10 Day Japan Itinerary For First Timers – Modern Golden Route

The Golden Route of Japan is a travel path that whisks you through the highlights of the country, hitting major spots like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka with all their amazing sights and bites! With all things though, this traditional path is a little cookie cutter so we’ve updated and optimized for the modern day.

You’ve been dreaming of going to Japan for years and the time’s finally come but as you start to try to plan the trip you start getting overwhelmed with how much you need to learn in a short amount of time for the 10 or so days that you’ll be there.

In this Japan itinerary, you’re going to get the specifics of how to plan your dream vacation, with deep insight from our hands-on experience, saving you time and money.

Highlights You’ll Love With These 10 Days In Japan

What I love about this itinerary is that it is truly a gateway to what makes Japan such an incredible travel destination. It’s jam-packed with highlights without feeling overwhelming.

If I were to pick out 5 of my favourite things about doing the Golden Route, they’d be:

1. Mt. Fuji is beautiful (when it’s out) – You can’t control the weather but if you’re lucky enough to see the famous snow-capped mountain from Fuji Five Lakes.
2. Fall foliage is ablaze– It’s totally worth seeing the vivid glow of the autumn colors all around Japan.
3. Icons of Japan – We were able to visit so many of my favourites in Japan including the Shibuya Scramble, Tsukiji Fish Market, the gorgeous temples of Kyoto, tea ceremony, Kobe beef, Glico man, and so much more.
4. Getting away from the crowds – I love that we also found opportunities to get away from the tourist path a few times including the temple with 1200 unique statues, having bamboo forests all to ourselves, exploring Kobe for a day, and enjoying the onsen in Kawaguchiko.
5. Outrageously good food – From Kichi Kichi Omurice, fire ramen, flamethrowers on tuna cheeks, I was all for the “wow” culinary experiences.

Who This Itinerary Is For

This is a modern take on the Golden Route Japan itinerary which was originally defined by Japan’s tourism board, JNTO. We’ve made it more efficient by starting in Osaka and it’s much more realistic for someone to follow.

Of course, you could also do it in reverse by starting in Tokyo but we liked the idea of starting west and making our way east.

With so many different iterations of 10 days in Japan, let’s refine who might want to use an itinerary like this.

1. First timer to Japan – There’s a reason why the Golden Route is the most popular amongst first time visitors. This is the perfect introduction to the beauty of Japan.
2. Want to see the popular sights – This itinerary hits up some of the most popular locations in Japan so you won’t feel much FOMO.
3. Interested in culinary experiences – The restaurant selections will surely fire up all your senses.
4. Seeks great photography opportunities – Not everything should be about Instagrammable locations but you will end up in so many places that’ll lead to stunning photos.
5. Have limited time – You can actually see a lot in 10 days. Let us show you how!

How To Use Our Golden Route Itinerary

Our itineraries, are our bread and butter because we recognize that trip planning is hard and while there’s a lot of information out there, it’s often scattered and piecing the puzzle is challenging.

This 10 day Japan itinerary helps you connect all the pieces so you have a complete picture of how you could potentially do a trip like this. With “what you need to know” boxes, daily summaries, downloadable maps and itineraries, you’ll be able to plan like a pro.

As itineraries go, this is just one in an infinite amount of possibilities but our goal with these is to provide you inspiration, and a practical look at a trip we actually went on, laying out what worked and what didn’t. Use our itinerary as a template and tweak it to make it your own.

Before you go, make sure to sign up to get access to our pre-made spreadsheet of this exact trip, a tool we swear by for our trip planning process.

Lastly, feel like we missed something or want ideas for other things you can swap in? We have you covered with our What We Missed in Japan section.

10-Day Japan Itinerary For First Timers

Itinerary Day 1 – Flaming In Osaka

It’s the exciting start of your Golden Route adventures and what better way to acquaint yourself with the culture than to be in the food capital of Japan. With neon-laden streets, over-the-top storefronts, and scrumptious food at every corner, you’ll be eating your way through the day.

Touch Down in Osaka

Everyone’s first day is going to look a little different depending on where they’re coming from but the goal is to start in Osaka and work your way east.

For international travellers, Tokyo will still end up being easier to land into the country but if you can, directly connect to a flight to Osaka which is ultimately faster than taking the train.

The arrival procedure at Kansai International Airport (KIX) is pretty simple if you’ve prepared ahead of time.

• Before you leave home, create an account on Visit Japan Web.
• On the website, create a new travel plan. Fill out your details including dates and your first hotel.
• When you arrive in Osaka, you’ll be guided to the visitors line where staff will be on hand to scan your passport, take a photo you, and take your finger prints.
• You’ll then speak to an immigration officer. It’s at this point that you’ll open up Visit Japan Web and go to the yellow QR code. They’ll scan it and there shouldn’t need to ask any questions if it was done correctly.
• After you pick up your bags from the carousel, look for special machines to scan your second blue QR code. This is for declaration of goods. Once this is done, go to the designated exit for those that used a QR code. Note that there’s a longer line for those that didn’t use Visit Japan Web.

Kansai International Airport is built on a man-made island and is a fair bit of a distance away from the downtown core. As a result, you’ll need to take one of the main trains into the city.

There are several options which can be confusing but our best advice is to use Google Maps, punch in your hotel, and see what the fastest method is based on the current time.

Drop Off Bags At The Hotel

The hard part is over and the fun can begin after you drop off your bags at the hotel. In our case, we were lucky in that the Travelodge Honmachi Osaka allowed us to check into our triple room early.

You know know the Travelodge brand from your travels in North America but you could tell right away that the Japanese brand is completely different. It carries the same name but is more of a fun, upbeat, modern filled with bold artwork and photos of the city. The room was surprisingly spacious as well.

Eat At The Beloved Blowtorch Flaming Izakaya

Made famous thanks to Netflix’s Street Food: Asia, you’ll be heading straight to an obscure subway station, Kyobashi Station to have lunch at the one and only Izakaya Toyo.

Staying true to what makes Osaka such a great city for foodies, this an unassuming side-of-the-street food stall filled with standing tables and locals drinking the local brew that is more than meets the eye.

Stay awhile and yo’ll be able to see Chef Toyoji Chikumoto put on a performance for his patrons when it’s time to cook the tuna cheeks. From out of nowhere he pulls out a flamethrower. It starts with the lighting of a cigarette which he takes two puffs. After a huge bucket of tuna cheeks gets poured over the grill, he blasts it with the flame, as he uses his hands (dipped in icy water) to toss the tuna.

As he’s doing this, he pauses to look at the cameras trained on him, pretends to be taken aback by the intensity of the flame, followed by his signature thumbs up.

While I wouldn’t say that the quality of the food was high-end, I just kept thinking that this would cost way more back in Canada. The broiled tuna cheeks weren’t my favourite as they were a bit chewy and stringy in texture but the uni was the real star.

Come here for the experience of it all. You won’t necessarily be blown away by the food but the flames and chef Toyo’s energy certainly will.

Roam Around The Famed Dotonbori

Your self-guided food tour continues!

Take the subway into the heart of Osaka. Centered along the Dotonbori River, this is the convergence of two neighbourhoods – Shinsaibashi and Namba. Simply called Dotonbori, we are not kidding when we say it’s a sensory overload here.

With neon lights, bars, street food, restaurants, shopping arcades, and clubs all crammed together, this gives you a glimpse into quintessential nightlife here.

There isn’t a right or wrong way to explore. Coming out of Namba station, follow the covered shopping promenade until you reach the Ebisubashi Bridge. Do a 360-degree spin around and you’ll see the glowing billboards including the famous Glico Running Man.

Parallel to the river on both sides are streets lined with bars, restaurants, and shops so take your time to explore.

We ended up snacking and shopping along the way. My Mom was able to find a nifty shoulder purse that was perfect for her smartphone. We also snacked on strawberry mochi, takoyaki (octopus balls), dango (sticky rice balls on a stick), and matcha soft serve.

Satisfied with all of the good food you’ve had, head back to your hotel and hit the hay.

Itinerary Day 2 – Kobe Stimulating The Senses

I thought long and hard about visiting Nara but I couldn’t say no to the option of having proper Kobe beef and incorporating a city that most don’t get to see along the classic Golden Route.

This is going to be a fun slower-paced day that you’ll definitely appreciate having in your itinerary.

