Using AI as your travel guide

In 2024 our summer vacation destination was Japan. As many times before, my vacation plans start by booking the flight tickets back and forth and then fill in the details later. Getting closer to travel – I asked ChatGPT the very simpel question:

Please create a high level itinerary for a 2 week vacation in Japan. We fly into Tokyo and back from Tokyo.

The response was the following:

Day 1–3: Tokyo

  • Arrive Tokyo, settle in.
  • Explore neighborhoods: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, Asakusa (Senso-ji).
  • Modern highlights: teamLab Planets, Tokyo Skytree, Odaiba.
  • Optional day trip: Nikko or Yokohama.

Day 4–5: Hakone / Mt. Fuji Area

  • Relax in onsen ryokan (traditional inn with hot springs).
  • Enjoy Fuji views, Lake Ashi, Hakone Open-Air Museum.
  • Travel via Romancecar or shinkansen + local transport.

Day 6–8: Kyoto

  • Visit iconic temples & shrines: Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera.
  • Stroll Gion district, Arashiyama bamboo grove, Nishiki Market.
  • Tea ceremony or kimono experience.
  • Evening along the Kamogawa river.

Day 9: Nara (Day Trip from Kyoto)

  • Giant Buddha at Todai-ji.
  • Friendly deer at Nara Park.
  • Return to Kyoto in evening.

Day 10–11: Osaka

  • Osaka Castle & Dotonbori street food.
  • Universal Studios Japan (if you like theme parks).
  • Nightlife in Namba.

Day 12: Hiroshima & Miyajima

  • Morning train to Hiroshima.
  • Visit Peace Memorial Park & Museum.
  • Ferry to Miyajima Island (Itsukushima Shrine, Mount Misen hike).
  • Overnight in Hiroshima or Miyajima.

Day 13: Return to Tokyo (via Himeji stop if time)

  • Optional Himeji Castle stop.
  • Evening arrival in Tokyo.
  • Last-minute shopping in Ginza or Akihabara.

Day 14: Tokyo & Departure

  • Easy morning: Meiji Shrine or Imperial Palace gardens.
  • Pack up, final souvenirs, head to airport.

We could have added more detail about what we wanted ChatGPT to focus on, but this actually ended up being pretty much our itinerary for the trip. We didn’t do Hiroshima and Himeji and instead of that we added an extra day in Tokyo. I also heard about this holy city somewhere in the mountains and ChatGPT immediately told me that I probably thought about Koyasan – so we added a night in a shukubō (temple lodging).

The nice thing about AI is that it doesn’t get offended if you don’t follow its advise:-)

A day trip

It is also possible to “zoom in” and ask AI to help with a more detailed day-trip:

Please plan a day trip to Shibuya, We are staying at a hotel near Shinagawa station.

And again, AI comes with a packed agenda, from which we picked a good number of spots to visit (not all) and AI didn’t get offended by our picks.

Day Trip to Shibuya (from Shinagawa)

Morning

  • 🚆 Take JR Yamanote Line to Shibuya Station (Hachiko Exit).
  • 📸 Hachiko Statue – quick photo stop.
  • 🌆 Shibuya Scramble Crossing – best seen from above (Shibuya Sky or from Starbucks Tsutaya).
  • 🛍️ Shibuya Center Gai – lively shopping street with youth culture, fashion, arcades.

Late Morning

  • 🛍️ Explore Shibuya Parco (artsy shops, Nintendo & Pokémon centers inside).
  • 🎶 Optional: Tower Records Shibuya – legendary music store.

Lunch

  • 🍜 Try ramen at Ichiran Shibuya (famous solo-booth ramen) or a sushi spot like Uobei (conveyor belt sushi).

Afternoon

  • 🌳 Walk to Yoyogi Park and Meiji Jingu Shrine (15–20 min walk from Shibuya). Peaceful contrast to Shibuya’s buzz.
  • OR stay in Shibuya for Shibuya 109 (trendy fashion mall) + Shibuya Hikarie (modern shopping, food hall, great city views).

Late Afternoon / Early Evening

  • 🌇 Go up to Shibuya Sky (Scramble Square) around sunset – panoramic Tokyo views are stunning.
  • 🏮 Explore Nonbei Yokocho (tiny old-style bars) or Shibuya Yokocho (food alley with izakayas).

Dinner

  • 🍣 Sushi at Uobei, casual izakaya dinner, or yakitori at Torikizoku.
  • If you want something atmospheric: Niku Yokocho (meat alley) for Japanese BBQ-style dining.

Night

  • 🎶 Check out live music at a small venue, or grab a drink in a quirky Shibuya bar.
  • 🚆 Return to Shinagawa (last Yamanote Line trains run after midnight).

The Ramen was amazing BTW.

Obviously, if you want more focus on shopping, just mention it in the prompt and your wish will be heard.

Upload a photo and ask

Another place where I constantly had to use ChatGPT was when reading instructions. When you are travelling for 2 weeks, you need clean clothes – just take a photo of the washing machine and ask ChatGPT how to start the machine:

How do I start a normal warm (around 40 degrees) was with this machine?

Great photo — thanks! I can help you with this Japanese washing machine (Panasonic NA-F5BE2, top-loading).

Here’s how to do a normal warm wash (~40°C):

1. Power On

  • Press 電源 (でんげん / Power) → the red circle button on the right (“切 入”).
    • 切 = Off
    • 入 = On

2. Select Course (Wash Program)

  • Press コース (Course) until you see おまかせ (Standard / Automatic).
    • This is the default “normal wash” program.

3. Adjust Water Temperature

⚠️ This machine does not have a built-in water heater (very common in Japanese washers).

  • It washes with tap water only (cold or lukewarm depending on your plumbing).
  • If your tap is connected to a warm-water line (~40°C), then set it there manually.
  • Otherwise, it will wash cold.

4. Start the Wash

  • Press スタート / 一時停止 (Start / Pause) → the big button bottom-right.

And more…

We actually ended up using ChatGPT so frequently that I had to buy a subscription to the product and since then… – I have been a subscriber.

This post was written on September 26th, 2025 – AI’s might/will change…

Until next time

A Daily Prompt | Freddy Kristiansen

Leave a comment

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