Japan’s story stretches from Jomon pottery and samurai castles to bullet trains and robot cafés, a country where ancient rituals coexist with dazzling tech. In twelve days, you can taste the rhythm of three essential cities—Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka—each with a distinct personality yet stitched together by the Shinkansen.

Expect the sublime and the playful: quiet temple gardens at dawn, yakitori alleys at dusk, and a late-night bowl of ramen when the city glows. Spring cherry blossoms and fiery autumn leaves are spectacular, but Japan rewards year-round with seasonal cuisine, festivals, and onsen retreats.

Practical notes: Pick up a rechargeable IC card (Suica/PASMO/ICOCA) for trains and convenience stores; contactless cards are widely accepted. Trains run to the minute; queue markings and quiet car etiquette matter. Tattoo policies at onsen vary—check ahead—and keep cash handy for small shops.

Tokyo

Days 1–5: Tokyo essentials and two easy day trips

Tokyo is a city of villages—Asakusa’s Edo spirit, Harajuku’s youth culture, Ginza’s polish, and the after-hours whirl of Shinjuku. It’s also the best place to dive into sushi, ramen, and third-wave coffee before riding out for a restorative onsen day in Hakone or a seaside shrine stroll in Kamakura.

Getting in: Fly into Haneda (closest) or Narita. Compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From Haneda, the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho takes ~20 minutes; from Narita, the Keisei Skyliner to Ueno takes ~41 minutes.

Where to stay: Base in Shinjuku/Shibuya for nightlife and transit, Ginza for refined shopping, or Asakusa for old-Tokyo vibes. Browse stays on VRBO Tokyo or Hotels.com Tokyo.

• Asakusa and the old city: Visit Sensō-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, then wander Nakamise-dori for ningyoyaki (little bean-paste cakes) hot off the griddle. Cross to Kappabashi “Kitchen Town” for hand-forged knives and hyper-real plastic food models.
• Shibuya + Shinjuku at night: Watch the famous Shibuya Crossing from the Shibuya Sky observatory, then slip into a cozy izakaya (pub-restaurant) for skewers and sake. In Shinjuku, explore Omoide Yokocho’s smoky yakitori lanes and the tiny theme bars of Golden Gai.
• Art & architecture: teamLab Borderless in Azabudai Hills returns with sensor-driven digital art that spills across rooms. For modern design, check Omotesando’s flagship buildings by Tadao Ando, Herzog & de Meuron, and SANAA.
• Food you’ll talk about for years:
  • Sushi: Try mid-range excellence at Kyubey Ginza (book ahead) or stand-up fun at Uogashi Nihon-Ichi for quick, pristine nigiri.
  • Ramen: Kikanbo (Kanda) serves a peppercorn-laced, spicy miso with a drum-beat theatrics; Afuri is beloved for its bright yuzu-shio broth.
  • Tonkatsu: Maisen Aoyama Honten plates ethereal, panko-crisp pork cutlets in a retro bathhouse-turned-dining room.
  • Yakitori/izakaya: Bird Land (Ginza, Michelin-starred) grills every chicken cut with reverence; pair with sake flights.
• Coffee, breakfast, and sweets:
  • Fuglen (Tomigaya) channels Nordic coffee culture; grab a cappuccino before a Yoyogi Park stroll.
  • Koffee Mameya Kakeru (Omotesando) offers tasting-course coffee—reserve for a barista-led journey.
  • VIRON (Shibuya) has Parisian-grade croissants and a legendary pain au chocolat; go early.
  • Treat: Fluffy Japanese pancakes at A Happy Pancake (Omotesando) or cream puffs at Beard Papa’s original Tokyo outlets.

Day Trip: Hakone Onsen Loop (full day): Ride the Romancecar from Shinjuku or Shinkansen to Odawara, then use the Hakone loop—mountain railway, cable car over Owakudani’s steaming vents, ropeway to Lake Ashi, and pirate-style boat to Hakone-machi. Soak at an onsen (many accept day visitors; check tattoo policies). Expect ~1.5–2 hours each way; transport passes are available. For trains, search schedules and fares on Trip.com Trains.

Day Trip: Kamakura & Enoshima (easy coastal escape): In ~60–75 minutes from Tokyo, reach Kamakura’s Great Buddha at Kōtoku-in, the bamboo grove at Hokoku-ji, and surfer cafés by the sea. Walk the Komachi-dori food street for purple sweet-potato soft serve and croquettes, then catch sunset by Enoshima Island.

Tokyo → Kyoto (morning of Day 6): Take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kyoto. Nozomi: ~2h15; Hikari: ~2h40. Ordinary reserved seat is typically ¥14,000–¥15,000 (~$95–$110) one-way. Check times and book via Trip.com Trains.

Kyoto

Days 6–9: Temples, tea, and time travel

Kyoto is the keeper of Japan’s classical arts—1,600 temples, wooden machiya townhouses, and tea masters at work. Early mornings bring hush to famous sites; evenings reveal lantern-lit lanes and kaiseki dinners that read like poetry.

Where to stay: Sleep near Gion/Higashiyama for walkable sights, Kyoto Station for transit convenience, or Arashiyama for riverside calm. Browse VRBO Kyoto or Hotels.com Kyoto.

