Japan had been on my bucket list for so long, ever since I saw the Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift movie and was amazed by this scene shot at this chaotic crossing in Tokyo which I came to know later was the famous Shibuya crossing! Anyway, Japan seems to be all the craze right now and I wanted to write a blog post about my planning and experience of visiting there for a short period of a week. You'd be amazed how much you can see and do in a week like we did. Getting right into it, we were supposed to be in Japan for eight days but we missed a connection due to our airline and airport delays and we were able to get only seven full days in Japan. So this blog post assumes you have seven full days in Japan to explore.
I suggest staying in Osaka for three of those days and in Tokyo for four days. For Kyoto you can take a day trip from Osaka by the Shinkansen (bullet train), it takes only around fifteen minutes by Shinkansen to get to Kyoto from Shin-Osaka station.
Decadent Diaries Travel Tips
Do your Japan Immigration and Customs formalities ahead of time by visiting the official Visit Japan Web website. Once you are done with the formalities you will get a QR code for each person which you show at the Airport at the respective counters. This may help you save some time at the airport as you won't have to manually fill out the physical forms and there may be a separate line for those who have a QR code making the formalities faster.
Stay at a Hotel which is a maximum of a ten-minute walk from a major train station in the City. For eg. we stayed a seven-minute walk away from Namba Station in Osaka and a five-minute walk from Tokyo Station in Tokyo. This helps a lot as the taxi fares from the airport to the city are very steep and you can instead use one of the airport express trains that connect the airports to some major city train stations. They are affordable, comfortable and most importantly not affected by city traffic so you can get to your hotel on time. Once you reach the station, even if you have heavy bags a five to ten-minute walk with them is manageable according to me. We took the Nankai Airport Express from Kansai Airport to Namba in Osaka and from Tokyo Station to Narita Airport we took the Narita Express in Tokyo.
For the travel from Osaka to Tokyo, we took the Nozomi Shinkansen which was the fastest, around two and a half hours to get from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo. We booked our tickets for this section of our travel in advance and also took reserved seats to avoid the hassle of searching for empty seats in non-reserved compartments with heavy bags. We made our bookings from Klook but the official website also can be used.
For the Osaka to Kyoto day trip, we just purchased non-reserved Shinkansen tickets at Shin-Osaka station itself on the day of our travel. The ticket booths have English as a language and it is pretty straightforward to purchase a ticket. This was good for our particular case because it was hardly a fifteen-minute train ride between the two stations and we could catch any Shinkansen headed that way without worrying about the time as the tickets were non-reserved, as long we used the ticket on the particular date. Even if we had to stand on a particular Shinkansen as the non-reserved seating was full, it didn't matter as the duration was only fifteen minutes.
Buy an IC card as soon as you can. You can mostly buy this from the airport train station itself. Look for the IC card symbol or wordings on the ticket booths and press the English language to check if there is an option to buy the card at that particular ticket booth. You can use this card for most of the public transport in all the major cities in Japan. Some popular IC cards are ICOCA (in Osaka) and PASMO and SUICA in Tokyo. You just preload these cards with a particular amount of Yen of your choosing and then tap in and tap out for the public transport you use. It is even accepted as a mode of payment at some convenience stores or "konbinis".
Google Maps and Google Translate are your best friends. Google Maps is mostly accurate when you need to plan how you can get from point A to point B using public transport. Google Translate is a lifesaver as some people do not converse fluently in English and also to read the labels of products that are completely in Japanese. These two apps made my life a lot easier. Also as I've mentioned in my previous posts, I always use Google Maps to create a list of saved places where I want to eat and visit in a particular area. This helps me be my own travel guide.
Some places in Japan accept only cash, so carry sufficient cash with you along with your credit/debit cards etc.
Carry your passports on you to get tourist tax-free benefits during your shopping. Please ask in advance at the respective stores you shop at whether they offer tax-free as few stores do not. If you shop for more than five thousand five hundred yen at a single store during your billing you can ask for tax-free and show your passport if you are a tourist. Currently, they scan your passport and your entry sticker and give you a tax-free discount at the store itself. But please keep checking for the latest rules and regulations on the official site.
If you wish to visit Universal Studios etc. book your passes ahead of time online. This is especially important if you wish to buy express passes as they get sold out or are usually a lot more expensive closer to the dates as far as I observed. The same goes for Teamlab Planets or Teamlabs Borderless, for any popular attraction in Japan, I suggest buying your tickets in advance.