Easy Hop Over To Kobe

Get a jump-start to the day by heading Shin-Kobe station. There’s a super fast Shinkansen (bullet train) that stops in Kobe which is going to take only a shocking 12 minutes.

Roaming the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens

Your first destination today is the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway. Taking the ropeway up the mountain, you’ll be treated to a relaxing morning walking through Japan’s largest gardens and their  75,000 herbs and flowers of approximately 200 different species.

At the top is where you’ll find a castle gate which was inspired by Wartburg Castle in Germany. Here is also the rest house, Rose Symphony Garden, concert hall, and fragrant garden.

From the top, you walk the gentle downhill path, passing through a variety of themed gardens, a glasshouse, patio hangouts (with hammocks), a cafe, and best of all, a footbath (foot onsen).

Once you get to the bottom, you’ll be at the mid-way station to catch the ropeway back down.

The Finest Kobe Beef

At this point you will have built up the appetite for one of the most opulent meals you’ll have on this trip. There are certainly many Kobe beef restaurants all around Japan, if not the world, but there’s something special about having it in the same prefecture they are raised.

The one we selected that had a reasonable price for their lunch menu and could be reserved online through an English-website was Kobe Beef Steak Ishida.

I’m just going to put this out there that this was the best steak experience that I’ve ever had. While it looks very much like teppanyaki (aka hibachi), your chef cooks all of the premium ingredients with precision and mastery.

It’s not a wild show of tricks and onion volcanoes but you will get a filling combo meal that culminates in a true melt-in-your-mouth Kobe beef that will likely ruin all other steaks for life.

Exploring Kobe Harbor

You’ll then have the rest of the afternoon to explore Kobe. This may be coming from someone that has seen the popular destinations be overrun with tourists, I really appreciated that it was mostly locals here and felt super laid back.

To make the most of your day in Kobe, head to the expansive harborfront. This is where you’ll find Kobe Harborland, an entire shopping and entertainment district. While the mall has one of our favourite drink shops, nana’s green tea, we quite enjoy walking along the water’s edge to take in this port city’s views.

Technically, where Kobe Harborland ends is Meriken Park and this is where you’ll see Kobe Port Tower and just a bit further is the Be Kobe sign that you can see us taking a photo in front of.

If you’re into bikes, there’s a Kawasaki Good Times Museum, the official museum of Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

See The Tsutenkaku Tower And Lights

When you’re ready to leave Kobe, walk back to Sannomiya Station. What gets a bit confusing here is that there are different sub-stations depending on which train you’re taking. Again, your best bet is to follow the Google Maps instructions to see which is the fastest way to get to Tsutenkaku.

I know it’s a shame that we’re not spending as much time during the day in Osaka as we should but the city truly comes alive at night. Another area that’s worth checking out is Tsutenkaku.

With the Tsutenkaku Tower as the backdrop, your eyes will be drawn to all of the restaurants and shops thanks to their wild displays above.

Since we were still quite full from lunch, we didn’t end up eating here but this area would be the perfect spot to grab dinner. We recommend Ganso Kushikatsu Daruma Shinsekai Sohonten which specializes in kushikatsu, deep-fried skewered meat and vegetables.

The Dotonbori Redux

Since this is your last day in Osaka, you should totally head back to Dotonbori for a second night to take more photos, shop your heart out, and try more of the enticing street food.

After that, it’s time to head back to your hotel where you’ll be packing up again but don’t worry, your next stop has you staying put in one place for 3 nights. Hurray!

Itinerary Day 3 – Classic Kyoto

With a short number of days, it’s a shame that we didn’t get to spend more time in Osaka but having learned from previous trips, it’s better to short-change Osaka a bit and instead, dedicate more time in Kyoto.

For your next few days in the cultural capital of Japan, you’ll be treated to iconic wonder of the city that’s steeped in tradition, some dating back over a thousand years old. You’ll also see where modern culinary experiences weave into this historic city.

Short Ride to Kyoto

Getting from Osaka to Kyoto is incredibly easy on the shinkansen bullet train. In fact, it only takes 13 minutes. That’s how close it is.

We ended up taking the Hikari shinkansen at 8:19AM, allowing us to get an early start in Kyoto. After you arrive, remember to set time aside to attempt to make reservations at Kichi Kichi Omurice.

After arrival in Kyoto, use your IC card to take the subway up to Shijo station and walk to your ryokan, the Kyamachiya Ryokan Sakura Urushitei. Drop off your bags and make your way on foot to your first activity of the day.

Dress To Impress At Your First Tea Ceremony

An integral part of Japanese culture is the tea ceremony. This is a ceremonial way of preparing and drinking green tea in the traditional way. While kneeling on the tatami floor of a tea room, this allows the host to welcome guests and show their full hospitality.

In Maikoya’s case, they offer tea ceremony experiences to give visitors a glimpse of the harmonious, simplicity, and zen-quality of having tea is like. What heightens this is that guests also get dressed in kimonos, adding to its authenticity.

What you’ll love about the tea ceremony is that while you’re still in your kimono, you’ll be able to take photos in the beautifully decorated tea garden that surrounds the house, making for great photo opportunities.

Depending on your lunch reservation time, you’ll have some time to explore a bit of Nishiki Market. If not, head straight over.

Have Omurice Like You’ve Never Had Before

If you’ve never had omurice before, this is Japanese omelette rice that consists of fried rice, thinly scrambled fried rice, and topped with ketchup or demi-glace sauce.

Made famous from viral videos on Instagram and TikTok, Kichi Kichi Omurice is one of the most sought after reservations in Kyoto. He’s the man in the red beret with a quirky and fun energy that incorporates a skilful demonstration of how he makes omurice.

Unfortunately with the incredible demand, they’ve had to put in a complicated reservation system in place. That means that you really need serious dedication to attempt to get a booking on the day of through your phone or computer.

Want my honest take? I thought the entire experience was extremely memorable and fun. There really isn’t anything else like this and Chef Motokichi does an incredible job at making sure every single customer gets individual attention. Of course, what is also important is the food. From an omurice perspective, it was one of the best I’ve had although at the same time, it’s also just omurice.

Wander The Traditional Streets of Southern Higashiyama

After lunch, you’ll have the opportunity to cross the Kamo River and enter into the most historic area of Kyoto which is the Higashiyama district.

There’s a lot to see as you stroll through the cobble-stoned streets, confectionary shops, temples and shrines, and repertoire of architecture that constantly tugs you back in time.

PRO TIP: There are many sweet shops that line the street leading up to Kiyomizu-dera and many offer samples so if you’re feeling peckish, make sure to head on inside.

This afternoon is a bit of a choose-your-own-adventure which is the best way to explore but we focused on the following:

• Gion Komori – A warabimochi dessert specialist
• Yasaka Shrine
• Maruyama Park
• Fujinami Kodai-ji Temple Store – Another alternative for Japanese sweetes including warabimochi

Continue south along Kiyomizusaka Street and it eventually leads you straight into the legendary Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

Established in 778, this is one of the most celebrated temples in Kyoto. Thanks to its many buildings that were built without any nails, being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its wooden stage that provides a glorious view of the city from the hillside, the rainbow of colors in the spring and fall, and its many areas of worship.

Try Obanzai In Kyoto

For dinner, you’ll be eating at Ushinohone Anaza. This may not be one of the top restaurants but the reason why we chose it is because wanted to try obanzai, a Kyoto specialty that focuses on local ingredients in smaller-sized sharable plates.

On your way back to the ryokan, walk through Teramachi-dori, and if you haven’t tried Japanese crepes yet, you have to visit the popular franchise, Marion Crepes.

Itinerary Day 4 – Golden and Red in Kyoto

On day 4 of this Golden Route trip, you’ll be continuing to visit some of the most iconic places in Kyoto including a golden-gilded temple and an unreal place of what seems like an infinite number of torii gates.

Enjoy A Hearty Japaneese Breakfast

In addition to being able to stay in a traditional Japanese-style tatami room and being surrounded by the elegant decor, the other key part of the experience is the traditional breakfast.

In Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Urushitei‘s case, we didn’t pay for the breakfast upfront but we were simply able to add it. As is the norm for these types of breakfasts, we had a tray loaded with a large heaping of rice, miso soup, several small dishes, and freshly grilled salmon with tamagoyaki.

