·ANA NH102 · Oct 17, 10:20am·Itinerary finalized ✓
—until Japan
Tokyo
Oct 3 – 7
4 nights
🎂 Aaron's Birthday Oct 4
View details →
Hakone
Oct 7 – 9
2 nights
♨ Ryokan night Oct 8
View details →
Osaka
Oct 9 – 11
2 nights
🎂 Fairuz's Birthday Oct 10
View details →
Kyoto
Oct 11 – 15
4 nights
View details →
Tokyo
Oct 15 – 17
2 nights
✈ Fly home Oct 17
View details →
Final Itinerary · Built from the group's lists
Japan, Oct 3–17
Tokyo (4) → Hakone (2) → Osaka (2) → Kyoto (4) → Tokyo (2). Fifteen days, five travelers, one shared spine with room to peel off.
TroyAaronSarah KSarah GFairuzWill — Tokyo local
Status: Itinerary finalized — all lodging booked. No JR Pass; individual tickets are cheaper for this route. Mobile Suica on Apple Wallet before departure.
GroupIndependentLockedTravel⚠ verify
TokyoOct 3–7 · 4 nights
Sat, Oct 3 — Day 1
Arrival
~4:00pm
Land Haneda, clear customs, set up Mobile Suica at the airport (load ¥10,000–20,000). Head to lodging — Higashi-Shinjuku Station, 9 min walk.
lodging ✓
SHIN House, Shinjuku (Airbnb) — 4BR, private hot tub, 3-story villa. 10 min walk to Golden Gai. Check-in after 3pm / checkout before 11am.
independentEvening
Jet-lagged — easy dinner near the house, early night. Golden Gai is a 10-min walk for anyone wanting a first-night scope.
Sun, Oct 4 — Day 2 · Aaron's Birthday
Nakano Broadway + birthday bar crawl
independentDaytime
Open until the evening plan. Rest, explore Shinjuku, whatever feels right.
groupLate afternoon
Nakano Broadway — head over ~5pm once the tourist wave has thinned. Taco Che (3F, underground zines/art books), Mandarake branches, then out into the record shops: Flower Record (visual kei demo tapes) or RARE Nakano (Japanese 7-inches, VHS, minidiscs).
groupPre-dinner
Cocktails at BAR23 — house-infused spirits, speakeasy-quiet. Two minutes from dinner.
locked7:30pm
Birthday dinner — Maguro Mart, Nakano. Party of 6 (group + Will). Tuna omakase, scrape-your-own backbone. ⚠ cash only — bring extra yen for 6
groupAfter dinner
All-Nakano bar crawl, no trains needed: JUKE 80's (basement 80s music request bar, ¥500 drinks, huge songbook) → JET BAR or SNA BAR げげげ (split if you like) → VICTORIA nightcap (rare Japanese whisky, jazz, two floors).
Mon, Oct 5 — Day 3
Tsukiji + Asakusa (the hard day, jet-lag-wise)
groupMorning
Tsukiji Outer Market breakfast — later start (~9:30am) given last night. Tamagoyaki skewers, counter sushi, knife stalls. Cash helps. Totally fine to skip this and meet the group at Asakusa instead. ⚠ verify Mon open
🎫 Buy a 48hr Tokyo Subway Ticket (¥1,200) this morning — covers today + tomorrow.
independentMidday
Genuine rest block back at SHIN House — recharge after the late birthday night before the afternoon push.
groupAfternoon
Kappabashi (kitchenware district — knives, ceramics, fake food replicas) then walk to Senso-ji + Asakusa Shrine. Main Hall closes 5pm sharp in October.
Aaron Dengama ceramics, Kama-Asa knives, Sato Sample fake food in Kappabashi.
locked ✓6:00pm
Sumo Wrestler Dinner, Asakusa Sumo Club Annex — party of 4 (Fairuz opted out). Confirmed via Klook, $453.20. Live sumo show + chicken chanko hot pot + 1 drink.
⚠ All-you-can-drink status pending Klook support · free cancel until Oct 4, 6pm Tokyo time.
Tue, Oct 6 — Day 4
Gotokuji + Sangenjaya + Golden Gai
groupMorning
Gotokuji Cat Temple + Setagaya tram — all 5 want this one. Tram from Sangenjaya, the lucky-cat origin shrine.
🎫 Buy Setagaya Line day pass (¥380) at Sangenjaya tram station.
independentAfternoon
Long rest block — protecting energy for two nightlife stops tonight. Optional Daikanyama browse if you have it in you.
groupEvening
Sangenjaya at night — Sankaku Chitai, the tangle of narrow alleys that's the neighborhood's real character. Bar-hop and graze, or anchor at Borrachos (Ryukyu-Mexican fusion).
groupLate night
Golden Gai — the one everyone's been wanting. Death Match in Hell (¥666 horror bar) inside. Ni-chōme right next door — AiiRO Café, Dragon Men, Eagle Tokyo.
