日本
Greg & Megan — 2026
May 20 — Jun 2, 2026
-- days to go
Japanese Survival Guide
Next Steps
Flights
Outbound Confirmed
JFK
New York
HND
Tokyo Haneda
Date
Wed, May 20
Arrives
Thu, May 21 1:55 PM
Flight
AA 167
Departs
10:35 AM
Class
Economy (Q)
Seats
31J, 31L
AA: FWKITE JAL: CA5ZIL
Return (2 legs) Confirmed
Leg 1 — Domestic
ITM
Osaka Itami
HND
Tokyo Haneda
Date
Tue, Jun 2
Flight
AA 8461 (JAL)
Departs
3:40 PM
Arrives
5:00 PM
Leg 2 — International
HND
Tokyo Haneda
JFK
New York
Date
Tue, Jun 2
Flight
AA 8496 (JAL)
Departs
7:30 PM
Arrives
7:30 PM same day
Seats
59C, 59A
AA: FWKITE JAL: CA5ZIL
Airline Apps
AA
American Airlines
Main booking & check-in. Mobile boarding pass for JFK→HND. Check in 24hrs before (May 19).
iOS Android
JAL
Japan Airlines
Operates return flights ITM→HND→JFK. Seat selection & boarding for Jun 2.
iOS Android
Accommodation
Tokyo — May 21-27 Confirmed
Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel
Newly Renovated Comfort Queen Room (Non-Smoking) — 6 nights, 2 adults
Address: Shibuya-ku, Sakuragaokacho 26-1, Tokyo
Check-in: Thu, May 21 — 3:00 PM
Check-out: Wed, May 27 — 12:00 PM
Phone: +81 3-3476-3000
Free cancellation until: May 19, 2026
Total: ¥359,993 (~$2,400)
Booking: 6414756066 Map
Kyoto — May 27-29 Confirmed
Hotel Yuraku Kyo-yasaka
Double Room TYPE B (Non-Smoking, 2nd-3rd Floor) — 2 nights, 2 adults
Address: 東山区鷲尾町528, Kyoto (Higashiyama district)
Check-in: Wed, May 27 — 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Check-out: Fri, May 29 — 11:00 AM
Phone: +81 75-525-4000
Free cancellation until: May 23, 2026
Total: ¥101,200 (~$675)
Booking: 5997267384 Map
Kyoto — May 29-30 Confirmed
HOTEL RINGS KYOTO
Standard Double Room — 1 night, 2 adults
Address: 393 Kabutoyacho, Sakaimachi-dori Rokkaku Sagaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Check-in: Fri, May 29 — 3:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Check-out: Sat, May 30 — 6:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Phone: +81 75-746-2920
Free cancellation until: May 25, 2026
Total: ¥28,080 (~$187)
Booking: 6249656476 Map
Osaka — May 30 - Jun 2 Confirmed
Apartment Hotel 11 Shinsaibashi 2 (Airbnb)
Apartment-style — in-unit washer, kitchen — 3 nights, 2 adults
Address: 2-2-12 Higashishinsaibashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0083
Check-in: Sat, May 30 — anytime after 3:00 PM (self check-in via lockbox)
Check-out: Tue, Jun 2 — 10:00 AM STRICT (cleaning crews arrive)
Host: Layla (Superhost)
WhatsApp/Phone: +81 080-2531-9331 · LINE: @837fzjbn · WeChat: Apartment11CSC
Self check-in steps: Lobby code + mailbox code arrive via email/Airbnb message. Get key from mailbox, then unlock room. 5–6 min walk to Glico Sign / Dotonbori.
Note: Cancel Centara Grand by May 26 (prior booking).
Ground Transportation
Tokyo (May 21-27)
Tokyo has the best public transit on earth. The JR Yamanote Line is a loop that hits Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku, Akihabara, Ueno, and Tokyo Station — this one line covers 80% of your trip. The Tokyo Metro fills in everything else. You will almost never need a taxi or bus in Tokyo.
Getting from Haneda to Cerulean Tower
Best route: Keikyu Line from Haneda → Shinagawa Station (~20 min, ¥300), transfer to JR Yamanote Line → Shibuya Station (~12 min, ¥200). Walk 5 min to hotel.
Alternative: Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho → JR Yamanote to Shibuya. Same price, slightly longer.
