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10 days in Japan: Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka

The classic first trip to Japan by train: four nights in Tokyo, a ryokan night in Hakone, then Kyoto’s temples and Osaka’s food.

By Maya Okafor · Published · Updated

Route map: Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka.

Trip facts

Duration
10 days / 9 nightsAbout a week
Route
Tokyo (Haneda or Narita) → Osaka (Kansai Airport)
Budget
Mid-range
Pace
Balanced
Best months
Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov
Transport
Train, Walking

Route

Schematic route through Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka.1Tokyo2Hakone3Kyoto4Osaka
  1. Tokyo4 nights
  2. Hakone1 night
  3. Kyoto3 nights
  4. Osaka1 night

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Tokyo

    Arrive and ease into Shinjuku

    Check in, buy an IC card at the airport and keep the first evening simple.

    • Omoide Yokocho for yakitori
    • Free night view from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

    Getting there Haneda to Shinjuku takes about 45 minutes by train or limousine bus.

  2. Day 2 · Tokyo

    Old Tokyo: Asakusa and Ueno

    Temples, a riverside walk and a museum afternoon on the east side of the city.

    • Senso-ji early, before 8:00
    • Tokyo National Museum
    • Ameyoko market street

  3. Day 3 · Tokyo

    Meiji Shrine, Harajuku and Shibuya

    Forest shrine in the morning, youth fashion at midday and the famous crossing at dusk.

    • Meiji Jingu
    • Omotesando architecture walk
    • Shibuya Sky at sunset (book ahead)

  4. Day 4 · Tokyo

    Day trip or deep dive

    Choose between Kamakura’s Great Buddha and coastline, or teamLab and the Tsukiji outer market.

    • Kamakura: Kotoku-in and Hase-dera
    • or: Tsukiji outer market and teamLab Planets

  5. Day 5 · Hakone

    To the mountains

    Loop through Hakone by train, cable car and boat, then a kaiseki dinner and onsen at a ryokan.

    • Hakone Open-Air Museum
    • Owakudani volcanic valley
    • Lake Ashi cruise

    Getting there Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku, about 85 minutes. Send big bags ahead by takkyubin.

  6. Day 6 · Kyoto

    Shinkansen to Kyoto

    Morning bath, then the bullet train west. Afternoon in Gion and Higashiyama.

    • Kiyomizu-dera
    • Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka lanes
    • Evening walk in Gion

    Getting there Bus to Odawara, then Hikari shinkansen to Kyoto, about 2 hours.

  7. Day 7 · Kyoto

    Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama

    Start at the torii gates at dawn, then cross the city to the bamboo grove and river.

    • Fushimi Inari before 7:30
    • Tenryu-ji garden
    • Arashiyama bamboo grove

  8. Day 8 · Kyoto

    Nara day trip

    Japan’s first capital: giant bronze Buddha, deer park and quiet side temples.

    • Todai-ji
    • Nara Park
    • Isuien garden

    Getting there Kintetsu line from Kyoto, 45 minutes.

  9. Day 9 · Osaka

    Osaka food night

    Castle in the afternoon, then eat your way along Dotonbori and Shinsekai.

    • Osaka Castle park
    • Kuromon market
    • Takoyaki and kushikatsu in Shinsekai

    Getting there JR Special Rapid from Kyoto, 30 minutes.

  10. Day 10 · Osaka

    Fly home

    Last breakfast and the Haruka express to the airport.

    Getting there Haruka from Tennoji or Shin-Osaka to Kansai Airport, about 50 minutes.

Overview

This is the route most first-time visitors should take: it balances big-city Tokyo with the traditional side of Kyoto, adds one night in the mountains for an onsen, and flies out of Osaka so you never backtrack.

Practical notes

  • Rail pass: at current prices a 7-day nationwide JR Pass rarely beats point-to-point tickets on this route. Buy shinkansen tickets on the day or via SmartEX.
  • Luggage: use a luggage-forwarding service (takkyubin) from Tokyo to Kyoto and travel to Hakone with an overnight bag.
  • Book ahead: Hakone ryokans, Shibuya Sky and teamLab sell out weeks in advance in spring and autumn.
  • Cash: cards are widely accepted, but carry some yen for shrines, small restaurants and buses.

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