Rokapedia

Classic Japan (Oct 2015)

A 14-day trip through Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Kinosaki Onsen.

Original detailed itinerary
Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto
Wikimedia Commons — Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto

Trip overview

Duration and dates
14 days
October 2015
Destination
Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka
+ Nara, Kinosaki Onsen

Day by day

From the original itinerary

  1. Morning
    Shinjuku Gyoen (09:00 - 16:30) · Free viewing deck of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku (09.30 - 17.30S - 23.00N 45th Floor) -- 10 min walk from West Exit of JR Shinjuku Station · Nakano Broadway (Shopping Complex)
    Afternoon
    Asakusa · From Shinjuku Station -- Take the orange JR Chuo Line to Kanda Station (10 minutes, 170 yen) and transfer to the Ginza Subway Line for Asakusa (10 minutes, 170 yen). · Kaminarimon (Kaminari Gate) · Sensoji Temple (6:30 - 17:00) · Nakamise Dori (Nakamise Shopping Street 9:00 - 19:00) · Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center - Free viewing deck of Asakusa · -- Aoi Marushin - Famous Tempura Restaurant - Right of Kaminari Gate at Sensoji Temple · -- Maguro Bito - Along Nakamise Shopping Street leading up to Asakusa Kannon Temple (Sushi) · Shibuya · Shibuya Crossing · -- Starbucks Shibuya · Hachiko Statue · Centre Gai · Koen Dori (Park Street) · Spain Slope · Love Hotel Hill · Shibuya 109 (Shibuya ichi-maru-kyu) · Department Stores: Tokyu / Tokyu Hands / Seibu / Loft / Parco · Department Stores Food Hall · Uogashi Nihon-ichi -- Standing Sushi Bar at Shibuya Dogenzaka Store & various locations
    Night
    Shinjuku · * Ichiran -- Tonkatsu Ramen, Privacy Booth -- Super Enak · Omoide Yokocho (Izakaya Alley) · Golden Gai -- Izakaya is night only, from 8pm · Kabukicho (Shinjuku Red Light District) · Hotel Gracery Shinjuku · 1-19-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan 160-0021
    Notes
    8:50 Arriving in Tokyo Haneda Airport · -- Exchange JR Pass & Buy Suica Card @ JPY5000 -- JR EAST Travel Service Center (Tokyo Monorail 2F Ticket Gate/Arrival lobby) - Everyone has to queue up. ACtivate 7-days JR pass starts 18 October -- Pick up wi-fi -- 3rd Floor of JAL ABC DEPARTURE COUNTER in Haneda International Airport. Present your PASSPORT and TRACKING NUMBER to the counter officers. · Haneda Airport to Shinjuku Area: 50 minutes by train Take the Keihin Express to Shinagawa Station. Change to the JR Yamanote line and get off at Shinjuku Station (approx. 50 minutes) - Hotel: 5 minutes on foot from JR Shinjuku Station – East exit. Cross the road to an alleyway. Hotel has Godzilla on top · * There is Zanmai Sushi (cheap) opposite hotel · Shinjuku (Optional)
  2. Morning
    Tsukiji Fish Market · -- Sushi Breakfast (Block No. 6 - Sushi Dai / Diawa. Ronald: Ogame Sushi / Ryu Sushi) · From Shinjuku Station -- Take Oedo Subway Line to Tsukiji Shijo Station (20 mins). 5 minute walk from Tsukiji Station. · Ronald arrived in Tokyo (Narita Airport to Shinjuku 1.5h). · Ronald nyusul ke Tsukiji or kita balik ke Shinjuku · * Reserve seat for Tokyo - Kyoto JR Train
    Afternoon
    Odaiba · JR East rail lines - get off at Shimbashi station and take Yurikamome Monorail to Odaiba Kaihin Koen station · -- Man-made island in Tokyo Bay (11:00 - 21:00) · Decks Tokyo Beach · Aquacity Odaiba -- 5th Floor. Ramen Food Theme Park · DiverCity Tokyo Plaza -- Gundam Statue in front · Rainbow Bridge · Palette Town -- Venus Fort, Toyota Mega Web, Ferris Wheel · Statue of Liberty Replica · Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
