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At a glance
- Route: Tokyo → Lake Kawaguchi → Kyoto → Nara → Osaka → Himeji → Hiroshima & Miyajima
- Overnight: Tokyo ×3 · Lake Kawaguchi ×1 · Kyoto ×2 · Osaka ×1 · Hiroshima ×2
- Best for: First- or second-time visitors who want Mount Fuji and western Japan's highlights too
🗓 Day-by-day plan
Day 1 · Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree
Overnight: Tokyo
Kaminarimon, Senso-ji and Nakamise, then Tokyo Skytree at dusk — an easy first day while you adjust to the time difference.
Day 2 · Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku
Overnight: Tokyo
Meiji Shrine, Harajuku and Shibuya Scramble by day; the tiny bars of Shinjuku's Golden Gai by night.
Day 3 · Tsukiji, the Ghibli Museum, Akihabara
Overnight: Tokyo
Breakfast at Tsukiji Outer Market, then the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka (timed tickets go on sale on the 10th of the previous month). Evening in Akihabara's arcades and anime shops.
Day 4 · Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi
Overnight: Lake Kawaguchi
Highway bus from Shinjuku to Lake Kawaguchi (about 2 h). See Fuji framed by the Chureito Pagoda at Arakurayama Sengen Park and stay at a lakeside onsen hotel. The mountain is clearest early in the morning.
Day 5 · To Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera and Gion
Overnight: Kyoto
Bus from Lake Kawaguchi to Mishima Station, then the shinkansen to Kyoto (about 4 h in total). Kiyomizu-dera, Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka in the afternoon, Gion at dusk.
Day 6 · Fushimi Inari, Nishiki Market, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama
Overnight: Kyoto
Fushimi Inari at dawn, Nishiki Market for lunch, then Kinkaku-ji and the Arashiyama bamboo grove.
Day 7 · Nara's deer and Osaka's food
Overnight: Osaka
Kintetsu to Nara for the deer and Todai-ji's Great Buddha, then takoyaki and kushikatsu in Osaka's Dotonbori from late afternoon.
Day 8 · Himeji Castle, then on to Hiroshima
Overnight: Hiroshima
Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Himeji (about 30 min) to tour the white 'egret' castle, then on to Hiroshima (about 1 h). Dinner: Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki at Okonomimura.
Day 9 · Atomic Bomb Dome and Miyajima
Overnight: Hiroshima
Morning at the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Museum. In the afternoon take the train and ferry to Miyajima for Itsukushima Shrine's floating torii — it looks different at high and low tide.
Day 10 · Fly home
Overnight: —
Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Shin-Osaka (about 1 h 20 min) and fly out of Kansai Airport, or allow about 4 h to get back to Tokyo.
💴 Budget estimate (per person, excluding international flights)
| スタイル | 1日あたり | × 10 | Long-distance transport (estimate) | 合計 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 節約 ホステル・カプセル、コンビニと食堂、各駅停車と高速バス | ¥10,000 | ¥100,000 | ¥38,000 | ¥138,000 |
| 標準 ビジネスホテル、居酒屋と名物料理、新幹線の普通車 | ¥25,000 | ¥250,000 | ¥38,000 | ¥288,000 |
| 贅沢 旅館・高級ホテル、懐石とコース料理、グリーン車・貸切・ガイド | ¥60,000 | ¥600,000 | ¥38,000 | ¥638,000 |
Daily costs (accommodation, food, local transport, admission) are estimated at ¥10,000 budget / ¥25,000 standard / ¥60,000 premium. Transport figures are typical 2026 off-peak fares — check official sites for exact prices.
💡 Tips for this route
- Fuji is often hidden by cloud; consider booking your Lake Kawaguchi hotel late, after checking the forecast.
- Staying overnight lets you see Miyajima lit up at night and quiet in the early morning.
- Long-distance travel totals about ¥38,000, less than a 7-day Japan Rail Pass (¥50,000), so separate tickets win.
Other trip lengths
5 days · 7 days · 14 days · Japan itineraries · Japan itineraries
Frequently asked questions
Where should I go in Japan in 10 days?
Three nights in Tokyo, one at Lake Kawaguchi, two in Kyoto, one in Osaka and two in Hiroshima works well, covering Mount Fuji, Kyoto's temples, Nara's deer, Himeji Castle and Miyajima.
Is a Japan Rail Pass worth it for 10 days?
On this route long-distance fares come to about ¥38,000, so buying tickets separately is cheaper than a 7-day pass (¥50,000).
