10 days itinerary

10-day Japan itinerary

Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka — the classic first-timer's loop.

This 10-day Japan itinerary covers Tokyo's neighborhoods, an onsen night in Hakone, temples in Kyoto and Nara, and Osaka street food. It's paced for jet lag on arrival and pre-flight buffer on day 10.

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Canonical: https://haienaplan.com/itineraries/10-day-japan-itinerary

Best time to go

Late March–May (cherry blossoms) or October–November (autumn leaves).

Trip length

10 days

Estimated budget

Budget

$90–130 / day

Total: $900–1,300

Mid-range

$180–260 / day

Total: $1,800–2,600

Comfort

$350+ / day

Total: $3,500+

Per person, excluding international flights.

Day-by-day plan

Day 1: Arrive Tokyo (Narita/Haneda). Check in Shinjuku or Shibuya. Easy dinner at an izakaya.
Day 2: Asakusa (Senso-ji), Ueno Park, teamLab Planets, then Shibuya crossing at dusk.
Day 3: Harajuku & Omotesando, Meiji Shrine, evening in Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho.
Day 4: Day trip to Nikko or Kamakura, or Ghibli Museum if you booked ahead.
Day 5: Shinkansen to Hakone. Onsen ryokan, Lake Ashi cruise, Fuji views on a clear day.
Day 6: Train to Kyoto. Gion walk, Yasaka Shrine, dinner in Pontocho alley.
Day 7: Fushimi Inari at sunrise, Kiyomizu-dera, Nishiki Market for lunch.
Day 8: Arashiyama bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji, monkey park; evening kaiseki dinner.
Day 9: Day trip to Nara (Todai-ji, deer park), then train to Osaka. Dotonbori food crawl.
Day 10: Osaka Castle or Umeda Sky, last-minute shopping, fly home from KIX.

Local tips

Buy a 7-day JR Pass only if you're doing Tokyo–Kyoto–Hiroshima; for this loop, point-to-point tickets are cheaper.
Get a Suica or Pasmo IC card at the airport for subways, buses, and konbini.
Book Hakone ryokan and any kaiseki dinners 4–6 weeks in advance.
Cash is still king at small shops and shrines — carry ¥10,000 daily.

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