Planning your first trip to Japan can feel overwhelming. There are endless neighborhoods, temples, restaurants, day trips, trains and experiences to choose from. We recently spent 10 days traveling through Tokyo and Kyoto, with day trips to Nara, Uji, Amanohashidate and Ine, and this is the route we’d recommend for a first trip. We’ve put together our exact itinerary, favorite restaurants, transportation tips and some of the things we wish we’d known before going — so you can use this as a starting point for your own Japan trip.
OUR 10-DAY ROUTE
Days 1–3: Tokyo
Days 4–7: Kyoto
Days 8–10: Tokyo
Why we chose TOKYO → KYOTO → TOKYO
We liked splitting Tokyo into two stays because it allowed us to explore Tokyo at the beginning, spend several days in Kyoto and then return to Tokyo for our final shopping and sightseeing before flying home.
DAY 1 — TOKYO
Airport → Hyatt Regency Tokyo → Shinjuku → Odaiba
We took the Airport Limousine Bus directly from the airport to the Hyatt Regency Tokyo, which was incredibly convenient with luggage. After a relaxed afternoon, we took the hotel’s shuttle to Shinjuku and explored the area.
Lunch: Ain Soph. Journey — fully vegan.
In the evening, we headed to Odaiba for a birthday celebration and enjoyed a private yacht experience.
💡Our tip: Don’t over-plan your first day in Japan. After a long-haul flight, give yourself time to settle in.
DAY 2 — HARAJUKU + OMOTESANDO + SHIBUYA
It rained, so we kept things flexible.We explored Omotesando and Harajuku, stopped for brunch at micasadeco & cafe, and loved their Lavender matcha and ricotta pancakes. Later we walked around Shibuya Crossing and had a relaxed evening.
💡Rainy-day tip: Tokyo is fantastic in bad weather because you can easily switch sightseeing for shopping, cafés, restaurants and indoor experiences.
DAY 3 — teamLAB + GINZA
One of our favorite days. We visited teamLab Planets, an immersive experience that we genuinely loved. Then we had one of our favorite vegan meals: Uzu Ramen
Important: Access to the restaurant is tied to teamLab Planets, so plan accordingly.
Since teamLab is close to Odaiba, you can easily combine the two. We instead headed to Ginza for shopping and flagship stores.
Dinner: Bombay Sizzler.
DAY 4 — TOKYO → KYOTO
We took the Shinkansen to Kyoto and stayed at DoubleTree by Hilton Kyoto Station, which we found incredibly convenient. In the evening we explored Gion and Kiyomizu-dera.
💡Our tip:Rather than walking uphill all the way to Kiyomizu-dera, we took a taxi directly to the temple and walked downhill afterward. This made the experience much easier especially with baby & parents.
DAY 5 — AMANOHASHIDATE + INE
We rented a car and headed out of Kyoto. First stop: Amanohashidate View Land. Parking was easy and cost approximately ¥500–¥1,000.We went up by train and came down by chairlift.
Important: Some activities require separate payment, and we encountered cash-only machines, so carry yen.
If the weather is clear, the views are beautiful. Then continue to Ine Fishing Village. We arrived too late to explore properly, so if you want to do the boat ride and see the traditional funaya houses, leave earlier.
💡Food tip: Vegetarian options become much harder to find outside the major cities, so carry snacks or stop at a convenience store.
DAY 6 — UJI + NARA + FUSHIMI INARI
Start with: Uji, Matcha, desserts and a beautiful riverside setting. Then continue to: Nara , The deer are obviously the stars, but don’t miss Todaiji Temple. We then stopped at Fushimi Inari on our way back.
Our surprise: We visited in the late afternoon and found it much more manageable than expected. You don’t necessarily need to wake up at 5 AM for every famous attraction.
Dinner: Tadka 2.
We also briefly explored Nishiki Market, although it wasn’t a favorite for us because of how seafood-focused it is.
DAY 7 — ARASHIYAMA
Instead of heading directly to the famous bamboo forest, we started at: Adashino Nenbutsuji. It’s quieter and has a beautiful bamboo grove of its own. There’s also a cute café right outside. Then walk approximately 20 minutes toward Arashiyama Bamboo Forest.
💡Our tip: Yes, Arashiyama is busy, but our experience wasn’t nearly as crowded as many viral videos suggested. We then took the Sagano Romantic Train.
Dinner: Chao Chao Gyoza, Our favorite meal of the trip — 20/10. They also offer vegetarian, vegan and no-onion/no-garlic options.
DAY 8 — KYOTO → TOKYO → SHIBUYA SKY + MARIO KART
We took the Shinkansen back to Tokyo and stopped at T’s Tantan in Tokyo Station for
vegan ramen. It’s not the easiest to find, so give yourself a little extra time! In the afternoon, all of us headed to Shibuya Sky and enjoyed the incredible views over Tokyo. We had originally planned to visit on another day for sunset, but rain affected those plans, so we ended up finding another slot.
💡TIP: If Shibuya Sky is a must-do, keep some flexibility in your Tokyo schedule and check availability regularly in case weather affects your plans.
After Shibuya Sky, Shobhit and dad went for a street go-kart experience, while mom and I headed back to the hotel to relax.
Check the Mario Kart experience here. International drivers permit is mandatory for each driver
DAY 9 — SUMO SHOW + ASAKUSA
While we used the morning for some last-minute shopping, Shobhit and dad went to a sumo wrestling show in Tokyo. If you’ve never experienced sumo before, this is a fun way to add something distinctly Japanese to your itinerary.
Check the Tokyo Shinjuku Sumo Show Experience
💡Tip: This works particularly well as a half-day activity, so you can combine it with shopping or another Tokyo neighborhood.
DAY 10 — MEIJI JINGU + HARAJUKU → AIRPORT
We had a few hours before our flights, so we visited Meiji Jingu, one of Tokyo’s most important Shinto shrines, tucked away in a peaceful forested area right in the middle of the city. It was a lovely, slower way to end the trip before heading to Harajuku for a final stroll and some last-minute shopping.
We then took the Airport Limousine Bus to the airport. Our parents flew out of Narita, while we flew from Haneda, so make sure you double-check which airport your flight departs from!
💡TIP: Meiji Jingu + Harajuku are an easy combination if you have a few hours before your flight, especially if you’re staying around Shinjuku or central Tokyo.
JAPAN TIPS WE WISH WE KNEW
💴 Carry cash – Japan is increasingly card-friendly, but cash is still useful, especially outside major cities and at some attractions.
🚇 Get an IC card- It makes getting around much easier.
🚅 Don’t be afraid of the Shinkansen- It’s one of the easiest ways to travel between Tokyo and Kyoto.
🧳 Consider luggage forwarding- Especially if you’re traveling with large suitcases.
👟 Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll walk much more than you expect.
🚕 Use taxis strategically. They’re worth it when you’re tired, carrying luggage or tackling Kyoto’s hills.
🌧️ Have a weather backup. Especially for outdoor viewpoints like Shibuya Sky and Amanohashidate.
🍙 Carry snacks. Especially if you have dietary restrictions.
💴 Keep cash for rural day trips. We encountered cash-only situations during our Amanohashidate and Nara days.
✈️ Want us to plan YOUR Japan trip? This itinerary is a great starting point — but your trip doesn’t have to look exactly like ours. Whether you’re traveling as a couple, family, group of friends or multigenerational family, we can create a custom Japan itinerary around your dates, interests, travel style and budget.
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✓ Personalized day-by-day itinerary
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