Japan: the 10-day itinerary, day by day
Open the interactive map →All 55 places on this map are pinned at their exact location, grouped into 11 areas (Day 1 · Landing in Tokyo, Day 2 · Asakusa and old Tokyo, Day 3 · Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku and more). Each one comes with a short note on what it is and why it is worth your time. Browsing is free, and with an Ikuzo account you can copy the whole map and reshape it into your own trip.
Day 1 · Landing in Tokyo
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Free panoramic view of Tokyo from the 45F observation deck. Great first taste of the city, especially at sunset.
Omoide Yokocho
Tiny postwar alley packed with yakitori counters. Smoky, lively, perfect first-night dinner.
Golden Gai
Six narrow lanes of micro-bars, each seating 4-8 people. Some have cover charges, look for English-friendly signs.
Shinjuku Gyoen
Big calm garden with French, English and Japanese sections. Great if you arrive early and need to reset jet lag.
Yayoi Kusama Museum
Tiny five-floor museum dedicated to Kusama in a quiet corner of Shinjuku. Tickets sell out a month ahead, book online. Skippable if your queue tolerance is low; unmissable if you love her work.
Day 2 · Asakusa and old Tokyo
Sensoji Temple
Tokyo's oldest temple, in Asakusa. Go through Kaminarimon gate, walk the Nakamise approach, visit the main hall.
Nakamise-dori
250m approach to Sensoji lined with snack stalls and souvenir shops. Try ningyo-yaki and melon-pan.
Tokyo Skytree
634m tower with two observation decks. Skip if cloudy. Good combined ticket if visibility is decent.
Hama-rikyu Gardens
Edo-period garden surrounded by skyscrapers. Tea house in the middle of a salt pond. Walkable from Tsukiji.
Day 3 · Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku
Meiji Jingu
Forest shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji. Massive torii, gravel paths, often a Shinto wedding procession to spot.
Takeshita Street
Harajuku's pedestrian shopping street. Crepes, kawaii fashion, candy. Loud and crowded, peak Tokyo teen energy.
Omotesando
The Champs-Elysees of Tokyo. Designer flagships and boutique architecture. Walk it after Takeshita for the contrast.
Shibuya Crossing
The world's busiest intersection. Watch from the Starbucks above or Mag's Park rooftop. Hachiko statue is right there.
Shibuya Sky
Open-air rooftop 230m up. Best Tokyo view at sunset, book the timed ticket online a few days ahead.
Day 4 · Slow Tokyo
Tsukiji Outer Market
Old fish market is gone but the outer market still rules for breakfast. Tamagoyaki skewers, tuna sushi, uni rice bowls.
Imperial Palace East Gardens
Free, the only part of the palace grounds open to the public. Old castle ruins and traditional gardens.
Ginza
Tokyo's upscale district. Architecture-spotting and department stores. Chuo-dori is car-free on weekend afternoons.
teamLab Planets Tokyo
Walk through water and infinity light rooms. Book online for a specific time slot. Wear shorts or roll-up pants.
Akihabara
Anime, manga, retro games and electronics. Visit Super Potato, Mandarake, Yodobashi Camera. Maid cafes if curious.
Ueno Park
Big park with multiple museums and a small zoo. Cherry blossoms in spring. Tokyo National Museum is here.
Ameya-Yokocho
Old open-air market under the Yamanote tracks. Cheap clothes, dried fish, fresh fruit, standing izakayas.
Days 5-6 · Hakone, the onsen pause
Hakone Open-Air Museum
Outdoor sculpture park with a Picasso pavilion and a foot onsen. First stop on the Hakone loop from Hakone-Yumoto.
Owakudani
Volcanic valley with sulfuric vents. Famous black eggs (kuro tamago) boiled in the hot springs. Ropeway access.
Lake Ashi
Caldera lake with a Mt Fuji view on clear days. Take the pirate-ship cruise from Togendai to Motohakone.
Hakone Shrine Torii
The iconic red torii standing in Lake Ashi. Long photo line on weekends. The shrine itself is up the cedar-lined steps.
Day 7 · Kyoto, first evening in Higashiyama
Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka
Stone-paved old streets between Kiyomizu and Yasaka. Most photogenic Kyoto lanes. Go early to avoid the crush.