Taxi option: ~¥6,000-8,000 ($40-53), 40-60 min depending on traffic. Not worth it unless you’re exhausted.
Pro tip: Download the Navitime or Japan Travel by NAVITIME app — it gives exact train times, platform numbers, and transfer walking directions. Better than Google Maps for Tokyo trains.
Shinagawa → Kyoto Shinkansen (May 27) Confirmed
Nozomi 257 — Reservation #2007
Date: Wed, May 27, 2026
Train: Nozomi 257 (fastest service, ~2h 8m)
Depart: Shinagawa Station — 12:07 PM
Arrive: Kyoto Station — 2:15 PM
Seats: Car 5, Seats 14-D & 14-E
Confirmation: 2007
Why Shinagawa, not Tokyo Station: Shinagawa is one Yamanote stop from Shibuya (~6 min) — shorter than schlepping luggage to Tokyo Station (~25 min). Same Nozomi service, same price.
Day-of plan: Check out of Cerulean ~10:30 AM (official noon is too late for the train). Yamanote Line one stop to Shinagawa. Grab an ekiben at Ecute Shinagawa for the train. Board well before 12:07 PM.
JR Pass: Skipped — individual Nozomi ticket is faster and competitive with the pass.
Kyoto (May 27-30)
Kyoto is the opposite of Tokyo — the train system is limited and most temples aren’t near stations. Buses are king here. Kyoto has a massive city bus network that hits every major temple and shrine. You’ll be riding buses 3-5 times a day.
Kyoto Bus Day Pass
What: Unlimited city bus rides for one day. Kyoto buses cost ¥230 per ride — the day pass pays for itself after 3 rides.
Cost: ¥700/day (~$4.70)
Where to buy: Kyoto Station Bus Terminal (ground floor, information counter) or from the bus driver on your first ride. Also available at major hotel front desks.
How it works: First ride — insert the pass into the machine by the driver. It stamps the date. After that, just flash it when you get off.
Your itinerary: Day 1 (Fushimi Inari → Nishiki Market → Kinkaku-ji → Pontocho) = 4+ bus rides. Day 2 (Arashiyama → Kiyomizu-dera → Higashiyama) = 3+ rides. Pass is essential both days.
IC Card (same Suica from Tokyo)
Works on: JR Nara Line (to Fushimi Inari), Hankyu Line, Keihan Line, and city buses if you don’t get the day pass.
Fushimi Inari: Take JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station to Inari Station (2 stops, 5 min, ¥150). The shrine is right at the station exit.
Hotel Yuraku is in Higashiyama — walkable to Gion, Kiyomizu-dera, and Pontocho. You won’t need transit for evening plans in that area.
Pro tip: Kyoto buses get PACKED with tourists, especially routes to Kinkaku-ji and Arashiyama. Leave early (before 9 AM) to beat the crowds. Alternatively, rent bikes — Kyoto is flat and very bikeable.
Kyoto → Osaka (May 30)
JR Special Rapid or Hankyu Line
Time: ~15 minutes. Kyoto and Osaka are absurdly close.
Cost: ~¥570–700 per person — IC card
Best route for you: From RINGS, walk or grab a quick taxi to Kyoto Station. JR Special Rapid to Osaka Station, then Midosuji Line south to Namba. Or Hankyu from Karasuma to Osaka-Umeda, transfer to Midosuji.
Then: From Namba Station, walk 7 min north to Apartment Hotel 11 (2-2-12 Higashishinsaibashi).
Luggage forwarding (Yamato) — key step
Forward Fri May 29 from Hotel Yuraku front desk to Yamato Transport Namba Station Center. Apartment Hotel 11 cannot receive deliveries.
Yamato address: 4-chōme-4-4 Namba, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0076
Phone: +81 570-200-000 · Hours: 9 AM – 8 PM, 7 days
Hold for Sat May 30 afternoon pickup. Bring passport. ~¥800/bag overnight storage.
Action: Email Hotel Yuraku Tue May 26 to arrange.
Sat May 30 flow: Take overnight bag only on the train. Stop at Yamato Namba (~5 min from Namba Station) to pick up forwarded luggage. Walk 7 min north to Apt Hotel 11. Quick taxi if heavy.
