Land KIX → Train to hotel (~45 min) → Evening Dotonbori neon walk & easy food (takoyaki). Rest from jet lag.

Day 2 – May 16: Osaka Castle + Food Scene
Morning: Osaka Castle & museum. Afternoon/evening: More Dotonbori canal, street food (okonomiyaki).

Day 3 – May 17: Hiroshima Day Trip
Early shinkansen (~1.5 hr) → Peace Memorial Park, Museum, A-Bomb Dome. Optional Miyajima ferry (~10 min) for torii gate/deer. Return by 5–6 PM → Relax in Osaka.

Day 4 – May 18: Travel to Kyoto + Fushimi Inari
30-min train → Check-in → Afternoon: Fushimi Inari torii gates (hike at easy pace).

Day 5 – May 19: Northern Kyoto
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) → Arashiyama Bamboo Grove + Tenryu-ji Temple + Monkey Park.

Day 6 – May 20: Eastern Kyoto + Gion
Philosopher’s Path → Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) → Nanzen-ji → Evening Gion geisha district walk.

Day 7 – May 21: Southern Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera (stage/views) → Sannen-zaka/Ninnen-zaka streets → Nijo Castle (gardens/history).

Day 8 – May 22: Nara Day Trip (~45 min train)
Todaiji Great Buddha → Kasuga Taisha lanterns → Nara Park deer feeding.

Day 9 – May 23: Himeji Day Trip (~1 hr shinkansen)
Himeji Castle + Koko-en gardens → Return early afternoon → Free evening in Kyoto.

Day 10 – May 24: Free Day Kyoto
Nishiki Market food tour, matcha shopping, optional tea ceremony → Relax or revisit favorites.

Day 11 – May 25: Travel to Hakone + Lake Ashi
Shinkansen (~3 hr) → Ryokan check-in → Lake Ashi cruise + ropeway → Onsen & dinner.

Day 12 – May 26: Hakone Full Day
Hakone Shrine → Open-Air Museum/easy trails → Fuji views (if clear) → More onsen relaxation.

Day 13 – May 27: Travel to Tokyo + Shibuya/Harajuku
Morning train (~1 hr) → Shibuya Crossing, Hachiko → Meiji Shrine → Takeshita Street crepes.

Day 14 – May 28: Asakusa + TeamLab Borderless
Morning: Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise souvenirs. Afternoon: Train to Odaiba (~30 min) for TeamLab (digital art immersion). Evening: Optional Ueno Park or hotel rest.

Day 15 – May 29: Nikko Day Trip (~2 hr train)
Toshogu Shrine carvings/monkeys → Rinno-ji → Kegon Falls. Return by evening.

Day 16 – May 30: Akihabara + Ginza
Akihabara anime/pop culture shops → Ginza upscale shopping/cafés → Optional Tokyo Tower sunset.

Day 17 – May 31: Tokyo DisneySea Full Day
~20 min train from hotel → Sea-themed rides (e.g., Journey to the Center of the Earth, shows). Pace slow with breaks/meals (9 AM–9 PM, but flexible). Magical group fun.

Day 18 – June 1: Departure
Morning free (light shopping/sights) → Airport transfer (~1 hr) → Fly home.