I think 10 days is a good amount of time to do the basic Japan Golden Route, which includes Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and side trips to Mt. Fuji, Hakone, Nara, or Hiroshima. In this article, I will help you to find out step by step how to spend 10 days in Japan Itinerary as a first-timer along the Golden Triangle.
My 10 days in Japan itinerary started in Tokyo by flying into Narita Airport, and ended in Osaka by flying out from Kansai Airport. It includes 5 days in Tokyo, 3 days in Kyoto, and 2 days in Osaka.
The Shinkansen train from Tokyo to Kyoto is around 2,5 hours, Kyoto to Osaka is around 30 minutes. Osaka to Hiroshima is around 2 hours. Flights from Tokyo to Osaka are around 1 hour.
Do I need to Apply for the visa?
Depending on your nationality, you need to find out if you need to apply for a visa before your trip. In some countries, you can apply for e-visa; in some countries, you need to do it through accredited agencies; in some countries, you don’t need to apply for a tourist visa.
The length of the short-time visitor visa typically allows you to stay in Japan from 15 days to 90 days. So be sure to check your visa condition to avoid overstay. You can visit the official website mofa for all information about Japanese visas.
When is the best time to visit Japan?
Japan is a year round destination, spring is the best time to visit for cherry blossom, summer is the best season for hiking, autumn is the best time for its fall foliage, and winter is known for its skiing and snowboarding.
Take note that accommodation can be more expensive during peak season like March/ April cherry blossom, or golden week in May, so be sure to book in advance to have the best deal!
Also keep in mind that, Japan is very crowded during peak season. We visited Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima during cherry blossom and it was packed with people everywhere we go. If you want quieter atmostphere and avoid crowds, maybe consider visit during low season.
How many days should I spend in Japan?
I think 10 to 14 days is a good amount of time in Japan for first-timers to see major cities in Japan’s golden route, including Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. This will also allow you to take day trips to Hiroshima, Hakone, Mt Fuji, Nara, or Kobe.
We spent 10 days for our first visit to Japan, and we based ourself at Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Then took side trips to Yokohama, Hiroshima, and Hakone. I think it was a good amount of time to have brief introductions about Japan.
If you have 3 to 4 weeks in Japan, you will explore the country more in depth and visit smaller places. If you have only 3 to 5 days in Japan, I recommend spending most of your time in Tokyo. If you have one week, you can explore important cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
Where are the best places to book hotels?
Japan has types of accommodations running from budget hostels to luxury hotels. You have luxury Western-style hotels with spacious rooms, business hotels for those looking for affordable accommodations and dont mind small rooms.
There are also traditional Japanese inns called Ryokans, where you can experience traditional Japanese living of Japanese. You will sleep on futon mattresses and the floors covered in tatami mats. Many ryokans have onsen hot spring baths and serve traditional kaiseki multi-course meals.
If you are solo travelers or backpackers, looking for budget-friendly accommodations, you can consider staying in hostel, and capsule hotels. These often provide private beds in the dorm rooms, and shared facilities like kitchen area, bathrooms, and toilets.
In Tokyo, the best area to book your accommodation is close to the JR Yamanote Line , which circles around the city, taking you to major tourist attractions of Tokyo. Most populars neighborhoods in Tokyo for first-timers are Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, and Ueno/Asakusa.
In Kyoto, the best areas to stay are in Downtown Kyoto around Shijo Kawaramachi, and Gion historic district. If you want to stay in the traditional heart of Kyoto, Gion is the place to go. Note that accommodations here are often more expensive compared to Downtown due to its popularity.
In Osaka, the best areas to stay are in the Kita/Umeda district and Dotonbori/Namba areas. Dotonbori is the nightlife hub of the city, located along the canal, packed with restaurants, bars, and shops.
In Hiroshima, you can consider staying in Downtown, around Hiroshima Station, and Miyajima island. Downtown is closer to the Peace Memorial Park complex, the Station offers convenient access to trains, and Miyajima island provides a peaceful ryokan stay.
In Tokyo, we stayed at 4-star Hotel Gracery Shinjuku in central location of the nightlife district, just steps away from the action. The room is small but has a comfortble bed and amenities.
In Kyoto, we stayed at the Hotel Vista Premio Kyoto Kawaramachi St. It was located in quiet area, short walk away from many restaurants, shopping arcades, Gion, and the river. We walked to almost everywhere from our hotel.
