Japan Foodie Tour
Karl & Nah Β· 15 days Β· eat everything
QF25 Β· 9 Apr SYDβHND
10β24 April 2026
QF60 Β· 24 Apr HNDβSYD
15
Days
7
Cities
?
Trains
?
Buses
4
Markets
2
Kaiseki
4
Cool Trains
Action Needed
β οΈ Japan Web β complete registration (password was being reset). Required for customs at airport.
β οΈ NAVITIME QR code β wait for email with QR code, then pick up PAPER ticket at Shinjuku Station machine on Apr 13. No QR = no ticket.
β οΈ Kawaguchiko Hotel β ask them to book taxi to Kofu Station for 11:00am on Apr 14.
β οΈ NAVITIME QR code (Azusa) β wait for email, pick up paper ticket at Kofu Station machine on Apr 14.
β οΈ Oyado Koto no Yume (Takayama) β pay on arrival Β₯71,280 JPY. Bring enough cash or confirm card accepted. Check-in 6pm.
Your Trip β Tap to Expand
ζ±
Tokyo
expand_more
Tokyo
Day 1 β Fri 10 Apr Β· Arrive
5:25a
Land Haneda T3 β QF25 from Sydney
6:15
Immigration, Suica card, eSIM, 7-Bank ATM
6:45
Keikyu line β Asakusa (~30 min)
7:30
Konbini breakfast β first 7-Eleven onigiri + egg sandwich
8:00
Richmond Asakusa β drop bags (check-in 3pm)
8:30
Senso-ji temple β almost empty this early
11:00
Tsukiji Outer Market β sashimi, scallops, tamagoyaki, oysters Map
3:00p
Check in Richmond Asakusa β shower, nap if needed
4:00
Nakamise Street snacks β melon pan, daifuku
6:30
Omoide Yokocho β yakitori, smoke, beers Map
8:30
Back to Asakusa. Crash β jet lag
Day 2 β Sat 11 Apr Β· Market to Market
7:00a
Senso-ji again (empty before 9am)
8:30
Asakusa west-side β beef tendon stew street
11:00
teamLab Planets (Toyosu) β 1.5-2 hrs
1:00p
Lunch β seafood bowl near Toyosu
4:30
Shibuya Sky β sunset views
6:30
Yurakucho under-the-tracks β izakaya under train tracks Map
"Yurakucho β yakitori smoke, clinking glasses, trains rumbling overhead." β r/JapanTravel
Day 3 β Sun 12 Apr Β· Omakase + Pack
8:30a
Send bags to Osaka via Takkyubin β arrange at hotel front desk (~Β₯2,000/bag, arrives in 2-3 days)
9:00
Meiji Shrine + Harajuku
12:00
OMAKASE SUSHI β Sushi Arakawa (Β₯3,500) or Issekisancho (Β₯8,800). Book ahead
2:00p
teamLab Borderless β 2-3 hrs
5:00
Isetan depachika β discounts from 6pm Map
8:00
Golden Gai β tiny bars, snack hop Map
β Richmond Premier Asakusa β BOOKED
ε―
Kawaguchiko
expand_more
Kawaguchiko
Day 4 β Mon 13 Apr Β· Kawaguchiko
8:00a
Check out Richmond Asakusa
10:30
π KAIJI 15 limited express (Shinjuku β Otsuki, transfer to local train β Kawaguchiko, ~2h 23m). Green Car booked. Arrive 12:53.
"There is an excursion train to the Five Lakes Area β direct, scenic, and no transfer needed." β r/JapanTravel
11:30
Hoto Fudo (Higashikoiji branch) β thick noodles in miso w/ pumpkin Map
1:00p
Lake north shore β Fuji views
3:00
Check in ryokan β change into yukata
4:00
Chureito Pagoda β Fuji shot, late afternoon light
5:30
Private onsen β soak overlooking Fuji at sunset
6:30
KAISEKI DINNER β 6-15 courses at ryokan. Don't snack after hoto
β Kawaguchiko Hotel β BOOKED
ππ Taxi to Kofu Station (11am) + Azusa 17 Green Car: Kofu 12:26 β Matsumoto 13:36 Β· Booked SH000001835067
θ
Matsumoto
expand_more
Matsumoto
Day 5 β Tue 14 Apr Β· Matsumoto
9:00a
Check out ryokan. Taxi to Kofu Station at 11:00am β ask hotel to arrange. Arrive Kofu ~11:50, board Azusa at 12:26.
