Self-Launched Highlights of Japan: Tokyo, Fuji, Nikko, Kyoto & Osaka

Fly into Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND). From Narita, take the Narita Express (N'EX) train directly to Shinjuku or Tokyo Station (~£18, ~90 min) — far cheaper than a private transfer. From Haneda, the Keikyu Line runs into central Tokyo (~£5, ~40 min). Pick up a Suica or Pasmo IC card at the airport for seamless travel on all trains and buses throughout your trip. Check into your hostel or budget hotel in the Shimbashi/Shiodome or Shinjuku area, both excellent central bases. Spend the evening exploring the neon-lit streets and grab ramen or sushi from a local standing bar.

🚌Narita Express from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station (~£18) or Keikyu Line from Haneda (~£5)

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Shimbashi/Shiodome or Shinjuku area — e.g. Grids Tokyo-Shimbashi Hotel&Hostel or similar (~£18-25/night)

• →Arrive at Narita or Haneda Airport
• →Take Narita Express (N'EX) or Keikyu Line into central Tokyo
• →Purchase Suica/Pasmo IC card for travel
• →Check in to budget hotel or hostel
• →Evening wander — try a local ramen or standing sushi bar

A full day exploring Tokyo's most iconic sights on foot and by metro. Start at the Imperial Palace East Gardens (free entry), admire Nijubashi Bridge, then head to Asakusa for Senso-ji Temple and the bustling Nakamise-dori shopping street (free). Next, take the metro to Harajuku for Meiji Jingu Shrine (free, forest walk recommended) and the quirky Takeshita Street. Round off the day at Shibuya Crossing — join the scramble and grab a drink at a nearby cafe with a view. Download the Tokyo Metro app for easy navigation (~£7/day unlimited metro pass).

🚌Tokyo Metro day pass (~£7) — all sights easily connected by metro

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Shimbashi/Shiodome or Shinjuku area (~£18-25/night)

• →Imperial Palace East Gardens visit (free)
• →Nijubashi Bridge photo stop
• →Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise-dori street, Asakusa (free)
• →Meiji Jingu Shrine visit, Harajuku (free)
• →Harajuku district and Takeshita Street exploration
• →Shibuya Crossing scramble viewing

Take the direct Fujikyuko Highway Bus from Shinjuku Bus Terminal to Kawaguchiko (~£15 each way, ~2 hrs). From the lake, walk or take a local bus to Oishi Park for classic Fuji reflections across the lake (free). Hike up to Chureito Pagoda and Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine — a rewarding 398-step climb with incredible views (~free). Visit Oshino Hakkai, a cluster of spring ponds fed by Fuji snowmelt (free/small fee). If visibility is good, take the bus to Fuji 5th Station for panoramic views (~£6 return by local bus). Return bus to Shinjuku in the evening.

🚌Fujikyuko Highway Bus Shinjuku ↔ Kawaguchiko (~£15 each way); local Retro Bus around lake area (~£6)

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Shimbashi/Shiodome or Shinjuku area (~£18-25/night)

• →Fujikyuko Highway Bus from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko (~£15)
• →Oishi Park scenic walk and Lake Kawaguchi views (free)
• →Chureito Pagoda and Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine hike (free)
• →Oshino Hakkai spring ponds visit (~£1)
• →Mount Fuji 5th Station panoramic views (local bus ~£6 return)
• →Return bus to Shinjuku (~£15)

Take the Tobu Nikko Line from Asakusa Station to Nikko (~£12 each way, ~2 hrs) — the Tobu 'All Area Pass' (~£18) covers unlimited local buses and train and is excellent value. Walk across the sacred Shinkyo Bridge (small fee ~£2), then explore the UNESCO-listed Toshogu Shrine complex (entry ~£6). Take the local bus up to stunning Lake Chuzenji and walk to Kegon Falls — buy a ticket for the lift to the observation deck (£5) for the best views. Return to Tokyo in the evening.