In Osaka, We stayed at Hotel Forza Osaka Namba in the Dotonbori. The hotel has all basic amenities, and short walk away from many restaurants, street food stalls, and Namba Train Station.
Staying connected to the internet – Data Sim card, e-Sim, Pocket Wifi?
Staying connected with family and friends while traveling is very important when traveling. There are a few options to keep you on the internet including Data Sim card, e-Sim, and Pocket Wifi.
Data Sim Card is a physical Sim inserted into your phone and allows you to connect to wifi only, no phone call (which is ok because you can use many Apps to video call with others). E-Sim is a digital Sim that allows you to connect to wifi without inserting a physical card into your phone. A pocket WiFi is a portable router that allows many devices to connect to it.
I personally think e-Sim is the most convenient way to stay connected to the internet. The pocket wifi might be beneficial for groups or families, but you need to carry an extra device/ charger, and have to pick up/return it. The downside of using a SIM card is you might lose it.
For eSIMs, you can buy either Ubigi or Airalo, which are two big companies in Japan for eSim. You can install it before a trip to Japan easily.
My partner used roaming data from his Optus network in Australia and I used Ubigi eSim (10GB for 30 days/ USD 17). Both work very well and we were able to use it for Google translate and Google Map.
How to get around Japan? – Public transportation, car, or taxi
Getting around Japan is easy by public transportation. The train in Japan is known for its efficiency and punctuality and it is a cost-effective way to get around. You can use Google Map to help navigate the city.
To get into Japan, you will need to fly into one of its international airports. The main airports in Japan are Narita/Haneda airport in Tokyo, Osaka’s Kansai airport, and Nagasaki airport in Kyushu.
One ride costs between 180 yen to 330 yen. You can check the cost for a train ticket on this website Tokyo Metro. I recommend buying a prepaid Suica or Pasmo card at the airport when arriving for public transportation to avoid buying paper tickets every time you onboard the train.
We added Suica Card to our Apple Wallet and feel it very convenient to tap on/off and top up when needed. Suica Card can be used in most transport system in Japan except for shinkansen. We used it in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Osaka, and Yokohama.
If you travel between many regions in Japan in a long amount of time, you can consider buying a Japan Rail Pass, which allows unlimited ride in shinkansen bullet trains. Since the price of JR Pass skyrocketed, you need to check if it is worth it to buy one. You can do the Japan Rail Pass Calculator here.
You can also consider renting a car for day trips or to explore the remote areas. Just remember you need an International Driving Permit license to be able to drive in Japan. You can check out Tokyota or Nippon if you want to rent a car for your trip.
Taxi can be a great option for a short trip or emergency situation but it is the most expensive way to get around. A taxi ride from Narita Airport to Shibuya can cost approximately 200 USD. We often used taxi for short distance, which cost 1000 yen to 3000 yen, for long distance we used trains and buses.
How much Money do I need for Japan?
Japan is a country where Cash is still King, so I recommend exchanging some yen before you arrive. You can do it at the many Money Exchange and ATM at the airport.
How much money to spend really depends on your travel style. The most expensive parts are probably on flights and accommodations. Mid-range accommodations are around 100 USD to 150 USD/day, mid-range budget meals around 40$/day, 30$ on transport, and additional money for shopping.
Alright! Now you have everything you should know before your first trip to Japan, let’s get into the detail of the 10 day in Japan itinerary along the Golden route (Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka):
10 days in Japan Itinerary for first-timers along the Golden route
Day 1-5: Tokyo
I spent the first few days in Tokyo exploring the city and a day trip to Hakone (a famous area for views of Mt Fuji and Lake Ashi cruise). When you first arrive at the airport, you will need to buy a sim card, buy an IC card for transportation, get some cash from the ATM, and find the way to your hotel.
The best neighborhoods in Tokyo for accommodations are in Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, or Asuka/Uneo. These areas are very well connected to the airport by trains and airport limousine buses.
Tokyo is a huge city with plenty of things to do and see. You can probably spend a day in each neighborhood to explore its attractions, do some shopping, try different food, and enjoy the nightlife.
You can spend a day exploring the eastern part of Tokyo which includes Teamlabs, Ginza, Asakusa, Uneo, and Akihabara. Teamlabs is a popular interactive digital art museum where you can walk through water and visit different artworks. It is very popular so be sure to book the ticket online in advance.
