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Itinerary

10 days in Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto and Mount Fuji express

Essential Japan in 10 days: frenetic Tokyo and its contrasting neighbourhoods, a Hakone day trip facing Mount Fuji, then imperial Kyoto with its temples, torii and geishas, followed by a Nara day trip and one final Osaka day. The Shinkansen handles the distances, the JR Pass pays for itself.

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Expert on Japan · 1 contributions

Reviewed by :Japan Desk — Mowando·Editor
Estimated budget
€2,900 - €3,600 per person
confort
Ideal for
  • · First trip to Japan with limited time
  • · Couples or solo travellers wanting the highlights without overextending
  • · Travellers curious about Japanese culture between tradition and modernity
When to go

March, April, May, October, November

The right call at 10 days: 3 nights Tokyo, 1 Hakone day trip, 4 nights Kyoto, 1 Nara day trip, 1 Osaka day + departure. One geographic axis Tokyo → Kyoto → Kansai, zero backtracking — the Shinkansen does the rest.

Day by day

  1. 1
    Day 1

    Arrival in Tokyo — first evening in Shinjuku

    Land at Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND). From Narita: Narita Express N'EX (¥3,090 / ~€20, 60 min to Shinjuku) or Limousine Bus (¥3,200, 90 min). From Haneda: Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho (¥700, 18 min) then JR to your destination. First reflex on arrival: buy an IC Card (Suica or Pasmo, ¥1,000 deposit) at station machines — it covers metro, buses and convenience store purchases.

    Reach the hotel around 5-7pm depending on the flight. First night rule: don't overload the schedule — jet lag (7h with France in summer, 8h in winter) is real. A bowl of ramen at a Shinjuku side-street shop, a walk through Kabukicho to feel the city's pulse, then a long night to start the next 9 days at full strength.

    Tips
    • · Activate your JR Pass the next morning at Narita or Shinjuku JR office — counters open at 7:30am.
    • · Convenience stores (Lawson, 7-Eleven, FamilyMart): best option for the first dinner if landing late — onigiri, hot bento, Sapporo beer at ¥220.
    Tokyo →
  2. 2
    Day 2

    Tokyo — Shibuya, Harajuku and Asakusa

    Activate JR Pass in the morning, then head early to Asakusa (before 9am): Senso-ji temple and the Kaminarimon gate nearly empty at sunrise. The neighbourhood is Tokyo's most Edo-era — old-style streets, rickshaws, yukata shops. Breakfast of matcha tea and mochi at a traditional shop on Nakamise-dori.

    Afternoon: Shibuya and the world's busiest crossing — coffee on the Q-Front terrace to grasp the scale, then down to Omotesando (Tadao Ando architecture) and Harajuku (Takeshita-dori for spectacle, Meiji Jingu for calm, free). Lunch at Gyukatsu Motomura (breaded beef fillet, ~¥1,700). Evening in Shinjuku — view from the Tocho observation deck (45th floor, free) before yakitori dinner under the Yurakucho railway arches.

    Tips
    • · Senso-ji is open 24/7 — go at sunrise (before 7am) for crowd-free photos of Japan's most visited temple.
    • · Meiji Jingu: arrive before 9am on weekends for Shinto wedding ceremonies — free and authentic spectacle.
    Tokyo →
  3. 3
    Day 3

    Tokyo — teamLab, Odaiba and Shibuya Sky

    teamLab Planets in Toyosu (¥3,200, advance booking required): immersion in monumental digital installations — infinite mirrors, animated flowers, ankle-deep water rooms. Allow 1.5-2h. Alternative: teamLab Borderless at Azabudai Hills (¥3,800).

    Afternoon in Odaiba: Tokyo Bay and Rainbow Bridge views, life-size Gundam statue (free), Miraikan science and robotics museum (¥630). Dinner then evening at Shibuya Sky (¥2,000, online booking recommended): open-air rooftop on top of Scramble Square, 229m high, sunset to nightfall over the megalopolis — Tokyo's strongest visual experience in a 10-day trip.