12:30
SOBA β Nomugi (owner teaches technique) or Kobayashi (est. 1889) Map
2:00p
Matsumoto Castle β black Crow Castle
3:30
Check in Dormy Inn
7:00
Dinner β oyaki dumplings or local izakaya
8:30
Dormy Inn onsen β free rooftop bath, soak before ramen
9:30
FREE RAMEN at Dormy Inn π
β Dormy Inn Matsumoto β BOOKED Β· Free onsen + 9:30pm ramen
ππ Taxi (11am) + Azusa 17 Green Car Β· Kawaguchiko Hotel β Kofu Station β Dormy Inn Matsumoto Β· Booked SH000001835067
ι£
Takayama
expand_more
Takayama
Day 6 β Wed 15 Apr Β· Takayama
8:30a
Check out Dormy Inn. Castle + Nakamachi Street, then Alps Highway Bus at 11:55.
9:00
Matsumoto Castle β original black "Crow Castle," climb the keep for mountain views. 15-min walk from hotel Map
10:15
Nakamachi Street β old merchant warehouses, sake tasting, cafes. Walk back toward station Map
3:30
Arrive Takayama. Check in Oyado Koto no Yume
4:30
HIDA BEEF SUSHI β light tasting only, save room for kaiseki! Seared wagyu from street vendors Map
5:30
Sake brewery crawl β sugidama = fresh sake
7:00
KAISEKI DINNER at ryokan (included in stay) β multi-course Hida beef feast
"Hida beef β same quality as Kobe but cheaper and less touristy. Worth the hype." β r/JapanTravel
β Oyado Koto no Yume β BOOKED Β· Kaiseki dinner + breakfast included
π Alps Highway Bus: Matsumoto Bus Terminal 11:55 β Takayama Nohi Bus Center 14:28 Β· Seats 03C & 03D Β· Booked & Paid #179704886
ι
Kanazawa
expand_more
Kanazawa
Day 7 β Thu 16 Apr Β· Kanazawa
7:00a
Check out Oyado Koto no Yume. Walk to JR Takayama Station (5 min). Pick up tickets at ticket machine outside gates (need physical credit card + PIN 4405)
8:00
π HIDA 4 LIMITED EXPRESS β GREEN CAR β Takayama β Nagoya (2h 34m). Car 1, Seats 5-C & 7-D. Panoramic windows through Japanese Alps, river gorges, alpine villages
β οΈ Hida north (Takayama β Toyama) suspended β bridge damage at SugiharaβInotani. Going south via Nagoya instead β bonus scenic route through the Alps
10:34
Nagoya Station lunch (~3h layover) β kishimen noodles, miso katsu, or tenmusu. Nagoya is a food city. Buy Shirasagi + Tsurugi tickets at JR counter during layover
1:48p
π SHIRASAGI 9 β Nagoya β Tsuruga (1h 38m) Β· buy at Nagoya JR counter
3:41
π TSURUGI 28 (Hokuriku Shinkansen) β Tsuruga β Kanazawa (57 min). 15 min transfer at Tsuruga
4:38
Arrive Kanazawa. Walk to hotel (10 min)
5:00
Check in Onyado Nono Kanazawa
6:00
OMICHO MARKET β kaisendon w/ 15 varieties. Mori Mori Sushi. Reddit rates ABOVE Tokyo Map
"Omicho Market β 15 varieties of sashimi. Reddit consistently rates Kanazawa above Tokyo for seafood." β r/JapanTravel
β Onyado Nono Kanazawa β BOOKED Β· Natural onsen + free ramen Β· 2 min to Omicho
π Hida 4 Green Car: Takayama 8:00 β Nagoya 10:34 Β· BOOKED Res #48618 Receipt ADP4553L Β· Car 1 Seats 5-C & 7-D Β· Β₯16,420 Β· PIN 4405 | π Shirasagi 9: Nagoya 13:48 β Tsuruga 15:26 | π Tsurugi 28: Tsuruga 15:41 β Kanazawa 16:38 Β· buy at Nagoya JR counter
倧
Osaka
expand_more
Osaka
Day 8 β Fri 17 Apr Β· Kanazawa β Osaka
7:30a
Omicho Market round 2 β breakfast sashimi. Crab legs, uni. Yes, go back
9:00
Kenroku-en Garden β top 3 in Japan
10:30
Higashi Chaya geisha district
12:00
Check out. Grab Kanazawa ekiben at station
12:51
π KAGAYAKI 509 Green Car β Kanazawa β Tsuruga (48 min). Pick up tickets at station: QR code or Res #47551, phone 09993031354
1:39p
π Tsuruga β Osaka (Section 2 of booking). Eat ekiben on board
3:30p
Check in Swissotel Nankai β on top of Namba Station. Takkyubin bags from Day 3 here
6:00
DOTONBORI β first night, dive in. Takoyaki Wanaka, kushikatsu, gyoza Map
Day 9 β Sat 18 Apr Β· Kyoto Day Trip #1
6:00a
Train to Kyoto (30 min from Namba)
6:30
Fushimi Inari β red torii gates at sunrise Map
9:30
NISHIKI MARKET β 400-yr-old covered market. Seafood, oysters, octopus, tofu, matcha mochi Map
