The Mates' Japan Blitz
8 days · Tokyo → Izu → Yokohama → Osaka → Himeji → Kobe → Kyoto
DAY 1—
Transit Notes
Narita Express to Shinjuku (80 min) or Haneda monorail + Yamanote Line (40 min). JEMS pre-maps the route to your hotel.
DAY 2—East Tokyo Explorer
Start at Senso-ji temple in Asakusa for the morning atmosphere, then head up Tokyo Skytree for panoramic views. Spend the afternoon browsing the chaotic energy of Ameyoko market in Ueno — street food, haggling, and cold beers.
- Lunch at a local Asakusa spot
Transit Notes
Ginza Line to Asakusa, then walk to Skytree (15 min). Ginza Line back to Ueno for Ameyoko.
DAY 3—Shibuya, Harajuku & Shinjuku
Cross the famous Shibuya Scramble, hit the Nintendo Store in Shibuya PARCO, then walk through Harajuku's Takeshita Street for the full sensory overload. End the day in Shinjuku — Kabukicho, Omoide Yokocho, and izakaya hopping.
- Lunch in Omotesando
Transit Notes
JR Yamanote Line connects Shibuya → Harajuku (2 min) → Shinjuku (5 min). All walkable once in each area.
DAY 4—Izu Onsen Day Trip & Yokohama Chinatown
Board the Saphir Odoriko luxury limited express from Shinjuku down to the Izu Peninsula. Spend the morning at a day-use onsen spa with ocean views, grab a fresh seafood lunch, then head back to Yokohama for an evening feast in Japan's largest Chinatown.
- Saphir Odoriko to Izu
- Fresh seafood lunch in Izu
- Train back to Yokohama
- Yokohama Chinatown dinner (JEMS-reserved)
Transit Notes
Saphir Odoriko from Shinjuku to Izu-Kogen (2h). Return via JR Tokaido Line to Yokohama (1h45m). JEMS books the premium Green Car seats.
DAY 5—Shinkansen to Osaka — Namba & Dotonbori
Bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka. Drop bags at the hotel and dive straight into the neon-lit chaos of Namba and Dotonbori — takoyaki, gyoza, kushikatsu, and all the street food you can handle. End with drinks along the canal.
- Shinkansen Nozomi to Shin-Osaka
- Hotel check-in in Namba area
- Dotonbori street food crawl — takoyaki, kushikatsu, gyoza
Transit Notes
Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka (2h30m). Midosuji Line to Namba (15 min). JEMS pre-books reserved seats.
DAY 6—Himeji Castle & Kobe Steak
Morning Shinkansen to Himeji to visit Japan's most magnificent original castle — a UNESCO World Heritage site and national treasure. In the afternoon, head to Kobe's Sannomiya district for the main event: an authentic Kobe beef teppanyaki dinner.
- Shinkansen to Himeji
- Lunch near Himeji Castle
- JR to Kobe Sannomiya
- Kobe beef teppanyaki dinner (JEMS-reserved)
Transit Notes
Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Himeji (30 min). JR Special Rapid from Himeji to Sannomiya (40 min). Return to Osaka via JR (20 min).
DAY 7—Kyoto Day Trip & Departure
Early train to Kyoto for a packed final day. Hit Kiyomizu-dera for the iconic hillside views, Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), a sushi lunch, and the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Back to Osaka for bags, then Shinkansen to Tokyo and the airport.
- Sushi lunch in Nishiki Market area
- Return to Osaka, collect bags
- Shinkansen to Tokyo & airport transfer
Transit Notes
JR Special Rapid Osaka → Kyoto (30 min). City buses between temples. Return to Osaka, then Shinkansen to Tokyo (2h30m). Narita Express to airport (60 min).
WHAT JEMS HANDLES IN THIS ITINERARY
- 38 individual transit segments pre-routed
- 5 station walkthrough guides created
- 6 Japanese-language-only reservations secured
- 9 days of 24/7 concierge coverage
This itinerary is illustrative. Start designing your trip to receive a plan built entirely around your group.