September 4–18 • Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka → Tokyo
Everything is planned around these. Exact dates are being re-booked to fit the new flow (5 nights Tokyo up front, a Miyajima island night mid-trip). (Optional upgrades are in "Worth a Move".)
Akasaka-mitsuke - dead-central Tokyo. Sits on the Ginza + Marunouchi lines (the Ginza line runs straight to Asakusa, Ueno & Shibuya), so hopping between neighborhoods is fast. Great base for the flexible Fuji day-trip window (go on the clearest morning).
📍 Shijo-Omiya — Hankyu line + the Randen tram straight to Arashiyama. 8 min to downtown Nishiki/Gion. Superb Kyoto + Nara/Osaka hub.
📍 Shinsaibashi — walk to Dotonbori, Kuromon, Amerikamura. Midosuji line spine of Osaka. Perfect for the Kansai day trips (Hiroshima/Himeji/Nara).
Kamata (Ota-ku) — Keikyu + JR Keihin-Tohoku. Easy to Yokohama & Kamakura south. A bit off-center for central nightlife, and ~100 min from your Narita departure — plan the last morning accordingly.
Mizuhasou, Itsukushima island — a traditional shrine-town ryokan a short walk from the floating torii, with kaiseki dinner and a hot-spring bath. One magical night after the day-trippers leave. Book ahead; carry only an overnight bag (forward big luggage Osaka → Kamata).
Click any day to expand · September 4–18, 2026
Sep 4 (Thu) - Airport to Akasaka-mitsuke hotel, gentle first night
You land at Narita ~4:30 PM, so today is a gentle, evening-only easing-in: clear the airport, ride into central Tokyo, drop your bags in Akasaka, then a short shrine stroll and an easy local dinner before an early, jet-lag-friendly night. (Save Senso-ji for tomorrow morning.)
~4:30 PM · Terminal 1 or 2
Wheels down. Budget ~1 hr for immigration, baggage & customs, and knock out the arrival admin: show your pre-filled Visit Japan Web QR, activate the JR Pass (if bought), grab pocket WiFi/eSIM, and load a Suica with ¥3,000.
~5:45 PM
The Skyliner is the fast, comfy way in. At Ueno, transfer to the Ginza line — that's your hotel's own line, so it's a single easy hop straight to Akasaka-mitsuke, no messy changes while jet-lagged.
~7:00 PM · Akasaka-mitsuke · your base Sep 4-9 (5 nights)
Check in, drop the bags, freshen up — but don't unpack the whole suitcase. Grab your Suica and a light layer and head back out while the jet lag is still bluffing. You're now dead-central and on the Ginza + Marunouchi lines.
~7:30 PM · free · grounds open late
A serene hilltop shrine minutes from the hotel, with an atmospheric tunnel of red torii gates up the hillside — beautifully quiet and lit at night. A perfect low-effort "we're really in Japan" first taste.
~8:15 PM · keep it simple & close
Akasaka is packed with restaurants — a lucky landing for night one. You're jet-lagged, so keep it easy:
Blue sightseeing · red food · grey transit · pins match the timeline numbers
Sep 5 (Fri) - Old town, the tower, and otaku heaven
A relaxed east-side day, mostly on one train from the hotel. Old-town temple, a chef's-supply street, up the Skytree, then otaku wonderland — and if jet lag has you up at dawn, kick off with a Tsukiji breakfast first. Breathing room built in for day one.
Best ~7-9 AM · many stalls close by early afternoon
Turn the jet lag into a feature: a dawn feast at the outer market — fresh sushi, tamagoyaki on a stick, grilled scallops, uni, and knife shops. (The wholesale market moved to Toyosu, but the outer market street food is the real draw.)
Morning · free
Tokyo's oldest temple in daylight — the giant Kaminarimon lantern, five-story pagoda, and the Nakamise souvenir street while you're fresh.
Chefs' supply street — Japanese knives, ceramics, and the famous plastic food samples. Great souvenir hunting.
Midday · go up the Tembo Deck
Ride to 350m (and 450m) for the best all-Tokyo panorama. Lunch in the Solamachi mall below, and the Sumida Aquarium is here too if you want it.
Afternoon
Retro arcades, multi-floor anime/game towers, and card hunting at Hareruya & the Akiba card shops.
