2-week Japan honeymoon – Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka + maybe Nara?
 

Hi everyone,
We’re planning a 2-week honeymoon in Japan and currently looking at Tokyo - Kyoto - Osaka.
Does this sound like a good pace? Would you add or remove anything?

Also curious about data. Did you use an eSIM or buy a SIM locally? I’ve seen SimCorner and a few others but not sure which is best.

Japan should be a delightful place to spend your honeymoon!

Tokyo and Kyoto are certainly the two top destinations in Japan, and many people choose to include Osaka. I adored Nara; whether you can visit all four cities depends on what, exactly, you hope to see and experience and at what pace.

Have you looked at japan-guide.com? it's a truly excellent resource.

Enjoy!

If your mobile phone is unlocked and is of an eSIM-compatible model, then eSIM is the way to go.

As for eSIM vendors, I have used
Nomad (https://www.nomadesim.com/) and
Japan Wireless (https://www.japan-wireless.com/) in Japan.
Both worked wonderfully.

You don't need to choose an unlimited data plan. For a two-week trip, 5 GB or 10 GB data will be sufficient. You can always top up if necessary.

When is your trip?

Those stops are good for a first trip to Japan. Osaka would require the least amount of time and Nara can be a day trip. They are city stops. A visit to the countryside would be worthwhile because Japan has a lot of natural scenic beauty.

I have used eSIM as well as pre-purchased and locally purchased physical SIM in Japan.

I took a pre-purchased SIM to Australia and had an Optus guy install it. In Japan I got the guy at the airport to install it. In both cases the sim card wasn't purchased from the company that the installers represented, IIRC. Had the guy in Shinjuku shop install the card though he had assumed i would do it.

SimCorner gets good reviews. I see it has network options. I would choose NTT Docomo for no particularly good reason.

Also, I will note that 15 years or so ago when I saw Osaka on an itinerary I would ask "Why Osaka?". There were/are good/excellent answers to that, just not obvious ones (no need to ask why for Kyoto, Tokyo, ...). Osaka has become much more popular in recent years, is on the international tourist path, so I quit asking, now seeing that city as a good alternative to more time in Kyoto (or Tokyo).

True enough, but for some of us (including me!), Nara has more than enough to completely fill two full days ... or more.

Thank you all, this is super helpful!

We’re definitely keeping Tokyo and Kyoto, and it’s good to know Osaka can be shorter and Nara works well as a day trip. That actually makes planning a bit easier.

Also appreciate the eSIM tips. Sounds like that’s the easiest route if the phone supports it. I’ve been looking at SimCorner as well since I’ve seen some decent reviews, but still comparing with others like Nomad.

For those who’ve used eSIM in Japan, did you find coverage reliable in train stations and while moving between cities?

Nara CAN be a day trip. Whether it works WELL that way depends on what you want to see and do.

I don't know why they would be different.

But, yes, I was disappointed with the eSIM I got from Saily. Not always reliable, IIRC. But I might have had the same issue with a sim card due to the circumstances. MAYBE I had an issue in Saga Station, but when I went out front it did help me find a great restaurant and navigated me through the station to get there. I think that was in 2023.

Last fall was when I used the sim card that I got in Shinjuku. IDR why I didn't get an esim. I don't recall any issues.

You mentioned "moving between cities". I took a bus from Kurokawa Onsen to Fukuoka and was able to follow the trip on a map on my iphone. That was fun with lots of detail when zoomed in. But that was probably using the wifi on the bus, not via the sim card.

Wifi is much more available in Japan than before (pre-2020) and increasing.

JR has free wifi for use on trains and inside stations, as described by these JR Centrral and JR West webpages:
JR-Central Free Wi-Fi Service | Central Japan Railway Company
JR-WEST Free Wi-Fi Service

You can probably find the same for the other JR operating companies.

Am not recommending either eSIM or physical SIM. Only suggesting that if you find some issues then look for wifi.

I think you made that point and the OP got it. I agree with you. I spent a night in Nara. That was worthwhile for me. Could have been two nights. The OP does need to work out what is important to them.

My impression was that the OP considered that four stops might be a lot for the time they have. I sh/could point out that Osaka could be a daytrip from Kyoto.

Actually, the three cities are so close together that it is possible to commute between the cities. That is, make multiple day trips. If Kyoto lodging availability is low or prices too high, then staying in Osaka is not unreasonable idea, visiting Kyoto on multiple days. Or just stay in Kyoto for the whole time. Some people hate to change locations or choose fewer.

