Travel Itinerary Template

Travel Itinerary · 10 Days Self-Guided

Your Complete Journey

10 DAYS
IN JAPAN

TOKYO · KYOTO · OSAKA

Duration

10 Nights

Est. Budget

~$2,500 / person

Best Season

Spring / Fall

Difficulty

Easy — Well-Signed

TOKYO

KYOTO

OSAKA

Trip Overview

Budget & Logistics

This 10-day itinerary covers the classic Japan route: 4 nights in Tokyo, 3 in Kyoto, and 3 in Osaka, connected by the iconic Shinkansen bullet train. It's designed to be manageable without being rushed — you'll see the highlights of each city while leaving room for the unexpected detours that make Japan so endlessly rewarding.

Category	Estimated Cost	Notes
International Flights	$1,200	Round trip from US West Coast; book 3–6 months out
Accommodation	$900	$90/night avg × 10 nights; mix of business hotels and one ryokan
Food	$600	$60/day; includes convenience store meals, ramen, sushi, izakaya
JR Pass (14-day)	$330	¥50,000 approx; covers all Shinkansen between cities
Activities & Entrance Fees	$300	teamLab ($40), temples, museums, Nara day trip (~$20)
Local Transport	$100	IC Card (Suica) covers subways, local JR, buses not on JR Pass
Total Estimate	~$3,430	Per person; flexible depending on dining and hotel choices

Key logistics: Activate your JR Pass on Day 1 at Narita or Haneda airport. Load your IC Card (Suica or Pasmo) at any train station — it works on virtually every local transit system in Japan and at many convenience stores. Get an eSIM or pocket WiFi at the airport before you leave arrivals. Japan remains a heavily cash-based society, especially at small restaurants and temples — carry ¥5,000–10,000 in cash at all times.

Book teamLab Planets in advance — sells out weeks ahead IC Card works as tap-to-pay at 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart Fushimi Inari: go at 6am to beat crowds 7-Eleven ATMs accept foreign cards reliably

Days 1–4 · 4 Nights

TOKYO

Arrive Narita · Stay in Shinjuku · Depart Shinkansen Day 5

DAY 1

Arrival — Shinjuku Orientation

Morning / Arrival

Land at Narita Airport. Clear customs, collect JR Pass, load IC Card. Take Narita Express (N'EX) direct to Shinjuku (~90 min).

✦ JR Pass: activate today

Afternoon

Check in to hotel. Rest — jet lag is real. Take a light walk around Shinjuku: Takashimaya Times Square building, Shinjuku Station (world's busiest).

Evening

Dinner at Omoide Yokocho ("Memory Lane") — the narrow alley of tiny yakitori stalls behind West Shinjuku. Order grilled chicken skewers and Sapporo draft.

✦ Cash only at most stalls

DAY 2

Tsukiji · Hamarikyu · Shibuya

Morning

Tsukiji Outer Market for breakfast — fresh tuna sashimi on rice, tamagoyaki, grilled scallops. The inner market moved to Toyosu, but the outer stalls remain excellent.

Afternoon

Hamarikyu Gardens — beautiful traditional garden with a tidal pond and teahouse (entry ¥300). Walk to Shibuya via the river path or take the train.

Evening

Shibuya Crossing at dusk — stand on the Mag's Park or Starbucks rooftop to watch the scramble. Browse Don Quijote (Donki) for late-night chaos shopping.

DAY 3

Meiji Shrine · Harajuku · teamLab

Morning

Meiji Jingu shrine — arrive early for the peaceful forest approach. Massive torii gate, sake barrel wall, serene inner sanctuary. Free entry.

Afternoon

Harajuku Takeshita Street — the wild, colorful pedestrian street. Then walk Omotesando (Tokyo's equivalent of the Champs-Élysées) for architecture and flagship stores.

Evening

teamLab Planets, Toyosu — immersive digital art installation (pre-booked tickets essential). 2-hour experience. Book the 6pm or 7pm slot to avoid daytime crowds.

✦ Tickets ~¥3,200; book weeks ahead

DAY 4

Akihabara · Ueno · Asakusa

Morning

Akihabara — electronics and manga district. Multi-floor arcades, retro game shops, maid cafes. Yodobashi Camera if you need electronics.

Afternoon

Ueno Park and the Tokyo National Museum — the main gallery houses Japan's most significant artifacts. Budget 2 hours minimum. Entry ¥1,000.

Evening

Asakusa Senso-ji temple at sunset — stunning with the lanterns lit. Browse Nakamise shopping street for gifts (ningyo-yaki, matcha, fans). Dinner nearby.

Days 5–7 · 3 Nights

KYOTO

Shinkansen from Shinjuku · 2h 15min · ~¥13,500 (JR Pass covers this)

TOKYO → KYOTO

Tokaido Shinkansen · Hikari or Nozomi · Shinjuku → Shin-Osaka, change for Kyoto

JR Pass ✓

DAY 5

Fushimi Inari · Nishiki Market · Pontocho

Early Morning

Fushimi Inari Taisha — leave your hotel by 6:30am. The thousand torii gates are magical before the tour groups arrive. Hike to the first summit overlook (45 min up).

✦ Free entry; open 24 hours

Afternoon

Nishiki Market — Kyoto's covered food market. Sample pickled vegetables, fresh tofu, grilled skewers, and mochi. Check in to your Kyoto hotel.

Evening

Pontocho alley for dinner — the narrow lantern-lit street running parallel to the Kamo River. High-end kaiseki and casual izakaya side by side. Reserve ahead for better spots.