PRO TIP: Reservations are required for breakfast time slots. If you make a hotel booking without breakfast included, make sure to contact them ahead of time to hold a more ideal breakfast time.

See The Iconic Kinkakuji

Kinkaku-ji, or the Golden Pavilion, is a breathtaking Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, renowned for its stunning architecture covered in gold leaf that gleams against the backdrop of serene gardens and a reflective pond.

Speaking to the natural beauty of the zen space, even the downpour that we were hit with, couldn’t douse our experience here. Despite its further location from the city, it’s always worth it.

Originally, we also had a crazy plan to try to do Hirobun, the restaurant in the middle of the forest where noodles slide down bamboo shoots and you have to catch them with your chopsticks. However, this being an open-air restaurant, they were already shut down for the season in November.

Slurp Flaming Hot Ramen

From slurping cold noodles, we quickly pivoted to the hottest noodles in town – Menbaka Fire Ramen. Add this to the wild culinary experiences we’ve put together in this Japan itinerary.

Another restaurant made popular through social media, Master Masamichi created a wild ramen that centers on kujo scallions. Scallion oil is heated up to a ridiculous 300 degrees Celsius and then poured on a water-rich base that’s topped with slices of chasu and more scallions.

With bib around your neck, arms behind and leaning backwards, they pour the oil over your bowl and a pillar of flame rises to the ceiling. The burst of heat is intense and unreal.

In addition, the restaurant also has selfie sticks strategically mounted in the kitchen which allows you to give them your phone so you can film the magnitude of the flames and how much your jaw dropped.

PRO TIP: To get here from Kinkaku-ji, take Bus 204. We also made a pitstop at Sugar Tooth Cafe which was along the Bus 204 route. We ducked in there for a break from the rain, and then walked to Menbaka Fire Ramen.

Walk Through Nijo Castle

Right around the corner is the historic Nijo Castle. The former imperial villa is another UNESCO World Heritage site in Kyoto that showcases the grandeur of feudal architecture and history.

This is uniquely a flatland castle with no tower (only the base remains). Instead, inside the two rings of fortification, you’ll walk through exquisite gardens, beautiful paintings in the Ninomaru palace, walk the squeaky anti-ninja nightingale floors, and ultimately get a sense of what life was like as a shogun.

Ascend Through Thousands Of Vermillion Torii Gates

Fushimi Inari Taisha is simply a must-visit. It’s visually stunning with its thousands of bright vermilion torii gates that wind through the sacred forest of Mount Inari. This Shinto shrine offers a beautiful and spiritual journey, enveloping visitors in a peaceful atmosphere filled with the sounds of nature and temple bells, making it essential for understanding Japanese spirituality and culture.

This wonder can get incredibly busy throughout the day. However, since it’s open 24/7, if you are looking for those clean photos of the gates, go super early in the morning. If you come close to sunset, don’t expect the crowds to diminish too much, but it does get a bit better the further up you climb.

If you’re looking to get your cardio in, plan 2-3 hours to get to the summit for incredible views that most people don’t get to see.

Have A Laid Back Soba Meal

Back in the city, with the excitement for lunch, we were seeking a more laid back and local spot and since we hadn’t had soba yet, we had dinner at Misoka-an Kawamichiya which has that old Kyoto dining vibe which makes sense given that it’s over 300 years old.

To round things out, on your way back home, walk the covered shopping street and look out for the 10-Yen Coin cheese filled bread and food stall that serves matcha ice cream-filled melon pan buns.

Itinerary Day 5 – Kyoto Is Sweet

The beauty of allocating more time for Kyoto is that you’re able to go a little deeper and be able to visit a few of the sights and food spots that you normally wouldn’t be able to fit in.

Yasaka Pagoda Photography Surprise

The photographer in me was really feeling the FOMO about Yasaka Pagoda at sunrise so I managed to convince my parents to go who were surprisingly up for it. So there we were, waking up at 6AM and arriving at this popular location at 6:25AM.

What surprised me was just how many people were already here at this early hour. That just goes to show how many more tourists are in Japan now and how big of an impact social media has made.

I tried my best to get clean shots from here but with the orange construction boards and constant flow of people coming uphill, it was near-impossible.

Visit One Of The Most Underrated Temples

One of the places I was sad to miss out on in our first visit to Japan was Sanjusangendo Temple. Now that I’ve been, I can confidently say that this is the most surprising and impressive in Kyoto.

It’s unlike anything you’ve seen before. The hall is filled with the 1001 golden statues of Kannon, the goddess of compassion and her thousand-arms, layered on 10 rows and 50 columns. In addition, you have the 28 guardian deities that have Hindu origins.

The only unfortunate part is that photos and videos aren’t allowed but in a way, that made for an even more immersive visit.

Salivate Over The Finest Matcha Desserts

Just around the corner is Shimizu Ippoen, a tea specialty store known to be a haven for dessert and refreshing drinks.

What they’re best known is the Shimizu Parfait which is made with a Uji green tea espuma, a rich, airy, yet dense foam that is extremely difficult to make. Both desserts we ended up ordering were incredibly refreshing, and the espuma had this melt-in-your-mouth type of texture.

If you’re hungry for something savory, they also serve Japanese curry which was fantastic.

HEADS UP: They have a requirement where it’s one item per person.

Bamboo Forest Hidden In Plain Sight

Take the bus back up into the Higashiyama district because as promised, you’ll have some time to make up anything you missed your first time-around.

For us, we wanted to visit Kodai-ji Temple. Not only do they have the stone staircase entrance, the main hall with its zen garden and temple garden, but at the very back, they also have a bamboo forest that most people tend to miss.

HEADS UP: They had signs that say that self-sticks and video aren’t allowed.

Eat and Walk Through Nishiki Market

When you’re ready, head back out west. A few places to look out for is the taiyaki shop Narutotaiyaki Honpo Gion Shijo, and the trendy donut shop, koé.

Since you may not have had a thorough look at Nishiki Market the first time, this is your chance to bustling pedestrian arcade that’s primarily lined with vendors selling crafts and food.

The truth is that the market is pretty touristy and is usually packed shoulder to shoulder. That said, it’s honestly still fun to try fresh seafood.

PRO TIP: You’re not allowed to eat while walking so you almost need to sneakily try to eat in a corner somewhere. Some food vendors do have seating inside.

Try Fluffy Ricotta Cheese Pancakes

If you didn’t know about Japanese souffle pancakes, you’re missing out! We had our first one in Tokyo and when we were researching top places to eat in Kyoto, I stumbled upon Micasadeco & Cafe.

While there are any pancake shops these days, they are one that uniquely uses ricotta cheese in their batter, giving it a unique and fuller taste on top of being extra tall, and super fluffy.

PRO TIP: Reservations aren’t necessary but they do get busy. That’s why we came in the mid-afternoon to avoid the busier lunch hour.

Unagi Delight To End The Night

In building this itinerary, I wanted to pick from a variety of Japanese cuisine and for this night, I found a number of great unagi restaurants. The one we picked was Unagi Sora and it was delicious.

Their English menus made it really easy to order and we ended up choosing from one of their more affordable eel sets from Kagoshima. While simply eel on a bed of rice, the quality of the eel and how it’s grilled brings about a dynamic and complex flavors that make it simply delicious.

PRO TIP: The staff at our ryokan were open and willing to help make reservations but all the ones I asked about, including this unagi restaurant, were booked solid so we recommend that you e-mail them a week or two in advance to help you make reservations.

Itinerary Day 6 – Early Bird In Arashiyama

For your sixth day, you’ll make the early morning trip out to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in hopes to beat the crowd and see a truly special part of Kyoto.

The Race To Be First at Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Having learned from Yasaka Pagoda the previous morning, I knew that it’d be equally competitive to get out to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest for clear photos.

With that, we ordered a taxi to pick us up from our ryokan at 4:45AM, store our luggage at the train station, and catch the 5:30AM train to Saga Arashiyama Station. The walk from the station to the bamboo forest was roughly 20 minutes so that means we got there at 6AM. At the time of the year we were there, this allowed me to get set up 20 minutes before sunrise.

What surprised me was that there was only one other photographer with a tripod. Lining up with him, I captured long exposure shots of the straight path down the bamboo forest with the light starting to brighten. A few joined in, but it was still manageable.

It was good until 6:20 and then at that point it was unavoidable to get someone walking upstream towards us. At that point, we knew it was time to move on.

