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By OneLife · Updated September 2026 · 22 min read
This 10 day Japan itinerary runs from Tokyo to Osaka, with Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima and the island of Miyajima in between. It follows the classic Golden Route, then carries on west to where the country feels quieter and more reflective. Ten days is where Japan starts to open up. You stop rushing between highlights and begin to notice the small things.
The extra three days change the whole shape of a first trip. A week in Japan tends to be Tokyo and Kyoto, done well. Ten days lets you add the weight of Hiroshima, a night on a sacred island and the loud, generous food city of Osaka. The trip gains contrast, and contrast is what makes a journey stay with you.
This route suits first-time visitors who want more than the highlights, and returning travellers who never made it past Kyoto. It works for couples, friends and solo travellers. It does not suit anyone who wants to see all of Japan in ten days. Nobody can, and trying is the quickest way to see very little.
The structure is built around five bases. Three nights in Tokyo, one in a Hakone ryokan, three in Kyoto, one on Miyajima and one in Osaka. You fly into Tokyo and out of Osaka, so nothing is wasted on backtracking. Times throughout are loose guides. The best hours on this route rarely come with a timetable attached.
Before you plan the Tokyo days
Tokyo Skytree, tickets and timing
Before You Start: Practical Planning Notes for a 10 Day Japan Itinerary
Getting to the starting point
Book an open-jaw flight into Tokyo and out of Osaka. It is the most useful decision you will make for this trip. From Australia, you will usually land at Haneda or Narita and depart from Kansai International.
Haneda is closer to the city. Trains and the airport limousine bus reach Shinjuku in under an hour. From Narita, allow 60 to 90 minutes on the Narita Express or the Skyliner, depending on your hotel.
Register on Visit Japan Web before you fly. It creates QR codes for immigration and customs, which makes arrival far smoother. Australians can currently enter Japan visa-free for short tourist stays. The Smartraveller page for Japan has the latest official advice.
How to get around
Skip the rental car. Every stop on this route is built around rail, and driving between cities costs more in tolls and parking than the train. The only place you might want wheels is Hakone. Even there, the mountain railway, cable car, ropeway and lake boat are the point of going.
Add a Suica or ICOCA card to your phone wallet on the first day. It covers trains, subways, buses and convenience stores in every city on this route. You top it up as you go and never think about tickets.
The long legs run on the shinkansen. Odawara to Kyoto takes about two hours. Kyoto to Hiroshima takes around 1 hour 40 minutes on the fastest trains. Hiroshima to Shin-Osaka takes roughly 1 hour 30 minutes.
Where to base yourself vs moving daily
Five bases in ten days sounds like a lot. In practice, only two of them are single nights, and both are the kind of places you want to wake up in. Hakone and Miyajima are best experienced after the day visitors have gone.
The trick is luggage forwarding. Send your main case from Tokyo to Kyoto, then from Kyoto to Osaka. You travel to Hakone and Miyajima with a small overnight bag. Your hotel front desk can arrange it for a modest fee, and cases usually arrive the next day.
Browse Tokyo hotels on Booking.com first, then lock in Hakone, Kyoto and Miyajima early. Small ryokan fill months ahead in spring and autumn. Kyoto also raised its accommodation tax in March 2026. It is charged per person per night at check-in and scales with the room rate.
A note from the road
On this route, the JR Pass is close but usually not worth it. A 7-day pass costs around 50,000 yen, and some agency prices rise in October 2026. Add up single tickets for Odawara to Kyoto, Kyoto to Hiroshima and Hiroshima to Osaka, and they generally come in lower. Pass holders also pay a supplement for the fastest Nozomi trains. Buy individual tickets unless you are adding more long journeys.
Day 1: Tokyo, Landing Softly in Shinjuku
Morning
The first morning belongs to arrival. Clear immigration, set up your transit card and ride into the city. If your room is not ready, leave your bags and walk. Tokyo is a city best understood at street level.
Afternoon
Shinjuku Gyoen is the right first stop after an overnight flight. It is a vast, calm garden that blends French, English and Japanese styles. Find a bench, let the jet lag settle, and listen to how quiet the centre of Tokyo can be.
Afterwards, wander the basement food halls in the Shinjuku department stores. The precision of the displays tells you a lot about the country before you have eaten anything.
Evening
At dusk, go up the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. The observation decks are free, and the city spreads out in every direction. On a clear evening you can pick out Mount Fuji against the last of the light.
For dinner, walk to Omoide Yokocho beside Shinjuku Station. It is a narrow alley of tiny yakitori counters, each with a few stools and a smoking grill. Sit wherever there is space. Order what the person beside you is having.