DAY 6

Arashiyama · Bamboo Grove · Philosopher's Path

Morning

Arashiyama bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji Zen garden — get there by 8am for the grove. Tenryu-ji garden (¥500) is one of Kyoto's most beautiful. Monkey Park Iwatayama optional.

Afternoon

Philosopher's Path — a 2km canal walk lined with cherry trees (spectacular in spring). Walk north to south through Nanzen-ji temple complex. Aqueduct and garden worth seeing.

Evening

Gion evening walk — stroll through the preserved machiya townhouse district. Real geiko and maiko still walk these streets. Dinner at a tofu restaurant (Kyoto specialty).

DAY 7

Kinkaku-ji · Nijo Castle · Gion

Morning

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) — arrive before 10am. The gold-leaf building reflected in the mirror pond is stunning. Entry ¥500. Ryoan-ji rock garden nearby.

Afternoon

Nijo Castle — a perfectly preserved 17th-century shogun castle with "nightingale floors" that squeak to detect intruders. Entry ¥1,030. Take in the paintings inside.

Evening

Final Gion evening walk before departing for Osaka tomorrow. Hanamikoji Street is the main drag — the elegant preserved block with teahouses and restaurants.

Days 8–10 · 3 Nights

OSAKA

Train from Kyoto · 75 minutes · ~¥580 (Rapid service, IC Card)

KYOTO → OSAKA

JR Kyoto Line Rapid · 75 min · Kyoto Station to Osaka Station

~¥580 (IC Card)

DAY 8

Dotonbori · Kuromon Market · Street Food

Morning

Check into Osaka hotel (Namba area ideal). Head to Kuromon Ichiba Market — Osaka's "kitchen" — for a late breakfast of fresh oysters, tuna sashimi, and crab.

Afternoon

Dotonbori canal district — the iconic neon strip. Find the giant Glico running man sign. Sample takoyaki (octopus balls) from Aizuya and okonomiyaki from Mizuno.

Evening

Extended food crawl: kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) at Daruma, sake at a standing bar, cream puffs from Beard Papa for dessert. Osaka is a city that eats.

DAY 9

Osaka Castle · Shinsekai · Den Den Town

Morning

Osaka Castle and grounds — the castle itself is a 1931 reconstruction but the park and moat are beautiful. The interior museum covers Toyotomi Hideyoshi's history. Entry ¥600.

Afternoon

Shinsekai — the fascinatingly dated 1950s entertainment district. Kushikatsu restaurants everywhere. Visit Tsutenkaku tower for city views. Retro pinball parlors and old-school Osaka energy.

Evening

Den Den Town (Osaka's Akihabara) for electronics and anime. Evening beers at an Osaka standing bar (tachinomi) — cheap, casual, local. Osaka nightlife centers on Namba and Shinsaibashi.

DAY 10

Nara Day Trip · Return · Departure

Morning

Early train to Nara (45 min from Osaka-Namba). Nara Deer Park — the freely roaming semi-wild deer are a uniquely Japanese experience. Buy deer crackers and brace yourself.

Afternoon

Todai-ji temple — the world's largest wooden building, housing a massive bronze Buddha (Daibutsu). Entry ¥600. Return to Osaka by 3pm. Final shopping and packing.

Evening

Farewell dinner at a proper Osaka ramen-ya or a splurge at a sushi counter. Airport train (Haruka or regular rail) to Kansai International for overnight departure.

✦ KIX → US: typically evening departure

Travel Prep

Packing List & Essentials

Tech & Connectivity

• IC Card / Suica (load at airport)
• Japan eSIM or pocket WiFi rental
• Universal power adapter (Japan = Type A)
• Power bank (large — full day out)
• Google Maps offline: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka
• Google Translate app (camera mode essential)

Money

• Yen cash (~¥30,000–50,000 for 10 days)
• IC Card with ¥5,000–10,000 loaded
• Credit card (Visa/Mastercard — no Amex at many places)
• 7-Eleven ATM for cash withdrawal if needed

Clothing & Gear

• Comfortable walking shoes (non-negotiable)
• Slip-on shoes (temples require removal)
• Compact rain jacket / umbrella
• Light layers for AC-heavy interiors
• Small day pack or tote bag
• Slim card wallet (wallets rarely needed)

Documents

• Passport (6 months validity minimum)
• JR Pass exchange order (print before departing)
• Hotel confirmation printouts
• Travel insurance documentation
• Emergency contact card (laminated)

Language & Tips

Useful Phrases

Most major train stations, hotels, and tourist areas have English signage. Outside of these areas, a smile and a little Japanese goes a very long way. Locals genuinely appreciate any attempt at the language.

ありがとうございます

Arigatou gozaimasu

Thank you (formal)

すみません

Sumimasen

Excuse me / Sorry

いくらですか？

Ikura desu ka?

How much is it?

英語話せますか？

Eigo hanasemasu ka?

Do you speak English?

どこですか？

Doko desu ka?

Where is...?

おすすめは何ですか？

Osusume wa nan desu ka?

What do you recommend?

Emergency Contacts

Japan Emergency (Police) 110

Japan Emergency (Fire / Ambulance) 119

Japan Tourism Agency Hotline (English) 050-3816-2787

US Embassy Tokyo +81-3-3224-5000

Travel Insurance Provider [Add your policy number]

Hotel Tokyo [Add hotel name + phone]

Hotel Kyoto [Add hotel name + phone]

Hotel Osaka [Add hotel name + phone]