Japan - looking for 7.5 day Japan itinerary

Hi, Looking for itinerary sugestions for the below schedule. Not keen on shopping, more on sight seeing and food. Early riser, late sleeper, don't mind waking up early everyday. Hotels have been booked (can be change if needed), 7 day JRpass. Been to Japan once back in 2010. Stayed in Tokyo, spent a day at an onsen-inn at Ito and went to Funaoka near Sendai for Cherry Blossom. Beside the Tsukiji Fish market, didn't really had time to go to any of the popular attractions in Tokyo and don't mind travelling since I can make full use of the JRpass. Looking for specific restaurant recommendations for local cuisine. Thanks in advance.


4/1 ariving NRT 6am. Shinjuku
4/2 Shinjuku Tsukiji Fish Market and maybe tuna auction.
4/3 Osaka
4/4 Osaka Nara/Todai-Ji
4/5 Osaka
4/6 Shinjuku Tsukiji Fish Market.
4/7 Shinjuku
4/8 Flying out 6pm

Mt Fuji is a nice day trip. You can get a package deal at Shinjuku. It includes a train, bus and boat ride.

Two trips to the Tsukiji Fish Market?

That seems like overkill, even if you're really interested in the Japanese fishing industry.

You'll get your money's worth from the JR pass if you make one roundtrip between Tokyo and Osaka, and you won't have to change hotels so often.

How about this:

4/1: Arrive Tokyo 6AM
4/2-4/3: Tokyo
4/4-4/7: travel to Osaka early in the day, use as base to explore Kyoto and Nara
4/8: Shinkansen to Tokyo in plenty of time for a 6PM flight

Don't validate your JR pass till 4/2, and you'll be able to include a Shinkansen trip back from Osaka on 4/8.

That is a lot of time in Osaka for someone who is interested in sightseeing. Tokyo is a big, modern city. Osaka is a big, modern city. I'd suggest some time in Kyoto over that much time in Osaka. You can day trip from Osaka or change to stay in Kyoto and day trip to Osaka. You can easily reach Nara from either.

I like ksandness' itinerary above. With the Rail Pass, you can easily go all the way to NRT from Kyoto/Osaka on departure day.

the 2nd time to the Tsukiji market is just for the food. Anywhere else I can go to get same quality for less money, I'm all ears. :)

Only reason I'm doing Tokyo-Osaka-Tokyo is becasue I will have 3-4 full size luggages and the hotel at Tokyo offer free hold with 2nd reservation. I'm actually going YYZ>HKG>NRT>YYZ.

Is it not possible to be stationed at Tokyo/Osaka and still get to all the places? As I said, I don't mind waking at 4am and I do have the JRpass...I just need to know where to go. :)

My favorite place to get sushi is the basement of a department store. You go to the fish section, and there's likely to be a little sushi bar in a hidden corner. Much better quality than at the conveyer belt places.

Yes, the main sights in Japan, especially for first time visitors, are all clustered around Tokyo or Kyoto, and the whole country is only the size of California. The trains are fast and frequent, so transportation is not a problem.

Unless you're actually relocating, you should consider cutting down on the amount of luggage. Why three or four suitcases? If you're bringing stuff back from Hong Kong, have it shipped. One medium wheeled suitcase should be enough for each person.