Japan itinerary for anime fans: 16 days in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto

If you grew up watching anime, a trip to Japan isn't just a trip: it's stepping into the places you've seen a thousand times on screen. This is the Japan itinerary for anime fans from our October 2026 departure: 16 days in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, with Akihabara, the Ghibli Museum, Odaiba, Naruto island and Universal Studios, in a group with a Spanish-speaking guide. We walk you through it day by day, with what happens each day, what's included, what's paid separately and the tricks we've learned traveling with our groups.

2027 departures: the Japan Anime 2027 group trip lasts 13 days, May 6 – 18 and November 11 – 23. The day-by-day plan below is for the 16-day October 2026 edition; the 2027 program is in the WeTravel itinerary.

Itinerary overview

Before going into detail, here's the overall structure. The trip is built in three blocks: a long week in Tokyo, five nights in Osaka with side trips to Kyoto and Awaji Island, and a final night in Tokyo designed to make flight day stress-free.

Why this order? Tokyo is where the otaku neighborhoods are concentrated, and it's best explored with energy, right after you arrive; Osaka is more relaxed and just a short hop from Kyoto and Awaji; and the last night next to a direct train to the airport saves you from crossing the city with suitcases full of figures. If you're still choosing a date, check out our guide to the best time to visit Japan: October is one of the most pleasant months of the year.

Before day 1: how this trip is prepared

A good itinerary starts weeks before the flight. On our group trips, every traveler receives a travel manual with their flights, the hotels, the day-by-day plan, what is and isn't included, what to pack and exactly what will happen at each airport. The idea is to read it once calmly at home and again on the plane, so you arrive knowing what to expect each day.

Flight check-in, the night before

Our advice is to always do online check-in the night before, calmly, from your computer or phone. That way you choose your seat and only go to the airport to drop off your bag. You need the booking code and your last name exactly as it appears on your passport. If your ticket combines two airlines, it's normal for one airline's website to send you to the other's for one leg. And if something fails, don't stress: it can be done just the same at the counter.

Layovers and transit permits

From Mexico, the United States, Puerto Rico or Costa Rica there's no single route: depending on your home city, the flight will have one or two layovers. Two things worth knowing. If your route connects in the United States, even if you don't leave the airport, you normally go through immigration, collect your bags and check them in again, so it's the longest procedure of the trip. And some countries require an electronic authorization even if you're only in transit. If your route needs one, it's marked in red in the manual, because without that permit they won't let you board. You'll find the requirements for entering Japan in our guide to the requirements for traveling to Japan.

Tokyo: the anime capital (days 1 to 8)

Days 1 and 2 · The flight to Japan

We depart from your home city. The journey is long, with at least one layover, and when you cross the International Date Line you lose a calendar day: that's why, in practice, you land two days later. Keep a jacket in your carry-on because planes are cold and your big suitcase is already in the hold. Watch out for flights around midnight: the date on the ticket is the day the flight starts, not the following day.

You take the flight on your own: it's the only part of the trip without a guide, and even so the manual explains what to do at each layover.

Day 3 · Arrival in Tokyo

We land at Haneda. After immigration, baggage claim and customs, your guide is waiting for you as you come out, and the first thing we do together is get and top up the Suica transit card right at the airport station. From there we all head to the hotel together by train: in Japan there are no private transfers, and the train is faster than any car.

We stay in Ryogoku, the sumo district by the Sumida River, in a hotel with the station literally on the corner, two stops from Akihabara and four from Asakusa. Nothing is scheduled that night: your body is still on another time zone.

Japan is probably the easiest country in the world for a lost traveler: everything is signposted in English too, the trains announce the stops, and if you stand still looking unsure, someone will come over to help you.— Catalina Quenaya, founder of Viajeterapia

Day 4 · Mount Fuji, full day

A ten-hour excursion to Mount Fuji, with its own bus and a local English-speaking guide: Lake Kawaguchi, Oishi Park, the traditional village of Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nemba, Oshino Hakkai and Arakurayama Sengen Park, the one with the famous pagoda and Fuji in the background. There are about 400 steps, so wear comfortable shoes and bring cash for the local shops.

Three things the provider asks for that are worth respecting: departure is punctual from a meeting point in Shinjuku, so you need to leave the hotel early; there's no eating or drinking on the bus, and the bus has no restroom, so make the most of every stop. Also, on long weekends the return can be delayed by several hours due to traffic, so it's best not to plan anything for that evening.

Day 5 · Akihabara, Ueno and Ikebukuro

The otaku day par excellence. In the morning, Ueno Park and its museums, and then Akihabara: figures, doujinshi, Kotobukiya and the SEGA arcades. In the afternoon, Ikebukuro: Sunshine City, the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo, Otome Road and the themed cafés. On our October departure this day fell on Sports Day, a Japanese public holiday, and the streets were full of families: that's exactly how it should be seen.