Take In The Views At Arashiyama Park

Hidden behind bamboo forest is the expansive Arashiyama Park. It has numerous walking trails but the best part are its observation points that look towards Katsura River.

After you take in the views, start making your walk to the two true gems of Arashiyama. The road leads through the preserved streets of Saga Toriimoto.

The Lesser Known Path To Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple

When it comes to temples and shrines, I’ll be the first to admit that many of them start looking really similar. That’s not the case with Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple.

This is renowned for its 1,200 stone rakan (disciples of Buddha) statues, each uniquely carved and exuding a whimsical charm. Set amidst lush greenery, this tranquil temple offers a peaceful retreat from what’s become a hotbed of tourists even in Arashiyama.

Spend the time to pay close attention to the statues as they are extremely cute and photogenic.

Adashino Nenbutsuji

On the walk back, another temple to visit is Adashino Nenbutsuji. It features a quiet garden filled with thousands of stone statues that pay respect to the souls of the deceased.

The other secret it holds is the hidden bamboo forest tucked away behind the temple. This is truly the path less followed and you’ll have a much better chance of having the wandering path of towering bamboo all to yourself.

Wrapping Things Up In Central Arashiyama

On your way back into central Arashiyama, drop by Sagano Bamboo Grove, another look at a bamboo forest although at this point in the day, it’ll become quite the zoo.

Gauge how much time you have left in the morning before you head back to Kyoto. Here’s what we managed to squeeze in:

• Tenryu-ji – There are different price points for how much you want to see. We opted to just stick to the outside grounds.
• Sa Wa Wa – Come here for matcha soft-serve and warabimochi
• Togetsukyo Bridge
• Burari Arashiyama – Drop by to buy Uji tea. This is probably the best area to do this.
• Saga Tofu Sanchu – The fried tofu came highly recommended and it didn’t disappoint!

We would have loved to have included the Monkey Park Iwatayama but ran out of time.

Zip To Tokyo

Return back to Kyoto and after you pick up your bags from the locker, catch the next shinkansen to Tokyo, where you’ll be making a short pitstop for the night.

From Shinagawa Station, take the cab to Sheraton Miyako Hotel Tokyo to get settled in.

This neighborhood is a bit more low-key so we simply walked over to Menya Fujishiro for a bowl of ramen and called it a night.

Itinerary Day 7 – The Legendary Mt. Fuji Revealed

Mt. Fuji is something to behold and one of the best ways to see it upclose in all its glory is to go to the town of Fuji Five Lakes or Kawaguchiko. With limited number of days, you’re going to make the most of it so get ready for a super packed day here. Don’t worry though, it’s all quite do-able thanks to a rental car.

Express To Kawaguchiko

It may seem a bit counter-intuitive but the reason why we didn’t go directly from Kyoto to Kawaguchiko was that the connection is infrequent and inconvenient. Instead, it’s much simpler to take the express bus that runs from Tokyo to Kawaguchiko.

In the morning, catch a cab to bring you to Tokyo Station and make sure to specify that you’re looking to go to the Yaesu South Exit which is where the bus terminal is.

Taking the 6:50AM departure, this 2-hour ride to Kawaguchiko is extremely smooth and easy, with views of Mt. Fuji ducking in and out along the way. Arriving at 8:50AM means that you’ll have the full day to see the city.

Pick Up A Rental Car

While we toyed with the idea of taking the local red, green, and blue sightseeing bus to get around, knowing that it would be busy with the autumn leaves chasers, it made more sense to have the freedom of our own vehicle.

We did a bit of price comparison and Toyota Rent a Car seemed to lowest and most reputable so we went with them.

PRO TIP: The decision to rent a car was the right one and would highly recommend those visiting to do this. At most bus stops at this time of the year, the queue was incredibly long. It seemed for most people waiting in line, they had to wait for 2 buses before being able to get on.

See The Famous Temple View of Mt. Fuji

Your first stop is where you’ll get that legendary view of Mt. Fuji. The name is this location is Arakurayama Sengen Park. The vivid hues of the autumn leaves with the red pagoda fits 3 of Japan’s icons all in one.

It is as visually stunning as it looks in the photos but of course as with all things, the reality of the crowds often doesn’t come through in the photography. The good news is that the newly renovated platform does a good job at dispersing the crowd and giving everyone stadium-style viewing of the viewpoint. That said, if you’re looking to get a clean photo without people in it, you have to be patient and wait for an opening by the railing.

Foliage Hunting Around Lake Kawaguchiko

Your next stop is Oishi Park which is on the opposite side of Lake Kawaguchi. This park features a stunning view of Mt. Fuji in combination with impeccably manicured boardwalk flanked by beautiful seasonal flowers.

Spend time to walk both sides of the visitor center as both provide different angles and promenade designs.

Psst…the secret spot for fall foliage photos is actually on the far left side of the visitor center. It’s here where you’ll see a lone maple sticking out like a sore thumb. Likewise, there are random stools set aside here and we learned that to get the leaves framed right above the mountain, you need to get higher up.

PRO TIP: If you’re looking for the best photos, schedule time to come back here so you can snap shots of the leaves and Mt. Fuji at sunset.

Tunnel Vision For Mt. Fuji

The nice thing about having a car is that you can also drive to areas that the local bus doesn’t stop at – Momiji Tunnel.

The name is slightly misleading as before coming here, I thought there was an actual tunnel through the mountains. Instead, what it must refer to are the flanking maple trees along this stretch of the road. Still, that’s not why people stop here.

When you get here, park at the lot and make your way down the hill towards the water. This provides an alternative viewpoint of Mt. Fuji that is just as stunning thanks to the many brilliant colored trees here.

Queue For Tenku No Torii

Your next stop is Tenku No Torii, the red torii gate that is perched on the mountainside and is magically framed to the backdrop of the almighty Mt. Fuji. The gate belongs to Kawaguchi Asama Shrine located at the base of the mountain as a way to worship the mountain from afar.

This is one of those places that rapidly rose in popularity thanks to social media. As a result, they have quite strict rules about photography and expect queues when you come. When busy, they only allow each group to have 3 minutes in front of the torii gate so be prepared how you want to photograph the scene.

Celebrate The Autumn Festival

One of the advantages of coming during the autumn season is being able to experience the Autumn Leaves Festival in Kawaguchiko.

Adjacent to the Lake Kawaguchi Maple Corridor is a large field dedicated to food trucks and nearby are an assortment of markets selling local crafts and souvenirs.

You’ll most likely be here after sunset so bundle up and enjoy dinner from the many stalls, stroll through both sides of the beautifully lit corridor, and do a little shopping.

Enjoy An Onsen Session At Fuji Lake Hotel

After a mountain-filled day of activities, you’ll be more than ready to cozy up in your hotel. Check into the Fuji Lake Hotel, chosen to be for its partial view of Mt. Fuji but more so for its breakfast buffet and large onsen.

What impressed us the most was how spacious our Japanese-style room was, especially since it’s hard to find hotels that can comfortably fit 3 people.

The onsen was also a dream. I wish we had more nights here to enjoy it but this wasn’t your one hot pool type of onsen. This is a fully-featured hot springs with a multiple soaking pools (indoors and outdoors) – perfect after a day of exploring.

Itinerary Day 8 – Back To Tokyo

Enjoy your last glimpses of Mt. Fuji (hopefully not rainy like our day) and then begins your final leg of your 10 day Japan trip – the dazzling wonder that is Tokyo.

Enjoy A Morning With Mt. Fuji

Before you head out, make the most of the amenities that Fuji Lake Hotel has to offer. We suggest you partake in a soothing soak in the morning before you have their superb buffet breakfast that ranged from Japanese and Western dishes.

At the top of the hotel is also an indoor observation tower that gives you panoramic views of your surroundings. If you’re lucky, Mt. Fuji will be right in front of you.

Once you check out, fill up the car, and drop by the famed Lawson on your way to Toyota Rent a Car (pinned on our map). Please be respectful when you come as for a short period they did put up a blackout screen to prevent poor behaviour from tourists.

Bus From Kawaguchiko To Tokyo

After you return your car, head back to the Kawaguchiko bus station where you’ll wait for your departure. If you take the 1:35PM bus, you’ll arrive in Tokyo at roughly 2:15PM.

