Planning a trip to Japan? Japan is well known for combining innovation with traditions, whether it be architecture or food. You will find a lot of landscapes like mountains, lakes, islands, and hot springs. If you are planning to visit Japan anytime soon, you can cover the best places with our perfect Japan itinerary. This blog has a detailed 7-day Japan travel itinerary so that you can take care of your budget and visa troubles now. It also covers travel tips for first-timers, an insight into an ideal trip to Japan, the main modes of transportation.
Getting around in Japan
Arrival and Main Location
The safest and most convenient travel option to Japan from India is flight.
There are direct flights to Tokyo as well as connecting flights to Tokyo as well. You can easily get a direct flight from New Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport or Haneda International Airport. If you take a connecting flight, you have to transit in Singapore and land at Kansai International Airport, Osaka. The flight duration for direct flights is 8–10 hours, but it may take up to 12 hours if you take connecting flights. The round-about tickets cost around 50000–60000 INR.
The main locations to stay in Tokyo City, the capital city of Japan, are Shinjuku and Shibuya. Tokyo is famous for food, shopping, and tourist spots and is well-connected to other cities. You can take a train called Narita Express or Tokyo Monorail to reach these places.
Main modes of transportation
Japan is said to have one of the best and most affordable public transportation systems in the world. You can travel by:
- Train and Bullet Trains: Please get a JR Pass to travel to various cities in Japan without worry during your travel. It is good for long-distance trips.
- Subways or Metro: Please get a Tokyo Metro Pass or IC Card to travel to various stations easily. It is go for sightseeing cities like Osaka, Haneda, Tokyo.
- Bus: You can reach places without train connectivity on buses. You can get a Kyoto Bus Pass.
- Taxi: Taxi is more expensive than a train, subway, or bus. It is better to avail it only if other alternatives are not unavailable. Japan has many taxi apps: Uber, GO, and Japan Taxi.
- Bicycle: It is great to rent a bicycle and use it for sightseeing at the various sites in Tokyo, Osaka, and so on.
- Ferry: You can travel between the islands using Hokkaido, Okinawa, or Hiroshima’s Miyajima.
- Car Rental: You can rent a car or bike to explore the rural landscapes of Japan.
Japan itinerary 7 days
Get ready to uncover the best of Japan, day by day!
Day 1: Explore Tokyo’s Shinjuku & Shibuya
You can take the whole afternoon and evening to roam the following places after you check in to a hotel in Shinjuku or Shibuya. You can plan followling places to visit on first day.
- Shibuya Crossing: The world’s busiest crossing is a sight to behold.
- Hachiko Statue: This iconic dog statue was built after a legend.
- Meiji Shrine: A free-of-cost, peaceful shrine in a forested area.
- Harajuku (Takeshita Street): This lively area is known for cosplay, fashion, and street food.
- Shinjuku Gyoen Park: This park has a beautiful Japanese garden for a relaxing evening walk. The entry fee is ¥500.
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building: This administrative building has a free observation deck with amazing city views.
In the evening, try out Japan’s famous ramen or sushi at a local Japanese restaurant.
Day 2: Explore Asakusa, Akihabara & Tokyo Tower
You can get and travel with a Tokyo Metro Pass to various metro stations in Tokyo day trip for sightseeing the following places :
- Senso-ji Temple (Asakusa) – It is the oldest and free Buddhist temple in Tokyo.
- Nakamise Shopping Street– You can go shopping for Japanese souvenirs and trying out all the street snacks.
- Akihabara (Anime & Gaming District) – Japan is the land of manga and anime. You must visit anime stores, gaming arcades, and maid cafés in this district.
- TeamLab Planets Tokyo – This is one-of-a-kind famous digital art museum
- Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Sky Tree: You can’t miss out on Tokyo Tower when you are in Japan. The entry fee is 2,000 for Tokyo Tower, ¥3,100 for Skytree
In the evening, you can have dinner at an Izakaya, Japanese pub, in Ginza.
Day 3: Day Trip to Hakone and Mount. Fuji
You must start early from Tokyo and take the Romancecar Train. It takes 90 minutes from Shinjuku to travel to Hakone. Thereafter, get and travel with the Hakone Free Pass(~¥6,100 pass) for unlimited local transport facilities. You can stay at Hakone Hotel. You can sight see the following places in Hakone during the day:
- Hakone Open-Air Museum – This museum has unique art sculptures and natural views. The entry fee is JY 1,600.
