ADVENTURES IN MAY

4 nights in Tokyo → 3 nights in Nagano → 4 nights in Osaka + Day trip to Nara → 4 nights in Kyoto → 5 nights in Tokyo + Day trip to Yokohama and Mount Fuji.

I spent 3 weeks in Japan and wanted to share my Japan Itinerary with you guys!

J A P A N T I P S

Carry cash with you (highly recommend a coin purse for all of the loose change that you might use at a gacha store (capsule toys).
You won't be able to find a trash can.. bring an extra bag just for trash in your bag.
Wear comfy shoes (recommendation: Nike Air Forces).
You don't need to tip.
JR Passes is a must if you are travelling from city to city.
Get used to bowing (especially greeting people).
Stand/walk on the correct side of the streets, escalators, stairs etc (varies between cities).
Do not eat while walking.
A lot of places don't open until 10:30AM - 11AM.
Expect to wait in long lines (cafes, restaurants, historical places etc).
Suica is best for public transportation and convenience stores (can be loaded on your phone).
Pre-book experiences ahead of time (Shibuya Sky, teamLab, Disneyland etc, they do sell out quickly).
Leave some luggage space for any shopping or souvenirs (trust me, you will need it.. the shopping is insane).
Learn some basic phrases:

"Hello" | Kon'nichiwa | kohn-nee-chee-wah | (こんにちは)
"Thank you" | Arigato gozaimasu | ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee-mahs | (どうもありがとうございます)
"Excuse me" | Sumimasen | soo-mee-mah-sen | (すみません)
"Please" | kudasai | koo-dah-sigh | (ください)
"Good bye" | Sayōnara | sah-yoh-nah-rah | (さようなら)

A P P S

Google Maps - essential
Google Translate (or Papago) - essential
Suica - to use public transport in Japan
Ubigi - for e-SIM mobile data plans
Disney Resort - buy tickets, fast pass
Tablelog - restaurant reservations
Wanderlog - for itinerary

TOKYO 4 NIGHTS

DAY 1 (6,266 steps - 4.51km)

Arrival at Narita Airport
Take NRT Express train to Tokyo (1 hour journey)
Check-in The B Akasaka-Mitsuke Hotel
Dominos takeaway for a late dinner (11:50pm)

DAY 2 (15,599 steps - 10.96km)

Breakfast at FamilyMart (seaweed onigiri)
Exploring around Nagatacho area (Hie Shrine) and Kanda Ogawamachi area - sports goods district
Lunch - rice and curry (forgot the name of the place)
Shopping and exploring around Harajuku area
Dessert - ANGEL Harajuku Crepe
Exploring and shopping in Shibuya area
Dinner - Disney Harvest Market

DAY 3 (19,746 steps - 13.85km)

Breakfast at FamilyMart
Disneyland - was able to get tickets through the DisneyResort app. Spent around 7 hours at Disneyland. Winnie the Pooh ride was closed due to maintenance and Beauty and the Beast ride had over 2.5 hour wait time (fast passes were sold out). Try the Curry popcorn!
Dinner - CoCoICHI Vegetarian Curry
Explored Shibuya at night - Shibuya crossing, Disney store, Loft etc

DAY 4 (12,592 steps - 8.51km)

Breakfast at 7-Eleven konbini
Exploring and shopping Asakusa area
Senso-ji Hozomon Gate - buddhist temple
Senso-ji - buddhist temple
Nakamise-dori Street
Lunch near Asakusa - vegetarian ramen
Sanrio Gift Gate Store - Asakusa
Flower Miffy - Asakusa
Tokyo Sky Tree - observation deck
Dinner - CoCoICHI Vegetarian Curry
Pack for Nagano

NAGANO 3 NIGHTS

DAY 5 (5,077 steps - 3.69km)

Breakfast at 7-Eleven konbini
Check out and go to Tokyo Station
2 hours from Tokyo to Nagano via Shinkansen
1.5 hours Nagano to Hakuba via bus
Check-in Airbnb
Hire snow gear from Rhythm Japan Hakuba
Dinner - The Pub Hakuba

DAY 6 (13,417 steps - 9.47km)

Snowboarding at Hakuba

DAY 7 (8,728 steps - 6.29km)

Skiing at Iwatake
Pack for Osaka

OSAKA 4 NIGHTS

DAY 8 (6,187 steps - 4.39km)

