Japan in just 10 days 十日間の日本旅行
Four Different Itineraries
Ten days is the average length of stay in Japan. What to do during this time? How long should you devote to each city? Here are four types of itineraries to chose from.
A Compact Route
Tokyo - Nikko - Kamakura - Hakone - Kyoto - Nara - Hiroshima
For many visitors, a trip to Japan is sometimes the opportunity of a lifetime. Some travelers will be interested in a compact circuit, allowing them to see most things on the duration of their trip. Bear in mind though, this itinerary is rather loaded and requires a lot of travelling. So it is advisable to purchase a Japan Rail Pass for this itinerary.
- Days 1 and 2: visit different areas of Tokyo: Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, Asakusa, Ueno, Ginza, Akihabara...
- Days 3 and 4: choose excursions to do in a day from Tokyo, to Nikko and Kamakura for example.
- Day 5: on the way to Kyoto, stop in Hakone, famous for its hot springs and views of Mount Fuji.
- Days 6 and 7: visit Kyoto and its most famous temples. Two days is really a minimum as the city has many historical sites and attractions.
- Day 8: choose a city to visit in one day, like Nara and Himeji before leaving for Hiroshima.
- Day 9: in front of Hiroshima, the Miyajima Island is one of the must-do trips to Japan. It can be visited in one day, then stay in Osaka or Tokyo on day 10 for the flight home.
An itinerary for Strolling
Tokyo - Kamakura - Kyoto - Hakone - Nara
If you prefer to take your time to discover Japan, then you will need to reduce the number of places to visit, and choose more suitable sites for a slower pace.
- Days 1-3: visit Tokyo landmarks. If you have one more day, you can go to the innermost districts such as Ryogoku, or spend a day in Kamakura.
- Days 4 and 5: stop to visit Hakone or continue on to the Izu Peninsula. This is the opportunity to spend a night in the ryokan (Traditional inn where you can bathe in a hot spring onsen.) An Unmissable experience.
- Days 6-8: visit Kyoto at your own pace. You can take these two days to really get to know the city or choose to visit nearby Arashiyama, Takao or Uji by cable car.
- Day 9: take a whole day to visit Nara, the ancient capital, before returning to the airport for your flight.
A Tokyo-centered Route
Tokyo - Kamakura - Nikko - Yokohama - Hakone - Izu - Kyoto
This itinerary includes Kyoto, which you would need the national Japan Rail Pass, or can just choose to focus primarily on Tokyo and its surrounding areas. In this case, the Japan East Pass would be the best pass for your journey.
- Days 1-3: visiting the iconic areas of the capital.
- 4 and 5 days: one day excursions to Kamakura, Nikko, or Yokohama.
- Days 6 and 7: visiting Hakone or Izu, and spending the night in ryokan.
- Days 8 and 9: A quick visit to Kyoto and its main sites before flying out the next day.
A Kyoto-centered route
Osaka - Kyoto - Nara - Uji - Hikone - Takao - Ise - Tokyo
On the other hand, some travelers will prefer to visit Kyoto and it's surrounding areas.
- Days 1-3: visit Kyoto, its main sites and surrounding areas such Arashiyama, Uji and Fushimi.
- Days 4 and 5: a long stop in Nara will allow you to visit the city in more detail and enjoy its museums and walks - which one day visitors do not have time to see.
- Day 6: choose a day excursion towards the most beautiful castles in the region such as Himeji or Hikone. A day trip to the distant shrines of Ise is possible but requires a lot of organization.
- Day 7: only a short distance from Kyoto, you can discover Osaka and Kobe in a day trip, renowned for their gastronomy.
- Days 8 and 9: a quick visit to Tokyo and its various neighborhoods. However, this section can be left off if you do not have time to visit before your departure.
These routes are only to give you an idea, but feel free to contact us should you require help refining it to make your perfect trip!
