Osaka to Tokyo Road trip 12 Days Itinerary

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Travel Journal · 2026

Japan

[Twelve days from Osaka street food to Kyoto temples, Hakone & Tokyo.]

7 — 18 Jun 2026

Osaka → Kyoto → Hakone → Tokyo

Swipe or use the arrows →

Trip at a Glance

• 1
  Arrive Osaka

  Land KIX → Namba · Dotonbori street food · Glico Man
• 2
  Osaka City

  Kuromon / Osaka Kizu Market · Namba Yasaka · Umeda Sky · Osaka Castle · Shinsekai & Tsutenkaku · Shinsaibashi
• 3
  Universal Studios

  USJ · Shinsaibashi
• 4
  Nissin Museum → Kyoto

  Rental car · Nissin Museum Ikeda · Katsuoji Temple · Kiyomizu-dera · Sannenzaka · Yasaka
• 5
  Kyoto

  Fushimi Inari · Arashiyama Bamboo · Sagano train · Togetsukyo Bridge · Hanamikoji / Gion
• 6
  Kyoto → Nara → Gotemba

  Nara deer + Todai-ji · Nagoya lunch · drive to Gotemba
• 7
  Fuji Lakes

  Yamanaka · Kawaguchiko · Saiko · Oshino Hakkai
• 8
  Hakone

  Open Air Museum · Owakudani · Hakone Shrine · Lake Ashi · Gora · Gotemba Outlet
• 9
  Hakone → Tokyo

  Return car · Asakusa · Nakamise-dori · Senso-ji
• 10
  Tokyo Traditional

  teamLab Planets · Gundam Base · Joypolis · Skytree
• 11
  Tokyo Modern & Fun

  Meiji Jingu · Harajuku · Shibuya Sky · Scramble Crossing · Akihabara
• 12
  Depart Tokyo · Narita T1

  Free morning · Kappabashi Kitchen Town · ✈ Depart 6:40 PM

DAY01

Arrive Osaka

TravelFlight + ~50m

StaySennichimae, Chuo Ward

• 7:00 PM
  🛬

  Land at Kansai (KIX)

  [Immigration + baggage. Buy ICOCA / Nankai ticket.]

  ⏱ ~1.5h
• 7:30 PM
  

  Get 551 Horai in Airport

  [Famous pork buds — grab for later.]

• 9:20 PM
  🏨

  Arrive Namba & check in

  [Drop bags, freshen up.]

  Nankai line
• 10:00 PM
  🍜

  Dotonbori & Glico Man

  [Takoyaki, canal lights, the Glico sign.]

  ⏱ ~2h

Eat[spot]

StayAirBNB

[≈ ¥X,XXX]

DAY02

Osaka City

TravelMetro hops

StaySame hotel

• 8:00 AM
  

  Kuromon Ichiba or Osaka Kizu Market

  [Breakfast — fresh seafood, fruit, snacks.]

  ⏱ 1h
• 10:00 AM
  

  Namba Yasaka Shrine

  [The giant lion-head stage — quick photo stop.]

  ⏱ 30mFree
• 12:00 PM
  

  Umeda Sky

  [Sky observatory; Pokémon Center in Daimaru Umeda.]

  ⏱ 2.5h¥1,500
• 2:30 PM
  

  Osaka Castle

  [Grounds + keep museum.]

  ⏱ 2h¥600
• 4:30 PM
  

  Shinsekai & Tsutenkaku Tower

  [Retro district; dinner nearby.]

  ⏱ 2h+
• 6:30 PM
  

  Shinsaibashi

  [Shopping street; dinner nearby.]

  ⏱ 2h+

Eat[spot]

Tip[tip]

[≈ $634.70]

DAY03

Universal Studios

Travel~25m to USJ

StaySame hotel

• 8:30 AM
  

  Universal Studios Japan

  [Arrive before opening; consider Express Pass.]

  ⏱ Full day¥8,600+
• 7:30 PM
  

  Shopping at Shinsaibashi

  [Kushikatsu dinner in the old-town district.]

  ⏱ 1.5h

Tip[Book USJ tickets ahead]

[≈ ¥X,XXX]

DAY04

Nissin → Katsuoji → Kyoto

TravelPick up car

StayKyoto (Minami-ku)

• 9:00 AM
  🚗

  Pick up rental car

  [IDP + passport; set up ETC card.]

• 10:00 AM
  

  Nissin Cup Noodles Museum, Ikeda — Optional

  [Make your own cup noodle. Parking 300 yen / 20 min.]

  ⏱ 1.5h🚗 ~25m9:30–4:30Closed Tue$9.63
• 10:00 AM
  

  Katsuoji Temple 勝尾寺

  [Thousands of Daruma dolls.]

  🚗 ~30m⏱ 1.5h$4.02
• 11:30 AM
  🚗

  Drive to Kyoto

  [~1h on the expressway.]

