The plan
The itinerary, day by day
Tap any day to expand it — a photo, plus what to do, eat, expect, and a tip.
Tokyo — Days 1 to 5
Day 1 · Mon 14 JunArrival
DoClear immigration, grab Welcome Suica cards and a pocket Wi-Fi / eSIM at the airport, then train to your Tokyo base and check in.
EatKeep it low-key — a neighbourhood izakaya, or a first gleeful lap of a konbini (7-Eleven / Lawson).
ExpectJet lag. Roughly 45 min from Haneda, 1.5h+ from Narita. Don’t schedule anything demanding.
TipSet the group meeting points and a shared chat now; save your Airbnb’s check-in instructions offline.
Day 2 · Tue 15 JunAkihabara — anime & games
DoAkihabara Electric Town: Animate, the Mandarake Complex, Super Potato for retro games, multi-floor arcades (GiGO/Taito), gachapon halls. Evening in Ikebukuro for Otome Road and the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo.
EatA themed café, classic Kanda curry, or standing sushi between stops.
ExpectSensory overload; the district gets busiest after 5pm. Many gems are on upper floors.
TipCarry ¥100 coins and small notes for capsule machines and second-hand shops.
Day 3 · Wed 16 JunStudio Ghibli + Nakano
DoGhibli Museum in Mitaka (pre-booked timed entry; bring the passport used to book), then a wander through neighbouring Inokashira Park. Afternoon at Nakano Broadway for vintage manga and rare figures.
ExpectNo photos inside the museum. Tickets release on the 10th of the previous month (10am JST) and sell out within hours.
TipSet a calendar alarm for the ticket release; pair the day with food and shopping in Kichijoji.
Day 4 · Thu 17 JunTemples, torii, Shibuya & teamLab
DoSenso-ji and the giant Kaminarimon lantern gate in Asakusa (early = calm), Meiji Shrine’s forest torii beside Harajuku, then Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya Sky for sunset.
DoFinish the evening at teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills, ~10 min from Shibuya) — the immersive room-to-room digital-art maze, open until 21:00. (Or teamLab Planets in Toyosu, the barefoot water version, if you prefer.)
EatA food crawl: sushi, tonkatsu and a proper Tokyo shoyu ramen; book a group yakitori or teppanyaki dinner.
ExpectCrowds at Senso-ji and Shibuya; both Shibuya Sky and teamLab need timed tickets.
TipBook teamLab’s timed slot in advance (last entry ~19:30, ~¥3,800; sells out) and do Asakusa before 9am to beat the crowds.
Day 5 · Fri 18 JunNikko day trip
DoTrain ~2h to Nikko: the ornate Tosho-gu shrine and Shinkyo bridge, then a bus up to Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls for an easy nature walk.
ExpectA long day; mountain weather is cooler and wetter than Tokyo.
TipA Nikko area pass covers the train + local buses. Start early; if it pours, swap for Kamakura (an easy indoor-friendly coastal day).
Nagoya & Ghibli Park — Days 6 to 7
Day 6 · Sat 19 JunTo Nagoya
DoShinkansen Tokyo→Nagoya (~1h40), drop bags, then the Osu shopping arcades (also great for retro/anime) and Nagoya Castle if time allows.
EatNagoya specialities: hitsumabushi (grilled eel), miso-katsu, tebasaki wings, Taiwan ramen.
TipForward your big suitcases ahead to Kyoto so you travel light through the Alps for the next few days.
Day 7 · Sun 20 JunGhibli Park
DoTake the Linimo to Ghibli Park (Aichi). Explore the Grand Warehouse, Hill of Youth, Dondoko Forest (Totoro), Mononoke Village and Valley of Witches.
ExpectEach area needs a timed-entry ticket and the park sells out weeks ahead. Lots of walking; limited on-site food.
TipBuy tickets the moment the monthly batch releases; pre-book a meal or carry snacks.
The Japanese Alps & Nakasendo — Days 8 to 10
Day 8 · Mon 21 JunNakasendo hike
DoTrain to Nakatsugawa + bus to Magome, then walk the ~8km, 3–4h trail over the Magome pass to Tsumago — preserved wooden post towns, forest and waterfalls.
EatTrailside teahouses: gohei mochi (sweet rice skewers) and oyaki dumplings.
ExpectGentle overall with some uphill at the start; rural with few shops. Ring the bear bells along the path.
TipUse the morning luggage-forwarding service between the towns (~¥1,000/bag) and stay in a Tsumago minshuku with dinner included.
Day 9 · Tue 22 JunMatsumoto
DoMatsumoto Castle (one of Japan’s few surviving original keeps), plus the Nawate and Nakamachi old streets.
EatLocal soba; the morning market if you’re early.
TipConfirm tomorrow’s Kamikochi bus and the mountain weather; pick up any rain or warm layers you’re missing.
Day 10 · Wed 23 JunKamikochi
DoBus in (private cars are banned) to Kappa-bashi bridge; stroll the Azusa River to Myojin Pond (~2h round) or Taisho Pond, under the Hotaka peaks.
ExpectCool even in summer and sometimes wet; this is bear country, so stay on the trails.
TipLayers + a rain shell are essential, and the last buses out leave early evening — check the time before you set off.