🚌Tobu Nikko Line Asakusa ↔ Nikko (~£12 each way); Tobu All Area Pass recommended (~£18 covers all local transport)

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Shimbashi/Shiodome or Shinjuku area (~£18-25/night)

• →Tobu Nikko Line train from Asakusa to Nikko (~£12)
• →Shinkyo Bridge visit (~£2)
• →Toshogu Shrine complex visit (~£6)
• →Local bus to Lake Chuzenji (included in Tobu All Area Pass)
• →Kegon Falls observation deck (~£5)
• →Return train to Tokyo (~£12)

A flexible free day to tailor Tokyo to your own interests. Options include: Yanaka Ginza for a traditional shopping street and old-town feel (free); the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno (~£8) for a deep dive into Japanese art and history; Nakameguro canal walk for independent cafes and boutiques (free); Akihabara for electronics and anime culture; or Odaiba island via the Yurikamome monorail for futuristic vibes and teamLab digital art (~£25 if you book). Grab street food at Ameyoko Market near Ueno (free entry, food from ~£3).

🚌Tokyo Metro day pass (~£7)

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Shimbashi/Shiodome or Shinjuku area (~£18-25/night)

• →Yanaka Ginza traditional shopping street (free)
• →Tokyo National Museum, Ueno (~£8)
• →Nakameguro canal stroll (free)
• →Akihabara electronics and pop culture district
• →Ameyoko Market street food (~£3-6)
• →Optional: teamLab Borderless digital art museum (~£25, pre-book)

Head to Tsukiji Outer Market first thing in the morning for the freshest sushi breakfast and street food — tamagoyaki, grilled scallops, uni on rice, all available from market stalls (budget £10-15 for a market food crawl, no tour needed). Visit nearby Tsukiji Hongwan-ji Temple for morning prayers and purification rituals (free) and Namiyoke Shrine (free). The outer market is freely accessible and infinitely explorable. Spend the afternoon at leisure — consider a self-booked food tour via GetYourGuide for a structured tasting experience (~£40-60), or simply graze your way through independently.

🚌Tokyo Metro (~£3-5 per journey)

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Shimbashi/Shiodome or Shinjuku area (~£18-25/night)

• →Tsukiji Outer Market morning food crawl — sushi, tamagoyaki, grilled seafood (£10-15)
• →Tsukiji Hongwan-ji Temple purification ritual observation (free)
• →Namiyoke Shrine visit (free)
• →Optional: Self-booked Tsukiji food tour via GetYourGuide (~£40-60)
• →Afternoon at leisure — Ginza luxury shopping district nearby

Board the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station — a highlight in itself. The Nozomi/Hikari takes ~2h15m and costs ~£90-100 unreserved, or use a Japan Rail Pass if you've purchased one (excellent value for multi-city trips). Check into your Kyoto guesthouse or budget hotel near the station. In the evening, walk the atmospheric Pontocho Alley — a narrow lantern-lit lane packed with izakayas and restaurants. Continue to Gion, Kyoto's famous geisha district: stroll Hanamikoji Street and visit Yasaka Shrine, which is beautifully lit at night (free).

🚌Shinkansen Nozomi/Hikari Tokyo → Kyoto (~£90-100 unreserved; JR Pass covers this if purchased)

🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse near Kyoto Station — e.g. Piece Hostel Kyoto or Len Kyoto Kawaramachi (~£18-28/night)

• →Shinkansen bullet train Tokyo → Kyoto (~2h15m, ~£90-100 or covered by JR Pass)
• →Check in to Kyoto budget hotel near Kyoto Station
• →Pontocho Alley evening exploration (free)
• →Gion geisha district stroll (free)
• →Yasaka Shrine night visit (free)
• →Hanamikoji Street walk — look out for geiko and maiko

An action-packed day hitting Kyoto's greatest hits before a Nara afternoon. Start early at Fushimi Inari Shrine (free, open 24hrs) to beat the crowds on the famous red torii gate trails — go at 7am for an almost empty experience. Then bus or cycle to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (free), strolling the grove and exploring Tenryu-ji Temple gardens (~£7). Head to Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion (~£4) mid-morning. After lunch, take a 45-min JR train to Nara (~£5 each way) for Todai-ji Temple and its Great Buddha (~£5 entry), then wander freely through Nara Park feeding the bowing deer (deer crackers ~£1.50). Return to Kyoto by evening.

