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.
IC Card (Suica or Pasmo)
What: Rechargeable transit card. Tap on, tap off at every gate. Also works at convenience stores, vending machines, and some restaurants.
Where to buy: Haneda Airport arrival hall — look for the ticket machines right after customs. Select "Suica" and load cash.
iPhone option: Add a Suica card directly in Apple Wallet (Settings → Wallet → Transit Card → Suica). Load from your Apple Pay. No physical card needed.
How much to load: Start with ¥5,000 (~$33). A typical day in Tokyo is ¥800-1,500 in transit. Reload at any station or konbini.
Cost per ride: ¥170-400 depending on distance (~$1-3).
Your itinerary: Cerulean Tower is in Shibuya. You’ll use Yamanote Line to Harajuku (2 min), Shinjuku (5 min), Akihabara (25 min), Ueno (30 min). Metro to Asakusa, Roppongi, Ginza. All IC card.
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)TBDTBD
Accommodation Total (excl. Airbnb) ¥489,273 $3,262
Not yet included: Flights (booked through Megan’s AA account), Apartment Hotel 11 (Airbnb total — pull from booking), Shinkansen Nozomi 257 (~¥28,000 for 2 ✅), Giants tickets (¥32,000 for 2 ✅), restaurant reservations (Gion Karyo, Pontocho Robin, Szechwan Chen, Bellovisto, Kobe beef), food & drinks, shopping, transport (IC card loads), Yamato luggage forwarding (~¥3,000–5,000 total).
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