11-Day Japan Itinerary: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka for Culture, Food, and Hidden Gems

Dive into neon-lit Tokyo, serene temple-lined Kyoto, and flavor-packed Osaka. This 11-day Japan itinerary blends history, street food, and scenic day trips—perfect for first-timers and return visitors.
Scenic view of Kiyomizu-dera Temple with cherry blossoms in Kyoto, Japan, capturing traditional Japanese architecture at twilight.
Photo by Belle Co on Pexels

Japan marries centuries-old tradition with cutting-edge design. From Edo’s shogun seat to today’s cultural powerhouse, you’ll roam neighborhoods where incense from 7th-century temples mingles with the aroma of freshly torched wagyu and pour-over coffee. This 11-day itinerary orbits three icons: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka—each distinct, all essential.

Expect contrast: Tokyo’s skyscrapers and subcultures, Kyoto’s shrine-studded hills and tea houses, and Osaka’s rollicking markets and nightlife. You’ll ride the Shinkansen, slurp ramen at midnight, wander bamboo groves at dawn, and toast with sake under paper lanterns. Optional day trips unlock Mt. Fuji vistas or friendly deer at Nara Park.

Practical notes: Load a Suica/PASMO to your phone for tap-and-go transit, carry some cash for small eateries, and book popular restaurants or tours in advance. Cherry blossom season (late Mar–early Apr) and autumn foliage (Nov) are peak; winter is crisp and crowd-light; summer is vibrant but humid.

Tokyo

Days 1–5: Tokyo — Neighborhoods, Icons, and Mt. Fuji Views

Tokyo is a tapestry of micro-districts—each with its own rhythm. Start in Asakusa at Senso-ji, ride the river to futuristic Odaiba, then crest Shibuya Sky for citywide views. Seek out indie coffee in Nakameguro, watch lanterns glow in Golden Gai, and chase contemporary art at teamLab (Borderless reopened in 2024; Planets remains a hit).

Arrival and getting around: Fly into Haneda (closest) or Narita. Compare flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. From Narita, the Narita Express to Tokyo Station is about 60 minutes (~¥3,000); Haneda’s monorail to Hamamatsucho is ~20 minutes. Prefer private pickup? Book this transfer: Narita Airport(NRT) Private Transfer To/From Tokyo.

Essential neighborhoods and sights

  • Asakusa and Senso-ji: Tokyo’s oldest temple; browse Nakamise-dori for ningyo-yaki cakes and senbei rice crackers.
  • Ueno and Yanaka: Museums, park strolls, and Yanaka Ginza’s nostalgic snack lanes.
  • Shibuya and Harajuku: Cross the famous Scramble (a 1970s pop-culture icon). Stroll Takeshita-dori, then find calm at Meiji Jingu.
  • Odaiba & Toyosu: Bay vistas, teamLab, and Toyosu Market’s sushi breakfasts.

Curated tours and experiences

Where to eat and drink (specific picks)

  • Breakfast/coffee: Onibus Coffee (Nakameguro) for single-origin pours; Fuglen Tokyo (Tomigaya) for Nordic-style brews and vintage vibes; Turret Coffee (Ginza) for hefty espresso and castella cake.
  • Lunch: Udon Shin (Shinjuku) handmade udon; Gyukatsu Motomura (multiple branches) for sizzling beef cutlet; Tsukiji Outer Market for tamagoyaki skewers and toro nigiri.
  • Dinner: Nabezo (Shabu-shabu/Sukiyaki) for all-you-can-eat wagyu with sesame dip; Tempura Kondo (Ginza) delicate tempura tasting; Afuri (Harajuku) yuzu-scented ramen that’s light and aromatic.
  • Night: Omoide Yokocho’s pocket bars (tiny, smoky, old-Tokyo atmosphere); Golden Gai for themed micro-bars; rooftop cocktail at The Peninsula’s bar before a stroll through Marunouchi.

Where to stay (Tokyo)

Morning of Day 6—Tokyo to Kyoto: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi (~2 hr 15 min; ~¥14,170 reserved seat). Check times and tickets on Trip.com Trains. Consider sending luggage ahead via takkyubin so you can travel light.

Kyoto

Days 6–8: Kyoto — Temples, Tea, and Timeless Streets

Kyoto is Japan’s cultural heart: lantern-lit alleys, wooden machiya townhouses, geiko gliding through Gion, and 2,000+ temples and shrines. Sunrise at Fushimi Inari’s torii gates is magic; afternoons suit the moss gardens of Kokedera or the rock poetry of Ryoan-ji.

