Osaka

Travel from Hakone, and get ready, because it will be your first time on a Shinkansen. If you are lucky and you have the right seat, you might see Mount Fuji. The trick is to sit on the right side, seat E if you can pick it.

You can also check fuji-san.info, which tells you the visibility conditions for the day.

If you leave early enough, you will have time to enjoy Osaka in the afternoon.

Go to Dotonbori, the mythic Osaka neighborhood that looks a bit like Times Square. It is probably the most famous part of the city, and an afternoon plus an evening is the right amount of time to spend there. It is a must see, but it can get overwhelming since it is pretty touristy.

You can also take a ride on the river if you have time.

I hope you are hungry, because there is a lot to try, especially:

• Takoyaki, the octopus balls
• A really cool spot where you order several plates of meat and grill them yourself on a little stove at the table

If you are tight on budget and you are not a big theme park fan, you can skip this one. But if you are, it is so worth it. Honestly, it was one of our best days in Japan.

We decided to put the budget in and take the express pass, to get access to Super Nintendo World, be guaranteed to get into the attractions, do them quickly instead of waiting two hours, and still do the rest of the park.

Harry Potter was a blast, especially the 4D attraction. The Flight of the Hippogriff is a bit basic but still fun.

In Super Nintendo World, the Yoshi ride looks great, Mario Kart is a bit overwhelming, and the mine cart ride is GREAT.

The food was not too expensive and it was creative, both at the Pokemon Cafe inside the park and at the stands.

My favorite attraction of all time was The Flying Dinosaur. An S-tier ride that gives you a sensation you do not get anywhere else.

Start at Osaka Castle. The park around it is huge and calm in the morning, and the castle itself is worth the climb for the view from the top.

From there, walk to Nakanoshima Island. It sits between two rivers and it is a nice quiet contrast to the rest of the city, with old buildings like the Nakanoshima Library and a small rose garden if you go in the right season.

For lunch, head to Kitahama or Nakazakicho. Both are low key, full of small cafes and vintage shops, a good spot to slow down before the afternoon.

Then go to Shitennoji Temple. It is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan and it is peaceful, almost the opposite of what people expect from Osaka. It is also close to Shinsekai, so you can walk there after.

End the day in Shinsekai. This neighborhood is a must. The Tsutenkaku Tower, the old signs, the kushikatsu everywhere, it feels like a different era of the city. The best way to close a day that started calm and ends with all the energy Osaka is known for.