Akiba ramen, katsu curry, or a themed cafe — then an easy ride back to Akasaka-mitsuke.
Blue sightseeing · red food · pins match the timeline
Sep 6 (Sat) - Forest-shrine calm into Harajuku color
A relaxed west-side morning-to-afternoon, almost all on foot: a serene forest shrine, a big city park, Harajuku's madcap fashion lane, and the chic tree-lined boulevards of Omotesando. (Shibuya & Shinjuku get their own day tomorrow.)
Morning · free
A serene forest shrine right in the city. Do it early while it's peaceful — you might catch a traditional wedding procession.
Tokyo's big green lung — buskers, rockabilly dancers on weekends, and space to breathe before the crowds.
Midday · lunch here
Harajuku's madcap fashion lane — rainbow crepes, kawaii shops, peak youth culture.
Afternoon
The chic, tree-lined "Tokyo Champs-Elysees" — architecture, cafes, flagship stores — then the hip boutiques of Cat Street.
Stylish cafes and restaurants everywhere — or detour to the quiet Nezu Museum garden before an easy ride back.
Blue sightseeing · red food · pins match the timeline
Sep 7 (Sun) - The famous crossing at sunset into neon nightlife
Part two of the west side, on its own day so it doesn't feel rushed: the world's most famous crossing, a Pokemon Center, a rooftop sunset, then Shinjuku's neon for a proper Tokyo night.
Midday
The legendary Scramble Crossing and the Hachiko statue — peak Tokyo energy. Grab lunch around Center-gai.
Pokemon Center #1 of 3
Inside Parco — first of your three Pokemon Center stops. Nintendo & Jump shops share the floor.
Afternoon
Rooftop park over a sleek mall, plus Shibuya's endless shops and record stores to fill the afternoon.
Sunset · book timed ticket
Open-air rooftop deck — the best sunset skyline in the city.
Evening
Peak Tokyo neon. Free night views from the Metropolitan Government Building decks, dinner in the smoky lantern lanes of Omoide Yokocho, then a wander through Kabukicho and the tiny bars of Golden Gai.
Blue sightseeing · red food · pins match the timeline
Sep 8 (Mon) - Clear forecast = Fuji; cloudy = Kamakura coast
Your Fuji window - check windy.com / tenki.jp the night before and feel free to swap this with any earlier Tokyo day for the clearest morning. If Fuji is hidden, hit the Kamakura (cloudy) tab above for the all-weather coast day instead. Go early either way.
Go early · reserve seats ahead
The hotel's Marunouchi line runs straight to Shinjuku — then catch the Fuji Excursion limited express to Kawaguchiko (~2 hrs), or the cheaper Shinjuku highway bus (~1h45).
The postcard shot — five-story pagoda with Fuji behind. Climb the ~400 steps.
Classic Fuji-over-the-water views along the shoreline.
Quick cable car to a panorama deck over the lake and mountain.
Flower fields framing Fuji across the lake — gorgeous photo spot.
Soak with Fuji in view (e.g. Fuji Lake Hotel, ~¥1,000-2,000), then back to central Tokyo by night.
Sep 9 (Tue) - Shinkansen west, settle into Shijo-Omiya
Bullet-train west, drop into your Kyoto base, then a gentle first evening among Nishiki, Pontocho, and Gion. Forward big luggage from Akasaka to the Kyoto hotel (takkyubin) so the shinkansen is easy.
Morning · Nozomi/Hikari ~2h15
Bonus Fuji shot: sit on the right (D/E seats) — Fuji appears ~40 min in (a bonus if Sep 8 clouded over).
Head to the hotel; your forwarded bags should be waiting.
Your base Sep 9-13 (4 nights)
Drop bags, freshen up — downtown is 8 min away.
"Kyoto's kitchen" — snack your way down the covered market.
Lantern-lit riverside dining lane — atmospheric first Kyoto dinner.
Book ahead · engraving option
A hands-on Gion workshop where you shape and finish your own pair of Japanese chopsticks — add the name-engraving option for a personalized his-and-hers keepsake. Reserve a late-afternoon/early-evening slot.
The geisha district's lanterns and old machiya — magical at nightfall.