Wed, Oct 7 — Day 5 · Travel
Tokyo → Hakone
Morning
Luggage drop at 7-Eleven near SHIN House — main suitcases forwarded to Osaka (¥2,300–2,630/bag). Check out by 11am.
🎒 Backpacks only for the entire Hakone stretch.
travelMidday
Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku, ~75–90 min. Buy Hakone Freepass (area-only, ¥6,000) at Hakone-Yumoto Station — covers all Hakone transport for Oct 7–8.
groupAfternoon
Hakone Open-Air Museum — outdoor sculpture park + hot-spring foot bath. Budget 2–2.5 hrs. Open until 17:00 (last entry 16:30).
lodging ✓
Lake Side Inn MIRAHAKONE, Moto-Hakone — lakefront, 3 apartments. ¥58,012 total (~$71/person). Check-in 4–5pm.
HakoneOct 7–9 · 2 nights
Thu, Oct 8 — Day 6 · Matsuzakaya ryokan night
Shrine → Owakudani → ryokan
groupSunrise
Hakone Shrine + Lake Ashi torii gate — steps from the lodging. Best at sunrise for Fuji reflection, before wind picks up.
groupMorning
Pirate ship cruise across Lake Ashi (Moto-Hakone → Togendai), then Hakone Ropeway up to Owakudani — volcanic sulfur valley, black eggs, Fuji views from the top. All Freepass-covered.
group-optionalEarly afternoon
Gora Brewery & Grill — Nobu Matsuhisa collaboration. Craft beer brewed with Hakone spring water, wagyu gyoza, an outdoor foot bath you can soak in while you eat. Happy hour 1–4pm.
Sarah K Okada Museum of Art + Hakone Museum of Art (moss garden) near Gora as an alternative.
locked — all booked ✓3:00pm sharp
Check into Matsuzakaya Honten — everyone. Book the ¥5,500 private onsen at front desk immediately. Yukata on, first soak, kaiseki dinner + wagyu toban-yaki. Tattoos OK. This is the centerpiece night — let it breathe.
Fri, Oct 9 — Day 7 · Travel
Hakone → Osaka
Morning
Ryokan breakfast, slow start. Checkout 10am. Ryokan car service to Hakone-Yumoto Station, then short hop to Odawara.
travelMidday
Hikari Shinkansen Odawara → Shin-Osaka, ~2h15–2h30. Nozomi skips Odawara — Hikari is the correct train. Backpacks only, main bags already at the hotel.
groupAfternoon
Arrive Osaka ~2pm, check into lodging. Main suitcases should already be waiting.
lodging ✓
Candeo Hotels Osaka Namba — rooftop open-air onsen + steam room, 8 min from Dotonbori.
independentEvening
Easy first night — Dotonbori lights + street food / takoyaki if energy allows, or rest.
OsakaOct 9–11 · 2 nights
Sat, Oct 10 — Day 8 · Fairuz's Birthday
Castle → Dotonbori → birthday wagyu
independentMorning
Free morning — Fairuz's birthday shapes the day.
Troy Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan), vintage shopping · Sarah K Nakanoshima / National Museum of Art · Doyama nightlife later
groupAfternoon
Osaka Castle — Aaron + Fairuz, Sengoku history. ⚠ verify if timed/skip-line tickets needed
groupEvening
Hozenji Yokocho + Dotonbori + Amerimura vintage — lantern-lit alley, moss shrine, then Dotonbori chaos. Best after dark.
locked ✓7:30pm
Fairuz's Birthday Dinner — Yakiniku Kitan Houzenji (Hozenji Store). Party of 5, Premium Anniversary Course + champagne — Matsusaka sirloin, aged tongue, wagyu sashimi, Chateaubriand. ~¥73,500 total (~$93/person).
⚠ Hozenji Store, not Minamisenba · free cancel until Oct 9, 5:59am JST
Sun, Oct 11 — Day 9 · Travel
Osaka → Nara → Kyoto
groupMorning
Nara — whole group, locked in. Kintetsu Nara Line from Namba (~35 min). Nara Park deer, Todai-ji (great Buddha), Kasuga Taisha (2,000 stone lanterns on moss-covered paths — don't skip this).
🧳 Coin lockers at Nara Station for bags (reservable via ecbo cloak app).
groupLunch
Gyumabushi Miyama, near the park — beef set eaten three ways: plain, with condiments, then with broth over rice. ~¥2,100–4,480.
travelAfternoon
JR Nara Line (Miyakoji Rapid) direct to Kyoto Station, ~45 min. Buy Kyoto Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass (~¥1,100) at Kyoto Station.
lodging ✓
Kyomachiya "Yasuno Kado" — 100-year-old machiya (artist's home), 3BR, private courtyard. Near Nijo Castle, walking distance to a World Heritage Site.
KyotoOct 11–15 · 4 nights
Mon, Oct 12 — Day 10
Hozugawa boat + Sagano temples
locked ✓10:00am
Hozugawa River Boat Ride — party of 6 incl. Will. Kameoka → Arashiyama, ~60–110 min. ¥36,000 total. Depart from Nijo Station via JR Sagano Line (~20 min to Kameoka).