Akihabara is best explored floor by floor rather than street by street: many buildings devote each level to something different, from secondhand figures to retro video games. Ikebukuro is more relaxed, with lots of merch from recent series.

Day 6 · Tokyo DisneySea

A full day at Tokyo DisneySea, the only Disney park in the world built around water. Download the official Tokyo Disney Resort app beforehand: entry and lines are managed from your phone. That's also where the Standby Pass is issued, which gives access to certain attractions at an assigned time. Create your account and link your ticket at home, not in line that morning.

Day 7 · Ghibli Museum and Nakano Broadway

Timed entry to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka: a small museum, with no set route and no photos allowed inside, made for getting lost in. The ticket has your name on it and they ask for your passport at the door. The museum is open from 10:00 to 18:00 and you can only get in with a ticket bought in advance for a specific date and time: tickets aren't sold at the door. That's why, on our trips, we book it ahead of time and it's already included.

In the afternoon, Nakano Broadway, with vintage anime shops, figures and rarities, on the way back. If you're looking for a discontinued figure or an old manga, this is where you have the best chance.

Day 8 · Shibuya, Harajuku, Odaiba and teamLab

The Shibuya crossing and the Hachiko statue, Tower Records and its anime section, Takeshita Street and kawaii fashion in Harajuku and, as night falls, Odaiba, the artificial island in Tokyo Bay. For nine years, the big photo in Odaiba was the 19-meter Unicorn Gundam in front of DiverCity, which lit up and transformed. Its display ended on August 31, 2026 and the statue is being removed, so before each departure we'll confirm what Gundam attractions there are in the area.

We wrap up with teamLab Planets in Toyosu, steps from Odaiba, where you go in barefoot and there are rooms with water. Entry is at an assigned time and the QR code usually only activates on the same day, so your guide gets it to you in time. Wear pants you can roll up to the knee: in some rooms the water comes up that high.

Tokyo otaku map: what to look for in each neighborhood

This table sums up what each neighborhood has, so you know where to go back to in your free time.

A practical detail: many small shops in Akihabara and Nakano don't accept cards, while others do. Always carry some cash in yen and a coin purse, because you'll collect a lot of coins.

Osaka and Kyoto (days 9 to 13)

Day 9 · Bullet train to Osaka

We check out in the morning, leave our luggage stored at the hotel and spend the last morning in Tokyo without carrying anything. Then we take the Shinkansen Nozomi: two and a half hours at 285 km/h, with Mount Fuji out the right-hand window if the day is clear. Seats are reserved, with space for large luggage. A first stroll through Den Den Town, Osaka's Akihabara, in the Nipponbashi district.

In Osaka the whole group stays at the same hotel, right downtown, within walking distance of Dotonbori and a few minutes from the subway.

Day 10 · Awaji Island: the Naruto park

A full day at Nijigen no Mori on Awaji Island: the Naruto & Boruto Shinobi-Zato park, with ninja missions, replicas of the Hidden Leaf Village and the giant Naruto statue. The park is inside a large prefectural park, surrounded by nature, and you explore it on foot through forest and trails. We return to Osaka in the afternoon. Admission to the park is separate and there are several ticket types, depending on how far you want to go: we explain it in detail below.

Day 11 · Kyoto: anime and culture

Half an hour away by train is Kyoto: the Kyoto International Manga Museum, the thousands of red torii gates of Fushimi Inari, the setting of countless anime, and Kinkaku-ji, the golden pavilion reflected in its pond. Kyoto was the imperial capital for more than a thousand years, and if you like period anime you'll recognize alleys and shrines at every turn.

At Fushimi Inari, if you have the energy, climb beyond the first sections: the crowds thin out and the forest grows quiet.

Day 12 · Osaka at your own pace

A free day, deliberately relaxed, because the next one is a full theme park day with lots of walking: Osaka Castle surrounded by gardens, the retro Shinsekai district with Tsutenkaku Tower and its kushikatsu restaurants, the Kaiyukan aquarium, one of the largest in the world, and, at night, Dotonbori, with its neon signs, takoyaki and okonomiyaki. It's the perfect day for the samurai experience, our groups' favorite: full armor, basic katana handling and photos in front of the castle.

Day 13 · Universal Studios Japan

A full day at Universal Studios Japan, with your one-day pass already issued in your name. Super Nintendo World is included with the same pass at no extra cost; on busy days, entry is managed with a timed ticket that you get for free in the park's official app on the same day. That's why it's a good idea to have the app installed and your ticket linked before you arrive. An important detail: once you leave the park you can't re-enter, so plan to eat inside.

