Kantō
Tokyo
Thirteen cities in one. Late-night alleyways, quiet shrines and the best eating in the world — if you know where to look.
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10 Days
Japan in 10 Days
Tokyo → Kyoto → Nara → Osaka
Overview
Ten days is the sweet spot for a first trip: enough for the two great cities plus Kansai's best day trips, without the constant repacking that spoils a fortnight badly planned.
One shinkansen leg does all the heavy lifting. Everything else is local rail.
Sara Lindqvist · Updated 26 February 2026
Check train optionsFind your stay
- Best for
- First visit, classic route
- Pace
- Moderate
- Bases
- Tokyo ×4, Kyoto ×4, Osaka ×2
- Rail
- One shinkansen leg + local
- Season
- Spring or autumn
Day by day
The route, one day at a time
Each day is a suggestion, not a schedule. Swap freely — the order is what matters.
Day by day itinerary
- Day 1
Arrive in Tokyo
Train into the city, a neighbourhood walk and an early night.
Base · Tokyo - Day 2
Shibuya to Ebisu
Meiji Jingū early, Harajuku's side streets, Shibuya in the afternoon, dinner south of the station.
Base · Tokyo - Day 3
Old town and the bay
Asakusa, Yanaka, then Ginza or a museum, finishing with a view at dusk.
Base · Tokyo - Day 4
Day trip or deep dive
Kamakura's temples and coastline, or a slow Tokyo day in Nakameguro and Shimokitazawa.
Base · Tokyo - Day 5
Shinkansen to Kyoto
Morning train, check in by lunch, then Nishiki Market and an evening walk along the Kamo river.
Reserve a seat on the right-hand side for the Fuji view on a clear day.
Base · Kyoto - Day 6
Eastern Kyoto
Higashiyama at first light, a garden mid-morning, the Philosopher's Path in the afternoon.
Base · Kyoto - Day 7
Arashiyama and the west
Bamboo grove early, a mountain temple, then back for dinner in Pontochō.
Base · Kyoto - Day 8
Nara
Forty-five minutes by train: Tōdai-ji at opening, the lantern path, lunch in Naramachi, back by late afternoon.
Base · Kyoto - Day 9
On to Osaka
Short hop by rail. Kuromon Market, Osaka Castle grounds, then Dōtonbori after dark.
Base · Osaka - Day 10
Depart
A final breakfast, then the airport express from Namba or Umeda.
Base · Osaka
Route map
Where this trip takes you
Map coming soon
Tokyo → Kyoto → Nara → Osaka
Stay
Where to stay
- Tokyo
- Four nights, ideally near a major rail hub.
- Kyoto
- Four nights centrally, with one in a ryokan or machiya if the budget allows.
- Osaka
- Two nights in Namba or Umeda, close to the airport line.
Book ahead
Things to book
- Shinkansen seat reservation
- Free or inexpensive with most tickets, and worth it with luggage.
- Kyoto accommodation
- The first thing to sell out in spring and autumn.
- One craft or tea experience
- Small-group sessions fill weeks ahead.
Travel tips
What we'd do differently
Budget
Planning your budget
We don't publish sample prices — rates move constantly. Here is where the money actually goes.
- Rail
- One long-distance leg plus local trains; a nationwide pass is usually unnecessary.
- Accommodation
- Kyoto is typically the most expensive of the three cities.
- Experiences
- Budget for two or three paid experiences rather than a full calendar.
Before you go
Guides for this trip
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