10 Days in Japan: Iconic Spots & A Hidden Gem (Itinerary)
I was slightly intimidated planning a trip to Japan. There is simply so much to see and do in this delightful country, that it's hard to narrow it down to a short itinerary. After an unbelievable amount of hours spent poring over every blog article ever published to the internet on the subject of Japan, I came up with this itinerary.
After following it myself, I thought it was a fantastic first introduction to Japan. This itinerary captures all the contrasts of Japan extremely well in such a short amount of time. The modern and the ancient, the tragic (yet hopeful) and the serene. It covers many of the iconic spots that first-time visitors tend to flock to, as well as a hidden gem that ended up being the highlight of our entire trip.
I'll admit: this itinerary is packed! If you're looking to move at a more relaxed pace, I recommend adding in a buffer day or two.
TOKYO
Day 0: Arrive in Japan
Fly into Tokyo
Fly into Tokyo. We arrived at the Haneda Airport and took the train to Asakusa where we were staying. To fight the jetlag, I highly recommend staying up until at least 8pm if you can make it. Walking around and exposing yourself to the sunlight as early in the day as possible will also help.
Grab dinner in the neighborhood
Grab dinner in the neighborhood. We had sushi at Hinatomaru Kaminarimon Yanagi Koji and thought it was delicious, but there are many places to try. We also recommend trying an izakaya, a Japanese "pub" with small plates of food to snack on.
Day 1: Asakusa, TeamLabs Borderless, & Shibuya
Start early at Senso-ji Temple
Start your day with an early morning visit to Senso-ji Temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo. The jetlag had us wide awake by 6 AM and the temple was just a few steps away from our hotel, which made it easy to get there early.
We were thankful we did: we avoided the majority of the crowds that would plague the place later.
We also recommend visiting at night.
Pick up breakfast from 7-11
After snapping a few photos, make your way to a 7-11 to grab some items for breakfast. They dot every corner so it shouldn't be difficult to find one. I fell head over heels in love with their pancakes with the cream and red bean paste (sounds strange, I know, but you just have to try it!).
Visit TeamLab Borderless
Next, make your way to TeamLab Borderless. This was the highlight of our time in Tokyo. I wrote a full review you should check out before you go. Plan to spend 2-4 hours there, and then grab lunch.
Our Review of Tokyo's TeamLab Borderless
Spend sunset around Shibuya Crossing
The final stop of the day is a trip to Shibuya to witness the famous Shibuya Crossing, the world's busiest and most chaotic pedestrian crossing. Up to 3,000 people cross the street at a time. The best time to go is near sunset.
First, you should experience it from the ground and wait to cross with hundreds of other people. The most dedicated will sprint to the center of the crosswalk for a selfie as soon as the walk sign lights up. It's quite the sight to see.
Next, check out the crossing from above. We went to Starbucks first. They require you to purchase a drink to sit in front of the windows and even still we found it to be quite crowded (plus, who is drinking caffeine at night?). We went to Mag's Park next and would recommend it, although again you need to pay for an entrance ticket, although it does include a drink.
Another option is Shibuya Sky, which you'll need to make reservations for in advance.
Eat dinner in Shibuya
While you're in Shibuya, grab dinner before you head back to your hotel. We ate at Niigata Katsudon Tarekatsu and recommend it, and that's saying a lot because in general I'm not a fan of fried food.
Day 2: Shinjuku & Choose Your Own Adventure
Start with breakfast at Misojyu
Start the morning with a fabulous breakfast at Misojyu. As with many things in Japan, waking up early for this experience will serve you well. We meandered about in the morning and got there at 9:45 AM and spent 45 minutes waiting in line. I was very skeptical about this place, but it was so worth the wait. The food was distinctively Japanese and incredibly flavorful. Yum!
Choose your own Tokyo afternoon
We left Tokyo to head for Kyoto at this point, but we wished we had spent the afternoon exploring Tokyo. Here are some of the things you can do with the time:
- Walk around Shinjuku, especially at night when all the neon signs light up
- Eat at the hole-in-the-wall restaurants down Omoide Yokocho (affectionately nicknamed Piss Alley)
- Check out the arcades in Akihabara
- Explore Meiji Shrine
When I was researching things to do in Tokyo, I found myself frustrated by the lack of structure offered by many itineraries. Everyone recommended just "wandering" and "walking around." I found it hard to justify spending a lot of time on a tight itinerary doing this, but after visiting I understand it more. A lot of the joy in Tokyo is about random discoveries, small eateries, exotic foods, or curious things you'll see as you walk down the street. Make sure to build in a little time for just wandering around.