Naruto island or Dragon Quest Island: how to choose your ticket

The day at Nijigen no Mori is on the itinerary, but admission to the park is not included: you buy and pay for it directly yourself. Nijigen no Mori has several attractions and each one is paid for separately. These are the Naruto & Boruto options, with approximate adult prices:

The two basic missions on the Light ticket are the Scroll of Heaven and the Scroll of Earth. For most people, the Light or Golden ticket is enough; if you're unsure, we'll confirm what each one includes before you buy.

If you prefer Dragon Quest

That same day, inside the same park, is Dragon Quest Island. It's not covered by the Naruto ticket: it's a separate attraction and is bought separately, on the same site and in the same way. If you prefer that one, you buy it instead of the Naruto ticket.

Want to do both? There's an ALL-Inclusive pass with Gold admission to all four of the park's attractions, for about USD 196 per adult and USD 126 per child. It's only worth it if you plan to do three or four in one day: for two, it's quite a bit more expensive than buying them separately, and the park itself warns that it doesn't guarantee you'll manage to do them all.

How and when to buy

They're sold on the official Nijigen no Mori website, in each attraction's section; sales are handled by an official ticketing platform. Buy them before you travel, not at the gate. Advance tickets are booked online and come with an assigned time. Same-day tickets are bought at the park's counter, cost about ¥500 more per person and depend on availability. Prices are in yen and change by season, which is why they're shown here as a range. If you have trouble buying, send us a screenshot and we'll help you out.

Opening hours: Dragon Quest closes earlier

On our October departure, the park opened at 10:00, last entry to Naruto was at 20:00 and to Dragon Quest at 19:30. Even so, check the hours for your day on the website before buying, because the park changes them by season.

The samurai experience in Osaka

If there's one activity our groups recommend from one trip to the next, it's this one. It's a half-day in Osaka where you dress in samurai armor and traditional clothing, learn the basics of handling a katana and then go out to take photos in front of Osaka Castle. Almost the entire group that traveled in September chose it, and it was one of the things they talked about most when they got back.

It fits perfectly on the free day in Osaka, when you have the morning with nothing scheduled. It's not included: you book and pay for it yourself, and if you'd like the details of the place, ask us before you travel.

Back to Tokyo and farewell (days 14 to 16)

Day 14 · Last-minute shopping and the Shinkansen to Tokyo

A free morning for whatever you didn't get to in Den Den Town and, in the afternoon, the Shinkansen back to Tokyo. Just like in Tokyo, check-out is in the morning and the suitcases stay stored at reception while you make the most of the last few hours. We stay near a station with a direct train to the airport so we don't have to cross the city with suitcases on flight day: on our departure, the hotel was across from the station and the airport was about 35 minutes away by train.

Day 15 · Farewell to Japan

A last spin around Tokyo and transfer to the airport for the return flight. If your flight leaves at night, you have almost the whole day: check-out in the morning, suitcases at reception and one last stroll. Plan to be at the airport about three hours before your international flight, and bring something to keep you entertained, because the trip back is long too.

Day 16 · Home

Arrival in your city. The end of the trip, and the beginning of telling the story a thousand times.

What a trip like this does and doesn't include

In Japan there are no private transfers: everything is done by public transportation, which is the fastest and most economical way to get around, and always with the guide. On our departure, the fare included one 23 kg checked bag each way; if you need a second one, let us know before you travel, because the airline charges for it separately at the counter. To put together your complete budget, check out how much it costs to travel to Japan.

The accommodation tax

Japanese hotels charge an accommodation tax at check-in. It's calculated per person per night, based on the room price: in Tokyo it ranges from ¥100 to ¥200 (and the city has announced it will switch to a percentage starting in fiscal year 2027), and in Osaka, since September 2025, it starts at ¥200 and rises in the more expensive categories.

On our October 2026 departure it was ¥100 per night in Tokyo and ¥200 in Osaka: ¥1,700 per person for the whole trip. It isn't included in the price and can't be prepaid: it's paid in cash at each hotel's front desk. Keep that cash set aside from day one.

Free days are yours

Days marked as free have no booked activities, and that's on purpose. If you'd like to do something specific on those days, such as an excursion, an admission ticket or an experience, we'll coordinate it for you and you pay for it separately, directly. And your guide helps you plan the route based on what you want to see.

How we get around: Suica, Shinkansen and public transportation

The Suica card, from the very first minute

The Suica is a reloadable card you use to pay for the subway, city trains and buses, and at many konbini too. We get it together at the airport (on an iPhone you can keep it in Apple Wallet); the balance is on you, and the guide is with you on trains and the subway, which is where it's easiest to get lost.

