Going to Japan (Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Osaka) first two weeks in October. Looking for food and fun activities recommendations, particularly for Kyoto and Tokyo.

Kyoto: Fushimi inari shrine
Monkey park
Gion district
Imperial palace
Kiyomizudera
Nara park - side trip from Kyoto
I'll provide brief suggestions for Tokyo: Shinjuku district (good for night life), harajuku district, Shibuya crossing
If you're there for only 2 weeks, I suggest you cut it to 3 cities max. I spent a week in Kyoto and I still felt like there's more that needs to be explored.
I'll let others suggest for other cities.
Ride the shinkansen between cities.

Hi Jason
I will b in Osaks month of Nov for 4 days. Can u pls suggest which places we should hit. TIA

Sorry, I never been to Osaka. However I heard their street food (their takoyaki balls) is good. I'd give that a try if I ever go to Osaka.

Jason thanks

Owl Cafe in Tokyo. There are also Cat Cafe, and hedgehog Cafes. You have to do the Mario Kart. You drive Go Karts on the street of Tokyo with a guide, dressed up as a Super Mario character. So much fun. You need International Driver's License. Near Osaka is Nara where you can feed and pet deer. They bow for food. Really cute. Maidreamin (Maid Cafe). Maidreamin seems to be the original and with our experience, still a lot of fun if you want to experience Japan. They are not hard selling you so much.

In Hakone make sure to go up to Lake Ashi. It was seriously the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen with the shrine in the lake and an amazing view of Mount Fuji. Just be sure to bring a sweater as it is much cooler up the mountain

Please go to Nara.

Lots of nerd stuff in my list, and some of it I didn't flesh out. But I think you'll find this useful

We didn't get to everything on this list, but if you have any questions I'll try to answer them.

Nerd shopping lol. Great list

We searched for the finest otaku wares

How long did you stay in Japan? Great list of locations! Thank you!

This year we did 16 days ?

Yokohama is close to pretty close to Tokyo, if you go to the Landmark Tower, go to the Sky Garden on the 69th floor. The night view is amazing! Harbs cafe there is good! (A little pricey though)

Following for kyoto and osaka

unrelated, but do get a good insurance- worldnomad is great. asia's weather's been quite volatile- (and earthquakes and such)

We did a shibori scarf dying class where we got dye our own shibori scarf (kyoto), look into nagomi visits for meals where you are matched with a local and eat at their house. One of the tourist centres (I believe Shibuya in tokyo) we got to try on kimonos, meet a dancing robot, do calligraphy all for free. We did a tour of tsukiji market/ sushi cooking class which was a lot of fun. Food in Kyoto we ate a lot of street food but food is amazing pretty much anywhere

Joanna Lamberts Parent check out this post

Hope you are flying in to Osaka., if yes, better change your flight, due to typhoon,Osaka airport might be closed for awhile....

Robot Restaurant (in Shinjuku, Tokyo) was so much fun, an amazing show to watch!

Owl cafe and Mario kart in Tokyo! Definitely try to go to Nara as well, it was my favourite place with all the bowing deer. And go to the monkey mountain in Arashiyama! Osaka was my least favourite. It can seem underwhelming and a little grimey next to Tokyo. Oh also Gion is beautiful! Highly recommend it

Also, two must visit places to eat in Kyoto. One is the Fire Ramen... you will wait in line to eat ramen but it’s a fun experience and it was the best ramen I had in japan. Second is this tiny little vegan food place in Arashiyama, there’s three tables and such a charming owner/chef who makes authentic vegan monk food. He will communicate with you through google translate on an iPad. I would go just to meet him. https://g.co/kgs/giYpwa

I just came back from japan. The best advice I can give you are: try roaming like home with your cellphone if possible. Using Google map is amazing we barely took cabs so we saved a lot of money. Not everybody speak English and I can't read japanese. ( it was 12$ a day with bell) . Bring an umbrella every where , it has a tendency to rain randomly for short period of time. ( everybody there has umbrella and you can buy them at 7elevens). Speaking of 7elevens they are everywhere and for a cheap lunch you can buy triangle rice stuffed for 100 yen. My last advice would be to purchase a JR PASS before going, since you're travelling city to city it's cheaper and you can use it locally. ( we took it in mississauga then you go to the station in japan an exchange it , you'll need your passport and voila!) Have a great trip