Summary of my 2 week trip to Japan
Saturday, November 22, 2025: Flight from Chicago
United/ANA flight scheduled to leave at 10:30am
Tokyo for 4.5 days
Where I stayed: Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku
Sunday, November 23, 2025: Day One in Tokyo (landing in Narita, commuting to Shinjuku, wandering around Shinjuku)
Arrived at Narita Airport at 3:00pm
Went through customs and stopped at an ATM for yen
3:40pm Airport Limousine bus from Narita Airport to Hotel Sunroute Shinjuku
Walked around Shinjuku, stopping at the 3D Cat billboard
Dinner
Monday, November 24, 2025: Day Two in Tokyo (Showa Kinen Park and Shinjuku)
Morning
Showa Kinen Park (opens at 9:30am)
Afternoon
Meiji Jingu Shrine (arrived around 2:30pm)
Evening
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck (got in line around 4:20pm)
Walked through Kabukicho
Dinner at ICHIRAN Shinjuku Kabukicho (got in line at 6:00pm)
Drink at Omoide Yokocho
Tuesday, November 25, 2025: Day Three in Tokyo (Toyosu Area, Nezu Shrine, Ueno Park, and Asakusa)
Morning
Tsukiji Outer Market for a quick walk through (arrived around 8:00am)
TeamLabs Planets (ticket purchased for 9:00-9:30am timeslot)
Afternoon
Nezu Shrine (arrived around 11:45am)
Ueno Park
Walked down Nakamise Shopping Street
Sumida Park
Evening
Tokyo Skytree (ticket purchased for 4:00-4:29pm timeslot)
Senso-ji Temple at night
Asakusa Observatory (arrived around 7:15pm)
Dinner at Wagyu Yakiniku Jugemu
Wednesday, November 26, 2025: Day Four in Tokyo (Chiyoda, Bunkyō, and Shiba Park)
Morning
Hibiya Park (arrived around 7:30am)
Imperial Palace East Gardens (arrived around 9:45am)
Afternoon
Kitanomaru Park
Chidorigafuchi Moat
Yasukuni Shrine
Koishikawa Korakuen Garden (arrived around 3:00pm)
Evening
Got photos of Tokyo Tower from the surrounding streets
Walked through Prince Shiba Park for more photos of Tokyo Tower
Dinner at Sky Lounge Stellar Garden
Thursday, November 27, 2025: Day Five in Tokyo (Shinjuku and Shibuya)
Morning
Meiji Jingu Gaien Gingko Avenue (arrived around 8:00am)
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (arrived around 8:30am)
Afternoon
Lunch at Seafood Misaki Shibuya East Exit (arrived around 12:45pm)
Visited Tower Records
Yoyogi Park
Don Quijote Shibuya
Hachiko statue
Evening
Magnet by Shibuya 109 Bar (arrived around 4:30pm)
Shibuya Sky Observation Deck (ticket purchased for 5:20-5:39pm timeslot)
Dinner at Fukinuki in Times Square Building
Lake Kawaguchiko for 1.5 days
Where I stayed: Fuji Lake Hotel
Friday, November 28, 2025: Tokyo to Lake Kawaguchiko
Morning
7:10am bus from Shinjuku Expressway Bus terminal to Chuo EXPWY Shimoyoshida, arriving at 08:50
Left larger backpack in a locker at the Shimoyoshida Station
Walked to Chureito Pagoda (arrived around 9:30am)
Walked back to Shimoyoshida Station to grab my backpack
Took the Fujikyu Railway to Kawaguchiko Station
Walked to Fuji Lake Hotel to drop off larger bag (arrived around 11:45am)
Afternoon
Took a taxi from Fuji Lake Hotel to Tenku-no Torii
Tenku-no Torii (arrived around 12:30pm)
Walk along the lake stopping at the following spots:
Lake Kawaguchi Maple Corridor
Nagasaki Park
Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center and Oishi Park (arrived around 3:30pm)
Watched the sunset from Oishi Park (4:30pm)
Took the Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus to the Fujirekuhoteru-fujihakubutsukan stop
Evening
Went back to Fuji Lake Hotel to relax for a minute
Dinner at Cooliya (arrived at 6:00pm)
Kyoto for 4.5 days (with a day trip to Nara)
Where I stayed: The Machiya Ebisuya
Saturday, November 29, 2025: Lake Kawaguchiko to Kyoto
Morning
Breakfast at the hotel
Afternoon
Wandered around downtown Lake Kawaguchiko area
Head from Lake Kawaguchiko to Kyoto via a combination of bus and shinkansen travel
Step 1: Kawaguchiko Station to Mishima Station (90 minutes)
11:20am bus arriving at Mishima Station North Exit at 12:50
Step 2: Mishima Station to Kyoto Station (1 hour and 51 minutes on the Hikari Shinkansen)
13:46 Hikari Shinkansen and arriving at 15:37
Checked into The Machiya Ebisuya Hotel in Kyoto around 4pm
Evening