    Tips
    • · teamLab Planets: wear shorts or easily rolled-up trousers — some rooms are walked barefoot through ankle-deep water.
    • · Shibuya Sky: book the 4:30-6pm slot to capture sunset and the neon switch-on in a single visit.
    Tokyo →
  4. 4
    Day 4

    Day trip to Hakone — Mount Fuji and onsen

    Depart Tokyo Shinjuku by Odakyu Romancecar (90 min, ~¥1,200 supplement) or JR Pass-covered train to Odawara then local bus. Hakone is the most convenient access point for Mount Fuji: on clear days (especially autumn and winter), the view from Lake Ashi is spectacular.

    Program: Hakone Ropeway (¥1,000 round-trip) with Owakudani volcanic valley views (sulphur black eggs, ¥500 for 5), then Lake Ashi cruise (¥1,100, 30 min facing Fuji). Afternoon: day-use onsen at a ryokan such as Hakone Yuryo (¥1,500-2,500 depending on package, booking recommended) — soaking in a natural hot spring, the first full immersion in Japanese onsen culture. Return to Tokyo in the evening.

    Tips
    • · Fuji is cloud-covered 50-60% of the time in summer. Early morning (before 10am) and autumn (Oct-Nov) offer the best clear-view odds.
    • · The Hakone Free Pass Odakyu (2-day, ¥6,100) covers all zone transport (bus, ropeway, boat) — pays off on day one.
  5. 5
    Day 5

    Tokyo → Kyoto by Shinkansen

    Tokaido Shinkansen Hikari or Nozomi, Tokyo → Kyoto, 2h15 to 2h45, ¥13,850 (covered by the 7 or 14-day JR Pass). Depart from Tokyo or Shinagawa station. En route: Mount Fuji view on the right side (seats D/E) between Odawara and Shizuoka — last photo chance from the train if Day 4 was cloudy.

    Arrive in Kyoto around noon-1pm. Drop bags at the hotel (most accept bags before check-in). Recommended neighbourhoods: Gion or Higashiyama for historical immersion, or Kyoto-Eki for convenience. Orientation afternoon in Gion: machiya townhouses, geishas in late afternoon on Hanamikoji-dori (5-6:30pm), dinner at a Gion izakaya or a Kawaramachi ramen shop.

    Tips
    • · Book Shinkansen seats in advance via the JR app or the JR Reservation counter — unreserved cars exist but may be standing-room-only in peak season.
    • · Tokyo Suica IC Card works on Kyoto buses and metro — no need to buy a new one.
    Kyoto →
  6. 6
    Day 6

    Kyoto — Fushimi Inari and Kinkaku-ji

    Depart 5:30am for Fushimi Inari Taisha: the 10,000 orange torii gates are empty before 7am, packed by 9am. Hike to the top (Yotsuji, 45 min from the entrance) or a partial loop (30 min to the first plateau). The shrine is free, open 24/7.

    Return to Fushimi Inari station, train back to Kyoto then bus to Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion, ¥500). Classic loop: Kinkaku-ji in the morning (fewer crowds before 10am), Ryoan-ji rock garden next door (¥600), Ninna-ji temple to finish. Lunch tofu kaiseki or ramen in the Kinkaku neighbourhood. Free evening in Gion or Pontocho — the narrow Pontocho alley between the Kamo River and Kawaramachi, with its wooden restaurants overlooking the water, is one of Kyoto's finest.

    Tips
    • · Fushimi Inari: casual clothes and walking shoes — the path climbs 4km to the 233m summit.
    • · Kyoto City Bus: IC card works (¥230/ride) or day pass at ¥600 — pays off after 3 rides.
    Kyoto →
  7. 7
    Day 7

    Kyoto — Arashiyama and bamboo grove

    The Arashiyama district: Tenryu-ji temple (UNESCO, zen garden, ¥1,100) opens at 8:30am, then the Sagano Bamboo Grove just behind — 10 minutes walking through 30m-tall bamboo, free. Arrive before 9am in high season for crowd-free photos.

