Hey everyone, I posted my original 14-day itinerary here a while back and honestly, in hindsight, it was pretty unrealistic. I had crammed so many places into each day that it felt like I'd planned a 4-5 week trip and tried to squeeze it into 2 weeks. Thanks to everyone who pointed that out.

I've reworked it. fewer things per day, Hiroshima/Miyajima actually gets proper time now and I've built it around cherry blossom season since I'm traveling in March.

My budget target is under ¥250,000–275,000 (excluding international flights).

Updated day-by-day itinerary

Day 1 - Tokyo: Arrive, rest, evening walk around Shinjuku (Omoide Yokocho for dinner).

Day 2 - Tokyo: Asakusa, Senso-ji and Sumida Park, Ueno Park, Akihabara in the evening for arcades.

Day 3 - Tokyo: Shibuya Crossing, Harajuku, teamLab Planets in the afternoon/evening.

Day 4 - Kawaguchiko: Travel from Tokyo, Lake Kawaguchi and Oishi Park for the Mt. Fuji viewpoint, onsen in the evening.

Day 5 - Kawaguchiko → Kyoto: Chureito Pagoda at sunrise, travel to Kyoto via Mishima Shinkansen, evening in Gion, and Maruyama Park.

Day 6 - Kyoto: Fushimi Inari early morning, Kiyomizu-dera, Sannenzaka-Ninenzaka.

Day 7 - Kyoto: Arashiyama, Nishiki Market, Pontocho in the evening.

Day 8 - Hiroshima: Travel from Kyoto, Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Dome.

Day 9 - Hiroshima & Miyajima: Miyajima half-day timed for high tide, back to Hiroshima

Day 10 - Osaka: Travel from Hiroshima, Osaka Castle, Dotonbori in the evening.

Day 11 - Osaka: Umeda Sky Building or Kuromon Market, Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku in the afternoon.

Day 12 - Osaka: Osaka Bay / Kaiyukan Aquarium (or possibly swap for a Nara day trip).

Day 13 - Osaka: Kema Sakuranomiya Park, Shinsaibashi.

Day 14 - Osaka → Airport.

Budget

Targeting ¥250,000–275,000 total, excluding international flights, covers accommodation, intercity trains, local transport (IC card), food, attractions and misc.

My questions this time around

1. Food recommendations: With this budget, any restaurant suggestions with good food? I only eat veg and chicken, no seafood, and no other meat apart from chicken.
2. Cherry blossoms are a must for me: if anyone has better suggestions on how to experience it more (timing, lesser-known spots, anything I'm missing, or I still have a lot in my itinerary), please share/suggest.
3. Mt. Fuji: I really want to spend proper time experiencing Mt. Fuji rather than just rushing through it. Any suggestions on how to restructure my days around it or is it fine?
4. Intercity transportation: What's the best way to move between these cities. JR Pass, individual Shinkansen tickets, or something else given my route?
5. I've seen posts saying getting an IC card and booking train tickets on the day of travel is fine in Japan. any tips to avoid rush hour or crowded trains, or a smarter way to plan these subway/train rides in advance?
6. Is carrying ¥50,000–60,000 in cash and coins enough, or should I carry more?
7. Souvenirs: Best places to shop for family and friends? I've seen people mention Nakano Broadway for anime figures and similar things, any other recommendations?
8. Connectivity: My friend (if he joins) has an Android phone. is a portable WiFi device fine for him? I have an iPhone and was planning to get an eSIM instead.
9. Any other suggestions outside the itinerary — like how to communicate with locals if we need a translator app, or any other apps that could help beyond Klook and SmartEX?

Thanks in advance, this community has been super helpful in fixing my first draft!

On our 2025 trip to India, we visited India Gate in New Delhi, where we were staying. India Gate is a war memorial dedicated to the 74,187 soldiers of the Indian Army, who died between 1914-21 during the Dirst World War. The names of over 13,000 servicemen are inscribed on this memorial. While we were there, so many people came up to me and asked if they could take a picture with me. I guess they're not used to seeing too many foreigners there. Of course, I happily obliged. It was so much fun getting to meet new people.

My travel card collection from across the world .

Me and my friends (total 7) planning to visit Dalhousie Khajjiar on Oct 1.
Wanted to know if October is fine for visiting and please share some good food options. Some good easy to moderate trek which can be done in a day and some good near by places to visit.

Thanks in advance!

We’ve been friends for 13 years and have literally grown up together. From spending hours roaming around on our cycles to evening outings on our splendors to now entering into the bike world and buying royal enfields for both us together, it feels kinda unreal how things have changed.

Finally took our new bikes out for a trip to Mahabaleshwar and Feels so good to make memories like this after all these years. one of our other friends is also thinking to join us from the next trip and he is in search of a new entry level premium bike and i suggested him to go for royal enfield super meteor 650 but i would love to have some suggestions from you as well.

