By Someone Who Tried to “Do It All” and Lived to Regret (and Treasure) Every Moment
Let me start with a confession. When my friends heard I was going to Japan for five days, they laughed. Five days? That’s not a trip, they said. That’s a business meeting with jet lag. Japan deserves weeks, months, a lifetime. They weren’t wrong. But here’s the thing: sometimes five days is all you get, and you have to make every single second count like it’s your last bowl of ramen on death row.
So I went. I planned. I sprinted. I ate things I couldn’t pronounce and loved them anyway. I got lost, I got found, I got blisters the size of Osaka Castle. And you know what? Five days in Japan is absolutely insane. It’s also absolutely glorious.
Here’s how to survive it.
The Impossible Choice: Which Japan Do You Want?
Here’s your first crisis. Japan has two faces, and you have to pick one .
Option A: The Golden Route – Tokyo, Kyoto, and maybe Osaka. This is the greatest hits album. Ancient temples AND neon chaos. Zen gardens AND robot restaurants. You’ll move fast, you’ll see everything, and you’ll collapse into bed each night wondering what year it is.
Option B: The Kansai Deep Dive – Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe. All within an hour of each other. Less travel, more eating, and the chance to tell people you’ve been to Kobe for the beef and not just the basketball team .
I chose chaos. I chose both. This is my story.
Day 1: Tokyo – Where Your Eyes Explode (In a Good Way)
You land at Narita. You haven’t slept in 18 hours. You’re running on airplane pretzels and desperation. The train into Tokyo is clean, quiet, and slightly terrifying in its efficiency. Welcome to Japan.
Where to Stay: Shinjuku. Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it’s overwhelming. But at midnight when you’re lost and hungry, you’ll thank every deity that your hotel is steps away from a 24-hour ramen shop. The Keio Plaza Hotel is a solid choice if your budget allows .
Where to Eat: The Immediate Ramen Intervention
Your first meal in Japan should be ramen. Not fancy ramen. Just ramen. Find an Ichiran. Yes, it’s a chain. Yes, it’s touristy. But sitting in a tiny wooden booth, pulling a steaming bowl of tonkotsu through that rich, garlicky broth while staring at a bamboo curtain? That’s a core memory .
What to Do: Sensory Overload 101
- Shibuya Crossing: Go at night. Stand in the Starbucks (the one with the view) and watch the chaos below. It’s like watching human pinball, and it never gets old .
- Shinjuku’s Golden Gai: Six tiny alleys, even tinier bars, and the overwhelming feeling you’ve stepped into a film set. Some bars charge cover fees. Some don’t. Walk around, peek in, find your vibe. If a bar looks full, it is. There’s no “scooching in” in Japan .
- Akihabara if You’re Weird (I Mean That Lovingly): Electric town. Anime everything. Eight floors of arcade games. Maid cafes where girls in frilly costumes call you “master.” It’s bizarre, it’s wonderful, and it’s completely optional .
Pro Tip: Your first 24 hours will be jet-lagged blur. Embrace it. Wake up at 4 AM and go to a convenience store. A Japanese 7-Eleven is not like your 7-Eleven. The egg sandwiches are edible poetry. The onigiri selection will make you weep. This is not hyperbole .
Day 2: Tokyo Part Two – The “I’m Cultured, Actually” Day
You’ve survived the initial shock. Now it’s time to pretend you’re here for the culture and not just the vending machines that sell hot coffee in cans.
Morning: Asakusa and Senso-ji Temple
Take the subway to Asakusa. Walk through the Kaminarimon Gate with its massive red lantern. Join the scrum of tourists snapping photos. Stroll down Nakamise-dori, a shopping street that’s been selling snacks and souvenirs since the 17th century .
Buy some fresh ningyo-yaki (little sponge cakes filled with sweet bean paste). Eat them immediately. They’re better warm.
Senso-ji itself is Tokyo’s oldest temple, and it’s gorgeous. But honestly? The real magic is people-watching. School groups in matching hats. Elderly Japanese women power-walking through the crowds. That one guy in full cosplay who definitely isn’t with a tour group .
Where to Eat Lunch: Street Food Frenzy
Asakusa is street food heaven. Try:
- Imo Pippi: Sweet potato desserts that will ruin all other sweet potatoes for you
- Suzukien: Matcha gelato in about seven levels of intensity. Go for the highest level if you want to feel alive
- Asakusa Gyukatsu: Breaded and deep-fried beef cutlet that you finish cooking on a hot stone at your table
Afternoon: Meiji Shrine and Harajuku
Take the train to Harajuku. Walk through the forested path to Meiji Shrine. It’s dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, and walking from the chaos of Harajuku into this peaceful forest feels like stepping into another dimension .
Then cross the bridge and step back into chaos. Takeshita Street is where Japanese youth culture goes to explode. Crepes. Crazy fashion. Stores selling things you didn’t know existed and definitely don’t need.
Evening: Shibuya and the Best Sushi of Your Life
Book omakase somewhere. Anywhere. Let the chef decide. You’ll eat things you’ve never seen, prepared by hands that have been doing this since before you were born. It will cost more than you wanted to spend. It will be worth it .
Late Night: Tokyo Confidential or Something Similar
Find a hidden bar. Tokyo is full of them. Basements, upper floors, unmarked doors. Order a cocktail made by someone who treats mixology like a sacred art. Stagger home happy .
Day 3: The Bullet Train and the Ancient Capital
You wake up early. You stumble to Tokyo Station. You board the Shinkansen, and 2.5 hours later, you’re in Kyoto. The train is so smooth you could perform surgery. You probably won’t, but you could.
