About this trip
Four nights in Tokyo, then the Shinkansen to Osaka for four nights, with a day trip to Nara. All prices are my estimates, because I did not run price searches. Check them before you book. Tip: buy an IC card (Suica or ICOCA) for local trains, and book the Shinkansen and teamLab tickets ahead.
Book these ahead
Day by day
Drafted with ClaudeTokyo
Arrival and Shinjuku
15:00Getting around· 1.5 h
Airport to Shinjuku
Shinjuku Station, TokyoFlight details not provided. Take the Narita Express or Limousine Bus from Narita, or the Keikyu and JR lines from Haneda.
¥3,500per personestimate17:00Stay· 1 h
Check in, Shinjuku hotel
Shinjuku, Tokyo4 nights, 2 twin or triple rooms, 3-4 star. Estimate only.
¥160,000for 3 peopleestimate19:00Food· 1.5 h
Izakaya dinner in Omoide Yokocho
Omoide Yokocho, TokyoCasual yakitori alley next to Shinjuku Station.
¥4,000per personestimate
Tokyo
Old Tokyo
09:00Sight· 2 h
Senso-ji Temple
Senso-ji, AsakusaGinza Line to Asakusa. Free entry; go early to avoid crowds.
12:00Food· 1 h
Tempura or soba lunch
Asakusa, TokyoMany sit-down options near Nakamise.
¥2,000per personestimate14:00Sight· 1.5 h
Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo SkytreeA short walk from Asakusa. The Tembo Deck ticket is an estimate.
¥2,300per personestimate18:00Food· 1.5 h
Dinner in Ueno or Akihabara
Akihabara, TokyoRamen or tonkatsu. Browse the electronics and game shops.
¥2,500per personestimate
Tokyo
Shrines, Shibuya, Harajuku
12:00Food· 1 h
Lunch on Takeshita or Omotesando
Omotesando, TokyoCasual cafes and crepes.
¥2,000per personestimate14:00Sight· 2 h
Shibuya Crossing and Sky
Shibuya Sky, TokyoSunset views. Tickets are timed.
¥2,500per personestimateBook online 1-2 weeks ahead for a sunset slot.
Tokyo
teamLab and Tsukiji
09:00Food· 1.5 h
Tsukiji Outer Market breakfast
Tsukiji Outer MarketHibiya Line to Tsukiji. Seafood and tamagoyaki.
¥3,000per personestimate11:30Sight· 2 h
teamLab Planets
teamLab Planets, ToyosuYurikamome or Metro to Toyosu. Timed entry.
¥4,400per personestimateBook 2-4 weeks ahead, as slots sell out.18:30Food· 1.5 h
Dinner in Ginza or Yurakucho
Yurakucho, TokyoCasual izakaya under the rail tracks.
¥4,000per personestimate
Osaka
Shinkansen to Osaka, Dotonbori
09:30Getting around· 2.5 h
Nozomi Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka
Tokyo StationTokyo to Shin-Osaka takes about 2.5 hours. Reserved seat; sit on the right side for Mt Fuji views.
¥14,700per personestimateBook 1-4 weeks ahead via SmartEX or at the station.13:00Stay· 1 h
Check in, Namba hotel
Namba, Osaka4 nights, 2 rooms, 3-4 star. Estimate only. Leave bags if the room is not ready.
¥120,000for 3 peopleestimate14:30Food· 1.3 h
Okonomiyaki lunch
Dotonbori, OsakaCasual, popular with tourists.
¥2,000per personestimate17:00Sight· 3 h
Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi
Dotonbori, OsakaNeon signs, the Glico sign and street snacks like takoyaki.
Osaka
Osaka Castle and Umeda
09:30Sight· 2.5 h
Osaka Castle
Osaka CastleTanimachi Line to Tanimachi 4-chome. Keep time for the keep and park.
¥600per personestimate14:30Sight· 1.5 h
Umeda Sky Building
Umeda Sky BuildingFloating garden observatory. Price is an estimate.
¥1,500per personestimate18:30Food· 1.5 h
Kushikatsu dinner
Shinsekai, OsakaFried skewers. Do not double-dip in the sauce.
¥3,000per personestimate
Osaka
Day trip to Nara
09:30Getting around· 45 min
Train to Nara
Osaka-Namba StationKintetsu Nara Line from Namba, about 40 minutes.
¥680per personestimate10:30Sight· 3 h
Nara Park and Todai-ji
Todai-ji, NaraDeer park and the Great Buddha Hall.
¥800per personestimate15:00Sight· 1.5 h
Kasuga Taisha
Kasuga Taisha, NaraLantern-lined shrine. Return to Osaka by about 18:00.
19:00Food· 1.5 h
Dinner in Namba
Namba, OsakaSit-down dinner, such as a shabu-shabu or sushi place.
¥4,000per personestimate
Osaka
Last day and departure
09:30Sight· 1.5 h
Kuromon Market
Kuromon Ichiba Market, OsakaStreet-food breakfast.
¥2,500per personestimate11:30Free time· 2 h
Souvenir shopping and hotel checkout
Shinsaibashi-suji, OsakaCheck out by 11:00 and leave bags at the hotel if your flight is late.
14:00Getting around· 45 min
Transfer to Kansai Airport
Kansai International AirportNankai Rapi:t from Namba takes about 40 minutes. Adjust to your flight time, which was not provided.
¥1,500per personestimate
Know before you go: Japan
Spotless, safe and run like clockwork, with trains on time to the minute. A little etiquette goes a long way, and cash still matters outside the big cities.
Type A, B · 100 V
Two flat pins, like the US. Most phone and laptop chargers work; hair dryers from 220–240 V countries may not.
Tipping
Not done. Staff may chase you to return the money. Good service is already in the price; a polite thank-you (arigatou gozaimasu) is enough.
- Keep your voice down on trains and don't take phone calls on board.
- Take your shoes off where you see a step up or slippers: homes, ryokan, some temples and restaurants.
- Bins are rare in the street. Carry your rubbish back to your hotel or a convenience store.
- Many onsen and pools turn away visible tattoos. Look for 'tattoo friendly' places or cover small ones.
- Don't stick chopsticks upright in rice or pass food chopstick to chopstick; both echo funeral rites.
- Queue in the marked lines on platforms. On escalators, Tokyo stands on the left, Osaka on the right.
Checked October 2026. Rules, prices and numbers change, so confirm anything important with official sources: Japan National Tourism Organization, UK foreign travel advice: Japan, IEC World Plugs.
Prices are what the traveller's plan showed on Sat, Oct 31, 2026. Ones marked “estimate” are rough guides; check every price before you book. Opening hours and routes change, so check them close to your trip.