Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka 10-Day Itinerary

If you are visiting Japan for the first time, Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are THE holy trinity of areas to see. I had the pleasure of visiting Japan and stopping at these cities twice. In this 10-day Itinerary, I will be sharing my consolidated experience and recommendations based on my visits.

Day 1: Tokyo, Arrival and Exploring Shibuya
Day 2: Tokyo, Asakusa & Shinjuku
Day 3: Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera & Gion
Day 4: Kyoto, Fushimi Inari
Day 5: Osaka, Umeda Sky & Dotonbori
Day 6: Osaka, Osaka Castle, Asahi Brewery
Day 7: Osaka, Kobe
Day 8: Tokyo, Shinjuku & Roppongi
Day 9: Tokyo, Nikko
Day 10: Tokyo, Ginza & Travel

Transportation passes and internet connectivity

Passes:

JR Pass used to be THE pass to get as a tourist visiting Japan, however with the 60% price increase as of October 2023, I no longer think it is worth the price to get if you are just visiting Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka or following this itinerary. However, it does make transportation a lot more convenient, and if you plan to use the bullet trains often and to other areas, it may still be a good option. You can reserve your JR pass here on Klook.
Suica is the card to get for public transport and other transportation expenses around Japan (trains, buses, coin lockers, you even use it at bento shops at the stations and convenience stores). On an iPhone you add this transit pass in Apple Wallet.

Internet connectivity

I have only used portable wifis, data roaming, and internet plans with my current carrier in Japan. Here are some things to consider:

Portable wifi is pretty affordable and convenient in that it allows you to connect multiple devices to it, which is a huge cost-saving when traveling together in a group. However, battery life with the two portable wifis I have used has been terrible. Consider bringing a battery pack or two to stay connected. You can order a portable wifi on Klook and pick it up at the airport. This is an excellent option to get connected as soon as you land.
Data roaming features that are free from your carrier, like the one offered by T-Mobile is very slow. I would highly recommend upgrading to an international data plan if you’re not planning to get a portable wifi or purchasing a SIM.

Lodging breakdown:

Day 1 & 2: Tokyo

Stay in a hotel close to main train stations for convenience and to maximize your time (ex: Shinjuku Station, Shibuya Station, Tokyo Station).
There are many hotel options and you can’t go wrong with most of them. HOTEL MYSTAYS is a good affordable option in Shinjuku. Please note that most hotels in Japan are on the much smaller side, but they are very clean and have all the amenities you need.

Day 3 & 4: Kyoto

Stay in downtown Kyoto. A combination of train and bus travel is often needed to get around (without extended walking)
Hotel Kuu is a great option close to Kyoto Station. It also has a public bath, which is a perfect way to rejuvenate after a long day of temple hopping.

Day 5-7: Osaka

Stay close to a train station line for convenience and to maximize your time
Apartment Hotel 11 is a great choice if you want to be near Dotonbori (the main nightlife area) without being right in the thick of it. It’s just a 10-minute walk away, offering an escape from the hustle and bustle. The rooms are more spacious than typical Japanese hotel rooms, which is a plus.

Day 8-10: Tokyo

Stay in a hotel close to main train stations for convenience and to maximize your time(ex: Shinjuku Station, Shibuya Station, Tokyo Station).
I stayed at KOKO Hotel in Ginza, an affordable option conveniently located equidistant from Ginza and Tokyo Station. Its central location made it easy to explore both areas, especially the bustling shopping district of Ginza. Since it was my final days in Japan, I planned to do most of my shopping during this time.

Day 1: Tokyo, Arrival and Explorating Shibuya

Aim to arrive at Narita Airport by early evening (by 6 pm). This gives you time to pick up any physical passes, sim cards/pocket wifi do anything else at the airport while the offices are still open. The train ride (or bus ride) from the airport to Tokyo is about an hour.

Evening

Check-in to your hotel
Explore Shibuya, see the famous Shibuya Crossing, grab food, and visit Shibuya Sky at night. Make sure to purchase a ticket and reserve a time in advance– you can either purchase it from their website, or on Klook.

Day 2: Tokyo, Asakusa & Shinjuku

Morning

Breakfast/Coffee/Tea: Japan has a rich coffee as well as tea culture. Grab a cup of your favorite caffeinated drink at a local shop or hit the konbini (convenient store) for a pick-me-up and drinks for throughout the day. Japan also has amazing bread, so another recommendation is to grab pastries and Japanese bread from a bakery. Most of these places can be found in the train station.
Head to Asakusa to see Sensō-ji Temple. Afterward, stop by and explore Nakamise-dori Street, a shopping street walkable from the temple. You can pick up trinkets or sample some snacks here.