Dinner at In the Moon rooftop bar
Yasaka Shrine (open 24 hours)
Kodaiji Temple nighttime illumination
Sunday, November 30, 2025: Day Two in Kyoto. Day Trip to Nara
Morning
7:46am JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station to Nara Station
Kofuku-ji Temple (arrived around 9:30am)
Nara Deer Park
Naramachi District
Yoshikien and Isuien Garden
Afternoon
Todai-ji Temple
Lunch at Azekuraya (arrived just before 12:30pm with a couple of tables available. It was full by 12:40pm)
Todai-ji Nigatsu-do
Walked up Mt Wakakusa (got to the top around 2:30pm)
Kasugataisha Shrine
Evening
Took the Kintetsu-Kyoto Line at 5:25pm from Kintetsu-Nara Station back to Kyoto Station
Dinner at McDonald’s in Kyoto Station
Monday, December 1, 2025: Day Three in Kyoto (Arashiyama)
Morning/Afternoon
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (arrived around 5:45am)
Tenryu-ji Temple
Jojakkoji Temple
Nison-in Temple
Gio-ji Temple
Walked through Saga Toriimoto Preserved St
Adashino Nenbutsu-ji (arrived around 1:00pm)
Otagi Nenbutsu-ji (arrived around 1:45pm)
Monkey Park Iwatayama (arrived around 3:00pm)
Togetsukyo Bridge area
Evening
Dinner at Gion Duck Rice (got in line around 5:30pm. Sat down around 6:00pm)
Tuesday, December 2, 2025: Day Four in Kyoto (Fushimi, Central Kyoto)
Morning
Fushimi Inari Shrine (arrived around 7:00am)
Tofuku-ji Temple
Afternoon
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
Nijo Castle
Nidec Kyoto Tower
Evening
Drink at Kyoto Beer Lab
Dinner at Sushiiwa Kyoto
Osaka for 3.5 days (with a day trip to Himeji)
Where I stayed: Sotestu Fresca Inn Osaka Namba
Wednesday, December 3, 2025: Day Five in Kyoto. Kyoto to Osaka (Gion & Higashiyama, Northern Higashiyama, and Kyoto to Osaka)
Morning
Checked out of The Machiya Ebisuya Hotel in Kyoto and left the bigger bag at the front desk
Kiyomizu-dera Temple (arrived around 6:30am)
Walked around Ninen-zaka, Sannen-zaka & Higashiyama
Took at taxi from a taxi stand to Ginkaku-ji Temple
Ginkaku-ji Temple
Walked Philosopher’s Path
Afternoon
Shinnyodo Temple
Eikandō Temple
Evening
Headed back to The Machiya Ebisuya Hotel to grab my bags
Took the Hankyu-Kyoto Line from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station to Awaji Station and the Hankyu-Senri Line to Nippombashi Station and walked to Sotestu Fresca Inn Osaka Namba
In hindsight, I should have taken the Karasuma Line to Kyoto Station and the Tokaido-Sanyo Line to Osaka Station and the Midosuji Line from Umeda Station to Namba Station
By taking local trains, I did save about 3000 yen, though!
Checked into Sotestu Fresca Inn Osaka Namba around 5:30pm
Dinner at Namba Ramen Ichiza, located on the 9th floor of Edion Namba Main Store
Thursday, December 4, 2025: Day One in Osaka. Day Trip to Himeji and Dotombori back in Osaka
Morning
9:18am train from Shin-Osaka station to Himeji
Mt. Shosha
Afternoon
Kōko-en Garden (right next to the castle)
Himeji Castle
Evening
Walked through Dotombori & Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade
Dinner at Kushikatsu Daruma in Dotombori
Friday, December 5, 2025: Day Two in Osaka (Minoh Park, Tennoji Ward, and Namba)
Morning:
Minoh Park (arrived around 8am)
Afternoon
Shitennō-ji and Tennoji Park
Lunch at okonomiyaki takara
Tsutenkaku Tower & Shinsekai
Evening
Namba Yasaka Jinja
Hozenji Yokocho
Drink at Bar Nuyuta (arrived at 5:00pm)
Dinner at Kaiten Sushi Ginza Onodera
Saturday, December 6, 2025: Day Three in Osaka. Osaka to Tokyo (Sumiyoshi Taisha, Sumo Ward, Kita, and Osaka to Tokyo)
Morning
Sumiyoshi Taisha (arrived at 7:15am)
Osaka Castle & Nishinomaru Garden
Lunch at Konamon Bar
Afternoon:
Nakanoshima Area
Umeda Sky Building & Kuchu Teien Observatory (arrived at 2:00pm)
Took the train back to Sotestu Fresca Inn Osaka Namba to collect my bags and check out
Evening:
4:50pm train from Shin-Osaka station to the Shinagawa station stop in Tokyo
Checked into Miyako City Tokyo Takanawa at 7:30pm
Dinner at 48 Fishing Grounds Shinagawa
Sunday, December 7, 2025: Tokyo to Chicago
Wander around Takanawa area
United Flight scheduled for 6:20pm from Haneda airport landing in Chicago at 3:10pm
