Trip to Japan - April 2025 - Kanazawa, Takayama, Osaka, Hakone

February 19, 2026

Trip to Japan - April 2025 - Kanazawa, Takayama, Osaka, Hakone

In & out of Japan - Trip flight details.

JL 030 Sun 3/30 @ 19:05 DEL -> HND 3/31 @ 6:20 AM

JL 072 Sun 4/06 @ 21:55 HND -> HNL 4/06 @10:20 AM

Luggage :

stored my big suitcase at Haneda T3 next to arrival area. Y700 * 7 days =4,900 yen to be paid on pickup

Transportation :

JR Rail pass, applied via website ( was a big pain and took a long time) issues with password etc.

Bought via credit card Yen 50,000 for 7 days

March 31: Osaka ::

- took the Tokyo Monorail from Haneda Airport to Hamamatsucho Station (~20 minutes).

- At Hamamatsucho, switch to the JR Yamanote Line to Shinagawa

- Hikari or Kodama Trains: Hikari 507 at 10:10 reserved seat car 11 seat 4B. covered by the JR Pass.3 hours to Shin-Osaka Station.

—> Shinkansen from Shinagawa … 4 hours nearly.. via Kyoto to shin- osaka 10 am to 2 pm

( took wrong train but exchanged) Right side seat view of Mt Fuji ???

JR Train : shin Osaka to Osaka Station

From Osaka station - > JR Osaka loop train to Tennoji station

From Tennoji take tram (!). to Maysumushi y 230

Stay::

Mad Cat Hostel - 1 night -

madcathostelosaka@gmail.com ; +81 80-9976-4079 ;

1-11-24 Ojicho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka, Japan ,Osak a ,Japan

In evening around 6 pm , Went to Osaka Castle – Historical and scenic spot. ( train JR Loop trait )

Entrance closes at 5:30.

JR Loop train 6 stops .

Dinner at local nearby hostel all Japanese restaurant

Morning Apr 1st ::

——-

Family mart and hostel coffee breakfast

walked to Shitennoji Temple

Flyover walkway, mall

Horikoshi shrine on the way

Shitenoji Temple

Bus 62 to hostel matsumushi ¥

Checked out of hostel

Bus 63/64? Hostel To Tennoji station ¥230

Coin locker for luggage storage Y 700

JR namba train to touristy shopping walking area

Namba and Dotonbori Bridge shopping and restaurants

Had lunch there at Okonomyaki restaurant named after the speciality okonolyaki y 1500

Return via JR Namba train to Tennoji,

picked up luggage by Suca card slide

Rieku - owner WhatsApp connect- gave ideas for 5 th Japan night stay

Travel to Kanazawa City

JR Loop train to Osaka, Local train for Osaka Shin Station

Then reserved via help desk for 2 Shinkansen trains to Kanazawa ( change at Tsuruga (?) after Kyoto )

Train Shinkansen Thunderbird

Train change Tsuguga Shinkansen transfer in 7 minutes

Kanazawa -

Bus 18 to hostel , no SUICA but Cr Card OK

K’s house - 2 nights already was paid Y 1200

stay :: 2 nights - K's House Kanazawa - Travelers Hostel: Ishikawa, Kanazawa, Shintate-machi 3-132, Japan : +81 76-231-7776 ;

Paid ¥ 12000

Walked to KataMachi area for dinner , busy area wth clubs shows bars, restaurants

April 02 Wednesday: Kanazawa :

———-

Kenroku-en Garden – One of Japan’s top gardens.

Tea Ceremony at the Garden tea house in Kanazawa

Kanazawa Castle – Samurai-era history.

D.T. Suzuki Museum – Zen philosophy and meditation space.

Nagamachi Samurai District – Preserved

samurai houses.

Moron cafe

Bus 18 to Omicho market , walk to Higashi Chaya District – Traditional teahouses and geisha culture.

{Shima tea house , geisha district , 500 + 700}

Kenroken garden lighting

Dinner;

Ippudo ramen place in katamachi ; plant based ramen. { Mori mori sushi }

Thursday April 3rd :

Morning. — Myoryu ji temple

Ninja defense type temple.. tour in Japanese.. charged ¥1200 … 40 mins

Travel to Takayama city ::

From Kanazawa , Bus 18 to station, JR reservation help needed.. 2 trains , change at Toyoma … started at noon … 40 mins in Toyoma… reached around 2:40…

Accommodation in Takayama:

Takayama "cup of tea : guesthouse ; April 3 , 4 - 2 nights ; paid 8000 ¥

Walked to hostel… .Cup of Tea guesthouse …8 miles..reached 3:15

Takayama Old Town – Edo-period buildings and sake breweries.

April 04 Friday :

Shirakawa-go (Traditional Japan & Countryside) Shirakawa-go – UNESCO-listed small, traditional village showcasing a building style known as gasshō-zukuri.

Bus from Takayama