Make reservations if you wish to visit any popular restaurants. Many famous restaurants tend to have very long lines. Or visit at the off-peak hours or right at the opening time of the restaurant to try your luck, especially with those restaurants that do not take any reservations.
Japan can be very overwhelming if you do not plan out and shortlist the things you wish to see and do in a particular area. You will not be able to see and do everything so shortlist and stay focussed to enjoy your vacation to the fullest.
Japan is considered to be extremely safe, but even then there are few scams to be aware of. Do your own research as well during the time that you visit. Some popular ones that I have read up on are people coming to you asking to donate to a fake disaster relief fund. Another popular one is to be overly friendly with you and invite you into their restaurant or bar, then overcharge you for the drinks or pressure you to buy more, or charge you exorbitant hidden fees.
Day One - Explore Osaka - Osaka Castle, Dotonbori & Namba
Osaka has a lot to do and explore, start your morning at the Osaka Castle which is one of Osaka's most well-known icons. The walk through the gardens to get to the castle is peaceful and stunning with all the well-maintained greenery. The castle itself is at a height and is a sight to behold. During autumn you get to see the fall leaves as well.
Then head to the popular Dotonbori area which has the famous Glico Man Sign. Around that area, there are a lot of famous shopping streets or arcades like Ebisubashi and Shinsaibashi which are long-covered streets bustling with lots of shops and eats. The same goes for the area around the canal where the Glico sign is located. You have big tech stores like Edion and the famous discount store Don Quijote which is a must-visit to buy Kit Kats of all flavors, so many Japanese snacks and souvenirs and also famous Japanese skincare products. In the Donotburi area you get the famous ten yen cheese bread, the melon pan or melon bread with ice cream and strawberry treats at the many branches of Strawberry Mania located in and around that area. This area is extremely crowded especially the bridge next to the Glico Man sign, but if you step a bit down below the bridge you get some respite to take some good pictures with the sign.
There are also many high-end brands, vintage stores, and shopping malls like Daimaru which has the Pokemon Centre Osaka DX, and Parco which has Donguri Kyowakoku (Ghibli Store) with an interesting photo opp of the famous Ghibli movie "Spirited Away".
Also check out the America-Mura area close by, a western-oriented hub with some cool street art. Head to the Namba area close by which has the Namba Walk, Namba City, Takashimaya and Namba Parks malls.
This area surrounds the Namba station and there is so much to do and eat at the station and in the surrounding area. This is why we chose to stay in the Namba area as many popular spots were just a short walk away and it's direct connectivity with Kansai Airport by Nankai Airport Express. It was also directly connected to the Shin-Osaka Station (from where Shinkansens depart and arrive) via the Midosuji line. Some people also suggest that Umeda is a good place to set up a base, depending on your preferences.
Day Two - Universal Studios during the day and Umeda in the evening
People coming to Japan, especially for the first time, choose to visit either Universal Studios in Osaka or Disneyland / Disney Sea in Tokyo or both if they have the time. We chose to go to Universal Studios as we had a short visit of a week so did not want to visit two parks and also for the following reasons. I had visited Disney Land in many countries before but had never seen anything like Super Nintendo World. The second reason was due to being able to purchase the Universal Express Pass much in advance of the day of my visit thereby ensuring a stress-free visit. Yes, it is quite expensive but in my opinion, it is definitely worth it if you do not want to spend hours waiting in lines as these parks are really popular. This Pass option we purchased allowed us to access four rides in an express lane significantly reducing our wait times. As opposed to (as per my knowledge) the Disney Premier Access which can only be purchased on a per-ride basis on the day of your park visit from their App and I'd have to take the stress of wondering that once I enter the park will the DPA still be available for the rides I want to access and even if they are available will I get my preferred time slots? Or will my entire day go to waste in waiting for my time slot to arrive? Anyway, coming back to Universal, my tips would be to look up the Universal Studios Japan Website to shortlist the restaurants and rides you want to visit and create a plan of action.
Also, the Super Nintendo World requires a timed entry ticket so check out the official website for the various ways you can get it. I will write a post soon regarding my entire experience at Universal Studios Japan.
I also advise that for your meals and to purchase the snacks you like, do it at the off-peak times for eg. we purchased the popular Mario Pancake snack in the morning as later in the day the lines became too long. We went to one of the restaurants at 11:20 AM to avoid the lunchtime rush. We visited on the day of Halloween and had a smooth experience thanks to the Express Pass. By mid-afternoon, we were able to head back to enjoy the rest of the day at Osaka. Head to Umeda during the evening time. This is another popular area in Osaka. This area has many popular malls like Hep Five, Hankyu & Daimaru Umeda which has both the Pokemon Centre and the Nintendo Osaka store.
