KON' NICHIWA JAPAN

Kon' nichiwa Japan!
I've just returned from my 10 days trip to Japan and cross off another bucket list. YAY!

Here I am giving you a quick snapshot of my budget itinerary and hope you find it helpful. Here is a link I find super useful, http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html

*If you are mileage plan member, this maybe insightful. *
I am an Alaska Airline credit card holder and have always love their $99 companion fare which I often used to travel to Hawaii. Hawaii is a very popular destinations for all tourists around the world, particularly Japanese as it is the closest USA destinations and Hawaii is beyond paradise. With that being said, there are so many flights flying in and out from various city of Japan. Since I'm already saving a few hundreds dollars using companions fare for my BF and I, we decided to do a 2nd leg trip flying to Japan. Needless to say, RT flights from Hawaii to Japan was $600 including tax! 

8 days is not enough to see Japan as we want to visit the city of Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo! 
Departing from Honolulu International Airport to Osaka  (23 hrs with 2 hrs layover in Taipei.

LETS GO!!!!

Day 1 - OSAKA
Arrive Osaka at 8am - Osaka also known as Japan Kitchen.
Daytime- Visit Osaka Castle. Have fresh sushi at Kuromon Market (open 10am, Kuromon market open much later compared to other city markets, highly recommend for Chu-Toro)

Nighttime -Check out Dotonburi, a long strip of malls offer tons of local and international food selections. Must try Ichiran Ramen and Takoyaki

Tips: Take a photo with the Glico Man. 

Day 2 KYOTO
Osaka to Kyoto - Kyoto is a beautiful city that offers a rare link between the modern life in the city and its very ancient past filled with temples and shrines. Highly recommend to Stay at a Traditional Ryokan feature Tatami Set. 

Kyoto has different regions. Here is the link. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html
This link will help you to plan better and maximize time by visiting regions to regions. 

Depart from Osaka Train Station - 30 min ride on the Shinkasen aka Bullet Train.Arrive at Kyoto Station, proceed to Ryokan to drop suitcase and we are ready to explore Central Kyoto and Eastern Kyoto!!

First stop, Kiyiomizudera Temple! Right infront the temple, is the famous Higashiyama area featuring traditional Japanese houses, narrow alley ways and well manicured Japanese Garden. If you keep walking, you will Walk to Gion District, famed for Geisha and you might luckily spot Geishas at the Yasaka Shrine, continue to walk down Hanamikoji Street. 

Eat: Gion Tsujiri Honten but do expect a little wait. This dessert place has everything made of Matcha including the jelly and whip cream. 

When the sun is setting, walk to Pontocho and have traditional Kyoto dinner. Pontocho is a very small narrow alley offers various of upscale dining, such as Kaiseki but it can be pricey. So we opt out, and had Kobe beef aka Wagyu beef instead. 

Day 3: KYOTO
Check out from hotel. Went to the Kyoto station to buy tickets to Tokyo and placed our suitcase at the station locker. Our plan was to explore Southern Kyoto.
Take a train from Kyoto Station less than $2.00 to see the famous Fushimi Inari Taisha. Wonder around and then walk to Tofukuji Temple. 

If, If we had time to spare. We wanted to check out Arashiyama bamboo forest which is in Western Kyoto and Kinkakuji in Northen Kyoto. 

Day 4- TOKYO - Shinjuku and Ginza
Arrive Tokyo. Check in hotel at Shinjuku. Explore - Western Tokyo
Many places open around 11am and close at midnight so we had to check out Tsukiji Fish Market and get fresh seafood at the outer market. Take a short walk to Ginza to check out Imperial Palace. Went back to hotel for a nice evening nap.

7pm: Catch a train to Shibuya. Check out Uobei Sushi for bullet train sushi chain and take a photo/video at Shibuya crossing. Indulged in the hustle bustle of Shibuya and don't forget the Shibuya last train is midnight.

Day 5 - TOKYO - Harajuku
Explore Harajuku. Famous for street fashions. Take a trip down Takeshita Street and check out Meiji Shrine.
Eat- Afuri Ramen ( Dipping Noddle). During at night, explore Harajuku and get the famous Harajuku Gyoza.

Day 6 - TOKYO Asakusa and Odaiba
Check out the oldest temple in Tokyo the Asakusa Temple! Then walk to Ameyoko in Ueno, it used to be a black market during WW2. Ameyoko shopping offer the best prices for shopping such as green teas, chocolate covered chips and many more!Evening: Check out Roppongi Hill. An up and coming youngster town. Take a bite at Izakaya spots and drinks like a local.

Day 7 - TOKYO - Ueno
Planning to go see Fuji Mount and hotspring. But we eneed up going to Tsukiji Fish Market as we were craving for sushi and then doing some last minute shopping in Shinjuku. Day 8 - Check out Tokyo National Museum. I got really lucky when we visit, the museum feature special exhibition- The thousand years old of The Hidden Buddha of Rakuyaji Temple in Shiga during Heian Period.

Day 9 -TOKYO-USA
Depart from Narita Aiport to HonoluluTokyo is really small, so you can pretty much plan your day how you feel. 

Example: Tokyo National Musuem is in Ueno which I could cramp in day 6, but it was closed on Monday so i went back on my last day when I had time.
There are tons of beautiful park such as Yoyogi Park but we are not into Botanical park. If you have extra day to spare, many will go to Tokyo Disneyland.

It really depends what you prefer. These are a snapshot of mine. Here is a link Ive used for all my reaseach and it is easy and straight forward. Hope this help.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html