  3. Evening
    Pontocho Alley · Senmonten (Best Gyoza) · Hiro Nishida's House in Gion-Shijo from Airbnb (+81 9022848436) · Hakatacho 109-2, Kyoto-shi Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-fu 605-0805, Japan
    Notes
    Tokyo to Kyoto (181 minutes) · 9:10 Depart Shinjuku (JR) - Yamanote Line (Inner Loop) - (18 Minutes) · 9:40 Transfer in Shinagawa - Shinkansen Hikari 507 (151 minutes) · 12:11 Arriving in Kyoto · Kyoto Station Area · Isetan Department Store Food Floor · Southeast Kyoto · Fushimi Inari · Downtown Kyoto · Nishiki Market · Heian Shrine · Nijo Castle · Daimaru & Takashimaya · Teramachi & Shinkyogoku Shopping Arcades
  4. Evening
    Gion (on the look-out for Geisha or Maiko) · Hiro Nishida's House in Gion-Shijo from Airbnb (+81 9022848436)
    Notes
    Kyoto - Northern Higashiyama · Eikan-do Temple · Path of Philosophy (Tetsugaku-no-Michi) · Ginkaku-ji Temple (The Silver Pavilion) · Honen-In Temple (Free) · Kyoto - Southern Higashiyama · Kiyomizudera Temple -- Before buying ticket, don't miss Tainai-Meguri · Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka Preserved Districts, Ishibei-koji Lane, Nene-no-Michi Lane
  5. Notes
    Northwest Kyoto · Kinkaku-ji Temple (the Golden Pavilion) · Ryoan-ji Temple (Rock Garden) · Bus no.59 from Kinkakuji or 20 minutes walk · Arashiyama · from Ryoanji go to Omuro-Ninnaji Station to Arashiyama · Arashiyama Sagano Scenic Train -- 25 minutes · Tenryuji Temple · Arashiyama Bamboo Grove · Togetsukyo Bridge · -- Unagiya Hirokawa - unagi specialty restaurant · Hiro Nishida's House in Gion-Shijo from Airbnb (+81 9022848436)
  6. Notes
    Kyoto to Kinosaki Onsen (145 minutes) · 11:25 Depart Kyoto (Track 31) -- Ltd Exp Kinosaki 5 (144 mins) · 13:49 Arriving in Kinosaki Onsen · Free shuttle bus front of Kinosaki Onsen Station. Just tell the shuttle bus staff/driver, "Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei" and they will take you to our ryokan. If you arrive and cannot locate the shuttle bus go to the "Tourist Information Counter" building across the street from Kinosaki Onsen Station (next to the coin lockers) and ask them to call us. · Nishimuraya shuttle bus available: 8:30-11:30 & 15:00-1800 & 20:00-22:00 / departs every hour & half-hour / Route: Shogetsutei -> Honkan -> Eki Dori Park -> Kinosaki Stn · Stroll around town in Yukata and geta (wooden clogs) · Public Hot Springs -- Jizo-yu offers family private baths (3000 yen for 40 mins) · Baths of Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei are open: 12:00 - 00:30 / 05:30 - 10:00 · Bath name / approx walk time from Shogetsutei / open / close / day closed · Kouno-yu / 7 mins / 07:00 / 23:00 / closed Mondays -> Enak (morning?) · Mandara-yu / 10 mins / 15:00 / 23:00 / closed Tuesdays -> Biasa (no need) · Goshono-yu / 15 mins / 07:00 / 23:00 / closed 1st & 3rd Thursday of month -> Enak (night) · Ichino-yu / 17 mins / 07:00 / 23:00 / closed Wednesdays -> biasa, can visit kl mau · Yanagi-yu / 19 mins / 15:00 / 23:00 / closed Thursdays -> smallest, hottest (no need) · Jizou-yu / 21 mins / 07:00 / 23:00 / closed Fridays ->gk pernah, small and have neighbourhood feel (masuk bntr have a look after satonoyu) · Satono-yu / 25 mins / 13:00 / 21:00 / closed Mondays -> Largest (before dinner) · 18:30 Dinner in Hotel · Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei · +81 796 32 3535
  7. Afternoon
    Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan) - (9:30 - 20:00) · -- Take a picture of Tempozan Ferris Wheel · -- Naniwa Food Theme Park -- inside Tempozan Marketplace · Osakako Station(From Shinsaibashi 19 Minutes)