Where to stay tonight: Shinjuku for all three Tokyo nights. It has the best connections on this route, including the Romancecar to Hakone on day four. See Shinjuku hotels on Booking.com.
Day 2: Tokyo, the River, the Market and the Old City
Morning
Take breakfast at the Tsukiji Outer Market. The wholesale fish auction moved to Toyosu years ago, but the outer streets still work the way they always have. Grab tamagoyaki on a stick, grilled scallops and a bowl of fresh sashimi over rice.
Walk to Hama-rikyu Gardens a few minutes away. It is an old feudal garden with a tidal pond and a teahouse on the water. Glass towers stand behind the pines, and the contrast is very Tokyo.
Afternoon
From the garden pier, take the water bus up the Sumida River to Asakusa. It is a slow, easy way to cross the city. You pass under a dozen bridges before the pagoda comes into view.
Senso-ji is Tokyo’s oldest temple, and in the afternoon it is busy and bright. Walk Nakamise-dori, wash your hands at the fountain and waft the incense smoke over yourself. The guide to Senso-ji explains the rituals and the quieter corners most visitors miss.
Nearby, Kappabashi is the street where restaurants buy their supplies. It is the best place in the city for a good knife or a hand-thrown bowl.
Evening
Cross the river as the light goes. Tokyo Skytree turns the eastern sky blue and violet after dark. Either go up for the view or stay low and watch it from the riverbank.
Come back to Senso-ji late. The temple is lit, the crowds have gone, and the courtyard is almost silent. It is a completely different place from the afternoon.
For food walks and evening tours, compare options on Viator’s Tokyo page.
Where to stay tonight: Same Shinjuku base. Three nights in one place is what keeps these first days calm.
Day 3: Tokyo, Forest Shrine to the Shibuya Skyline
Morning
Arrive at Meiji Jingu soon after the gates open. The shrine sits inside a planted forest in the middle of the city. Within a few steps of the Harajuku entrance, the traffic noise falls away under the trees.
Our Meiji Jingu guide covers the torii, the sake barrels and how to pay your respects at the main hall.
Afternoon
Walk out into Harajuku and turn away from the busiest street. The side lanes behind it are full of small boutiques, vintage stores and good coffee. Then follow Omotesando, a wide avenue of zelkova trees and quietly striking architecture.
Keep walking south into Shibuya. It takes about 20 minutes, and you watch the city get denser with every block. The Shibuya travel guide has the backstreets and viewpoints worth knowing.
Evening
Book a sunset slot at Shibuya Sky. The open-air rooftop is the best place in Tokyo to watch the city switch on its lights. Then go down and walk the scramble crossing yourself.
Before bed, arrange luggage forwarding to your Kyoto hotel and pack a small bag for Hakone. If you still have energy, finish with a drink in Golden Gai. Its six narrow lanes hold around 200 bars, most with space for only a handful of people.
Where to stay tonight: Same Shinjuku base. Aim for a mid-morning Romancecar tomorrow.
Day 4: Hakone, Sculpture, Sulphur and a Ryokan Night
Morning
The Odakyu Romancecar leaves from Shinjuku and reaches Hakone-Yumoto in about 85 minutes. Book the front observation seats if they are available. The city gives way to rice fields, then to steep, wooded hills.
Afternoon
Ride the Hakone Tozan Railway uphill. The little train switchbacks through forest, reversing direction as it climbs. Get off at Chokoku-no-Mori for the Hakone Open-Air Museum. Large sculptures stand across lawns with the mountains behind, and there is a foot bath to rest in.
Continue to Gora and take the cable car to Sounzan. From there, the Hakone Ropeway crosses over Owakudani. Steam pours from bare yellow rock, and the air smells of sulphur. Eggs boiled in the springs come out black.
The ropeway drops to Lake Ashi at Togendai. Cross by boat to Moto-Hakone and walk to the red torii of Hakone Shrine, standing at the water’s edge. If the clouds lift, Fuji appears above the lake. If not, the quiet of the cedar forest is enough.
Check the operator’s notices on the morning you travel. The ropeway sometimes pauses for inspections or volcanic activity, with replacement buses running instead.
Evening
Check into your ryokan, change into a yukata and bathe before dinner. The meal is usually kaiseki, a slow procession of small seasonal dishes. Each one is plated with real care.
Go back to the onsen late at night. The steam rises into the dark, and the only sound is water. It is the stillest moment of the whole itinerary. Many shared baths still restrict tattoos, so choose a room with a private bath if that matters.