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed at the Richmond Hotel Premier Asakusa in the Asakusa neighborhood. We thought it was a fantastic neighborhood to stay in for a first time visit and was considerably cheaper than Shinjuku and Shibuya.
KYOTO
I wrote an entire article about the best ways to spend your time in Kyoto. I recommend checking it out for more details.
Best Things To Do In Kyoto: What's Actually Worth It (And What I'd Skip)
Day 3: Travel to Kyoto & Ramen Cooking Class
Take the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto
Take the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto, which will take roughly 2 hours. We didn't book our tickets in advance when we traveled in May and had no problem securing seats at the train station, but I heard during Golden Week in particular it's important to make reservations in advance. The train comes very frequently, roughly every 5-10 minutes.
Check in and relax
Make your way to your hotel and relax.
Take a ramen cooking class
In the evening, take a cooking class with Ramen Factory. We learned so much and had a blast. We even got to use culinary torches!
Get to bed early. You'll be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow!
Day 4: Fushimi Inari & Arashiyama
Wake up early for Fushimi Inari
Start your morning bright and early with a 5 AM alarm. I know it sounds scary, but trust me, you'll be so glad you got up early to avoid the crowds! Grab breakfast on the way and start your walk at 6 AM. For all my best tips on Fushimi Inari, check out this article.
2 Tips to Avoid the Crowds at Fushimi Inari (Kyoto)
Spend the afternoon in Arashiyama
You can choose to either take a quick nap back at the hotel or power through your day. When you're ready, the next stop on the itinerary is a visit to Arashiyama. Here, I recommend checking out the Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama and some temples: Adashino Nenbutsuji, Otagi Nenbutsuji, and Tenryu-ji.
Otagi Nenbutsuji is closed Wednesdays and Sundays, so plan your visit on other days if possible.
You might have noticed that I didn't mention Arashiyama's most famous attraction: the bamboo forest. While beautiful, I found it to be quite overrated, especially since it takes less than five minutes to walk through it and it's packed to the brim with people. If you're curious, you can add this as a stop since it's in the area, but I wouldn't plan your day around it.
Day 5: Gion & Higashiyama
Visit Yasaka Pagoda and Kiyomizu-dera
If you're committed to avoiding the crowds, you'll want to get up early again today. If I had to pick one place to have to myself, I'd choose Fushimi Inari over Kiyomizu-dera. In fact, that is what we chose. We had a "slow" start to the morning and arrived at Kiyomizu-dera, our first stop of the day, at 8:45 AM.
On the way there, I recommend stopping at Yasaka Pagoda for a quick photo.
Kiyomizu-dera is a large Buddhist temple complex on the outskirts of Kyoto. Plan to spend 1.5 - 2.5 hours exploring the grounds.
Wander through Higashiyama
On your way to your next stop, take some time to pop into some of the shops in Higashiyama if that interests you. Higashiyama is the Kyoto you've probably imagined in your head, with narrow stone streets and traditional wooden buildings. It's quite picturesque. I thought all of Kyoto looked like this, but in fact the majority of the city is quite modern! As you wander the streets, make sure to stop by Yasaka Shrine.
Take a traditional tea ceremony
After an early morning start, you're probably craving a jolt of caffeine. If so, you'll be excited for the next stop: a traditional tea ceremony. It's only 45 minutes long and it's a great way to experience something that has been so integral to the culture in Kyoto for 500 years.
We chose Tea Ceremony Sakaguchian and thoroughly enjoyed our experience there.
You'll want to book this experience in advance. The tea house we visited was sold out for the next few days when we checked online upon our visit. Thankfully we bought a ticket in advance.
Visit Kennin-ji
You can choose to have lunch now, or after the next stop, depending on what time you got started.
The next stop is just a short walk away. It's Kennin-ji: a tranquil Zen Buddhist temple. Unlike the flashy, grand temples at Kiyomizu-dera, the atmosphere is calmer and the emphasis at Kennin-ji is on the beautiful gardens and stunning mural that decorates the ceiling of the main hall. A visit takes less than an hour, but it's well worth it.
End with an evening walking tour in Gion
I recommend taking a break (perhaps a short nap) before catching an early dinner in preparation for your evening walking tour in Gion. This was my favorite activity in Kyoto and I highly recommend it, especially if you love learning about geisha culture.
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed at the Hotel Gion Ichirin and loved it. It was in a great spot in the heart of Gion, just steps away from Higashiyama's historic streets and it had a gorgeous, peaceful lobby to relax in.
You need to book one extra night in Kyoto if you plan to visit Hiroshima as a day trip from Kyoto like we did.
HIROSHIMA
Day 6: Day Trip to Hiroshima
Visit Hiroshima as a day trip from Kyoto
Today, you'll be venturing outside Kyoto on a day trip to Hiroshima. I wrote about our experience extensively in this blog article.
