Ten days is the sweet spot for a first trip to Japan — enough to go beyond the Tokyo–Kyoto core and add the deer and Great Buddha of Nara, the food-loving energy of Osaka, and an unhurried pace throughout. This itinerary loops Tokyo–Hakone–Kyoto–Nara–Osaka and back, all linked by the famous bullet train.
It assumes you fly into Tokyo and out of either Tokyo or Osaka (Kansai), which can save backtracking. For where to base yourself, see our guides on where to stay in Tokyo and the best areas to stay in Tokyo; for the bigger picture, the Japan travel guide and things to do in Tokyo.
Spring (late March to April) for cherry blossoms and autumn (October to November) for fall colour are the most spectacular and popular. May and early June are mild and quieter; summer is hot and humid; winter is crisp with the clearest Mount Fuji views.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arrival in Tokyo
Arrive and transfer into the city — our Tokyo Haneda airport guide covers the easiest routes. Pick up an IC card, settle in, and ease into Japan with an evening exploring a buzzing district like Shinjuku or Shibuya.
- ✓ Shibuya scramble crossing
- ✓ Dinner in Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho
- ✓ First convenience-store haul
🛏 Where to stay: Shinjuku or Shibuya — central, on the Yamanote Line, with the widest hotel choice.
💡 Tip: Set up a digital Suica in your phone's wallet before arrival to skip ticket-machine queues.
Tokyo: Tradition & Modernity
A full day on Tokyo's greatest hits — Senso-ji temple in Asakusa and a Sumida riverside walk in the morning, then the Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, and Shibuya in the afternoon. The things to do in Tokyo guide has the full menu.
- ✓ Senso-ji temple, Asakusa
- ✓ Meiji Shrine & Harajuku
- ✓ Shibuya Sky observation deck
🛏 Where to stay: Tokyo (second night).
💡 Tip: Group sights by area and use the Yamanote Line loop to avoid backtracking across the huge city.
Tokyo: Deeper Dive & Day-Trip Option
With three Tokyo nights you can go deeper: a sushi breakfast at the Tsukiji Outer Market, the Imperial Palace gardens, and a themed afternoon — Akihabara, Ginza, or the teamLab digital-art museum. Alternatively, take an easy day trip to Nikko or Kamakura.
- ✓ Tsukiji Outer Market
- ✓ teamLab digital art (book ahead)
- ✓ Optional Nikko or Kamakura day trip
🛏 Where to stay: Tokyo (third night).
💡 Tip: Book timed-entry attractions online in advance — teamLab and Shibuya Sky sell out, especially on weekends.
Hakone & Mount Fuji
Train to Hakone for the best easy Mount Fuji views and an onsen night. Ride the Hakone Loop — mountain railway, ropeway over Owakudani, and a Lake Ashi cruise — then soak in a hot spring and stay in a traditional ryokan with a kaiseki dinner.
- ✓ Lake Ashi cruise with Fuji views
- ✓ Owakudani volcanic valley
- ✓ Onsen and ryokan kaiseki dinner
🛏 Where to stay: Hakone ryokan — a trip highlight.
💡 Tip: Forward your main luggage ahead to Kyoto with takkyubin courier and travel to Hakone with just an overnight bag.
Bullet Train to Kyoto
Take the shinkansen to Kyoto, watching for Mount Fuji from the right-hand window. Spend the afternoon easing into the old capital — the Gion geisha district, Yasaka Shrine, and the lantern-lit lanes of Higashiyama as the day-trippers leave.
- ✓ Shinkansen with Fuji views
- ✓ Gion geisha district
- ✓ Higashiyama evening stroll
🛏 Where to stay: Kyoto — central Gion/Kawaramachi or near Kyoto Station.
💡 Tip: Sit on the right (D/E seats) heading west for the best Mount Fuji view from the train.
Kyoto's Icons
A full day among Kyoto's headline sights. Start at dawn at Fushimi Inari's thousands of vermilion gates, then cross the city to Arashiyama for the bamboo grove, and finish at the golden Kinkaku-ji pavilion.
- ✓ Fushimi Inari at dawn
- ✓ Arashiyama bamboo grove
- ✓ Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
🛏 Where to stay: Kyoto (second night).
💡 Tip: Reach Fushimi Inari by 7–8am to walk the gates before the crowds arrive.
