Japan

Skyliner to Ueno & hotel check-in

📍 Ueno, Tokyo

Fast Keisei Skyliner from Narita to Ueno (~45 min), then settle into your base in old-town Tokyo.

Ginza shopping (warm layers for the cold)

📍 Ginza, Tokyo

Tokyo's upscale shopping district — grab winter layers at Uniqlo flagship or the depachika food halls.

Marunouchi / Hibiya winter illumination

📍 Marunouchi, Tokyo

Champagne-gold illuminations line the avenues near Tokyo Station — a magical first evening.

Tobu Ltd. Express to Nikko

📍 Tobu Nikko

Scenic ~2 hr express ride north into the mountains and the UNESCO shrine town of Nikko.

Shinkyō Bridge

📍 Nikko

The sacred vermilion bridge over the Daiya River — the ceremonial gateway to Nikko's shrines.

Rinnō-ji & Tōshō-gū

📍 Nikko

Lavishly carved mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, set among towering cedars.

Futarasan Shrine & Taiyū-in

📍 Nikko

Quieter, moss-edged shrine complex with beautiful autumn maples.

Kegon Falls & Lake Chūzenji (optional)

📍 Oku-Nikko

Optional add-on if time allows — a 97 m waterfall and the highland lake above Nikko.

Train back to Tokyo (arrive ~20:00)

📍 Tokyo

Return express to the city for the evening.

Sensō-ji at dawn (Asakusa)

📍 Asakusa, Tokyo

Tokyo's oldest temple, peaceful before the crowds — walk the Kaminarimon gate and Nakamise street.

Train to Kamakura

📍 Kamakura

Head to the seaside former capital, an hour south of Tokyo.

Great Buddha (Kōtoku-in) & Hase-dera

📍 Hase, Kamakura

The 13 m bronze Great Buddha, then the hillside Hase-dera temple with ocean views.

Kamakurakōkō-mae crossing (Slam Dunk spot)

📍 Enoden Line, Kamakura

The famous railway crossing by the sea from the Slam Dunk opening — pure nostalgia.

Enoshima sunset

📍 Enoshima

Island shrine and sea caves; on a clear evening Mt. Fuji silhouettes against the sunset.

Shinkansen to Kanazawa

📍 Kanazawa

The Hokuriku Shinkansen whisks you to the Sea-of-Japan castle town in ~2.5 hrs.

Kenroku-en Garden

📍 Kanazawa

One of Japan's three great landscape gardens — stunning in autumn colour.

Kanazawa Castle

📍 Kanazawa

Reconstructed feudal castle adjoining Kenroku-en, with elegant white-lead roof tiles.

Nagamachi samurai district

📍 Nagamachi, Kanazawa

Earthen-walled lanes of preserved samurai residences as dusk falls.

Higashi Chaya geisha district

📍 Higashi Chaya, Kanazawa

Wooden teahouse streets with gold-leaf craft shops and matcha cafés.

Limited Express to Kyoto

📍 Kyoto

Thunderbird express down to the ancient capital (~2 hrs).

Higashiyama at dusk (Yasaka Pagoda, Ninenzaka)

📍 Higashiyama, Kyoto

Lantern-lit historic lanes climbing to the Yasaka Pagoda — Kyoto at its most atmospheric.

Fushimi Inari at sunrise

📍 Fushimi, Kyoto

Thousands of vermilion torii gates winding up the mountain — go early for empty paths.

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)

📍 Kita, Kyoto

The gold-leaf pavilion mirrored in its reflecting pond.

Kiyomizu-dera autumn night illumination

📍 Higashiyama, Kyoto

Hillside temple lit up over a sea of red maples — a seasonal highlight.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

📍 Arashiyama, Kyoto

Towering bamboo corridor, serene before the day-trippers arrive.

Tenryū-ji

📍 Arashiyama, Kyoto

Zen temple with a celebrated borrowed-scenery garden against the hills.

Otagi & Adashino Nenbutsu-ji (upper Sagano)

📍 Sagano, Kyoto

Hidden temples — Otagi's 1,200 whimsical stone rakan statues are a delight.

Giō-ji moss garden

📍 Sagano, Kyoto

A tiny, luminous moss-carpeted garden tucked into the hills.

Togetsukyō Bridge

📍 Arashiyama, Kyoto

The "Moon Crossing Bridge" over the Katsura River framed by autumn mountains.

