Most people visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima spend about 11 to 15 days in Japan, which usually includes some time in Osaka and Hakone as well. If you're not interested in Osaka and Hakone, eight to 10 days is enough for your Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima trip. Even travelers with limited time can see the highlights in as few as six days or one week. Read on for the best itineraries, including Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and beyond.
Spend a week amid the ultramodern streets and ancient shrines of three of Japan's most intriguing cities. Start in Tokyo to take in the action of Shibuya Crossing and have futuristic fun in neon-lit Odaiba. Then, you're off to historic Kyoto to learn about geisha culture and see the red torii gates of Fushimi Inari-taisha. Meet friendly deer in the greenery of Nara Park, then end in Hiroshima, learning about its World War II history and seeing the incredible Itsukushima-jinja shrine as it "floats" in the ocean.
Travelers to Japan typically plan a trip for 11 to 15 days when combining Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima with Hakone and Miyajima Island. For travelers wanting to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima exclusively, plan 10 to 11 days for a well-paced trip. A fast-paced highlights trip is possible in a week to nine days for travelers with limited time. Check out our favorite Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima trips below.
Travelers to Japan typically plan a trip for 11 to 15 days when combining Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Hakone with Osaka and Miyajima Island. If you're only headed to Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Hakone, you can enjoy a comfortably paced trip in 10 to 12 days. A fast-paced highlights trip is possible in eight or nine days for travelers with limited time. Check out our favorite Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Hakone trips below.
See some of Japan's most famous sites while exploring the country by bullet train on this 13-day tour. After learning about Tokyo's history and culture, visit Nikko for a rejuvenating hike, Kamakura to explore its shrines and temples, and Hakone, where you can relax in its thermal waters. Then, it's on to Kyoto to admire the beautiful gates of Fushimi Inari and Hiroshima to reflect on the tragic events there before ending your adventure in Osaka to look around its famous castle.
This diverse 10-day itinerary leads you through Japan's four major cities. Start in Tokyo, exploring the city's ultra-modern technology and ancient monuments. Then head to the quiet shrines of traditional Kyoto, the buzzing food scene of trendy Osaka, and the historic landmarks and lively downtown of Hiroshima. Along the way, you'll visit beautiful islands and bamboo forests, sample regional delicacies on a food tour, see sumo wrestlers in action, and try locally produced sake and whiskey.
This 10-day tour of Japan offers culinary thrills for adventurous foodies and cultural excursions that highlight the country's traditions and history. Start in Tokyo to try local street food in Omoide Yokocho and visit the ancient temple of Senso-ji, then hop over to Kyoto for tea ceremonies and a tour of its bustling 400-year-old food market. Practice sushi-making and try flights of saké in Hiroshima, cruise to the island of Miyajima, and end with a mouthwatering Kobe beef dinner in Osaka.
Head south across Japan as you see the country's highlights by train. In Tokyo, explore the Shinjuku district and visit shrines, temples, and shopping areas. Take a day trip to Mount Fuji, then move on to Kanazawa for museums and a gold leaf workshop. Visit the traditional village of Shirakawa-go, then see Kyoto's sights and participate in a tea ceremony. Spot deer in Nara, wander through Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, explore Miyajima island, and discover Osaka on a food tour before heading home.
This short but wide-ranging tour of Japanese cities takes you to Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Tokyo—not to mention the mountainous resort town of Hakone. In just five days, you'll see the tallest building in Japan, gaze at Mount Fuji in the distance, go on a guided tour of the historic temples and shrines of Kyoto, and learn about the devastating World War II bombing of Hiroshima before exploring the city's contemporary downtown. Dip in the natural hot springs of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, tour Osaka Castle, and appreciate the refinement of traditional Japanese arts.
Most travelers will find that 11 to 15 days is perfect for a well-paced Japan trip with stops in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Hakone. If you don't mind a fast-paced journey, you can see the highlights in less time—as little as a week to 10 days. Travelers with more time can enjoy extra sights and activities at each stop or explore more of the country—some of our favorite itinerary extensions include Miyajima Island. Get inspired with our trip ideas below.
Spend 12 days exploring the best of Japan, including its most important cities. Start with a visit to Osaka's brightly-lit city center before exploring Kyoto's traditional historic neighborhoods and quiet temples. Learn about World War II history in Hiroshima, then hop on a plane to enjoy Okinawa's stunning beaches. End the trip in the exciting capital of Tokyo, one of the world's busiest and most futuristic cities.
This 12-day trip combines the best of Japan's major cities, historic places, and natural areas. You'll explore Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima, as well as to the beautiful mountainside town of Nikko and the relaxing hot springs of Hakone. Enjoy everything Japan has to offer, including its culture, art, temples and shrines, and tasty, traditional cuisine.
Shop, eat, and explore your way through Japan's four major cities in this diverse 12-day itinerary. Start in Tokyo, walking around the best shopping precincts and witnessing the city's thrilling blend of ultramodern technology and ancient landmarks. Connect with your inner Zen in Kyoto, sample the buzzing street food scene in trendy Osaka, and witness the historical monuments of Hiroshima.
Dash around Japan by bullet train to discover the archipelago's tastes, ceremonies, and exciting nightlife. Learn how to make sushi in Tokyo and explore its oldest temple Senso-ji. In Kyoto's Gion district, discover the world of becoming a geisha. Warm yourself up by sipping sakes at a brewery outside of Hiroshima and soaking in an onsen in Hakone. Take time to relax and feel the pulse of Japan's cities on this 12-day tour.