Anchor your days around districts: Arashiyama for bamboo and Tenryu-ji; Higashiyama for Kiyomizu-dera and Sannenzaka; the Imperial Palace area for manicured parks; and Fushimi for sake breweries.

Signature experiences

Eat and sip (Kyoto favorites)

  • Breakfast/coffee: % Arabica (Higashiyama) for Kyoto-roasted espresso with pagoda views; Weekenders Coffee (near Karasuma) hidden roastery courtyard; Vermillion Café by Fushimi Inari for a post-hike pour-over.
  • Lunch: Omen (Ginkaku-ji) thick wheat noodles with seasonal veg; Okutan (Nanzen-ji) centuries-old yudofu set; Musashi Sushi (conveyor-belt) for quick, consistent kaiten sushi.
  • Dinner: Katsukura (Sanjo) for panko-crisp tonkatsu with sesame you grind yourself; Yudofu Sagano (Arashiyama) monk-inspired tofu by temple gardens; L’Escamoteur bar (Kiyamachi) for theatrical cocktails in a wood-paneled apothecary setting.

Where to stay (Kyoto)

Morning of Day 9—Kyoto to Osaka: Take a JR Special Rapid (~30 min; ~¥580) between Kyoto and Osaka Stations or a Shinkansen hop (~15 min; ~¥1,420). Check schedules on Trip.com Trains.

Osaka

Days 9–11: Osaka — Street Food, Neon, and Nightlife

Osaka is Japan’s kitchen: loud, generous, and delicious. Dotonbori’s giant crab sign beckons, takoyaki sizzles on cast-iron, and locals trade jokes in Kansai-ben. Between bites, climb the Umeda Sky Building or hop a river cruise for the neon show.

Base yourself near Namba/Shinsaibashi to walk everywhere; day-trip options include Himeji’s white castle (about 1 hour by Shinkansen) or back to Nara if you skipped it in Kyoto.

Food and fun

Eat like a local (specific picks)

  • Breakfast/coffee: LiLo Coffee Roasters (Shinsaibashi) for flights of single origin; Takamura Wine & Coffee Roasters (Fukushima) for a warehouse-roastery vibe.
  • Lunch: Endo Sushi (Osaka Central Market branch) for melt-in-your-mouth nigiri sets; Kiji (Umeda) for fluffy okonomiyaki cooked before you; Kinryu Ramen (Dotonbori) for a quick tonkotsu fix under the dragon sign.
  • Dinner: Matsusakagyu Yakiniku M (Hozenji) to grill marbled wagyu; Mizuno (Dotonbori) classic okonomiyaki since 1945; Kukuru (Dotonbori) octopus-filled takoyaki with creamy centers.
  • Night: Ura-Namba’s standing bars (Namba area) for sake and skewers; Torame Yokocho (Shinsaibashi) for a lively food-hall feel; views from Umeda Sky Building before a riverfront nightcap.

Where to stay (Osaka)

Departing Japan

Fly out of Kansai International (KIX), or ride the Shinkansen back to Tokyo (Nozomi ~2 hr 45 min). Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. For train times, see Trip.com Trains.

Suggested Day-by-Day Blocks at a Glance

  • Days 1–2: Asakusa, Ueno, Yanaka; evening Shibuya Sky and Shibuya Crossing.
  • Day 3: Harajuku/Omotesando, Meiji Jingu; Shinjuku food tour by night.
  • Day 4: Odaiba or teamLab; sumo show; craft cocktails in Shinjuku.
  • Day 5: Mt. Fuji & Kawaguchiko day trip.
  • Days 6–7: Kyoto highlights tour; Higashiyama and Gion; ramen class.
  • Day 8: Arashiyama bamboo forest at dawn; temples and river boat; Pontocho dinner lane.
  • Days 9–10: Osaka food crawl; Dotonbori, Ura-Namba, Umeda Sky Building.
  • Day 11: Last-minute shopping; depart from KIX or return to Tokyo.

In 11 days, you’ll trace Japan’s story from temple bells to neon nights. Expect unforgettable meals, courteous hospitality, and trains that run like clockwork—plus a camera roll full of torii gates, bamboo, and glittering skylines. You’ll leave planning your return.

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