    Evening
    Dotonbori Shopping Arcade - Neon Magic at night · Hotel MyStays Shinsaibashi · 1-9-30, Nishi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Namba, Osaka, Japan 542-0086
    Notes
    Kinosaki Onsen to Osaka (170 minutes) · 11:33 Depart Kinosaki Onsen -- Ltd Exp Konotori 14 (170 minutes) · 14:23 Arriving in Osaka · Osaka
  8. Notes
    Osaka to Nara (51 minutes) · 9:31 Depart Shinsaibashi -- Osaka City Subway Midosuji Line (9 minutes) · 9:47 Transfer in Tennoji (Track 16) -- JR Yamatoji Line Rapid Service (35 minutes) · 10:22 Arriving in Nara · Nara · Todaiji Temple · See Deer in Nara Park · Isuien Garden · Naramachi -- some traditional residential building are preserved and open to public. Free: Koshi-no-Ie Residence (Naramachi Lattic House), Nara Craft Museum (Nara Kogeikan), Naramachi Shiryokan · Osaka -- Free Activities · Hotel MyStays Shinsaibashi
  9. Notes
    Osaka Castle · Osaka Shopping Area in Minami (Namba) and Kita (Umeda) · Shopping at Tenjinbashi-suji -- Long, straight and covered shopping arcade · -- Tenmangu Shrine · -- Osaka Museum of House & Living -- Can hire kimono · Shinsaibashi-suji · Osaka to Tokyo (190 minutes) · Hotel Gracery Shinjuku · 1-19-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan 160-0021
  10. Morning
    Meiji Jingu (Meiji Shrine) · JR Yamatone Line (4m) · Yoyogi Koen (Yoyogi Park) -- Next to Meiji Jingu
    Afternoon
    Harajuku · Harajuku Station (Between Shinjuku and Shibuya) · Takeshita Dori (most shops do not open before 11am) · Omotesando (Tokyo Champ-Elysees) · -- Aoyama Flower Market Tea House - 5 minute walk from Omotesando Station · Harajuku Crepes · Tonkatsu Lunch · Kiddy Land · Ginza · Shibuya or Optional Tokyo Activities
    Evening
    Roponggi · From Shinjuku Station -- direct Oedo Subway Line (10 minutes) · Roponggi Hills, Mori Tower, Tokyo City View · Tokyo Midtown · Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
  11. Notes
    Tokyo Free Day or Nikko Day Trip · Nikko: · Okunikko · Lake Chuzenji (Chuzenjiko) · Akechidaira Plateau -- Take the ropeway to Mount Hangetsuyama · Sightseeing Boat Cruise on the lake · Ryuzu Waterfall · Central Nikko · Shinkyo Bridge · Optional Tokyo: · Ginza · -- Ginza Akebono Mochi Shop · Akihabara -- Electronics Town & Maid Café · Tokyo Skytree · Yebisu Garden Place · Tokyo Tower · * Best Tsukemen -- Rokurinsha Tokyo (Ramen Street) -- Level B1 of First Avenue Tokyo Station (inside train station on "Tokyo Ramen Street") · * 7-Eleven Food · Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
  12. Notes
    Take the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku to Tokyo Station (15 minutes) and transfer to the JR Keiyo or JR Musashino Line to Maihama Station (15 minutes). Note that the platforms at Tokyo Station are about a ten minute walk apart from each other. The entire one way trip takes about 40 minutes. · Ronald balik Melbourne · Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
  13. Notes
    Disneysea · Hotel Gracery Shinjuku · TOKYO · 11:45 Depart Tokyo to Jakarta (7h 20mins) · 17:05 Arriving in Jakarta · -- Return Pocket wi-fi -- 3rd Floor of JAL ABC DEPARTURE COUNTER in Haneda International Airport. · JAKARTA · JAKARTA · JAKARTA · JAKARTA · 22:30 Depart Jakarta to Melbourne (6h 30mins) · MELBOURNE · 9:00 Arriving in Melbourne

Only days recorded in the source are shown.

Original Japan blogAccess original Google Sheet

Header photo: Wikimedia Commons — Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto