Japan: Tokyo Nights & Kyoto Temples

Land in Tokyo, navigate the transit system to Shinjuku, and find your hostel. You've got the afternoon free before meeting the rest of the crew around 6pm. The first night is a group outing—a chance to find a good spot for drinks and see where the night takes you.

The day starts with a quick orientation walk to get your bearings. After that, Tokyo is yours. You can hit the major sights like the Senso-ji Temple or the Shibuya Crossing, or just get lost in the vintage shops of Shimokitazawa. The city's metro is your best friend for covering ground. Heads-up if you bought a JR Pass: under the current policy you have to validate it in person at a JR ticket office counter before first use — not online. Grab some cheap eats from a 7-Eleven or a basement food hall (a depachika) to save yen for the night out.

It's an early start for the bullet train to Takayama, a town tucked into the Japanese Alps that feels a world away from Tokyo's neon. An orientation walk gets you pointed toward the old town's preserved streets, full of craft shops and sake breweries—day drinking is a definite option.

The spot for the night is a traditional ryokan, a Japanese inn with tatami mat floors and futon beds. The main event is the on-site onsen (hot spring), perfect for a long soak after the train journey.

Another train ride takes you out of the mountains and into Kyoto, Japan's former imperial capital. After dropping your bags, the rest of the afternoon is free. You could tick off a major temple or just wander the Gion district. The evening is a big night out with the group. It usually starts with drinks and then splits off—your choice between a classic Japanese karaoke session or a crawl through the city's thousands of tiny izakayas (casual pubs).

A full free day to tackle Kyoto. The options are almost overwhelming. Your best bet is to pick a district and stick to it. Head east for the classic walk between Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Yasaka Shrine. Go south for the thousands of red gates at Fushimi Inari. Or head west to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Renting a bike is a good way to see more of the city without spending all day on a bus.

It's the last day. Swap contact info with your new mates over one last convenience store coffee. There are no planned activities, so you're free to head to the airport whenever you need to. For Kansai Airport (KIX), the last train out of Kyoto Station leaves at 20:30 and the last airport bus at 22:10 — anything later means a taxi. Check out is usually mid-morning.