Explore Japan! 13 Days Traversing the Streets and Alleys of Japan! A Brilliant Classic Route Plan!

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Japan, as one of the neighboring countries of China, has now become a popular tourist destination. Major cities have direct flights, taking only a few hours to reach, convenient and fast. Moreover, the language and culture contain Chinese characters, making independent travel quite easy, especially suitable for friends traveling abroad for the first time. This trip to Japan, counting the first and last days for departure and return, had an actual itinerary of 13 days, passing through Osaka - Nara - Kyoto - Kawaguchiko - Tokyo, entering from Osaka and exiting from Tokyo, without backtracking, spending time on fun rather than on the road.

To tour the Osaka city area, it is recommended to buy the "Osaka Amazing Pass" online in advance, available in one-day and two-day versions. Within the validity period, you can not only ride all subways and buses in Osaka unlimitedly but also visit over 35 attractions for free, including popular spots like Osaka Castle and Tsutenkaku. It is a very cost-effective and thoughtful pass, saving time, effort, and money. Highly recommended!!

Osaka Castle is one of Osaka's landmark attractions and one of Japan's special historical sites, an ancient castle embodying Japanese history. With Osaka Castle as the center, along with surrounding greenery and some canals, it forms Osaka Castle Park, which is free to enter.

"Tenshu" refers to the highest point in a castle, which in ancient times served lookout and command functions, also implying high authority. "Tenshukaku" naturally means the tallest building within the castle. The Tenshukaku of Osaka Castle now houses an exhibition hall of ancient history and culture. The top floor offers a great view of Osaka city. Admission is 600 yen, free with the Amazing Pass.

One of Japan's oldest temple complexes, built under the supervision of Prince Shotoku as Japan's earliest Buddhist temple. The Honbo Garden inside is quiet and simple, a highlight. It is relatively less known with fewer tourists. The surrounding area is free, entry to the central temple is 300 yen, free with the Amazing Pass.

Osaka's tallest landmark building, modeled after the Eiffel Tower. You can take an elevator to the observation deck. Admission is 800 yen, free with the Amazing Pass. Below Tsutenkaku is a lively shopping street.

Located at Osaka Port, with a diameter of 100 meters, it was once the world's largest Ferris wheel. A full rotation takes 15 minutes, offering a panoramic view of the Osaka port area. Admission is 800 yen, free with the Amazing Pass.

Take a sailboat sightseeing tour, also at Osaka Port, next to the Ferris wheel. Modeled after Columbus's ship "Santa Maria" when discovering the New World, it departs from the Kaiyukan (Osaka Aquarium), goes around Osaka Port, and returns, about 45 minutes. Daytime 1600 yen; dusk 2100 yen, free with the Amazing Pass (choose one from two options).

One of Osaka's highest observation decks, at 173 meters, it is a rare 360-degree open-air rooftop observation deck in Japan. Admission is 1500 yen, free with the Amazing Pass if entering before 18:00.

Ferris wheel atop the Hep Five complex shopping mall, one rotation takes 15 minutes, an excellent choice for a slow view of the city nightscape. Admission is 600 yen, free with the Amazing Pass.

During this Japan trip, we visited both Universal Studios and Disney, so naturally, I will compare them. Disney is more child-oriented, suitable for kids, so the rides are not very thrilling, and due to its fame, it is extremely crowded. Universal Studios, on the other hand, has almost all rides that are super thrilling, more suitable for adults, and less crowded. So, if choosing one, for thrill and shorter lines, I absolutely recommend Universal Studios!! Universal Studios is divided into several sections: Harry Potter, Minions, Jurassic Park, San Francisco, New York, etc., each with its own theme. Even the highlight of amusement parks—roller coasters—comes in several varieties.

Screams nonstop!! A super thrilling roller coaster multiplied by n!! An outdoor roller coaster, extremely fast, and with spins, making you feel like flying!! It's the number one most thrilling ride in the park, a permanent attraction, a must-ride!!

