Create a 5 day itinerary for a trip to Japan. Include visits to famous locations in Japan, and include a day-by-day breakdown of some activities to do and sites to visit.


Day 1: Arrive at Osaka, in the center of Japan's main Honshu island, and home to a bustling nightlife and many food options. In the morning, visit Osaka castle in the heart of the city, to experience the history of Japan's Edo period. In the afternoon, you can visit either Osaka aquarium Kaiyukan, once the largest aquarium in the world, or get tickets to go to Universal Studios Osaka, which has many themed attractions. At night, pay a visit to Dotonbori, Osaka's famous food alley with a variety of small bites and restaurants.

Day 2: Visit Kyoto, Japan's cultural center and former capital. In the morning, visit the Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine, famous worldwide for its orange gates and trail that span almost 4 km. After the visit, explore the old town at the base of the shrine, and head over to Kiyomizu-dera, a famous Buddhist temple which offers stunning views and historical artifacts. In the afternoon and evening, pay a visit to downtown Kyoto, home to department stores and small yet delicious small restaurants.

Day 3: Visit Hakone, a famed destination for its hot springs, Mt. Fuji views, and beautiful scenery. Spend some time to visit Lake Ashinoko to see a floating torii gate and expansive views of Mt. Fuji, Japan's tallest peak, visit the sulphur springs where the sulphur cooks chicken eggs so that they become black, then relax in the many hot springs around the region. Hakone is also known for its many ryokans, which are Japanese-style bed and breakfast inns often paired with hot spring onsens.

Day 4-5: Spend the last two days in Tokyo, the heart of Japan and the most populated metropolitan area in the world. Tokyo offers many destinations, including the nightlife-heavy districts of Shinjuku and Roppongi, the shopping and fashion centers of Ginza and Harajuku,  to the quirky and anime-filled area of Akihabara. Some famous attractions to hit in the city include the Senso-ji temple, Ueno park, Tokyo Skytree, Shibuya crossing, Tsukiji market, and the Imperial Palace.