u/Rivin_S

I wanted to share my travel iterinary for two people from Mumbai, India to Japan, and solicit comments and feedback. I wanted to avoid the golden route (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka) and focus on some outliers along with Tokyo for my first trip to Japan.

I have not researched much about activities to do in Tokyo yet, and would invite suggestions. For the other cities, I have tried to keep it balanced.

DATE	ACTIVITY PLAN
Day 1, Wednesday	Mumbai → Tokyo   Depart BOM 19:30 → NRT 07:40 .   Travel to Ueno in Keisei skyliner, check in at Hotel. Explore Ueno and do some shopping
Day 2	Morning: Check out from Hotel. Leave for Matsumoto at 7:05 am by bus from Busta Shinjuku.   Afternoon and Evening: Visit Matsumoto castle. Stroll through Nakamachi Dori. Check in to Hotel.
Day 3	Trip to Kamikochi valley by round-trip bus. Stop at Taito Pond, and start trekking from there till the Kamikochi bus station.
Day 4	Morning and Afternoon: Check out from Hotel. Travel via bus to Takayama, spend half day with local sightseeing.   Evening: Take JR Hida train from Takayama to Toyama. Check in to Hotel.
Day 5	Morning: Visit Toyama castle. Visit Toyama city local history museum. Afternoon:  Visit Hie shrine.   Evening: Visit Toyama city hall observation centre.
Day 6	Morning: Visit Toyama glass museum. Check out from Hotel.   Afternoon: Travel to Kanazawa by train   Evening: Visit Higashi Chaya district. Check in to Hotel
Day 7	Morning: Visit Kenrouken garden. Visit Kanazawa castle, Nomura samurai house. Afternoon and Evening: Explore samurai district. Visit Ninja weapons museum and Myoryuji

Day 8	Morning and Afternoon: Checkout from Hotel. Travel to Fukui by train. Visit Eiheiji temple   Evening: Visit Maruoka castle. Explore nearby area. Check in to Hotel.
Day 9	Morning: Travel to Fukui prefectural dinosaur museum by train. Afternoon: Visit Heisenji Hakusan shrine.   Evening: Return to Fukui by train/bus.
Day 10	Morning: Checkout from Hotel. Visit Tojinbo cliffs by train. Explore nearby areas.   Afternoon: Visit Awara onsen town. Board shinkansen to Tokyo from Awaraonsen station on 15:32.   Evening: Explore Ginza. Check in to Hotel.
Day 11	Morning: Visit Hamarikyu Gardens,   Afternoon and Evening:  Teamlab planets, then visit Asakusa for Senso-ji Temple and near-by attractions. .
Day 12	Morning: Visit Shinjuku, Tokyo Metropolitan Government building observatory.   Afternoon and Evening: Shibuya Crossing + Takeshita St. Do some shopping.
Day 15, Monday	Checkout from Hotel in Ueno & travel to Tokyo Narita international airport.   Depart NRT 11:15 → 17:50 BOM

I wanted to share my travel iterinary for two people from Mumbai, India to Japan, and solicit comments and feedback. I wanted to avoid the golden route (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka) and focus on some outliers along with Tokyo for my first trip to Japan.

I have not researched much about activities to do in Tokyo yet, and would invite suggestions. For the other cities, I have tried to keep it balanced.

DATE	ACTIVITY PLAN
Day 1, Wednesday	Mumbai → Tokyo   Depart BOM 19:30 → NRT 07:40 .   Travel to Ueno in Keisei skyliner, check in at Hotel. Explore Ueno and do some shopping
Day 2	Morning: Check out from Hotel. Leave for Matsumoto at 7:05 am by bus from Busta Shinjuku.   Afternoon and Evening: Visit Matsumoto castle. Stroll through Nakamachi Dori. Check in to Hotel.
Day 3	Trip to Kamikochi valley by round-trip bus. Stop at Taito Pond, and start trekking from there till the Kamikochi bus station.
Day 4	Morning and Afternoon: Check out from Hotel. Travel via bus to Takayama, spend half day with local sightseeing.   Evening: Take JR Hida train from Takayama to Toyama. Check in to Hotel.
Day 5	Morning: Visit Toyama castle. Visit Toyama city local history museum. Afternoon:  Visit Hie shrine.   Evening: Visit Toyama city hall observation centre.
Day 6	Morning: Visit Toyama glass museum. Check out from Hotel.   Afternoon: Travel to Kanazawa by train   Evening: Visit Higashi Chaya district. Check in to Hotel
Day 7	Morning: Visit Kenrouken garden. Visit Kanazawa castle, Nomura samurai house. Afternoon and Evening: Explore samurai district. Visit Ninja weapons museum and Myoryuji

