eleven days . five cities . countless shrines and good eats
12 Day Japan Travel Itinerary via Tokyo
Wednesday, February 4 to Sunday, February 15, 2026
02.04.26 . Day 1 – Fly to HND, Tokyo, Japan. Cross international date line; “lose” a day.
02.05.26 . Day 2 – Arrive. Stay overnight in Tokyo. We stayed near Shiba Park/Tokyo Tower.
02.06.26 . Day 3 – Dabble in Tokyo. See Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, Senso-ji Temple. Transfer to Kawaguchiko at the foot of Mt. Fuji.
02.07.26 . Day 4 – Enjoy Kawaguchiko. Hike to Haha-no-Shirataki waterfalls via Kawaguchi Asama Shrine. Visit Arakuraya Sengen Park and Pagoda, Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nemba, Oishi Park, Honcho street, Oshino Hakkai, Kawaguchiko Dream Bridge.
02.08.26 . Day 5 – Depart Kawaguchiko/Mt. Fuji area. Travel back to Tokyo and head north to Kanazawa. Traditional Inn, Tea, and Onsen (hot spring) experience at Motoyu Ishiya.
02.09.26 . Day 6 – Explore Kanazawa. Shop and enjoy gold leaf ice cream in Higashi Chaya District. Walk around Kenrokuen Gardens and Kanazawa Castle Park. Visit the Omi-cho Fish Market.
02.10.26 . Day 7 – More Kanazawa. Explore historic Nagamachi Samurai District, book a half day trip to
Shirakawago a traditional village and UNESCO World Heritage site in the Japanese Alps.
02.11.26 . Day 8 – Depart Kanazawa and head to Kyoto. Visit Arashiyama Park and Bamboo Grove, Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple, and Seiryō-ji Temple. Visit Nishiki Market for street food.
02.12.26 . Day 9 – More Kyoto. See the streets of the Higashiyama District including the
Yasaka Pagoda, Ninenzaka, and Yasaka Shrine. Head to iconic Kiyomizu-dera Temple then to
Tenju-an Temple, numerous shrines and parks in between. Pontocho Alley for dinner.
02.13.26 . Day 10 – Iconic Fushimi loop hike through the red torii gates. Depart Kyoto and head to Osaka. Head to Kuromon food market and Doutonbori Street for more good eats. See the Glico running man and walk along the river.
02.14.26 . Day 11 – More Osaka. Visit Osaka Castle and surrounding parks. More Doutonbori street eats.
02.15.26 . Day 11 – Board the Shinkansen Bullet train to Tokyo. Fly home.
When and with whom
We traveled to Japan in February, a sweet spot for our work schedules and a perfect time to catch the tail end of winter transitioning into spring, including a few early plum and cherry blossoms. By visiting during the off-season, we truly avoided the typical tourist crowds, though we did get snowed on in Kawaguchiko.
I was joined by my partner, Scott, for this trip. While we originally went for the food and the culture, both were truly amazing. I didn’t expect to be so blown away by all the traditional temples and shrines nor the modern day cleanliness and hospitality. Interestingly, this was one of the few trips where we didn’t have a major hike on the itinerary. However, we still clocked plenty of miles on foot as we explored a new city every two days.