    Descend to the Oi River for a traditional wooden boat ride (¥1,500/person) or stroll across Togetsukyo Bridge. Lunch in the Arashiyama lanes (tofu yuba or local onigiri). Afternoon at Nishiki Market in central Kyoto ("Kyoto's kitchen" in 300m — marinated salmon, fresh tamagoyaki, dango). Evening in the Higashiyama neighbourhood — the stone-paved lanes of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, lit by lanterns, form Kyoto's most iconic evening image.

    Tips
    • · Tenryu-ji: garden-only ticket (¥500) is enough if you skip the interior halls — full zen garden at half price.
    • · Higashiyama in the evening: arrive after 6:30pm to avoid daytime groups — the lanes empty out and the lanterns come on.
    Kyoto →
  8. 8
    Day 8

    Day trip to Nara — deer and Todai-ji

    Nara is 45 min from Kyoto by Kintetsu train (¥720) or JR (¥770, covered by JR Pass). Nara Park is one of Japan's most extraordinary experiences: 1,200 free-roaming sika deer wander among the temples, begging for shika-senbei crackers (¥200/pack) from visitors.

    Must-sees: Todai-ji (the world's largest wooden building, ¥600 — 15m Giant Buddha); Kasuga Taisha (shrine with 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns, ¥500 for inner galleries). Lunch: kakinoha-zushi (persimmon-leaf sushi, local speciality, ~¥1,500) at Hiraso. Return to Kyoto by mid-afternoon. Free evening — if it's the last night in Kyoto, light kaiseki dinner and a final stroll on Hanamikoji.

    Tips
    • · Deer can be pushy if you have visible senbei — keep the crackers in your pocket until you're ready to feed them.
    • · Nara on weekdays = calm and crowd-free photos. Weekends with Japanese school groups = lively but busy.
  9. 9
    Day 9

    Osaka day trip: Dotonbori and street food

    Train Kyoto → Osaka by JR Rapid Service (30 min, ¥560, covered by JR Pass) or Shinkansen (15 min, ¥1,430). Osaka for a full day before tomorrow's flight — the city deserves a complete day even in express format.

    Dotonbori first: canal, giant glowing billboards, the Kani Doraku crab sign, the Glico running man statue. Osaka's symbol and the best intro to its street food: takoyaki (octopus balls, ¥600/8 pieces at Wanaka or Aizuya), okonomiyaki (savoury pancake, ¥1,200-1,500). Afternoon: Osaka Castle (¥600 for the keep, gardens free) or the Shinsekai district (Tsutenkaku Tower, ¥700, kushikatsu at Daruma). Return in the evening to Kyoto or stay overnight in Osaka for tomorrow's KIX departure.

    Tips
    • · Dotonbori looks as good (or better) at night — plan a 8pm stroll for the full neon effect.
    • · Absolute Shinsekai kushikatsu rule: never double-dip in the sauce — it's a strict local etiquette.
  10. 10
    Day 10

    Departure from Kansai International Airport (KIX)

    Last morning depends on flight time. Kansai International Airport (KIX) is connected to Osaka Namba by Nankai Rapi:t Express (60 min, ¥1,470 Premium or ¥930 Regular) or to Osaka Station by JR Haruka (70 min, JR Pass covered). Allow at least 2h before the flight, ideally 2.5h for intercontinental flights in peak season.

    If the flight is in the evening: last-minute morning shopping at Shinsaibashi (Japanese cosmetics, local Kit Kat flavours, matcha powder, mini sake bottles) or a final uni-don bowl (sea urchin rice, ~¥3,000-4,000) at Kuromon Market. Final tip: cash out your IC Card at the JR counter (get back the ¥500 deposit plus remaining balance) before passport control.