• 1:00 PM
  

  Sannenzaka / Ninenzaka

  [Old sloped lanes — lunch & snacks.]

  🚗 ~15m
• 3:00 PM
  

  Kiyomizu-dera

  [Walk to see pagoda & temple.]

  6am–6pm
• 5:00 PM
  

  Yasaka Shrine

  [Lanterns light up toward evening.]

  🚗 ~1h
• 7:00 PM
  🏮

  Dinner — Hanamikoji / Pontocho

  [Historic Gion lane; riverside dining alley.]

• 8:00 PM
  🏨

  Arrive Kyoto hotel & check in

  [Drop bags, freshen up.]

StayAirBNB $611.72

Tip[Kyoto parking is tight]

[≈ ¥X,XXX]

DAY05

Kyoto

TravelCar

StaySame Kyoto hotel

• 6:00 AM
  

  Fushimi Inari

  [Dawn = empty torii-gate photos.]

  🚗 ~12m⏱ 1.5hFree
• 8:00 AM
  

  Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

  [Towering bamboo path. Lunch nearby (e.g. Dangoro).]

  🚗 ~30mFree
• 10:00 AM
  

  Sagano Romantic Train

  [Scenic ride along the gorge — book ahead.]

  ¥7🚗 ~15m9am–5pm
• 2:00 PM
  

  Tenryu-ji Garden — Optional

  [UNESCO pond garden; covered veranda seating.]

  ⏱ 1hFree8:30–5pm🚗 ~10m
• 4:00 PM
  

  Togetsukyo Bridge — Optional

  [River + mountain backdrop.]

  Free🚗 ~15m24h
• 6:00 PM
  

  Hanamikoji Street / Gion

  [Atmospheric at dusk; maiko/geiko spotting. Dinner.]

Tip[Long day — comfy shoes]

[≈ ¥X,XXX]

DAY06

Kyoto → Nara → Gotemba

TravelLong drive

StayRembrandt Premium Fuji Gotemba

• 8:00 AM
  🧳

  Checkout Kyoto

  [Load car, fuel up.]

• 9:00 AM
  

  Nara deer park + Todai-ji

  [Bow to the deer for crackers.]

  🚗 ~40m⏱ 2.5h
• 1:00 PM
  🏯

  Nagoya lunch stop

  [Nagoya Castle + miso katsu / hitsumabushi.]

  🚗 ~2h
• 4:30 PM
  🚗

  Drive on to Gotemba

  [~3h, Mt Fuji views. Rest at Fujikawa SA.]

• 4:30 PM
  

  Gotemba hotel — check in

  [Rest after the drive.]

StayGotemba $1,571.66

Tip[Split rest stops]

[≈ ¥X,XXX]

DAY07

Fuji Lakes

TravelDrive between lakes

StayGotemba / Fuji

• 9:00 AM
  

  Nagaike Water Park — Lake Yamanaka

  [Largest of the Fuji Five Lakes.]

  🚗 ~30mFree
• 10:00 AM
  

  Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum

  [European garden, antique music boxes, live shows.]

  🚗 ~23m10–5:30Closed Wed$12
• 12:00 PM
  🍜

  Lunch

  [Around Fujikawaguchiko.]

• 2:00 PM
  

  Oishi Park — Lake Kawaguchiko

  [Classic Fuji reflection; north shore best. Chureito Pagoda = 392 steps.]

  🚗 ~5mFree
• 3:00 PM
  

  Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato / Lake Saiko Beach

  [Reconstructed village; rent traditional clothing.]

  🚗 ~17m$4 village
• 5:00 PM
  

  Q-STA

  [Department store, food court, rooftop deck.]

  Free10am–8pm
• 6:00 PM
  

  Oshino Hakkai — Optional

  [Spring-water ponds & village snacks.]

  Free

Tip[Fuji clearest early morning]

[≈ ¥X,XXX]

DAY08

Hakone

TravelLocal loop

StayHakone area

• 9:00 AM
  

  Hakone Open Air Museum

  [Sculpture park; great for all ages.]

  🚗 ~21m¥1,6009am–5pm
• 11:00 AM
  

  Owakudani volcanic valley

  [Ropeway + black eggs (kuro-tamago).]

  🚗 ~12mBook trail¥800
• 12:00 PM
  🍜

  Lunch

  [TBD.]

• 1:30 PM
  

  Hakone Sekisho

  [Historic checkpoint by the lake.]

  🚗 ~21m$49am–4:30pm
• 3:00 PM
  

  Hakone Shrine

  [Famous lakeside torii gate.]

  🚗 ~5mFree
• 4:30 PM
  

  Lake Ashi cruise — Optional

  [Pirate-ship cruise with Fuji views.]