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Nara Day Trip
Take a short train to Nara, Japan's first capital, for one of the country's most memorable half-days: bowing deer roaming the parklands and the colossal bronze Great Buddha inside the vast wooden Todai-ji temple. Return to Kyoto in the evening.
- ✓ Nara Park's free-roaming deer
- ✓ Todai-ji Great Buddha
- ✓ Kasuga Taisha lantern shrine
🛏 Where to stay: Kyoto (third night).
💡 Tip: Buy deer crackers from the licensed vendors; the deer will bow for them but can be pushy, so feed quickly.
Kyoto to Osaka
Travel the short hop to Osaka, Japan's street-food capital. Spend the afternoon at Osaka Castle, then dive into the neon-lit Dotonbori district in the evening for takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and the city's famously friendly, food-obsessed energy.
- ✓ Osaka Castle
- ✓ Dotonbori neon and street food
- ✓ Kuromon Ichiba market
🛏 Where to stay: Osaka — around Namba/Dotonbori for the food and nightlife, or near Osaka Station.
💡 Tip: Osaka is only ~15 minutes from Kyoto by rapid train — some travelers day-trip instead of relocating.
Osaka & Departure Prep
A flexible final full day: more of Osaka's food and shopping in Namba and Shinsaibashi, a visit to the Umeda Sky Building, or a day trip to nearby Himeji Castle or Kobe. If flying out of Kansai (KIX), this is the easiest base for an onward departure.
- ✓ Shinsaibashi shopping
- ✓ Umeda Sky Building views
- ✓ Optional Himeji Castle day trip
🛏 Where to stay: Osaka (second night).
💡 Tip: Flying out of Kansai (KIX) saves backtracking to Tokyo; check which airport your return flight uses.
Departure
Enjoy a final Japanese breakfast and any last shopping before heading to the airport. If your flight leaves from Tokyo, the shinkansen back from Osaka takes around 2 hours 30 minutes; from Kansai (KIX), the airport is a direct train from central Osaka.
- ✓ Last-minute souvenir shopping
- ✓ Final bowl of ramen
- ✓ Airport transfer
💡 Tip: Leave a generous buffer for the airport transfer, especially if connecting via shinkansen back to Tokyo.
📶 Stay Connected in Japan
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Budget & Practicalities
Roughly $150–250 per person per day including hotels, meals, local transport, and attractions; Osaka and Kyoto can be slightly cheaper than Tokyo.
A 7-day Japan Rail Pass covering the busiest stretch (Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka and back) can pay off; compare the pass price against individual shinkansen tickets for this loop.
A Hakone ryokan with kaiseki dinner, reserved bullet-train seats in peak season, and a special Kyoto kaiseki meal.
Tips for This Trip
- → Get a Suica or PASMO IC card for trains, metro, buses, and convenience stores nationwide.
- → Carry cash alongside cards — temples, small restaurants, and rural spots are often cash-only.
- → Use takkyubin luggage forwarding between cities so you travel light on travel days.
- → Reserve shinkansen seats ahead in cherry-blossom and autumn-foliage seasons.
- → Consider flying out of Kansai (Osaka) to avoid backtracking to Tokyo at the end.
- → Get a travel eSIM for maps and translation — see our best eSIM for Japan guide, and check entry rules in Japan visa requirements.
What to Pack for Japan
A Comfortable Daypack
Long sightseeing days
Ten days of temples and train stations means serious walking. A light, supportive daypack carries your layers, water, and the souvenirs you will inevitably accumulate.
Check Price on AmazonPackable Layers
Variable conditions
Japan's temperatures swing between air-conditioned trains, mountain Hakone, and city heat. Packable layers keep you comfortable across the loop without overpacking.
Check Price on AmazonCash Wallet / Coin Purse
Cash-only spots
You will accumulate coins fast in cash-friendly Japan. A dedicated coin purse saves fumbling at shrines, lockers, and vending machines.
Check Price on AmazonSlip-On Shoes
Ryokan and temples
You will remove your shoes at ryokan, temples, and some restaurants. Comfortable slip-ons make it painless while supporting long walking days.
Check Price on AmazonFrequently Asked Questions
Ten days is an ideal first-trip length — enough to cover Tokyo, Hakone for Mount Fuji, Kyoto's temples, Nara's deer and Great Buddha, and Osaka's food scene at a comfortable pace, all by bullet train. It strikes the best balance between seeing the essentials and not rushing.