Blue sightseeing · red food · grey transit · pins match the timeline
Sep 10 (Wed) - Torii gates, Higashiyama, Gion
A dawn start earns you the torii gates almost to yourself, then a slow wander through eastern Kyoto's most beautiful lanes. Early start beats crowds AND September heat — carry water + a hand towel.
~7 AM
The 10,000 vermilion torii gates almost to yourself at dawn. Hike as high as you like.
Midday · ~¥400
Hilltop temple with its famous wooden stage and city views.
Sannenzaka / Ninenzaka — matcha, crafts, kimono strolls, preserved old streets.
Canal-side stroll under the trees — serene late-afternoon option.
Back to Gion for dinner among the lanterns.
Blue sightseeing · red food · pins match the timeline
Sep 11 (Thu) - Bamboo, Kinkaku-ji, Pokemon Center
Hop the Randen tram from Omiya (your doorstep!) straight to Arashiyama before the buses arrive — a genuine perk of your hotel. Use it before 8 AM.
Randen tram from your doorstep
The towering bamboo tunnel — ethereal and empty first thing in the morning.
UNESCO Zen temple with a stunning garden backed by the mountains.
Midday
The gold-leaf Golden Pavilion mirrored in its pond — unmissable.
Japan's most famous Zen rock garden — quiet contemplation.
Pokemon Center #2 of 3
Afternoon Pokemon stop near downtown.
Tsujiri or Nakamura Tokichi — top-tier matcha desserts.
Blue sightseeing · red food · pins match the timeline
Sep 12 (Fri) - Full relaxed Kyoto day (no backtrack)
Since Nara moved to tomorrow's move day, today is a full relaxed Kyoto day instead of a round trip — you gained real time and cut ~1.5 hrs of backtracking.
The Silver Pavilion + its exquisite moss and sand gardens.
Tree-lined canal stroll linking Ginkaku-ji toward Nanzen-ji.
Grand Zen temple gate and the photogenic brick aqueduct.
Shogun's palace with squeaky "nightingale floors" — close to your base.
Loose afternoon — tea ceremony, deeper Nishiki browsing, or Teramachi arcade gift-hunting.
Last Kyoto dinner in Pontocho — or a kaiseki splurge.
Blue sightseeing · red food · pins match the timeline
Sep 13 (Sat) - Sightsee Nara en route, no backtrack
Nara sits on the Kyoto-Osaka line, so you sightsee it en route — zero wasted transit. Forward big luggage straight to the Osaka hotel (takkyubin) and carry only a daypack.
Morning · ~45 min
Check out, forward the bags, and ride down to Nara with just a daypack.
Bowing deer everywhere — deer crackers ¥200, bow and they bow back.
The Great Buddha Hall — one of the world's largest wooden buildings.
Lantern shrine deep in the forest — thousands of bronze and stone lanterns.
Your base Sep 13-15 (2 nights)
Bags already waiting. Squeeze in Pokemon Center Osaka DX & Cafe if timing allows (cafe needs a reservation) — Pokemon Center #3.
Glico sign, takoyaki, okonomiyaki — five minutes from your bed.
Blue sightseeing · red food · grey transit · pins match the timeline
Sep 14 (Sun) - Kuromon, Shinsekai, Umeda, Amerikamura
Osaka is the kitchen of Japan — today is a full eating-and-exploring loop through its markets, retro districts, and vintage haunts. Come hungry.
Morning
Sashimi, wagyu skewers, crab — graze your way through the covered market.
Gloriously retro neon district around the Tsutenkaku Tower.
Deep-fried skewers — never double-dip the shared sauce!
Floating Garden Observatory — open-air rooftop views over the city.
Vintage fashion + Book-Off / Hard-Off for used Pokemon cards.
Round 2 of Dotonbori plus the hidden, mossy Hozenji Yokocho alley.
Blue sightseeing · red food · pins match the timeline
Sep 15 (Mon) - Peace Park afternoon, sleep on the island
Turn the big western trip into an overnight: Hiroshima's Peace Park in the afternoon, then cross to Miyajima to sleep on the island — the magic hour when the day-trippers leave, the torii lights up, and the deer have the streets. Forward big luggage Osaka → Kamata and carry just an overnight bag. Check out of Osaka this morning.