Day 8	Morning and Afternoon: Checkout from Hotel. Travel to Fukui by train. Visit Eiheiji temple   Evening: Visit Maruoka castle. Explore nearby area. Check in to Hotel.
Day 9	Morning: Travel to Fukui prefectural dinosaur museum by train. Afternoon: Visit Heisenji Hakusan shrine.   Evening: Return to Fukui by train/bus.
Day 10	Morning: Checkout from Hotel. Visit Tojinbo cliffs by train. Explore nearby areas.   Afternoon: Visit Awara onsen town. Board shinkansen to Tokyo from Awaraonsen station on 15:32.   Evening: Explore Ginza. Check in to Hotel.
Day 11	Morning: Visit Hamarikyu Gardens,   Afternoon and Evening:  Teamlab planets, then visit Asakusa for Senso-ji Temple and near-by attractions. .
Day 12	Morning: Visit Shinjuku, Tokyo Metropolitan Government building observatory.   Afternoon and Evening: Shibuya Crossing + Takeshita St. Do some shopping.
Day 15, Monday	Checkout from Hotel in Ueno & travel to Tokyo Narita international airport.   Depart NRT 11:15 → 17:50 BOM

I wanted to share my experience with Japan tourist visa application process from India. I hail from Kerala and stay in Pune for work. While my wife stays in Kerala. We wanted to visit Japan during the first 2 weeks of June.

Application jurisdiction:

I consider myself so lucky for having the thought to call VFS helpline and enquire about which VFS to apply from. Even though my passport, aadhar and other official IDs list my address in Kerala (and I was initially planning to apply through VFS Cochin during my vacation), I should apply under the Japan Consulate jurisdiction where I am staying for the past 6 months. Hence we decided to apply for myself in VFS Pune under Mumbai Consulate and for my wife in VFS Cochin under Chennai Consulate.

There are workarounds possible to apply for both under the same jurisdiction. We did not want to pursue any shortcuts.

VFS Pune application:

Visa slots were easy to get. I applied in VFS Pune with following documents:

1. 2in x 2in photo as per specification in VFS website
2. Visa checklist downloaded from site. Passport photocopy, Cover letter, Travel iterinary.
3. Travel tickets (booked and confirmed), Hotel booking confirmations
4. 3 year ITR and 3 month bank statements. And share holdings statement
5. Leave NOC from company

VFS Pune timeline:

1. Applied on 17 Apr 2026 (Fri)
2. Reached Mumbai consulate on 20 Apr 2026. Entered processing stage on 21 Apr 2026.
3. Processed and dispatched (read visa approved) from consulate on 4 May 2026.

I received a single entry 15-day visa for my 13-day trip iterinary after 9 working days of my application reaching Mumbai consulate. The VFS Pune staff strongly advised against attaching unnecessary documents, and did not let me keep payslips, booking payment confirmations, travel insurance, company appointment letter. The whole application process at VFS Pune was over within 30 mins.

VFS Cochin application:

We booked an application for my wife here on 5 May 2026. While my visa was approved (Japan returns application fees if they reject you), it was under transit and hence I could not attach my visa photocopy. I mentioned my visa application number in her cover letter, addded that it was processed by Mumbai consulate, and emphasized we were travelling together.

In VFS Pune, there is no premium lounge facility. While VFS Cochin has one and they allow next day appointment booking only on Premium lounge. Hence, I decided to book appointment on 5 May 2026 (Tue) instead of 4 May 2026 (Mon).

My wife applied with the following documents:

1. 2in x 2in photo as per specification in VFS website
2. Visa checklist downloaded from site. Passport photocopy, Cover letter, Travel iterinary.
3. Travel tickets (booked and confirmed), Hotel booking confirmations and payment confirmations. (Note: Travel tickets of both wife and me were accepted by the VFS Cochin staff. Booking payment confirmations were not accepted in VFS Pune)
4. Travel insurance for both
5. Sponsorship letter. Sponsor's passport photocopy (You are supposed to attach all your co-traveller's passport photocopy).
6. Marriage certificate
7. 3 year ITR, 3 month bank statements, last 3 month payslips and Leave NOC from employer : all belonging to the sponsor.
8. Wife's CMA (India) registration card and last year marksheet. (To prove she is a self-studying student).

