# Japanese city culture and crafts · More time in the middle and at the far end

[Canonical itinerary](<https://zukio.com/trips/asia/open-jaw/japanese-city-culture-and-crafts-z0687/>)

More time in the middle and at the far end

- Region: Asia
- Trip format: Open jaw
- Nights: 13
- Interests: Tech & Gaming, Arts & Theatre, History, Business, Design, Food & Drink, Tradition & Beliefs

## Route and nights

- Tokyo · 3 night(s)
- Kanazawa · 5 night(s)
- Kyoto · 5 night(s)

Tradeoff: The middle base gets time of its own. Book the last gateway separately and compare the total transport cost.

Compare: Rail

## Day-by-day agenda

Suggested schedule. Times are local. Check hours and availability for your dates.

### Day 1 · Tokyo

- 15:30 to 16:15 · Check in and drop your bags · Richmond Hotel Premier Asakusa International. If you arrive later, keep dinner near the hotel and skip the walk.
- 16:35 to 17:40 · Take a short walk to get oriented · Sumida Park, Tokyo
- 18:00 to 19:20 · Have dinner near your hotel · Tokyo
Overnight: [Richmond Hotel Premier Asakusa International](<https://www.hotels.com/ho558319/richmond-hotel-premier-asakusa-international-tokyo-japan/>) · Tokyo

### Day 2 · Tokyo

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast in Asakusa · Asakusa, Tokyo
- 09:45 to 10:45 · Start with a short walk near Kanda Myōjin · Kanda Myōjin, Tokyo
- 11:00 to 12:30 · Compare retro game shops near Akihabara Station · Akihabara, Tokyo. Check a title, its region compatibility, and condition before comparing prices.
- 12:40 to 13:35 · Have lunch near the station · Akihabara, Tokyo
- 13:50 to 15:30 · Browse an electronics store and try an arcade · Akihabara, Tokyo. Set a spending limit for arcade machines and allow time for one repeat visit.
- 15:50 to 16:40 · Take a seated break before the return trip · Akihabara, Tokyo
- 17:30 to 19:00 · Dinner near the hotel · Asakusa, Tokyo
Overnight: [Richmond Hotel Premier Asakusa International](<https://www.hotels.com/ho558319/richmond-hotel-premier-asakusa-international-tokyo-japan/>) · Tokyo

### Day 3 · Tokyo

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near the hotel · Asakusa, Tokyo
- 09:35 to 10:20 · Walk the central paths in Ueno Park · Ueno Park, Tokyo
- 10:30 to 12:30 · Choose a focused visit to Tokyo National Museum · Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo. Check the current calendar and exhibitions. Pick two galleries before arriving so the visit fits your day.
- 12:45 to 13:40 · Have lunch near Ueno Station · Ueno, Tokyo
- 14:00 to 15:30 · Walk around Shinobazu Pond · Shinobazu Pond, Tokyo
- 15:45 to 16:50 · Browse the Ameyoko shopping streets · Ameyoko, Tokyo
- 17:25 to 18:50 · Dinner in Ueno before returning to Asakusa · Ueno, Tokyo
Overnight: [Richmond Hotel Premier Asakusa International](<https://www.hotels.com/ho558319/richmond-hotel-premier-asakusa-international-tokyo-japan/>) · Tokyo

### Day 4 · Kanazawa

- 08:00 to 08:45 · Have breakfast before checking out · Tokyo
- 08:45 to 09:45 · Check out and head to Tokyo Station · Richmond Hotel Premier Asakusa International
- 09:45 to 13:20 · Take the train to Kanazawa · Tokyo Station. Use your actual departure time. Use a Hokuriku Shinkansen departure and check whether seat reservations are needed for your train.
- 13:35 to 14:25 · Have lunch near Kanazawa Station · Kanazawa Station
- 14:35 to 15:35 · Drop bags and check in when the room is ready · Hotel Nikko Kanazawa
- 16:10 to 17:10 · Walk around the hotel area in Kanazawa · Kanazawa. Locate your station exit for the next morning.
- 18:00 to 19:20 · Have dinner near the hotel · Kanazawa
Overnight: [Hotel Nikko Kanazawa](<https://www.hotels.com/ho134524/hotel-nikko-kanazawa-kanazawa-japan/>) · Kanazawa