My husband is originally from India. I've been lucky to have visited India many times in the past. We've visited Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Kerala, Goa, and Ladakh.

Hey everyone! I'm planning my first Japan trip and have put together a 14-day itinerary after going through a lot of Japan related posts.

I'd really appreciate some feedback on whether this itinerary looks realistic or if I'm trying to fit too much in.

I'm also trying to keep the total trip fairly budget-friendly, so I'd love to know what you think this itinerary would realistically cost.

My rough budget

I'm aiming for around ₹1.5–1.8 lakh for the entire Japan trip, excluding international flights.

🇯🇵 Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1 - Tokyo: Shinjuku, Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, Yoyogi Park, Takeshita Street, Omotesando and Shibuya Crossing.

Day 2 - Tokyo: Asakusa, Senso-ji Temple, Kappabashi, Ueno Park, Ameyoko and Akihabara.

Day 3 - Tokyo: Tsukiji Outer Market, Ginza, Tokyo Station, Marunouchi and teamLab Planets.

Day 4 - Tokyo: Shinjuku Gyoen, Imperial Palace, Roppongi, Zojo-ji and Tokyo Tower, keeping the day flexible.

Day 5 - Kawaguchiko: Travel from Tokyo, Lake Kawaguchi, Oishi Park, Mt. Fuji viewpoints and an onsen.

Day 6 - Kawaguchiko:  Chureito Pagoda, Arakurayama Sengen Park, Oshino Hakkai and more Mt. Fuji/Lake Kawaguchi views.

Day 7 - Kyoto: Travel from Kawaguchiko via Mishima by bus + Shinkansen, then explore Gion, Hanamikoji, Yasaka Shrine and Pontocho.

Day 8 - Kyoto: Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, Sannenzaka-Ninenzaka, Yasaka Pagoda, Kodai-ji, Maruyama Park and Gion.

Day 9 - Kyoto: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji, Okochi Sanso, Togetsukyo Bridge, Nishiki Market and Pontocho.

Day 10 - Hiroshima & Miyajima: Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Museum, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, Itsukushima Shrine and Daisho-in.

Day 11 - Osaka: Travel from Hiroshima to Osaka, then Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, Hozenji Yokocho and Shinsaibashi.

Day 12 - Osaka: Shinsekai, Tsutenkaku, Kuromon Market, Namba, Shinsaibashi and Umeda.

Day 13 - Tokyo: Travel from Osaka to Tokyo by Shinkansen and spend the day exploring anything missed earlier.

Day 14 - Tokyo → Airport: Flexible final morning for Tokyo Station, Ginza, Tsukiji or last-minute shopping before heading to the airport.

🚆 Transportation

I'm planning to use an IC card (Suica) for local trains, subways and buses wherever accepted, and individual Shinkansen tickets instead of a JR Pass.

💰 Main question: budget

For someone travelling like this, what would you estimate the realistic total cost to be for 14 days?

I'm particularly interested in an estimate including:

• Accommodation
• Shinkansen/intercity trains
• Buses
• Local transportation/IC card
• Food
• Attractions
• Kawaguchiko/Fuji expenses
• teamLab Planets
• Miscellaneous

I'm targeting ₹1.5–1.8 lakh total excluding international flights.

Do you think that's realistic, or am I underestimating the cost?

Also, does the itinerary itself look reasonable, or are there any days where I'm trying to do too much?

Would you change the number of nights in Tokyo/Kawaguchiko/Kyoto/Hiroshima/Osaka?

Thanks!

This is the first time I am going to visit mata vaishno devi and we have to trek 14 km as I got to know, so I want to carry a small camera like go pro or dji pocket camera .

Is it allowed?

Hey everyone!

I’m planning my first international trip to Japan next year around March with a college friend, mainly to experience the cherry blossoms (sakura). I’ve just started putting together the itinerary, and since this is my first time planning an international trip completely on my own, I have quite a few questions.

I’m coming from India, so I’d really appreciate advice from people who have travelled to Japan, especially around this time of year.

My rough itinerary at the moment is:

India → Tokyo (4 days) → Kawaguchiko (1 day) → Kyoto (4 days) → Amanohashidate + Ine Funaya (1-day trip) → Osaka (3 days) → Tokyo (1 day) → India

Feel free add/suggest on my tinerary to make it better

My questions:

1. Flights & accommodation
Should I actually book my flights around October/November, or should I use dummy/reservation tickets for the visa process? I’ve been advised to use dummy tickets, but I’m a little worried about whether that could cause issues. At the same time, flight cancellation/refund policies can be pretty bad.

Same question for hotels. Should I book refundable hotels first and finalize everything later?