Nozomi shinkansen ~1h25
Check out, forward the big bags to Kamata, then bullet west with an overnight bag.
The preserved skeletal dome — a sobering, essential landmark.
Moving and unforgettable — allow a couple of hours. (Okonomiyaki Hiroshima-style for a late lunch nearby.)
Evening · book ahead
Drop the bag at Mizuhasou, a shrine-town ryokan a short walk from the torii — kaiseki dinner and a hot-spring bath included. This is the whole point: the island after dark.
Check tide times!
The great vermilion gate and Itsukushima Shrine, illuminated at night with barely anyone around — the reward for staying over.
Grilled oysters, anago-meshi (conger eel rice), and fresh momiji-manju off the griddle.
Sep 16 (Tue) - Dawn island, bullet east, teamLab at night
Wake up on the island for the torii before the day-trippers arrive, then ferry + shinkansen the long way back to Tokyo (a ~4 hr bullet ride, but budget ~5.5-6 hrs door-to-door with the ferry, local trains and transfers). Check into your final Kamata base to drop the bag first, then double back for a Ginza wander and cap the night with teamLab Planets. Forward big luggage Miyajima/Hiroshima → Kamata hotel so you roam bag-free.
Before the ferries bring crowds
The floating torii and free-roaming deer almost to yourself, a quiet second look at Itsukushima Shrine, then check out of Mizuhasou and forward the bags.
Nozomi shinkansen ~4 hrs
Grab an ekiben and settle in — it's a long, scenic ride east. Reserve seats.
Mid-afternoon. Hop the Keihin-Tohoku line straight down to Kamata to drop your bag and check in first before doubling back for the evening.
Your final base Sep 16-18 (2 nights)
Check in, meet your forwarded luggage, and drop the overnight bag so you can roam free tonight. (In a hurry? Tokyo Station coin lockers are the no-backtrack alternative.)
Uniqlo flagship, Itoya stationery, depachika gifts, and an early wagyu/tempura bite before teamLab.
Evening · book a timed slot ahead!
Barefoot, water-and-light immersive digital art — the perfect evening finale, and Toyosu is right on the way back down to Kamata to sleep.
Blue sightseeing · red food · grey transit · pins match the timeline
Sep 17 (Wed) - Full theme-park day (easy from Kamata)
A full theme-park day at the one-of-a-kind, nautical-themed DisneySea (adults love it). ~50 min door to gate from Kamata. Arrive before opening.
Before park opening
Keihin-Tohoku line → Tokyo Station (~20 min).
Change to the Keiyo Line to Maihama (~15 min), then the Disney Resort Line monorail.
Highlights: Fantasy Springs (Frozen/Tangled/Peter Pan), Journey to the Center of the Earth, Tower of Terror, Soaring, and the harbor shows. Grab churros and the famous gyoza dog. Stay for the nighttime water spectacular, then the easy ride back to Kamata.
Sep 18 (Thu) - Early-ish start to Narita
Home time. Kamata → Narita is ~95-110 min, so plan the morning around your flight. Mata ne!
Morning
JR/Keikyu to central Tokyo, then Narita Express or Keisei Skyliner. For an evening flight you get a relaxed-ish morning; for a midday flight, head out early.
Return WiFi, spend your remaining IC balance, and keep tax-free receipts handy for immigration.
Hand-picked sights, food, and one big event that sit close to your home bases and aren't already in the day-by-day. Every name is a direct Google Maps link. Perfect for filling a spare morning or swapping in on a flex day.
The other teamLab (roaming, no water) at Azabudai Hills near Roppongi - a short hop from Akasaka if you can't get a Planets slot.
The classic red-and-white icon, ~15 min from the hotel - lovely lit up at night.
Rotating modern-art shows and a wraparound observation deck over the skyline. Nightlife district next door.
Free, serene former castle grounds and moats in the dead center of the city - easy Marunouchi-line hop.
A gorgeous bayside Edo garden with a teahouse on a pond, skyscrapers behind. Reachable by river boat too.
Elegant art museum in Omotesando with a hidden, tranquil strolling garden - a stylish rainy-day pick.
Century-old sukiyaki/shabu-shabu house - a great splurge wagyu dinner when you're in Asakusa on Day 2.
