This page contains a summary of our trip to Japan in October 2024. It contains the list of things we did together with recommendations and notes. Everything is also available on a map. It should include all the places we went to; temples, restaurants, hotels, etc.
Itinerary
| Date | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-11 | Brussels | Flight from Brussels to Shanghai with Juneyao Airlines (11h) 🛫 |
| 2024-10-12 | Tokyo | Flight from Shanghai to Kansai International Airport (Tokyo) (2h45) 🛫 |
| Akihabara | Afternoon visit |
|
| 2024-10-13 | Ueno Park | |
| Asakusa | Sensō-ji Temple (5 ⭐) Possible to drink a beer in the Asahi Sky Room for a nice view on Asakusa (4 ⭐) |
|
| 2024-10-14 | Imperial Palace Park | Big and spacious park (3 ⭐) |
| Shinjuku | Strongly recommend going to the top of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Amazing view and free (5 ⭐) | |
| 2024-10-15 | Nikko | Day trip to Nikko Many temples to see. We liked Nikkō Tōshogū Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park(5 ⭐) |
| 2024-10-16 | Shibuya | The famous crossing is overrated |
| Meiji Jingu Gyoen(2 ⭐, probably nicer in the Spring) | ||
| Meiji Jingu | ||
| Takeshita Street | Nice bustling street | |
| 2024-10-17 | Hakone | Recommended hotel: RoheN Hakone Yumoto There is a classic trip that goes to the Sulfur Mines and then you take a boat (see details below) |
| 2024-10-18 | Hakone | Hakone Open-Air Museum (4 ⭐) Shinkansen to Kyoto |
| 2024-10-19 | Kyoto | Nishiki Market - Bustling market with lots of food stalls (4 ⭐) |
| 2024-10-20 | Kyoto North-West | Kinkaku-ji Ryōan-ji Myōshin-ji Temple complex Togetsukyō Bridge Tenryu-ji Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (very nice if not too crowded) Giōji Temple (cute tiny temple with small garden) |
| 2024-10-21 | Nara | Amazing experience, deers everywhere (5 ⭐) Spend a full day there |
| 2024-10-22 | Kyoto | Fushimi Inari Taisha Nice walk in the mountain (4 ⭐) Ryōzen Kannon Temple (2 ⭐) |
| Kyoto North-East | Nanzen-ji Walk to the Higashiyama Jisho-ji on the Philosopher’s Path (5 ⭐) Ate at the Yakiyasai Isoya (see restaurants below) |
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| 2024-10-23 | Kyoto | Nijō Castle (3 ⭐) Yasaka Shrine (2 ⭐) |
| 2024-10-24 | Osaka | Dotonbori street & Namba area |
| 2024-10-25 | Osaka | Osaka Castle Umeda Sky Building (sky view from the top of the skyscraper) |
| 2024-10-26 | Himeji | Train to Himeji to see the Castle (2 ⭐) |
| Kobe | Stopped to Kobe on the way back. Ate the best beef in the world (see restaurants below) Chill afternoon in Kobe |
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| 2024-10-27 | Osaka | Minoh Falls (we did not want to take a train for too long so we found this place not too far) Very nice walk outside of the city (4 ⭐) |
| 2024-10-28 | Universal Studios Japan | Full day in Universal Studios Japan (5 ⭐) STRONGLY recommend the water show: WaterWorld. Tip: Sit in the back (5 ⭐) |
| 2024-10-29 | Osaka | Last walk in Osaka near Tsutenkaku Tennoji Zoo |
| Flight from Kansai International Airport (Tokyo) to Shanghai (2h45) 🛫 | ||
| 2024-10-30 | Shanghai | Flight from Shanghai to Brussels with Juneyao Airlines (12h15) 🛫 |
Notes
- Fill in the immigration in advance, you’ll skip a huge queue upon arrival
- We did a lot of city. If we would go again we would for sure add more countryside
- Buy a Pasmo card directly on your iPhone (you can charge it whenever you want and take almost all metros with it)
- It is quite normal to queue for a spot at restaurant. Japanese do not stay long so the queues move fast.
- There are no trash cans. Walking for hours with your trash is common
- There are lots of toilets though, everywhere
- Tipping is not expected, can even be considered rude
- Fruits are crazy expensive, be careful
- When you take an express train, you don’t buy a more expensive ticket, you buy a normal ticket and also a fare adjustment ticket
- You cannot smoke in the street. There are some smoking area
- Stations are huge. You often need to find the right exit to end up on the right side of the crossroad when you go up.
- Do not say “Tchin Tchin” in Japan. It means penis. Say “Kanpai” (cheers)
- If you are into it, visit a Pokemon center and buy some nice Pokemon plushies (I went to one in Tokyo and one in Osaka)
Restaurants
Here is a list of restaurants we really liked
| Name | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Ramen Tatsunoya Shinjuku | Amazing ramen | Tokyo |
| Karashibi Miso Ramen Kikanbō Kanda Honten | Amazing ramen | Tokyo |
| Yakiyasai Isoya | Very cool atmosphere | Kyoto |
| Kawano | Amazing Sushi experience (must book) | Kyoto |
| Kobe Beef Steak Restaurant Royal Mouriya | Best beef in my life | Kobe |
Detailed information
Hakone
We spent two days in Hakone. We bought the Hakone pass at the station in Tokyo. It contains the round trip Tokyo-Hakone but also all the transportation over there. There is a very nice full day trip from Hakone-Yumoto; you take the little Tozan train up to Gora. Then a Cable Car brings you to Owakudani where you can eat a black egg that gives you 7 more years to live. After reaching the lake Ashi you onboard the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise. Visit the shrines and take the bus back to Hakone-Yumoto.
