Journey through Japan: Ōsaka-jō, Kyoto, Nagoya-shi, Tokyo

Bitches Amigo

4 Jan 2024

Embark on a 19-day adventure through the vibrant cities of Ōsaka-jō, Kyoto, Nagoya-shi, and Tokyo. Immerse yourself in the rich culture, explore ancient marvels, and indulge in delicious cuisine. Join me as I uncover the hidden gems of Japan!

Trip to Ōsaka-jō

Get Your Guide

Viator

Day 1Osaka's Shopping Extravaganza

$20

$ 6

Bustling shopping district featuring a wide range of high-end tax-free shops with airport delivery.

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

Free

14 - 17 min

Directions

Famous for its neon lights, this landmark features an observation deck open to the public.

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

•

$20

21 - 26 min

Directions

Shinto shrine with a peaceful garden, plus structures rebuilt repeatedly since the 3rd century.

12:30 PM - 2:30 PM

•

Free

Day 2Parks, Temples, and Stunning Views in Osaka

$50

$ 6

Large tree- & flower-filled park with open, grassy lawns, a baseball field & swimming pool.

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

Free

29 - 35 min

Directions

3-tiered observation areas on the 58th–60th floors, with an open-air atrium, enclosed glass & cafe.

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

•

$38

12 - 17 min

Directions

Restored Buddhist temple first built in 593 with a 5-story pagoda, statues & ponds with turtles.

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

•

$13

24 - 29 min

Directions

Famed giant billboard installed in 1935 as an advertisement for the Glico confectionery company.

No time set

•

Free

Day 3Discovering Osaka's Iconic Landmarks

$250

$ 6

Osaka's tallest building features an observation deck, a department store, an art museum & a hotel.

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

$50

15 - 18 min

Directions

Spacious market with vendors selling street food, fresh produce & shellfish, plus souvenirs.

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

•

Free

8 - 12 min

Directions

Lively entertainment district known for its soaring illuminated billboards, restaurants & theaters.

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

•

Free

31 - 38 min

Directions

This sprawling theme park dedicated to popular American movies features rides & live entertainment.

No time set

•

$200

Day 4Sky-High Adventures and Osaka Castle

$100

$ 3

Connected skyscrapers with a rooftop garden observatory, plus a restaurant & lounge with city views.

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

$38

1 - 2 min

Directions

Contemporary indoor/outdoor observation deck with panoramic city views, an eatery, cafe & gift shop.

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

•

$38

20 - 24 min

Directions

Revered castle dating to 1597 & since rebuilt, featuring gardens & a museum with varied exhibits.

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

•

$25

Day 5History, Ferris Wheels, and Marine Wonders in Osaka

$113

$ 3

Contemporary museum with exhibits detailing Osaka history from ancient times to the present day.

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

$25

19 - 23 min

Directions

This 112.5m Ferris wheel holds 480 passengers & offers panoramic views plus illumination shows.

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

•

$25

5 - 8 min

Directions

One of the world's biggest aquariums, with exhibits ranging from Arctic to tropical marine life.

12:30 PM - 3:30 PM

•

$63

Budget breakdown: $1230 In total

Activities & Food:$1139

Transport:$92

Trip to Kyoto

Get Your Guide

Viator

Day 1Osaka's Shopping Extravaganza

$25

$ 4

Iconic Buddhist temple on Mount Otowa known for the scenic views afforded from its sizable veranda.

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

$25

15 - 18 min

Directions

Mountainside Shinto shrine dating from 711 A.D. featuring a path with hundreds of traditional gates.

10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

•

Free

Day 2Parks, Temples, and Stunning Views in Osaka

$33

$ 12

This Shinto shrine was erected in 656 A.D. & is home to one of the most famous festivals in Japan.

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

•

Free

16 - 20 min

Directions

400-year-old iconic market studded with stalls offering all manner of Japanese edibles.

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

•

Free

14 - 17 min

Directions

Built in 1603, this cypress-wood castle with extensive gardens was a home for the shogun Ieyasu.

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

•

$20

17 - 21 min

Directions

Historic, tranquil temple with a gold-leaf facade set amid landscaped gardens & a reflecting pond.

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

•

$13

Budget breakdown: $1230 In total

Activities & Food:$1139

Transport:$92

Trip to Nagoya-shi

Get Your Guide

Viator

Day 1Osaka's Shopping Extravaganza

$20

Science museum with a large planetarium, as well as exhibits on weather, biology & electricity.

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

$20

4 - 5 min

Directions

Verdant city park known for its modern sculptures & fountains, plus science & art museums.

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

•

Free

Day 2Parks, Temples, and Stunning Views in Osaka

$20

$ 6

Museum, gardens & shops on the former factory grounds of a prominent Japanese ceramics company.

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

•

9 - 11 min

Directions

Storied street featuring traditional wooden buildings & an unusual rooftop shrine.