• 5:00 PM
  🚠

  Gora area

  [Cafés, onsen, end the loop here.]

• 6:00 PM
  

  Gotemba Premium Outlet — Optional

  [Brand shopping; open late.]

  10am–8pm

Tip[Consider the Hakone Free Pass]

[≈ ¥X,XXX]

DAY09

Hakone → Tokyo

TravelDrive ~1.5h

StayAPA Hotel Asakusa-Ekimae

• 8:00 AM
  🧳

  Checkout Gotemba

  [Load car, fuel up.]

• 10:00 AM
  🚗

  Drive ~1h30m · return rental car

  [Refuel before drop-off.]

• 1:00 PM
  🏯

  Yokohama — Nissin Museum

  [Pending.]

• 3:00 PM
  

  Nakamise-dori

  [Snack street up to the temple.]

• 4:00 PM
  

  Senso-ji

  [Tokyo's oldest temple; lovely at dusk.]

• 6:00 PM
  

  Settle into Asakusa

  [Check in, drop bags.]

StayAsakusa $775.35

Tip[Switch to Suica]

[≈ ¥X,XXX]

DAY10

Tokyo Traditional

TravelTrains

StayAsakusa

• 1:00 PM
  

  teamLab Planets, Toyosu

  [Immersive digital art — book a time slot.]

  ¥3,800
• 1:00 PM
  

  Gundam Base Tokyo

  [Lunch; Gundam light show.]

  Free
• 3:00 PM
  

  Tokyo Joypolis

  [Indoor amusement park in Odaiba.]

  Under 6 FreeOver 60 FreeAdult ¥5,800
• 6:00 PM
  

  Tokyo Skytree

  [Sunset views; shops at the base.]

Tip[teamLab: you go barefoot]

[≈ ¥X,XXX]

DAY11

Tokyo Modern & Fun

TravelTrains

StayAsakusa

• 9:00 AM
  

  Meiji Jingu Shrine

  [Forested shrine beside Harajuku.]

  Free
• 10:30 AM
  

  Takeshita & Harajuku

  [Crepes, fashion. Walk on to Shinjuku.]

• 2:30 PM
  

  Shibuya Sky — Optional

  [Rooftop deck over the famous crossing.]

  ¥2,50010am–10:30pm
• 3:30 PM
  

  Shinjuku & Shibuya Scramble Crossing

  [Neon streets, dinner, last-night vibes.]

• 7:00 PM
  

  Akihabara Electric Town

  [Manga, anime collectibles, neon stalls.]

Tip[Book Shibuya Sky for sunset]

[≈ ¥X,XXX]

DAY12

Depart Tokyo

To airportNarita T1

FlightDepart 6:40 PM

• 9:00 AM
  🛍️

  Free morning shopping

  [Last-minute souvenirs near the hotel.]

• 10:30 AM
  🔪

  Kappabashi Kitchen Town

  [Knives, ceramics, fake-food samples.]

• 6:40 PM
  ✈️

  Depart — Narita Terminal 1

  [Arrive ~3h early; claim tax-free refund.]

To airportSkyliner / N'EX

[≈ ¥X,XXX]

What to Pack

🌤️ Outdoor

• Umbrella / raincoat
• Own bag of necessities
• Sunglasses
• Spectacles (optional)
• Sanitizer
• Water bottle
• Hair tie (for onsen)
• Hat
• Wet tissue
• Dry tissue
• Mask
• Reusable bag
• Selfie stick
• Extra bag for overweight luggage

🩹 Health & Security

• Vitamins
• Keys for locked luggage
• First aid — paracetamol, flu, stomachache

🧴 Face

• Cleanser
• Toner
• Face mask
• Serum
• Moisturiser
• Lip moisturiser

💄 Make up

• Foundation
• Lipstick

🛁 Toiletry

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrush
• Towel (Decathlon compact)
• Comb
• Hand & body lotion
• Pads (for menstruation)

🔌 Electronics

• Phone
• Phone charger
• Earphones
• International adapter
• Power bank (≤100Wh, hand-carry)
• Portable fan (hand-carry)

👟 Footwear

• 1 × sport shoes
• 3 × socks
• Plasters

👕 Clothes

• 2 × jeans
• 5 × bottoms
• 5 × tops
• 1 × jacket
• 2 × pyjama sets
• 9 × disposable underwear
• 4 × bras
• Swimsuit

Budget & Notes

Flights	[¥XX,XXX]
Accommodation (11 nights)	[¥XX,XXX]
Rental car + tolls + fuel	[¥XX,XXX]
Food & drink	[¥XX,XXX]
Trains & transport	[¥X,XXX]
Activities (USJ, teamLab…)	[¥XX,XXX]
Shopping / misc	[¥XX,XXX]
Total (pp)	[≈ ¥XXX,XXX]

Happy travels,

[Your name / blog]