🚌Local Kyoto buses (~£2 per journey, or £5 day pass); JR Nara Line Kyoto ↔ Nara (~£5 each way)

🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse near Kyoto Station (~£18-28/night)

• →Fushimi Inari Shrine early morning hike — red torii gates (free, open 24hrs)
• →Arashiyama Bamboo Forest stroll (free)
• →Tenryu-ji Temple garden, Arashiyama (~£7)
• →Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion visit (~£4)
• →JR train Kyoto → Nara (~£5, 45 min)
• →Todai-ji Temple and Great Buddha, Nara (~£5)
• →Nara Park — feed the deer and roam freely (deer crackers ~£1.50)
• →JR train Nara → Kyoto (~£5)

Check out of your Kyoto hotel and take the JR Rapid or Shinkansen from Kyoto to Osaka (~£5-14, ~15-75 min depending on service). Check in to your Osaka guesthouse in the Shinsaibashi or Namba area — perfect central location. Spend the afternoon exploring independently before joining a self-booked Osaka street food tour via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£35-50) in the evening — these run regularly and cover takoyaki, kushikatsu, and local drinks in the Dotonbori and Namba areas. Alternatively, graze independently through Dotonbori canal and sample everything yourself for £15-20.

🚌JR Rapid Kyoto → Osaka (~£5, 75 min) or JR Shinkansen (~£14, 15 min)

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Shinsaibashi/Namba area — e.g. Grids Shinsaibashi or similar (~£18-28/night)

• →JR train Kyoto → Osaka (~£5-14, 15-75 min)
• →Check in to Shinsaibashi or Namba area guesthouse
• →Explore Shinsaibashi shopping arcade (free)
• →Evening Osaka food tour via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£35-50) — takoyaki, kushikatsu, local drinks
• →Dotonbori canal evening atmosphere (free)

Spend a full day soaking up Osaka's energy. Start with Osaka Castle and its surrounding park — the castle museum costs ~£5 and the views from the top are superb. Walk to Dotonbori in the afternoon for the iconic Glico Man neon sign photo (free) and browse the canal-side food stalls. Seek out Hozenji Temple — a tiny, moss-covered shrine tucked down a backstreet in Namba (free). End the night in the Kuromon Ichiba Market for fresh seafood snacks, or head up to the Tsutenkaku Tower in Shinsekai for retro Osaka vibes (~£5).

🚌Osaka Metro day pass (~£5) — all sights easily connected

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Shinsaibashi/Namba area (~£18-28/night)

• →Osaka Castle visit and museum (~£5)
• →Osaka Castle Park walk (free)
• →Dotonbori canal walk and Glico Man photo (free)
• →Hozenji Temple visit (free)
• →Kuromon Ichiba Market food browsing (free entry, food from ~£3)
• →Optional: Tsutenkaku Tower, Shinsekai (~£5)

Check out and make your way independently to Kansai International Airport (KIX). Take the JR Haruka Express from Osaka/Shin-Osaka Station (~£22, ~75 min) or the more budget-friendly Nankai Rapi:t limited express from Namba (~£9, ~40 min). If returning to Tokyo, take the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka (~£90-100). Allow plenty of time — Kansai Airport is on an artificial island and departure processes can take time. Pick up last-minute snacks and omiyage (souvenir gifts) at the airport food hall.

🚌Nankai Rapi:t Namba → Kansai Airport (~£9) or JR Haruka (~£22)

• →Check out of accommodation
• →Nankai Rapi:t to Kansai Airport from Namba (~£9, 40 min) or JR Haruka (~£22, 75 min)
• →Last-minute airport shopping for omiyage (Japanese gifts)
• →Depart from Kansai International Airport (KIX)