# Tokyo with a week in Osaka · Three bases and a return to the gateway

[Canonical itinerary](<https://zukio.com/trips/asia/return-gateway-loop/tokyo-with-a-week-in-osaka-z0811/>)

Three bases and a return to the gateway

- Region: Asia
- Trip format: Return gateway loop
- Nights: 10
- Interests: Tech & Gaming, Arts & Theatre, History, Tradition & Beliefs

## Route and nights

- Tokyo · 3 night(s)
- Osaka · 3 night(s)
- Kyoto · 3 night(s)
- Tokyo · 1 night(s)

Tradeoff: This loop includes three hotel changes. Keep transfer days light and plan where luggage goes on each move.

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 · Osaka

- 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 Osaka · Tokyo Station. Use your actual departure time. Leave time to connect to Namba from Shin-Osaka.
- 13:35 to 14:25 · Have lunch near Shin-Osaka Station · Shin-Osaka Station
- 14:35 to 15:35 · Drop bags and check in when the room is ready · Hotel Royal Classic Osaka
- 16:10 to 17:10 · Walk around the hotel area in Osaka · Osaka. Locate your station exit for the next morning.
- 18:00 to 19:20 · Have dinner near the hotel · Osaka
Overnight: [Hotel Royal Classic Osaka](<https://www.hotels.com/ho1206449088/hotel-royal-classic-osaka-osaka-japan/>) · Osaka

### Day 5 · Osaka

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast in Namba · Namba, Osaka
- 09:40 to 10:20 · Travel to the Nakanoshima galleries · Nakanoshima, Osaka
- 10:30 to 12:25 · See an exhibition at Nakanoshima Museum of Art · Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka. Check the program and pick one main exhibition. Use the building and riverfront if your visit falls between shows.
- 12:40 to 13:35 · Lunch near the museum · Nakanoshima, Osaka
- 13:50 to 15:20 · Visit the National Museum of Art, Osaka · National Museum of Art, Osaka. Check current exhibitions and closure dates before making this a two-museum day.
- 15:35 to 16:35 · Walk the riverside toward Fukushima · Dōjima River, Osaka
- 17:25 to 18:55 · Dinner in Fukushima or Namba · Fukushima, Osaka
Overnight: [Hotel Royal Classic Osaka](<https://www.hotels.com/ho1206449088/hotel-royal-classic-osaka-osaka-japan/>) · Osaka

### Day 6 · Osaka

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near the hotel · Namba, Osaka
- 09:20 to 10:05 · Travel to Nakanoshima · Nakanoshima, Osaka
- 10:10 to 12:00 · Visit Osaka Science Museum · Osaka Science Museum, Osaka. Check its calendar and book a planetarium showing separately if it fits your visit and language needs.
- 12:15 to 13:15 · Have lunch across the river in Higobashi · Higobashi, Osaka
- 13:30 to 15:00 · Walk the riverfront and compare the bridges · Nakanoshima, Osaka. Notice which banks are continuous paths and where the route crosses a road or bridge.
- 15:15 to 16:30 · See Osaka City Central Public Hall from the riverfront · Osaka City Central Public Hall, Osaka
- 17:30 to 19:00 · Dinner near Namba · Namba, Osaka
Overnight: [Hotel Royal Classic Osaka](<https://www.hotels.com/ho1206449088/hotel-royal-classic-osaka-osaka-japan/>) · Osaka

### Day 7 · Kyoto

- 08:00 to 08:45 · Have breakfast before checking out · Osaka
- 08:45 to 09:45 · Check out and head to Shin-Osaka Station · Hotel Royal Classic Osaka
- 09:45 to 11:45 · Take the train to Kyoto · Shin-Osaka Station. Use your actual departure time. Compare a local train from Osaka Station with the Shinkansen option from Shin-Osaka.
- 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 8 · 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 9 · Kyoto

- 08:00 to 08:45 · Breakfast near Kyoto Station · Kyoto Station, Kyoto
- 09:10 to 11:15 · Visit the lower paths and torii gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha · Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto. Turn around when you have reached the length of walk you want. The full hill circuit takes more time.
- 11:40 to 12:45 · Have lunch near Fushimi Inari · Fushimi Inari, Kyoto
- 13:05 to 14:55 · Walk to Tōfuku-ji for the temple grounds or a garden visit · Tōfuku-ji, Kyoto. Check current opening and whether the garden you want has separate admission.
- 15:15 to 16:30 · Return to the hotel for a break · Kyoto Station, Kyoto
- 17:30 to 19:00 · Dinner close to the station · Kyoto Station, Kyoto
Overnight: [Hotel Granvia Kyoto](<https://www.hotels.com/ho160944/hotel-granvia-kyoto-kyoto-japan/>) · Kyoto

### Day 10 · Tokyo

- 08:00 to 08:45 · Have breakfast before checking out · Kyoto
- 08:45 to 09:45 · Check out and head to Kyoto Station · Hotel Granvia Kyoto
- 09:45 to 13:15 · Take the train to Tokyo · Kyoto Station. Use your actual departure time. Continue to Asakusa after arriving at Tokyo Station.
- 13:35 to 14:25 · Have lunch near Tokyo Station · Tokyo Station
- 14:35 to 15:35 · Drop bags and check in when the room is ready · Richmond Hotel Premier Asakusa International
- 16:10 to 17:10 · Walk around the hotel area in Tokyo · Tokyo. Locate your station exit for the next morning.
- 18:00 to 19:20 · Have dinner near the hotel · Tokyo
Overnight: [Richmond Hotel Premier Asakusa International](<https://www.hotels.com/ho558319/richmond-hotel-premier-asakusa-international-tokyo-japan/>) · Tokyo

### Day 11 · Tokyo

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