Summary of my 16 day trip to Japan
Saturday, 11/22/2025
United/ANA flight scheduled to leave at 10:30am
Sunday, 11/23: Chicago to Tokyo. Check into Hotel Sunroute Plaza 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, 11/24: Tokyo. Stay at Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku
Morning
Showa Memorial 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, 11/25: Tokyo. Stay at Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku
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, 11/26: Tokyo. Stay at Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku
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
Tokyo Tower
Prince Shiba Park for more photos of Tokyo Tower
Dinner at Sky Lounge Stellar Garden
Thursday, 11/27: Tokyo. Stay at Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku
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
Friday, 11/28: Tokyo to Kawaguchiko. Check out of Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku. Check into Fuji Lake Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko
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)
Saturday, 11/29: Kawaguchiko to Kyoto - Check out of Fuji Lake Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko (updated prices 2025). Check into The Machiya Ebisuya
Morning
Breakfast at the hotel
Afternoon
Wander 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)
Bus ticket purchased for 11:20, arriving at Mishima Station North Exit at 12:50
Step 2: Mishima Station to Kyoto Station (covered by JR) (2.5 hours)
take the train leaving at 13:46 and arriving at 15:37
Check into hotel in Kyoto
Anticipate arrival around 4pm
Evening
Dinner at In the Moon rooftop bar
Yasaka Shrine (open 24 hours)
Kodaiji Temple nighttime illumination
Sunday, 11/30: Kyoto. Day trip to Nara - Stay at The Machiya Ebisuya
Morning
Took the 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, 12/01: Kyoto - sunset at 4:45pm - Stay at The Machiya Ebisuya
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, 12/02: Kyoto - Stay at The Machiya Ebisuya
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
Wednesday, 12/03: Kyoto to Osaka. Check out of The Machiya Ebisuya. Check into Sotetsu Fresa Inn Osaka Namba
Morning
Checked out 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 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 3500 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, 12/04: Day trip to Himeji and back to Osaka. Stay at Sotetsu Fresa Inn Osaka Namba
Morning
Took the 9:18am train from Shin-Osaka station to Himeji
Mt. Shosha
Afternoon
Kōko-en Garden (right next to the castle)
Himeji Castle
Evening
Dotombori & Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade
Dinner at Kushikatsu Daruma in Dotombori
Friday, 12/05: Osaka. Stay at Sotetsu Fresa Inn Osaka Namba
Morning:
Minoo 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, 12/06: Osaka. Check out of Sotetsu Fresa Inn Osaka Namba. Commute back to Tokyo. Stay at Miyako City Tokyo Takanawa
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:
Took the 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
Day 15: Haneda airport to Chicago
Wander around Takanawa area
United Flight scheduled for 6:20pm from Haneda airport landing in Chicago at 3:10pm