BrewtifulJourneys, you do have some homework to do to find out what the places offer that are of interest to you. Plan your stays on that. You can't go wrong here, given your choice of locations.

Personally, I prefer waking up in the place I want to visit that day. Which means I would move. But this is not my trip.

Maybe the OP got it, maybe not – the OP seems to have concluded that we’ve said that Nara would work WELL as a day trip (the OP’s qualifier), which is not the same as saying it works. But thank goodness people on Fodor’s are free to offer what ideas they think worth considering and to do so without fear of criticism from other posters.

I would personally remove Osaka (perhaps as a day trip from Kyoto) and visit Tokyo and Kyoto. These are both major cities with lots of sites and activities which will easily fill your days. Of course if Osaka is a must see then you should include it.

But as a contrast to that I would consider adding something less busy and hectic. Places like Kanazawa and Hakone are interesting, scenic locations which may be of interest to you. Two or three nights in either Hakone or Kanazawa in addition to Tokyo and Kyoto still leaves sufficient time there. They are also easily accessible from both cities transportation wise. Just a suggestion.

Really appreciate all the different perspectives here. This has been super useful.

We’re starting to lean towards fewer hotel changes and maybe using Kyoto as a base for a few days, then doing Osaka or Nara as day trips depending on how we feel.

Also appreciate the insight on connectivity. Sounds like both eSIM and physical SIM can work, just depends on preference and setup.

I’m still considering eSIM for convenience and have been looking at options like SimCorner and others mentioned here.

Did anyone find a noticeable difference in reliability between providers?

>> day trips depending on how we feel
Yes. Also depending on the weather.

I didn't see a reply to "When is your trip?".

Are you familiar with the luggage delivery service in Japan? It is brilliant. You can travel hands-free not handling luggage on the trains.
Luggage in Japan

Japan has a lot of natural beauty. For example, Fuji-Hakone National Park, not far from Tokyo.
Hakone Travel Guide - What to do in Hakone
(yes that is iconic Mt Fuji in the background)

I noticed this 3-day itinerary: Tokyo to Kyoto via Hakone - A three day trip between three breathtaking tourist meccas

But 2-days can do it. Especially with a one-night stay in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) with hot springs and kaiseki dinner. This is a quintessential Japan experience. Ryokan - traditional Japanese inns

It is well worth tossing Osaka for something like that.

Ok, Hakone can be a day trip from Tokyo. But that doesn't work well, imo.

I do like Osaka, but there is enough city in Tokyo and Kyoto.

If you want a break from urban Japan, another option would be to spend a relaxing night (or two) on Koyasan. My night there (at Sojoshin-in) was a highlight of a highlight filled trip ... but of course, it depends on your interests!
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4900.html

As far as sims are concerned, I once used a physical sim I picked up at Haneda airport. It was a bit of a pain to sort out after. a 12 hour flight. Having tried numerous esims in various parts of the world I finally settle on Saily (part of Nord VPN which I also use - essential when travelling and using unsecured networks). Easy to install, inexpensive and reliable. Lile all sims it uses existing mobile networks so reliability is really down to the those networks rather than the esim itself.

In terms of suggestions on where to go, I am not as experienced a Japan traveller as some here, but one thing that does occur to me is that your trip is very city centric so I would consider something in the countryside. Haven't been to Hakone as suggested any mrwfnl above but it is certainly on my list for our next trip.. We did really enjoy Koyasan as suggested by kia . We spent a couple of nights at Eko-in monastery there and it was a memorable experience . I would highly recommend it though be aware that to get there involves a long and convoluted trip by various buses , trains and funiculars. That said the trip itself was enjoyable too.

This is super helpful, thank you!

We’re going in May, so still have a bit of time to refine things. The idea of adding Hakone for a night actually sounds perfect, especially for a more relaxing break in between Tokyo and Kyoto.

Also good to know about luggage delivery. That alone might make moving around a lot easier if we decide to keep multiple stops.

On connectivity, good to hear your experience with both SIM and eSIM. I’m leaning towards eSIM for convenience and have been looking at options like SimCorner and Saily.

I'll be visiting Japan as well from April 7 to 14. I'm kinda considering SimCorner as an eSIM. It was actually recommended by a friend.