This 14-day trip takes you to the major cities of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima, where you'll experience a mix of modern culture and timeworn traditions. You'll also venture to the temples and shrines in Nikko and a hot springs retreat in Hakone. The last leg takes you to Nara, known for its free-roaming deer, and Hiroshima, where you'll witness the flourishing rebuild of one of Japan's most historically significant towns.
This trip will take you to all the places you shouldn't miss on your first trip to Japan. Discover the traditional and modern sides of Japan at shrines and temples, witness technological innovation at a digital art exhibition and a crazy robot cabaret, and get involved in hands-on cooking and craft classes.
Discover modern and traditional aspects of Japan in 13 days, touching down in skyscraper-studded Tokyo, where ancient temples meet neon shopping districts, and then explore the country by futuristic bullet train. You'll visit sacred shrines in Osaka and grand castles in Kyoto and ride a gondola to the top of Kobe's Mount Rokko. The trip ends with a sailing adventure to Miyajima in Hiroshima Bay, known as the "Island of the Gods" for its mystical forests and shrines.
Get to the heart of Japanese and Korean culture on this 10-day trip to the vibrant cities of Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Seoul. Learn about Shinto beliefs at Nezu Shrine, sit atop a tatami mat to watch a geisha performance, and see the devastating impact the world's first atomic bomb had on Hiroshima and its residents. You'll also take part in both countries' local food and drink scenes and can choose to participate in hands-on activities such as painting lucky cats and creating a stamp with your name in Korean.
Offering ancient traditions and futuristic fun, Japan is filled with one-of-a-kind attractions for the young—and the young at heart. This two-week family-friendly itinerary features a great mix of cultural sightseeing and hands-on activities, like a sushi class and a samurai sword-fighting course. You'll explore the character cafés and comic book shops of Tokyo, boat on a lake near Mount Fuji, and wander through towering groves of bamboo in Arashiyama, taking time to learn about history in Hiroshima and Kyoto. Rounding out the trip are day trips to two world-class theme parks: Disney Sea and Universal Studios Japan. This action-packed journey is sure to be a hit with the whole family.
This 16-day adventure is planned with nature lovers in mind, who also want a touch of Japan's urban highlights. You'll traverse the well-worn paths of the mountain monks, breathe in the history of temples which have endured for centuries, take a boat ride down Takachiho Gorge and test your endurance as you hike Mount Misen, off the coast of Hiroshima. This tour offers a nice balance of remote destinations rarely seen by tourists, combined with museum visits and culinary experiences in Tokyo, Osaka, and Hiroshima.
Take a deep dive into Setouchi's iconic contemporary art scene with this luxurious two-week tour that ticks off Japan's western highlights. Discover Hiroshima's shrines and memorial park, explore historic Kurashiki, then sail across Setouchi's tranquil waters for an immersive four-night stay in the "Art Islands." Next, you'll experience traditional puppet culture on Awaji, taste world-class beef in Kobe, and finish in style with a stay at a rejuvenating Arima Onsen hot springs retreat.
Cover the highlights of Japan as you travel in a wide loop across the country's south. Explore Tokyo's most exciting neighborhoods, learn about the important World War II history of Hiroshima, experience tradition with a tea ceremony and geisha photoshoot in Kyoto, and wander the quaint streets of Takayama and Kanazawa. Visit the UNESCO-listed village of Shirakawa-go and take a dip in Hakone's hot springs, then return to Tokyo for more sightseeing.
Delve into Japan's rich cuisine on this 16-day tour across Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Osaka. Start with a food tour in bustling Shinjuku before sampling whisky at the foot of Mount Fuji and watching a tuna auction at Toyosu Fish Market. Then, take a train to Kyoto to partake in a tea ceremony and sample matcha-flavored treats in nearby Uji. Break up all the eating with a history lesson in Hiroshima, and finish in Osaka, where you can learn how to make—and taste—sake, ramen, and gyoza.
Indulge your sense of adventure while soaking up the history and taking in the scenery of Hiroshima, the Seto Inland Sea, and Shikoku. You'll walk, hike, cycle, and paddle to temples, islands, shrines, and memorials and get a true sense of life in Seto Inland Sea communities. This trip is designed to accommodate travelers used to easy walks, hikes, and bicycle trips and is suitable for children ages 12 and up.
Explore the coast of the Sea of Japan, then head across southern Japan to visit towns and islands on the Seto Inland Sea. You'll spend twelve days discovering Japanese history and culture as you visit shrines, temples, castles, museums, and a preserved silver mine. See how miso paste, sake, and pottery are made and soak in hot spring baths. You'll come away with a true appreciation for the traditions and history of southern Japan.
Equally known for its vibrant city life and mountainous beauty, Japan offers a well-rounded visit filled with liveliness, adventure, and variety. On your 12-day journey, you'll explore the high-energy tech and fashion trends of Tokyo, enjoy the views and temples of Kyoto, and relax at a hot springs retreat in Hakone. Immerse yourself in Japanese culture, complete with the exceptional, authentic dining of Osaka.
Welcome to Japan! On this two-week journey around the main island, Honshu, you'll enjoy a mix of cultural sightseeing and active adventures. Visit sacred temples and shrines, cycle through the countryside, and wander around Tokyo's most fashionable neighborhoods. From the history of Hiroshima and the wonders of ancient Kyoto to the historic farmhouses of Shirakawa-go and the quiet island of Miyajima, there's so much to see and do.
