Things to do in Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Takayama
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](https://ebjhz5k35sq.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/IMG_3694-1024x819.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
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
![Fushimi Inari Shrine](https://ebjhz5k35sq.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/fushi-1024x683.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
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
![Osaka Castle](https://ebjhz5k35sq.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/IMG_4358-1024x684.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
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
![Dotonburi](https://ebjhz5k35sq.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/namba-1024x683.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
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
![](https://ebjhz5k35sq.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/IMG_4067-1024x768.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
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!
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