10 Day Japan Itinerary
Itinerary Overview
This curated route takes you from skyscraper skylines to tranquil temples, five-star hotels to centuries-old ryokans. Expect an artful blend of food, history, nature, and design - with space to breathe and time to savor it all.
Your Trip, Day-by-Day
Every journey with HOTE is built around you. Below is a Japan itinerary to spark ideas, set the vibe, and show you what’s possible when every detail is handled.
Day 01.
Arrive in Tokyo
Your journey begins in Tokyo, where tradition hides in alleys and the future beams from every corner. After a private airport transfer, settle into your hotel near the Imperial Palace. Dinner tonight is optional, but we recommend something easy and elegant like a rooftop omakase with skyline views.
Day 02.
Sacred Sites & Cultural Touchpoints
Visit Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, the city’s oldest, followed by a private taiko drum workshop with a family of artisans. After lunch, stroll through the Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park. Tonight, toast to the start of the trip with a guided izakaya crawl.
Day 03.
Sushi School & Choose Your Adventure
Start the day at Toyosu Market, then roll your own sushi with a local master. After lunch, choose your vibe: tour the Mori Art Museum, take a samurai sword lesson, or do a private sake tasting with a sommelier. The evening is yours! We suggest shopping in Ginza or vintage hunting in Koenji.
Day 04.
Transfer to Hakone
Ride the bullet train to Hakone. Float through Fuji views on an aerial cable car, then wander the Hakone Open-Air Museum. Settle into your luxury ryokan with private onsen access and enjoy a multi-course kaiseki dinner in your room. This is your first true unplug moment.
Day 05.
Art, Nature & A Slow Morning
Visit the Okada Museum of Art before heading out to Lake Ashi for a peaceful cruise. Back at the ryokan, spend the afternoon doing nothing or book a deep-tissue massage before another standout dinner.
Day 06.
Bullet Train to Osaka + Street Food Safari
Travel to Osaka and check into your hotel. Enjoy a sunset cocktail at your hotel bar before heading to Dotonbori’s neon-lit food stalls for okonomiyaki, skewers, and takoyaki. You’ll fall asleep full and happy.
Day 07.
Day Trip to Nara
Visit Todai-ji Temple and its massive bronze Buddha, then feed the gentle deer in Nara Park. Attend a private Shinto blessing at Kasuga Taisha Shrine. After lunch, watch sumo wrestlers spar at the Kehaya-za Pavilion before returning to Osaka for a laid-back dinner.
Day 08.
Kyoto Arrival & Temples/Gardens
Arrive in Kyoto and begin at Ryoan-ji’s famed rock garden. Continue to the glittering Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and wrap the afternoon in Arashiyama’s dreamy Bamboo Grove. Check into your Kyoto hotel and enjoy a slow evening.
Day 09.
Culture Immersion & Geisha Dinner
Start at Kiyomizu-dera Temple for panoramic city views. Then take part in a traditional tea ceremony led by a temple monk. That night, enjoy a private dinner with a geiko and maiko, Kyoto’s refined cultural entertainers, as they pour sake, share stories, and perform classic dance.
Day 10.
Departure
Wake up slowly and savor your final morning in Japan. After breakfast at the hotel, your private driver will meet you in the lobby for a seamless transfer to the airport.
As Kyoto’s quiet streets fade into the rearview, take one last moment to reflect: ten days of temples and tea houses, neon nights and hot springs, timeless rituals and modern marvels. You’ve experienced Japan in full - with every detail handled and every memory yours to keep.
Let’s Make It Yours
We’ll take this itinerary and tailor every moment to your style, pace, and preferences.
