Ultimate Japan Self-Launched: Tokyo to Osaka in 17 Days

Fly into Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND) airport. Take the Narita Express (N'EX) to central Tokyo (~£25) or the Keikyu line from Haneda (~£5). Check into your hostel in Shinjuku or Asakusa and spend the evening wandering your neighbourhood. Grab a konbini bento or ramen from a local shop to ease into Japanese food culture.

🚌Narita Express (N'EX) from Narita ~£25, or Keikyu Airport Line from Haneda ~£5

🛏Khaosan Tokyo Ninja or Book and Bed Tokyo (Shinjuku/Asakusa) — dorm ~£18-22/night, private ~£40-55/night

• →Airport transfer via Narita Express or Keikyu line
• →Check in and settle into Tokyo hostel
• →Evening explore of local neighbourhood

Start at Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa — arrive early to beat the crowds (free entry). Walk to the nearby Nakamise shopping street. Cross the city via Tokyo Metro to the Meiji Shrine in Harajuku (free entry, ~£1.50 metro ride). Stroll Takeshita Street for kawaii fashion. Walk 10 minutes to the iconic Shibuya Crossing and explore the surrounding area. End the evening in Shinjuku's Golden Gai alley bars or the lively Kabukicho district.

🚌Tokyo Metro day pass ~£6

🛏Khaosan Tokyo Ninja or Book and Bed Tokyo

• →Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa (free)
• →Meiji Shrine, Harajuku (free)
• →Takeshita Street, Harajuku
• →Shibuya Crossing & surroundings (free)
• →Evening in Shinjuku — Golden Gai / Kabukicho

Book a sushi-making class independently via GetYourGuide or Klook — many run in the morning in Asakusa or Shinjuku and include ingredients and eating what you make (~£55-70pp). Afterwards, jump on the Yamanote or Sobu line to Akihabara, Tokyo's anime and electronics district. Spend the afternoon browsing multi-floor game shops, arcades and manga cafes. Evening is yours — try a themed restaurant or izakaya nearby.

🚌Tokyo Metro/JR Yamanote Line ~£3

🛏Khaosan Tokyo Ninja or Book and Bed Tokyo

• →Sushi making class (book via GetYourGuide/Klook) ~£55-70
• →Akihabara anime & electronics district (free to explore)
• →Arcade gaming or maid cafe experience

Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Nagano (~80 mins, ~£40 with JR Pass or purchased individually). Check into a traditional Ryokan — a quintessential Japanese experience with tatami floors and futon bedding. Book an origami workshop via Airbnb Experiences or a local cultural centre (~£15-25pp). In the evening, visit a public onsen bathhouse (sento) — many Ryokans include onsen access, otherwise public ones cost ~£5-8.

🚌Hokuriku Shinkansen Tokyo to Nagano ~£40 (or covered by JR Pass)

🛏Yudanaka Seifuso Ryokan or similar traditional inn with onsen — ~£60-80/night per person

• →Hokuriku Shinkansen Tokyo → Nagano (~80 mins)
• →Check into Ryokan (tatami mats, futon bedding)
• →Origami class (book via Airbnb Experiences) ~£15-25
• →Onsen soak — Ryokan onsen or local sento ~£5-8

Start the morning with a hands-on soba noodle rolling class — bookable via Klook or local operators in Nagano city (~£30-40pp). Then take a local bus or taxi (~£10-15 each way) to Jigokudani Monkey Park to see the famous Japanese Macaques. In summer, continue to Shiga Kogen National Park for hiking around the lakes and forests (local bus ~£8). In winter, enjoy free time in Nagano town or visit a cosy izakaya for dinner.

🚌Local Nagano buses to Jigokudani ~£12 return

🛏Yudanaka Seifuso Ryokan or similar

• →Soba noodle rolling class ~£30-40
• →Jigokudani Monkey Park — Snow Monkeys (entry ~£6, bus ~£12 return)
• →Shiga Kogen National Park hiking (summer) — bus ~£8
• →Free evening in Nagano

Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen back towards Tokyo then connect to the Odakyu Romance Car or Tokaido line down to Hakone (~£35-45 total, or JR Pass + Hakone Free Pass ~£40). The Hakone Free Pass is excellent value and covers most local transport. Spend the afternoon exploring at your own pace — visit the Hakone Open Air Museum (~£12), or relax in a free-access hot spring footbath. Book a night at a hostel or budget guesthouse near Gora or Hakone-Yumoto.

