10 Days in Japan: Top 5 Itineraries for First Visit 2024/2025

Spending 10 days in Japan is the most popular vacation length for both families and couples. It would enable you to visit the major cities in Japan — Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, while also allowing you to spend 1–2 days on day trips to popular nearby areas such as Hakone, Nara, and Mount Fuji.

In this article, we've described five wonderful 10-day Japan itineraries to help you get ideas for your dream trip. Each handpicked itinerary offers you a private, enjoyable, and stress-free journey through Japan.

1. 10-Day Classic Japan Itinerary (Most Chosen)

• 3 nights in Tokyo
• 1 night in Hakone
• 3 nights in Kyoto
• 2 nights in Osaka

This itinerary is ideal for you to explore Japan's major highlights in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Experience the best of Japan, including plenty of hands-on, authentic activities that would make your trip memorable.

Start your journey in Tokyo, the capital offers a perfect blend of history and modernity. Immerse yourself in the wooden Meiji Shrine, the city's oldest Sensoji Temple, Tokyo Skytree, and make sushi for your lunch at a local home. With the company and guidance of a local guide, you would gain insights into the city.

Next, Hakone is the home of onsens (Japanese hot spring baths). Spending a night at a traditional ryokan inn with onsen to experience sleeping on cozy tatamis and relaxing at an onsen. A ryokan typically offers 5 to 10 rooms. We could help you to select family-friendly or couple-friendly ryokans that suit your preferences. Making a decision at least three months in advance can help ensure you have more options available.

Continue your adventure in tradition-filled Kyoto. Visit the renowned Fushimi Inari Shrine to across thousands of orange-red torii gates, experience an authentic tea ceremony, and take a leisurely walk through the culture-rich Gion district.

End your trip in flourishing Osaka. You could watch exciting sumo wrestling mach, experience ukiyo-e printmaking, and sample delicious local snacks at lively Dotonbori.

Our Japan travel expert would tailor-made a private tour for you based on your preferences and requirements.

11-Day Traditional Japan Tour Osaka - Hiroshima - Kyoto - Tokyo

2. 10-Day Japan Itinerary for Family with Teenagers

• 5 nights in Tokyo (day trips to Yokohama and Hakone)
• 2 nights in Kyoto (day trip to Nara)
• 2 nights in Osaka

This 10-day itinerary for Japan is ideal for families, particularly those with teenagers. You won't have to switch hotels frequently, and you'll have the chance to experience engaging, family-friendly activities, that every member of your family can enjoy.

Begins your family trip in Tokyo. You and your kids could explore the most attractive shops of Pokémon Center and Nintendo Tokyo, indulge in interactive experiences that stimulate the imagination at high-tech museums like TeamLab Borderless: MORI Building Digital Art Museum.

Take half a day to visit the Gundam Factory in Yokohama and witness the impressive 18-meter-high replica, which can also walk. This activity is highly popular among the fathers and sons of our family clients.

Next, journey to culture-rich Kyoto. Your whole family would try on ninja outfits to learn ninja techniques and weapon skills from a ninja master, wear kimonos to take memorable family photos, experience a Japanese-style ryokan with a family room (accommodating 3–5 people), and feed deer in Nara.

Complete your trip in Osaka, whcih has a top theme park: Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios. It would make you say "wow!" as you and your kids are fully immersed in the magic world of Mario.

If you have other requirements, contact us and our Japan travel expert can make it happen.

10-Day Tokyo, Yokohama, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka Tour

10-Day Family Artistic Escape in Japan A Private Tour through Japan's Illustrious Art

3. 10-Day Japan Cherry Blossom Itinerary (in March or April)

• 3 nights in Tokyo
• 3 nights in Kyoto
• 3 nights in Osaka

Cherry blossom in spring (March to April) is one of the most attractive and well-known sights in Japan. A lot of travelers from Japan and abroad come specifically during this time to enjoy the blossoming pink trees.

With this itinerary, you could view the best of the cherry blossoms in top cities, and experience authentic activities to enrich your trip. We offer you two kinds of Japan cherry blossom tour: a private tour or a mini-group tour (4–7 people). A mini-group tour provides our clients an exceptional-value, once-in-a-lifetime experience at the peak time in Japan without breaking the bank. If your group has 4 people and more, you can upgrade it to a private tour for more flexibility.

• Personalize your trip: Tailor your itinerary by hand-picking your preferred scenic spots and experiences based on your preferences and requirements, making the most of your time.
• Flexible schedule: A private cherry blossom tour would allow you to choose from two travel times in March/April. If you travel with a mini-group tour, you would need to travel at a specific time (Mar. 25 – Apr. 3 or Mar. 31 – Apr. 9 in 2024).
• More suitable for a family, a private cherry blossom tour has more family-friendly experiences than a mini-group tour, such as visiting an interactive high-tech museum, going to an anime cafe, feeding deer in Nara, and making ukiyo-e prints. Besides, you would have your own private guide to answer your every question.

Our Japan travel expert would carefully design each private tour to cater to your unique interests and requirements.

10-Day Japan Cherry Blossom Private TourTokyo - Kawaguchiko - Kyoto - Nara - Osaka

4. 10-Day Essence of Japan with Hiroshima

• 2 nights in Osaka
• 1 nights in Hiroshima
• 3 nights in Kyoto
• 3 nights in Tokyo

With this itinerary, you could immerse yourself in the captivating essence of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. For example, indulge in the enchanting sights of shrines, the world of anime, the culinary delights, a traditional ryokan, and the unique opportunity to wear a ninja outfit or a beautiful kimono.

What's more, you could delve into the profound history of World War II by exploring Hiroshima. Don't miss the site of the atomic bombing and exploring the museum would allow you to witness the collection of items left behind after the attack. Educational documentaries are available there to deepen your understanding of the significance of valuing peace in the post-war era.

Contact us for more suggestions based on your interests.

5. 10-Day Modern and Rural Japan Itinerary: Revitalizing Countryside Views

• 3 nights in Tokyo
• 2 nights in Kanazawa (day trip to Takanawa and Shirakawa-go)
• 3 nights in Kyoto
• 1 night in Osaka

This itinerary allows you to explore modern Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, as well as two quiet and picturesque small towns. You'll get a chance to experience the flourishing city life and discover the beauty of mountain breezes, lush bamboo groves, and unique Japanese farmhouses.

Kanazawa is a beautiful town that boasts well-preserved buildings from the Edo period (1603–1868). You can catch a glimpse of geishas gracefully strolling through the streets and immerse yourself in the rich traditions of the samurai by exploring their traditional houses. In Takayama and Shirakawa-go, you'll encounter extraordinary gassho-zukuri farmhouses, known for their steep thatched roofs resembling 'praying hands', and experience serene countryside life.

Contact our Japan travel advisors and we can arrange it for you.

How Much Does 10 Days in Japan Cost?

US$350-500 per person per day is the typical cost for a private tour with 4-star hotels, based on a family of 3–5 people. This includes a private guide, private car, full-day itinerary, tickets for attractions, all intercity transport within Japan, and hand-picked 4-star hotels. Thus, the total cost for 10 days in Japan is about US$3,500-5,000 (international flights not included).