Your First Trip to Japan: Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka

By Ganesh · 6 April 2024

A first-timer's route through Japan's classic Golden Route, from neon Tokyo and Mount Fuji views in Hakone to Kyoto's temples, Nara's deer and Osaka's street food, plus rail passes, IC cards, etiquette and seasons.

Japan rewards first-time visitors with an easy, efficient journey through wildly different experiences: the scale of Tokyo, hot springs in the mountains, centuries-old temples and some of the best food on earth. The classic first route, often called the Golden Route, links Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka along one fast rail corridor. Here is how we would plan roughly ten days on it.

When to go

Spring (March to May): cherry blossoms usually peak in Tokyo and Kyoto around late March to early April, though timing shifts every year. Beautiful, but it is the busiest season, so book early.
Summer (June to August): the rainy season typically runs through June into July, followed by hot, humid weather. Summer brings lively festivals and fireworks.
Autumn (September to November): late summer and early autumn can bring typhoons, but by November the weather is crisp and the autumn leaves are spectacular, especially in Kyoto.
Winter (December to February): cold but often clear and dry in Tokyo, with good odds of seeing Mount Fuji. Fewer crowds outside the New Year holidays.

Domestic holiday periods such as Golden Week (late April to early May), Obon (mid-August) and the New Year are very busy for trains and hotels; plan around them if you can.

A 10-day first-trip itinerary

Days 1–3: Tokyo

Give Tokyo at least three days. Explore Asakusa and Senso-ji temple, the calm of Meiji Jingu shrine next to fashionable Harajuku, and the famous scramble crossing in Shibuya. Spend an evening in Shinjuku, with its tiny bars and skyscraper views, and wander a neighbourhood like Yanaka for a slower, older Tokyo. Department-store food halls and convenience stores are an adventure in themselves.

Days 4–5: Hakone and Mount Fuji

Head to Hakone, a hot-spring area in the mountains southwest of Tokyo. A popular loop combines mountain railway, cable car, ropeway and a boat across Lake Ashi, with views of Mount Fuji on clear days. The volcanic valley of Owakudani is a highlight, though access can be restricted when volcanic activity rises. Stay overnight in a ryokan, a traditional inn, to enjoy an onsen bath and a multi-course dinner.

Days 6–8: Kyoto

Take the shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto, the former imperial capital. Go early to Fushimi Inari Taisha to walk through thousands of vermilion torii gates before the crowds. Visit Kiyomizu-dera and the old lanes below it, stroll Gion in the evening, and spend a morning in Arashiyama for the bamboo grove and riverside temples. Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, is another classic.

Day 9: Nara

An easy day trip from Kyoto or Osaka. Nara Park is famous for its free-roaming deer, considered sacred messengers; some will even bow for a deer cracker. Nearby, Todai-ji houses a giant bronze Buddha in one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, and the lantern-lined paths of Kasuga Taisha shrine are lovely.

Day 10: Osaka

End in Osaka, Japan's kitchen. Graze through Dotonbori after dark on takoyaki (octopus balls) and okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes), and visit Osaka Castle and its park. Kansai International Airport makes Osaka a convenient place to fly home from.

With more time, add a night in Kanazawa, a day at Himeji Castle or a trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima. With less, skip Hakone and see Fuji from a train window on a clear day.

Getting around: rail passes and IC cards

Japan's trains are punctual, clean and easy to use, with signs in English at major stations. The Japan Rail Pass covers most JR trains nationwide for a set number of days, but whether it saves money depends on your route and on current pricing, which has changed over the years. Price out your actual journeys before buying, and look at regional passes too; for a simple Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka trip, individual tickets are sometimes the better deal.

For local trains, subways and buses, get a rechargeable IC card such as Suica, PASMO or ICOCA. You simply tap in and out, the cards work across most major cities, and they can pay at many convenience stores and vending machines. Many phones can also hold a digital IC card. Check the current availability of physical cards before you go.

On long-distance trains, space for large suitcases can be limited and some routes require a reservation for oversized luggage. Many travellers use luggage forwarding services to send bags ahead to their next hotel and travel light.

Etiquette worth knowing

No tipping: good service is expected, and leaving money can cause confusion.
Keep quiet on trains: avoid phone calls and keep conversations low. Leave priority seats for those who need them.
Shoes off in homes, ryokan rooms, many temples and some restaurants; look for a raised floor or a row of slippers.
Onsen basics: wash thoroughly before entering the bath, keep your small towel out of the water, and note that some baths restrict visible tattoos.
Carry your rubbish: public bins are scarce, so take a small bag with you.
Queue neatly, stand on the correct side of escalators (it differs between Tokyo and Osaka) and avoid eating while walking in busy streets.
At shrines and temples, follow posted rules on photography and behaviour.

Practical tips

Check entry requirements for your nationality on official government sources before you book.
Cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for small restaurants, shrines and rural areas.
Book ryokan, popular restaurants and peak-season hotels well in advance.
Pocket Wi-Fi or an eSIM makes navigation and train apps far easier.
Pack shoes that slip on and off easily; you will remove them often.

Plan it in Sancharees

Build the trip in Sancharees by adding each stop to its day, from Senso-ji to Dotonbori, so you can see how the route flows on the map. Forward your flight, hotel and ryokan confirmation emails to your booking inbox and they will land on the right days. Share the trip with your travel companions so everyone knows the plan.

Photos: Mount Fuji seen from Ōwakudani, Hakone by Suicasmo, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo, from above by David Kernan, CC BY 4.0 · Torii gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto by Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Pond and pavilion in Nara Park by Feri88, CC BY 3.0 · Dōtonbori and Ebisu Bridge, Osaka by Type specimen, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Read in: আপনার প্রথম জাপান সফর: টোকিও (Tokyo), হাকোনে (Hakone), কিয়োতো (Kyoto), নারা (Nara) এবং ওসাকা (Osaka) · Ihre erste Reise nach Japan: Tokio, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara und Osaka · Tu primer viaje a Japón: Tokio, Hakone, Kioto, Nara y Osaka · Premier voyage au Japon : Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara et Osaka · पहली जापान यात्रा: टोक्यो, हाकोने, क्योटो, नारा और ओसाका · 初めての日本旅行：東京、箱根、京都、奈良、大阪 · ಜಪಾನ್‌ಗೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮೊದಲ ಪ್ರಯಾಣ: ಟೋಕಿಯೋ, ಹಕೊನೆ, ಕ್ಯೋಟೋ, ನಾರಾ ಮತ್ತು ಓಸಾಕಾ · ആദ്യ ജപ്പാൻ യാത്ര: ടോക്കിയോ, ഹാക്കോണെ, ക്യോട്ടോ, നാര, ഒസാക്ക · जपानला तुमचा पहिला प्रवास: टोकियो, हाकोने, क्योटो, नारा आणि ओसाका · முதல் ஜப்பான் பயணம்: டோக்கியோ, ஹாக்கோனே, கியோட்டோ, நாரா, ஒசாகா · జపాన్‌ మీ తొలి ప్రయాణం: టోక్యో, హకోనే, కియోటో, నారా మరియు ఓసాకా