🚌Nagano → Hakone via Odawara ~£40. Hakone Free Pass for local transport ~£40 (covers 2 days)

🛏Tent Hakone or Hakone Tent Hostel — dorm ~£20/night, private ~£50-60/night

• →Train: Nagano → Hakone (via Odawara)
• →Hakone Open Air Museum ~£12 (optional)
• →Explore Hakone town freely
• →Public onsen footbath (free) or onsen facility ~£8

Use your Hakone Free Pass to ride the Hakone Ropeway cable car over volcanic Mount Owakudani for stunning Fuji views (~included in pass or ~£12). Then take the sightseeing cruise on Lake Ashi — yes, the 'pirate ship' cruise is a real public service run by Izuhakone Railway (~£9, or included in Hakone Free Pass). Afterwards, head to Odawara and take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Osaka (~£85, or JR Pass). Check in, then head to the Dotonbori area for a barbecue (yakiniku) dinner and karaoke — plenty of pay-per-room karaoke venues charge ~£5-10pp per hour.

🚌Hakone Ropeway + Lake Ashi ferry (Free Pass). Tokaido Shinkansen Odawara → Shin-Osaka ~£85

🛏Cross Hotel Osaka or The Dorm Osaka — dorm ~£18-22/night, private ~£45-60/night

• →Hakone Ropeway cable car — Mount Fuji views (~£12 or Free Pass)
• →Lake Ashi pirate ship cruise (~£9 or Free Pass)
• →Shinkansen Odawara → Osaka (~£85 or JR Pass)
• →Dotonbori evening — yakiniku dinner + karaoke ~£20-30

Free morning — wander Osaka's famous Kuromon Ichiba market for street food breakfast (~£5-8). In the afternoon, visit Osaka Castle and its grounds (park free, museum entry ~£6). The museum covers 400 years of Samurai history across 8 floors with great city views from the top. Finish at Dotonbori in the evening — walk the canal, photograph the giant Glico running man sign, and graze on takoyaki (octopus balls) and kushikatsu (skewers) from street vendors (~£8-12 for dinner).

🚌Osaka Metro day pass ~£5

🛏Cross Hotel Osaka or The Dorm Osaka

• →Kuromon Ichiba market food exploration
• →Osaka Castle & Museum ~£6
• →Dotonbori evening — street food & canal walk

Take the Nankai Koya Line from Osaka's Namba station to Gokurakubashi, then a short cable car up to Koyasan (~£15 each way). Book a shukubo (temple lodging) directly — Ekoin Temple or Kongo Sanmai-in are popular and include vegetarian Buddhist meals (shojin ryori) and access to the monks' evening and morning ceremonies (~£80-120pp including dinner and breakfast). In the evening, take a self-guided night walk through the atmospheric Okunoin cemetery — bring a torch and walk the stone lantern-lit path to the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi. It's profound and completely free.

🚌Nankai Koya Line Osaka Namba → Gokurakubashi + cable car ~£15

🛏Ekoin Temple or Kongo Sanmai-in shukubo ~£80-120pp (includes 2 meals)

• →Nankai Koya Line + cable car from Osaka Namba to Koyasan ~£15
• →Check in to shukubo (temple lodging) — includes dinner & breakfast
• →Evening meditation session with monks (included in temple stay)
• →Night walk through Okunoin cemetery lantern path (free)

Wake early (typically 6-6:30am) for the monks' morning prayer service and fire ceremony (goma) — included in your temple stay. Enjoy a traditional shojin ryori breakfast before checking out. Take the Nankai Koya Line back down to Osaka and connect via JR to Kyoto (~£8, 75 mins). Check into your Kyoto hostel. This evening, explore the Gion district independently — walk Hanamikoji Street at dusk for the best chance of spotting geiko or maiko. Many free walking routes exist; download the Gion self-guided walk map. End the night at an izakaya in Pontocho Alley.

🚌Nankai Koya Line to Osaka + JR Kyoto line to Kyoto ~£20 total

🛏Piece Hostel Sanjo or The Millennials Kyoto — dorm ~£18-25/night, private ~£50-65/night

• →Morning prayer & fire ceremony with monks (included in temple stay)
• →Train: Koyasan → Osaka → Kyoto ~£20 total
• →Self-guided Gion district evening walk (free)
• →Drinks/dinner in Pontocho Alley izakaya ~£15-20

Take bus 11 or the San-in line to Arashiyama (~£2) and explore the famous Bamboo Forest of Sagano (free). Stroll along the Oi River, visit Tenryu-ji Temple gardens (~£8). Then head to Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion (~£4 entry) — arrive before midday to beat tour groups. The afternoon is yours: consider Nishiki Market ('Kyoto's kitchen') for food browsing, Kiyomizudera Temple (~£4), or bar-hopping along Kiyamachi Street in the evening.

🚌Kyoto city bus ~£4 day pass

🛏Piece Hostel Sanjo or The Millennials Kyoto

• →Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (free)
• →Tenryu-ji Temple gardens ~£8
• →Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion ~£4
• →Nishiki Market food stroll (free to browse)
• →Evening: Kiyamachi Street bars or Pontocho Alley

Take the JR Nara Line to Inari Station (free from Kyoto Station, ~5 mins) and enter Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine (free entry). Hike the full 4km trail through thousands of vermillion torii gates up Mount Inari — allow 2-3 hours. In the afternoon, book a samurai experience class — Kyoto has several excellent dojos including Samurai Kembu Theater or Budo-Ryu Ninjutsu, bookable via GetYourGuide (~£40-60pp for 60-90 min session including costume and sword techniques).