Kurama-dera

📍 Kurama, Kyoto

Mountain temple reached by cable car, deep in cedar forest north of Kyoto.

Kurama → Kibune mountain hike (~1 hr)

📍 Kitayama, Kyoto

A lovely forest trail over the ridge between the two villages.

Kifune Shrine

📍 Kibune, Kyoto

Shrine of the water deity, famous for its lantern-lined stone staircase.

Kamogawa Delta (Demachiyanagi)

📍 Demachiyanagi, Kyoto

Where two rivers meet — locals hop the stepping stones at golden hour.

Nara Park & Tōdai-ji

📍 Nara

Bow to the free-roaming deer, then the Great Buddha Hall — the world's largest wooden building.

Kasuga Taisha & Nigatsu-dō

📍 Nara

Thousands of bronze and stone lanterns through atmospheric forest paths.

Train to Osaka (Namba)

📍 Namba, Osaka

Move on to lively Osaka and its food-and-neon heart, Namba.

Osaka Castle (optional)

📍 Chūō, Osaka

Optional — the landmark castle and its moat-ringed park.

Dōtonbori & Kuromon

📍 Dōtonbori, Osaka

Glittering canal of neon signs and street food — takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu.

Kuromon Market breakfast

📍 Kuromon, Osaka

Osaka's "kitchen" — fresh sashimi, grilled scallops, and fruit before the train.

Shinkansen back to Tokyo

📍 Tokyo

The Tōkaidō Shinkansen returns you to the capital in ~2.5 hrs.

Shibuya (Scramble Crossing & Hachikō)

📍 Shibuya, Tokyo

The world's busiest crossing and the loyal-dog statue meeting point.

Shinjuku at night

📍 Shinjuku, Tokyo

Neon-soaked Kabukichō, Omoide Yokochō yakitori alleys, and skyline views.

Meiji Jingu

📍 Shibuya, Tokyo

Forested shrine to Emperor Meiji — a calm green oasis beside Harajuku.

Harajuku / Omotesandō (optional)

📍 Harajuku, Tokyo

Optional — Takeshita Street's youth fashion and Omotesandō's designer architecture.

teamLab (Azabudai)

📍 Azabudai Hills, Tokyo

Immersive digital-art world of light, mirrors and flowers — book timed tickets ahead.

Meiji Jingu Gaien ginkgo avenue (illuminated)

📍 Gaien, Tokyo

A golden tunnel of ginkgo trees — peak autumn glory, lit in the evening.

Chureito Pagoda

📍 Fujiyoshida

The classic postcard view — five-storey pagoda with Mt. Fuji behind.

Lake Kawaguchiko

📍 Fujikawaguchiko

Lakeside Fuji reflections; ropeway and cafés along the shore.

Lawson Fuji viewpoint

📍 Fujikawaguchiko

The viral convenience-store-and-Fuji shot — fun, quick photo stop.

Return to Tokyo

📍 Tokyo

Coach or train back to the city for the night.

Light Tokyo morning (Ueno Park)

📍 Ueno, Tokyo

Easy stroll through Ueno's museums and ponds before heading north.

Jōetsu Shinkansen to Jōmō-Kōgen

📍 Minakami

Bullet train into the Gunma mountains (~70 min), then a bus into the valley.

Takaragawa Onsen — riverside rotenburo, overnight ryokan

📍 Takaragawa Onsen

Famous riverside open-air baths and a traditional ryokan stay with kaiseki dinner.

Train back to Tokyo (~12:00)

📍 Tokyo

Return from the mountains to the capital for a final afternoon.

Gotokuji (lucky-cat temple)

📍 Setagaya, Tokyo

The birthplace of the maneki-neko — shelves of hundreds of beckoning cats.

Rikugien garden (optional)

📍 Bunkyō, Tokyo

Optional — an exquisite Edo-era strolling garden, glorious in autumn.

Yanaka & Nezu Shrine

📍 Yanaka, Tokyo

Old-Tokyo backstreets and Nezu's vermilion torii tunnel.

Transfer to Narita — overnight near airport

📍 Narita

Move out to an airport hotel for an easy departure.

Departure from Narita Airport

📍 Narita International Airport

Sayōnara, Japan — fly home with a fortnight of memories.