Japan itinerary for first-timers from India: 8 days, Tokyo to Osaka
Updated 17 Oct 2026 · 5 min read
Eight days is the right length for a first trip to Japan. It gives you three nights in Tokyo, one night near Mt Fuji, two in Kyoto and two in Osaka. If you fly into Tokyo and home from Osaka (Kansai airport), you never travel backwards. This is the route most first-timers from India should start with. It's also the exact route our Japan group trip follows.
The 8-day route at a glance
| Day | Overnight | What you do | Travel that day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tokyo | Land, check in, evening in Shinjuku | Airport train or bus, about 1 hour |
| 2 | Tokyo | Asakusa, Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya, teamLab | Metro only |
| 3 | Hakone | Mt Fuji 5th Station, Lake Ashi cruise, ropeway, hot spring | About 2 hours by road or train |
| 4 | Kyoto | Bullet train, Golden Pavilion, evening in Gion | About 2 hours by Shinkansen |
| 5 | Kyoto | Fushimi Inari at sunrise, Arashiyama bamboo grove | Local trains |
| 6 | Osaka | Nara deer park and Todai-ji, then Dotonbori food street | About 1 hour by train |
| 7 | Osaka | Free day or Universal Studios Japan | Local trains |
| 8 | — | Fly home from Kansai (KIX) | About 1 hour to the airport |
Day by day
Days 1–2: Tokyo
Most flights from India land early in the morning. Don't plan a big first day. Buy an IC card (Suica or Pasmo) at the airport, check in, and spend the evening around Shinjuku.
On day 2, cover the city in one loop: Senso-ji in Asakusa in the morning, Meiji Shrine and Harajuku before lunch, then Shibuya Crossing. Book teamLab Planets or teamLab Borderless online for the evening. Time slots sell out on weekends.
Day 3: Mt Fuji and Hakone
This is the day most people remember. Go up to the Mt Fuji 5th Station if the road is open and the sky is clear. Fuji is often hidden by cloud by midday, so start early. Then ride the Lake Ashi sightseeing boat and the Owakudani ropeway.
Stay one night in a ryokan or onsen hotel. A Japanese-style dinner and a hot-spring bath are part of the trip, not an extra. Send big suitcases ahead to Kyoto with a luggage-forwarding service (takkyubin) from your Tokyo hotel, and take a small overnight bag to Hakone.
Days 4–5: Kyoto
Take the Shinkansen from Odawara to Kyoto. Spend the afternoon at Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) and walk through Gion as the lanterns come on.
Start day 5 at Fushimi Inari before 8 am. The lower gates are packed by 10. Then head west to the Arashiyama bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji. If you have energy left, Kiyomizu-dera is lovely at dusk.
Days 6–7: Nara and Osaka
Nara is on the way from Kyoto to Osaka. Feed the deer in Nara Park (crackers are sold on site), see the giant Buddha at Todai-ji, then continue to Osaka. Eat your way down Dotonbori: takoyaki, okonomiyaki and kushikatsu.
Keep day 7 free. Universal Studios Japan suits families and Mario fans; buy tickets online in advance. Otherwise, shop in Shinsaibashi and visit Osaka Castle.
Day 8: Fly home
Kansai airport is about an hour from central Osaka. Leave three hours before your flight.
Getting around: rail pass or single tickets?
The national Japan Rail Pass got more expensive again on 1 October 2026. A 7-day ordinary pass now costs ¥53,000. A one-way reserved Nozomi ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto costs about ¥14,170. On this route you take the bullet train only once or twice, so single tickets are usually cheaper than the pass. Do the sum for your own plan before buying.
Inside cities, an IC card covers the metro, buses, many taxis and convenience stores. Top it up with cash at any station machine.
Food for Indian travellers
- Vegetarians can manage well with a little planning. Indian restaurants are easy to find in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Convenience stores sell onigiri (rice balls), fruit and sandwiches. Check labels for fish stock (dashi), which is in many dishes.
- Our group trip includes three Indian dinners. On other days the guide points out vegetarian-friendly places.
- Tipping is not expected in Japan.
Money, SIM and apps
- Carry some yen in cash. Small restaurants, temples and shrine stalls often prefer it.
- A forex card or a card with low foreign-transaction fees works in most shops and hotels.
- Get a Japan eSIM before you fly, so maps work from the moment you land.
- Fill in Visit Japan Web before arrival. It gives you QR codes for immigration and customs.
When to do this route
- Late March to early April: cherry blossoms. Busiest and most expensive weeks.
- May and October: pleasant weather, fewer crowds than spring or autumn peaks.
- Mid to late November: autumn colours in Kyoto and Hakone.
- June to mid-July: rainy season. Fine for cities, but Fuji is usually hidden.
Read our month-by-month guide and Japan budget breakdown before you book.
Want it planned for you?
Our fixed departure runs this route with return flights from Mumbai, 3★/4★ hotels, the bullet train, an English-speaking guide, three Indian dinners and Japan visa help included.