Where to stay tonight: A ryokan in Gora, Miyanoshita or Hakone-Yumoto. A private open-air bath is worth the splurge here. Browse Hakone ryokan on Booking.com.
Day 5: Hakone to Kyoto, the Philosopher’s Path to Gion
Morning
Take an early soak, then a slow ryokan breakfast of grilled fish, rice, miso and pickles. Head down to Odawara and catch the shinkansen west. Only some Hikari and Kodama services stop at Odawara, so check the timetable the night before. Sit on the right-hand side for a chance to see Fuji.
Afternoon
Your forwarded bags should be waiting in Kyoto. Drop them and go east to Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion. It was never covered in silver. Its raked sand garden and moss hillside are the real reason to go.
Walk south along the Philosopher’s Path. It follows a small canal lined with cherry trees for about two kilometres. Stop at the small temples along the way, and let the pace slow right down.
The path ends near Nanzen-ji. Walk through its huge wooden gate, then find the old brick aqueduct in the grounds. It is one of the most photographed corners of Kyoto, and it still feels calm.
Evening
Walk on into Gion as the lanterns come on. The canal along Shirakawa is beautiful after dark. Hanamikoji is lined with old wooden teahouses.
Treat Gion with care. It is a living neighbourhood, some private lanes are closed to visitors, and photographing geiko and maiko without permission is not acceptable. Keep your camera down and let them pass.
Where to stay tonight: Central Kyoto around Kawaramachi, Gion or Karasuma for all three nights. A machiya townhouse suits groups and longer stays. See Kyoto stays on Booking.com.
Day 6: Kyoto, Bamboo at Dawn and Zen by Afternoon
Morning
Go to Arashiyama early. The bamboo grove before 8am is quiet, green and full of the soft creak of stalks moving in the wind. After nine, it is a queue.
Walk through the garden at Tenryu-ji when it opens. Then climb to Okochi Sanso, a hillside villa with a tea garden and wide views. It sees a fraction of the grove’s crowds. Guided early walks and bike tours are listed on Viator’s Kyoto page if you prefer company.
Afternoon
Take a bus or taxi north to Kinkaku-ji. The Golden Pavilion is crowded and the route is fixed, but seeing it reflected in the pond is worth it once.
Walk 20 minutes to Ryoan-ji. Its rock garden holds 15 stones, and from any single point on the veranda you can only see 14. Sit for a while. It rewards patience more than photographs.
Evening
Cross back to the east of the city for Kiyomizu-dera at the end of the day. The wooden stage looks out over Kyoto as the light turns gold. Walk down through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka as the shops close. The stone lanes are prettiest when they empty.
Finish with dinner in Pontocho, a narrow lane of restaurants beside the Kamo River.
Where to stay tonight: Same Kyoto base.
Day 7: Fushimi Inari at First Light, Then Nara
Morning
Go to Fushimi Inari Taisha at dawn. The shrine never closes, and the first hour of light is when it feels most like itself. Thousands of vermilion torii climb the mountain in long tunnels, and the only sound is your footsteps.
Keep going past the first viewpoint. Most people turn back early. By the Yotsutsuji intersection, the paths are quiet and the city opens out below.
Afternoon
The JR Nara line runs from Inari Station straight towards Nara, sometimes with one change. Nara was Japan’s capital before Kyoto, and it keeps a broader, older feel.
More than a thousand deer wander Nara Park. Many will bow if you bow first, mostly in the hope of a cracker. Walk to Todai-ji, where a bronze Buddha about 15 metres tall sits inside a vast wooden hall. Stand in the doorway before going in. The scale takes a moment to arrive.
If time allows, follow the forest path to Kasuga Taisha. Its approach is lined with thousands of moss-covered stone lanterns. Afterwards, the old merchant streets of Naramachi are good for a slow walk and a coffee.
Evening
Return to Kyoto for a last evening by the Kamo River. Arrange luggage forwarding to your Osaka hotel and pack a small bag for Miyajima.
Where to stay tonight: Same Kyoto base.
Day 8: Hiroshima and a Night on Miyajima
Morning
Take the shinkansen from Kyoto to Hiroshima. It is well under two hours on the fastest trains. From the station, a tram runs to the Peace Memorial Park in about 20 minutes.
Afternoon
Hiroshima asks for a different kind of attention. Walk past the Atomic Bomb Dome, left as it stood after 1945, then through the park to the Peace Memorial Museum. The exhibits are personal, specific and hard to look at. Give yourself at least two hours, and do not plan anything loud straight afterwards.
The city itself is modern, warm and relaxed. It carries its history with remarkable grace. That contrast is part of why this stop matters so much.