Osaka (May 30 - Jun 2)
Osaka is easy. Apartment Hotel 11 sits in Higashishinsaibashi — 5–6 min walk to the Glico Sign / Dotonbori, 3 min to the Shinsaibashi arcade, 7 min to Amerikamura. You’ll use the metro less here than anywhere else. Closest stations: Nagahoribashi (Sakaisuji/Nagahori-Tsurumi-ryokuchi lines) and Shinsaibashi (Midosuji).
IC Card (same Suica from Tokyo)
Works on: All Osaka Metro lines, JR lines, and buses. Same card, same tap on/off.
Key line: Midosuji Line (red line) — hits Umeda, Shinsaibashi, Namba, Tennoji. This one line covers 90% of your Osaka travel.
Cost per ride: ¥190-280 (~$1.25-1.85)
Your itinerary: Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi, Amerikamura, and Kuromon Market are all walking distance from the apartment. Den Den Town is a 10-min walk south. Shinsekai/Tsutenkaku is Midosuji Line south to Dobutsuen-mae (~2 stops). Kobe beef in Kitashinchi is 2 stops north on Midosuji from Nagahoribashi (or 10 min taxi).
How much to load: You probably still have money on your card from Tokyo. If not, reload ¥2,000-3,000 — you won’t need much since so much is walkable.
Getting to Itami Airport (Jun 2)
Check out 10 AM STRICT — return key to mailbox, confirm all luggage, avoid the 10 AM elevator rush.
Best option: Airport Limousine Bus from Namba OCAT (Osaka City Air Terminal) — ~10 min walk from the apartment, or quick taxi. Direct to Itami, ~30 min, ~¥650.
Where to buy: OCAT ticket counter or pay with IC card on the bus.
Timing: Flight is 3:40 PM. Domestic flight, aim for airport by 1 PM. Leave the apartment ~3 hours before flight.
Alternative: Osaka Metro to Senri-Chuo, transfer to Osaka Monorail to Itami. More transfers but same price.
Pro tip: Osaka is the most walkable city of the three for your itinerary. Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi, Amerikamura, and Namba are all within a 10-15 min walk of each other and your hotel. Save the metro for Osaka Castle, Shinsekai, and the airport.
Day-by-Day Planner
Pre-Trip Checklist
Finding Restaurants
Restaurant Apps & Resources
食べ
Tabelog (食べログ)
Japan's #1 restaurant review site. 3.5+ is good, 3.7+ is excellent. Ratings are harsh — a 3.5 here is a 4.5 on Google.
iOS Android
G
Google Maps
English reviews, "Popular times" to avoid lines, photos. Good for spontaneous nearby finds. Ratings are inflated vs Tabelog.
iOS Android
R
Retty
Japanese review site, more casual than Tabelog. Where locals actually eat — less tourist-heavy.
iOS Android
ぐる
Gurunavi
Restaurant search + reservations. Has English version. Some spots only take bookings through here.
iOS Android
HP
Hot Pepper Gourmet
Coupons + reservations. Great for deals on izakayas and mid-range spots.
iOS Android
Pro tip: Use Tabelog as your primary, cross-reference with Google Maps for convenience, and check Instagram location tags for the neighborhood you're in that day. The best spots are often tiny 8-seat counters with a line outside — Tabelog surfaces those.
Planning Docs
📊 Japan Trip 2026 — Google Sheets 📄 Japan Trip 2026 Itinerary — Google Docs
Trip Cost So Far
ItemYenUSD
Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel — Tokyo (6 nights)¥359,993$2,400
Hotel Yuraku Kyo-yasaka — Kyoto (2 nights)¥101,200$675
HOTEL RINGS KYOTO — Kyoto (1 night)¥28,080$187
Apartment Hotel 11 Shinsaibashi 2 — Osaka (3 nights, Airbnb)¥42,942$286
Accommodation Total ¥532,215 $3,548
Not yet included: Flights (booked through Megan’s AA account), Shinkansen Nozomi 257 (~¥28,000 for 2 ✅), Giants tickets (¥32,000 for 2 ✅), restaurant reservations (Sushi no Midori ✅, Bellovisto ✅, Gion Karyo ✅, Kappō Shinatomi, Yanagi Koji TAKA / Giro Giro, Kobe beef), food & drinks, shopping, transport (IC card loads), Yamato luggage forwarding (~¥3,000–5,000 total).
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