PRO TIP: In the second photo above, you’ll see a schedule of the buses going to Tokyo Station, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and other farther destinations. You can certainly try to buy tickets on the day of but if you’re coming during a high season like during the fall colours, expect most of them to be red (sold out).

Get Settled In Ginza

Once you arrive in Tokyo Station, take a short subway hop to Shimbashi Station and check into The Royal Park Canvas Ginza 8. This is what they call a vintage modern hotel that’s elegantly designed, mindful of local resources, and filled with art.

After a jam-packed few days, it’ll be nice to have a chilled out day in Ginza and that’s exactly what we did.

The late afternoon ended up being perfect timing for an early dinner. Ginza is mostly known for it’s high-end shopping but they also have a plethora of amazing restaurants. We recommend that you eat at Bairin Ginza Honten, a tonkatsu specialist that serves the most delectable kurobuta (Berkshire pig) cutlet.

PRO TIP: It’s actually an advantage to eat at unusual hours. Even after arriving at 4:15PM, there was a small queue but we got in 15 minutes later. This is quite good considering the line gets insanely long during prime eating hours.

Our go-to in Ginza usually revolves around heading up to the Ginza Six rooftop, a free attraction that provides top-down views of the neighborhood.

And if you’re looking to do a bit of shopping, make sure to visit the UNIQLO flagship. Also, if you haven’t heard of GU, they’re the discount brand of UNIQLO that only exists in Japan (save for a pop up in NYC) so make sure you check them out.

Itinerary Day 9 – Trio Of Tokyo Neighbourhoods

Tokyo is a massively sprawling city and when planning a trip, you really need to organize your days between the various distinct neighborhoods. For your second last day of the trip, you’ll be exploring Tsukiji, Asakusa, and Harajuku.

Join The Crowds In Tsukiji

Tsukiji Fish Market is somewhere I love going back to. Sure it’s pretty touristy these days but it still retains much of its original charm, frenetic energy, and delicious eats.

This time I mixed up old favourites such as Yamcho (tamagoyaki) and Tsukiji Iroha (strawberry mochi), and sprinkled in new selections with Kitsuneya (to try horumon-don) and Kouragumi Tsukiji 2-goten (for fresh seafood chirashi bowls).

The food was delicious and as you can tell, my Dad enjoyed every moment of it!

If we had more time, I would suggest going to Toyosu Fish Market for a more authentic experience but the truth is, we didn’t get our desired dates after applying to the tuna auction lottery.

Eat Your Way Through Asakusa

Next is the vibrant neighborhood of Asakusa, famous for its historic Senso-ji Temple, one of the oldest in the city. Strolling through the main Nakamise Street, you’ll be able to nibble on what seems like an endless trail of snacks but you should check out Bairindo and Asakusa Kokonoe. There’s also plenty of traditional shops.

PRO TIP: Asakusa is pronounced “ah-sack-sa”.

When you get to the end of the street is the temple which you’ll be able to identify by its large red lantern welcome visitors and its 5-story pagoda. Come here to make a prayer by putting your hands together, make your prayer, and then bow deeply. Since this is a temple, you don’t need to clap your hands twice.

A few other snack stops we recommend is Sa Wa Wa which you also enjoyed in Arashiyama. Asakusa Katgetsudo is another one of our favourites where they fill freshly baked melon pan with matcha soft-serve ice cream.

Buying The Perfect Japanese Gift

While you’re in Asakusa, you’d be remiss if you didn’t go to Kappabashi Street, the kitchenware district of Tokyo. Now even if you’re not a restaurant owner, you’ll want to visit because this is the best and easiest place to purchase high-quality Japanese knives.

There are many knife shops but the one we’ve been a frequent customer of is Kama Asa. Their service is excellent, their sales staff speak English, and their prices are quite reasonable considering how much they cost back home.

The Spunky Harajuku

To close out the night, you’ll visit the bright neon lights of Harajuku, famous for its lolita girl fashion and the latest in trending Japanese culture.

There are a lot of restaurants in Harajuku and the adjacent Omotosando Hills. We ended up choosing Oreyu Shio Ramen Harajuku to try their unique blend of Chinese noodles and ramen.

To close out the evening, stroll along the famous Takeshita Street where you’ll n doubt be tempted by its many boutiques and dessert shops. Craving Japanese crepes, I couldn’t resist picking one up from Santa Monica Crepes, a worthy challenger to Marion Crepes which is also nearby.

Itinerary Day 10 – Criss Crossing In Tokyo

It’s your final day in your whirlwind tour of Japan and we make sure you end off with a bang! From conveyor belt sushi, the Shibuya Scramble, and the heights of Shinjuku, you’ll get to see a whole other side of Tokyo.

Conveyor Belt Sushi Delight

It’s perfectly acceptable to have sushi for breakfast! When in Japan right?

Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka is a modern take on sushi delivered on a conveyor belt. They have multiple locations around Tokyo but since today’s focus is the western side of the city, centered around Shibuya and Shinjuku, this was the perfect spot.

What makes this unique is that instead of one circular conveyor that brings you you the same stale sushi around over and over, this one has you ordering exactly what you want on a tablet and the food gets delivered right to you when ready.

It’s quite a fun experience, the sushi is great, and it doesn’t come out to be as expensive as you think it’d be.

Scramble Around Shibuya

You’re now in the heart of Shibuya, one of the busiest shopping and entertainment districts in Tokyo that range from big department stores to quirky izakayas.

At the center of it is the true pulse of the city with the Shibuya Crossing where you can see and feel the swirl of people around you.

By Shibuya Station is also the Hachiko Memorial Statue, honoring the story of the most loyal dog in Japan and the inspiration to Richard Gere’s Hachi: A Dog’s Tale.

If you’re wondering where the best view is of all the action, it’s at the top of the Mag8 building. The name of this spot simply Crossing View & Rooftop Lounge Mag8 or Shibuya Crossing View but since it’s paid, very few people come up here.

With the rooftop angled perfectly towards the scramble, you get the perfect line of sight. With the alcohol that comes with admission, it’s also not a bad place to hang out for a bit.

Take Advantage Of A Free Observation Deck

The other neighborhood you’ve yet to explore is Shinjuku. This is another city within a city, sprawling with a massive scale of piercing skyscrapers, glittering neon-lit streets, retail therapy, and the city’s largest entertainment district.

One of the highlights of this lively part of town is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. It has the most low key name of all tourist attractions in town but what might get your attention is that it’s free! The views from either of the two twoers is superb because you can see all of the other iconic towers.

So forget Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree. This free observation deck can’t be beat.

Vibing in Shinjuku

Now that the sun has gone down, you’ll see how Shinjuku in terms becomes even livelier. This is your time to roam around.

Since we were pretty tired, we focused primarily on checking out these stores: HANDS and MUJI. If you have the time and energy, you could easily try to fit in namco TOKYO, the Godzilla atop the Hotel Gracery Shinjuku, the 3D cat billboard, and Map Camera.

For dinner, there are a ridiculous amount of restaurants here but since we hadn’t had yakitori this whole trip, we landed on Yakitori Haretsubame Shinjuku Higashiguchi which we loved because it was unpretentious, extremely local, and super tasty.

If you’re really looking to end off the night with a bang, you could also drop by Shinjuku Golden-Gai for a drink in one of its many bars.

Final Run To Don Quijote

For your final act in Japan, make one last trip to Don Quijote. This is your chance to purchase a big haul and take advantage of those secret coupons. Stock up on all of the goodies including our recommendations for great food souvenirs from Japan.

PRO TIP: It’s a good idea to do shopping on your last day so you can figure out if you’re missing any gifts or things you want for yourself. By making a bulk purchase, you can also take advantage of one of the Don Quijote coupons.

And that ends your 10 day journey through Japan as a first-timer. You’ll barely have seen the tip of the iceberg but you’ll come away with it smiling from corner to corner with everything that you’ve seen and experienced.

Trust me, you’ll be wanting to come back. It’s a guarantee.

Map Of This Japan Itinerary

We are map-obsessed when it comes to trip planning and even more so in Japan because it’s imperative to try to cluster points of interests as best as you can and to also get a good lay of the land in regards to transit options.

We’ve literally maxed out what you can do with custom Google Maps so we hope you enjoy. It has every single location we visited in this itinerary.