### Day 5 · Kanazawa

- 08:00 to 08:45 · Breakfast by Kanazawa Station · Kanazawa Station
- 09:20 to 11:20 · Walk the old teahouse streets of Higashi Chaya · Higashi Chaya District, Kanazawa. Keep to public lanes and check access before entering individual buildings.
- 11:35 to 12:35 · Have lunch near the river · Asano River, Kanazawa
- 13:05 to 15:05 · Walk Kanazawa Castle Park · Kanazawa Castle Park. Compare the gates and walls. Add an indoor visit only if time and opening hours fit.
- 15:25 to 16:20 · Take an afternoon tea break · Hirosaka, Kanazawa
- 17:30 to 19:00 · Dinner near the hotel · Kanazawa Station
Overnight: [Hotel Nikko Kanazawa](<https://www.hotels.com/ho134524/hotel-nikko-kanazawa-kanazawa-japan/>) · Kanazawa

### Day 6 · Kanazawa

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near the hotel · Kanazawa Station
- 09:30 to 10:35 · Browse gold leaf craft storefronts in Higashi Chaya · Higashi Chaya District, Kanazawa
- 10:45 to 12:00 · Try a gold leaf craft workshop if booked · Higashi Chaya District, Kanazawa. Replace the suggested time and map point with those in your confirmation.
- 12:15 to 13:15 · Lunch near the Asano River · Asano River, Kanazawa
- 13:45 to 15:30 · Compare completed craft pieces and workshop examples · Higashi Chaya District, Kanazawa. Ask about packing and care if you buy anything fragile.
- 15:45 to 16:35 · Stop for tea · Higashi Chaya District, Kanazawa
- 17:30 to 19:00 · Dinner near Kanazawa Station · Kanazawa Station
Overnight: [Hotel Nikko Kanazawa](<https://www.hotels.com/ho134524/hotel-nikko-kanazawa-kanazawa-japan/>) · Kanazawa

### Day 7 · Kanazawa

- 08:00 to 08:45 · Breakfast near Kanazawa Station · Kanazawa Station
- 09:15 to 11:25 · Walk the pond and garden paths at Kenrokuen · Kenrokuen, Kanazawa. Check opening for your dates and choose a route with time to pause.
- 11:40 to 12:40 · Have lunch near the garden · Hirosaka, Kanazawa
- 13:00 to 14:45 · Walk the lanes in Nagamachi · Nagamachi Samurai District, Kanazawa
- 15:00 to 16:05 · Visit the Nomura Samurai House if open · Nomura-ke Samurai Residence, Kanazawa. Use the district’s public lanes as a fallback.
- 17:30 to 19:00 · Dinner near Kanazawa Station · Kanazawa Station
Overnight: [Hotel Nikko Kanazawa](<https://www.hotels.com/ho134524/hotel-nikko-kanazawa-kanazawa-japan/>) · Kanazawa

### Day 8 · Kanazawa

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Have a light breakfast near the hotel · Kanazawa Station
- 09:30 to 11:20 · Compare seafood stalls and prepared dishes at Ōmichō Market · Ōmichō Market, Kanazawa. Check the individual shop schedules and posted portion sizes.
- 11:30 to 12:45 · Choose a seafood lunch at the market · Ōmichō Market, Kanazawa. If popular restaurants have long waits, compare nearby menus before joining a line.
- 13:10 to 14:30 · Walk toward the Kazuemachi lanes and river · Kazuemachi Chaya District, Kanazawa
- 14:50 to 16:10 · Stop for tea or coffee · Asano River, Kanazawa
- 17:30 to 19:00 · Dinner near the hotel · Kanazawa Station
Overnight: [Hotel Nikko Kanazawa](<https://www.hotels.com/ho134524/hotel-nikko-kanazawa-kanazawa-japan/>) · Kanazawa

### Day 9 · Kyoto

- 08:00 to 08:45 · Have breakfast before checking out · Kanazawa
- 08:45 to 09:45 · Check out and head to Kanazawa Station · Hotel Nikko Kanazawa
- 09:45 to 13:15 · Take the train to Kyoto · Kanazawa Station. Use your actual departure time. Check the route via Tsuruga. Leave enough time for the change between trains.
- 13:35 to 14:25 · Have lunch near Kyoto Station · Kyoto Station
- 14:35 to 15:35 · Drop bags and check in when the room is ready · Hotel Granvia Kyoto
- 16:10 to 17:10 · Walk around the hotel area in Kyoto · Kyoto. Locate your station exit for the next morning.
- 18:00 to 19:20 · Have dinner near the hotel · Kyoto
Overnight: [Hotel Granvia Kyoto](<https://www.hotels.com/ho160944/hotel-granvia-kyoto-kyoto-japan/>) · Kyoto