Also, this area like many other cities in Japan has a great bakery scene. The breads in Japan are next level! This area also has the famous Umeda Sky Building which has a cool observation deck for some great views of the city. It is a good way to round up your day as this area also has several great dining options due to it being a shopping hub.
Day Three - Day Trip to Kyoto and Shinsekai Market in Osaka during the evening
Taking a day trip from Osaka to Kyoto is super easy, that's why we decided not to take the trouble of shifting to another hotel for Kyoto and instead keep our base as Osaka and take a day trip to Kyoto. There are many ways to get to Kyoto from both Osaka station and Shin-Osaka station. We chose Shin-Osaka station for two reasons. One we would get a practice of how to board a Shinkansen and which platforms etc. to take as the same Nozomi Shinkansen (which departs multiple times a day) that we were going to take to Tokyo also has a stop in Kyoto. As we were in Japan for the very first time, we felt it would be good practice to understand the Shinkansen platforms, rules, etc. Secondly, it takes only fifteen minutes from Shin-Osaka station to Kyoto from the Shinkansen.
The main things to see in Kyoto would be the Fushimi Inari Shrine (a famous shrine known for its path arched with hundreds of traditional gates).
Explore the Pontocho and Gion areas and the Nishiki Market (famous for its Japanese eats). Visit the Nineizaka & Sannenzaka streets (two vintage old-world charm Japanese architecture pedestrian streets with Instaworthy shots of Yasaka Pagoda).
The Nineizaka Street has a unique Starbucks which looks like a traditional Japanese house and has traditional Japanese interiors with Tatami mats. And if time permits then one can also visit Kiyomizu - Dera an iconic Buddhist Temple with scenic views of the city and the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest for its beautiful tall bamboo-lined paths. If you wish to stay there for a few days instead of a day visit, some other places to see are the Kyoto Shinkyogoku Shopping Street, Kodaiji Temple, the Nijo Castle, Nanzen-ji Temple, the Philosopher's Path (especially during cherry blossom season), the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden and Kinkaku-ji Temple. A tip for Fushimi Inari Shrine would be not to get too worried about the crowds walking with you, crowds tend to come in waves so walk a little further then choose an area to wait and be patient, sooner or later you will hopefully get the arches a little empty to take an Instaworthy photo or video. There are many more shrines as well if that is something you like seeing, Google Maps has them all listed. Kyoto was truly the most historic of the three cities we visited and gave us a glimpse into the beautiful old-world charm of Japan.
We returned from Kyoto in the evening to Osaka and headed to Shinsekai Market by metro at night for some time to see its vibrant nighttime lights, shopping and restaurants. This area was unlike anything else, a complete sensory overload. Amidst this area was also the Tsutenkaku Tower an avant-garde tower that also has an interesting observation deck.
Day Four - Shinkansen to Tokyo (get Mt Fuji view with correct Shinkansen Seats) and Explore Ginza
Regarding our experience - we headed by the Midosuji line from Namba to Shin-Osaka station comfortably with our bags and we made sure to arrive a little early so that we could explore Shin-Osaka station and also buy the famed Bento Boxes and other snacks for our train ride. Alas, Osaka station did not have any vegetarian Bento Boxes however I was able to get many snacks, chocolates and even the famous Fruit Sando (fresh fruit, custard, and cream-filled sandwich) for our train ride. Please ensure to check the ingredients before buying to see whether it is vegetarian or not. We had our tickets digitally via QR codes so we scanned them at the Shinkansen Gates and collected the receipts that came out of the ticket gates and kept them safely in case the ticket conductor wanted to check them. We booked these reserved tickets from Klook and they had an option of selecting Mount Fuji View, if you are making a booking from elsewhere it is Seat D and E for your reference (please reconfirm from the official website). However, if you do not get these seats do not worry, you can mostly go and stand near one of the Shinkansen boarding doors and take the photos from the window that looks out in that direction. Be sure to keep checking Google Maps for your location as to when Mt Fuji is approaching, as it was seen for hardly three minutes during our train ride so we had to be extremely alert. The view we got was quite cloudy but still, we got to see it at least.