HOW TO USE THE MAP: You can use the Japan in 10 days map as is. However, if you’d like to do more with it, expand the map and create a copy in your logged-in Google account. With this copy, you’ll be able to access it in your Google Maps app under the Saved tab. Scroll to the bottom and look for the “Maps” button. Keep in mind that you need data to access this map. For an offline solution, use the offline Google Maps feature and individually save location pins on your primary map.

5 Japan Travel Tips You Have To Know

As you know, we’ve been back to Japan a lot of times and we’ve accumulated so much knowledge.

Many, we’ve covered in our Ultimate Tokyo Food Guide but thinking more broadly about the whole country, these are 5 key nuggets of advice that’ll make travel in Japan so much easier, especially if it’s your first time.

1 – You Still Need Japanese Yen

While the digital-savvy and minimalists will tell you that credit cards work everywhere in Japan, that’s simply not true.

Here are a few examples of where you’ll need cash:

• Food self-serve machines – Mostly found in ramen shops, these machines only take cash.
• Local food stalls – Some might have credit card machines but many of the smaller ones don’t.
• Bus fare – If you get on a bus and you don’t have an IC card (i.e. Suica), the only other method of payment is cash.
• Parking – In the case of more ad-hoc or special event parking such as in Kawaguchiko, some only take cash.

Yes, it’s true that most businesses are equipped to accept credit card but I think ramen alone is enough of a reason to always make sure you carry cash with you.

We’ve simply encountered too many unexpected cash-only businesses where it’s a lot safer to have some with you.

How Much Cash Should You Bring

This is always the follow up question. For a 10 day trip such as this, for 3 people, we spent ¥251,015 ($1,700 USD). That comes out to $566 USD per person over 10 days.

PRO TIP: If you are in a bind and need to withdraw money from an ATM, after much experimentation, we found that the 7-Eleven machines have the lowest transaction fee.

A conservative average would be $50 USD per person per day.

About The 2,000 Bill

While we’re on the subject of currency, a quick note about the note that’s a dead giveaway you’re a tourist. When you get Japanese Yen internationally, the ¥2,000 bill is still in circulation.

Domestically, it’s already out of circulation which creates a bit of an awkward situation. Officially, it’s still legal tender so don’t worry, they’re not fake bills, but you’ll get some raised eyebrows when you see it.

The 3 scenarios you’ll encounter are:

1. The bill is accepted – Some won’t bat an eye and it won’t be an issue
2. They’ll need to check with the manager – We saw this numerous times at convenient stores. The manager would always approve it but it was funny to see this bill cause so much trouble.
3. You won’t be able to use it – The is most common in automated point of sales devices such as ramen, buses, and self check-out machines (i.e. UNIQLO) where they list the bills they accept and the ¥2,000 isn’t one of them.

2 – Get The Best Conversion Rate On Credit Card

To contradict the previous point, while cash is still widely accepted, Japan is more credit card-forward compared to before. This is great news for travelers.

When it comes to using your international credit card, the main thing you need to know is that almost all cards add a 2.5% foreign exchange fee. This means on top of covering the Japanese Yen to your home currency using market rates (typically unfavourable ones already), the rate also has another 2.5% fee embedded.

In the past, this meant the only way to get good rates was to either go to shop around at your local currency exchange centers, or you could look for credit cards with no foreign exchange fee. In Canada, that would mean the likes of the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite.

PRO TIP: When credit card machines ask whether you want the charge to be in your local currency or Japanese Yen, always pick the local currency. That way, you’re not forced to use the unknown Japanese financial institution’s exchange rate.

Thankfully, there’s a better option now with the Wise card. You could say it’s a fancy prepaid card. You essentially load it with money and convert that to the different currencies you need when you travel. The beauty of Wise is that they offer near-market exchange rates. You’re getting ripped off significantly less and you use the card as a normal Visa. Since you’re spending local currency, there is no foreign exchange fee to worry about either.

PRO TIP: Sign up for your card at least a month ahead of time to give you time to receive the physical card.

Should You Load Your IC Card With Money?

With how useful the IC cards such as Suica, PASMO, and ICOCA are, you’ll be tempted to load lots of money onto it so you can use it to make regular purchases where they’re accepted.

In our opinion, it’s not worth it. You’d be better off loading more funds into Wise.

The IC cards are incredibly useful for transportation but even as a seasoned traveller to Japan, it’s really hard to tell which businesses accept Suica and which don’t. Load the money you need for the subway, trains, and buses but that’s it.

PRO TIP: I would also avoid converting your IC card to a digital wallet. What they don’t make clear is that once you convert it to your Apple or Android wallet, it is irreversible. This means that your physical card gets deactivated, and you won’t be able to share it with friends and family that go to Japan later on.

This is a bit of a long story but the Suica in my Apple Wallet completely glitched out, leaving $50 inaccessible. The problem is that neither JR East nor Apple have any tools to help debug wallet issues. Each company told me to talk to the other and in the end, nobody could help me.

3 – Be Purposeful With The Time Of Year You Visit

Our first 12 day Japan itinerary was in 2012 and even comparing our recent trip to 2019, you could really see a dramatic difference in crowd sizes. That’s why it’s more important than ever to time your trip to either avoid the crowds.

Over-tourism is a serious problem around the world, and Japan hasn’t been immune to its affects. This video about Kamakura shows how locals are trying to cope.

Alternatively, Japan is also magical at some of the busiest times of the year and there are several specific ones that you should absolutely try to make. In this scenario, you know it’ll be busy but you’ll also get to see something that you won’t get any other time of the year.

Here are when we think are the best times to go to Japan.

Fewest Crowds

• Post-summer – September to mid-October (outside autumn leaves peak)
• Winter – December to February (outside of the holidays)
• Pre-summer – mid-May to June

Special Events, Seasons, and Festivals

• Sakura (end of March to early-May) – It’s quite magical to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom in Japan.
• Fall colors (late-September to early-December) – Japan is stunning when it’s blanketed with hues of red, yellow, and orange.
• Obon Festival (mid-August) – This is a festival commemorating ancestors and a huge national holiday. Coming here for this festival will allow you to see many traditional celebrations including floating lanterns, fireworks, and hillside bonfires. Warning though, it’s very hot and humid this time of year.
• Sumo season – There are 6 tournaments every year. 3 are in Tokyo (January, May, and September), 1 in Osaka (March), Nagoya (July), and Fukuoka (November).

Something else to consider is that there is so much more to Japan than just the Golden Route. That’s precisely why we’ve tried to visit other areas such as Hokkaido’s Far East and the island of Shikoku more recently.

We understand that first timers will always want to explore the Golden Route but your best chance of avoiding large crowds is to go to less popular places, which often lends itself to more authentic Japanese experiences.

4 – Download These Five Apps Before You Go

We’ve compiled the best apps to download for Japan in the past but here’s even more focused list to pay attention to.

1. Google Maps (iOS/Android) – Google is incredibly accurate, reliable, and easy to use in Japan. For train travel, we love that they display train track numbers, and for subways, which car is the closest to the escalator. Remember to turn Google Maps offline before you go.
2. Klook (App page) – It’s crazy how they’ve risen to become the de-facto tour platform in Asia now. They are constantly running different promos and offering coupons which we share on our Deals page. Download the app to stay up to date and use code BetterOnApp get 5% off your first purchase.
3. Google Translate (iOS/Android) – Language is probably one of the biggest hurdles to overcome in Japan and while there are a a bunch of apps out there, Google Translate is still the most intuitive. Their live-translation through the camera is also incredibly useful. Make to to download Japanese language pack for offline use.
4. JapanTravel (iOS/Android) – This used to be NaviTime app but they’ve optimized it for English. Mainly use this app for transit recommendations in situations where you might want to double check what Google Maps is giving you. They also have a handy IC card balance checker built into the phone!
5. smartEX (iOS/Android) – This is a newer addition to the mix as you can now purchase train tickets on this official app. The convenience of this app is that you can buy Shinkansen tickets on the app, have a QR code generated, and tap this at the gate to directly get in. You no longer need to redeem for paper tickets.

Honorable mentions also go out to GO / Taxi app for Japan, and Uber. Between the two, we usually ended up with Uber just because of the familiarity and easy of use but most locals use GO.

5 – Book In Advance To Avoid Disappointment

Another common question we get is what things you need to book in advance when visiting cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.

If this were 10 years ago, we’d say you can take it easy and plan activities on-the-go. Today, that could spell disaster if there was something you really wanted to do.

