Highlights of Japan: Self-Launched Tokyo to Osaka

Arrive into Tokyo (Narita or Haneda). From Haneda, take the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho (~£3), then the JY/JK line to your accommodation. From Narita, the Narita Express is easiest (~£25). Check into a centrally located hostel or budget hotel. In the evening, take a casual self-guided stroll around the Akasaka district — a lively neighbourhood of restaurants, bars, and shrines. Grab dinner at one of the many izakayas (Japanese gastropubs) in the area; budget around £10–15 for a filling meal with a beer.

🚌Haneda: Tokyo Monorail + JR line (~£3–5). Narita: Narita Express (~£25). Activate your 7-day JR Pass on arrival if pre-purchased.

🛏Book a bed at a well-rated Tokyo hostel such as K's House Tokyo, Khaosan Tokyo Laboratory, or Wise Owl Hostels — expect £18–25/night for a dorm or £45–60 for a private room

• →Arrive and transfer to accommodation via public transport
• →Self-guided evening walk around Akasaka district
• →Dinner at a local izakaya

Start with a half-day city tour using the excellent Tokyo Metro (day pass ~£5). Head to Asakusa first to visit the iconic Senso-ji Temple and explore the bustling Nakamise shopping street. Wander the wider Asakusa district for street food (try ningyo-yaki and melon bread). In the afternoon, choose from optional extras: the Imperial Palace East Gardens (free), Meiji Shrine and Harajuku's Takeshita Street (free entry), or a stroll down Omotesando avenue. Grab ramen or sushi for lunch (budget ~£8–12). The Tokyo Metro is your best friend today — a 24-hour pass costs around £5.

🚌Tokyo Metro 24-hour pass (~£5)

🛏Same Tokyo hostel as night 1

• →Visit Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa (free entry)
• →Explore Asakusa district and Nakamise shopping street
• →Half-day self-guided city tour by Tokyo Metro
• →Optional: Imperial Palace East Gardens (free), Meiji Shrine (free), Harajuku & Omotesando (free)
• →Optional: Lunch in Ginza

Take an early train from Asakusa station to Nikko using the Tobu Nikko Line (round trip ~£20–25, not covered by JR Pass — or use JR to Utsunomiya then local train). Nikko is a UNESCO World Heritage site packed with ornate shrines and gorgeous mountain scenery. Walk across the vermillion Shinkyo Bridge (entry ~£4), then explore the magnificent Toshogu Shrine complex (~£8 entry). Allow time to wander the surrounding cedar forests. Return to Tokyo by early evening. Tonight enjoy dinner independently — try a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant for an authentic and affordable experience (~£10–15).

🚌Tobu Nikko Line from Asakusa (round trip ~£20–25) or JR to Utsunomiya + local train (covered by JR Pass + ~£5 local leg)

🛏Same Tokyo hostel as nights 1–2

• →Train journey from Tokyo to Nikko
• →Walk across Shinkyo Bridge (~£4 entry)
• →Explore Toshogu Shrine complex (~£8 entry)
• →Wander the cedar forest and surrounding area
• →Return to Tokyo in the evening

Check out of your Tokyo hostel and head to Tokyo Station. Board the Tokaido Shinkansen (Hikari or Nozomi) to Kyoto — a stunning ~2h15m journey past Mount Fuji on a clear day. This leg is fully covered by your 7-day JR Pass (otherwise ~£100 one-way). Pick up a convenience store bento for the journey, just like the tour does. Check into a Kyoto hostel or guesthouse — ideally in the Gion/Higashiyama area for atmosphere. In the afternoon, explore Nishiki Market ('Kyoto's Kitchen') for food stalls and local produce, then wander the atmospheric stone-lantern lanes of Gion and Hanami-koji, hoping to spot a geiko or maiko.

🚌Tokaido Shinkansen Tokyo → Kyoto (covered by JR Pass; otherwise ~£100). Local bus/metro in Kyoto (~£2–4/journey).

