Ten days is the sweet spot for Japan. Enough time to do Tokyo properly, catch a glimpse of Fuji, lose yourself in Kyoto's temples, and eat your way through Osaka — without feeling like you're ticking boxes. This itinerary is built for first-timers from India: practical, honest, with every cost in INR so there are no surprises.
It follows the classic Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka circuit, with Hakone added for Mt. Fuji views and Nara for a half-day detour to feed deer and see ancient temples. Adjust based on season and interests — we'll flag the decision points as they come.
What to Sort Before You Land
- Visa — Apply at least 2 weeks before departure. Free, takes 5–7 working days. Need bank statements, ITR, accommodation bookings, and itinerary.
- JR Pass — Buy online before you travel (cheaper than buying in Japan). A 7-day pass at ₹27,500 (~$330 / ¥50,000) covers Shinkansen + JR trains. Activate it on Day 1 at the airport.
- Pocket Wi-Fi or SIM — Book a pocket Wi-Fi at the airport (₹550–830/day, ~$7–10) or buy a data SIM on arrival. Don't rely on hotel Wi-Fi for navigation.
- Suica card — Pick up at Narita/Haneda airport on arrival. Top up ₹2,750 (~$33 / ¥5,000) to start.
- Cash — Withdraw ₹8,250–11,000 (~$100–130 / ¥15,000–20,000) at the airport ATM. Many restaurants are cash-only.
- Accommodation — Book 2–3 months ahead if travelling March–May or October–November. Business hotels in Shinjuku (Tokyo) and near Kyoto Station are best-positioned bases.
Tokyo: Arrive, Orient, Eat Everything
Your flight from Delhi or Mumbai lands at Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND). Take the Narita Express (N'EX) to Shinjuku — ₹1,375 (~$17 / ¥2,500) with your Suica card, about 90 minutes. Check in, drop bags, and resist the urge to crash. Get outside.
Day 1 — Land and wander Shinjuku
- Evening at Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane) — a narrow alley of tiny yakitori stalls, smoky and atmospheric. Beer + skewers for ₹880 (~$11 / ¥1,600).
- Walk through Kabukicho (Tokyo's entertainment district) — overwhelming neon, robot restaurants, and everything in between. Just look, don't book the Robot Restaurant.
- Convenience store dinner counts tonight. You've just landed. It's fine.
Day 2 — Asakusa and Ueno
- Senso-ji Temple (Asakusa) — go by 7am. Completely different from the 11am version. Free entry.
- Nakamise Shopping Street — traditional snacks, souvenirs, ningyo-yaki (red bean cakes). ₹110–330 per snack.
- Ueno Park — Tokyo National Museum (₹1,100 / ~$13 / ¥2,000) if you have time. Otherwise just walk the park.
- Evening: Akihabara for electronics and anime, or Harajuku (Takeshita Street) for youth fashion chaos.
Tokyo: Go Deeper Into the Neighbourhoods
Tokyo rewards slow exploration. Days 3 and 4 are for going beyond the obvious.
Day 3 — Shibuya and Shimokitazawa
- Shibuya Crossing — go at 8pm on a weekday for maximum energy. The scramble crossing handles 3,000 people every 2 minutes. Stand on the 2nd floor of Starbucks to photograph it (free, just buy a coffee — ₹440 / ~$5).
- Shibuya Sky observation deck — rooftop views of Tokyo. ₹2,200 (~$26 / ¥4,000). Sunset slot is best, book online.
- Afternoon at Shimokitazawa — 15 minutes by train from Shibuya. Tokyo's indie neighbourhood. Vintage clothing stores, live music cafes, no tourists. Spend 3 hours here minimum.
Day 4 — Yanaka and Harajuku
- Yanaka — old Tokyo neighbourhood preserved from WWII bombing. Narrow lanes, traditional shops, cats everywhere, free to wander. The cemetery here is oddly beautiful for a morning walk.
- Meiji Shrine (Harajuku) — massive forested Shinto shrine. 15 minutes by train from Yanaka. Free entry. Arrive by 9am.
- Omotesando — Tokyo's Champs-Élysées. Window shop the flagship stores (Louis Vuitton, Prada, Apple). Grab lunch at one of the basement restaurants in Omotesando Hills.
