10-Day Japan Itinerary
The sweet spot. Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka with enough time to actually enjoy them.
Cities
Tokyo (4 nights), Kyoto (3 nights), Osaka (2 nights)
Pace
Balanced - room to breathe while seeing the highlights
Budget
¥200,000-350,000 ($1,400-2,400) excluding flights
Best For
First or second-time visitors who want the complete Golden Route
Day by Day
Arrive Tokyo
Tokyo
Arrive at Narita/Haneda. Pick up Suica card, pocket WiFi or activate eSIM.
Check into hotel. Rest and recover from the flight.
Easy first dinner in Shinjuku - Omoide Yokocho or nearby izakaya.
Meals: Dinner: Yakitori at Omoide Yokocho
Tip: Don't fight jet lag too hard. Stay up until 9pm, get outside for natural light.
East Tokyo
Tokyo
Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa - arrive by 7am for photos without crowds.
Explore Nakamise shopping street, then Tokyo Skytree or Akihabara.
Dinner in Ueno or head to Shibuya for the famous crossing at night.
Meals: Lunch: Tempura near Asakusa. Dinner: Ramen in Shibuya
Tip: The contrast between old Asakusa and electric Akihabara shows Tokyo's range.
West Tokyo
Tokyo
Meiji Shrine at dawn, then Harajuku and Takeshita Street.
Omotesando for architecture and upscale shopping. Walk to Shibuya.
Ebisu for dinner, or bar hop in Golden Gai.
Meals: Lunch: Gyukatsu Motomura. Dinner: Yakitori in Ebisu
Tip: Meiji Shrine opens at sunrise - peaceful before the crowds arrive.
Tokyo Day Trip or Deeper
Tokyo area
Option A: Day trip to Kamakura (Great Buddha, temples, beach). Option B: TeamLab, Tsukiji Outer Market.
Continue exploring chosen destination.
Back to Tokyo for dinner in a new neighborhood.
Meals: Lunch: Shirasu (whitebait) in Kamakura or sushi at Tsukiji
Tip: Kamakura is 1 hour from Tokyo. Skip weekends if possible - it gets crowded.
Tokyo → Kyoto
Kyoto
Shinkansen to Kyoto (2h15m). Store luggage, grab lunch.
Fushimi Inari - hike through thousands of vermillion torii gates.
Check into hotel. Evening walk through Pontocho alley.
Meals: Lunch: Bento on Shinkansen. Dinner: Pontocho izakaya
Tip: Fushimi Inari is best late afternoon - magical light, fewer crowds.
Arashiyama
Kyoto
Bamboo Grove (arrive 7am), Tenryu-ji Temple gardens.
Iwatayama Monkey Park or explore the riverside.
Return to central Kyoto. Gion district walk.
Meals: Lunch: Tofu cuisine in Arashiyama. Dinner: Gion area
Tip: Be at the bamboo grove by 7am - by 9am it's Instagram chaos.
Day Trip: Nara
Nara
Train to Nara (45min). Nara Park, meet the deer.
Todai-ji Temple (massive Buddha), Kasuga Taisha shrine.
Return to Kyoto. Nishiki Market for snacks if still open.
Meals: Lunch: Local Nara restaurant. Dinner: Kyoto izakaya
Tip: The deer bow for treats but can be pushy. Watch your belongings.
Kyoto → Osaka
Osaka
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) or Ryoan-ji rock garden.
Train to Osaka (15min). Check in, explore Namba area.
Dotonbori: neon lights, takoyaki, and the Glico sign.
Meals: Lunch: Kyoto kaiseki. Dinner: Osaka street food crawl
Tip: Osaka is Japan's kitchen. Come hungry, eat everything.
Osaka Deep Dive
Osaka
Kuromon Market for breakfast. Shinsekai for kushikatsu.
Osaka Castle and park. Or day trip to Himeji Castle (1hr each way).
Ura-Namba for local bars, or return to Dotonbori.
Meals: Lunch: Kushikatsu in Shinsekai. Dinner: Okonomiyaki
Tip: Osaka people are famously friendly. Don't be shy - chat with locals.
Osaka → Departure
Osaka → Airport
Last-minute shopping in Shinsaibashi or Umeda.
Head to Kansai Airport (KIX) - 50min by train.
Flight home or continue your adventure.
Meals: Final convenience store bento for the road
Tip: KIX has great shopping. Arrive 3 hours early for international flights.
Planning Tips
- •JR Pass (7-day) makes sense if activated Day 5 for Shinkansen + Kyoto/Nara/Osaka trains
- •Book any special restaurants 2-4 weeks in advance
- •Consider extending Osaka by 1 day for Hiroshima day trip
- •This itinerary works year-round but spring (cherry blossom) and fall (foliage) are magical
Get This Itinerary Personalized
Add your interests, adjust the pace, get specific restaurant and hotel recommendations.