A new attraction built in January 2020, so there isn't much information online. From personal experience, it's absolutely awesome and stunning!! It's an indoor roller coaster but different from ordinary ones. So-called XR is the latest VR technology + roller coaster form. Wearing VR goggles, you are fully immersed in the world of Attack on Titan!! Evading the Titans' pursuit!!

A must for Harry Potter fans!! Like Attack on Titan, it's also an indoor roller coaster, using panoramic screens + physical models + roller coaster form. Soar through the magical world with Harry Potter!!

One of the few water rides in the park. Though not as thrilling as the previous ones, it's very interesting and suitable for kids. Follow the navigator on a boat trip and encounter a great white shark along the way. Although you know it's fake, with the navigator's dedicated performance and exquisite model scenes, it feels very real and vivid, making it a fun experience.

Besides the few impressive rides listed above, there are many more that are very fun!! The key point is that queues are fast, no need to buy express passes. You can ride over a dozen in a day. Absolutely awesome!! Finally, before the park closes, there is a nighttime parade with the background music YMCA, super beautiful and super high-spirited!!

Having arrived in Osaka, how could we not go to Nara? When people say go to Nara, most are heading to Nara Park to see the deer. Departing from Osaka, take the Kintetsu Railway to Kintetsu Nara Station, a one-way trip of about an hour. After exiting the station, walk towards Nara Park, and soon you'll see a deer walking gracefully towards us.

The entire Nara Park is open for free all day, and the deer are free-range. Some even wander onto the roads, but cars know to yield. Here you can see the harmonious beauty of humans and animals. The atmosphere is very relaxed and pleasant, with fresh air, perfect for an outdoor outing. The deer are very well-behaved and gentle, not actively harming people. Those with antlers have had them removed, so there's no risk of being injured by deer. It's very safe. Along the way, there are many stalls selling deer crackers, all at a uniform price of 200 yen per bag. You can buy some, and the deer will gather around you.

Very close to Nara Park, you can walk there. It is free to enter, so you can visit it incidentally.

If you, like us, are only going for the deer, half a day in Nara is enough. We returned to Osaka at noon and went to Osaka's most famous food gathering place, "Kuromon Ichiba Market." The entire market is spacious, very clean and tidy. It sells both raw and cooked food, with a wide variety and fresh quality. Made to order, you can eat your fill of snacks.

After leaving Kuromon Market, walking along, you can find Osaka's anime gathering place, "Nipponbashi." Similar to Tokyo's Akihabara, it is a holy land for anime fans, quite close to Kuromon Market. Anime fans cannot miss it.

Walk straight north from Namba. The whole road, apart from the street, is an indoor pedestrian street, leading to Dotonbori.

North of Dotonbori is Shinsaibashi. Walking all the way from Namba, this entire pedestrian street is very long and bustling, especially at night, with huge crowds. Whatever you want to buy or eat, it's all here.

Kyoto is one of Japan's most ancient cities, best reflecting Japanese historical and cultural heritage. It's only an hour by train from Osaka, making it a must-visit on the Kansai route.

Most people don't know that about one-third of Japan's shrines belong to Inari shrines, and Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of all Inari shrines, with a long history. It is also one of Kyoto's representative attractions, open for free all day. Among them, the "Senbon Torii" is the most prominent, an ideal spot for beautiful kimono photos.

Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka are adjacent to Kiyomizudera, and you pass by them on the way to Kiyomizudera. Anyone coming to Kiyomizudera will definitely drop by here. Now it is a characteristic shopping street with Kyoto charm, but it still retains the old red lattice and insect-cage window style of traditional townhouses, very Japanese. It is one of Japan's protected areas of historical building groups.

Kiyomizudera is one of Kyoto's oldest temples, one of Kyoto's three famous landmarks, and a World Heritage Site, enjoying great fame. It is also an excellent place for cherry blossom viewing in spring and autumn leaves viewing in autumn.

Located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, this shrine is one of the oldest in the Kansai region. Situated at a three-way intersection, facing the main road, it is in a bustling and excellent location.