Kyoto: Where Tokyo Goes to Meditate
Kyoto is what foreigners imagine when they think of Japan. Temples. Gardens. Geishas (okay, geiko – and only if you’re lucky). It’s quieter, slower, and completely essential .
Where to Stay: Something near Kyoto Station for convenience, or something in Gion for atmosphere. There is no wrong answer, only different budgets.
Afternoon: Fushimi Inari Shrine
Go late afternoon. The crowds thin out, the light gets golden, and the thousand torii gates start to feel genuinely mystical. Walk as far as you can. The higher you go, the fewer people you’ll see. At the top, you get a view of Kyoto and the profound realization that you have to walk back down .
Where to Eat Dinner: Gion Adventures
Find a tiny restaurant in Gion. Let them feed you kaiseki – a multi-course meal that’s part dinner, part art installation. You’ll recognize about 30% of what you’re eating. Embrace the mystery .
Evening: Gion Stroll
Walk through Gion at night. The wooden machiya houses glow. If you’re very lucky, you might spot a geiko or maiko hurrying to an appointment. Don’t chase them for photos. Just appreciate the moment .
Day 4: Kyoto’s Greatest Hits (On Fast Forward)
You have one full day in Kyoto. You will see approximately 15% of what the city offers. This is fine. You’ll come back. Everyone does.
Early Morning: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Be there by 7 AM. Seriously. By 8:30, it’s a human highway. By 7 AM, it’s just you, the light filtering through the stalks, and the sound of wind through bamboo. It’s worth the early alarm .
Nearby: Tenryu-ji Temple and its garden. Stroll through. Breathe. Remember you’re in one of the most beautiful places on Earth .
Mid-Morning: Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Pavilion)
It’s a temple covered in gold leaf. It sits in a pond. It reflects perfectly. It looks fake. It’s not. Go see it .
Lunch: Something Noodle-Related
Find soba or udon. Both are perfect. Both are cheap. Both will fuel your temple sprint.
Afternoon: Pick Your Poison
You cannot do everything. Choose one:
- Kiyomizu-dera: Massive temple with a wooden stage and city views. The surrounding streets are charming and packed with shops .
- Ginkaku-ji (The Silver Pavilion): The quieter, less flashy cousin of Kinkaku-ji. The sand garden is mesmerizing .
- Nijo Castle: Former shogun residence with “nightingale floors” that chirp when you walk on them (security system meets architectural beauty) .
Evening: Pontocho Alley
Narrow alley, lantern-lit, packed with restaurants. Walk it, pick somewhere that looks good, eat well .
Day 5: The Grand Finale (Choose Your Own Adventure)
You have one day left. You can’t do everything. Here are your options.
Option A: Osaka Food Crawl
Take the 30-minute train to Osaka. Go to Dotonbori at night. Let the neon consume you. Eat:
- Takoyaki (octopus balls) from a street stall. They’re hotter than the sun. Wait before biting .
- Okonomiyaki (savory pancake) at a restaurant where you cook it yourself .
- Kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) in Shinsekai. The rule: no double-dipping .
- Whatever else looks good. Everything looks good.
Option B: Universal Studios Japan
If you have kids, or if you are a kid, or if you just love watching grown adults weep with joy at Super Nintendo World. Go early. Buy Express Pass. Accept that you will spend a fortune. Smile anyway .
Option C: Nara and the Aggressively Polite Deer
One hour from Kyoto. Nara Park is full of deer who bow for crackers. It’s adorable until they realize you’re out of crackers, at which point it’s mildly terrifying. Also: Todai-ji Temple houses a 15-meter Buddha in the world’s largest wooden building. It’s worth the deer bites .
Option D: Kobe Beef Pilgrimage
Train to Kobe (about an hour). Eat Kobe beef. It will be expensive. It will melt on your tongue like butter in a warm pan. You will never look at steak the same way again. Wander the waterfront. Feel sophisticated .
The Stuff They Don’t Tell You (But I Will)
Cash is King. Japan still loves cash. Many temples, small restaurants, and market stalls won’t take cards. Withdraw enough yen to feel mildly irresponsible .
The Train System is Genius (and Confusing). Get an IC card (Suica or Pasmo). Tap in, tap out. It works on almost everything. Google Maps is your friend. So is Japan Travel by Navitime. Use them both .
Carry a Bag for Trash. Public bins are rare. You’ll carry your empty bottle for blocks. This is normal.
Bow Slightly. It Costs Nothing. A small bow, a little respect, and suddenly the shopkeeper smiles. Manners matter here.
Don’t Walk and Eat. It’s considered rude. Stand near the shop, finish your snack, then walk. You’ll figure this out when you see everyone else doing it.
Shoes Off Indoors. Temples, some restaurants, people’s homes. Look for the line of shoes. Follow it.
The Five-Day Verdict
Is five days in Japan enough? Absolutely not. Will you see everything? Not even close. Will you eat things you’ll dream about for years, stand in places that rearrange your understanding of beauty, and return home with a thousand photos and a permanent desire to go back?
Yes. Yes you will.
Five days in Japan is a teaser trailer for the greatest movie you’ll ever see. It’s enough to fall in love, not enough to get bored. It’s a sprint, a feast, a sensory explosion, and a spiritual awakening all wrapped in a bullet train schedule.
Go. Eat. Bow. Wander. Get lost. Find yourself. Repeat.
And for heaven’s sake, try the convenience store egg sandwich. Your future self will thank you.
BY ELENA MAKRI