Hakone: Mount Fuji Views and Onsen
Day 5 is your Hakone day — a mountain resort town 90 minutes from Shinjuku by Romancecar (a special scenic express train). Hakone is where you see Mt. Fuji, soak in an onsen, and feel like you've escaped to a completely different Japan.
How to do Hakone in one day
- Depart Shinjuku by 7:30am on the Romancecar — ₹1,650 (~$20 / ¥3,000) reserved seat, not covered by JR Pass but worth it for the views.
- Lake Ashi — take the ropeway up for aerial Fuji views (₹1,650 / ~$20 / ¥3,000), then the pirate ship ferry across the lake (₹1,100 / ~$13 / ¥2,000). Both covered by Hakone Free Pass.
- Hakone Open Air Museum — sculpture garden with Picassos and Henry Moores set against mountain scenery. ₹1,760 (~$21 / ¥3,200). Genuinely excellent.
- Onsen soak — book a private onsen room (kazoku-buro) if you have tattoos. Tenzan Tohji-kyo is tattoo-friendly and excellent. ₹1,100–1,650 (~$13–20 / ¥2,000–3,000) for 50 minutes.
- Return to Shinjuku by 8pm. Check out next morning and take Shinkansen to Kyoto.
Kyoto: Temples, Bamboo, and the Old Japan
Take the Shinkansen from Shinjuku to Kyoto (via Tokyo Station) — ₹11,000 (~$132 / ¥20,000), covered by JR Pass, 2 hours 20 minutes. Kyoto is Japan's cultural capital: 1,600 Buddhist temples, 400 Shinto shrines, and more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other city in the world.
Day 6 — Eastern Kyoto
- Fushimi Inari Shrine — arrive at 6am. The 10,000 torii gates are otherworldly in the early morning mist. Free entry. Plan 2 hours minimum to climb to the summit.
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple — wooden stage temple on a hillside with city views. ₹550 (~$7 / ¥1,000). Go mid-morning after Fushimi.
- Gion district — Kyoto's geisha quarter. Walk Hanamikoji Street at dusk. You may spot a maiko (apprentice geisha) heading to an appointment. Don't photograph them without permission.
Day 7 — Arashiyama and Western Kyoto
- Bamboo Grove (Arashiyama) — arrive before 8am, absolutely before 10am. A 5-minute walk through bamboo so tall and dense it blocks out the sky. Free. Instagram-ruined but still genuinely beautiful if you're there early.
- Tenryu-ji Garden — Zen garden with a pond reflecting the Arashiyama mountains. ₹990 (~$12 / ¥1,800). One of Japan's finest gardens.
- Nishiki Market (afternoon) — Kyoto's "kitchen" — a narrow covered market with 130 shops selling pickles, tofu, fresh mochi, octopus skewers. Graze your way through. Budget ₹550–1,100 for snacks.
Day 8 — Nishiki + Nara day trip
- Morning: Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) — Kyoto's most famous sight. ₹550 (~$7 / ¥1,000). Go before 9am. It's a 10-minute walk from the reflection pond, genuinely golden, and always crowded — but unavoidable.
- Afternoon: Nara day trip — 45 minutes by JR train (covered by JR Pass). Nara Park has 1,200 wild deer that roam freely. They bow for "shika senbei" (deer crackers, ₹220 / ~$3 / ¥400 per packet). Todai-ji Temple houses Japan's largest bronze Buddha — ₹660 (~$8 / ¥1,200).
- Return to Kyoto by 7pm. Last night dinner: kaiseki (traditional multi-course Japanese meal). Budget ₹5,500–11,000 (~$65–130 / ¥10,000–20,000) per person for a proper kaiseki. Worth it once.
Osaka: Street Food, Nightlife, and Goodbye
Take the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Osaka — 15 minutes, ₹1,375 (~$17 / ¥2,500), covered by JR Pass. Osaka is Japan's other personality: louder, funnier, cheaper, and arguably the better food city. The Osaka saying is "kuidaore" — eat until you drop. Take it literally.
