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9 days in Japan Itinerary (via Nagoya)

If you are traveling to Japan via Nagoya, where would you go? If you’re feeling overwhelmed with all the options, then I hope this 9 days in Japan itinerary will help you plan your trip. This guide focuses on Shirakawa-go, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Nagoya, and can be extended to Hiroshima, Himeji and Kobe for those with extra time.

Note: I used this 9 days in Japan itinerary before, so I can attest that the sequence of activities and destinations is really doable, especially if you have a 7-day JR Pass. The expense breakdown at the end of this post is accurate as I have a travel expense tracker.

How to get a Japan Tourist Visa

Where to Book Accommodation in Japan

When looking for accommodations in Japan, I find it very easy to book via Agoda.com. On this 9 days in Japan trip, I did encounter difficulty finding an accommodation that’s within our budget. We were 6 in the group and most of the hotel listing is good for 2 to 4 persons only. I could have booked with Airbnb but they don’t offer rewards/points for every booking, so I chose Agoda. You will find some accommodation options I have personally tried and will recommend below.

Do I need a JR Pass for 9 days in Japan trip?

9-days in Japan Itinerary

Day 1: Nagoya to Shirakawa-go
Day 2: Fuji Shibazakura Festival and Tokyo City Tour
Day 3: Whole Day Disneysea
Day 4: Hitachi Seaside Park
Day 5: Nara and Osaka City Tour
Day 6: Hiroshima, Himeji Castle and Kobe
Day 7: Kyoto
Day 8: Nagoya
Day 9: Nagoya

Day 1: Arrival at Nagoya; Travel to Shirakawa-go then to Tokyo

Shirakawa-go is a place that I would want to go back to again and again. Since my travel buddies were first-timers in Japan, I included Shirakawa-go in our itinerary so they could get a wonderful glimpse of a Japanese village hidden in Central Japan. We could have stayed overnight, but our budget and time were very limited, so we opted for a day trip from Nagoya.

After our day trip, we took the Nohi Bus to Toyama Station. Then, we boarded the Hokuriku Shinkansen, the highspeed bullet train that connects Tokyo, Toyama and Kanazawa. Great news for JR Pass holders! Both the Hakutaka and Kagayaki bullet trains are covered by the pass.

Things to do in Shirakawa-go

  • Overnight stay in a Minshuku, Japanese-style bed and breakfasts
  • Go up to the Shiroyama Observation Deck
  • Visit Kanda House
  • Visit the Myozenji Temple and Myozenji Museum
  • Visit the Gassho-zukuri Minka-en Museum

Travel Tip: As you would expect, Shirakawa-go is very busy/touristy. You may want to stay overnight in one of the Gassho Zukuri farmhouses and get there as early as you can. There will be crowds at any time of day, but you will be able explore the place all to yourself once the tour groups have departed late in the afternoon. Staying overnight is a sure way to beat the crowds.

Where to Stay in Tokyo

Day 2: Fuji Shibazakura Festival and Tokyo City Tour

We headed to Fuji Five Lakes area on our second day in Japan. It was a beautiful, sunny day and there was a festival, which was Fuji Shibazakura (Moss phlox). This festival is one of the best and most popular festivals in Japan, which allows visitors to see shibazakura.

We headed back to Tokyo in the afternoon to explore the chaotic but fun districts of Harajuku and Shibuya. We had three nights in the city so we tried to pack in as many “Tokyo experiences” as possible into that time. We crossed Shibuya Crossing, the world’s busiest intersection, multiple times. We went shopping around the district and we also had one of the best ramen I’ve ever had in Japan, which was Afuri Ramen in Harajuku.

Day 3: Tokyo Disneysea

Travel Tip: Save yourself hours of waiting and get Disney’s FastPass (or its latest version, Disney Premier Access). I totally wish we have done this. It would’ve made it so much easier to hop on more rides and experience the park to the fullest!

Day 4: Hitachi Seaside Park; Travel to Osaka

If you are planning a day trip to Hitachi Seaside Park, I’d highly recommend taking a train from Tokyo/Ueno. The journey takes about two hours and a single journey ticket costs JPY 4,000. Get off at Katsuta Station and catch the Ibaraki Kotsu Bus going to Hitachi Seaside Park (15 minutes).

In the afternoon, we went to Shinagawa Station, a major railway station in Tokyo, where we will board a bullet train going to Osaka. We had ramen dinner at a random ramen place. The ramen was incredibly good, too bad I could not recall the name of the place.