Yasaka Shrine
Lantern-lit shrine at the Gion entrance. Sits between Higashiyama temples and the geisha district. Open 24h.
Pontocho Alley
Narrow lantern-lit alley along the Kamogawa. Best in the evening for dinner. Many restaurants have summer riverside terraces.
Day 8 · Eastern Kyoto
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Thousands of vermilion torii up Mt Inari. Go at sunrise to beat the crowds. The full hike loops in 2-3h.
Tofuku-ji
Zen temple with the Tsutenkyo bridge over a maple ravine. Best in November. Quick stop near Fushimi Inari.
Sanjusangendo
Wooden hall with 1001 carved Kannon statues lined up shoulder to shoulder. Quietly stunning, low-key famous.
Nishiki Market
Kyoto's covered food street. Tako tamago, yuba, dashimaki, matcha sweets. Best for lunch grazing.
Kiyomizu-dera
Wooden stage temple with a city view. Go early or just before closing for fewer people. Spring/autumn evening illuminations.
Hanamikoji Street
The main Gion lane, lined with old machiya and ochaya. Don't chase geiko for photos, locals hate it.
Day 9 · Nara day trip
Todai-ji
Houses the Great Buddha (15m bronze). Massive wooden hall, one of the largest in the world. Don't miss the column with a hole kids crawl through.
Nara Park
Free-roaming sika deer that bow for shika senbei crackers. Don't tease them, they nip. Wraps around Todai-ji and Kasuga.
Kasuga Taisha
Shrine famous for thousands of stone and bronze lanterns lining the forest path. Lit twice a year (Feb + August).
Day 10 · Hiroshima and Miyajima
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Cenotaph, Children's Peace Monument, eternal flame. Combine with the museum for a heavy but essential visit.
Atomic Bomb Dome
The skeletal remains of the building closest to the hypocentre. UNESCO. Walk the riverside before crossing into the park.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
Survivor testimonies and personal artifacts. Heavy and unforgettable. Allow at least 90 minutes.
Itsukushima Shrine
The floating torii on Miyajima. Check the tide chart, high tide gives the iconic photo, low tide lets you walk to it.
Okunoshima (Rabbit Island)
Small island off Hiroshima overrun by friendly wild rabbits. Buy carrots/cabbage on the mainland (none sold on island). Doable as a long day trip from Hiroshima with the Miyajima ferry day if you start very early.
Osaka, the last evening
Osaka Castle
Reconstructed donjon, museum inside, viewing deck on top. The park itself is the better part, especially in plum/cherry season.
Dotonbori
Neon canal with the Glico running man sign. Takoyaki, kushikatsu, kani-doraku crab. Eat your way through.
Hozenji Temple
Tiny moss-covered Buddha statue tucked in a stone alley off Dotonbori. Pour water on him for luck. Hidden corner.
Tsutenkaku
Retro tower in the old Shinsekai district. Around it: kushikatsu, fugu, gachapon. Glorious Showa-era vibes.
Kuromon Ichiba
Osaka's kitchen. Fresh sashimi, oysters, wagyu skewers. Best for a long lazy market lunch on the last day.
Umeda Sky Building
Twin towers with a futuristic skybridge observatory. Sunset and night view rivals Tokyo's. Combine with Yodobashi shopping.
Shinsaibashi
Covered shopping arcade running north from Dotonbori. Last-day souvenir hunt: drugstores, fashion, character shops.
If you have one more day · Western Kyoto
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
The famous bamboo path. Short walk, very crowded by 9am, magical at dawn or dusk.
Tenryu-ji
Zen head temple with a Sogenchi pond garden, designed in the 14th century. Back gate exits straight into the bamboo grove.
Togetsukyo Bridge
The wooden bridge over the Hozugawa. Backdrop for many Arashiyama photos. Good cherry/maple framing.
Kinkaku-ji
Golden Pavilion floating over a mirror pond. Quick visit, one fixed loop, but unmissable. Pair with Ryoan-ji.
Ryoan-ji
The most famous zen rock garden. Sit on the veranda, count the stones, you'll never see all 15 from one angle.
Otagi Nenbutsu-ji
Hidden temple uphill from Arashiyama. 1,200 hand-carved stone rakan statues covered in moss, each with its own face: laughing, meditating, or in clear existential doubt. Almost no tourists. Walk up via the preserved Saga Toriimoto street.
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