- Owakudani Volcanic Valley – This area is famous for its hot springs and famous black eggs that is said to add 7 years to your life.
- Lake Ashi (Pirate Cruise) – Don’t miss the scenic beauty on the boat ride with Mt. Fuji in the background. The cost is ¥1,000
- Hakone Ropeway – You can enjoy amazing aerial views in the evening. The trip costs ~¥2,500.
In the evening, relax in an Onsen, hot spring bath, in your Ryokan, Japanese inn.
Day 4: Trip to Kyoto & Explore Gion
You must start early to take the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) from Tokyo to Kyoto. It is a 2.5 hours journey that costs ¥14,000. You can stay at a hotel in Gion for the night and roam in the day. You can spend,then, the whole day sightseeing the following spots in Gion:
- Fushimi Inari Shrine – This beautiful and free shrine has thousands of red torii gates.
- Gion (Geisha District) – You can walk through the Gion’s historic streets to spot geishas.
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple – A beautiful temple with a scenic view. The entry fee is ¥400.
- Nishiki Market– If you are foodie, you must go to this market. You get Kyoto’s best street food: matcha ice cream, fresh sushi).
In the evening, you can eat a the Kaiseki, a traditional multi-course meal, in Gion. It is just like our Indian Thali.
Day 5: Day Trip to Arashiyama & Nara
You must get and use the JR Train Pass and take the JR Train. It is a 15 minutes travel to Arashiyama for the Bamboo Forest spot. It takes another 45 minutes to travel to Nara for the deer park via JR Train. Spend the day roaming the following sites in Arashiyama:
- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest – This a famous bamboo grove that is photogenic too.
- Iwatayama Monkey Park—This park offers hiking trails where you can see wild monkeys. The entry fee is ¥600.
- Nara Park & Todai-ji Temple—You can feed the friendly bowing deer and take a leisurely stroll. It costs ¥200 for deer crackers.
- Kasuga Taisha Shrine—This beautiful shrine is totally lantern-lit. Its entry fee costs ¥500.
In the evening, you should return to Kyoto for dinner or relax at a traditional tea house.
Day 6: Trip to Osaka & Explore Dotonbori
Pack your bags and take the Shinkansen or JR Train early, a 15–30 minute journey from Kyoto to Osaka. You can check in at Dotonbori for the night. Meanwhile, spend your day at Osaka exploring the following spots:
- Osaka Castle—This is a famous samurai-era castle. The entry fee is ¥600.
- Dotonbori & Namba—Osaka’s nightlife & street food district. You should try Takoyaki & Okonomiyaki there.
- Shinsaibashi Shopping Street—One of the best districts for shopping and souvenirs.
In the evening, try out an Osaka-style street food dinner.
Day 7: Universal Studios Japan
Your last day is a visit the famous amusement park, the LaLa Land of Japan, before you depart for India. You can take a train from Central Osaka. It takes about 20 minutes to travel to USJ. You should go to the following sections of USJ:
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Super Nintendo World
- Jurassic Park & Minion Park
You must take Shinkansen Bullet train to the Narita or Haneda airports and fly back to India. Please leave at least 3 hours before your flight.
Departure to India from Japan
You can take a direct flight to any of the metro cities in India from Narita or Haneda International Airports in Tokyo. You can take a layover in Singapore if you don’t get a direct flight from Tokyo to India. It will take around 8–12 hours to reach India. You should always prebook your tickets.
Japan trip in 5 or 10 days
You can always complete a trip to Japan in 5 days if you don’t go to Universal Studios and Dotonbari. If you can extend your trip to 10 days, you can visit Honshu and Hokkaido Islands, along with these spots. You can also try out food, hot springs, and water sports on the islands.
Get your Japan visa with Itzeazy
It is necessary to get Japan visa to travel and explore the given famous Japanese things for shoppings. Itzeazy is here to help you. Itzeazy is India’s no.1 visa service provider. It helps to get guaranteed Japan visa from India in quick time.
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