If you want to see the best of Japan in 10 days,, the best route is the classic Tokyo → Kyoto → Nara → Osaka → Hiroshima → Miyajima circuit. It covers Japan’s biggest contrasts: ultra-modern Tokyo, historic Kyoto, temple-filled Nara, food-focused Osaka, and the history and coastal scenery of Hiroshima and Miyajima.
This itinerary is designed for first-time visitors who want the best balance of cities, culture, food, history and iconic sights in a single trip. It is fast-moving, but realistic.
Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo and settle into Shinjuku or Shibuya
Start in Tokyo, ideally staying in Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo Station, Shinagawa or Ueno depending on your style and onward travel plans. Asakusa is great for it’s a traditional base, Shinjuku for convenience, and Tokyo/Shinagawa/Ueno for Shinkansen access.
On arrival day, keep it light. Walk around your neighborhood, have your first ramen or izakaya meal, and stay awake until evening to adjust to the time zone. Shinjuku works especially well if you want nightlife and transport convenience, while Shibuya is great if you want a livelier first impression of the city. Tokyo Station is the most practical base if you want a smoother train departure later in the trip.
Day 2: Classic Tokyo — Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree area, Ginza or Tokyo Station
Use your first full day for visiting classic Tokyo highlights. Pair Asakusa and Senso-ji with nearby modern city views and shopping areas such as Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Station and Ginza.
A great itinerary would be:
- Morning in Asakusa and Senso-ji
- Walk through Nakamise-dori
- Afternoon around Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Station, or Ginza
- Evening food stop in Shinjuku or Ueno
This gives you old Tokyo and modern Tokyo on the same day, which is one of the biggest reasons Tokyo is such an amazing place to visit.
Day 3: Tokyo — Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, Shibuya
For your second full day in Tokyo, shift to the city’s greener and trendier side. Visit Meiji Jingu, a major shrine set in a large forested area between Shinjuku and Shibuya, and then spend time in Harajuku and Shibuya.
A good plan is:
- Morning at Meiji Jingu
- Walk through Harajuku
- Afternoon in Omotesando or Shibuya
- Evening viewpoint, shopping, or casual dinner
This day works well because it mixes one of Tokyo’s most important spiritual sites with some of its most famous modern neighborhoods.
Day 4: Travel to Kyoto and explore Gion or Higashiyama
Take the Shinkansen west to Kyoto in the morning. Kyoto is the historic anchor of Kansai, and near by to the cities of Nara and Osaka.
After check-in, keep your first Kyoto day simple:
- Walk Gion
- Explore Higashiyama
- Visit a temple or shrine nearby
- Have a relaxed kaiseki, tofu, or casual Kyoto dinner
This is a good transition day because Kyoto rewards slower wandering more than checklist-style rushing.
Day 5: Kyoto highlights
Make this your main Kyoto sightseeing day. Kyoto’s concentration of historic temples and shrines are one of the region’s highlights.
I would recommend the following:
- Early visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Midday temple or garden area such as eastern Kyoto
- Afternoon in traditional streets or shopping lanes
- Evening in Pontocho or Gion
Day 6: Nara day trip, then overnight in Osaka
Japan’s official Kansai route specifically combines Kyoto, Nara and Osaka, making Nara the easiest and most rewarding day trip of the three-city cluster. Nara is famous for its giant bronze Buddha and its historic park setting.
Spend the morning and early afternoon in Nara, then continue to Osaka for the night. Nara is compact compared with Tokyo or Kyoto, and Osaka comes alive in the evening.
A simple Nara-Osaka day looks like:
- Morning train to Nara
- Visit Nara Park and the main temple area
- Afternoon transfer to Osaka
- Evening in Dotonbori or Namba
This day gives you a sharp contrast between ancient capital history and Osaka’s food-and-neon energy.
Day 7: Osaka — food, city views and neighborhoods
Osaka is the least temple-focused stop on this route, so it offers a great change in pace. Osaka is a place to wander shopping districts and eat to your heart’s content.
Use this day for:
- Osaka Castle area or a city viewpoint
- Umeda or another commercial district
- Street food and nightlife in Dotonbori, Namba, or nearby neighborhoods
Osaka adds variety to the itinerary. After several days of shrines, temples and historic districts, it brings a more urban, casual and food-led side of Japan.
Day 8: Hiroshima
Travel to Hiroshima in the morning, and spend the day visiting Hiroshima’s core sights, while giving yourself time to enjoy the city’s food scene in the evening. Hiroshima is both a history stop and the gateway to Miyajima.
This is where a regional pass can make sense. JR West’s Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass covers travel between Kansai and Hiroshima and includes the JR West Miyajima Ferry, which is useful if you are doing the next day as planned.
Day 9: Miyajima day trip
Miyajima is a great day trip from Hiroshima!
Use the day for:
- Ferry to Miyajima
- Shrine and waterfront area
- Light hiking or ropeway if time and weather allow
- Return to Hiroshima for your final night in the region
This is one of the best days in the itinerary because it shifts the mood from major cities and historic capitals to a more scenic island setting.
Day 10: Return for departure
On your final day, return by rail to Tokyo, and enjoy your last evening in Japan’s capital city!
Why this is a great 10-day itinerary:
This itinerary works because it gives each region a distinct role:
- Tokyo for the highlights
- Kyoto for classic culture and historic Japan
- Nara for an easy ancient-capital day trip
- Osaka for food and nightlife
- Hiroshima for history
- Miyajima for scenery
Practical tips
Book your long-distance train seats early if you are traveling in a busy period. Reservations for eligible services can be made up to one month in advance through its online reservation system. Stay near major stations when possible. .
Do not try to add too many extra stops. In 10 days, this route already covers a lot. Adding Hakone, Mount Fuji, Kanazawa or Himeji is possible, but usually means cutting meaningful time from Tokyo or Kyoto.