Japan Itinerary for Beginners: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka & More

Sample Itinerary for Traveling in Japan:

Map

Day 1 & Day 2 Tokyo

Fly to Tokyo and explore the city’s attractions.
Refer to these guides:
Tokyo Guide: Itinerary and Top Attractions
Best Ways to Travel from Narita Airport to Tokyo
Best Ways to Travel from Haneda Airport to Tokyo

by Arto Marttinen | Jezael Melgoza

Day 3 (Optional) Day Trip to Hakone

Hakone has famous spots like the Open-Air Museum, large torii gates in the water, and day-use hot springs. Refer to:
Hakone Day Trip from Tokyo by Raphael Lopes | Yusheng Deng

Day 4 Tokyo to Kyoto

Continue exploring Tokyo in the morning. In the afternoon, take the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Kyoto, which takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Refer to:
Tokyo to Kyoto - Best and Cheapest Way by Ice Tea | Roméo A.

Day 5 & Day 6 Kyoto

Explore the attractions in Kyoto and its surrounding areas. Refer to:
Kyoto Guide: Itinerary and Top Attractions
Arashiyama Guide: Itinerary and Essential Tips by David Emrich | Jeremy Goldberg

Day 7 Day Trip to Nara

Take a day trip from Kyoto to Nara. Refer to:
Nara Day Trip Guide: Practical Itinerary and Tips by Agathe | Alex Kolpikov

Day 8 Kyoto to Osaka

Travel from Kyoto to Osaka by JR train, which takes about 30 minutes. Explore Osaka’s attractions. Refer to:
Osaka Guide: Itinerary and Top Attractions by AXP Photography | Kit Ko

Day 9 Osaka

You can visit Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, or take a day trip to nearby Kobe and Arima Onsen (hot springs). Refer to
Kobe Day Trip from Osaka by Joshua Tsu | Gavin Li

Day 10 Return to Tokyo

Return to Tokyo from Osaka and continue exploring Tokyo’s attractions. by Nicholas Doherty | Thor Alvis

Day 11 (Optional) Day Trip to Mt. Fuji

Take a bus from Tokyo (about 1 hour and 45 minutes) to see Mt. Fuji at Lake Kawaguchi. Refer to:
Mt Fuji Day Trip from Tokyo
Tokyo to Mt Fuji: Transportation Options and Tips by Chanwei | Dana Andreea Gheorghe

Day 12 Tokyo

You can visit Tokyo Disneyland or take a 30-minute drive to the coastal town of Kamakura from Tokyo. Refer to:
Kamakura Day Trip from Tokyo
by Joseph Costa | Griffin Quinn

Day 13

Fly back home.

Other Information You Might Find Useful

Should I buy a Pocket WiFi or SIM Card?
Answer: A SIM card is more convenient, and the network quality is generally more stable.

Should I buy a Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass)?
Answer: If you follow the itinerary in this guide, you don’t need a JR Pass—neither the 14-day nor the 7-day pass. If you prefer a different itinerary, I still recommend spending about 30 minutes checking ticket prices yourself. The JR Pass is quite expensive and cannot be used on convenient buses and private rail lines.

If I don’t buy a JR Pass, will it be inconvenient to purchase individual tickets each time?
Answer: You don’t need to buy individual tickets! Just install the Suica app on your phone for an electronic transportation card. Please refer to this video.