Where to Stay in Osaka

Day 5: Nara and Osaka City Tour

Things to do in Nara

  • Visit the Todai-ji Temple, home of the famous Daibutsu (Great Buddha)
  • Roam around Nara Deer Park
  • Visit Kofukuji, One of Nara’s World Heritage sites
  • Explore the Isuien Garden, a traditional Japanese garden near Todaiji
the most entertaining feature of Nara park is, of course, the thousands of deer walking freely around the area

In the afternoon, we went back to Osaka to explore Osaka Castle and Dotonbori. It was already my second time in the city and yet, I would always want to go back to Osaka Castle. Although it was just a reconstruction, I would always be fascinated with its history.

Day 6: Hiroshima, Himeji Castle and Kobe

In the afternoon, we boarded another bullet train going to Himeji Castle, the most beautiful and the finest surviving example of early 17th-century Japanese castle architecture. I’ve always wanted to go to Himeji, but for some reasons, I never had the chance. I guess third time’s the charm. 🙂 We waited until dusk so we could see Himeji Castle lighted-up. It did not disappoint, and we were pleasantly surprised because only a few other tourists were in the castle grounds. No photo bombers for us!

In the evening, we boarded a local JR train to Kobe, home to the famous Kobe Beef. We arrived at around 8:30 in the evening and most of the Kobe beef restaurants were already closed. 🙁 Good thing, we found one near Kobe Station. It was the most expensive meal I’ve ever had so far, but the one of the most delicious I’ve had in Japan. Kobe Beef truly lives up to its impressive reputation.  

Day 7: Kyoto

One of the most visually spectacular destinations in Japan is Kyoto, the ancient city known for its temples and shrines. There are plenty of sightseeing spots and activities that are definitely worthy of recommendation of locals and frequent travelers, so deciding where to go and what to do in just one day can be challenging.  

We started very early but we weren’t able to visit as much attractions as planned. We managed to visit Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari and Kiyomizudera, which are some of the most famous attractions in the ancient city. In the evening, we had to travel to Nagoya, where we will stay for the rest of the trip. Our JR passes expires on the 7th day, so it was our last chance to ride a bullet train without paying extra.  

women wearing traditional Japanese Kimono and rickshaw in Arashiyama

Travel Tip: Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama can be really busy with people coming to photograph it. I’d recommend visiting as early as possible or just be patient and plan to wait for a gap in the crowds. You might be there a while but it’s worth it for the perfect shot! If all else fails, you can always use the Content Aware feature in Adobe Photoshop to remove photobombers. Lol!

Where to Stay in Nagoya

Day 8 and 9: Nagoya

If you love shopping then you probably know that Japan is a shopping paradise. When I first traveled to the country, I had this impression that Japan is an expensive shopping destination. But at that time (2015), the Japanese Yen is weak so our money went a long way. Last year, when I travelled solo, I was not able to buy many pasalubongs because the yen has recovered. This year was the same.  

Nagoya Castle

I never really meant to shop in Nagoya, but we found plenty of cheap places to shop. Asbee, one of the most popular shoe stores in Japan, was on sale when we were in the city. We found Keds shoes, limited and original designs, for as low as 1,000 yen or around 450 pesos! Insane, right? They also carry plenty of popular brands such as Timberland, MadFoot, Coleman (yes, they have shoes and sandals in Japan), New Balance, Nike, Adidas, Converse, Keds, Puma, Reebok, Asics, Skechers, DC Shoes, Coleman, Dickies and Lee shoes.

9 days in Japan Trip Expenses

In total, I spend 49,456 pesos inclusive of everything except JR Pass. If I will include the JR Pass, I would have spent around 62,800 pesos. Not that much considering all the places we have visited and the length of our stay. I also did not scrimp on food because it would be too depressing if I did. Japan’s home to one of the best cuisines in the world, so I’d rather spend a little extra to enjoy it. After all, food is an integral part of every culture. 

So, there you have it! I spent a lot of time researching and planning for our 9 days in Japan trip, so I hope this will help you save some time when creating your own Japan itinerary. I hope you find it useful, and do feel free to add your own Japan tips in the comments section. Do you have any questions? Suggestions? Let’s chat down below! 🙂

By Project Gora

Hey there! My name is Milet, and I'm a full-time corporate girlie during weekdays and a traveler during weekends (and holidays...you get the picture). I'm a foodie at heart and I love joining food tours. When I'm not traveling, you'll find me walking my dogs or biking around my neighborhood.