Japan's oldest amusement park (1853), tucked behind Senso-ji - charmingly retro if you want more Asakusa time.
Working samurai-drama film set + Edo town, ninja shows, cosplay. Straight up the Randen tram from your door.
A hall of 1,001 golden Kannon statues - jaw-dropping and far quieter than the big-name temples.
Kyoto's oldest Zen temple, edge of Gion - famous twin-dragon ceiling and serene gardens.
Steam locomotives to shinkansen, a real turntable and roundhouse - a fun half-day, great for train fans.
Cool northern mountain valley - riverside kawadoko dining and a shrine-to-temple forest hike.
Green-onion ramen finished with a literal fireball at your table. Pure dinner theatre.
The iconic keep + moat and park. Your plan flagged it as a fit-it-in - here's the pin for a spare morning.
One of the world's best - whale sharks in a giant central tank. Pair with the Tempozan Ferris wheel.
The giant lion-head stage - one of Osaka's most striking, photogenic shrines. A short walk from Dotonbori.
Japan's tallest skyscraper observatory - sweeping views over the whole Kansai plain.
Osaka's answer to Akihabara - more anime, retro games, and Pokemon card hunting.
Beloved no-frills sushi with huge, cheap cuts on Tenjinbashisuji - locals queue for it.
Kamata is famous as a gyoza town - Nihao's crispy-wing gyoza is the local legend. Right by your hotel.
Big, atmospheric hilltop temple with a five-story pagoda, one stop from Kamata - and rarely any tourists.
Big onsen complex near Haneda with open-air baths and planes overhead - a great pre-departure soak.
Waterfront skyline, Cosmo Clock ferris wheel, and the giant moving Gundam nearby - ~20 min south.
Design your own custom cup noodle - genuinely fun, and a quirky Yokohama add-on.
A hidden green ravine walk inside Tokyo - shady, cool, and a lovely escape north of Kamata.
Direct booking links for the things that sell out or need timed tickets, plus approximate per-person prices in CAD (at ~Y108 = $1). Book the starred ones weeks ahead.
| Activity | Day | Approx / person | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shibuya Sky observation deck * | Day 4 · Sep 7 | ~$24 (Y2,600) | shibuya-scramble-square.com |
| Fuji Excursion reserved seat * | Day 5 · Sep 8 | ~$37 (Y4,000) | fujikyu-railway.jp |
| Mt. Fuji Kachi Kachi Ropeway | Day 5 · Sep 8 | ~$9 (Y1,000) | mtfujiropeway.jp |
| Kyoto kimono rental (optional) | Day 7 / 9 · Sep 10 / 12 | ~$32 (Y3,500) | kyoto.wargo.jp |
| Nijo Castle (gate) | Day 9 · Sep 12 | ~$12 (Y1,300) | nijo-jocastle.city.kyoto.lg.jp |
| Kyoto tea ceremony (optional) | Day 9 · Sep 12 | ~$28 (Y3,000) | mai-ko.com |
| Pokemon Cafe (reservation) * | Day 10 · Sep 13 | ~$23 (Y2,500 min) | reserve.pokemon-cafe.jp |
| Universal Studios Japan (optional) | Day 12 · Sep 15 (alt) | ~$80 + Express ~$72 (Y8,600 + Y7,800) | usj.co.jp |
| Himeji Castle (gate) | Day 12 · Sep 15 (alt) | ~$9 (Y1,000) | himejicastle.jp |
| teamLab Planets * | Day 13 · Sep 16 | ~$35 (Y3,800) | planets.teamlab.art |
| Tokyo DisneySea 1-Day Passport * | Day 14 · Sep 17 | ~$82-101 (Y8,900-10,900) | tokyodisneyresort.jp |
Prices are ballpark for planning, not live quotes - confirm on each site. DisneySea/USJ tickets are dated and vary by day. CAD at ~Y108 = $1.
