13-day itinerary in Japan - help needed

Not bad, but add a day trip from Tokyo to Nikko, north of Tokyo.

Kyoto and Nara will be the most amazing part of your trip, you need three full days to explore Kyoto.

I've done your locations multiple times in the past couple years - last summer with a first-timer. I can give you my impressions as a non-foodie, non-shopper, most often solo traveler.

Looks fast, but OK overall although I'm not sure where your travel is allocated - at the end of the day range indicated, or the beginning of the next. My comments below are based on where the travel time might be placed.

Kyoto and Osaka are commuting distance. I would consider combining them and would suggest staying in Kyoto (lots of in town and short trip outside as special sightseeing spots) with a day trip to (or thru) Osaka if you have specific interests there.

That is the next question - is there anything in Osaka that particularly "calls" you? It is known for its street food and nightlife. I, personally, recognizing I am NOT you or many others, have found other sight seeing opportunities more interesting and compelling than Osaka. (On the other hand, I have had business trips there and enjoy the city aspect.) Osaka's Castle, for instance, is rebuilt. Although its museum is fine, Himeji, that you hope to visit, is an original. Dontonburi is interesting enough, but food and shopping related. (My first timer loved it last summer - I know my opinion of I-can-take-it-or-leave-it is perhaps not the norm.) The main reason I suggest examining Osaka for your specific interests is the length of your trip - perhaps the time could be allocated back to Kyoto - or Hiroshima.

Himeji can be visited from Kyoto with just a little more travel time investment than from Osaka. I would allocate minimum of a full morning, starting out early, but you can be back in Kyoto by the early PM, or on the return stop in Osaka for an exploration.

Hiroshima- not quite sure of the length of your stay. One day to see Hiroshima's Peace Garden, Memorial, and Miyajima, not to mention other interesting spots is not enough. Maybe you were planning a half day on one of the travel days - one day for Miyajima and one half day for Memorial?

Train tickets - there should be no problem buying the day of or a day in advance in convenient. No difference in price so no advantage of early purchase. Lines, if you want a live person, can be quite long. The ticket machines have English options and are not difficult to use - particularly if you have studied the train options and know what you want. Check the Navitime and Jorudan apps. Easy search options. Train tickets can be purchased with credit card from a live person, machines may not take a card. I always carry some cash so I can purchase from a machine, but that is my personal quirk.

Suggested easy day trips from Tokyo:

Nikko as suggested above. There may be autumn leaf viewing crowds during your time. This is the one ticket I might suggest pre-planning and pre-purchasing although you can probably wait for weather forecasts as long as you are considering a week day. I suggest this pass for the train and area public transport. If you are visiting the Asakusa area of Tokyo, you can stop by the office and purchase, English well spoken. (online purchases also) https://www.tobu.co.jp/en/ticket/nikko/all.html
general info on pass - https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_002.html
Nikko general info - https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3800.html

Kamakura - giant Buddha, interesting temple complexes, hiking
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3100.html

Nihon Minkaen Open Air Museum - if you like living history museums
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3253.html

Five Lakes as you mentioned is a popular option. Also Hakone. Both, on a good day, have views of Mt Fuji. Hakone is sometimes a love it or hate it stop as a day trip - it can be quite crowded on the transportation routes. In late October, there may be autumn leaf viewer crowds as well. If seeing Mt Fuji is a priority, but not necessarily traveling to do so, I might consider a visit on a clear day to the government buildings where you can have a free distance gaze.

Government buildings - https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3011_tocho.html

Hakone - https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5200.html

As a museum lover myself, there are many great options in Tokyo. Tokyo National Museum is an obvious choice, several other choices in the Ueno area, all good.
museums - https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3054.html

Thank you, geovagriffith and ORDtraveler!

ORDtraveler: a huge thank-you for your detailed, insightful and comprehensive replies, here and in some other threads I have seen while doing my research. To clarify, I am allocating my travel to mornings, so the Tokyo-Kyoto trip will be on the morning of Day 5, etc. As for the itinerary itself, as a matter of fact, I have absolutely no specific reason to be in Osaka other than that it's listed as one of the spots along the Golden Route. I have read that it is a "food and nightlife" capital, neither one of which is much of a big selling point for me, as mentioned. In other words, I can easily reduce it to a day trip. On the other hand, I know very little about Hiroshima and its environs, and I am going by such guidance as I have seen online.

In light of all the information you have provided, it looks like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima could all use an extra day, while Osaka can be either reduced to a day trip or crossed off the list completely. Would the following make more sense?

Days 1-5: Tokyo, including 1-3 day trips (Nikko, Kamakura, and Hakone)
Days 6-10: Kyoto, including day trips to Nara, Osaka, and Himeji
Days 11-12: Hiroshima and Miyajima

Or would you recommend adding an extra day to the Hiroshima segment and removing one from Kyoto?

I forgot to mention - check on flights from Osaka to Tokyo (rather than train) for your return. Train may still be your best option, but perhaps not.... Domestic flights can be reasonably priced.

I don't know what airport you use between home country (assuming US) and Japan. Narita for me - I have done early evening flights into Narita from Osaka and stayed at the Narita Hilton the day before a return to the US, for instance. (There are a number of airport area hotels at Narita.) That might give you a 1/2 - 3/4 extra day of sightseeing, obviously dependent on many factors unknown to me.

I, personally, would not remove a day from Kyoto. I easily spent a week in 2022 and not my first visit. Of course, it all depends on your personal interests.

The itineraries below have some good suggestions for high points. If you haven't already, you might specifically consider Arashiyama which is has some interesting options or Fushimi Inari as a major temple visit shortly out of town.

Explorations in central Kyoto could include any number of temples of all sizes, strolls through the Higashiyama District and/or Gion District, Nijo Castle, Nishiki Market (only if you want to see a market - often very, very crowded; food and shopping emphasis). This would give an idea of Kyoto's various treasures - and could take 1, 2 or more days. Spoiled for choice!!

https://www.insidekyoto.com/kyoto-itineraries
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3950_arashiyama_full.html

Thanks very much for all the tips, ORDtraveler! This gives me a lot to work it. I really appreciate your insight.

(Also, I am flying into and out of Haneda.)

Loro S

We did the same trip in October of 2024, except we did not go to Hiroshima. We wanted to spend more nights in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

Just be aware that October can be very cloudy with some rain, not the best weather to view Mt Fuji. We opted not to use up a valuable day going to either Hakone or the Five Lakes (best places to view the mountain) and take a big risk of being disappointed. We just looked for Mt. Fuji from the bullet train travelling from and back to Tokyo. I got a few good shots of Mt Fuji on the way out. On the way back, the weather was rainy and the mountain was completely obscured.

We found that October was still too early for any Autumn colours.

At Himeji castle, we arranged for a free volunteer English guide who took us on a detailed tour of the castle and gardens. Just google "volunteer English tour guide Japan [or city or attraction]" to find and book these organizations. They will not accept a tip. A small gift (e.g. small bottle of maple syrup) or an invitation to lunch is nice.

Good luck.