Japan: Kyushu to Tokyo

OCTOBER 2025 • FIELD NOTES: ASIA

Jump to:

Tokyo

Mt Fuji

Okayama

Osaka

Kyoto

Hiroshima

Kamikochi

Takayama

Matsumoto

Kyushu Road Trip

General Tips

TRANSPORTATION

Fly in or fly out of Tokyo if you want to explore beyond the capital. We flew into Fukuoka and out of Tokyo. If you only have a short time, I would try to fly into Tokyo and out of Osaka. 

Google Maps was our go-to for directions and getting around public transportation wise. You can always use Uber if your feet need a well deserved break. 

We used Apple Pay for everything and added Japan’s subway card onto our iPhones - here is how: https://support.apple.com/en-us/108772 

For trains to other cities, we would either go up to the counter and speak to a human or use the machines to buy a ticket beforehand. We never had to buy a train ticket ahead of time, the trains run very frequently as well. 

ITINERARY

If you only have 10-14 days

Fly into Tokyo and

a. head directly to Hiroshima (2 nights) > Okayama (2N, day trips to Naoshima Island & Kurashiki) > Kyoto (4N) > Tokyo (4N) 

b. head to Osaka (2-3N) > Kyoto (5 N) >
Tokyo (5N) 

FOOD

What we did

Fukuoka (1N) → Aso (1N) → Takachiho (1N) → Kagoshima (3N) → Kumamoto (1N) → Nagasaki (2 nights) → Hiroshima (2N) → Okayama (3N) → Osaka (3N) → Kyoto (3N) → Takayama (1 N) → Kamikochi (1N) → Matsumoto (2N) → Kawaguchio/Mt. Fuji (2N) → Tokyo (6N)

Unless you’re going somewhere very touristy, I think it’ll be hard to eat a bad meal in Japan. The best advice someone gave us was to figure out what kind of meal you want to try (ramen, izikaya, sushi, italian) and see if your neighborhood has that kind of meal nearby. You don’t need to travel far for a specific restaurant (unless you really want to!)

Download the app “tablelog” for restaurant reviews and anything with 3 stars and above is considered excellent by Japanese standards.

6 NIGHTS · AKAKSAKA BASE · OCT 27 – Nov 2

35.6762° N, 139.6503° E

Tokyo

WHERE WE STAYED

Akasaka. Solid central location, decent hotels around and a variety of good coffee shops and places to eat. Felt quieter than other recommended neighborhoods yet lively enough with local office workers going about their day to day. 

  • Our hotel: Akasaka Centurion Hotel Residential, booked using points - a little old but was spacious

  • Wow this would be cool to stay in - Tokyo Little House, our favorite coffee shop that is also a single room hotel! The house was built 3 years after the war and remains a house amongst streets of apartment & office buildings. A little time warp to the past in bustling Tokyo.

Next time we visit: Daikanyama. My favorite neighborhood we visited, not as convenient public transportation wise but it’s a gorgeous family friendly neighborhood with excellent coffee shops and amazing boutiques lining the street. Would also consider staying in Ebisu or Shimokitazawa 

Where most people stay: Shinjuku (must visit for the crossing and walking around craziness but wow, overwhelming), Shibuya (loud, young, getting more touristy), Asakusa (felt out of the way for a night stay but fun day trip), Ginza ($$$) 

THINGS TO DO

Temples & Shrines

  • Sensō-ji — oldest shrine in Tokyo, completed in 645. Fun to walk around Asakusa but a bit out of the way from everything else. We paired this with a side trip to Akihabara (the video game & electronics center) and I wouldn't recommend unless you're a fan of Japanese video games.

  • Gōtokuji — thousands of lucky cats shrine from the Edo period, a bit out of the way (we didn't go) but it looks very special! You can head there in the morning and explore Shimokitazawa for lunch after.

Museums

  • Tokyo National Museum — we spent a few hours here before heading to catch a bus, you could easily spend a full day here.

  • Mori Art Museum — art museum with a view; didn't get around to it but on our list for next time!

  • teamLab — we went to the Borderless experience in Kyoto but have also heard that Tokyo's teamLab/Borderless experiences are incredible. They're basically big warehouses converted into immersive art experiences — fun for adults and kids alike.

Disney Seas

If you're curious about why everyone keeps saying the Japanese do it best, DisneySea is an excellent example! Not everyone's cup of tea, but it's a fantastic day trip to see theme park engineering at its finest with everyone's favorite Disney characters. The food is delicious & cheap, but the people watching was our favorite.

Views & Towers

Tokyo SkyTree & Tokyo Tower — we were walking around and stumbled on Tokyo Tower; it was fun to go up and see the city but I wouldn't go out of your way for it.

Shopping

Worthwhile to walk around Shibuya and Harajuku just to see the spectacle, even if you're not interested in shopping. It's crowded and a bit chaotic but we enjoyed popping down side streets and seeing the quieter sides.

  • mont-bell — the REI or Patagonia of Japan. Half of our outdoor gear is from here now. We're huge fans and highly recommend popping into a mont-bell for any outdoor needs you may have.

  • Beams 

  • Uniqlo - every Uniqlo in Japan has a unique shirt for that city. If you want a fun souvenir or a gift, these are great shirts you can’t get anywhere else.

Bars & Nightlift

Explore Golden Gai for drinks in Shinjuku and pop into any bar that's calling your name. Indoor smoking is still huge in Japan, so FYI — if you just washed your hair, did your laundry, or don't want to smell like an ashtray, it may be best to avoid.

FOOD

HEARD THIS WAS GOOD

Fly into Tokyo and

a. head directly to Hiroshima (2 nights) > Okayama (2N, day trips to Naoshima Island & Kurashiki) > Kyoto (4N) > Tokyo (4N) 

b. head to Osaka (2-3N) > Kyoto (5 N) >
Tokyo (5N) 

WE ATE HERE

Fukuoka (1N) → Aso (1N) → Takachiho (1N) → Kagoshima (3N) → Kumamoto (1N) → Nagasaki (2 nights) → Hiroshima (2N) → Okayama (3N) → Osaka (3N) → Kyoto (3N) → Takayama (1 N) → Kamikochi (1N) → Matsumoto (2N) → Kawaguchio/Mt. Fuji (2N) → Tokyo (6N)