10-Day Japan Itinerary: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Beyond

The trip to Japan can be called one of the most interesting adventures in your life as this country combines the ancient culture with the modern technologies and the amazing natural landscape. Be it the neon-lit streets of Tokyo, the latest temples of Kyoto and the serene countryside that follows, Japan provides great variety in terms of both tradition and modernity that engulf every traveler. As a first time tourist or a world traveller, a well-organized Japan Itinerary is indispensable to see the best that this country has to offer. Effective planning of your travelling days will enable you to explore the various regions of Japan, taste the culinary experiences that Japan has to offer and dive and experience the Japanese history without being in a hurry.

In time of need of a smooth and glamorous holiday, it may be worthwhile to explore the Japan luxury holiday packages customized to suit your needs. These curated collections would have access to exclusive access to luxury ryokans (traditional inns), customized guided tours and quality culinary experiences, so that nothing about your trip goes wrong. Through professional planning, you will be able to have the best of both worlds in one trip: the vibrancy of the main cities of Japan, and the calmness of the countryside in one trip that will take up to ten days. It can be cherry blossom sightseeing, temple tour, or a gourmet sushi, this Japan Itinerary will be the ultimate guide to the exploration of the best of Tokyo, Kyoto, and more.

Here is the Guide for 10-Day Japan Itinerary

Day 1-3: Find out the easy-going Tokyo!

The Japan Itinerary will start with Tokyo, the vibrant capital city with its glittering skyline, hectic areas, and cultural masterpieces. The first day is spent in the iconic neighborhoods such as Shibuya, Shinjuku and Harajuku. Explore the popular Shibuya Crossing and go shopping at the fine boutiques in Omotesando and see Meiji Shrine, a serene Shinto temple located in a forested neighborhood.

The second day involves exploring the cultural aspects of Tokyo by visiting the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo, the Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa and then walking around the Nakamise Shopping Street, a traditional shopping street. Next, go to Ueno Park that also has museums, such as the Tokyo National Museum, or can relax in the gardens. During the evening, go out to Tokyo Skytree or Tokyo Tower observation decks, and have an amazing panoramic city lights view.

The third day is ideal in modern attractions and entertainment. Explore the digital art museum teamLab Planets, go shopping in the high-end stores of the Ginza malls and get to experience an omakase sushi meal. You should consider having a book through Japan luxury holiday packages to have an exclusive culinary and private transfers around Tokyo which gives an exclusive touch to the travel experience. Your visit to Tokyo will leave you with a taste of what life is like in this city in terms of the balance between tradition and innovation.

Day 4-6: Discover the Cultural Centre Kyoto

Take a Shinkansen (bullet train) in Tokyo to Kyoto which takes approximately 2.5 hours. Kyoto is the cultural center of Japan which is famous with centuries-old temples, traditional wooden houses and beautiful gardens. On the first day of your stay in Kyoto, you should visit Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), a gold leaf temple and Ryoan-ji, which is a temple with a rock garden. Finish the day with a walk on the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove a magical forest that provides a peaceful experience out of the city.

On the 5 th day, concentrate on the eastern side of Kyoto. Start with Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which sits above a hillside with a terrific view of the city and make your way through the old town of Higashiyama with its ancient teahouses and craft stores. Go to Gion, the most popular geisha area of Kyoto in the evening and you may see geiko and maiko (apprentice geisha) walking graciously to meet their clients.

The sixth day may be devoted to the spiritual part of Kyoto. Stroll in Fushimi Inari Taisha where there are thousands of iconic red torii gates, which thread up the mountain. Next, have a classic kaiseki lunch (haute cuisine in multi-course) and spend some time at a ryokan with onsen (hot spring bath). Most of the Japan luxury holiday packages do not only include accommodation in some of the best Japanese-style ryokans in Kyoto, but also an experience of the true Japanese hospitality in a peaceful environment. Kyoto will make you part of the eternal beauty and Japanese traditions.

Day 7: Nara -A glimpse of ancient Japan

Have a day trip of Kyoto to Nara, the first of the permanent capitals of Japan. In Nara can be found a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and also provides an insight into the ancient history of the country. Pay a visit to Todai-ji Temple where the largest statue of Buddha in the world stands made out of bronze and stroll in the Nara Park where you can see friendly deer wandering. The Kasuga Taisha Shrine is also to be missed and is decorated with hundreds of lanterns.

The size of Nara is small enough to walk around in a day. Have regional delicacies such as kakinoha-zushi (sushi in persimmon leaves) and go back to Kyoto in the evening. Nara should be included in your Japan Itinerary as it would complement your trip to Japan and make you associate with the beginning of the Japanese civilization.

Day 8: Hakone -Relaxation and Scenery Beauty

Day eight, travel to Hakone which is a beautiful hot spring town, which is located close to Mount fuji. Hakone is the place of the natural beauty, outdoor art museums and onsen resorts. Ride the Hakone Ropeway to breathtaking views of volcanic scenery of Owakudani Valley and on clear days, giant Fuji mountain.

Cruise the lake Ashi on a boat made in pirate ship style and visit Hakone open air museum where spectacular sculptures can be seen along with a mountain backdrop. Once you have sightseen the places, relax in hot spring bath of traditional ryokan, which is one of the traditional Japanese. This is a destination that provides a scenic beauty and relaxation to your Japan Itinerary to help you have the perfect rest between walking through the city as well as the cultural journey.

Day 9-10: Back to Tokyo to Shop and Modern Marvels

Your last two days will be in Tokyo where you will get to explore modernity of the city and some last minute shopping. Spend day 9 in Odaiba a futuristic entertainment area with teamLabs Borderless, shopping centers and waterfront attractions. During the evening, have a fancy dinner in one of the Michelin restaurants of Tokyo.

During your final day, visit Akihabara, the Tokyo electric town that is known because of electronics culture, anime, and gaming. Buy souvenirs in the colorful Ameya-Yokocho markets and buy Japanese snacks, cosmetics, and Japanese traditional crafts. Complete your tour at the serene Imperial Palace East Gardens, a calm backyard in the middle of the busy metropolis. This is the final part that will bring your Japan Itinerary to a close as you will have a final recollection of the vibrant city life of Japan.

Best Travel tips to make the most out of Japan Itinerary

• JR Pass: You could save money and time by buying Japan Rail Pass that allows you to travel various trains including Shinkansen and other JR trains.

• Cultural Etiquette: It is important to take note of Japanese traditions such as taking off shoes when entering houses or other traditional places, and speaking softly on trains.

• Cash and Cards: Credit cards have become very popular, but small shops and local restaurants do not accept them, so have plenty of yen.

• Internet: Rent a portable Wi-Fi card or SIM card to keep in touch during your journey to use in navigation and communication.

• Luggage Forwarding: Travel with luggage forwarding (takuhaibin) so that you can travel without carrying any luggage to the city particularly when using metro.

• These are some of the tips that can assist to make sure that your Japan Itinerary is not disruptive and thus your journey is smooth and can be enjoyed.

Conclusion

The 10-day visit to Japan provides the fascinating combination of the urban life, the concepts of ancient Japanese culture and the relaxing natural nature. With such an elaborate Japan Itinerary, you will get a chance to experience the youthful energy of Tokyo, the historical beauty of Kyoto, the spiritual calmness of Nara, and the scenic rest of Hakone all accompanied by the impeccable Japanese hospitality. Some like traditional temples, some are captivated by modern technologies, others are amazed by the nature: this route will guarantee you to see the best the country has to offer in a fair manner.

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