    Tips
    • · KIX airport: the ¥1,000 departure tax is usually included in your ticket — check before queuing for a tax already paid.
    • · Last convenience store at KIX departures level: final chance for matcha Kit Kat, Hi-Chew and Pocky — duty-free shops are pricier.

Other durations

14 days
14 days in Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Mount Fuji
€3,800 - €4,800 per person

Frequently asked questions

Is the JR Pass worth it for 10 days in Japan?+
Yes, but worth checking against your exact itinerary. The 7-day JR Pass costs ¥50,000 (~€330). The Tokyo → Kyoto route alone costs ¥13,850. Add the Narita Express (¥3,090), Nara access (¥770 round-trip) and the JR Haruka from KIX (¥3,600): the 7-day pass pays off easily. If you activate the JR Pass on Day 2 and depart on Day 9, the 7-day pass covers exactly the Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka axis. __Buy before leaving France__ — it cannot be activated once in Japan since 2023.
Cherry blossoms or autumn leaves: which season for 10 days in Japan?+
__Sakura (late March - mid-April)__: cherry blossoms everywhere, a unique atmosphere, but peak attendance — book hotels and trains 3-4 months ahead, prices up 30-50%. __Momiji (mid-November)__: red maples in Kyoto (Tofuku-ji, Eikan-do, Arashiyama), cool but sunny weather, half the crowds, near-normal prices. __May and October__ are the two ideal compromise months for a first trip: mild weather, no heatwaves, manageable crowds, and clear Fuji views in October-November.
Is spending a night in Hakone necessary or is the day trip from Tokyo enough?+
The day trip from Tokyo is fully sufficient for a 10-day format. One night in a ryokan in Hakone is a luxurious experience (¥20,000-40,000/night/person half-board) but optional on a short itinerary. If an overnight ryokan stay is a priority, __swap Day 4 for a Hakone overnight__ and return to Tokyo the morning of Day 5 before the Shinkansen to Kyoto — this adds about 2h to the transfer day. The Hakone day trip (Day 4 in this itinerary) saves a hotel night while not sacrificing the Mount Fuji view.
What is the actual budget for 10 days in Japan at comfort level?+
__Comfort level__ (3-4-star hotels, varied restaurants, main activities): __€2,900 to €3,600 per person__ excluding flights. Approximate breakdown: accommodation €100-160/night × 9 = €900-1,440; 7-day JR Pass ~€330; food €50-75/day × 10 = €500-750; admissions and activities €100-150; local transport IC Card €50-80. Budget travel (hostel, convenience stores) brings it down to €1,500-1,900.
How to handle jet lag in Tokyo (7h difference in summer, 8h in winter)?+
Tested strategy for a 10-day format: on the plane, __sleep in the first 4 hours then stay awake__. On arrival (usually evening local time), have a light dinner, go to bed at 10pm Tokyo time. Morning Day 2, force yourself up at 6:30am for Asakusa at dawn — empty temples, beautiful light, and the physical activity anchors the new rhythm. __Avoid long naps in the first 2-3 days__, even when fatigue is real. At 10 days, losing 1-2 days to jet lag is too costly — better to absorb the tiredness on the first night.

Our verdict

This 10-day Japan itinerary is the most efficient express formula for a first visit: Tokyo for modernity and urban energy, Hakone for the Fuji view, Kyoto for temples and tradition, Nara for deer and the Giant Buddha, Osaka for street gastronomy. Ten days are enough to grasp Japan's contrasts without ever rushing — provided you choose your priorities clearly and don't try to add Hiroshima or Miyajima, which require at least 14 days.

Two things to watch on this short format: don't underestimate jet lag on Days 1-2 (schedule major visits from Day 2 afternoon onwards, not Day 1 morning); and buy the JR Pass before departure — it cannot be activated on arrival since 2023. On 10 days, every day counts. The rule: one unplanned half-day in Tokyo and one in Kyoto. That's where Japan reveals its best secrets.

Read also

Written by La rédaction · Updated 5/29/2026

Japan

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