11:30
Kiyomizu-dera β Sannenzaka/Ninenzaka streets
1:00p
Kyoto ramen β kotteri broth. Sen No Kaze or Toritani
3:00
Matcha everything β lattes, ice cream, soba
6:00
Option A: Pontocho riverside dinner before heading back
Option B: Train back, Dotonbori round 2
Option B: Train back, Dotonbori round 2
Day 10 β Sun 19 Apr Β· Kyoto Day Trip #2
8:00a
Train to Kyoto (30 min)
8:30
Arashiyama β bamboo grove + Tenryu-ji (early) Map
10:00
π SAGANO SCENIC RAILWAY β open-sided trolley through the Hozugawa river gorge. Stunning mountain scenery, wind in your face. ~25 min ride
10:30
πΆ HOZUGAWA RIVER BOAT β drift back downstream through the gorge you just trained through. ~2 hrs, light rapids, incredible views. Drops you back in Arashiyama
"Sagano Romantic Train + Hozugawa River boat ride β do the trolley one way, boat the other." β r/JapanTravel (multiple recommendations)
12:30
Tofu restaurant in Arashiyama β yudofu with garden views
2:00p
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
3:30
Wagashi β seasonal sweets with matcha at a tea house
5:00
Optional: Uji side trip (30 min) β matcha farms
7:00
Back in Osaka β Shinsekai for kushikatsu + beers Map
Day 11 β Mon 20 Apr Β· Nara + Kuromon
8:30a
π AONIYOSHI sightseeing train (Osaka β Nara, ~40 min). Retro-luxury interior, deep purple/gold livery, panoramic lounge seats. Minimal extra cost on Kintetsu line. Book at station
"Consider the Aoniyoshi train to get to Nara β a unique and elevated experience for not much extra cost. The train rides don't have to just be 'travel from A to B' β they can be part of the experience!" β r/JapanTravel
9:30
Nara deer park + Todai-ji Buddha
11:30
Kakinoha sushi + mochi at Nakatanidou
1:00p
Train back to Osaka
2:00
KUROMON MARKET β sashimi, crab legs, oysters, uni, grilled squid Map
5:00
Nakazakicho β hipster Osaka, tiny cafes
8:00
Optional: teamLab Botanical Garden (night)
Day 12 β Tue 21 Apr Β· Osaka Deep Day
9:00a
Revisit Kuromon or Dotonbori β things you missed
12:00
Budget omakase in Osaka β cheaper than Tokyo
2:00p
Shinsaibashi arcade / Amerikamura shopping
4:00
Hanshin Umeda depachika β locals' favourite food basement
7:00
Last Osaka night β Tenma izakaya hop (Reddit's local pick for non-touristy Osaka)
"Osaka calls itself 'Japan's Kitchen' β kuidaore = eat until you drop." β r/JapanTravel
"Kuromon Market β look for stalls with locals eating, skip the flashiest tourist ones." β r/JapanTravel
β Swissotel Nankai Osaka β BOOKED Β· On top of Namba Station
ππ Kagayaki 509 Green Car: Kanazawa 12:51 β Tsuruga 13:39 + Tsuruga β Osaka Β· BOOKED SH000001835433 Res #47551 Β· 2 adults Β· Β₯41,980 Β· Booked by Natascha
εΈ°
Tokyo (return)
expand_more
Tokyo (return)
Day 13 β Wed 22 Apr Β· Osaka β Tokyo
9:00a
Last Osaka food run
11:00
Check out. Grab an ekiben (station bento) at Shin-Osaka station β packed with local specialties
12:00
π SHINKANSEN to Tokyo (~2.5 hrs at 300km/h). Sit RIGHT SIDE (seats A/B) for Mt Fuji views. Eat ekiben while Japan blurs past
"Check out some ekiben at the station! Sit right side for Fuji." β r/JapanTravel
3:00p
Check in Royal Park Canvas Ginza Corridor
6:00
Ginza sushi splurge or depachika discount after 6pm
Day 14 β Thu 23 Apr Β· Free Day
flex
Toyosu Market tuna auction (5:30am) + breakfast sushi
flex
Nemuro Hanamaru conveyor sushi, Tokyo Station
flex
Nakiryu β Michelin-starred ramen
flex
Kappabashi β kitchen knives (near Asakusa)
flex
Kamakura day trip β Buddha + shirasu bowls
Day 15 β Fri 24 Apr Β· Fly Home
9:00a
Last konbini β Kit-Kats, matcha sweets for home
12:30
Final omakase β go out on a high note
4:00p
Check out. Head to Haneda
6:00
Haneda airport food β don't rush
10:00p
QF 60 HND β SYD 8:55am 25 Apr
β Royal Park Canvas Ginza 8 β BOOKED Β· Non-smoking Standard Twin Β· Near Yurakucho izakayas