VFS Cochin timeline:

1. Applied on 5 May 2026 (Tue)
2. Reached Chennai consulate on 8 May 2026 (Fri). I suspect the delay was because of Golden week holidays?
3. Entered processing stage in Chennai consulate on 8 May 2026. Awaiting updates.
4. EDIT: Visa processed and in transit from Chennai consulate on 12 May 2026.

VFS Cochin spent more than 40 minutes grilling my wife about her travel reason, her current status (self-studying student). They checked and accepted all the documents we offered unlike VFS Pune.

I wanted to share my experience with Japan tourist visa application process from India. I hail from Kerala and stay in Pune for work. While my wife stays in Kerala. We wanted to visit Japan during the first 2 weeks of June.

Application jurisdiction:

I consider myself so lucky for having the thought to call VFS helpline and enquire about which VFS to apply from. Even though my passport, aadhar and other official IDs list my address in Kerala (and I was initially planning to apply through VFS Cochin during my vacation), I should apply under the Japan Consulate jurisdiction where I am staying for the past 6 months. Hence we decided to apply for myself in VFS Pune under Mumbai Consulate and for my wife in VFS Cochin under Chennai Consulate.

There are workarounds possible to apply for both under the same jurisdiction (me claiming WFH to apply in Cochin, adding my wife's name to rental agreement to apply in Pune). We did not want to pursue any shortcuts.

VFS Pune application:

Visa slots were easy to get. I applied in VFS Pune with following documents:

1. 2in x 2in photo as per specification in VFS website
2. Visa checklist downloaded from site. Passport photocopy, Cover letter, Travel iterinary.
3. Travel tickets (booked and confirmed), Hotel booking confirmations
4. 3 year ITR and 3 month bank statements. And share holdings statement
5. Leave NOC from company

VFS Pune timeline:

1. Applied on 17 Apr 2026 (Fri)
2. Reached Mumbai consulate on 20 Apr 2026. Entered processing stage on 21 Apr 2026.
3. Processed and dispatched (read visa approved) from consulate on 4 May 2026.

I received a single entry 15-day visa for my 13-day trip iterinary after 9 working days of my application reaching Mumbai consulate. The VFS Pune staff strongly advised against attaching unnecessary documents, and did not let me keep payslips, booking payment confirmations, travel insurance, company appointment letter. The whole application process at VFS Pune was over within 30 mins.

VFS Cochin application:

We booked an application for my wife here on 5 May 2026. While my visa was approved (Japan returns application fees if they reject you), it was under transit and hence I could not attach my visa photocopy. I mentioned my visa application number in her cover letter, addded that it was processed by Mumbai consulate, and emphasized we were travelling together.

In VFS Pune, there is no premium lounge facility. While VFS Cochin has one and they allow next day appointment booking only on Premium lounge. Hence, I decided to book appointment on 5 May 2026 (Tue) instead of 4 May 2026 (Mon).

My wife applied with the following documents:

1. 2in x 2in photo as per specification in VFS website
2. Visa checklist downloaded from site. Passport photocopy, Cover letter, Travel iterinary.
3. Travel tickets (booked and confirmed), Hotel booking confirmations and payment confirmations. (Note: Travel tickets of both wife and me were accepted by the VFS Cochin staff. Booking payment confirmations were not accepted in VFS Pune)
4. Travel insurance for both
5. Sponsorship letter. Sponsor's passport photocopy (You are supposed to attach all your co-traveller's passport photocopy).
6. Marriage certificate
7. 3 year ITR, 3 month bank statements, last 3 month payslips and Leave NOC from employer : all belonging to the sponsor.
8. Wife's CMA (India) registration card and last year marksheet. (To prove she is a self-studying student).

VFS Cochin timeline:

1. Applied on 5 May 2026 (Tue)
2. Reached Chennai consulate on 8 May 2026 (Fri). I suspect the delay was because of Golden week holidays?
3. Entered processing stage in Chennai consulate on 8 May 2026. Awaiting updates.
4. EDIT: Visa processed and in transit from Chennai consulate on 12 May 2026.

VFS Cochin spent more than 40 minutes grilling my wife about her travel reason, her current status (self-studying student). They checked and accepted all the documents we offered unlike VFS Pune. We are awaiting updates since. I would really appreciate if you could comment on your application timelines in Japanese Chennai consulate.