Please Help!! Looking for Japan 10-Day Itinerary Advice - Toyko, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo

Itinerary

Hi! My husband are in our early 30s and are traveling to Japan for the first time in September. We have some friends that have been and they offered their advice. Before booking hotels, I want to confirm our itinerary is good to go!

1. Do the locations for the night stays look okay? I know it is 5 places in 10 days... but I am thinking it will be worth it. A friend told us to actually STAY in Osaka rather than doing a day-trip from Kyoto because the nightlife is so fun. What do you think??

2. Should we consider 2 nights in Hakone in a Ryokan? Or is 1 enough time?

Sept. 11-14 (3 nights): Tokyo

  • Day 1: check in, dinner, early night
  • Day 2: Tsukiji - Maguroya Kurogin, Meiji Shrine, Harajuku & Omotesando, Quick lunch near Harajuku, Baseball game at Tokyo Dome, Dinner: Shinjuku / Kabukicho
  • Day 3: Oedo Antique Market, Ginza, teamLab Borderless

Sept. 14-15 (1 night): Hakone (should we do 2 nights?)

  • Day 4: stay in Ryokan, Open-Air Museum

Sept. 15-18 (3 nights): Kyoto

  • Day 5: Nishiki Market, Kimono rental and tea cermony, teamLab
  • Day 6: Fushimi Inari, head spa treatment, POJ studio
  • Day 7: (last day flex day) (???)

Sept. 18-19 (1 night): Osaka (actually our anniversary) - Is this worth it or too much moving around?

  • Day 8: train to Osaka, Kuromon Ichiba Market, Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Bar Nayuta, Dotonbori

Sept. 19-21 (Last 2 nights): Tokyo

  • Day 9: Nakameguro / Daikanyama loop, Shibuya Crossing
  • Day 10: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, shopping

Any advice is appreciated! We are so excited!

Posted May 28, 2026, 5:09 PM UTC

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