Day 9 — Dotonbori and Namba
- Dotonbori — the canal district, Osaka's neon heart. The giant Glico running man billboard, crab signs, takoyaki stalls, ramen shops. Walk it at 8pm when everything is lit up.
- Takoyaki — octopus balls, Osaka's signature street food. 8 pieces for ₹330–550 (~$4–7 / ¥600–1,000). Wanaka and Aizuya are the old-school spots near Dotonbori.
- Kuromon Ichiba Market — "Osaka's kitchen." Open mornings. Fresh seafood, wagyu beef skewers, tamagoyaki egg rolls. Budget ₹1,100–2,200 (~$13–26) for a market breakfast/lunch.
- Evening: Izakaya in Shinsekai — Osaka's retro working-class neighbourhood. Cheap beer, kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers), genuine local atmosphere.
Day 10 — Osaka Castle and departure
- Osaka Castle — impressive 16th-century castle with a decent museum inside. ₹990 (~$12 / ¥1,800). Go morning before your afternoon flight.
- Airport transfer: Osaka Itami (ITM) for domestic, Kansai International (KIX) for international. Haruka Express from Tennoji to KIX — ₹1,925 (~$23 / ¥3,500), 50 minutes, covered by JR Pass.
What a 10-Day Japan Trip Actually Costs from India
| Expense | Budget | Mid-range |
|---|---|---|
| Return flights (Delhi/Mumbai → Tokyo) | ₹40,000–50,000 | ₹55,000–70,000 |
| Accommodation (10 nights) | ₹16,500 (hostel) | ₹55,000–88,000 (hotel) |
| 7-day JR Pass | ₹27,500 | ₹27,500 |
| Local transport (Suica top-ups) | ₹3,300 | ₹5,500 |
| Food (10 days) | ₹11,000–16,500 | ₹22,000–33,000 |
| Entry fees and activities | ₹6,600 | ₹13,200–16,500 |
| Pocket Wi-Fi / SIM | ₹5,500 | ₹5,500 |
| Total per person | ₹1,10,400+ | ₹1,78,200–2,45,500+ |
The yen crash has made Japan 12–15% more affordable than two years ago. A mid-range trip is now comparable in cost to a well-planned Europe trip — but with better food, better transport, and arguably more to see.
Is this itinerary right for you?
This route works for first-timers who want to cover the classics without feeling rushed. It's not for people who want to go deep in one city — that's a different trip. If you have 14 days, add Hiroshima and Miyajima (the floating torii gate) between Kyoto and Osaka. If you only have 7 days, cut Hakone and compress to Tokyo (3 days) + Kyoto (2 days) + Osaka (2 days). But 10 days is the right number. Japan is worth every one of them.
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Read the Japan Scorecard →Frequently Asked Questions
10 days is the sweet spot for a first Japan trip. It covers Tokyo (4 days), a day trip to Hakone for Mt. Fuji views, Kyoto (3 days), Nara (half day), and Osaka (2 days) without feeling rushed. Any less and you'll feel like you scratched the surface. Any more and you can add Hiroshima, Kanazawa, or Hokkaido.
For this itinerary (Tokyo → Hakone → Kyoto → Osaka), a 7-day JR Pass at ₹27,500 (~$330 / ¥50,000) is usually worth it. It covers the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka (₹11,000+ one way) plus JR trains in Tokyo and day trips. Calculate your exact routes on Hyperdia or Google Maps before buying.
March–April for cherry blossoms (book 3–4 months ahead, everything fills up). October–November for autumn foliage — less crowded than spring and equally beautiful. January–February for lowest crowds and prices, but cold. Avoid July–August: hot, humid, and peak prices.
Budget roughly ₹1,10,000–1,65,000 per person (~$1,300–2,000) for a mid-range 10-day trip including flights from India. Breakdown: flights ₹45,000–60,000 return, accommodation ₹5,500–8,800/night, food ₹1,650–3,300/day, transport (JR Pass) ₹27,500, entry fees and activities ₹8,800–16,500 total.
No. Major tourist areas, train stations, and airports have English signage. Google Translate's camera mode handles menus and signs instantly. Learn 5 words — arigatou (thank you), sumimasen (excuse me), ikura desu ka (how much?), eigo (English), and hai (yes) — and you'll be fine for 10 days.