Tokyo, Ōsaka-jō, Kyoto: An Epic Journey through Japan

Lina María Cardona González

13 Jan 2024

Embark on a thrilling 25-day adventure through Tokyo, Ōsaka-jō, and Kyoto. Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture, visit iconic landmarks, and indulge in delicious cuisine. Get ready for an unforgettable journey filled with ancient marvels, stunning gardens, and the magic of Disney!

Trip to Tokyo

Tours & Activities

Viator Tours

Day 1Tokyo Delights - Ueno Zoo, Sensō-ji, Tokyo Skytree

$58

$ 12

Akihabara Washington Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

17 - 21 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

$20

15 - 18 min

Directions

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

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

•

Free

10 - 12 min

Directions

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

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

•

$38

Day 2Parks and Palaces - Ueno Park, Sunshine City, Imperial Palace

$ 12

Akihabara Washington Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

16 - 20 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

Free

18 - 22 min

Directions

Multibuilding mall with shops, eateries, an observation deck, aquarium, museum & indoor theme parks.

11:30 AM - 2:30 PM

•

Free

14 - 17 min

Directions

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

3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

•

Free

Day 3Gardens and Shrines - Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Meiji Jingu, Tokyo Tower

$43

$ 12

Akihabara Washington Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

20 - 24 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

11 - 14 min

Directions

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

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

•

Free

21 - 26 min

Directions

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

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

•

$38

Day 4Roppongi Hills - A Modern Oasis

$ 6

Akihabara Washington Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

24 - 29 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

Free

Day 5Disney Extravaganza - Tokyo DisneySea, Tokyo Disneyland

$240

$ 6

Akihabara Washington Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

36 - 44 min

Directions

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

25 - 38 min

Directions

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

2:30 PM - 8:30 PM

•

$120

Budget breakdown: $1395 In total

Activities & Food:$1190

Transport:$205

Trip to Ōsaka-jō

Tours & Activities

Viator Tours

Day 1Tokyo Delights - Ueno Zoo, Sensō-ji, Tokyo Skytree

$13

$ 9

APA Hotel & Resort Osaka Umeda-eki Tower

Depart from your stay 🏨

11 - 14 min

Directions

10th-century Shinto shrine & site of one of Japan's biggest festivals, Tenjin Matsuri, held in July.

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

•

Free

14 - 17 min

Directions

Vast green space offering gardens with cherry blossoms, athletic fields, open-air theaters & more.

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

•

$13

Day 2Parks and Palaces - Ueno Park, Sunshine City, Imperial Palace

$88

$ 12

APA Hotel & Resort Osaka Umeda-eki Tower

Depart from your stay 🏨

38 - 46 min

Directions

Family-friendly attraction with exotic fish, mammals & reptiles exhibited in stylish, modern spaces.

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

$63

38 - 46 min

Directions

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

10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

•

$25

16 - 20 min

Directions

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

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

•

Free

Day 3Gardens and Shrines - Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Meiji Jingu, Tokyo Tower

$ 6

APA Hotel & Resort Osaka Umeda-eki Tower

Depart from your stay 🏨

15 - 22 min

Directions

Founded in 1891 as Osaka's first public park, featuring a library, rose garden & ceramics museum.

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

Free

18 - 22 min

Directions

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

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

•

Free

11 - 16 min

Directions

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

12:30 PM - 2:30 PM

•

Free

Day 4Roppongi Hills - A Modern Oasis

$25

$ 9

APA Hotel & Resort Osaka Umeda-eki Tower

Depart from your stay 🏨

14 - 17 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

Free

13 - 20 min

Directions

Small shrine featuring a ritualistic performance stage in the shape of a lion's head.

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

•

Free

12 - 15 min

Directions

Opened in 1936, this museum features a large collection of ancient & modern Chinese & Japanese art.