Near Yasaka Shrine, it is Japan's oldest geisha district, with almost all buildings from the Edo period. It is one of the few places where traditional geisha can still be seen today.

After touring Kyoto, we took a night bus from Kyoto to Kawaguchiko directly that evening, ending the Kansai route and heading to the Kanto region. From Kansai to Kanto, there are three options: plane, Shinkansen, and bus. Choosing the night bus, though less comfortable, you sleep and arrive, saving money and time.

Kawaguchiko is the tourism center of the Fuji Five Lakes, developed earliest with the most complete facilities. From here, you can enjoy a distant view of Mount Fuji, with just the right distance, and even see the "reverse Fuji." The surrounding facilities are rich, with many niche attractions, requiring at least two days and one night. Starting from Osaka or Kyoto, there happens to be a direct night bus to Kawaguchiko, taking about eight hours.

Since Japanese hotels only allow check-in after 15:00, we stored our luggage in the coin lockers at Kawaguchiko Station, then bought a train ticket to Shimoyoshida Station (Otsuki direction) directly at Kawaguchiko Station to go to the Chureito Pagoda at Arakurayama Sengen Park in Shimoyoshida City. From Shimoyoshida Station, a few hundred meters walk brings you to the foot of the mountain. This park requires walking uphill; it is said to have 400+ steps, but there is a winding slope that goes a bit farther but is less strenuous, very friendly for wheelchair users.

Return to Kawaguchiko to retrieve luggage from lockers. If your hotel offers pickup, you can ask the staff at the information center to contact the hotel for free, then wait at bus stop No. 10 for pickup. Most hot spring hotels in Kawaguchiko have indoor and outdoor hot springs, where you can soak comfortably while enjoying a distant view of Mount Fuji. There's nothing quite like it.

Every winter, on two consecutive weekend nights, Kawaguchiko holds fireworks at Oike Park, lasting over a month. The best viewing spot is across the lake opposite Oike Park. We arrived early, and a group of seasoned photographers were already lined up with their cameras set up. Fireworks are set off one by one, starting at 20:00, lasting 20 minutes.

Kawaguchiko Tenjozan Park

The next day, we soaked in the hot spring again, then took the hotel's free shuttle back to Kawaguchiko Station. With some time left, we took the Kawaguchiko sightseeing bus to stop No. 9, "Sightseeing Boat / Ropeway Entrance" to reach Kawaguchiko Tenjozan Park. You can walk up and down or take a ropeway. Round-trip ropeway is 900 yen, one-way 500 yen, with a discount ticket combined with a sightseeing boat. Buy tickets at the machine, take the ropeway to the top, and enjoy a panoramic view of the town and Mount Fuji.

Take a pre-booked bus from Kawaguchiko to Tokyo. It takes about two hours from Kawaguchiko to Tokyo. Arriving in the afternoon, we first went to the hotel to drop off luggage, then headed to Tokyo Skytree.

Also known as Sky Tree, completed in 2012, it stands at 634 meters, surpassing Tokyo Tower to become Tokyo's tallest structure. It is also the world's second tallest tower after the Burj Khalifa, serving both observation and radio wave transmission functions. Not only can you overlook the Tokyo city area, but on clear days, you can even see Mount Fuji.

Today's itinerary focuses on Tokyo's cultural attractions, showcasing Tokyo's cultural side, such as Sensoji Temple, Ueno Park, University of Tokyo, Akihabara, etc.

Tokyo's oldest and most famous temple, extremely crowded. It can be called the face-level temple of Japan, a must-visit in Tokyo, free to enter. It features famous historic sites like Kaminarimon Gate and Five-Story Pagoda, as well as Nakamise Shopping Street with over 90 shops selling souvenirs, snacks, and small eats.

Upon entering, you can see the iconic bronze statue of the common hero "Saigo Takamori." The entire park is huge with excellent greenery, free to enter. It contains a zoo, art museum, museum, aquarium, etc., which charge separately. Especially during cherry blossom season, the roadsides are lined with beautiful pink blossoms.

