Japan pairs ancient ritual with cutting-edge innovation. Once known as Edo, Tokyo became the political heart of the nation in the 1600s, while Kyoto guarded imperial culture for over a millennium, and Osaka grew into Japan’s lively merchant capital. Today you can glide between them by Shinkansen, sipping matcha in the morning and slurping ramen beneath neon that night.

This 10-day itinerary prioritizes must-see sights and authentic neighborhoods, from Asakusa’s incense-swirled Senso-ji Temple to Kyoto’s lantern-lit Gion and Osaka’s sizzling Dotonbori grills. Expect hands-on culinary tours, a Mt. Fuji and Hakone day trip, and efficient rail connections that maximize your time on the ground.

Practical notes: Pick up a Suica/PASMO transit card and consider pocket Wi‑Fi for easy navigation. Tipping isn’t customary, cash is still helpful at small shops, and some onsen have tattoo policies—always check. A Japan Rail Pass isn’t necessary for this route; point-to-point tickets are typically better value.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a city of contrasts: serene Shinto shrines tucked beside glass towers, alleys of smoky yakitori bars minutes from Michelin-starred counters. Wander from the tradition of Asakusa to the fashion pulse of Harajuku, then crest above it all at a lookout over Shibuya Crossing’s hypnotic “scramble.”

• Top sights: Meiji Shrine, Senso-ji Temple, Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Skytree, teamLab digital art (optional), Imperial Palace gardens.
• Neighborhoods to savor: Asakusa’s old-town lanes, Omotesando’s design boutiques, Nakameguro’s canal cafes, and Golden Gai’s tiny bars.
• Stay in Tokyo: Browse stays on VRBO Tokyo or Hotels.com Tokyo. Editor picks: The Peninsula Tokyo (imperial-park views), Hotel Gracery Shinjuku (fun, central), Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo (family-friendly), Aman Tokyo (serene skyline retreat).
• Getting in: Compare flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. For easy arrivals from NRT to central Tokyo, consider this private transfer: Narita Airport Private Transfer.

Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo (Afternoon Arrival)

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs in Asakusa. Walk Nakamise-dori to Senso-ji, lighting incense at the Jokoro cauldron for good fortune. Coffee break at Suke6 Diner or traditional sweets at Asakusa Kagetsudo (melon-pan) to settle into the neighborhood rhythm.

Evening: Dinner ideas: Tempura at Daikokuya (golden, sesame-fragrant), sukiyaki at Asakusa Imahan (beef in sweet soy broth), or an izakaya hop along Hoppy Street—try nikomi (stewed offal) and highballs. If energy allows, ride the Sumida River breeze with a stroll toward Tokyo Skytree’s illuminated spire.

Day 2: Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Omotesando & Shibuya

Morning: Enter the cedar-scented torii of Meiji Shrine for a calm start. Coffee at Blue Bottle Omotesando or Bread, Espresso & (thick-cut shokupan), then people-watch along Takeshita-dori’s youthful fashion wave.

Afternoon: Shop Omotesando’s architecture-lined avenue, then walk to Shibuya. Cross the famous scramble, step up to a rooftop viewpoint, and, if you want some pure Tokyo whimsy, suit up for this drive-by thrill: Official Street Go-Kart in Shibuya.

Evening: Explore Shinjuku’s alleys. Join this small-group feast (13 dishes at four hidden eateries) for a delicious primer on Tokyo dining: Shinjuku Food Tour.

Afterwards, sip a highball in Golden Gai’s tiny bars or a craft brew at Vector Beer.

Day 3: Icons of Tokyo with a Local Guide

Morning: Cover more with less transit on a private, licensed tour tailored to your interests—think Senso-ji, Skytree views, Imperial Palace, and a sushi stop: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide.

Afternoon: Lunch ideas: Tonkatsu at Maisen Aoyama (perfect panko crunch) or sushi at Uogashi Nihon-Ichi (stand-and-savor). Explore Nakameguro’s canal boutiques and cafes (Sidewalk Coffee is a favorite).

Evening: Curious about sumo culture? Book a colorful, interactive show with chanko hot pot dinner: Tokyo Sumo Entertainment Show.

Nightcap in Ebisu Yokocho’s lantern-strung food alley.

Day 4: Mt. Fuji & Hakone Day Trip

Day tour: Trade skyscrapers for volcano vistas. This well-loved excursion hits Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station (weather permitting), Lake Ashi, and Hakone’s Owakudani, returning by bullet train: Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train.

Evening: Back in Tokyo, dine under the tracks at Yurakucho’s smoky yakitori joints (try tsukune chicken meatballs) or in Shimbashi’s izakaya lanes where office workers unwind with karaage and sake.

Kyoto

Kyoto is the keeper of Japan’s classical arts—tea ceremony, kimono silk, and temple gardens designed for contemplation. Stroll Stone-paved lanes in Higashiyama, greet shrine foxes at Fushimi Inari, and rise early for the bamboo hush of Arashiyama.

• Top sights: Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Nijo Castle, Gion.
• Local flavors: Yudofu (tofu hotpot), kyo-kaiseki, matcha wagashi sweets, and Fushimi sake tastings.
• Stay in Kyoto: Browse VRBO Kyoto or Hotels.com Kyoto. Favorites: The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto (riverside serenity), Kyoto Tokyu Hotel (classic comfort), Hotel M's Plus Shijo Omiya (value and location), Piece Hostel Sanjo (stylish budget).
• Getting there from Tokyo (Day 5 morning): Take the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station (about 2 hr 15 min on Nozomi; expect roughly $100–$130 one-way). Book via Trip.com Trains.