🚌JR Nara Line to Inari Station (included in JR Pass or ~£2)

🛏Piece Hostel Sanjo or The Millennials Kyoto

• →Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine & full torii gate hike (free)
• →Samurai sword experience class (book via GetYourGuide) ~£40-60
• →Free evening in Kyoto

Take the JR Nara Line from Kyoto to Nara (~45 mins, ~£6 each way). Nara Park is a short walk from the station and is home to over 1,000 freely roaming sika deer — buy shika senbei deer crackers from vendors (~£1.50) to feed them. Visit the enormous Todai-ji Temple (~£6), housing Japan's largest bronze Buddha. Explore Kasuga Taisha Shrine (~£5) and its thousands of stone lanterns. Return to Kyoto by early evening and enjoy a final night in the city.

🚌JR Nara Line Kyoto → Nara return ~£12

🛏Piece Hostel Sanjo or The Millennials Kyoto

• →JR Kyoto → Nara return ~£12
• →Nara Park — free-roaming deer (deer crackers ~£1.50)
• →Todai-ji Temple ~£6
• →Kasuga Taisha Shrine ~£5

Book a morning matcha tea ceremony in Kyoto — En tea ceremony in Gion or Ju-An are highly rated, bookable via GetYourGuide or directly (~£25-35pp for a 45-60 min session including explanation and tasting). Afterwards, take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen from Kyoto to Hiroshima (~50 mins, ~£35, or JR Pass). Visit the Peace Memorial Park (free, open 24hrs), the Atomic Bomb Dome (free, exterior), and the Peace Memorial Museum (~£1.50 — one of the world's most important museums). End the evening exploring Hiroshima's okonomiyaki restaurants — the local savoury pancake is a must-try (~£8-12).

🚌Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Kyoto → Hiroshima ~£35 (or JR Pass)

🛏Hana Hostel Hiroshima or Khaosan Hiroshima — dorm ~£16-20/night, private ~£40-50/night

• →Matcha tea ceremony (book via GetYourGuide) ~£25-35
• →Shinkansen Kyoto → Hiroshima ~£35
• →Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (free)
• →Atomic Bomb Dome (free exterior)
• →Peace Memorial Museum ~£1.50
• →Okonomiyaki dinner ~£8-12

Take tram line 2 from central Hiroshima to Miyajimaguchi (~30 mins, ~£2), then the JR Ferry to Miyajima Island (~10 mins, ~£2 each way, free with JR Pass). Visit Itsukushima Shrine and the famous floating torii gate (~£2.50 entry). Explore the island all day: hike Mount Misen (free, about 2-3 hrs return, or ropeway ~£10 each way), visit Daisho-in Temple (free), and watch the friendly deer roam the village. Return to Hiroshima by early evening.

🚌Hiroshima tram to Miyajimaguchi + JR Ferry to Miyajima ~£8 return

🛏Hana Hostel Hiroshima or Khaosan Hiroshima

• →Tram + JR Ferry to Miyajima return ~£8
• →Itsukushima Shrine (floating torii gate) ~£2.50
• →Mount Misen hike (free) or ropeway ~£10
• →Daisho-in Temple (free)
• →Explore Miyajima village & deer

Check out and take the Sanyo Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Shin-Osaka (~50 mins, ~£55 or JR Pass). Free afternoon for last-minute shopping in Shinsaibashi or Umeda. In the evening, head to Shinsekai — Osaka's retro 'New World' neighbourhood — for kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers, the local specialty, ~£10-15), cold Asahi beers and lively izakayas. Celebrate the end of an incredible journey.

🚌Sanyo Shinkansen Hiroshima → Shin-Osaka ~£55 (or JR Pass)

🛏Cross Hotel Osaka or The Dorm Osaka — dorm ~£18-22/night, private ~£45-60/night

• →Shinkansen Hiroshima → Osaka ~£55
• →Free afternoon shopping in Shinsaibashi / Umeda
• →Shinsekai evening — kushikatsu dinner & izakaya crawl ~£20-25

Your Japan adventure ends today. Depart at any time. For Kansai International Airport (KIX): take the Nankai Rapi:t express from Namba (~35 mins, ~£10) or the JR Haruka from Shin-Osaka. For Osaka Itami Airport (ITM), take a limousine bus (~£8). If you have extra time, grab a final breakfast in a local kissaten (traditional coffee shop) — a perfect last Japanese ritual.

🚌Nankai Rapi:t express Namba → Kansai Airport ~£10

• →Check out and transfer to Kansai (KIX) or Itami (ITM) airport
• →Nankai Rapi:t to KIX ~£10, or Limousine Bus to ITM ~£8