• Higashiyama classics: Start at Kiyomizu-dera’s cliffside veranda, wander the preserved Sannenzaka lanes, and pause for matcha at a teahouse. Yasaka Pagoda peeks between rooftops for iconic photos.
• Fushimi Inari at dawn: Walk under thousands of vermilion torii gates before crowds—go early. Reward yourself with espresso and banana bread at Vermillion café by the shrine.
• Arashiyama & zen gardens: Enter the Bamboo Grove via Tenryu-ji’s strolling garden, then cross the Togetsukyo Bridge. Detour to Okochi Sanso Villa for manicured paths and mountain views.
• Golden & Silver Pavilions: Kinkaku-ji dazzles in gold leaf; Ginkaku-ji’s sand garden and mossy grounds are understated, contemplative Kyoto.
• Tea and crafts: Visit Ippodo Tea Co. for a short matcha class, and browse Nishijin for textiles. Knife enthusiasts can shop Aritsugu (founded 1560) in the Nishiki area.
• Dining you shouldn’t miss:
  • Kaiseki: Kikunoi (Gion) elevates seasonal kyo-ryori; Gion Nanba offers exquisite multi-course meals with friendlier prices. Reserve well in advance.
  • Sushi: Sushi no Musashi (Kyoto Station or Sanjo) is a lively conveyor spot with quality cuts at fair prices.
  • Ramen: Menbaka Fire Ramen theatrically flames green onion-laden bowls; fun and photogenic.
  • Izakaya & sake: Try standing bar Tachinomi Uoshin for fresh seafood and day-boat sashimi; sip local Fushimi sake.
• Coffee and breakfast:
  • % Arabica Higashiyama for single-origin espresso near the slopes to Kiyomizu-dera.
  • Weekenders Coffee (Tominokoji) pours meticulous hand-drips in a hidden courtyard roastery.
  • Iyemon Salon (Karasuma) serves a Japanese breakfast set with grilled fish, rice, miso soup, and tea.

Day Trip: Nara (half to full day): From Kyoto Station, JR trains reach Nara in ~45–60 minutes (about ¥720/~$5). Feed friendly deer in Nara Park, stand beneath the 15-meter Great Buddha at Tōdai-ji, and admire lantern-lined Kasuga Taisha. For train times, use Trip.com Trains.

Kyoto → Osaka (morning of Day 10): JR Special Rapid from Kyoto Station to Osaka Station takes ~30 minutes (around ¥570/~$4). The Shinkansen (Kyoto→Shin-Osaka) is ~15 minutes if you’re connecting long-distance. Check options on Trip.com Trains.

Osaka

Days 10–12: Food capital, neon nights, and a Hiroshima/Miyajima day trip

Osaka is the birthplace of “kuidaore”—eat until you drop. It’s a city that lives in the present: high-energy markets, grill smoke rising from street stalls, and a nightlife that hums across Namba, Dotonbori, and Kitashinchi.

Where to stay: Choose Namba/Dotonbori for walk-to-food action, Umeda for shopping and transport, or a quiet riverside apartment near Tenmabashi. Explore VRBO Osaka or Hotels.com Osaka.

• Dotonbori and Namba: Photograph the Glico Running Man sign, then graze:
  • Takoyaki: Aizuya (original takoyaki pioneers) or Kukuru for oozy centers.
  • Okonomiyaki: Mizuno sears the iconic cabbage-and-pork pancake on gleaming teppans—order the yamaimo (yam) blend.
  • Kushikatsu: Daruma fries skewered goodies; remember the golden rule—no double-dipping in the communal sauce.
• Osaka Castle and Umeda Sky: Walk Osaka Castle’s ramparts and museum for Toyotomi-era drama, then ride up Umeda Sky Building’s open-air deck for sunset over a sea of lights.
• Markets and morning bites: Kuromon Ichiba is “Osaka’s kitchen”—tuna sashimi cones, grilled scallops, and wagyu skewers to-go. For coffee, Lilo Coffee Roasters near Shinsaibashi crafts excellent pourovers; Takamura Wine & Coffee Roasters doubles as a design-forward bottle shop.
• Dinner and drinks:
  • Endo Sushi (Osaka Central Market) serves melt-in-your-mouth nigiri in five-piece sets; go early for peak freshness.
  • Torame Yokocho (Umeda) is a lively alley of tiny stalls slinging gyoza, yakitori, and craft beer—perfect for grazing.
  • Bar Nayuta (Namba/Kitashinchi) mixes season-driven cocktails with Japanese spirits; reservations recommended on weekends.
• Local gems: Stroll retro Shinsekai beneath Tsutenkaku Tower, find the lion-head stage at Namba Yasaka Shrine, or ride the Hankai Tramway to Sumiyoshi Taisha’s arched bridge.

Day Trip: Hiroshima & Miyajima (long, unforgettable): From Shin-Osaka, the Shinkansen to Hiroshima takes ~1h20 on Nozomi/Mizuho (ordinary reserved typically ¥9,000–¥10,500 each way, ~$65–$75). Visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, then continue to Miyajimaguchi (JR train ~26 minutes or tram ~30+ minutes) and ferry 10 minutes to Miyajima to see Itsukushima Shrine’s “floating” torii. Try Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki layered with noodles before returning. Plan via Trip.com Trains.

Flying out: Depart from Osaka Itami (ITM) or Kansai International (KIX). Compare routes and prices on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. If you’re returning to Tokyo for a round-trip flight, Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo takes ~2h30–2h50.

How to move between cities—quick reference

• Tokyo → Kyoto: 2h15–2h40 by Tokaido Shinkansen; ~¥14,000–¥15,000 one-way. Book/check on Trip.com Trains.
• Kyoto → Osaka: ~30 minutes by JR Special Rapid (about ¥570). Frequent departures.
• Osaka → Hiroshima (day trip option): ~1h20 by Shinkansen; ~¥9,000–¥10,500 each way.

In twelve days you’ll collect a mosaic of Japan: shrine bells and subway chimes, cedar-scented pathways and neon reflections in canal water. Between Tokyo’s energy, Kyoto’s grace, and Osaka’s appetite, this itinerary delivers both depth and delight—with room left to return.