Through Ueno Park, a short walk leads to the Hongo Campus of Japan's top university, the University of Tokyo. Only this campus is open for free visits. The Western-style buildings give a feeling of tranquility, simplicity, and long history, with a strong cultural atmosphere, very quiet inside.

Originally just an ordinary electronics district, it somehow developed into a world-class anime and manga otaku holy land. A must-visit for anime fans visiting Japan. Streets full of figurines and maid cafes are its characteristics. Anime fans can spend a whole day and night and still not have enough.

Known as the most luxurious area in Japan, it is one of the world's three major upscale commercial centers. Here you can buy any luxury brand in the world. Ginza is divided into eight blocks from 1-chome to 8-chome, with 4-chome being the most bustling.

Today is all about shopping, mainly focusing on Tokyo's major commercial districts like Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, etc.

A Jodo sect temple, located right under Tokyo Tower. Here you can capture Zengyoji Temple and Tokyo Tower in the same frame, combining the沉淀 of the old era with the展望 of the new modern era.

Tokyo's most iconic landmark, a radio tower modeled after the Eiffel Tower. Once Tokyo's tallest, though now surpassed by Tokyo Skytree, it remains the image of Tokyo and a symbol of Japan in people's hearts. It has two observation decks at 150 meters and 250 meters, with different ticket prices.

"The busiest intersection in the world" is located in Shibuya, a full cross intersection that sees the most people crossing simultaneously anywhere in the world. Although each green light interval is not long, the pedestrian flow is massive each time, especially on weekends and holidays. Besides that, it is also a bustling commercial shopping center.

Every time I think of the story of Hachiko, I want to cry. It's so touching and tear-jerking. Back then, the station where Hachiko waited day after day, year after year for the professor, was this very Shibuya Station. So here, a bronze statue of Hachiko was erected to commemorate this story of loyalty and love. Now people from all over the world come to Shibuya and take photos with Hachiko. Hachiko must never be lonely again.

Omotesando is similar to Ginza, with a concentration of high-end brands, but not as flashy and ostentatious as Ginza. Instead, it has a low-key, understated luxury vibe.

One of the most visited shrines in Japan every year. It is said that its fortune slips are very accurate. It often hosts important life ceremonies such as newborn naming ceremonies, coming-of-age ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, traditional weddings, etc.

Harajuku, centered on Takeshita Street, is a pedestrian street gathering youth street fashion brands. There are many cool trendy brands and street culture. Since it targets young people, prices are relatively lower, and you can find many cost-effective trendy items.

Shinjuku is the most famous commercial area in all of Japan. Whether it's food, shopping, or even the adult entertainment industry, it is top-notch in Japan, bustling and vibrant. Apart from Shinjuku, no other place in Japan deserves the adjectives "brightly lit with red and green" and "wasteful and indulgent."

Asia's largest red-light district, you know what it means. It is also Japan's most famous entertainment street, with various restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Nightlife is rich, and many establishments operate overnight until dawn.

The headquarters building of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, with a free observation room where you can enjoy views of Tokyo's cityscape. The view is excellent, especially at night.

Mr. Hayao Miyazaki's animation works are renowned worldwide, with exquisite art and unique stories. The positive spirit contained in each story subtly influences everyone who has seen them.

Located in Mitaka City, it is a museum themed around the works of Studio Ghibli. It's a quick ride from Tokyo on the JR line. Tickets must be purchased online in advance and exchanged at Lawson convenience stores. Tickets are often hard to get, extremely popular, requiring purchase one month in advance. Photography is not allowed inside the museum, only outside.

The anime "Your Name." was filmed here, so many people come to check in. There are no permanent exhibitions here; different themed exhibitions are frequently changed, so ticket prices fluctuate.

Japan's famous TV Asahi headquarters, located in Roppongi. The first floor is free to visit, featuring exhibitions of various programs that have aired, including Doraemon.

Seeing the giant spider at the entrance means you've found it. The entire complex is very bustling. The 52nd floor has an observation deck with excellent views, overlooking Tokyo Tower, Rainbow Bridge, Odaiba, and other Tokyo sights.