As we were able to see Mt. Fuji by train, we did not have to invest a vacation day traveling to Mt Fuji and this helped a lot as we were able to spend that time instead exploring more of Tokyo. Please also note to measure the luggage you are carrying with you so that it does not come under the oversized luggage section (check their official website for details). If it is oversized you need to reserve in advance an oversized luggage area for free or you are charged a fine on the train if you haven't reserved in advance. It takes hardly two and a half hours to reach Tokyo. It is better to check in advance if you are staying near Tokyo station whether your hotel is closer to the Marunochi exit or the Yaesu Exit. Ours was five minutes away from the Yaesu Exit.
Once you have checked in and settled down in your room, head for an afternoon tea at one of the many branches of Sembikiya which specializes in top-quality Japanese fruit (Japan is famous for high-quality expensive fruit). In this case it was the Kyobashi Main Store.
Then check out the Pokemon Centre Tokyo DX which is one of the largest Pokemon Centres in Tokyo. Then walk towards Ginza and spend the evening there.
Ginza is Tokyo's equivalent of New York's Fifth Avenue. It's beautiful to explore with high-end brands and also some flagship stores like the Muji Ginza Flagship Store and the Uniqlo Ginza Flagship Store. It also has the popular Itoya stationery store which is a pleasure to browse through. The Muji Flagship store has this amazing food section from where you can pick up so many yummy snacks and treats like freeze-dried chocolate-covered strawberries and Baumkuchen (fluffy layered cake).
The Uniqlo flagship has the iconic oscillating shirts display which everyone loves to see. Both these Japanese brands are a must for some great shopping.
Also, have a look at the Seiko Tower and the Nissan Crossing. Some famous malls there are Matsuya Ginza, Marronnier Gate Ginza, Exitmelsa and Ginza Six. This area also has a huge Bic Camera store for all your tech needs. I will cover the places we dined at in Japan in a separate post. Ginza with its skyscrapers and wonderful shopping is a must-visit.
Day Five - Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree, Akihabara & Tokyo Station
Start your day by visiting Asakusa for the famous Senso-ji temple, one of the most famous temples in Tokyo.
Walk along the well-known Nakamise-dori Street to reach the temple which is lined with many traditional Japanese eats and souvenir stores.
Go to the Azuma Bridge close by along the Sumida River to get some great views of the Tokyo Skytree. You can also instead head to the Skytree Station in case you wish to go on the top for the observation deck.
Then head to Akihabara, Tokyo's Tech Centric District also known as Tokyo's Electric Town for popular tech stores like Yodobashi Akiba and Bic Camera. Here you will also find many gaming arcades and get to try your luck at claw machines like GiGO, TAITO and HEY. If you have the time head to Ueno which is hardly five minutes away by metro which is also a popular shopping district and has the serene Ueno Park and Tokyo National Museum. After this spend the evening exploring the Tokyo Station which has so much shopping and many amazing restaurants as well for a great dinner. Tokyo station also has its very own Ramen Street which as the name suggests has many popular ramen restaurants and Character Street which has stores like Pokemon, Kirby, Ghibli and more. So lots to do there as well. The time at Tokyo station can also be spent buying souvenirs for your loved ones as it has many stores there like Hanagataya that offer everything from well-known souvenirs like Tokyo banana, sugar butter sand, Yubari melon-based sweets etc. An entire evening can be spent just exploring the wonders of the Tokyo station. Do note you will need a ticket to enter the Tokyo station, so you can just tap in and tap out your IC card and it will charge you as per your time spent on the station on a per two hour basis if I'm not wrong.
Day Six - Teamlab Borderless or Teamlab Planets, Tokyo Tower & Shibuya
If you are coming to Tokyo for the first time, I strongly suggest visiting Teamlab Borderless or Teamlab Planets. These are avant-garde exhibits with surreal and absolutely dreamy rooms that feel out of this world and leave you amazed. I chose Teamlabs Borderless as I found it more hygienic as you do not need to remove your shoes there or step into water or fold up your pants. Also, borderless is more discovery-based as you have to wander around locating the rooms for yourself as some may be a bit hidden. Lastly, it was located in Azabudai Hills which I wanted to explore a bit hence I chose Borderless over Planets.
An added perk was that on the way there I was able to get some good shots of the Tokyo Tower. I did not want to go on top to the observation deck but that is also something that you can do. Teamlabs Borderless was an outstanding experience, unlike anything I had seen before although it did give me a bit of a headache due to all the lights. Then explore Azabudai Hills which once again has some great shopping and dining options. They also have some events going on from time to time. Do check their official social media and website for more details during the time of your visit.