Day 5: Tokyo → Kyoto, Higashiyama Old Town

Morning: Depart Tokyo by Shinkansen; pick up an ekiben bento for the ride. Arrive Kyoto, drop bags, and refuel with kissaten-style coffee at Kurasu Kyoto near the station.

Afternoon: Walk from Yasaka Pagoda to Kiyomizu-dera via Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka. Browse ceramic studios and try yatsuhashi sweets. Late-day light is magical from Kiyomizu’s wooden stage.

Evening: Dinner picks: Gion Nanba (kaiseki artistry), Omen Kodaiji (udon with seasonal vegetables), or Gion Tanto (homey obanzai small plates). Drift Pontocho Alley for riverside drinks.

Day 6: Kyoto’s Greatest Hits in a Day

Day tour: Maximize your time with a curated coach day visiting Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji, and more: PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour.

Evening: Celebrate with Kyoto sake flights in Fushimi or at a downtown izakaya. Try Kushikura (old machiya house, charcoal-grilled yakitori) or Menbaka Fire Ramen for a theatrical bowl and photos you’ll talk about for years.

Day 7: Arashiyama, Tea, and Gion by Night

Morning: Beat the crowds at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, then visit Tenryu-ji’s Zen gardens. Brunch near the river—fried tofu at Yudofu Sagano or coffee at % Arabica Arashiyama with Katsura River views.

Afternoon: Optional tea ceremony near Gion or a stroll through the lesser-known Gio-ji moss temple. Browse Nishiki Market for pickles, mochi, and knife shops; grab a light bite at Aritsugu’s nearby stands.

Evening: Join a guided walk to understand Kyoto’s geiko/maiko culture (respectful, no chasing photos): Kyoto Gion Geisha District Walking Tour.

Dine after at Gion Yuki for seasonal kyo-ryori or casual sake and small plates at Yoramu.

Osaka

Osaka is Japan’s “kitchen”—gregarious, quick-witted, and proud of its food. Neon reflections ripple across the Dotonbori Canal as vendors flip okonomiyaki and grill skewers late into the night. Between bites, you’ll find a fine castle, lively markets, and inventive coffee roasters.

• Top sights: Osaka Castle, Umeda Sky Building, Dotonbori, Kuromon Market, Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, Shinsekai retro district.
• Must-eats: Takoyaki octopus balls, okonomiyaki savory pancakes, kushikatsu skewers, and market-fresh sushi.
• Stay in Osaka: See VRBO Osaka or Hotels.com Osaka. Picks: The St. Regis Osaka (splurge on service), Swissotel Nankai Osaka (above Namba Station, unbeatable for transit), Hotel Sunroute Osaka Namba (value near Dotonbori), Hotel Taiyo (budget).
• Getting there from Kyoto (Day 8 morning): JR Special Rapid to Osaka Station (~30 min, ~$6–7) or Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka (~15 min, ~$15). Reserve on Trip.com Trains.

Day 8: Kyoto → Osaka, Castle & Umeda Views

Morning: Travel to Osaka and drop bags. Coffee at Lilo Coffee Roasters or Takamura Wine & Coffee Roasters (industrial-chic, stellar beans).

Afternoon: Tour Osaka Castle’s museum and ramparts, then head to Umeda Sky Building’s Floating Garden for city panoramas. Late lunch: Katsu at Gyukatsu Motomura or tempura at Ginza Hageten (Umeda branch).

Evening: Dotonbori time—watch the Glico runner sign light up. Try takoyaki from Kukuru or Creo-ru, then okonomiyaki at Mizuno or Chibo. Nightcap at Bar Nayuta (innovative cocktails) or a riverside beer.

Day 9: Markets, Retro Streets & Serious Snacking

Morning: Graze Kuromon Market: grilled scallops with butter, wagyu skewers, and taiyaki. Coffee at LiLo Coffee Bar (single-origin flight) to reset.

Afternoon: Wander Shinsekai for kushikatsu at Daruma (order a mixed set; don’t double-dip the sauce). If you fancy aquariums, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is world-class and fun on rainy days.

Evening: Join a local-led feast through backstreets and tiny counters—13 dishes at five stops: Osaka Food Tour.

Afterwards, slip into Hozenji Yokocho’s lantern-lit lane for a quiet toast.

Day 10: Easy Morning & Departure (Afternoon Flight)

Morning: Squeeze in a shrine visit to Sumiyoshi Taisha (curved Taiko Bridge) or last-minute shopping in Shinsaibashi. Brunch ideas: fluffy pancakes at Gram or a hearty bowl at Ichiran Ramen Namba.

Afternoon: Head to your airport. From Namba to KIX, ride the Nankai Rapi:t (~35–45 min); from Osaka Station, the JR Haruka Limited Express is convenient. Check timetables and book seats on Trip.com Trains. For flights home, compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Optional Add-Ons & Tips

• Nara half-day from Osaka or Kyoto: JR to Nara (~45–60 min). See Todai-ji’s Great Buddha and the friendly deer park, then return for dinner.
• Onsen etiquette: Rinse before soaking; many baths require full nudity and may have tattoo rules—check in advance.
• Seasonal notes: Cherry blossoms (late Mar–early Apr) and fall foliage (Nov) are peak; pre-book hotels and trains early on Hotels.com and Trip.com Trains.

Summary: In ten days, you’ll taste Japan’s spectrum—Tokyo’s kinetic energy, Kyoto’s temple calm, and Osaka’s playful palate—stitched together by the speed and ease of the Shinkansen. With a Mt. Fuji day trip and food-forward evenings, this itinerary balances headline sights with local texture, leaving room for serendipity along the way.