Couple's 10-Day Japan Itinerary: Tokyo, Fuji, Kyoto, Osaka
Source:
@Explorin with Laurin
27 places in Japan: Ninenzaka, Yasaka Jinja, Shibuya Scramble Crossing, and 24 more. Every place is verified on Google Maps, featured in a YouTube post by Explorin with Laurin.
Ninenzaka
Landmark
4.4
Ninen-zaka Street is a picturesque area in Kyoto, perfect for experiencing traditional Japanese architecture, sampling local foods, and browsing shops. It offers a charming atmosphere to wander and soak in the cultural surroundings.
Yasaka Jinja
Place of worship
4.4
Yasaka-Jinja Shrine is a beautiful shrine in Kyoto, especially enchanting at night with its illuminated lanterns. Visitors can learn about Japanese customs and pay their respects in a serene setting.
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Landmark
4.5
Shibuya Crossing is an iconic pedestrian scramble intersection in Tokyo, famous for the sheer volume of people crossing simultaneously. It's a popular spot for people-watching and photography, especially during peak times.
Kiyomizu-dera
Place of worship
4.5
Kiyomizu-dera is a Buddhist temple and UNESCO World Heritage site in Kyoto, renowned for its wooden stage and the Otowa Waterfall. The waterfall has three streams believed to bring love, success, and longevity, and the entrance fee is about 400 yen per person.
Sensō-ji
Place of worship
4.5
Sensoji Temple is a vibrant and popular Buddhist temple in Asakusa, known for its beautiful architecture and surrounding shopping area. The area can be very crowded, so be mentally prepared for slow-moving foot traffic.
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Place of worship
4.6
Fushimi Inari Shrine is a significant Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari, the god of rice. It is famous for its thousands of vibrant orange torii gates that lead up hiking trails to the mountain's summit. Arriving early (around 7:30 AM) is recommended to avoid crowds and get clear photos.
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Place
4.4
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is a stunning natural bamboo forest in Kyoto, with some bamboo stalks reaching 90 feet tall. Visiting early, around 7:15 AM, is crucial to avoid large crowds and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere.
Nishiki Market
Market
4.2
Nishiki Market is a vibrant food market in Kyoto, offering a vast array of Japanese foods. It's highly recommended to visit around 10:30-11:00 AM, just as vendors are setting up, to beat the rush and sample various small portions of local delicacies.
Tsukiji Outer Market
Wholesaler
4.3
Tsukiji Outer Market is one of Tokyo's best markets to sample a variety of fresh, local Japanese foods. It's recommended to arrive early as it gets very crowded and closes in the afternoon.
Akihabara Electric Town
Place
Akihabara is Tokyo's hub for gaming and electronics, offering arcades, capsule toy machines, and a wide array of electronic goods. It's a great place to spend an evening playing games and immersing yourself in Japanese pop culture.
Tokyo Station
Transit station
4.3
Tokyo Station is a major railway hub where travelers can catch bullet trains to various destinations across Japan. It's also an excellent place to pick up Ekiben, traditional boxed lunches perfect for enjoying during train rides, with a wide variety of options available.
Ginza Kagari - Soba
Ramen restaurant
4.2
Ginza Kagari is a Michelin-guided ramen restaurant known for its silky, golden chicken broth ramen. Expect a wait of about 20 minutes to try their acclaimed dishes, which are praised for their simplicity and rich flavor.
teamLab Planets TOKYO DMM
Museum
4.5
TeamLab Planets is an interactive art museum in Tokyo, known for its immersive and visually stunning exhibits, including a floating flower garden and a soft black hole room. Tickets sell out months in advance, so booking early is essential, and wearing shorts is recommended for certain water-based installations.
Kawaguchiko Onsen
Place
Fuji Kawaguchiko Onsen is a traditional Japanese ryokan (inn) located on Lake Kawaguchiko, offering stunning views of Mount Fuji. Guests can enjoy traditional Japanese clothing, relaxing communal baths (onsen), and multi-course traditional dinners.
Kinopio's Cafe
Restaurant
4.3
Kinopio's Cafe is a themed restaurant within Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan. It offers a variety of food items inspired by the Mario universe, making it a fun dining experience for fans.
Sanjo Station
Train station
3.6
Sanjo Station serves as a key transportation hub in Kyoto, offering connections via the Keihan Main Line towards Osaka. It's convenient for traveling between Kyoto and Osaka.
Ramen Factory Kyoto
Landmark
4.7
Ramen Factory Kyoto offers a fun and interactive cooking class where participants learn to make traditional ramen from scratch. It's a great date night activity, costing about $120 USD per person, and provides an enjoyable experience for learning to cook Japanese meals.
A Happy Pancake Omotesando
Restaurant
4.2
Happy Pancake is a Tokyo cafe famous for its Japanese souffle pancakes, described as light and fluffy. With multiple locations around the city, it's a must-visit for pancake lovers seeking a delightful dessert experience.
The Chapter Kyoto, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Hotel
4.2
The Chapter Kyoto is a well-located hotel in Kyoto, within walking distance of nearby subway stations. It is a good option for travelers looking to utilize Marriott points for their stay.
Aloft Tokyo Ginza
Hotel
4.4
This hotel is located in Ginza, offering a great base for exploring Tokyo. It is noted as a good option to use hotel points for accommodation in Tokyo, given the city's generally expensive hotel prices.
Maguro Bito Kaminarimon
Sushi restaurant
4.6
Magurobito is a standing sushi restaurant in Asakusa, offering delicious and affordable sushi compared to prices in the US. It's a fun experience to order directly from the chefs and have fresh sushi served immediately.
HATCOFFEE
Cafe
4.5
Hat Coffee is a unique cafe in Asakusa famous for its custom 2D and 3D latte art. Visitors can show a picture to the barista to have it recreated in their coffee, but be prepared for potential queues and consider making a reservation due to its popularity.
Masaichi
Japanese restaurant
4.8
Masaichi is a highly recommended restaurant in Kyoto where visitors can enjoy delicious Japanese food served on traditional tatami mats. It offers an authentic dining experience.
BONGENCOFFEE Ginza
Coffee shop
4.4
Bongen Coffee is a highly recommended coffee shop in Tokyo, known for its meticulously crafted beverages. Be prepared to wait in line for 30-45 minutes as the baristas take their time to perfect each cup, and note that it opens later in the morning around 10 AM.
Uobei Shin-Okubo
Sushi restaurant
4.2
Uobei Shin-Okubo is a highly praised conveyor belt sushi restaurant in Tokyo, located on the upper floor of a department building. Despite being a bit challenging to find, it's very popular, serving delicious sushi on a fast-moving belt.
YAKINIKU Chifaja Sanjyo Kawaramachi Honten
Yakiniku restaurant
3.7
Chifaja Sanjo is a yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) restaurant where diners can grill various meats at their table. It offers a hearty and satisfying meal, perfect after a day of exploring.
spice32本町店101カレー
Japanese curry restaurant
4.4
Spice32 is a restaurant in Osaka serving delicious Japanese curry, a popular comfort food. It's a great spot to enjoy a flavorful meal in the evening.
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