The observation deck ticket includes admission to the Mori Art Museum, which you can visit conveniently. The exhibition themes change each time.

The anime I watched most as a child was Doraemon. It is a source of happiness for many people's rich childhoods. How many children dreamed of flying in the sky with Doraemon wearing bamboo copter!

Located in Kawasaki City, the Fujiko F. Fujio Museum can also be called the Doraemon Art Museum, because most of the museum is filled with Doraemon elements. Tickets must be purchased in advance on the official website and exchanged at Lawson convenience stores. Photography is not allowed inside the museum, only a small part inside and outside can be photographed.

Return from the Fujiko F. Fujio Museum to Tokyo. The afternoon itinerary is arranged in Odaiba. Odaiba is an artificial island built on reclaimed land, carrying the label of a new era. It has Odaiba Seaside Park, Statue of Liberty, Toyota Museum, Gundam Museum, Museum of Maritime Science, National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, and other niche attractions. Strongly recommend taking the driverless train "Yurikamome" to Odaiba. Board at the starting station "Shimbashi Station," grab the front seat for an excellent view of the cityscape along the way, especially when crossing Rainbow Bridge, as if passing through a time tunnel.

One of Japan's famous TV stations. It has free exhibitions inside, mostly showing the achievements and introductions of programs broadcast by the station. The spherical observation room on the 25th floor offers views of Tokyo Bay and Rainbow Bridge, requiring an additional fee.

The biggest highlight of the Gundam Museum is the 1:1 scale Gundam statue in front of the mall. This time we saw the Unicorn Gundam. Seeing it in person is truly huge and震撼. A must for Gundam fans!! It is said that at certain full hours, there is also a transformation performance of the Gundam. The Gundam Museum is on the seventh floor of the mall, requiring an admission fee, and has a comprehensive range of Gundam merchandise.

Set against the backdrop of the Edo period style, it is a leisure facility combining hot springs, food, entertainment, massage, accommodation, etc. After entering, change into a yukata and enjoy a one-stop service of eating, drinking, and having fun inside, and soak in the hot spring. You can stay for a long time, suitable for relaxation.

From Odaiba Seaside Park, you can enjoy views of Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Bay.

Tokyo DisneySea is divided into seven themed ports: Mediterranean Harbor, American Waterfront, Port Discovery, Lost River Delta, Arabian Coast, Mermaid Lagoon, and Mysterious Island. Each port has its theme. The entire park is large and well-connected, making it easy to find the attractions you want.

It's worth noting that some popular attractions at Disney have Fast Passes (FP) available, i.e., Fast Pass tickets. Each time you get a FP, whether used or not, you must wait two hours before getting the next one, and you can only get it at the dedicated FP machines at the entrance of that attraction or via the mobile app. Because Disney queues are extremely long, using FPs can indeed speed things up a lot.

I can't help but complain. Even on weekdays, the queues are still terrible. In a whole day, you can only ride four or five attractions; the rest of the time is spent in line. It's literally three hours of queuing for three minutes of fun, no exaggeration. Sometimes, before queuing it's still noon, and by the time you finish, it's almost dark. If you must come, be mentally prepared.

Nearly two weeks of itinerary, covering almost all major and minor attractions in Kansai and Kanto, Japan. We experienced the dazzling prosperity of an international metropolis; witnessed the tranquil serenity at the foot of Mount Fuji; experienced the traditional Japanese style and felt the沉淀 of the Yamato culture. Urban landscapes, natural scenery, history and culture, human spirit, etc., were all refreshing and made me marvel at the vastness of the world. Every country and every city has its own unique charm.

Itinerary Contents:

1. Day 1: Osaka One-Day Tour

2. Osaka Castle Park

3. Osaka Castle Tenshukaku

4. Shitennoji Temple

5. Tsutenkaku

6. Tempozan Ferris Wheel

7. Santa Maria Sailboat

8. Umeda Sky Building

9. Hep Five Ferris Wheel

10. Day 2: Universal Studios Japan

11. Flying Dinosaur