Japan Itineraries

Choose a Japan itinerary based on the number of days you actually have, not on how many famous cities you can squeeze onto a map.

7 days

The 7-Day Japan Itinerary covers Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka at a faster but workable pace for first-time visitors.

10 days

The 10-Day Japan Itinerary adds Hakone and gives the major cities more breathing room.

Useful shorter routes

If you are already based in Kansai, use the Nara Day Trip from Kyoto or Osaka. For western Japan, the Hiroshima and Miyajima 2-Day Itinerary gives both places enough time without forcing them into a rushed single day. If Osaka is the focus, see the Osaka 2-Day Itinerary.

Returning to Japan

If you have already covered the classic Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka route, use Returning to Japan: 7 Regional Trip Ideas to compare less-obvious regions for a second or repeat visit.

Build your own route

Want a route tailored to your own trip? Use the Make Your Own Japan Itinerary builder to choose your trip length, travelers, destinations, interests, pace, season and travel style, then generate a day-by-day plan with an estimated budget. You can also read the first-trip itinerary planner for the planning logic behind a realistic route.

Build the route first

Once your trip length is clear, choose the destinations that fit naturally, then use the destination hubs for neighborhood, accommodation and activity planning. Avoid adding a city simply because it is famous if the transfer would consume too much of a short trip.

Start with the Japan trip-planning guide or browse destinations.