These all return you to a bed you've already got booked.
| From base | Trip | One-way | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akasaka | Mt. Fuji / Kawaguchiko (flex, weather) | ~2-3h | Sep 8 flex window (swap to any earlier Tokyo day). Chureito Pagoda, lake, day-use onsen. Kamakura is the all-weather fallback. |
| Kamata | Tokyo DisneySea | ~50m | Unique nautical park, Fantasy Springs, harbor shows |
| Osaka | Hiroshima + Miyajima (now an OVERNIGHT, Day 12-13) | ~1h25 | Peace Park by day, sleep by the floating torii - see the day-by-day |
| Osaka | Himeji Castle | ~40m | Most beautiful original castle in Japan |
| Akasaka / Kamata | Kamakura | ~50m-1h | Great Buddha, coastal Enoden line (also the Fuji-day fallback) |
| Kamata | Yokohama | ~20m | Chinatown, Minato Mirai, easy evening |
Experiences big enough that I'd genuinely shorten a booking to fit one in. Ranked by "wow ÷ hassle".
We've kept Fuji as a flexible day trip (Sep 8, swappable to any earlier Tokyo day) because September visibility is a gamble - smart. But if the forecast lines up beautifully, you could still turn it into a 1-night lakeside onsen ryokan stay on the fly (trade one Akasaka night). Grab a free-cancellation rate so you can pull the trigger only when Fuji's actually out. Solid picks: Kozantei Ubuya, Kukuna, or budget-friendly Fuji Lake Hotel.
Only commit if the multi-day forecast is clear - otherwise the day trip is the low-risk play.
Sleep in a working Buddhist monastery (shukubo) on sacred Mt. Koya — monk-made vegetarian dinner, dawn prayers, the lantern-lit Okunoin cemetery at night. ~2 hrs from Osaka. Trade 1 Osaka night. Deeply peaceful, totally different from everything else.
Hassle: medium (mountain access). Payoff: soul-level. Book the temple months ahead.
Good news - this one's already in your plan: Hiroshima by day, then a night on Miyajima (Day 12-13) for the illuminated torii and deer after the crowds leave. If you'd rather sleep in Hiroshima city instead (livelier evening, then a relaxed Miyajima morning), that swap works too - just book the city hotel over the island ryokan.
You depart from Narita, and Kamata is on the opposite (south) side of Tokyo - a ~100 min airport run plus it's off-center for central nightlife. If your bookings are flexible, swapping your final 1-2 nights to Ueno, Tokyo Station, or Nippori (all on the direct Skyliner/Narita Express line) makes the departure painless and puts you closer to the evening action. Otherwise, keep Kamata and just budget the extra airport time.
Intercity legs with rough per-person fares. Costs assume point-to-point tickets; JR-Pass coverage is flagged. Prices in yen (approx.).
| Day / Date | Leg | Time | Est. cost / person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 · Sep 4 | Narita -> Akasaka-mitsuke (Skyliner + Ginza) | ~75 min | Y2,780 (Access Exp. cheaper, ~Y1,500) |
| Day 5 · Sep 8 | FLEX: Fuji day trip (or Kamakura if cloudy) | ~2 hrs each way | ~Y8,000 RT (bus ~Y4,400 RT; Kamakura ~Y1,900) |
| Day 6 · Sep 9 | Tokyo -> Kyoto (Shinkansen) | ~2h15 | ~Y13,300 (JR Pass covers Hikari) + Y2,000/bag |
| Day 9 · Sep 12 | Full Kyoto day (local hops only) | in-city | ~Y800 (Suica; no backtrack now) |
| Day 10 · Sep 13 | Kyoto -> Nara -> Osaka (forward) | ~1h30 total | ~Y1,300 + Y2,000/bag forward |
| Day 12 · Sep 15 | Osaka -> Hiroshima -> Miyajima (overnight) | ~2h + ferry | ~Y11,000 + Y360 ferry (JR Pass covers rail) + Y2,000/bag to Kamata |
| Day 13 · Sep 16 | Miyajima -> Tokyo -> Kamata (ferry + local + Shinkansen) | ~5.5-6 hrs (door-to-door w/ transfers) | ~Y19,500 (JR Pass covers ferry, locals & Nozomi*/Hikari) |
| Day 14 · Sep 17 | Kamata -> Tokyo DisneySea (Maihama) | ~50 min | ~Y400 rail + park ~Y8,900-10,900 |
| Day 15 · Sep 18 | Kamata -> Narita (via Nippori Skyliner) | ~95-110 min | ~Y2,900 (N'EX ~Y3,000; leave ~4 hrs early) |