⚠ 30-min boarding window (10:00–10:30), arrive with margin · free cancel until Oct 11
groupLate morning
Sagano temple walk — taxi up to Otagi Nenbutsuji (mossy statues), walk downhill through preserved village street to Adashino Nenbutsuji + its quiet bamboo grove (the crowd-free alternative — skipping the famous packed one). ~2.5 hrs, mostly downhill.
⚠ Otagi closed Wed & Sat — Mon is open, good. Verify Oct 2026 hours.
group-optionalAfternoon
Arashiyama wind-down — foot bath cafe, Cafe Hassui riverside tea, or Yusai-tei (150-yr-old former ryokan turned art gallery, round-window room over the Katsura River).
Sarah K Kawai Kanjirō's House on the way back toward central Kyoto.
Tue, Oct 13 — Day 11
Temples + central Kyoto
groupEarly morning
Fushimi Inari — thousands of red torii gates. Best at dawn. Free, open 24/7 (lantern-lit at night as a backup option).
Parallel:Aaron Ryoanji rock garden (8:00 opening) for garden lovers.
independentAfternoon
Central Kyoto open window.
Troy + Fairuz Kyoto snack tour + Nishiki Market · Loutre otter cafe · Sarah K Kahitsukan / Kyoto Museum of Crafts & Design · Aaron ramen at Toritani
group-optionalEvening
Gion duck noodles, woniwa (view + food), Good Good Not Bad, or Walden Woods.
Late: Hachimonjiya photographer bar + Taiho Ramen on Kiyamachi.
Wed, Oct 14 — Day 12
Flex / day-trip day
independentAll day
The big flex day. ⚠ Otagi Nenbutsuji CLOSED today (Wed)
Nijo Castle — walking distance from the Kyomachiya; Tokugawa shogun history + the real-world architectural inspiration behind Spirited Away Troy/Fairuz snack tour if not yet done · Sarah K remaining museums · Aaron leftover Kyoto picks · or genuine rest day
groupEvening
Loose group dinner — regroup, share the day, easy meal.
Thu, Oct 15 — Day 13 · Travel
Kyoto → Tokyo
Morning
Last Kyoto window / pack.
travelMidday
Nozomi Shinkansen ~2h15. Request oversized baggage seat at booking if needed.
groupAfternoon
Arrive Tokyo, check into lodging. Golden Gai is walkable from here for one more run.
lodging ✓
Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku — modern-luxury blend with genuine hot spring water. Good Haneda access for the early Oct 17 flight.
independentEvening
Anything missed — Daikanyama, Kichijoji, final Golden Gai. SG Club in Shibuya is a short train away if anyone wants a standout cocktail night (#3 Asia's Best Bars — "Guzzle" walk-in, "Sip" needs a reservation).
Ghibli Clock at Shiodome · Art Aquarium Ginza · last shopping · Troy/Fairuz night photo shoot Sarah K consolation museums (Kusama is closed for exhibition changeover until November): Mingeikan, Ueshima, Museum of Roadside Art
groupEvening
Farewell group dinner — last night together. ⚠ reserve once neighborhood known
Sat, Oct 17 — Day 15 · Departure
Haneda → home
lockedEarly
To Haneda. Flight 10:20am → at airport by ~8:00am. ANA NH102.
Still to sort
All lodging ✅ — SHIN House · MIRAHAKONE · Matsuzakaya · Candeo Namba · Yasuno Kado · Yuen Shinjuku
Train booking windows — Romancecar (book Sept 7) · Hikari to Osaka (Sept 9) · Nozomi to Tokyo (Sept 15). All via SmartEX/Klook/Odakyu.
Nara ✅ — locked into Oct 11, whole group. Kintetsu Nara Line from Namba.
Mt. Fuji day — Fairuz firm, Troy maybe, Aaron out. Confirm if Oct 8 or separate day (must hit 3pm ryokan check-in).
Weather backups — Hozugawa boat cancels in heavy rain (Oct 12). Sagano temple walk still works in drizzle.
Cash plan — Maguro Mart, market stalls, tiny bars, temple entries. 7-Eleven ATMs, ~¥15,000–20,000/person working float.
The route
Tokyo → Hakone → Osaka → Kyoto → Tokyo. Tap a city to see what we're doing there.
Coastline from Natural Earth data · cities plotted at true coordinates
Stays
Six stays · Oct 3–17 · 14 nights · all booked
SHIN HouseBooked
Tokyo · Oct 3–7 · 4 nights · whole group
Address
From booking confirmation — add here
Check-in / out
After 3:00pm
Before 11:00am
CostTBD
Booked byTroy
Details4BR / 7 beds · private hot tub · 3-story villa · 9 min walk to Higashi-Shinjuku, 10 min to Golden Gai
Free cancel until Oct 3, 11:59pm JST · Airbnb — exact address arrives with check-in instructions