10 Day Japan Travel Itinerary
Whenever I travel to Japan, I make sure that I maximize my trip by staying more than a week. In one of my trips, I stayed in Japan for 15 days, that’s the maximum stay you can get on a Single Entry visa. Japan is such a beautiful country and there’s just so much to see, experience and taste. Good thing, they have a massive and modern railway system that will let you explore the entire country by train.
Traveling around Japan can be very expensive, but tourist can take advantage of the Japan Rail Pass, a pass that will allow you unlimited travel around Japan by train for a period of time. You can purchase your JR Pass at Klook, it’s the cheapest available in the market.
On this blog post, I will be sharing with you a 10 day Japan itinerary that will let you explore Kansai, Aichi and Kanto regions.
We will visit Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Shirakawa-Go, and Tokyo on this itinerary. This will also help you maximize your 7 Day JR Pass. Let’s Start!
Day 1
Osaka
Book your point of entry to Japan in Osaka, this will save you time from traveling back and forth from Tokyo to Osaka. Upon arrival, you may claim your JR Pass at the JR Office located in Kansai International Airport.
On your first day if you arrive early, you can explore Dotonburi area which is just outside Namba Station. If you still have time you can also visit Osaka Castle via Osaka Loop Line where JR Pass is valid.
Getting There:
From Kansai International Airport, take the Nankai Ltd. Exp to Namba(Nankai) station.
Day 2
Osaka/Kyoto
On your second day, it’s time to experience Kyoto. Since you only have one day allotted for Kyoto, make sure you visit Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Forest and the rest of Arashiyama District. Later in the afternoon, you may also visit the famous Fushimi Inari Taisha of Kyoto.
Getting There:
Arashiyama District
Take the Shinkansen Hikari at Shin-Osaka Station to Kyoto Station. Then take the JR San-In Line to Saga Arashiyama Station.
Fushimi Inari Taisha
From Saga Arashiyama Station take the JR San-In Line back to Kyoto Station. Then take the JR Nara Line to Inari Station.
Day 3
Osaka
On your third day, visit Universal Studios Japan. Make sure that you allot one full day for USJ to experience and ride everything. To skip the line, you may purchase your Universal Studios Japan tickets on Klook.
Getting There:
From Osaka Station, take the train to Nishikujo Station via the JR Osaka Loop Line. Then ride the train to Universal City Station via the JR Sakurajima Line.
Day 4
Osaka/Nagoya
It’s time to say goodbye to Osaka. Ride a Shinkansen to Nagoya, JR Pass will also allow you unlimited ordinary car Shinkansen rides with reserve seating.
On your first day, after resting, you may visit Osu Kannon Temple and Osu Shopping District. You may also visit the highest station building in the world, the JR Central Tower located at Nagoya Station for sightseeing. Admission is free.
Getting There:
From Shin-Osaka Station, take the Shinkansen Hikari to Nagoya Station. Travel time is 67 minutes.
Day 5
Nagoya
Time to explore the rest of Nagoya. Visit Nagoya Castle, and Nagoya City Science Museum. You may also visit Nagoya TV Tower and Oasis 21.
Getting There:
Nagoya Castle
From Nagoya Station, take the Sakuradori Line to Hisayaodori Station, then transfer to Meijo Line for Shiyakusho Station.
Nagoya City Science Museum
From Nagoya Station, take the Higashiyama Line to Fushimi Station. The museum located four blocks from the station.
Note: JR Pass is not valid on Nagoya subway lines. You need to purchase a separate ticket.
Day 6
Nagoya/Takayama/Shirakawa-Go
On your sixth day, catch the morning train to Takayama, the gateway to Shirakawa-go, one of Japan’s World Heritage Site. If you arrive early, you can explore some parts of Takayama before heading to Shirakawa-go.
Getting There:
From Nagoya Station take the Limited Express Hida train to Takayama Station. Travel time is almost 2.5 hours. Walk to Takayama Nohi Bus Center located beside Takayama Station and purchase your bus ticket to Shirakawa-go.
You may also purchase a Shirakawa-Go tour on Klook if you want convenience.
Day 7
Nagoya/Tokyo
It’s the last day of the validity of your JR Pass, it’s now time to travel to Tokyo. After resting, you may visit some of Tokyo’s famous districts such as Shinjuku, Harajuku, and Shibuya. These places are reachable via JR Yamanote line where you can use your JR Pass.
Getting There:
Take the Shinkansen Hikari at Nagoya Station to Tokyo Station.
Day 8
Tokyo
On your second day in Tokyo, purchase a one day unlimited Tokyo Metro ticket. This ticket will give you unlimited rides on Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway Lines. Along the Tokyo Metro Line, you can visit Tokyo’s famous districts plus Asakusa, Ginza, and Roppongi.
Day 9
Tokyo
One day before your departure, let’s explore Odaiba. This is where you can see the life-size Gundam structure, and the famous view of Tokyo Bay and Rainbow Bridge. If you have more time, you can visit Shibuya for shopping.
Getting There.
Odaiba is accessible via Rinkai Line and Yurikamome Line from Tokyo.
Day 10
Purchase a Tokyo Skyliner ticket on Klook to save some cash. This is the fastest way to get from the city to Narita International Airport.
Getting There:
You may claim your Skyliner ticket at Ueno Station or Nippori Station. This is where you will be taking the train to Narita International Airport as well. Travel time is 41 minutes.
Travel Tips:
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- Book your activities and travel passes on Klook to save you time and money.
- I suggest booking your place on Airbnb. Sign up using my link and get ₱1,600 worth of travel credits.
- Use Hyperdia to check for train stops and schedule.
- You can reserve seats for Shinkansen and Rapid train rides using your JR Pass. Just go to any JR Offices located in stations.
- JR Pass is not valid on Nozomi and Mizuho trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines.
Enjoy your Japan trip! Please leave a comment below if you have questions.