In the late afternoon, take the JR Sanyo line to Miyajimaguchi and cross by ferry to Miyajima. The crossing takes about ten minutes. A small visitor tax is added to the ferry fare.
Evening
This is the reason to stay the night. The day visitors leave, and the island goes quiet. Deer settle along the shore, and the great torii of Itsukushima Shrine is lit against the dark water.
Check the tide times. At high tide the gate appears to float. At low tide you can walk out across the sand to its base.
Where to stay tonight: A ryokan on Miyajima itself. It is a small, peaceful island after dark, and rooms are limited, so book early. See Miyajima stays on Booking.com.
Day 9: Mount Misen to the Lights of Osaka
Morning
Walk the waterfront early, while the island is still yours. Then take the Miyajima Ropeway up towards Mount Misen and hike the last stretch to the summit. The view spreads across the islands of the Seto Inland Sea.
If you prefer to walk the whole way, the Daisho-in route is steep but beautiful. Daisho-in itself is a temple full of small stone statues and spinning prayer wheels.
Afternoon
Ferry back to the mainland and take the train to Hiroshima Station. From there, the shinkansen reaches Shin-Osaka in about 90 minutes. Your forwarded luggage should be waiting.
Evening
Osaka is a city that eats out. Walk Dotonbori as the neon lights reflect off the canal. It is loud, bright and unashamedly fun after the stillness of Miyajima.
Duck into Hozenji Yokocho for a quieter moment. This stone-paved lane leads to a small temple with a statue so covered in moss it looks green and soft. People splash water over it and make a wish.
Where to stay tonight: Namba, close to Dotonbori and the direct train to Kansai Airport. Browse Namba hotels on Booking.com.
Day 10: Osaka and the Final Morning
Morning
Walk to Kuromon Market as the stalls open. Grilled scallops, fresh fruit and sea urchin are cooked and served right where you stand. It is an easy, satisfying last breakfast.
If you have longer, visit Osaka Castle and walk its outer moats. The park around it is calm in the mornings, with joggers and people walking dogs.
Afternoon and departure
From Namba, the Nankai Rapi:t train reaches Kansai International in under 40 minutes. Allow plenty of time before your flight. The departure tax rose to 3,000 yen in July 2026, though it is usually built into your ticket.
If your flight leaves late, spend the afternoon in Shinsekai. It is a retro neighbourhood of old signs and kushikatsu bars around the Tsutenkaku tower.
The final morning
Keep the last morning small if you can. After ten days, the temptation is to squeeze in one more sight. The better choice is a slow coffee, a walk along the canal and time to let the trip settle. Japan has a way of arriving fully in your memory only once you have left.
Where to Eat Along the Route
In Tokyo, Omoide Yokocho is the right place for a first-night yakitori. For something more substantial in Shinjuku, Fuunji serves a rich tsukemen, dipping noodles with a thick fish and chicken broth. The queue moves quickly. At Tsukiji, eat your way along the outer market stalls rather than committing to one sit-down meal.
In Hakone, the ryokan kaiseki dinner is usually the meal you remember. For lunch near Gora, Tamura Ginkatsu-tei serves a tofu katsu simmered in a clay pot. It is gentle, filling and very local.
In Kyoto, Honke Owariya has been making soba since 1465, and its quiet wooden rooms feel almost unchanged. Near the Silver Pavilion, Omen serves thick udon with a tray of seasonal vegetables to add yourself. For grazing, Nishiki Market runs five blocks of pickles, tofu, tamagoyaki and grilled seafood.
In Nara, stop at Nakatanidou for yomogi mochi. The fast, rhythmic pounding draws a crowd, but the soft, warm mochi is the reason to stay.
In Hiroshima, okonomiyaki is layered rather than mixed, with noodles and cabbage stacked on the griddle. Okonomimura is a building with several floors of small counters devoted to it. On Miyajima, eat grilled oysters from the street stalls and a warm momiji manju. Across the water, Ueno near Miyajimaguchi has served anagomeshi, grilled conger eel over rice, since the early 1900s.
In Osaka, Mizuno in Dotonbori makes excellent okonomiyaki and has been doing so for decades. For kushikatsu, Daruma is the classic. The sauce is shared, so dip each skewer only once.
Practical Tips for This Itinerary
Carry some cash. Japan has become far more card-friendly, but small restaurants, shrines and island ryokan still prefer yen. 7-Eleven ATMs accept most foreign cards and are easy to find.
