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japan 10-day travel guide

BEFORE YOU GO

CHECKLIST

  • Book flight to Tokyo (~$1300)

  • 4 nights for Tokyo Hotel ($700)

  • 1 night for Ryokan in Hakone ($375)

  • 3 nights Kyoto Guesthouse ($350)

  • Order JR-Pass + pocket wifi ($400)

  • Reserve Robot Restaurant ($60)

  • Make your packing list

  • Plan to use 40L backpack to fit in coin lockers throughout trip

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TOTAL COST
BEST MONTHS

$3000

Apr-Nov

DAY 3

ITINERARY

  • Check-out of hotel

  • Store luggage at coin lockers outside Hakone-yumoto station

  • Hakone ropeway and cablecar

  • Eat black eggs at top of mountain

  • Hakone open air museum

  • Explore Lake Ashinoko

  • Hakone Shrine (if time)

  • Pick up luggage from coin lockers and head to Kyoto

  • Check-in to Kyoto accommodations

DAILY BUDGET
STAY IN

$70

KYOTO

DAY 6

ITINERARY

  • Nijo Castle

  • Head to Osaka on bullet train

  • Visit Osaka Castle park

  • Lunch nearby

  • Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

  • Walk around Dotonbori river street

  • Ebisu tower for views of the city

  • Dinner nearby

  • Shopping in Shinsaibashi

  • Head back to Kyoto on bullet train

DAILY BUDGET
STAY IN

$50

KYOTO

DAY 9

ITINERARY

  • Optional day trips:

    • Mt. Takao hike (~5 hours)​

    • Tokyo Disney Resort (all day)

    • Nikko (~7 hours)

    • Kamakura (~5 hours)

  • Walk through Hamarikyu gardens

  • Visit Tsukiji market for dinner

  • Head back to accommodations or go shopping again in Shibuya

DAILY BUDGET
STAY IN

$50

TOKYO

DAY 1

ITINERARY

  • Arrive at NRT airport

  • Pick up JR Pass and pocket WiFi

  • Ride the Narita Express to Tokyo

  • Check-in to accommodations

  • Dinner nearby

  • Robot Restaurant show - will help to keep you awake through jet lag

  • Drinks in Roppongi district

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DAILY BUDGET
STAY IN

$100

TOKYO

DAY 4

ITINERARY

  • Hike up Fushimi Inari Shrine

  • Head to Nara

  • Nara deek park​​

  • Todai-ji temple

  • Isuien garden

  • Shopping in Nara

  • Get lunch in Nara 

  • Kinkaku-ji zen Buddhist temple

  • Nishiki market for early dinner

  • Sake bar in Gion district

DAILY BUDGET
STAY IN

$50

KYOTO

DAY 7

ITINERARY

  • Check-out of accommodations

  • Grab bento box at station for lunch

  • Get on bullet train towards Tokyo

  • Check-in to Tokyo accommodations

  • Shopping and eat street food in Harajuku district

  • Desserts by Takeshita street

  • Dinner nearby

  • Explore Shinjuku Golden Gai area

  • Robot Restaurant show

DAILY BUDGET
STAY IN

$50

TOKYO

DAY 10

ITINERARY

  • Early breakfast in Ginza district

  • Kokyo Gaein national garden and walk by Imperial Palace

  • Walk over to Tokyo station and head to NRT airport 

  • Arrive at airport for afternoon flight and return pocket WiFi

DAILY BUDGET
STAY IN

$25

Fly home

DAY 2

ITINERARY

  • Ride train to Yokohama, check luggage into lockers at station

  • Views of city from Osanbashi Pier​

  • Walk through Minato Mirai

  • Lunch in Landmark tower mall

  • Cup noodles museum or Ramen museum

  • Grab luggage and head to Hakone

  • Check-in to accommodations

  • Shopping in city center 

  • Relax at private onsen in Ryokan

  • Dinner at resort

DAILY BUDGET
STAY IN

$40

HAKONE

DAY 5

ITINERARY

  • Head to Arashiyama district (8 AM)

  • Arashiyama park observation deck

  • Arashiyama bamboo grove

  • Okochi sanso garden & tea house

  • Tenryu-ji temple

  • Nonomiya shrine

  • Lunch at Traditional Tofu house

  • Monkey Park Iwatayama

  • Shopping the main street

  • Kimono forest

  • Dinner nearby accommodations

DAILY BUDGET
STAY IN

$100

KYOTO

DAY 8

ITINERARY

  • Tokyo skytree, check for clear skies

  • Pokemon center store

  • Sensijo temple five story pagoda

  • Walk through Ueno park

  • Lunch in Ameoyoko market

  • Tokyo National Musuem

  • Shopping in Akihabara

  • Relax back at accommodations

  • Dinner in Shibuya

  • Shopping in Shibuya district

DAILY BUDGET
STAY IN

$70

TOKYO

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