For this particular 10 day Japan itinerary of the Golden Route, we’d recommend that you book the following:

• Kobe Beef Steak Ishida – Booking through My Concierge Japan was a breeze. This and all other Kobe steak restaurants need to be reserved in advance.
• Kimono Tea Ceremony Maikoya – You can reserve directly or you can book through Viator. Since this is a high-in-demand experience, you should book this ahead of time.
• Kawaguchiko Bus – The Tokyo Fuji Five Lakes Liner is one of few ways to get to here efficiently since there aren’t any direct trains. As a result, this fills up quickly. The easiest ways to make this reservation is on Japan Bus Online. Reservations open up for a rolling month (i.e. October 9 – November 9) so jump on it once your day is available.
• Kichi Kichi Omurice – Made famous through social media, they’ve had to put in place an awkward reservation system. Its changed a few times but currently, you can only book a slot at 9AM for the same-day. This is perhaps one of the more competitive bookings in Japan.
• Unagi Sora – This kind of goes for any popular restaurant in Kyoto. Leverage your hotel reception staff to help you with this 2-3 weeks in advance.

Speaking more broadly from experience, here are a few other things that you should look into booking early.

• Hotels – Prices rarely dip, especially if you’re going during a prime season. You’re better off booking as early as possible. We recommend going through Agoda as their cancellation process is easy. If you pay in advance, make sure you pay in your local currency so you get burned on the refund.
• Car Rentals – There’s a bit more wiggle room with car rentals but for places such as Kawaguchiko, if you’re set on having a car, there’s no risk in booking right away because it’s easy to cancel.
• Flights – No brainer, right?
• Toyosu Fish Market – If you are intent on seeing the tuna auction in Tokyo, you should study how the Toyosu Fish Market application process works.
• Any fancy restaurant – Basically any massively popular or high-calibre restaurant can and must be reserved. The question is whether it requires a Japanese-speaker to call or if there’s an online system. For the online systems, they can be as competitive as Kichi Kichi Omurice.
• Any excursion or activity – This could be a cooking class, guided tour,
• Pocket wifi – The most popular in Japan is NinjaWifi.

What about the train? You’ll notice that one thing is glaringly missing here and that’s the Shinkansen and other trains. Whether you have the JR Pass or you’re buying them a-la-carte, we’ve never found it necessary to book online. In non-Shinkansen cases, you can tap your IC card to get through. For the express bullet trains, those can be purchased through the machine or customer service desk. Trains are rarely packed.

The only situation where I’d reserve in advance is if you’d like an assigned seat, you want to travel in in a nicer class car, or you’re traveling during a national holiday.

Otherwise, we think it’s advantageous to have a bit of flexibility in case plans change.

Where To Stay In Japan

We hopped quite a lot in our 10 days in Japan but that’s the nature of this type of trip where you want to see as much as you can in a short span of time.

While we put a lot of thought into each stay, we recognize that it might not be exactly what you might want so we’ve curated a few alternatives, in addition to our own to help you in your trip planning process.

Lastly, we quickly realized traveling in a group of 3 can present its challenges but we were able to find triple occupancy options in all the cities we visited.

PRO TIP: You might not’ve used them before but Agoda is king in Asia. The big reason why we booked them for all of our stays in japan is because they have the lowest prices. In addition, they always give away free coupons that’ll save you a few bucks here and there. Every little bit helps!

Osaka

In Osaka, you want to be in the city center but don’t feel like you have to be by the Namba/Dotonbori area. In fact, it’s almost better to be a bit further north so it’s quieter. Just make sure you’re a short distance to a metro station.

Kyoto

Without doing any research, you might think that staying near Kyoto Station might be the best choice but in reality, you are much better off staying closer to the Shijo Street where I consider the “downtown” of Kyoto to be.

As one of the oldest cities in Japan with a lot of tradition and well-preserved historic districts, it makes a lot of sense to stay in a ryokan. It’s not for everyone though so we’ve tried to provide a few alternate options.

Staying in the Higashiyama area near Kiyomizu-dera can have its advantage as it’ll allow you to walk the streets when it is less crowded at night or in the morning without needing to make a big trek. That said, it’s also a little less convenient to get to Kyoto Station and there are no subway stations near there.

Kawaguchiko

The key to finding a place to stay in Kawaguchiko is:

1. Book incredibly early especially for the coveted hotels with views (as early as one year in advance).
2. If not renting a car, make sure the hotel is near a bus stop.
3. If renting a car, make sure they have free parking.
4. Make sure they have at least a partial view of Mt. Fuji.

Tokyo

Surprisingly, hotels in Japan are a lot more affordable than you think. While the big cities are pricier than small towns, you don’t get close to the type of crazy inflation that you see in places like New York.

A few top tips to know about where to stay in Tokyo are:

1. Always a good idea to book early.
2. There’s nothing wrong with business hotels. You’ll find that most rooms are of the smaller size and that’s pretty normal. The good news is that these type of hotels are really well-kept and very clean.
3. Make sure you’re close to a subway station.
4. Picking a neighbourhood is important but know that it’ll be impossible to be close to every attraction since the city is so large.
5. In our opinion, the best neighborhoods are Ginza, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Hamamatsucho.

Japan Trip Cost Breakdown

Knowing that it’s helpful to have an idea of how much a Japan trip of this length costs, similar to our other travel itineraries, we kept track of our real-life expense and summarized them in the table below.

As a heads up, we’ve excluded flights just to give you a more fair comparison.

Category	Amount (USD)
Accommodations	$2,109
Transportation	$914
Food	$792
Activity	$319
Souvenirs	$242
Communication (Airalo)	$26
Supplies	$10
Laundry	$4
TOTAL	$4,416 (for 3 people)

This means that the per-person cost for this trip was $1,472 USD across 10 days. That’s $147 USD/person/day.

Comparing to other Japan trips where 12-day Shikoku itinerary was $208 and 7 days in Sapporo in the winter cost $318 and Hong Kong which was $316 USD/person/day, this was actually quite affordable.

For this trip, I can’t say that we splurged like crazy but if I were to pinpoint something, it’d be the Fuji Lake Hotel which was singularly the most expensive hotel per night.

You’ll be shocked to hear that this was a far cry from averages for other trips. 1 month in Chile averaged out to $308, 3 weeks in New Zealand was $353, and 10 days in Egypt was $204 USD/person/day.

What To Pack for A Trip To Japan

What to pack for a trip to Japan will vary wildly depending on the season but to keep things focused, since we did the Golden Route in November, we’ll stick to what to pack in the autumn season.

In the fall, the weather is quite pleasant but is mostly in the low 10s (°C) / 50s (°F) so you definitely want to have a jacket on you. It can get quite warm in the sun but temperatures dip quickly if it’s cloudy and when the sun goes down.

Clothes

• Jacket – Arc’teryx Atom Hoody – This was my main workhorse for the trip. I love the pop of yellow in photos but it is also quite breathable, not restrictive, and great insulation.
• Waterproof jacket – Teton Bros Tsurugi Lite – Not wanting to bring a lighter weight shell jacket, I opted to try out Japanese brand, Teton Bros because I really loved their sidewinding zipper design. Not only was it waterproof, but it also acted as another layer on colder days.
• Waterproof pants – Arc’teryx Beta Pant – I packed this in case but never ended up using it. This is worth packing if you’re traveling during a wetter season.
• Active fleece – Delta Hoody – This is a technical sports fleece that I felt like I wore everyday. On warmer days, this is the only layer you’ll need overtop a t-shirt.
• Travel pants – Outdoor Research Ferrosi Joggers – My new favorite travel pants that features a zippered back pocket, elastic cuff hem, elastic waist, and quick-drying material. The one that you see me wear in the photo above is the Outdoor Research Equinox Convertible Pants. These haave been discontinued but the good news is that there’s the Ferrosi Convertible Pants
• Shoes – Altra Lone Peak 7 – Lightweight, versatile, zero-drop shoes that are comfortable for long days on foot and excels on the trail.
• Active t-shirt – Arc’teryx Cormac Crew Shirt – It’s counter-intuitive but it’s actually important to stay breathable even in colder weather because it’s easy to overheat with multiple layers.
• Hat – Ciele GOCap – I’m a big fan of these light, quick-drying, packable, and fun-colored hats for travel. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a hardcore runner!
• Sunglasses – Maui Jim – The current model I’m wearing is discontinued (Chee Hoo) but I can back up optometrist’s claiming that they have the best clarity and quality of lenses on the market.