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Kyoto — try Piece Hostel Kyoto, K's House Kyoto, or a traditional machiya guesthouse (~£18–30/night dorm, £55–80 private)

• →Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto (covered by JR Pass)
• →Pick up bento lunch at Tokyo Station
• →Explore Nishiki Market
• →Self-guided walk through Gion district and Hanami-koji street

A packed but incredible day covering Kyoto's most iconic sights — all reachable by local bus (day pass ~£5). Start early (before 8am) at Fushimi Inari Shrine to beat the crowds and hike through thousands of vermillion torii gates (free entry). Take the JR Nara Line back to Kyoto then head to Arashiyama: cross the Togetsukyo Bridge and walk through the famous Sagano Bamboo Grove (free). Visit the serene Nonomiya Shrine nearby (free). In the afternoon, take a bus to the northwest: the rock garden of Ryoan-ji Temple (~£4) and the dazzling gold-leaf-coated Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion, ~£4) are unmissable. End with dinner in central Kyoto — try tofu cuisine or yakitori.

🚌JR Nara Line to Inari (~£2). Kyoto City Bus day pass (~£5). Local buses between sites.

🛏Same Kyoto hostel/guesthouse as night 4

• →Early morning visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine and torii gate hike (free)
• →Walk across Togetsukyo Bridge in Arashiyama
• →Walk through Sagano Bamboo Grove (free)
• →Visit Nonomiya Shrine (free)
• →Visit Ryoan-ji Temple rock garden (~£4)
• →Visit Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion, ~£4)

Check out and board the Shinkansen west. Stop first at Himeji (JR Pass covered) to explore Himeji Castle, Japan's finest surviving feudal castle — entry is around £7. Re-board the Shinkansen to Hiroshima (total journey time from Kyoto ~1h40m). In the afternoon, visit the Peace Memorial Museum (entry ~£1.50) — a deeply moving experience — and walk through Peace Memorial Park. The park, atomic bomb dome, and cenotaph are free to visit. Check into accommodation in Hiroshima and enjoy dinner locally — try Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, a must-eat regional speciality (~£8–12).

🚌Shinkansen Kyoto → Himeji → Hiroshima (JR Pass covered). Hiroshima tram/streetcar (~£1.50/ride).

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Hiroshima — try Guesthouse Rানী Hiroshima or Anj Hostel (~£15–25 dorm, £50–70 private)

• →Shinkansen from Kyoto, stopping at Himeji (JR Pass covered)
• →Visit Himeji Castle (~£7 entry)
• →Shinkansen onward to Hiroshima
• →Visit Peace Memorial Museum (~£1.50 entry)
• →Walk through Peace Memorial Park and see the Atomic Bomb Dome (free)
• →Dinner: Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki

Take the JR San'yo Line from Hiroshima to Miyajimaguchi (~25 mins, JR Pass covered), then the JR ferry to Miyajima island (JR Pass covers this too — a great perk!). Explore the magical Itsukushima-jinja Shrine with its famous floating torii gate — entry ~£3. Allow 2–3 hours on the island: wander the shore, watch the deer roam freely, and try grilled oysters or momiji manju (maple leaf cakes). Return to the mainland and board the Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Osaka (~45 mins, JR Pass covered). Check into Osaka accommodation. Tonight: explore Dotonbori for street food, neon lights, last-night karaoke, and the city's legendary food scene.

🚌JR San'yo Line + JR Ferry to Miyajima (JR Pass). Shinkansen Hiroshima → Osaka (JR Pass). Osaka Metro (~£2/ride).

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Osaka — try Namba Hatch Hostel, The Green Hostel Osaka, or Dormy Inn Namba (~£18–30 dorm, £55–80 private)

• →JR train to Miyajimaguchi + JR ferry to Miyajima (both JR Pass covered)
• →Visit Itsukushima-jinja Shrine and Floating Torii Gate (~£3 entry)
• →Leisure time on Miyajima — deer, oysters, and local snacks
• →Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Osaka (JR Pass covered)
• →Evening in Dotonbori — street food, neon signs, optional karaoke

Your final morning in Japan — make the most of it! Osaka is one of Asia's great food cities. Grab a breakfast of tamagoyaki (rolled omelette) and miso soup from a local café. If time allows before your flight, visit Osaka Castle and its park (grounds free, castle tower ~£5), or browse the covered Kuromon Ichiba Market for one last foodie fix. To reach Kansai International Airport (KIX), take the JR Haruka Express (~£25) or the cheaper Nankai Rapi:t (~£10). Note: your 7-day JR Pass will have expired by now, so budget for this transfer independently.

🚌JR Haruka Express to KIX (~£25) or Nankai Rapi:t (~£10)

🛏Check out of Osaka hostel

• →Breakfast at a local Osaka café
• →Optional: Osaka Castle and park (grounds free, tower ~£5)
• →Optional: Kuromon Ichiba Market food browsing
• →Transfer to Kansai International Airport (KIX)