Think three acts: bright Tokyo, old‑soul Kyoto, hungry Osaka. You land, tap an IC card, and ride the shinkansen like it’s a moving sidewalk; you chase sunrise at Fushimi Inari, squeeze through Arashiyama’s bamboo when it’s still quiet, then eat your way down Dotonbori, grin greasy and happy. You book a ryokan night to slow the pace, because you’ll need it—and here’s the trick folks always miss.
Key Takeaways
- Plan 8–10 days: 3 Tokyo, 2–3 Kyoto (Arashiyama dawn), 1–2 Osaka; start Tokyo, fly out Osaka to avoid backtracking.
- Use Shinkansen: Tokyo–Kyoto ~2–2.5 hours, Kyoto–Osaka ~15 minutes; consider JR Pass for Hikari trains and IC cards for subways.
- Beat crowds by visiting Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama bamboo grove, and Shibuya Crossing at first light; rest midday when tour buses swarm.
- Book flights, hotels, and Kyoto experiences 3–6 months ahead in sakura or fall; avoid Golden Week spikes.
- Don’t miss highlights: Tokyo’s Asakusa–Shibuya loop, Kyoto’s temples and tea, Osaka’s Dotonbori food; add Nara day trip for deer and Tōdai-ji.
Itinerary at a Glance
Here’s the no-fuss plan that works for most folks on an 8–10 day loop: spend 3 days in Tokyo, 2–3 days in Kyoto with one early morning in Arashiyama, and 1–2 days in Osaka, then sprinkle in a day trip to Nara or Mount Fuji if you’ve got the itch and the daylight.
You’ll ride quick Shinkansen hops—Tokyo to Kyoto in about 2 to 2.5 hours, Kyoto to Osaka in roughly 15 minutes—so same‑day moves feel simple. Start in Tokyo and fly out of Osaka, or flip it, and skip backtracking. Beat crowds by hitting Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama’s bamboo, and Shibuya Crossing at first light. Use JR lines across town, with Tokyo’s Yamanote as your trusty loop. Lean on pace customization: swap a museum for a ramen crawl, or stretch Kyoto to three nights. Keep a handy packing checklist: IC card, pocket Wi‑Fi, daypack, comfy shoes, light jacket.
When to Go and How to Book
Now that your loop makes sense on paper, pick your moment and lock the big pieces early so the rest feels easy. For bloom-chasers, late March into early April hits sakura, but the peak slides north and lasts a quick week or two, so build wiggle room and watch forecasts. Fall color pops in late November, pretty. Skip Golden Week in late April–early May, when prices jump and rooms vanish like umbrellas.
Book flights and hotels 3–6 months out for those windows, or 1–2 months in low season. Start Price tracking right now, set alerts, and grab refundable rates so you can pivot. Weather considerations matter, since wind and rain can shorten blossoms, so travel insurance can pay for itself. Reserve ryokan rooms, tea ceremonies, Gion walks, and Arashiyama early-entry as soon as dates firm. Pick up an eSIM at the airport or preload one, and you’re rolling.
Getting Around: Trains, Subways, and the JR Pass
You buy the JR Pass before you land, swap the voucher at a JR Exchange Office, then ride JR lines and most Shinkansen for 7, 14, or 21 days, but skip Nozomi and Mizuho, so take the Hikari (Tokyo to Kyoto about 2 hours 15) and reserve seats at the machine or counter for busy runs at no extra cost. In the cities you’ll mix JR loops like Tokyo’s Yamanote, which the pass covers, with subways and buses it doesn’t, so keep a Suica, PASMO, or ICOCA in your pocket for taps and small snacks when you’re changing trains. Plan long hops on JR, short hops on IC, and you’ll move smooth—think Kyoto to Osaka in about 15 minutes on JR, then a quick subway to your hotel, and you won’t be stuck hunting coins or the one train that whizzes by you because it’s a Nozomi.
City Subways and Buses
In Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, the subways and city trains are your backbone, running to the minute so tight you can plan a two‑minute transfer and trust it—though the train won’t wait for your coffee, so keep moving. Tap in with a Suica, Pasmo, or ICOCA and let the gate do the math; base fares start around ¥170–¥220 and climb with distance. Mind rider etiquette: line up, keep your bag down, and keep calls quiet. Your JR Pass rides JR city lines like Tokyo’s Yamanote, but most subways aren’t covered.
Buses take IC cards or exact cash, and they’re handy for short hops, but they can run slower, so check route maps and stops. Lose something? Stations’ lost and found desks actually find it.
