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
5
Drive Days
650
KM
4
Markets
2
Kaiseki
4
Cool Trains
To-Do Before You Fly
Book Now
Before you fly
Admin
At Haneda
Your Trip β Tap to Expand
ζ±
Tokyo
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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
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Kawaguchiko
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Kawaguchiko
Day 4 β Mon 13 Apr Β· Start driving π
8:00a
Check out Richmond Asakusa
8:30
π FUJI EXCURSION limited express (Shinjuku β Kawaguchiko direct, ~2 hrs). Panoramic windows, Mt Fuji views as you approach. Way cooler than regular JR Chuo line β same price tier, no transfer at Otsuki
10:30
Pick up rental car at Kawaguchiko station depot
"Don't start driving in Tokyo. Take the train and pick up a car where there's less traffic." β r/JapanTravel (Japanese local, 30 yrs driving)
"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
π Fuji Excursion: Shinjuku β Kawaguchiko direct, ~2 hrs Β· π Pick up car at station, avoid Tokyo driving
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Matsumoto
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Matsumoto
Day 5 β Tue 14 Apr π
9:00a
Check out ryokan. Drive south (~2.5 hrs)
10:00
Michi-no-Eki β roadside station. Fresh mochi, skewers, regional snacks
11:00
Takato Castle Ruins β mountain views (car-only)
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
π Kawaguchiko β Matsumoto, ~2.5 hrs
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Takayama
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Takayama
Day 6 β Wed 15 Apr Β· Alps drive π
8:30a
Check out. Drive Route 158 through Alps
9:30
Narai-juku β Edo-era post town, almost no tourists
11:00
Lunch at Narai-juku soba shops
12:00
Route 158 β THE drive. Tunnels, dams, alpine scenery
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 Matsumoto β Takayama, ~2.5 hrs via Route 158
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Kanazawa
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Kanazawa
Day 7 β Thu 16 Apr Β· Last drive π
7:30a
Breakfast at ryokan (included in stay)
8:30
Sanmachi Suji old town, brewery district
9:00
Miyagawa Morning Market β snack walk: dango, beef nigiri, pickles
9:30
Check out. Drive to Shirakawa-go (~50 min)
10:30
Shirakawa-go β UNESCO village. Arrive before tour buses
12:00
Lunch at village restaurants
1:00p
Drive to Kanazawa (~1 hr). Drop off car β driving done!
3:00
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
"Make sure the rental has an ETC toll card β many exits are ETC only now. Google Maps will take you on narrow roads β the car's built-in nav avoids them." β r/JapanTravel (Japanese local)
β Onyado Nono Kanazawa β BOOKED Β· Natural onsen + free ramen Β· 2 min to Omicho
π Takayama β Shirakawa-go β Kanazawa, ~2.5 hrs. Drop car. One-way rental: pickup Kawaguchiko β drop Kanazawa (5 days)
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Osaka
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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
12:30
Train to Osaka (~3 hrs via Tsuruga). Eat ekiben
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
π Kanazawa β Osaka ~3 hrs Β· Kyoto day trip 30 min each way
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Tokyo (return)
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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
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Toyosu Market tuna auction (5:30am) + breakfast sushi
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Nemuro Hanamaru conveyor sushi, Tokyo Station
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Nakiryu β Michelin-starred ramen
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Kappabashi β kitchen knives (near Asakusa)
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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
Booking Summary
Bring Β₯71,280 cash for Takayama.
Oyado Koto no Yume (15 Apr) is the only hotel not prepaid β pay in yen at check-in.
| City | Dates | Hotel | Payment | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo (arrive) | 10-12 Apr | Richmond Asakusa | Paid | AUD 1,071.53 |
| Kawaguchiko | 13 Apr | Kawaguchiko Hotel | Paid | AUD 365.68 |
| Matsumoto | 14 Apr | Dormy Inn | Paid | AUD 199.83 |
| Takayama | 15 Apr | Oyado Koto no Yume | Pay at Hotel | Β₯71,280 cash |
| Kanazawa | 16 Apr | Onyado Nono | Paid | AUD 217.76 |
| Osaka | 17-21 Apr | Swissotel Nankai | Paid | AUD 2,427.95 |
| Tokyo (return) | 22-23 Apr | Royal Park Canvas Ginza 8 | Paid | AUD 823.26 |