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

Free

13 - 16 min

Directions

This restored castle originally completed in 1612 features artifacts & exhibits on the Edo Period.

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

•

$13

Day 3Discovering Osaka's Iconic Landmarks

$15

$ 6

Landscaped Japanese garden featuring a large pond, bridges, picturesque paths & tea houses.

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

•

12 - 15 min

Directions

Leafy park flanked by city streets, with a manmade river, fountains, orchid garden & TV tower.

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

•

Free

24 - 29 min

Directions

Opened in 1977, the regional history museum offers cultural heritage exhibits & hands-on activities.

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

•

$10

Budget breakdown: $1230 In total

Activities & Food:$1139

Transport:$92

Trip to Tokyo

Get Your Guide

Viator

Day 1Osaka's Shopping Extravaganza

$88

$ 6

Large, public city park with lakes, fountains & forested areas with mature trees.

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

Free

17 - 26 min

Directions

Surrounded by forest, this venerable Shinto shrine features a seasonal iris garden.

10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

•

Free

21 - 26 min

Directions

Reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower, this landmark features observation areas & other attractions.

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

•

$38

13 - 16 min

Directions

Sleek aquarium with illuminated tanks, penguins & seals, dolphin performances & a museum.

3:30 PM - 5:30 PM

•

$50

Day 2Parks, Temples, and Stunning Views in Osaka

$120

$ 3

Tokyo offshoot of the iconic theme park known for its rides, live shows & costumed characters.

8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

•

$120

31 - 38 min

Directions

Polished quarters in a modern high-rise lodging with multiple restaurants, 2 pools & a cinema.

2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

•

Free

Day 3Discovering Osaka's Iconic Landmarks

$120

$ 3

Part of the Disney resort, this large park has 7 themed ports of call with rides, shows & dining.

8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

•

$120

35 - 42 min

Directions

Large, modern venue presenting temporary exhibitions of Japanese & international art.

2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

•

Free

Day 4Sky-High Adventures and Osaka Castle

$ 6

Shinto-style shrine commemorating Japanese war dead, plus a garden with cherry blossom trees.

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

Free

6 - 8 min

Directions

This site with scenic gardens & tours of the grounds is the main residence of the emperor of Japan.

10:30 AM - 1:30 PM

•

Free

16 - 20 min

Directions

Complex housing offices, restaurants & art museum, plus a skyscraper with a roof observation deck.

2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

•

Free

Day 5History, Ferris Wheels, and Marine Wonders in Osaka

$25

$ 3

Museum of fine art, sculpture & photography, with 6 exhibition halls, cafes & restaurants.

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

$25

4 - 6 min

Directions

Popular city park featuring ample walking paths, a lake with boat rentals, a zoo & several museums.

10:30 AM - 1:30 PM

•

Free

14 - 17 min

Directions

A 3.9m-tall lantern greets visitors to this stately gate at the entrance to Sensō-ji temple.

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

•

Free

5 - 8 min

Directions

Completed in 645, this temple, Tokyo's oldest, was built to honor Kannon, the goddess of mercy.

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

•

Free

Day 6Temples and Golden Pavilions in Kyoto

$73

$ 6

World's tallest freestanding broadcasting tower with an observation deck boasting 360-degree views.

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

•

$38

12 - 15 min

Directions

Major museum opened in 1993 & displaying artifacts from Tokyo's Edo period & one-off exhibits.

9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

•

$15

18 - 22 min

Directions

19th-century zoo with 400+ animal species, including pandas, a petting area & a 5-story pagoda.

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

•

$20

Day 7Exploring Kyoto's Enchanting Streets

$25

$ 6

Stately museum complex devoted to the art & antiquities of Japan, as well as other Asian countries.

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

$25

10 - 12 min

Directions

Venerable Shinto shrine moved to its current locale in 1616, with vibrant vermilion & gold coloring.

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

•

Free

8 - 10 min

Directions

Urban entertainment complex boasting a dome-shaped baseball stadium, roller coasters & a mall.

2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

•

Free

Day 8Science Museums and Castle Gardens in Nagoya

$ 6

Well-known park with an indoor ice skating rink, driving range, baseball diamonds & tennis courts.

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

Free

8 - 10 min

Directions

This former estate is now a 144-acre park with diverse garden areas, grassy expanses & a greenhouse.

10:30 AM - 1:30 PM

•

40 - 48 min

Directions

Established in 1917, this 95-acre city park features a pond with boating facilities, a zoo & trails.

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

•

Free

Day 9Parks, Gardens, and History in Nagoya

$38

$ 3

Sprawling national park with extensive trails, bike paths & a variety of gardens & woods.

8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

•

$13

55 - 66 min

Directions

Whimsical museum dedicated to the famed animation studio with a play area, theater & rooftop garden.

12:30 PM - 3:30 PM

•

$25

Budget breakdown: $1230 In total

Activities & Food:$1139

Transport:$92