Shinkansen and Seat Reservations
How do you ride the bullet train without overthinking it? Book a reserved seat or hop into an unreserved car, first-come style, and you’ll glide Tokyo to Kyoto on the Hikari in about 2 hours 15 minutes, hitting near 300 km/h, smooth as a skater on fresh ice. Buy tickets at the station, online with some handy QR options, or, if you’ve got a JR Pass, reserve free at a Midori no Madoguchi or a machine, same day if seats remain. Show up early at peaks. Mind the luggage policy: big bags go in designated spots or overhead, not the aisle. Follow onboard etiquette—queue neatly, keep voices low, no speakerphone, eat tidy, and toss trash at the bins. In cities, use Suica/Pasmo/ICOCA for subways.
JR Pass Tips
Before the trip sneaks up on you, sort the JR Pass first, because it’s bought outside Japan (or as an Exchange Order) and comes in 7-, 14-, or 21-day chunks that run on consecutive days once you activate. Pick the start date at a JR Exchange Office, up to 30 days after purchase, and bring your passport with the tourist stamp. Ride Hikari or Kodama between Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, and skip Nozomi and Mizuho, since the pass doesn’t cover them. Hop city JR lines like Tokyo’s Yamanote, plus many limited expresses, selected JR buses, and the Miyajima ferry. Reserve seats for free at Midori no Madoguchi or online in busy seasons. Consider Green Car for elbow room. If you’re city-hopping, weigh Regional Alternatives.
Days 1–2: Osaka Food and Neighborhoods
Although Tokyo hogs the spotlight, Osaka feeds you first, and it does it loud and fast. Start in Minami, where Dotonbori’s canal glows and Canal Cruises slide past Neon Landmarks, crabs waving, owning the block. You snack as you walk: takoyaki that burn your tongue in the best way, okonomiyaki flipped hot and messy, and conveyor-belt sushi when you need a quick reset. Base yourself near Namba at a simple business hotel like Hotel Unizo, affordable, and steps from trains, so you can roam without fuss.
- Steam from Kuromon Market stalls, scallops hissing on grills, skewers brushed with sweet sauce.
- Shinsekai’s Tsutenkaku Tower above rows of kushikatsu joints, beer cold, prices friendlier.
- Dotonbori at night, signboards blinking, laughter bouncing off the water.
On day two, wander back lanes, sample seconds and thirds, and trust your nose; Osaka’s “kitchen of Japan” nickname isn’t bragging, it’s directions.
Day 3: Nara Day Trip
Why not hop an early train from Osaka—just over 30 minutes on JR or Kintetsu—and roll into Nara before the crowds stretch their legs. Walk straight into Nara Park while the light is soft and the sika deer are still polite, and brush up on Deer Etiquette: bow, offer official crackers, keep bags zipped, and don’t tease them, because they know who’s holding snacks. Head to Tōdai-ji next, the great hall rising like a barn made by giants; inside, the bronze Buddha towers calm and heavy, and a quick read on Daibutsu History makes the scale click. If weather turns, duck into the Okumura Commemorative Museum to try the earthquake simulator, a sharp, safe lesson that sticks. With time left, hike Mount Wakakusa’s gentle slope, sit on the grass with a rice ball, and watch the city spread out below you, quiet but close. Bring water and sunscreen.
Days 4–6: Kyoto and Arashiyama Highlights
Once you roll into Kyoto on the Shinkansen—about 2 hours 15 minutes from Tokyo—you’ll feel the pace shift, and your next three days get simple: rise early, wander late, rest in the middle when the tour buses swarm. Day one, beat sunrise to Fushimi Inari, slip under 1,000+ torii, and keep climbing until the city shows up between cedars. Day two, head for Arashiyama at first light: the Bamboo Grove whispers, the Ōi River glints, and the Monkey Park gives you wide views. Save a calm morning for Kinkaku‑ji, when the pond doubles the gold.
- 1) Vermilion gates, damp stone, fox shrines.
- 2) Tall bamboo, river shine, steps on packed earth.
- 3) golden mirror, ripples, a hush you can feel.
Come, stroll Higashiyama to Gion, Kiyomizu‑dera to Pontocho. Try a Tea Ceremony, sample Nishiki snacks, seek Night Illuminations, and detour to Otagi Nenbutsu‑ji’s 1,200 grins.
