls, onigiri… and Japanese snacks! Try matcha green tea flavored everything. Have fun exploring!