Afternoon

Lunch: There is honestly so much good food everywhere. Make your pick. One recommendation is to try a conveyor belt sushi place. A local favorite is the chain, Sushiro.
Explore Akihabara. Even if you are not into anime, it is quite a spectacle.

Evening:

Visit Shinjuku and try a bar or yakitori spot or two. The drink of choice in Japan is a Highball (whiskey soda). Popular areas include Omoide Yokocho, Golden Gai, and Kabukicho. I don’t exactly recommend dining in these areas, but it is an experience that some people enjoy. Just note you will be paying a premium here and most places will have a cover charge.
Please note that trains stop running around midnight. If you are not staying in the area, plan to head back before midnight or plan to stay out until trains start running again around 5am.

Day 3: Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera & Gion

Morning

Travel to Kyoto (around 2.5 hours by Shinkansen). You can make a reservation on the Shinkansen online or at the train station kiosk and ticketing counters. You can get ticket discounts if you make a reservation far enough in advance online. There are many trains and they come pretty frequently. To get a view of Mt. Fuji, reserve the right side of the car. Grab a bento or two and drinks/snacks from the station for the long ride.
Hotels will take your luggage before your check-in time. There are also coin lockers at the train station for luggage storage.

Afternoon

Explore Kiyomizu-dera Temple and the shopping street leading up to and from it. Ideally, save your shopping towards the end of the visit. Wearing Kimonos/Yukata is pretty popular in Kyoto. Although it may sound cheesy, it is actually a pretty fun things to do, and you get some memorable photos out of it. We booked our kimono and yukata rentals from this affordable shop on Klook.

Evening

Experience Gion, which is known for its traditional tea houses and geisha culture. Its dark streets with lit red lanterns is very aesthetic in the evening. If you are lucky, you might just run into a maiko (geisha in training)!

Day 4: Kyoto, Fushimi Inari

Morning

Start early to Fushimi Inari Taisha. It is an extremely popular temple and getting there early will avoid most of the crowds. There are shops along the hike, but it’s always nice to come prepared with snacks and drinks. Getting there is easy, you can either take the Keihan Main Line or the Nara line to Fushimi-Inari/Inari Station. From there it is a super short walk through town to the temple.
Explore Fushimi Inari Taisha: there are a few hikes to choose from. The main one that is lined with the iconic tori gates is about 2.5 miles, however, it is worth exploring the other trails. There are many smaller shrines to see as well as stone monuments and bamboo forests. Plan for approximately 3 hours here.

Afternoon

Spend time in downtown Kyoto and buy some matcha (which is a specialty of the Kyoto Prefecture, specifically in the city of Uji). Visit Nishiki Market for some shopping and food. Optionally, you can take a 1.5hr train ride to Arashiyama to see the bamboo forest and explore the nature and town around there. It is a bit of a trek, since it is pretty far from the center of town– keep this in mind when planning your itinerary.
If you are staying in hotels in both Kyoto and Osaka, it may be worth it to ask about luggage delivery at reception. There is a small fee, but you should be able to receive your luggage at your Osaka hotel in the afternoon or evening the next day. They will help you fill out the delivery form and coordinate it with the shipping company.

Evening

Enjoy dinner and nightlife in the Pontocho riverfront area.

Day 5: Osaka, Umeda Sky & Dotonbori

Morning

Travel to Osaka from Kyoto (around 15-30 minutes by train).
Consider having brunch at Osaka Station. One dish recommendation is okonomiyaki, a Japanese savory cabbage pancake that is a signature to the area.

Afternoon:

Visit Umeda Sky Building for a panoramic view of the city. You have to book tickets for a time slot in advance. If you are aiming for a sunset viewing, aim to reserve a spot 45 minutes before the sunset to secure a good sunset viewing spot. It is an extremely popular time to visit– tickets sell out for the sunset times within the first 3 hours of being available. Please note that there is a top-floor open-air observation deck as well as a closed viewing area on the floor below. In the close viewing area, there is a cafe with tables and countertop seats overlooking the city. It may be worthwhile to consider grabbing one of these spots (as well as something from the cafe) to sit and enjoy the view.

Evening:

Experience Dotonbori, a chaotic, lively area in Osaka, and enjoy the local street food.

Day 6: Osaka, Osaka Castle, Asahi Brewery

Morning

Explore Osaka Castle and its surrounding park. There is a nice bakery & cafe near the entrance of the park, if you are getting off at Morinomiya Station. They have really good curry bread! To access the castle, you will need to purchase tickets. The lines at the site gets very long, so I highly recommend purchasing it advance online.

Afternoon

Asahi Brewery Tour or Yamazaki Distillery Tour: Reservations for tours have to be made ahead of time. Yamazaki Distillery is based on a lottery system and is extremely hard to get, but its whiskey is renowned and makes for a great souvenir to bring back or gift. I did not get selected for the Yamazaki tour, but I was able to reserve the Asahi Brewery Tour and I have to say it is super fun, even for the non-beer lover. The tour is partially in English but the majority of the spoken part is in Japanese. You get two full pints of beer at the end as well as a logo-ed glass pint end.

