FROM PARIS TO THE SOUTH OF FRANCE - a 10 day adventure
This itinerary serves as the quintessential guide for the first timer’s trip to Japan. In a country steeped in cultural richness and offering an infinite amount of things to see, do, and eat, encapsulating the full experience in just one visit – let alone several – is truly impossible. In this guide, I aim to provide the very best overview, from must see’s to hidden treasures, along with my personal recommendations to help you make the most of your first trip to Japan.
This experience will cover four of Japan’s most popular cities – Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka – each diverse with its own distinct charm. I recommend allocating two weeks for this trip, ensuring 12 full days immersed in Japan after accounting for travel time. If you are limited to one week, delve deeply into a single city and consider saving the others for a future visit.
Logistics
- Length/Pace: 12 Very Full Days
- Getting Around: Public Transportation
- Accommodation: Hotels
- Budget: $$
- Best Season: Spring/Fall
Itinerary OVERVIEW
DAY 1 | TOKYO: Arrival, Shibuya
DAY 2 | TOKYO:
DAY 3 | TOKYO: Disney Tokyo SEA
DAY 4 | Tokyo
DAY 5 | Tokyo
DAY 6 | Kyoto
DAY 7 | Kyoto
DAY 8 | Kyoto
DAY 9 | Kyoto
DAY 10 | Nara
DAY 11 | Osaka
DAY 12 | Osaka, Departure
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
APPS & MAPS
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PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: T-MONEY & JR PAsSES
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DAY 1 | TOKYO: ARRIVAL + Shibuya
Shibuya Scramble | Shopping in Shibuya | Shibuya Sky | Ichiran
DAY 1 INTRODUCTION
Day 1… our craziest, most ambitious day. With only 9 days, we wanted to do and see as much as possible. In our logic, we figured we would have the most energy and adrenaline on day 1, but we still felt pretty worn out when we finally ended our day around 4 AM. Feel free to split this day up into two if you need to.
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Day 1… our craziest, most ambitious day. With only 9 days, we wanted to do and see as much as possible. In our logic, we figured we would have the most energy and adrenaline on day 1, but we still felt pretty worn out when we finally ended our day around 4 AM. Feel free to split this day up into two if you need to.
- Time spent: 5 – 20 minutes
- Cost: Free
Shopping in shibuya
Day 1… our craziest, most ambitious day. With only 9 days, we wanted to do and see as much as possible. In our logic, we figured we would have the most energy and adrenaline on day 1, but we still felt pretty worn out when we finally ended our day around 4 AM. Feel free to split this day up into two if you need to.
- Time spent: 1 – 3 hours
- Cost: Free
Shibuya sky
Day 1… our craziest, most ambitious day. With only 9 days, we wanted to do and see as much as possible. In our logic, we figured we would have the most energy and adrenaline on day 1, but we still felt pretty worn out when we finally ended our day around 4 AM. Feel free to split this day up into two if you need to.
- Time spent: 1 – 2 hours
- Cost: 2,200 Yen for Adults, 1,000 Yen for Kids, 600 Yen for Kids 3-5
Ichiran Ramen
Day 1… our craziest, most ambitious day. With only 9 days, we wanted to do and see as much as possible. In our logic, we figured we would have the most energy and adrenaline on day 1, but we still felt pretty worn out when we finally ended our day around 4 AM. Feel free to split this day up into two if you need to.
- Time spent: 30 Min
- Cost: 980 Yen ($6.91 USD)
DAY 2 | TOKYO: Shinjuku, HARAJUKU, shibuya
Yayoi Kusama | Meiji Temple & Yoyogi Park | Harajuku & Takeshita | Golden Gai & Omoide Yokocho
BREAKFAST AT FAMILY MART
Ichiran Ramen in Shibuya
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STARBUCKS
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YAYOI KUSAMA MUSEUM
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MATSUYA
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MEIJI TEMPLE & YOYOGI PARK
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HARAJUKU & TAKESHITA STREET
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REISSUE CAFE
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photo lab & shopping
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GYUKATSU MOTOMURA in SHinjuku
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Nightlife in shinjuku - golden gai & omoide yokocho
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DAY 3 | TOKYO: Disney tokyo sea
Tokyo Disney Sea
BREAKFAST AT 7-11
8 hour hike
TOKYO DISNEY SEA
20 minutes
UNDERGROUND FOOD HALL
Ichiran Ramen in Shibuya
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day 4 | TOKYO: asakusa, harajuku, ginza, akihabara
Yayoi Kusama | Meiji Temple & Yoyogi Park | Harajuku & Takeshita | Golden Gai & Omoide Yokocho
stokksnes
1.5 hours
east fjords
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egilsstadir campsite
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day 5 | TOKYO: tsujiki, team labs, free day
Seyðisfjörður
Time spent: 1 hour
Borgarfjörður Eystri
TIme spent: 30-45 minutes
Hlíð Campsite
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Kyoto
Day 6 - 10
Total Drive Time: 5 hours 15 minutes | Accomodation: Vik Campsite
day 6 | KYOTO: southern shrines
hverir
45 minutes
Grjótagjá Cave
15 minutes
Hverfjall Crater
45 minutes
day 7 | KYOTO: nishiki market, fushimi inari
Glaumbær Farm & Museum
30 minutes
Snæfellsjökull National Park
45 minutes? or 30 i forget
arnarstapi
45 minutes
Búðakirkja Black Church
30 minutes
day 8 | KYOTO: nara
Ölkelduvatn Mineral Spring
15 minutes
Glymur waterfall
2.5 hours
Reykjavik
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reykjavik street food
1 hour
day 9 | KYOTO: Northern Temples
Reykjavík Breakfast
1.5 hours
blue lagoon
3 hours
Keflavík Airport
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