Kyoto, Nara & Osaka — Days 11 to 16
Day 11 · Thu 24 JunTo Kyoto
DoTravel to Kyoto and check into your Airbnb, then an evening stroll through Gion and Pontocho to Yasaka Shrine.
EatA first Kyoto dinner — kaiseki or yudofu (tofu hotpot); graze Nishiki Market if it’s still open.
ExpectA travel-heavy day; Gion is busy at dusk — be respectful of geiko and avoid photos in the private alleys.
TipGrab an ICOCA card; Kyoto runs on buses and short train hops.
Day 12 · Fri 25 JunKyoto highlights
DoFushimi Inari’s torii tunnels at sunrise, the Arashiyama bamboo grove with Tenryu-ji and the Togetsukyo bridge, then Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) in the late afternoon.
ExpectThese are Kyoto’s most popular sights — an early start is the difference between magic and gridlock. Lots of walking.
TipFushimi before 8am, Arashiyama mid-morning, Kinkaku-ji before it closes (~5pm).
Day 13 · Sat 26 Jun ★Nara — the deer
DoTrain ~45 min to Nara. Meet the free-roaming deer in Nara Park (buy shika-senbei crackers), see Todai-ji’s Great Buddha, and walk Kasuga Taisha’s lantern paths; Isuien garden for calm.
EatWatch the lightning-fast mochi pounding at Nakatanidou, then eat the result.
ExpectThe deer are bold and will nose at bags — keep crackers hidden until you’re ready; they famously bow. Busiest midday.
TipGo in the morning: the deer are calmer and the park far quieter.
Day 14 · Sun 27 JunOsaka — food capital
DoDotonbori and Namba, retro Shinsekai, Den-Den Town for anime and electronics, and Osaka Castle.
EatTakoyaki, okonomiyaki and kushikatsu (never double-dip the sauce!).
ExpectLoud, bright and crowded after dark — in the best way. ~30 min from Kyoto by train.
TipGo hungry and share plates across the group rather than committing to one spot.
Day 15 · Mon 28 JunUniversal Studios Japan
DoUSJ: Super Nintendo World (Mario Kart ride, power-up wristbands), plus Harry Potter and the Donkey Kong area.
ExpectVery busy; Nintendo World often needs a timed area-ticket or Express Pass via the app even once you’re inside.
TipArrive before opening, buy Express Passes for the group, and download the USJ app to grab ride times.
Day 16 · Tue 29 JunHiroshima & Miyajima
DoShinkansen to Hiroshima for the Peace Memorial Park, Museum and A-Bomb Dome; ferry to Miyajima for the floating Itsukushima torii, the shrine, Mt Misen (ropeway or hike) and more deer.
EatHiroshima-style okonomiyaki, grilled oysters, momiji manju cakes.
ExpectA long but moving day; the torii only ‘floats’ at higher tides — check the tide chart.
TipAn overnight in Hiroshima takes the pressure off and lets you see the park lit at dusk.
Mount Fuji — Days 17 to 20
Day 17 · Wed 30 JunTo the Fuji Five Lakes
DoTravel to Kawaguchiko (shinkansen to Mishima or Tokyo, then the Fuji Excursion train / highway bus). Check into a lakeside stay and rest your legs.
ExpectA travel-heavy day; your first Fuji views if the cloud cooperates.
TipPre-arrange any gear rental near the station and check the official Fuji weather and trail-status page.
Day 18 · Thu 1 JulFuji prep day
DoClimb to Chureito Pagoda (Arakurayama Sengen Park, ~400 steps) for the classic pagoda-and-Fuji shot; relax at lakeside Oishi Park; confirm your hut and permits and lay out the summit kit.
EatHearty Yoshida udon.
ExpectA deliberately easy day — you want fresh legs.
TipGet a roll of ¥100 coins for mountain toilets, hydrate all day, and sleep early.
Day 19 · Fri 2 Jul ★Climb to the 8th station
DoBus to the Subaru Line 5th Station (~2,300m), acclimatise ~1 hour, then climb through the afternoon to your reserved 8th-station hut (~3,400m). Dinner and a few hours’ sleep.
ExpectThinning air, cold above the tree line and a deliberately slow pace; the trail is busy near the season opening.
TipAdd and shed layers often, take small steps, drink constantly, and keep your head-torch handy.
Day 20 · Sat 3 Jul ★Summit at sunrise
DoWake around 1–2am and climb to the 3,776m summit for sunrise (~4:30). Optionally circle the crater rim, then descend the dedicated down-trail to the 5th Station; bus down and train back to Tokyo.
ExpectA freezing, windy summit and congestion near the top at opening; the descent is long on loose volcanic gravel.
TipWindproof shell and gloves are non-negotiable; trekking poles will save your knees on the way down.
Tokyo — Day 21
Day 21 · Sun 4 JulLast day & departure
DoA final souvenir run — Tokyo Station’s Character Street, Don Quijote, a last Akihabara loop — fitted around your flight.
EatA farewell bowl of ramen or sushi.
ExpectThe day’s shape depends on your departure time.
TipClaim tax-free refunds, send luggage ahead by takkyubin, and allow 2–3 hours before an international flight.