Check out and go to Nagano station
3.5 hours from Nagano to Osaka via Shinkansen
Check-in The Rise Osaka Kitashinchi
Dinner somewhere near the hotel

DAY 9 (19,444 steps - 13.76km)

Breakfast at Lawson - konbini
Universal Studios Japan - recommend Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride
Lunch - Shake Shack
Super Nintendo World - can book a timed entry slot once you enter the park
Rest at hotel

DAY 10 (20,702 steps - 14.84km)

Breakfast at Lawson
Exploring and shopping at Namba Parks
UMEDA sky building
Exploring Dotonbori street - running man
Dinner - Halal Ramen Naniwaya

DAY 11 (8,270 steps - 5.71km)

Breakfast at Lawson
Rest at hotel - I was feeling unwell all morning
Shopping at HEP FIVE
Shake Shack for dinner
Pack for Nara

KYOTO 4 NIGHTS

DAY 12 (11,876 steps - 8.36km)

Breakfast at Lawson
Check-out hotel
45 minutes from Osaka to Nara - we took the regular train
Left luggage in lockers at Nara station
Exploring around Higashimuki shopping street
MOS Burger for lunch
Kofukuji temple
Feed the deers - you can purchase the treats via street vendors
Nara to Kyoto (45 minutes via train)
Check in Airbnb - RESISTAY
Kyoto ENGINE Ramen for dinner
Ben's Cookies for dessert

DAY 13 (17,068 steps - 11.90km)

Breakfast at Coffee Smart
Exploring and shopping around Kyoto Shijo-Kawaramachi area - loft, tower records, Disney Store, kiddyland
Back to Airbnb for a quick break
Kyoto ENGINE Ramen for dinner again!
Ben's Cookies for dessert again!!

DAY 14 (21,524 steps - 15.03km)

Breakfast at Airbnb
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Kiyomizu-dera
Lunch somewhere near Kiyomizu-dera
Back to Airbnb for a quick break
Kyoto ENGINE Ramen for dinner yes again - 3 times in a row!!

DAY 15 (16,652 steps - 11.51km)

Breakfast at Airbnb
Shopping at AEON Mall Kyoto - due to the rain
Lunch at Korean restaurant Yunke-no-shokutaku - bibimbap
Exploring and shopping around Kyoto Shijo-Kawaramachi area
Laduree for dessert
Korean BBQ vegetejiya Shijo-kiyamchia for dinner - tteokbokki and kimchi pancake
Pack for Tokyo

TOKYO 5 NIGHTS

DAY 16 (11,575 steps - 8.26km)

Check-out RESISTAY Airbnb
2.5 hours from Kyoto to Tokyo
Check-in Koto City Airbnb
Train to Odaiba
Dinner at Kua'Aina
Shopping at DiverCity Tokyo Plaza
Watch the Unicorn Gundam light show
Back to Airbnb

DAY 17 (20,180 steps - 14.35km)

Breakfast at Monnaka Coffee
Disneysea - arrived around 1pm, less crowded than Tokyo Disneyland - try the matcha-white chocolate popcorn! Spent around 7 hours at Disneysea.
Dinner somewhere near koto city

DAY 18 (12,459 steps - 8.84km)

Breakfast at 7-Eleven (konbini)
Train to Yokohama
Lunch at MOS Burger
Exploring and shopping at Queen's Square Yokohama
Gundam Factory Yokohama (now has been permanently closed down)
Dinner at CoCoICHI - vegetarian Curry

DAY 19 (9,280 steps - 6.72km)

Hire car for Mount Fuji
2 hour drive to Mount Fuji
Break/snack stop at Expasa Ebina
Exploring around Lake Kawaguchiko
Lawson at Kawaguchiko Station
Stopped at Narusawa area to take photos of Mount Fuji - before it was hidden again behind the clouds
Lunch at Bronco Billy Fujimotoichiba
Back to Tokyo
FamilyMart for dinner
Tokyo Tower - infinity diamond veil light up

DAY 20 (18,174 steps - 12.32km)

Tully's Coffee for breakfast
Exploring and shopping at Akihabara area - lots of electronic stores and arcades
Exploring Ginza
Lunch at EATALY in Ginza Six
Exploring and shopping in Harajuku
Dinner at Shake Shack
Last night exploring and shopping in Shibuya: Shibuya crossing, Loft, Mega Don Quijote
Back to Airbnb to pack