15 days in Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka Itinerary

Tokyo holds the status of most populous metropolitan area in the world--a fact you'll find tangible as you walk the bustling streets and explore its diverse neighborhoods and cultures.

Get in touch with nature at Moroiso Shores and Zaimokuza Beach. Museum-lovers will appreciate Tokyo National Museum and The Hakone Open-Air Museum. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Tokyo: Toi Beach (in Izu) and Katase Higashihama Beach (in Fujisawa). The adventure continues: take a stroll through Odaiba District, make a trip to Shibuya Crossing, get a taste of the local shopping with Ginza, and get engrossed in the history at Edo-Tokyo Museum.

To find other places to visit, reviews, maps, and other tourist information, go to the Tokyo vacation planner.

Melbourne, Australia to Tokyo is an approximately 14.5-hour flight. You'll gain 1 hour traveling from Melbourne to Tokyo due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Melbourne in October, expect a bit warmer with lows of 18°C in Tokyo. Finish your sightseeing early on the 5th (Mon) to allow enough time to travel to Kyoto.

The national capital for over a thousand years, Kyoto retains much of the charm of old Japan, boasting numerous temples and shrines that seem completely untouched by the modern world.

Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine and Kinkaku-ji are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Nijo Castle will appeal to history buffs. When in Kyoto, make a side trip to see Todai-ji Temple in Nara, approximately Nara away. There's much more to do: wander the streets of Gion, contemplate the long history of Sanjusangendo Temple, take in the spiritual surroundings of Ginkakuji Temple, and don't miss a visit to Heian Shrine.

For reviews, ratings, photos, and other tourist information, go to the Kyoto trip planner.

Take a train from Tokyo to Kyoto in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or drive. Expect a daytime high around 27°C in October, and nighttime lows around 18°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Thu) so you can drive to Osaka.

Proud of their hometown's distinct culture and dialect, many natives of Osaka describe their city as "Japan's anti-capital." An antidote to Tokyo's hectic energy, Osaka marches to the beat of its own drum, serving as the country's longtime commercial and industrial hub.

Take a break from the city and head to Nara Park and Mt. Koya. Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Dotombori District and Himeji Castle. Change things up with these side-trips from Osaka: Kobe (Suma Beach & Nankinmachi (Kobe Chinatown)), Kirihama Beach (in Toyooka) and Akashi (Matsue Swimming Beach & Amore Beach). There's still lots to do: step into the grandiose world of Osaka Castle, see the interesting displays at Osaka Shiritsu Toyo Toji Museum, visit Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street, and stroll the grounds of Koyasan Okunoin.

For other places to visit, more things to do, and more tourist information, read our Osaka trip site.

Traveling by car from Kyoto to Osaka takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In October, daily temperatures in Osaka can reach 26°C, while at night they dip to 17°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 15th (Thu) early enough to travel back home.