Why Hiroshima Should Not Be Missed (Day Trip from Kyoto)
WHERE TO STAY
Since you're just visiting as a day-trip, you don't need to find a hotel in Hiroshima. I would recommend staying in Kyoto and making the trek down to Hiroshima for just the day.
KUMANO KODO
Day 7 - 10: Kumano Kodo
Head into the Japanese countryside
You might have figured it out by now, but this is the hidden gem I was talking about. Hiking the Kumano Kodo and spending 4 days in the Japanese countryside was so incredibly memorable and my favorite thing I did in Japan. Leave the hordes of tourists behind and get your blood pumping with this hike!
I wrote an article on my experience that I recommend you check out if you're considering doing this too.
The Kumano Kodo: Hiking Japan's Ancient Pilgrimage (Hongu to Nachi)
Here's an outline of the itinerary for the next few days:
- Day 7: Travel to Yunomine Onsen
- Day 8: Hike Day 1
- Day 9: Hike Day 2
- Day 10: Travel to next destination
In the Kumano Kodo article, I recommend traveling back to the starting point (Kyoto) on Day 4 (Day 10 in this itinerary). Since in this itinerary you're saving the hike for the end of your trip, I recommend traveling to Tokyo instead to catch your flight home the next day. You can use Japan's luggage forwarding service to get your large suitcases transferred from Kyoto to Tokyo. If you decide to do the hike in the middle of your trip (like we did), you can store your luggage in Kyoto if you return to the same hotel you departed from. We personally did this hike between Day 3 (cooking class) and 4 (Arashiyama), departing from and returning to Kyoto.
WITH MORE TIME
With more time, you can plan a day trip to Nara from Kyoto to see the giant Buddha inside Todai-ji and the free-roaming deer that have learned to bow in exchange for food. You can also plan to spend time in Osaka, either as a day trip from Kyoto or as a destination where you spend a few days. Osaka is a vibrant city famous for its street food, nightlife, and the dazzling neon signs of Dotonbori. You could also add another day or two to Tokyo.
FAQS
Should I rent a car?
No, I recommend relying on Japan's train system to get from city to city. Within each city, you can walk, take the buses or trains, or take taxis via the Go app.
Should I get the Japan Rail Pass?
For this itinerary, probably not. We opted not to. Most travelers following a Tokyo-Kyoto-Hiroshima route will spend less by purchasing individual tickets. Use an online Rail Pass calculator to compare costs before purchasing.
Should I buy Shinkansen (bullet train) tickets in advance?
Most of the time, it's not necessary. We traveled in May and purchased our tickets at the station without any issues. However, if you're traveling during Golden Week, cherry blossom season, major holidays, or with oversized luggage, booking in advance is a good idea.
What's the best time of year to go to Japan?
In my opinion, the best time to go is either March, May, October, or November. In April, the weather is very pleasant, but Japan is incredibly crowded due to the cherry blossoms and Golden Week. June through September is hot, humid, and rainy, and the winter months of December through February are very cold, although perhaps appealing if you want to ski or avoid the crowds.
Do I need to speak Japanese?
Not at all! Many Japanese people speak English. Those who don't use Google Translate. Many signs and tickets are written in both English and Japanese.
Is Japan a good destination for first-time international travelers?
Yes! It's safe, clean, efficient, and has excellent public transportation. The locals are very friendly and helpful. Many signs are in English and Japanese.
Is Japan a good destination for solo female travelers?
Absolutely. It's easy to get around and very safe, even at night.
What apps should I download before visiting Japan?
I recommend downloading Google Maps, Google Translate, and Go (for taxis). You can also purchase a Suica Card (for public transportation) via Apple Wallet if you have an iPhone.
What was your favorite thing you did in Japan?
My absolute favorite thing I did was the Kumano Kodo hike, but TeamLabs Borderless, the day trip to Hiroshima, and the evening walking tour in Gion were also incredible. I also just enjoyed being in Japan and eating all the incredible food. It's probably the best food destination I've been to.
Is the Kumano Kodo worth it if I only have 10 days or should I spend more time in the major cities?
That depends entirely on your preferences! If you love getting off the beaten path, venturing into the countryside, stepping outside your comfort zone, and exercising, I highly recommend adding it to your itinerary. It was our favorite part of the trip and shows you a completely different side of Japan than the major cities.
Does this itinerary build in time for relaxing?
This is an active, fast-paced itinerary. We enjoy active travel and early mornings, but this itinerary includes multiple pre-dawn starts, a day trip to Hiroshima, and a multi-day hike. If that sounds exhausting, add a couple of extra days or skip the Kumano Kodo.