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

•

$25

Day 5Disney Extravaganza - Tokyo DisneySea, Tokyo Disneyland

$75

$ 6

APA Hotel & Resort Osaka Umeda-eki Tower

Depart from your stay 🏨

14 - 17 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

•

$38

1 - 2 min

Directions

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

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

•

$38

Day 6Osaka's Cultural Gems - Osaka Tenmangu, Osaka Castle Park

$125

$ 9

APA Hotel & Resort Osaka Umeda-eki Tower

Depart from your stay 🏨

14 - 17 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

•

$38

29 - 35 min

Directions

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

9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

•

$63

4 - 6 min

Directions

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

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

•

$25

Day 7Aquatic Wonders - NIFREL, Osaka Castle, Dotonbori Glico Sign

$25

$ 9

APA Hotel & Resort Osaka Umeda-eki Tower

Depart from your stay 🏨

35 - 42 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

Free

25 - 30 min

Directions

Mainstay in Tennōji Park housing 200-plus species in varied habitats, from savanna to rainforest.

10:30 AM - 1:30 PM

•

$25

Day 8Parks and Markets - Nakanoshima Park, Kuromon Ichiba Market, Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street

$63

$ 6

APA Hotel & Resort Osaka Umeda-eki Tower

Depart from your stay 🏨

22 - 27 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

$50

12 - 17 min

Directions

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

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

•

$13

Day 9Vibrant Nightlife - Dotonbori, Namba Yasaka Jinja, Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts

APA Hotel & Resort Osaka Umeda-eki Tower

Depart from your stay 🏨

Budget breakdown: $1395 In total

Activities & Food:$1190

Transport:$205

Trip to Kyoto

Tours & Activities

Viator Tours

Day 1Tokyo Delights - Ueno Zoo, Sensō-ji, Tokyo Skytree

$25

$ 8

Hotel Hokke Club Kyoto

Depart from your stay 🏨

20 - 24 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

$25

Day 2Parks and Palaces - Ueno Park, Sunshine City, Imperial Palace

$ 12

Hotel Hokke Club Kyoto

Depart from your stay 🏨

21 - 26 min

Directions

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

15 - 18 min

Directions

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

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

•

Free

Day 3Gardens and Shrines - Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Meiji Jingu, Tokyo Tower

$ 8

Hotel Hokke Club Kyoto

Depart from your stay 🏨

15 - 18 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

Free

Day 4Roppongi Hills - A Modern Oasis

$20

$ 8

Hotel Hokke Club Kyoto

Depart from your stay 🏨

26 - 32 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

$20

Budget breakdown: $1395 In total

Activities & Food:$1190

Transport:$205

Trip to Tokyo

Tours & Activities

Viator Tours

Day 1Tokyo Delights - Ueno Zoo, Sensō-ji, Tokyo Skytree

$ 12

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Ginza Sanchome

Depart from your stay 🏨

12 - 15 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

Free

8 - 10 min

Directions

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

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

•

Free

25 - 30 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

Day 2Parks and Palaces - Ueno Park, Sunshine City, Imperial Palace

$ 9

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Ginza Sanchome

Depart from your stay 🏨

31 - 38 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

Free

16 - 24 min

Directions

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

10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

•

Free

15 - 18 min

Directions

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

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

•

Free

Day 3Gardens and Shrines - Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Meiji Jingu, Tokyo Tower

$81

$ 12

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Ginza Sanchome

Depart from your stay 🏨

15 - 18 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

$38

19 - 23 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

•

37 - 45 min

Directions

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

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

•

$38

Day 4Roppongi Hills - A Modern Oasis

$20

$ 9

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Ginza Sanchome

Depart from your stay 🏨

24 - 29 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

Free

3 - 4 min

Directions

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

11:30 AM - 2:30 PM

•

$20

15 - 18 min

Directions

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

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

•

Free

Day 5Disney Extravaganza - Tokyo DisneySea, Tokyo Disneyland

$120

$ 6

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Ginza Sanchome

Depart from your stay 🏨

43 - 52 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

•

$120

Day 6Osaka's Cultural Gems - Osaka Tenmangu, Osaka Castle Park

$120

$ 6

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Ginza Sanchome

Depart from your stay 🏨

36 - 44 min

Directions

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

Day 7Aquatic Wonders - NIFREL, Osaka Castle, Dotonbori Glico Sign

$50

$ 6

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Ginza Sanchome

Depart from your stay 🏨

22 - 27 min

Directions

Sprawling museum with a 360-degree movie theater & exhibits on topics such as dinosaurs & evolution.

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

$25

5 - 8 min

Directions

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

11:30 AM - 2:30 PM

•

$25

Budget breakdown: $1395 In total

Activities & Food:$1190

Transport:$205