Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka: REAL Routes That Work (not Pinterest)

📖 5 min read

Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka: real routes that work (not from Pinterest)

The most common mistake in Japan: Trying to see everything in one trip. Japan is huge. Concentrate on 2-3 cities and enjoy them, don't suffer them.

Recommended route: 10 days

Days	City	What to see
1-4	Tokyo	Shibuya, Shinjuku, Asakusa, Akihabara
5-7	Kyoto	Temples, bamboo, geishas
8-10	Osaka	Street food, castle, nightlife

Why this route:

• Tokyo → Kyoto: Shinkansen (2h15, €130 with JR Pass or €75 without it)
• Kyoto → Osaka: Local train (30 min, €5)
• Osaka → Airport: Direct train (50 min, €10)

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TOKYO (4 days)

Day 1: Shibuya and Harajuku

Tomorrow:

• Shibuya Cross (the most famous zebra crossing in the world)
• Starbucks upstairs to see it from above (free if you order a coffee)
• Hachiko Statue

Afternoon:

• Takeshita Street (Harajuku) — crazy shops, pancakes, kawaii fashion
• Meiji Shrine — shrine in the middle of the forest, free

Night:

• Shibuya Sky (sunset, 2,000 yen / €13) — the best view of Tokyo
• Oicho in Shibuya — izakaya with a local atmosphere

Day 2: Asakusa and Akihabara

Tomorrow:

• Senso-ji (Tokyo's oldest temple) — free, before 9am to avoid crowds
• Nakamise Street — souvenir shops, try melon pan

Afternoon:

• Akihabara — anime shops, electronics, maid cafes
• If you like gaming: Super Potato (retro games) or SEGA Arcade

Night:

• Yakitori Alley (skewer street) near Ueno — 500-1,000 yen per dinner

Day 3: Shinjuku and Golden Gai

Tomorrow:

• Shinjuku Gyoen (imperial garden, 500 yen / €3.30) — impressive in spring
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building — free observatory

Afternoon:

• Kabukicho (red zone, curiosity)
• Don Quijote mega store — souvenirs, snacks, strange things

Night:

• Golden Gai — 200+ tiny alley bars. Each one has personality. Pay 500-1,000 yen cover charge and order whatever you want. Not all of them accept tourists, look for those that say "Welcome"

Day 4: Free day / Odaiba

• TeamLab Borderless (digital museum, 3,800 yen / €25) — reserve online before, sells out
• Odaiba — artificial island, views of the Rainbow Bridge

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KYOTO (3 days)

Day 1: Eastern Temples

Tomorrow (starts at 7am to avoid crowds):

• Fushimi Inari (the 10,000 torii gates) — free, but the 10,000 take 2-3 hours
• Trick: Only upload the first 30 minutes. The view from above is not worth the effort

Afternoon:

• Kiyomizu-dera (temple with a view) — 400 yen
• Higashiyama streets — the most photogenic streets in Kyoto

Day 2: Bamboo and the West

Tomorrow:

• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — arrive before 8am or it's super crowded
• Monkey Park Iwatayama (monkeys + views, 550 yen)

Afternoon:

• Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) — 500 yen, impressive
• Ryoan-ji (zen stone garden) — 500 yen

Day 3: Geishas and culture

Night:

• Gion (geisha district) — stroll through the streets at sunset
• Don't chase the geishas. They are working professionals, not attractions
• If you're lucky, you'll see a yasu (apprentice) on your way to an appointment

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OSAKA (3 days)

Day 1: Street Food (Dotonbori)

Osaka is the gastronomic capital of Japan. I'm not exaggerating.

Where to eat:

• Takoyaki (octopus balls) in Wanaka — 600 yen
• Okonomiyaki (Japanese omelet) at Mizuno — 1,200 yen
• Kushikatsu (breaded skewers) at Daruma — 800 yen
• Ramen at Ichiran — 900 yen (reserve per machine)

Night:

• Dotonbori illuminated — the most Instagrammable photo of Osaka
• Canal boats (800 yen)

Day 2: Castle and Umeda

Tomorrow:

• Osaka Castle (600 yen) — go up to the 8th floor for views
• Castle park — free, picnic or walk

Afternoon:

• Umeda Sky Building (observatory, 1,500 yen) — 360° views -地下街 (chika gai) — giant underground shopping mall

Day 3: Free day / Nara

Option: Excursion to Nara (45 min by train, 800 yen round trip)

• Deer loose on the street (buy deer crackers: 200 yen)
• Todai-ji Temple — the largest wooden building in the world

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Transportation: buy JR Pass?

JR Pass:

Duration	Price	It's worth it?
7 days	50,000 yen (€330)	Only if you do Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka in 7 days
14 days	80,000 yen (€530)	If you add Hiroshima/Nara
21 days	100,000 yen (€660)	Only if you travel a lot

My opinion: If you do the Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka route in 7-10 days, DO NOT buy JR Pass. It is cheaper to buy single tickets.

Example: Tokyo → Kyoto (€75) + Kyoto → Osaka (€5) + Osaka → Airport (€10) = €90 total. The JR Pass costs €330.

When DO buy JR Pass:

• If you do Tokyo → Hiroshima → Osaka (€200 in single tickets)
• If you travel in the north (Tohoku, Hokkaido)
• If you do the full route of Japan

Errors I see over and over again

1. Try to see everything: Better 3 cities good than 7 bad
2. Do not reserve TeamLab: It sells out weeks before
3. Go to Fushimi Inari at noon: 37°C in summer, crowd
4. Don't try street food: Osaka is better than many Michelin restaurants
5. Change city every day: It exhausts you and you don't enjoy it

Cities checklist

• ☐ Planned route with days per city
• ☐ TeamLab reserved (if you go to Tokyo)
• ☐ Reserved hotels in central areas
• ☐ JR Pass calculated (do you really need it?)
• ☐ Favorite restaurants saved on Google Maps
• ☐ Revised train schedules