After a couple of hours in Teamlabs, you can take the train to Ginza, which is a luxury district with lots of high-end shops and fine dining. This area is also home to Tsukiji Outer Market, where you can try delicious sushi and seafood dishes.
The Asakusa district is a short distance away, home of Tokyo famous Sensoji temple. Be sure to check out Kaminarimon gate and check for some souvenirs at the Nakamise shopping street. For some views of the city, head to the Tokyo Skytree on the other side of Sumida river.
If you visit during the cherry blossom season, check out the Ueno Park, one of the largest parks in Tokyo. It is also home to many museums, art galleries, and even a zoo.
Still within the area of eastern Tokyo is the Akihabara electronic town, packed with anime/manga shops and electronic stores. The maid cafes are also popular in this district.
You can spend another day exploring the western part of the city, which encompasses Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Harajuku. Popular attractions in these areas are the Scramble Crossing, Meiji Temple, Yoyogi Park, Takeshita Street, Gyoen Garden, as well as the nightlife areas of Kabukicho, Golden Gai, and Piss Alley.
While in Tokyo, you can consider taking a day trip to nearby Hakone, Lake Kawaguchi, or Nikko. I chose Hakone. It is only a 90 minutes train ride from Shinjuku Station.
With a day in Hakone, I was able to explore the Hakone Loop, where I visited the Open Air Museum, Owakudani valley, taking the ropeway, the sightseeing cruise along Ashi lake, and visiting Hakone Shrine.
See more around Tokyo in these articles:
Day 5-8: Kyoto
On Day 5, after checking out of the hotel, we took shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto in 2.5 hours. The best places to book your accommodation in Kyoto are in Downtown Kawaramachi and Gion District.
When we first arrived, we just explored the area near the hotel, and had dinner on the Pontocho Alley near the Kamo River.
We spent one day exploring Gion and Higashiyama District, with attractions like Kiyomizudera, Yasaka Shrine, Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka, Nishi market, and Fushimi Inari Shrine. Spend an evening for a traditional tea ceremony.
The next day, we explored the western part of Kyoto including Arashiyama district and the Kinkaku-ji Temple. Arashiyama is a peaceful area, especially beautiful during cherry blossom and fall foliage season. Here, be sure to check out the Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji Temple, Togetsukyo Bridge, and Monkey Park.
From Kyoto, you can take a day trip to Nara or Hiroshima. Nara was the first capital of Japan, where you can find many famous temples, shrines, and the bowing deer.
Hiroshima is a must-see for those who are interested in the history of WWII. The city was destroyed by the tragic bombing in 1945. It is now a safe place to visit where you can visit its museums, memorials, enjoy Hiroshima style pancakes, and take a day trip to miyajima island to see the giant torii gate.
See more around Kyoto in these articles:
Day: 9-10: Osaka
The last two days, we spent our time in Osaka. It is only a 30 mins shinkansen train ride from Kyoto. Osaka is one of the largest cities in Japan and is known for its great food and nightlife scene.
The best neighborhoods to stay in Osaka are either in Kita/Umeda district or Dotonbori/Namba area. These are the downtown hubs of the city packed with tourist amenities and shops.
There are many department stores in the northern part of Osaka in the Kita area where you can shop. Popular places are Umeda Sky Building, Grand Front Osaka, LUCUA Osaka, LINKS UMEDA, and HEP FIVE.
Dotonbori in the southern part of Osaka is the nightlife hub of the city, packed with traditional japanese style bars, restaurants, and pubs. This area hosts the Ebisubashi Bridge, Glico Man, Hozenji Yokocho Alley, Shinsaibashi shopping area and the trendy Amerikamura.
Other must-see attractions in Osaka include the Osaka Castle, Universal Japan Studio, and Osaka Aquarium. The Tenjin district has popular points of interest like Shinsekai, Tsūtenkaku Tower, Shitenno-ji temple, and Abeno Harukas are also worth checking out.
See more around Osaka in these articles:
In conclusion, within 10 days in Japan, I was able to see major cities and had a good introduction to Japan’s top attractions. I can always come back next time and explore more.
How are you planning your 10 days in Japan? Which cities do you want to visit? Feel free to let me know in the comment box below. I’d love to read it.