### Day 10 · Kyoto

- 08:00 to 08:45 · Breakfast near your hotel · Kyoto Station, Kyoto
- 09:00 to 09:50 · Travel to Nijō Castle · Nijō Castle, Kyoto
- 09:50 to 12:00 · Explore Nijō Castle’s grounds and Ninomaru Palace if open · Nijō Castle, Kyoto. Check entry tickets and palace access before you set the order of the visit.
- 12:15 to 13:20 · Lunch near the castle · Nijō, Kyoto
- 13:40 to 15:40 · Walk the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden · Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, Kyoto. Choose a short loop if you spent extra time at the castle.
- 16:00 to 16:50 · Take a café break before traveling back · Marutamachi, Kyoto
- 17:45 to 19:10 · Dinner near your hotel · Kyoto Station, Kyoto
Overnight: [Hotel Granvia Kyoto](<https://www.hotels.com/ho160944/hotel-granvia-kyoto-kyoto-japan/>) · Kyoto

### Day 11 · Nara

- 07:50 to 08:30 · Breakfast before the day trip · Kyoto Station, Kyoto
- 08:45 to 10:05 · Travel from Kyoto to Nara · Nara, Japan. Compare JR and Kintetsu for your starting point and the walk to the park.
- 10:15 to 11:55 · Visit Tōdai-ji and the Great Buddha Hall · Tōdai-ji, Nara
- 12:10 to 13:10 · Have lunch by the park or in Naramachi · Nara Park, Nara
- 13:30 to 15:05 · Walk the park paths toward Kasuga Taisha · Kasuga Taisha, Nara. Check posted wildlife guidance and keep food packed away on the paths.
- 15:20 to 16:15 · Make time for a short Naramachi street walk · Naramachi, Nara
- 16:30 to 17:50 · Return to Kyoto · Nara, Japan
- 18:00 to 19:20 · Dinner near the hotel · Kyoto Station, Kyoto
Overnight: [Hotel Granvia Kyoto](<https://www.hotels.com/ho160944/hotel-granvia-kyoto-kyoto-japan/>) · Kyoto

### Day 12 · Kyoto

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near Kyoto Station · Kyoto Station, Kyoto
- 09:20 to 10:35 · Walk the lanes from Gion-Shijō toward Kennin-ji · Gion, Kyoto. Stay on public streets and follow posted access and photography rules.
- 10:50 to 12:00 · Compare the storefronts on Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka · Higashiyama, Kyoto
- 12:15 to 13:15 · Lunch in Higashiyama · Higashiyama, Kyoto
- 13:45 to 15:20 · Try a hands-on craft class or browse local workshops · Higashiyama, Kyoto. Confirm a class and its address first. Use shop visits as a fallback.
- 15:40 to 16:35 · Stop for tea · Gion, Kyoto
- 17:45 to 19:05 · Dinner near Kyoto Station · Kyoto Station, Kyoto
Overnight: [Hotel Granvia Kyoto](<https://www.hotels.com/ho160944/hotel-granvia-kyoto-kyoto-japan/>) · Kyoto

### Day 13 · Kyoto

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Have a light breakfast · Kyoto Station, Kyoto
- 09:45 to 11:35 · Compare the pickles and pantry goods at Nishiki Market · Nishiki Market, Kyoto. Check shop schedules and follow posted rules about eating at stalls.
- 11:40 to 12:45 · Choose a seated lunch near the market · Nishiki Market, Kyoto
- 13:15 to 14:40 · Explore the Teramachi and Shinkyōgoku arcades · Teramachi Shopping Arcade, Kyoto
- 15:00 to 16:25 · Walk along the Kamo River · Kamo River, Kyoto. Choose the bank and length of the walk according to conditions.
- 17:30 to 19:00 · Have dinner near Shijō before returning to the hotel · Shijō, Kyoto
Overnight: [Hotel Granvia Kyoto](<https://www.hotels.com/ho160944/hotel-granvia-kyoto-kyoto-japan/>) · Kyoto

### Day 14 · Kyoto

- 08:00 to 08:45 · Have breakfast near the hotel · Kyoto
- 09:00 to 09:45 · Take an optional walk if departure allows · Umekoji Park, Kyoto
- 10:00 to 10:30 · Check out and collect your luggage · Hotel Granvia Kyoto
- 10:30 to 11:30 · Leave a buffer for onward travel · Kyoto. Replace this window with your actual departure plans.