Japan’s story stretches from ancient shrines and samurai castles to bullet trains and chef-driven alleys that hum past midnight. This itinerary traces that arc: Tokyo’s restless energy, Kyoto’s measured grace, and Osaka’s convivial, food-loving spirit—each city distinct, all connected by the sleek shinkansen.

Expect cultural heavyweights—Meiji Shrine, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Osaka Castle—balanced with neighborhood walks, artisan snacks, and third-wave coffee. We’ve included time-smart day tours, a Mt. Fuji and Hakone excursion, and curated dining from standing sushi bars to kaiseki legends.

Practical notes: You don’t need a Japan Rail Pass for this route; point-to-point tickets are usually cheaper. Pick up a Suica/PASMO/ICOCA transit card (or mobile version) for subways and buses. Tipping isn’t customary. Cash is still handy, but cards and mobile pay are widely accepted.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a dazzling collage: serene shrine forests beside skyscrapers, alleyway izakaya under train tracks, and design-forward coffee bars hiding in plain sight. It’s a city to savor by neighborhood—Asakusa’s lantern-lit Senso-ji, fashionable Omotesando, and Shibuya’s famous scramble, a nerve center of pop culture since the 1930s.

Start with classic viewpoints—Tokyo Skytree or Shibuya Sky—then dive into street-level flavors: tsukemen at Fuunji, buttery tamagoyaki at Tsukiji’s outer market, and charcoal-kissed yakitori in Omoide Yokocho. Evenings invite bar-hopping in Golden Gai or a quiet highball at a standing bar in Yurakucho’s brick arches.

• Where to stay (Tokyo): For five-star polish near the Imperial Palace, book The Peninsula Tokyo. In lively Shinjuku with Godzilla views, choose Hotel Gracery Shinjuku or classic sky-high rooms at Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo. Steps from JR lines and airport trains, Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku is a value favorite; families bound for Disney love Hilton Tokyo Bay. Browse more stays on Hotels.com or apartments on VRBO.
• Getting here: Compare flights to Tokyo on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. From NRT, the Narita Express to Tokyo Station/Shinjuku takes ~60 minutes; from HND, Keikyu/Monorail reaches the city in ~20–35 minutes.

Day 1: Land in Tokyo, Shinjuku Night Walk

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off jet lag with a gentle loop through Shinjuku Gyoen’s lawns if timing permits, or browse Isetan’s depachika for picture-perfect bento.

Evening: Slide into an izakaya—Japan’s casual, share-plate pub. Try Omoide Yokocho for smoky yakitori at stalls like Torien or Kabuto; or head to Fuunji for cult-classic tsukemen (standby lines move fast). Nightcap at Bar BenFiddich for apothecary-style cocktails using house infusions.

Day 2: Tokyo Icons by Coach (Full-Day Tour)

Let a guide handle logistics while you cover serious ground—Meiji Shrine, Imperial Palace views, Senso-ji in Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree admission, even a bay cruise (schedule-dependent). Ideal for first-timers.

1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour

Dinner ideas: In Shibuya, duck into Uobei (conveyor-style sushi fun), or Umegaoka Sushino Midori (fresher, worth a wait). For wagyu, Han no Daidokoro in Dogenzaka grills A5 cuts at the counter.

Day 3: Tsukiji Tastes, Asakusa Alleys, Shinjuku Food Crawl

Morning: Join a local-led food walk at Tokyo’s beloved outer market—taste silky tuna, crispy shrimp tempura skewers, and warm tamagoyaki while learning market lore and etiquette.

Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Culture Walking Tour

Afternoon: Metro to Asakusa. Explore Senso-ji’s Kaminarimon Gate and Nakamise shopping street for kinako-dusted sweets. Cross to the Sumida River promenade for Skytree views; coffee at Fuglen Asakusa or Kuramae’s Leaves Coffee.

Evening: Feast through four local joints in Shinjuku—think yakitori, oden, and regional bites—with a savvy host who steers you away from tourist traps.

Tokyo: Shinjuku Food Tour (13 Dishes at 4 Local Eateries)

Day 4: Day Trip — Mt. Fuji and Hakone

Trade neon for alpine air. A deluxe coach climbs to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station (weather permitting), then you’ll cruise Lake Ashi and ride the Hakone Ropeway over sulfurous Owakudani. Return to Tokyo by shinkansen—fast and fun.

Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train

Supper back in town: Slurp late-night tonkotsu at Ichiran Shinjuku or classic shoyu at Harukiya Ogikubo. Craft beer fans: Mikkeller Kanda or YYG Brewery.

Tokyo → Kyoto travel (tomorrow): Book shinkansen seats on Trip.com Trains. Nozomi: ~2 hr 15 min; Hikari: ~2 hr 40 min. Reserved seat ~¥13,500–¥14,500 (~$90–$100). Morning departure recommended.

Kyoto

Kyoto is the keeper of Japan’s classical heart—1,000+ Buddhist temples, shrine-torii snaking into cedar forests, and tea houses that still shape the city’s rhythm. Dawn is magic here, when saffron light hits Kiyomizu-dera’s veranda and Fushimi Inari’s gates are quiet.

Between temple walks, savor Kyoto cuisine: delicate tofu hot pots in temple quarters, Kyoto-style sushi (pressed mackerel battera), and kyo-wagashi sweets. Markets and lanes—Nishiki, Pontocho, and Gion’s cobbles—invite slow wandering.

• Where to stay (Kyoto): Riverside elegance at The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto; polished comfort at Kyoto Tokyu Hotel; high-value hubs like Hotel M's Plus Shijo Omiya or design-forward Piece Hostel Sanjo. See more on Hotels.com or browse apartments on VRBO.

Day 5: Tokyo to Kyoto, Higashiyama Stroll

Morning: Shinkansen to Kyoto (2–2.5 hours). Drop bags at your hotel.

Afternoon: Walk the Higashiyama route: Yasaka Shrine to Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka’s stone lanes, ending at Kiyomizu-dera’s wooden stage. Try soft-serve matcha or yatsuhashi along the way.

Evening: Dinner in Gion or Pontocho. For kaiseki, Kikunoi (book well ahead) showcases seasonal kyo-ryori; more casual: Omen Kodaiji (udon with vibrant toppings) or Gion Tanto for homestyle Kyoto plates. Nightcap at L’Escamoteur for whimsical cocktails.

Day 6: Kyoto Essentials by Coach (Full-Day Tour) + Gion Night Walk

Cover marquee sights efficiently: Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari Taisha’s torii tunnels, Arashiyama’s bamboo grove, and often Kinkaku-ji or Saga’s scenes—depending on the day’s route. It’s a strong overview with minimal transit puzzles.

PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour

After dark, join a guided wander through Kyoto’s atmospheric Gion to learn the real stories of geiko and maiko—far beyond the myths.

Kyoto Gion Geisha District Walking Tour - The Stories of Geisha

Day 7: Philosopher’s Path, Tea, and Market Grazing

Morning: Start at Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) then stroll the cherry-tree-lined Philosopher’s Path. Pause at Honen-in’s moss gardens. Espresso at Weekenders Coffee or % Arabica in Higashiyama.

Afternoon: Nishiki Market lunch crawl: grilled unagi skewers, dashimaki tamago, fresh tofu, and sesame croquettes. Continue to Nijo Castle (note: often closed Tue) or Heian Shrine’s giant torii.

Evening: Tea lovers: Ippodo’s guided tastings illuminate sencha vs. gyokuro. Dinner: Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu (beef cutlet you finish on a hot stone) or Katsukura for panko perfection. Try a sake flight at Fushimi’s sake bars if time permits.

Kyoto → Osaka travel (tomorrow): JR Special Rapid: ~30 minutes, ~¥1,210 (~$8). Shinkansen Kyoto → Shin-Osaka: ~15 minutes, ~¥1,420 (~$10), then metro to Namba/Umeda. Book on Trip.com Trains.

Osaka

Osaka is where Japan loosens its tie—rowdy, generous, and always hungry. The “nation’s kitchen” invented comfort classics: takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu. Neon riverside Dotonbori is a culinary carnival, while retro Shinsekai serves beer with a side of nostalgia.

Between bites, climb Osaka Castle’s ramparts, gaze from Umeda Sky Building’s open-air deck, and browse indie fashion in Amerikamura. Evenings? Squeeze into a tachinomi (stand bar) in Ura-Namba and see where the night leads.

• Where to stay (Osaka): Directly above Nankai Namba Station (perfect for KIX): Swissotel Nankai Osaka. Luxe address on Midosuji: The St. Regis Osaka. Near Dotonbori, Hotel Sunroute Osaka Namba is handy; for Universal Studios, choose Hotel Universal Port or condos at Universal Bay Condominium. More options on Hotels.com or VRBO.