Days 7–10: Tokyo’s Must-See Districts
You’ll run two clean loops in Tokyo: an Akihabara–Asakusa circuit with Senso-ji at dawn, Nakamise-dori waking up around 9:00, and a quiet stroll in Sumida Park with the Skytree peeking over your shoulder. Then you’ll swing west for Shibuya’s Scramble Crossing and neon buzz, and finish strong in Shinjuku with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building’s free observation decks open till 23:00, which saves you yen and elevator lines. It’s simple and fast and easy on your legs, like you planned it on a napkin and it just works.
Shinjuku and Shibuya Highlights
Kick things off in Shinjuku, where roughly 3.6 million people stream through the world’s busiest station each day, and use that hub to fan out into the skyscraper canyons and neon backstreets. Start in the Skyscraper District, ride up the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building for free views till about 11 p.m., then wander Golden Gai’s tiny bars and Omoide Yokocho’s smoky yakitori stalls that feel like time forgot them. Hop to Shibuya for the Scramble Crossing rush, meet at the Hachiko Statue, and climb to Shibuya Sky, or roam Miyashita Park and Shibuya PARCO’s Nintendo Tokyo.
- Glassy towers blinking over midnight taxis.
- Steam, grill smoke, and clinking ice in alleys.
- Crosswalk waves, then rooftop wind and wide lights. above the city.
Akihabara and Asakusa Circuit
Morning incense, evening neon—that’s the rhythm that makes this Akihabara–Asakusa loop sing. Start at Senso-ji before breakfast, when lanterns glow soft and the crowds haven’t woken, then walk Nakamise-dori for hot senbei and simple souvenirs. Drift to Sumida Park for river air and a clean view of Tokyo Skytree, or hop a rickshaw to the Edo Taito Traditional Crafts Center to watch careful hands at work. By afternoon, slide two subway stops to Akihabara’s Electric Town, where multi-floor shops stack up games, parts, and anime goods, and arcades hum like beehives. Test your Arcade Strategies on rhythm games, duck into a maid café for a quick novelty, then finish with Purikura Poses, pocket-size proof you mixed temple calm with pixel chaos in one loop.
Where to Stay, Eat, and Experience Culture
Even before your flight touches down, plan where you’ll sleep, eat, and soak up culture so the days glide instead of jam up. Book central beds—Hotel Gracery Shinjuku in Tokyo, Hotel Unizo in Osaka—and one ryokan night at Kyoto’s Yoshikawa Inn for tatami, a yukata, and kaiseki. Brush up on Ryokan etiquette: slippers off, bathe before dinner, keep halls quiet. Seasonal festivals and cherry blossom weeks spike prices; reserve tea ceremonies, Gion walks, and sumo early.
Eat like a local: Dotonbori for okonomiyaki, takoyaki, and yakiniku; Tokyo for fresh sushi, ramen, and gyukatsu; Kyoto for kaiseki and snacking through Nishiki Market. For hands-on fun, try a samurai class or rent a kimono for photo gold too. Add nature and lore with Nara’s deer and Tōdai-ji’s giant Buddha, then Arashiyama’s bamboo and Monkey Park.
- Neon steam over Osaka griddles.
- Dawn sushi in Tokyo hush.
- Sandaled steps on Kyoto stone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Should I Budget for Meals and Attractions per Day?
Budget $50–$100 daily for meals and attractions. For meal tiers, allocate $10–$20 for quick eats, $20–$40 midrange, $50+ splurges. You’ll use activity passes and combo tickets to cut attraction costs, schedule sights to balance expenses.
Is Tipping Expected in Restaurants or Taxis in Japan?
When in Rome, do as the Romans do: No, tipping isn’t expected in Japanese restaurants or taxis. Follow local Tipping etiquette: prices include service. If you leave cash, expect Tip refusal. Instead, say thanks warmly.
Can I Forward Luggage Between Cities With Takuhaibin Services?
Yes, you can forward luggage between cities with takuhaibin. You’ll book pickup at hotels or kiosks, follow size restrictions, and expect next-day service duration. Label bags clearly, keep essentials, and confirm acceptance and cutoff times.
Are Tattoos Allowed in Public Baths and Hot Springs?
Your timeless skin decorations can ruffle feathers: baths restrict tattoos. You’ll want to check rules, follow tattoo etiquette, and ask staff. Use cover techniques—skin-tone patches, sleeves, or rash guards—or choose private baths or tattoo-friendly onsens.
Will My Credit Cards and Mobile Payments Work Widely?
Yes, you’ll use cards and phones widely, especially in cities. Contactless acceptance is strong at chains, transit, and hotels. Smaller shops prefer cash or QR payments like PayPay. Enable use, set PINs, carry backup yen.