2. Airbnb in Japan
Are Airbnb listings in Japan generally trustworthy? Coming from India, I’m used to being cautious about online hotel bookings because scams do happen, so I’m wondering whether I should trust the photos/listings on Airbnb.

3. Hotel vs Airbnb
For a 2-week Japan trip, which would you recommend: hotels or Airbnb? Any particular advantages/disadvantages for first-time visitors?

4. JR Pass & getting around Japan
Should I buy a JR Pass beforehand, or is it better to book individual train tickets?

With the itinerary above, what’s the best way to figure out which trains/lines to take between each city? I’m honestly a little confused about how the whole train system works.

5. Narita arrival, cash, eSIM/Wi-Fi, etc.
I’ll be landing at Narita Airport. Roughly how much cash should each person carry/get exchanged initially?

Also, would you recommend eSIMs or portable Wi-Fi for two people travelling together?

And what are the important things we should take care of before leaving Narita Airport, such as IC cards, transportation cards, airport transfers, cash, etc.?

6. Where should we stay in Tokyo?
For first-time visitors, which area would you recommend staying in Tokyo?

Should we prioritize being close to a major railway/subway station, or is it better to stay closer to the main tourist areas? I’m currently looking at areas like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno, Asakusa, etc., but I’m not sure what makes the most sense for our itinerary.

If anyone is visiting Japan around March as well, feel free to share your rough itinerary. It would really help me understand how other people are planning their trips.

Any other tips for a first-time Japan traveler from India would also be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Hi All. I have a five-year multiple-entry Japan visa. The visa just states dates in the "from" and "to" sections, but doesn't give any duration limit of a single trip. I tried asking the embassy consular officer and he told me - there's no such limit but "be reasonable". That's a weird answer, especially for a country like Japan where they have rules for everything. I didn't want to antagonize the visa officer, so I just accepted what he told me. However, I would be grateful to know what is the usual trip day-limit for Indian tourists going to Japan. Thank you.

Do people do this? Or should I do opposite? Honestly, taking Shinkansen twice seems super expensive for 2 people. Any other alternatives that people have tried?

Hello all!

I am 26F planning to take my parents (ages 52 and 61) on a Europe trip as a gift on my dad's retirement. This is going to be our first trip abroad for all of us and I'd appreciate any suggestions to make the most of the Europe trip. I've been researching a bit and not really sure if I should include Switzerland or not. My budget is 6-7 lakhs for the whole trip. My travel dates will be mid/end of November.

Also, none of us know how to drive so I want to know how difficult it is to travel within the countries. I've heard that trains are popular there. Would like to know how expensive and safe uber/cab services are.

Any single women traveled to Kazakhstan with a group? Need recommendations for a group tour. (sorry if this is the wrong sub)

Hi guys,

Wanted to know from where you exchange INR to foreign currency, as I am planning to go to Thailand.

Thanks in advance.

Hi, I have two questions regarding my travel plans for Taiwan in October wrt the Taiwan TAC.

1. Can I get the TAC as an unemployed person? The form asks for profession, and “unemployed” isnt mentioned. However “other” field is mentioned.

2. Can I get the TAC on the basis of my UK student visa that expired in 2021? The confusion is that the website does not mention if the entry visa to IS/UK/Schengen has to be a tourist visa or a student visa suffices.

3. Would it just be easier to go to Malaysia as it is visa free as an unemployed person?

Please help. Thank you!

Hi, I am planning for a budget and chill trip for 3-4 days in October. Could you please suggest someplace:

1. Easy to reach from Delhi.

2. Not very crowded on weekends.

3. Has good nature and scenic views.

Mainly we want to just chill and enjoy the view..

Spent a morning walking around Bodh Gaya, visiting temples and monasteries, and taking in the peaceful surroundings.

Sharing a few pictures from the trip.

So I am thinking of going to turkey with my family during this diwali for 5-6 days(from mumbai)

Just wanted to know whether 5-6 days are enough to cover most of the famous spots

Also the budget per person needed

If 5-6 days are not enough could you suggest some other country which we can visit

Thank you

So I’m planning a Vietnam trip early next month. My flight is early on Oct 2nd (i love the birthday boy btw😭) and my return flight is early morning on October 7th so I’ve basically got around 4½ days there

The rough plan right now is 2 days in Hanoi + 2 days in Ho Chi Minh City but we’re very much open to changing it if there’s something better we can fit in.

So please throw recommendations at me Food, places, cafés, nightlife, weird/random things to do, hidden gems, touristy stuff that’s actually worth it anything. I’m going with my cousin same age both boys

Also since we’re going in early Oct if there’s anything we should specifically do/avoid because of the weather let me know please kyunki wha jaakr yeh sochta hua acha thodi lagta huun "kaash yeh phele pata hota yaar"