There’s no perfect amount of time to spend in Japan. Some people come for a month and mostly squander it, while others can fit the journey of a lifetime into just a few days.
With this being said, some trip lengths serves as better container than others, particularly if you’re realistic about the number of Japan destinations you can comfortably see. As I often say, the country is bigger than it looks on a map—and the speed of the Shinkansen bullet train only counts for so much.
For example, 10 days in Japan is an extremely well-rounded trip. It’s the perfect length of time for seeing the entirety of Japan’s “Golden Route” if it’s your first trip, or to dig into secondary or tertiary regions if you’re returning.
10 Days is the Perfect Introduction to Japan
Although I’ve written a (very popular) post detailing how you can spend a week in Japan, I generally say that for a Japan itinerary, 10 days is the minimum amount of time you should spend. This is especially true if you’ve never been to Japan before, and you want to focus on the tourist trail. You can compress these destinations into just a week, but having 10 days gives you much more breathing room.
Likewise, if you’re coming back to Japan for a second (or third, or 13th) trip, 10 days gives you space to discover. 10 days, for instance, is the perfect amount of time to explore secondary islands like Kyushu, Shikoku, Hokkaido, or even the Okinawa archipelago. Alternatively, you can use your 10 days to visit regions such as far western San’in, or Tohoku in northeastern Honshu.
How to Structure Your 10 Days in Japan
Start (and maybe end) in Tokyo
Unless you take one of the few intercontinental flights to Osaka (or—if you’re coming from Europe—Nagoya, Fukuoka or Sapporo), you’ll be arriving in Japan at one of Tokyo‘s two airports. As a result, it definitely makes sense to start your trip with at least a couple of nights in Tokyo. You might also “bookend” your trip with a night or two there at the end, depending upon what time you end up flying out.
Spend a night at Mt. Fuji—or don’t
Indeed, depending upon how much of your Japan 10 day itinerary you end up spending in Tokyo, you may be able to visit Mt. Fuji (and/or the cities of Nikko and Kamakura) as a day trip from the capital. If you aren’t intimidated by the possibility of bad weather, of course, or you’re coming in somewhere and want to climb, you could spend the night somewhere near Fujisan (likely at lake Kawaguchiko or Yamanakako).
Continue to Kyoto
It should go without saying that Kyoto will be part of your trip to Japan. However, you have a choice, both in terms of how many days you spend in Kyoto, as well as what you do there. For example, while some travelers will focus on urban Kyoto districts like Higashiyama and Arashiyama, others will head to Kurama-dera and Kifune-jinja, a somewhat obscure temple-shrine pair northeast of the city center.
(And maybe Osaka)
Another reason you might want to devote a day (or two) less to Kyoto, assuming a 10-day itinerary? Japan is home to a second massive megacity, Osaka. The aptly-described “Kitchen of Japan,” Osaka is amazing not only as a base for culinary discover, but as one for day trips. You can head west to Himeji Castle and the beef-famous city of Kobe, or east to Nara, whether you’re drawn there by its deer population or its ancient wooden structures.
Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Kyushu—oh my!
For the final chapter of your 10-day Japan trip, you need to decide: Do you head slightly westward to Hiroshima; past Hiroshima (and a bit south) to the northern part of Kyushu island; or northward to Kanazawa; where you may or may not be able to take the “back way” through the Japanese Alps back to Tokyo. Many potential answers—and all of them are good, so don’t worry about being “wrong.”
How Much Does 10 Days in Japan Cost?
Assuming that the Japanese yen remains as weak as it is (somewhere between 140-160 to the USD), I expect that most travelers can expect to spend around 100-200 USD per person, per day, based on double occupancy in Japanese business hotels—and not including flights. You’ll pay more if you’re traveling solo, and much more if you plan to stay in luxury accommodations more than occasionally.
In other words, a couple can expect a 10 days in Japan budget of somewhere between 2,000-4,000 USD—again, not including the cost of flights from and back to your home country. Just as it’s easy to exceed this if you’re a fancy pants traveler, it is theoretically possible for you to spend less than this, for example if you stay in capsule hotels or hostels and eat primarily at convenience stores. But that’s a topic for another post.
Other FAQ About Planning Your 10 Day Japan Itinerary
Is 10 days enough to explore Japan?
10 days is enough to experience a cross-section of Japan, but you of course can’t see everywhere in Japan during this time. Effectively, you can thoroughly explore the Tokyo-Kyoto/Osaka-Hiroshima “Golden Route,” or devote your 10 days to secondary islands or regions like Kyushu or Tohoku.
Where to go in 10 days in Japan?
If you’ve never been in Japan, then I suggest dividing your trip up between Tokyo (and maybe Mt. Fuji), Kyoto (and maybe Osaka) and either Hiroshima, northern Kyushu island or Kanazawa. If you have been to Japan before, you can use your 10 days to deeply explore another island or region, like Hokkaido or San’in.
Is 10 days too short for Japan?
10 days is too short if you want to take a truly comprehensive trip around Japan. For this, you need a month in Japan or even longer. However, if you set realistic expectations for the amount of ground you can expect to cover, then I think you’ll find 10 days in Japan to be satisfying.
The Bottom Line
10 days in Japan isn’t enough to see “everywhere” in the country, or even close to it. At the same time, if it’s your first visit to Japan, you can easily see the Tokyo-Kyoto-Hiroshima “Golden Route” (and maybe another destination or two) with just 10 days. Travelers who have been to Japan before, meanwhile, can use 10 days to dig deeper into secondary Japanese islands or regions, or to visit cities and small towns off Japan’s beaten path. No matter how many times you’ve visited Japan or how long you end up staying, consider hiring me to plan a custom Japan itinerary. It’s the best way to ensure you get your trip to Japan right, without any stress or guesswork.