Luggage forwarding is the quiet hero of this route. Two sends, Tokyo to Kyoto and Kyoto to Osaka, mean you never drag a suitcase up a mountain or onto a ferry. Ask your hotel desk the evening before you move.
Trains and trams are quiet spaces. Keep calls for the platform and conversations low. In Kyoto and Nara, eating while walking is frowned on in many areas. Finish your snack by the stall that sold it.
Travel insurance matters on a trip with mountain transport, hot springs and a lot of walking. World Nomads offers flexible cover that can be bought or extended while you are already on the road.
Data makes this itinerary simple. Google Maps gives you train times, platforms and transfers in real time. Install an eSIM from Airlo before you leave, and you will be connected as soon as you land.
You will walk a great deal, often more than 20,000 steps a day. Bring broken-in shoes that slip off easily for temples and ryokan. A light daypack and packing cubes help when your gear is split between a forwarded case and an overnight bag. A small power bank keeps your phone alive on long map-heavy days.
Book only what sells out. Shibuya Sky at sunset, Hakone and Miyajima ryokan and popular restaurants need planning. Everything else can stay loose.
Spring and autumn are the most beautiful times for this route and also the busiest. Winter brings clear skies and the best chance of seeing Fuji. Summer is hot and humid, so do the outdoor parts early. The Japan National Tourism Organization is a good official source for seasons and events.
How to Adjust This 10 Day Japan Itinerary
Shorter version (6 to 7 days)
Drop Hiroshima, Miyajima and Osaka, and fly home from Kansai straight after Kyoto. That leaves Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto, the core of the Golden Route. Nara can still fit on the final morning if your flight is late.
With only six days, cut Tokyo to two nights. Combine the old city and Meiji Jingu into one long day, and keep the Hakone night. That single evening in the mountains is what gives the trip its shape.
Extended version (14 days or more)
Add two nights in Kanazawa between Tokyo and Kyoto. Its Kenroku-en garden, samurai district and fresh seafood make it one of the most rewarding cities in Japan. From there, Takayama and the thatched farmhouses of Shirakawa-go are an easy addition.
In winter, head into the Japanese Alps instead. Nozawa Onsen is a traditional village with free public baths and deep, dry snow. The Nozawa Onsen travel guide explains how to reach it from Tokyo. If you are there in mid January, the Nozawa fire festival is one of the most intense nights in the Japanese calendar.
With more time in the west, add a night in Himeji for its white castle, or continue from Hiroshima to Fukuoka. This is also where a JR Pass finally pays for itself, so run the numbers again once your route is longer.
More from the Japan collection
The best temples and shrines in Tokyo
Choosing between Tokyo Tower and Skytree
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 10 days enough for Japan?
Ten days is an excellent length for a first trip. It covers Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima and Osaka without feeling rushed. The key is staying several nights in each main city rather than moving every day.
Is the JR Pass worth it for a 10 day Japan itinerary?
On this exact route, usually not. The long legs are Tokyo or Odawara to Kyoto, Kyoto to Hiroshima and Hiroshima to Osaka. Bought as single tickets, they generally cost less than a 7-day pass. Add Fukuoka or Kanazawa, and the maths starts to change.
Should I stay overnight on Miyajima?
Yes, if you can. Most visitors come on a day trip and leave by late afternoon. Staying the night means you see the torii lit up, walk the quiet shore at dawn and climb Misen before the crowds arrive.
What is the best order for Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka?
Travel west from Tokyo and fly home from Osaka. Flying into Tokyo and out of Kansai International avoids a long backtrack. It also means the trip moves from the busiest city to the calmer, older parts of Japan.
How many days should I spend in Kyoto?
Three nights is the minimum for this route. That allows one day for the east of the city, one for Arashiyama and the northwest, and one split between Fushimi Inari and Nara.
Can I see Mount Fuji on this itinerary?
Possibly, from Hakone, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building or the shinkansen window. Fuji is often hidden by cloud, especially in summer. Winter mornings give you the best odds.
Do I need to speak Japanese?
No. Stations, trains and major sights have clear English signage, and translation apps handle most menus. A few basic words of greeting and thanks are always appreciated.
Final Thoughts
This 10 day Japan itinerary moves from neon to cedar forest, and from temple gardens to a city that remembers 1945. Then it ends in the warm chaos of Osaka. It is a lot of Japan in ten days. Because it is built around a few good bases, it still feels unhurried.
Travel light, wake early where it counts and leave room for the lane you did not plan to walk down. Those are often the moments you bring home.
If you do one thing differently from the crowd, stay the night on Miyajima. Watching that gate light up over the water is the kind of memory that makes a trip feel like yours.
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