Itinerary · 10 days
Japan Itinerary, 10 Days From India
Ten days is the honest minimum for a meaningful Japan trip from India. The arc: 3 days Tokyo (modern Japan energy), 3 days Kyoto plus Nara (temples and traditional culture), 2 days Mount Fuji or Hakone (nature plus onsen), 2 days back-via-Tokyo with day trips. This is the OJ Japan rhythm. Anything shorter forces you to skip Kyoto or Fuji.
The 10-day arc
Arrive Narita or Haneda. Train to Shinjuku hotel. Light walk in Shinjuku plus convenience store dinner.
Nap to fight jet lag. Optional early evening exploration.
Yakitori dinner in Omoide Yokocho plus early sleep.
Tsukiji Outer Market breakfast plus Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa.
Akihabara electronics or Harajuku youth culture, depending on group.
Shibuya Crossing sunset plus dinner at Genki Sushi or Ichiran Ramen.
TeamLab Borderless or Planets immersive art (book 60 days out).
Imperial Palace gardens plus Ginza walk.
Robot Restaurant show or quieter izakaya dinner in Ebisu.
Shinkansen bullet train Tokyo to Kyoto (2h 15min). Check in to Gion ryokan.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple plus Higashiyama old district walk.
Pontocho alley dinner plus geisha district walk.
Fushimi Inari Shrine (1000 vermillion torii gates) early to avoid crowds.
Arashiyama bamboo grove plus Tenryu-ji Temple.
Kimono experience plus dinner at traditional kaiseki restaurant.
Train to Nara (45 min). Todai-ji Temple with the great Buddha plus deer feeding.
Nara Park plus Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Return to Kyoto. Final Kyoto dinner in Pontocho.
Shinkansen back toward Tokyo, switch to Hakone Tozan railway.
Hakone Open-Air Museum plus Lake Ashi pirate ship.
Onsen ryokan check-in plus traditional kaiseki dinner.
Mount Fuji 5th Station visit (weather permitting) or Fuji Five Lakes scenic drive.
Chureito Pagoda viewpoint photo plus return to Hakone.
Final onsen plus dinner.
Train back to Tokyo. Last-day Tokyo exploration.
Souvenir shopping in Don Quijote or Tokyo Skytree.
Final group dinner in Shibuya or Ginza.
Final breakfast plus last museum or temple if time allows.
Train to Narita or Haneda plus departure.
In flight.
Budget breakdown (per person)
Mid-range solo traveller estimate. Couples sharing rooms save around 25% per person. Luxury upgrades add 50% to 100%.
Booking tips
- Book JR Rail Pass before arrival in Japan (you cannot buy it in country at the same price); 7-day pass covers all Shinkansen plus most local trains
- Japan eVisa for Indians is now available since 2024; apply online, processed in 3 working days, dramatically easier than the old embassy process
- Book TeamLab Borderless 60 days out (sells out reliably)
- Ryokan booking 60 days out for Kyoto Gion area; the best ryokans (Hiiragiya, Tawaraya) sell out 6 months out
- Suica or Pasmo IC card for local transport; load at airport, use everywhere including convenience stores
Frequently asked
Can I do Japan in less than 10 days?
Possible but you must cut something. 7 days: Tokyo plus Kyoto only, no Fuji. 8 days: Tokyo plus Kyoto plus Nara day trip. 10 days is the minimum to add Mount Fuji or Hakone properly. Below 7 days the flight time becomes the trip.
Should I add Osaka or Hiroshima?
Not on a first 10-day Japan trip. Osaka is 30 min from Kyoto by train and can be a half-day add-on. Hiroshima deserves 2 plus days and is for second Japan trip. The OJ trip prioritizes Tokyo plus Kyoto plus Mount Fuji depth over breadth.
What is the actual total cost of this 10-day Japan trip from India?
The breakdown above totals around INR 2,50,000 for a solo traveller mid-range. As a couple sharing rooms, per-person cost drops to about INR 2,00,000. Luxury upgrades (high-end ryokan, business class flights) push it to INR 5,00,000 plus.
Is the OJ Japan trip worth the group rate?
Yes for first-time visitors. Japan logistics (JR Pass selection, ryokan booking culture, restaurant reservation system, language barrier) is genuinely complex. The OJ trip handles all of this. Solo travel to Japan is doable but most Indians benefit from group structure for first visits.
When does the OJ Japan trip run?
October (autumn colours) or March to April (cherry blossom). The Cherry Blossom trip runs separately as `japan-grouptrip-cherry-blossom` with different timing. Both at INR 2.5L. Different audiences: October for cultural depth, April for the iconic cherry blossom.