10-Day Japan Itinerary: Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima & Osaka
The 7-day route plus Hiroshima, Miyajima, and Nara — the smarter pick if you can stretch your trip. More breathing room in Kyoto and a meaningful WWII history stop.
Duration
10 days
Mid-range cost
$1,750
Best months
Mar-Apr, Oct-Nov
Pace
balanced
Day-by-day plan
- Day 1Tokyo →
Arrival + Shinjuku/Shibuya orientation
- •Land at Narita or Haneda; train into Shinjuku or Shibuya
- •Shibuya Crossing at dusk
- •Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane) yakitori
- •Konbini run for tomorrow morning
Pick a hotel near Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Tokyo Station for easy transit access.
- Day 2Tokyo →
Asakusa + Akihabara + Tsukiji
- •Senso-ji Temple at 7 AM (before tour buses)
- •Tsukiji Outer Market for tamagoyaki + uni
- •Akihabara electronics + Super Potato retro arcade
- •Dinner: yakitori in Ebisu or sushi at Sushizanmai
- Day 3Tokyo →
Harajuku, Meiji Shrine + TeamLab
- •Meiji Shrine forest path (8 AM is magical)
- •Takeshita Street (Harajuku) crepes
- •Omotesando architecture walk
- •TeamLab Planets (book ahead — sells out)
- •Optional: Robot Restaurant or Roppongi nightlife
→ Next: train · ~85 min Romancecar · ~$22 — Shinjuku → Hakone-Yumoto.
Day 4Hakone →Hakone day: Mt Fuji, sulfur valley, ryokan
- •Hakone Open-Air Museum (Picasso pavilion)
- •Owakudani sulfur eggs (eat one — said to add 7 years to your life)
- •Lake Ashi pirate ship (8-10 AM = best Mt Fuji clarity)
- •Hakone Shrine torii at the lake
- •Onsen evening — ryokan stay if budget allows
→ Next: bullet train · ~2h 15m · ~$95 — Odawara → Kyoto on the Tokaido Shinkansen.
- Day 5Kyoto →
Kyoto arrival + Fushimi Inari + Gion
- •Fushimi Inari Shrine — go before 9 AM or after 4 PM
- •Lunch: udon at Omen near Ginkaku-ji
- •Philosopher's Path stroll
- •Gion district at dusk
- •Pontocho Alley dinner — kaiseki or yakitori
- Day 6Kyoto →
Arashiyama + Kinkaku-ji + Nishiki
- •Arashiyama bamboo grove (7 AM beats crowds)
- •Tenryu-ji zen garden
- •Yudofu lunch (Kyoto specialty)
- •Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
- •Nishiki Market food crawl before it closes (~5 PM)
Day 7Nara →Nara day trip: deer + Todai-ji
- •45 min train from Kyoto
- •Todai-ji Daibutsu (15-meter bronze Buddha)
- •Nara Park deer (bowing deer = trained over centuries)
- •Kasuga Taisha lantern shrine
- •Back to Kyoto for last evening
→ Next: bullet train · ~1h 40m · ~$90 — Kyoto → Hiroshima Shinkansen.
- Day 8Hiroshima →
Hiroshima Peace Park + Miyajima
- •Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park + Museum (heavy but essential)
- •A-Bomb Dome
- •Lunch: Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki at Okonomimura
- •Ferry to Miyajima — Itsukushima floating torii
- •Wild deer wandering the island streets
→ Next: bullet train · ~1h 25m · ~$80 — Hiroshima → Shin-Osaka.
Day 9Osaka →Osaka food crawl + castle
- •Osaka Castle + park morning
- •Dotonbori afternoon: takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu
- •Glico man photo at Ebisu bridge
- •Drinks in America-mura or upscale Kitashinchi
→ Next: flight · 1h to KIX · ~$30
- Day 10Osaka →
Departure
- •Last meal: kaiten sushi at Genrokuzushi
- •Limited Express Haruka or Nankai Rapid to KIX
- •Allow 3 hours for international departures
Want to swap something?
Hate big cities? Skip Osaka and add a night in Kanazawa (samurai district + Kenroku-en). Foodie focus? Stay 2 nights in Osaka and skip Hiroshima. With kids? Add Universal Studios Japan in Osaka (full day).
Practical tips
- •JR Pass is essential — 7-day for $340 if you tightly time the Shinkansen days, or get a 14-day for breathing room.
- •IC card (Suica/Pasmo) for local trains — top up via vending machine.
- •Book Hakone ryokan 2-3 months ahead — supply is tight, especially in spring/fall.
- •Hiroshima → Miyajima is 25 min by train + 10 min ferry. Half day is enough.
- •Don't try to do Tokyo and Osaka day-trips from Kyoto — too far. Sleep where you sightsee.
Frequently asked
Is 10 days enough for Japan?
10 days is the sweet spot for a first-time Japan trip on the classic route. You'll see the main cultural and culinary peaks without rushing. Pace: balanced. If you can stretch to 10-14 days, you can add slower side trips, but 10 hits the highlights.
When is the best time to follow this Japan itinerary?
Mar-Apr, Oct-Nov is peak season for this Japan route — the months when weather, scenery, and atmosphere line up best. Shoulder months on either side give you most of the experience for less crowding and lower prices.
How much does a 10-day Japan trip cost?
Mid-range budget on this itinerary runs about $1750 per person, excluding international flights. Budget travelers can do it for ~60% of that; luxury easily 2-3×. Use our cost calculator to stack flights + hotels + food + activities for any of the destinations on this route.
Can I customize this itinerary?
Yes — every destination on this route has a full guide and we have a multi-stop trip planner that lets you swap, reorder, or add days. Use the "Customize this itinerary" button below to seed the planner with all stops pre-loaded.
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