Gear

• Luggage – Db Journey Ramverk Luggage – I chose the medium size of this niche-brand suitcase because they use one of the best and largest wheels on the market (60mm Hinomoto), making them really easy to roll around from airport to hotel and going from station to station.
• Charging – Mogics Super Bagel – This is a handy universal power strip for travelers that gives you 5 standard North American outlets, fast-charging Type C USB and a original USB A. You’re also protected with a replaceable fuse.
• Backpack – Shimoda Action X50 V2 – With all of the camera gear I have, this is our current primary travel bag that we’re able to use as a carry-on and is packed with nifty features that make it really useful when on the road.
• Messenger bag – Peak Design Everyday Sling – The 3L and 6L slings are great for travel. If you’re looking for something that’s even more lightweight, check out the new Outdoor Line which has a 7L and 2L sling that are perfect for the road.
• Packing cubes – Eagle Creek Pack-It Cubes and Compression Cubes – A must-have for any suitcase.
• Sunscreen – Sun Bum SPF50 for face and body – Make sure you’re protected every day even when its cooler.
• Reuseable tote – Peak Design Packable Tote – Super handy when you go shopping and don’t have space in your sling or backpack.

Gadgets

• Tripod – Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod – This is our go-to tripod for our travels and we’ve reviewed it extensively.
• Camera 1 – DJI Osmo Pocket 3 – I’m continuously amazed by how this makes filming on-the-go so easy and how it brought joy to the process. For the video I shot in Japan, it was mostly done with the Pocket 3.
• Camera 2 – OM System OM-1 Mark 2 – I love my OM System (previously Olympus) micro-four-thirds system. It’s perfect for travel. For this trip, wanting to not get distracted too much with my parents, I only used this for specific cinematic shots.
• Drone – DJI Mini 4 Pro – This is the perfect travel drone although there really weren’t many opportunities to fly it on the Golden Route. If I had more time, it would’ve been nice to fly in Kawaguchiko.
• Lens – OM System M.Zuiko Pro 8-25mm – I had to be selective with my lens choices for this trip and ended up using this one the most.
• Powerbank – VEEKTOMX 10,000mAh – These are so good that I now travel with 2 of these now. One is permanently inside the Shimoda backpack and the other in the sling or my pocket.

What We Missed In This Itinerary

There’s no wrong way to do Japan’s famed Golden Route and because everyone has different preferences, travel styles, interests, and companions.

The reason why our itinerary looks a little different from the usual is because I had originally done this with our 12 days in Japan. While I wanted to keep much of it the same for my parents, I decided to make some switches to keep some parts fresh for me as well.

Itineraries are very much a personal process so to not leave you hanging, I’m also giving you a list of places that I think you should consider if you’re spending 10 days on the Golden Route.

Osaka

• Nara – You’ll notice that we went to Kobe as our day trip. If Kobe beef isn’t a priority, Nara is the common choice for first timers. This is where deer roam freely in the city and you’ll see Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji which houses one of Japan’s largest bronze Buddha statues.
• Universal Studios Japan – Yes, the original Super Nintendo World is in Osaka so if you have a day to dedicate to this and love theme parks, this is a great choice. While slightly smaller than Universal Studios Hollywood which we did in one day, Super Nintendo World has an additional ride and more photo ops.
• Osaka Castle – An important heritage site with panoramic views of the city. Make sure to buy your ticket before you go.
• teamLab Botanical Garden – If you loved teamLab in Tokyo, it’s definitely worth the trip to see the Nagai Botanic Garden transformed to an interactive open-air museum. Get your tickets here.
• Osaka Observatories – There are two different observatory towers in the city. One is the Umeda Sky and the other is Harukas 300.
• Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan – Great for families, this is a well-put-together aquarium in the city. It’s also extremely affordable and usually not too busy.

Kyoto

• Monkey Park Iwatayama – We were so close to visiting here during our morning in Arashiyama but we simply ran out of time. Come here for an encounter with Japanese macaque monkeys.
• Hozugawa River Boat Ride – In traditional river boats, navigate the scenic river from Arashiyama. Book this experience in advance.
• Eikando Zenrinji Temple – This is one of many more temples you can visit in Kyoto especially if you love zen gardens. Others to consider are Nanzen-ji, Tofuku-ji Temple, Kennin-ji, Tenryu-ji, and Sanzen-in Temple. It’ll be impossible to do them all so only fit these in if you’re really interested or if you have the extra time.
• Katsura Imperial Villa – Located on the western side of the city, you’ll see a 17th-century imperial villa surrounded by a garden and teahouses. An English guided tour is available but reservations are mandatory as it’s the only way to visit.
• Heian Shrine – A beautiful and photogenic shrine that is known for their cherry blossoms on the spring. Free to visit but the garden (a highlight) has a small fee. It’s quite the large complex.
• Kyoto Railway Museum – A great spot for families especially if someone in your family is interested in Japanese trains.
• Hirobun – This is the social media viral noodle restaurant that’s delivered down bamboo shoots and near Kinkakuji. Just keep in mind that they’re only open during the warm seasons of the year.

Kawaguchiko

• Climb Mt. Fuji – This is a topic on its own but some may make it their mission to summit Mt. Fuji and others might be okay to do the hike up to the 4th or 5th Station and take the bus back down. There are so many ways to do this.
• Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway – The gondola takes you 400 meters from the eastern side of Lake Kawaguchi, giving you awesome panoramic views of Mt. Fuji.
• Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nemba – Built on the remains of an old village, you’ll see a collection of traditional cottage buildings. Mopst come here for the Instagrammable shots of the village and Mt. Fuji in the background. This is much easier to get to if you have a car but it’s possible by bike as well.
• Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum – Quirky “European Alps” inspired theme park devoted to automatic musical instruments like music boxes, mechanical organs, and more.
• Ide Sake Brewery – Family-run sake brewery that offers a tour that covers the sake-making process and you also get to do a tasting at the end.
• Lake Saiko and Lake Shoji – Next to Lake Kawaguchi are other lakes you can visit that make the perfect road trip pitstops.

Tokyo

There are too many to list but from our numerous trips, here are bigger ideas to consider.

• Day trip to Kamakura – Not only do they have the iconic Buddha but it’s a charming town with lots of yummy eats and shopping.
• Day trip to Hakone – This is a popular addition to the itinerary to see parts of Old Tokaido Road, hop on a pirate ship, get up-close to a volcanic crater, and try their legendary hot springs.
• Yokohama – A neighbouring port city that reminds me a lot of Kobe but larger. Makes a great half or full-day trip.
• Disney Sea – Tokyo Disney Resort has two parks – one that’s essentially the classic Magic Kingdom and the other is Disney Sea. If you had to choose, I’d go for Disney Sea because it’s unique.
• Sumo – I can never seem to get things to line up perfectly to see the Grand Sumo Tournament Tour but just as good is something like this which also includes a chankonabe meal.
• Toyosu Fish Market – Tsukiji these days is a touristy market but if you want to see where they’re auctioning tuna, you’ll need to apply for the Toyosu Fish Market auction. If you’ve never been, it’s worth it.
• Kichijoji – We’ve done day trips out to here to try their street food but another good reason to come here is for the Ghibli fans out there, there’s a Ghibli Museum (advanced reservations required). Check out this 3-stop tour includes the museum.
• Shibuya Sky – One of our favourites from a previous trip was Shibuya Sky, a new rooftop observation deck with easily the best views and great photo opportunities as well. Grab your tickets in advance so you can get 10% off food and drinks at the lounges!

Japan’s Golden Route Never Disappoints

I have never heard of anyone coming back from Japan and not wanting to go back. This was my 5th trip back and while yes, I was returning back to many of the places I had been to before, it was special to see my parents eyes light up with all of the wonders that are on the Golden Route.

Sure, some places are more crowded than ever before but by incorporating lesser-known spots and smart planning, it was all quite manageable.

10 days isn’t a lot of time when it comes to seeing Japan for the first time, but luckily, it’s just enough to come away with a full heart, and like I said, a yearning to come back to see more.

We hope this itinerary gives you a solid foundation for building your own trip and we can’t wait to hear about it!

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