Evening

Stop by Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street near Dotonbori for some food and light shopping.

Day 7: Osaka, Kobe

Morning

Grab lunch at Kuromon Ichiba Market. Most things open around 9am.

Afternoon

Honestly, days in Japan get physically tiring. It involves an unusual high amount of walking. I took Day 7 as a breather day and swung by this climbing gym in Namba to give my legs a break and to help work up an appetite to continue to sample all the amazing food Osaka has to offer. I also did some shopping, since prices here are lower than Tokyo, and my partner got a hair cut.
If you want to continue to do more exploration, you can take a day trip to Nara.

Evening

Jump over to Kobe (about 40-minute ride by train) to sample Kobe beef, or find a spot in Osaka.

Day 8: Tokyo, Shinjuku & Roppongi

Morning

Make your way to Tokyo from Osaka and pick up a bento or two for the ride. To get a view of Mt. Fuji, reserve the left side of the car.
Check in to the hotel, they will hold your luggage for you if your room is not ready. Staying in central areas, like Shinjuku, Shibuya and Tokyo will make it a lot easier to get around and explore areas in Tokyo.

Afternoon

Explore Shinjuku during the day and grab a bite. Spots like Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden are perfect for unwinding, especially after a packed itinerary in the days leading up! Please note that Shinjuku station is massive and it is very easy to get lost. Make sure you take the right exit when exiting the station to save you some time.

Evening

If you’re looking for some quintessential Japanese nightlife, Roppongi is the place to be! Ladies, be mindful of your outfit—some clubs will not let you in if you are wearing leggings. If you plan to enjoy the night, consider staying out until morning. It is a very Japanese nightlife experience since trains stop running around midnight and taxis are very expensive. Fortunately, there are a few spots open 24/7, like some Ichiran locations, where you can grab a late-night bite. There’s nothing quite like enjoying a delicious bowl of ramen to cap off a night of clubbing!
If clubbing isn’t your scene, hitting up some local bars for a massive jug of highball and snacking on skewers is always a great time. I once spent four hours at a random corner spot known for its chicken skin skewers with some friends! They had such ridiculously cheap deals that we couldn’t help but keep ordering all night long!

Day 9: Tokyo, Nikko

Morning

Very early morning: Toyosu Market is the new fish market, if you are interested in visiting. The old location, Tsukiji, is just a touristy shell of its former shelf, where you can still visit, and there are still food stalls, but you can bet everything is going to be overpriced.
Grab food at Tokyo station and make your way to Nikko to see the massive Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Unlike shrines and temples in Kyoto, this shrine is less curated to tourists, has elements of both Shinto and Buddhism, and also serves as the burial site of the first shogun of Japan. It takes approximately 2hrs by train to get to Nikko from Tokyo Station. From there, you can either take a bus to the shrine, or walk down the main street through town to the shrine (about a 27 minute walk). Tickets can be purchased in advance from KKday.

Afternoon

Shops tend to open later in Nikko, so either head to the Shrine first to beat the crowd and have a picnic in the complex (the food options in the complex are slim), or grab a bite in town. Tofu is one of the specialties of the area, so tofu dishes are the thing to try! Afterwards, make your way back to the train station and back to Tokyo.

Evening

Grab food and drinks and enjoy more of what Tokyo has to offer. There’s so much amazing food here that even the random places you stumble upon are likely to impress, so I don’t want to recommend just one spot. However, high on my bucket list is the internet-famous seafood donburi spot called Tsujihan. I waited over an hour at the Tsujihan Ark Hills Branch, and while the bowl was fantastic, I’m not sure it was worth the wait—especially when my time in Japan is so limited! I’ve heard from friends who visited that they were lucky enough to snag a seat without any wait, so there’s definitely an element of luck involved!

Day 10: Tokyo, Ginza & Travel

Last day in Japan! A flight later in the day is preferred to allow for last minute shopping.

Ginza is the shopping district to go to and you can find many flagship stores (like Uniqlo and Muji) there. There is also a wonderful stationary store called Itoya, which is perfect for finding unique gifts for all ages. If you’re short on time and can’t make it to Ginza, there are a few well-priced gift shops at Narita Airport. However, options are pretty limited there, so I highly recommend doing your gift shopping ahead of time!
If you are looking for a unique gift, consider buying some Japanese block prints. I bought mine from Hara Shobo, but there are a bunch of other print shops on that same street as Hara Shobo and in the Kanda area.
Additionally, if you have the time, visiting the popular teamLab exhibits is a great option. There are two exhibits available in Tokyo: teamLabs Borderless and teamLab Planets

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