10 Day Japan Itinerary
The Golden Route with room to breathe — the same Tokyo–Hakone–Kyoto spine as our week, then three more days to reach west to Hiroshima and the "floating" torii of Miyajima.
Ten days lets Kyoto stretch to three nights, adds a Nara day among the deer, and ends on the moving Peace Memorial and the island shrine. Below it's day by day — morning to evening, with where to eat, exactly how to get between places, and where to stay.
The route
- 1 Tokyo 3 nights ✈ Arrive
- 2 Hakone 1 night
- 3 Kyoto 3 nights + day trip: Nara
- 4 Hiroshima 2 nights + day trip: Miyajima
- 5 Osaka Fly out · KIX ✈ Fly home
Route: Tokyo (3 nights) → Hakone (1) → Kyoto (3) → Hiroshima (2) → Osaka (fly out of Kansai). West along the Tōkaidō and San'yō Shinkansen, then back to Osaka for the airport.
Indicative, mid-range, per person, excluding international flights and ~¥30,000 of intercity Shinkansen over the trip. Business hotels and konbini meals cost less; a ryokan night and kaiseki cost more.
On this longer, west-reaching route a 7-day JR Pass can be worth it if you use the slower Hikari services — but the fast Nozomi isn't covered. Do the maths in our rail pass guide, and see Getting around Japan.
These are just cues — for what each dish is, the districts to find it in and a few dependable places near the day's sights, see where to eat in Tokyo.
Reality check. Days 1 and 10 are really half-days once flights and transfers are counted. You change hotels four times — travel light and use takuhaibin luggage forwarding between cities. On the Kyoto–Hiroshima leg, the Nozomi is fastest but isn't covered by a JR Pass; the Hikari is.
Where to stay
One base per stop, chosen for the route. Each links to that city's full where-to-stay guide.
Pick: a business hotel around Shinjuku Station, or a quieter modern hotel in Asakusa. Suits: first-timers who want everything a short train away. Watch: rooms are small — pay up a category for space.
Where to stay in Tokyo →Pick: a ryokan with a private or in-room onsen and kaiseki dinner. Suits: couples and anyone wanting the traditional inn. Watch: book early; arrive mid-afternoon for the fixed dinner.
Where to stay in Hakone →Pick: a machiya townhouse in Higashiyama for dawn temples on foot, or a hotel by Kyoto Station for easy hops. Suits: temple-first or logistics-first travellers. Watch: Higashiyama is hilly and quiet at night.
Where to stay in Kyoto →Pick: a hotel near the Peace Park for the trams and the river, or by the station for the Miyajima and airport runs. Suits: anyone pairing the memorial with the island. Watch: the city is spread out — stay near a tram line.
Where to stay in Hiroshima →Make it yours
Shorter
Drop Hiroshima for the 7-day Golden Route; longer? Add the Alps on the 14-day.
Cheaper
Business hotels over the ryokan, a Hikari-based JR Pass, and konbini or market meals.
Family-friendly
teamLab, Nara's deer and Osaka's Universal; keep temple and museum days short.
Rainy day
Museums, depachika food halls, covered arcades — Nishiki, Hondori in Hiroshima.
By bike
Add the Shimanami Kaidō from near Hiroshima, an island-hopping cycle route.
Reverse it
Fly into Kansai and out of Tokyo if your flights suit — it works west-to-east too.
Before you go
- Forward your luggage (takuhaibin).
Send the big bag hotel-to-hotel between cities; carry an overnight bag for Hakone.
- Reserve what sells out.
Shinkansen seats in peak, teamLab timed tickets, the Hakone ryokan.
- Get an IC card & data.
Suica/PASMO for local trains and konbini, plus an eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi. See practical information.
- Do the entry admin.
Most visitors are visa-free; complete Visit Japan Web before you land.
- Weigh the rail pass.
On this west-reaching route a Hikari-based 7-day pass can pay off — check the maths.
Good to know
Questions people actually ask
Is 10 days a good length for Japan?
It's the sweet spot for a first trip — enough for Tokyo, Kyoto and the west (Hiroshima and Miyajima) at a comfortable pace, without the rush of a week or the commitment of a fortnight.
Is Hiroshima worth the trip from Kyoto?
Yes. The Peace Memorial is one of the most moving places in Japan, and Miyajima's floating torii is among its most beautiful sights. Together they make a strong, contrasting end to the trip, ~1 h 40 west of Kyoto by Shinkansen.
Do I need a Japan Rail Pass for this route?
It's closer than on the 7-day. A 7-day pass can pay off across the Tokyo–Kyoto–Hiroshima–Osaka legs if you use the Hikari (the pass doesn't cover the faster Nozomi). Our rail-pass guide has the sums.
How much should I budget?
Beyond flights and rail, mid-range travel runs roughly ¥18,000–30,000 per person per day. Intercity Shinkansen over ten days adds up — budget ~¥30,000 for the rail legs, or a pass.
Could I add Osaka as its own stop?
Easily — swap the Nara day for an Osaka day (Dōtonbori, the castle, Kuromon Market), or add a night there before flying out. Osaka is 15 minutes from Kyoto by Shinkansen.
Check this before you go
Researched August 2026 from our own trips and official sources. Train times and fares change and should be confirmed close to travel; the itinerary structure is stable. Review due February 2027.
- Japan National Tourism Organization — regions, events and current advice
- Hyperdia / operator sites — live Shinkansen times and fares (confirm your legs)
- Visit Hiroshima — Peace Park and Miyajima tide times and hours
Where to go next
Been recently?
Itineraries drift as trains and prices change. If you've just done this route, these are the details most worth a second pair of eyes.
- Were the Shinkansen fares and times close to what we show? Fares move
- Did the Miyajima tides line up with your visit?
- Any sight where the "beat the crowds" timing no longer holds?
Tell us what you found — we date every change and say what we altered.