The Shinkansen and large suitcases

Both bullet-train journeys come with reserved seats. On the Tokaido line, which connects Tokyo and Osaka, suitcases whose total dimensions exceed 160 cm must go with a seat that has an oversized-luggage space reserved in advance; without that reservation, you have to pay a surcharge if there's space or wait for another train. On our trips this is already taken care of, but if you're traveling on your own, keep it in mind when buying tickets.

Apps worth downloading before you leave

A good part of this itinerary is handled from your phone, so install these apps at home, with a good connection:

• Tokyo Disney Resort: entry to DisneySea is done from your phone.
• Universal Studios Japan: for the timed ticket to Super Nintendo World.
• A map and a camera translator: for stations, menus and labels.
• Your eSIM, ready to activate when you land. We explain how in our guide to eSIMs and the Global66 card.
• WhatsApp, with your guide's and the agency's numbers saved.

What to pack in October for this itinerary

October is one of the best months of the year in Japan: mild days and cool nights, between 12 and 22 °C. Dress in layers (a T-shirt, a fleece or vest and a light windbreaker) and add a raincoat or a small umbrella, because it doesn't rain much in October, but it does rain. Bring comfortable, broken-in sneakers, socks without holes, pants you can roll up for teamLab, a Type A plug adapter (Japan runs on 100 V), your power bank in your carry-on and your medication in its original packaging with the prescription. The full list is in our guide on what to pack for a trip to Asia.

Otaku etiquette: how to behave in shops, cafés and temples

Japan is very welcoming to visitors, and a couple of gestures make all the difference. In many figure shops and some themed cafés photos are not allowed: look for the sign or ask first, and don't touch the figures on display. On the train, speak quietly and don't answer calls. At shrines, avoid walking down the center of the path under the torii. And there are almost no public trash cans, so carry a small bag for your trash. If you still have questions about what it's like to get around a country like this in a group, read why it's safe to travel with an organized group.

Tips for anime fans traveling to Japan

• Leave room in your suitcase: you will definitely buy figures and merch.
• Bring cash: many small shops in Akihabara and Nakano don't accept cards.
• Socks without holes: at temples and some restaurants you have to take off your shoes.
• Wear comfortable shoes: you'll walk between 12,000 and 18,000 steps a day.
• Download the apps for Tokyo Disney Resort and Universal Studios Japan before you leave.
• Carry your passport on shopping days: it's required for tax-free purchases. Starting November 1, 2026, Japan is switching to a refund system: you pay the price including tax and request the refund at customs when leaving the country, before checking in for your flight.
• Make a wish list: with so many shops, it's easy to blow your budget on the first day.

She's not a megaphone-and-flag guide. Her job is to make sure you don't have to handle the logistics of a country you don't know, so you can focus on taking it all in.— Viajeterapia

Checklist before leaving home

This is the list we go over with every group the week before the trip. If you tick everything off, we'll take care of the rest.

• A passport valid for at least six months after your return: it's the first thing they check at the counter.
• Transit permits for your layovers, if your route requires them: get them well in advance and send us a screenshot.
• Checked baggage confirmed on your airline's website.
• Tokyo Disney Resort and Universal Studios Japan apps installed, with your account created.
• eSIM purchased and your bank notified that you'll be using your card in Japan.
• Naruto island or Dragon Quest ticket purchased and cash in yen set aside for the accommodation tax.

If something goes wrong

A delayed flight, a suitcase that didn't arrive, a booking that can't be found: don't try to solve it alone and don't pay for anything on your own. Your guide is with you in Japan and the agency is on the phone at any hour. In an emergency in Japan, 119 is for ambulance and fire, and 110 is for police; both are free and available 24 hours a day. There's also the Japan Visitor Hotline (050-3816-2787), the tourist help line, also 24 hours.

You won't have to figure anything out on your own.— Viajeterapia

In summary

This Japan anime itinerary is designed so that in 16 days you experience what usually takes a fan several trips to see: Tokyo's otaku neighborhoods, the Ghibli Museum, DisneySea, teamLab, Naruto island, Kyoto and Universal Studios Japan with Super Nintendo World. What makes it different is how it's put together: intense days and free days well spread out, hotels next to a station and a guide who meets you on arrival and handles trains, tickets and translation.

What's left up to you is minimal and clear from the start: admission to the park on Awaji, the accommodation tax, local transportation, meals and your shopping. If you'd like to join the next departure, check out the Japan Anime group trip or see all our group trips to Japan, and if you have questions, message us.

Frequently asked questions about the Japan Anime trip

Sources consulted