After this head to Shibuya for the rest of the day as there is so much to see and do there. Walk along the famous Shibuya Crossing and enjoy the chaotic wonder of the same.
See the Hachiko Memorial, the statue of the famous loyal dog who after its owner's death came every day and waited in anticipation of his owner at Shibuya Station for over nine years. Go up to one of the vantage points like Starbucks or L'Occitane Cafe to get elevated views of Shibuya Crossing while sipping a coffee or getting a bite to eat (you must buy something to stay at these places). Many also prefer going to Shibuya Sky, an extremely famous observation deck in Shibuya whose tickets also sell out in advance. Shibuya also has so many shopping malls like Shibuya 109, Shibuya Hikarie, Miyashita Park etc. and many famous stores like Village Vanguard, Shibuya Loft, MEGA Don Quijote, the Disney Store etc. Shibuya Centre Gai is a popular street to walk through for even more vibrant views of Shibuya.
If you are a Starbucks lover like I am, the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo is one train stop along with a short walk away from Shibuya. Get down at Naka-meguro station and using Google Maps for directions, take a ten to fifteen-minute walk to get to the same.
The roastery has a wide selection of food and Princi specialty breads on offer and many seasonal coffee concoctions. It is always fun to watch the coffee freshly roasting and the Willy Wonka-type feel you get but instead of chocolate, it's like a coffee factory. I enjoyed my visits to The Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Milan and New York and hence did not one to miss out on the one in Tokyo.
Day Seven - Omotesando, Harajuku & Shinjuku
Omotesando is close to both Shibuya and Harajuku. This is a posh area with many high-end stores lined along the main street. It can be considered in a way the Rodeo Drive of Tokyo. Enjoy some window shopping as you walk along the main street while simultaneously heading towards Harajuku.
Do not miss out on the I'm Donut? store here or in Shibuya for its viral Bombolonis.
Harajuku is a youthful district in Tokyo that is filled with vintage stores, shopping and also a unique mall called Tokyu Plaza which has a futuristic design. The Galaxy Harajuku store by Samsung here was very interesting and during the time we visited, it had a complimentary Team Labs Exhibit which was such a joy to experience.
Harajuku is most well known for Takeshita Street which is filled with so many interesting shops, food and the popular sweet shops for crepes with all sorts of toppings etc. There is also another famous shrine in this area called Meiji Jingu. This is not to be confused with the Meiji Jingu Gaien, which is close by to Aoyama-Itchome station and which is a famous park known for its Autumn leaves and its Ginkgo Avenue. After this head during the evening time to vibrant Shinjuku with its bright lights and its famous Godzilla Head.
Do not miss out on the famous 3D cat animations on the Cross Shinjuku Vision Board as you get out of the station.
Then proceed towards Kabukicho to see the famous Godzilla Head which gets animated at the beginning of every hour between noon and eight in the evening. (timings may change, keep checking online for the latest timings) This area also has the Tokyu Kabukicho Tower which has an extremely bright and interesting food court and more. Shinjuku also has the famous malls Isetan and Takashimaya which are a must-visit. This area also has the Disney Flagship Store. Two well-known streets to visit here are Omoide Yokocho and Shinjuku Golden-Gai. Both are filled with food stalls and taverns for an al-fresco dining experience. Close by Shinjuku is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building which has a free observation deck on the forty-fifth floor at the time of writing this post. It offers some fantastic views of Tokyo. On a clear day, it is said that you can even spot Mt Fuji at a distance from this observation deck. Lastly, do be careful while visiting the Kabukicho area as it is infamous for being a bit sketchy.
A Bonus Tip would be that as you can see from the picture above, do not forget to have a "Room Picnic" one day by visiting the convenience stores or "Konbinis" around you, ranging from 7-Eleven, Family Mart, Mini Stop, Lawson and more and grabbing all the local foods and snacks you can for a memorable in-room meal.
So these are my suggestions for things to do when you visit Japan for a week. A week may feel like a short time but if planned out well, you can see a lot and cover the major attractions. I hope you enjoyed reading this post and it gave you some helpful suggestions for your Japan vacation. Most importantly, do not forget to enjoy yourself, even if you miss out on a few things does not matter, the main thing is that you live in the moment and make some beautiful memories for a lifetime.
Thank you for reading ❤️
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