Day 8: Kyoto to Osaka, Castle to Dotonbori

Morning: Train to Osaka and drop bags. Coffee at Lilo Coffee Roasters or Takamura Coffee Roasters (also a stellar wine shop).

Afternoon: Explore Osaka Castle Park and the museum inside the keep. Head to Umeda Sky Building’s rooftop for sweeping views of the Yodo River and city grid.

Evening: Dive into Dotonbori’s lights. For takoyaki, try Aizuya (original soy-based style) or Wanaka; for okonomiyaki, Mizuno or Ajinoya. Stroll the canal, snap the Glico sign, then a nightcap at Bar Nayuta or a standing sake bar in Ura-Namba.

Day 9: Hidden Osaka + Shinsekai Feast

Morning: Get your bearings with a local guide through hotspots and quirky corners—temples tucked behind arcades, mom-and-pop eateries, and photogenic backstreets.

Osaka Kickstart: Hotspots and Hidden Gems Private or Group Tours

Afternoon: Optional half-day hop to Nara (45–60 minutes by Kintetsu/JR) for Todai-ji’s Great Buddha and the lanterns of Kasuga Taisha; or stay in Osaka for Kuromon Ichiba snacking (fresh uni, grilled scallops) and Sennichimae’s kitchenware arcades.

Evening: Eat your way through retro Shinsekai with a guide—15+ dishes and local drinks across alley joints. Expect kushikatsu skewers, doteyaki (miso-braised beef tendon), and neighborhood stories you won’t find online.

Hungry Osaka Street Food Tour: 15 Dishes & 3 Drinks-Like a Local

Day 10: Last Sips and Souvenirs, Fly Home

Morning: Coffee at Mel Coffee Roasters or % Arabica (Amerikamura). Souvenirs: knives at Tower Knives Osaka, artisan sweets, or regional snacks (551 Horai pork buns travel well).

Afternoon: Train to Kansai International Airport. From Namba, the Nankai Rapi:t limited express takes ~34–38 minutes (~¥1,300–¥1,450). Compare flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Optional and Alternatives

• Tokyo private guide: Tailor a 6-hour circuit to your interests—architecture, pop culture, or gardens. Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

  

• Mt. Fuji variations: Prefer Kawaguchiko viewpoints and Arakurayama’s pagoda stairs? Consider this alternative circuit. Tokyo: Mt.Fuji & Lake Kawaguchiko 1-Day Bus Tour

  

• Kyoto private vehicle: If mobility is a concern or you want a custom route with less walking, book a driver-guide. Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle

  

Daily Coffee & Dining Shortlist (By City)

• Tokyo: Coffee at Verve Shinjuku, Glitch Kanda, Onibus Nakameguro. Breakfast at Bills Omotesando (ricotta hotcakes) or Bongen Coffee for pastries. Lunch picks: Tonkatsu Tonki (Meguro), Afuri Yuzu Shio Ramen. Dinner: Teyandei (Nishi-Azabu, refined izakaya), Kyubey Ginza (sushi, book ahead), Tempura Kondo (elevated seasonal fry).
• Kyoto: Morning matcha latte at % Arabica, kissaten vibes at Smart Coffee. Lunch: Omen udon, Musashi Sushi (conveyor but quality), Menbaka Fire Ramen (spectacle). Dinner: Kikunoi (kaiseki), Hyotei (400-year legacy), Yakitori Hitomi (counter grilling).
• Osaka: Coffee at Lilo or LiLo Coffee Factory; brunch at Brooklyn Roasting Kitahama riverside. Lunch: Kushikatsu Daruma (classic skewers), Tokisushi (standing sushi). Dinner: Ajinoya or Mizuno (okonomiyaki), Torihei (yakitori), End at Bar Freedom or a tachinomi in Tenma.

Train Tips: Keep your shinkansen ticket handy for transfer gates. Luggage delivery (takkyubin) is easy between hotels; send big bags ahead when changing cities. For all city-to-city searches and tickets, use Trip.com Trains.

This 10-day Japan plan blends blockbuster sights with neighborhood nuance—equal parts temples, tasting menus, and train rides with a view. Come hungry, rise early for the calm, and let each city teach you a different rhythm of modern Japan.