Japan: Tech, Culture & Adventure

Arrive into Tokyo (likely Narita or Haneda). Transfer to hotel.

Arrive in Tokyo, check in, and keep the day light. Get your bearings in Shibuya and end with sunset or evening views at Shibuya Sky. Group dinner at a vegetarian-friendly spot.

Full day in Akihabara Electric Town for anime, gaming, electronics, arcades, and shopping. Don't miss Super Potato Akihabara Branch for retro gaming. Vegetarian-friendly dinner at T’s Tantan.

Classic meets modern Tokyo day. Morning in Asakusa at Sensō-ji, then head to the Tokyo Skytree area. Afternoon contrast in Ginza for upscale shopping and the city's polished, developed-city energy.

Future city and JDM day. Start at teamLab Planets TOKYO DMM, then explore Odaiba. Afternoon stop at A-PIT Super Autobacs for JDM car culture. If practical, head to Daikoku Parking Area in the evening for a proper JDM car-scene experience — best on a weekend night.

Calmer culture day before leaving Tokyo. Morning at Meiji Jingu, then a peaceful stroll through Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Leave the afternoon open for any last Tokyo shopping and rest before the Fuji leg.

Train/bus from Tokyo (Shinjuku) to Fujikawaguchiko — approx. 2 hours via Fuji Excursion limited express or highway bus.

Transfer from Tokyo to Fujikawaguchiko. Check in to your kitchen-equipped accommodation — vegetarian options are limited in the area so self-catering is a smart move. Relax with a gentle explore around Lake Kawaguchi. Early night ahead of the sunrise alarm.

Very early start for the best chance of seeing Mount Fuji before clouds roll in. Priority spots: Chureito Pagoda for the classic pagoda-and-Fuji shot, then Oishi Park for lakeside Fuji views. If weather is poor, pivot to Mt. Fuji World Heritage Centre, Shizuoka or a slow lakeside morning.

Travel from Fujikawaguchiko to Tokyo (Shinjuku/Tokyo Station), then board the Tokaido Shinkansen to Kyoto. The shinkansen leg passes the foot of Fuji — sit on the right side (ocean side) for views.

The shinkansen highlight of the trip — travel from the Fuji/Tokyo side to Kyoto, a deliberately long and scenic internal journey. On arrival, keep it easy: an evening stroll through Gion and dinner at a vegetarian-friendly restaurant.

Classic Kyoto sightseeing day. Start at Kiyomizu-dera, then walk the stone-paved lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, and finish in Gion for people-watching and the chance to spot a geiko or maiko.

Scenic and relaxed Arashiyama day. Walk through Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in the morning before crowds build, then explore Tenryu-ji and its garden, and end at Togetsukyō Bridge for mountain and river views. Don't over-schedule this one — the pace is the point.

Day trip from Kyoto to Miyama — bus or car hire recommended as public transport is limited. Allow roughly 3 hours round-trip travel.

Off-the-beaten-path day trip to Kayabuki No Sato — a beautifully preserved village of traditional thatched-roof farmhouses about 1.5 hrs from Kyoto. A genuine cultural contrast to the big cities, and a slower, quieter rhythm for the day.

Fushimi Inari is a short train ride south of central Kyoto. Nara is accessible in ~45 mins by JR Nara Line or Kintetsu. Return to Kyoto in the evening.

Heritage-packed day with an early start at Fushimi Inari Taisha before the crowds arrive — walk as far up the torii tunnel as energy allows. Then continue to Nara: Nara Park for the famous free-roaming deer and Tōdai-ji for the giant bronze Buddha. Return to Kyoto in the evening.

Short shinkansen or JR rapid from Kyoto to Osaka — about 15 mins by shinkansen or 30 mins by JR. Easy morning transfer.

Transfer to Osaka, then dive straight into the city's energy. Explore the neon-lit Dotonbori canal strip, browse Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street, and hit Nipponbashi Denden Town for anime, manga, and electronics (a great Akihabara echo). Vegetarian dinner at Paprika shokudo Vegan.

Final full day. Morning at Umeda Sky Building for the floating garden observatory and Osaka's modern skyline — a great send-off moment. Then explore Umeda for last-minute shopping, or swing by Osaka Castle if the group has energy for one more landmark.