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Here are some sample DIY Japan itineraries for Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto for 4 DAYS, 6 DAYS, 7 DAYS (1 WEEK), 8 DAYS, and 15 DAYS. Each DIY itinerary has its own recommended minimum budget to help you manage your finances well.

This post covers only Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. If you’re looking for sample itineraries for Sapporo and Nagoya, we have separate samples in the posts below:

If you need help on how to start planning a multi-city tour across Japan, this post might help: Japan Travel Guide

Please take note of the following.

  • All the itineraries below assume that you are a party of two, that you will be staying at a double room of a budget hotel or hostel (less than $80 per night), and that you will be splitting costs. The only exception is Tokyo Option 3 and the 15-day backpacking itinerary.
  • If your hostel or hotel does not serve free breakfast, visit the supermarket on your first day to buy food (biscuits, drinks, bread).
  • Set aside ¥1000 for every unspecified lunch or dinner.
  • Airfare is not included in the costing.
  • Estimated budget indicated is per person. However, note that this has a big allowance. For example, the ¥1000 budget per meal is often too much because you can actually find a good bowl of ramen, even in Tokyo, for only ¥500. But it’s better to overestimate than under.

Tokyo Budget Itinerary: 6 Days

Duration: 6 Days, 5 Nights
Estimated Budget: ¥35,000 (USD315, PHP15,600)

The BUDGET OPTION. This itinerary replaces the pricey Disneyland visit with a day trip in Odaiba and replaces double room with a bed at a capsule hotel.


Tokyo + Disneyland Itinerary: 6 Days

Duration: 6 Days, 5 Nights
Estimated Budget: ¥53,000 (USD475, PHP23,700)

This itinerary removes the visit to Kamakura and Yokohama and adds a visit to Sensoji Temple.


Tokyo + Disneyland + Kamakura and Yokohama Itinerary: 6 Days

Duration: 6 Days, 5 Nights
Estimated Budget: ¥56,000 (USD500, PHP25,000)

This is a pretty jampacked itinerary.

If you need more information about traveling on a budget in Tokyo, check this out: Tokyo Travel Guide


Osaka and Kyoto Itinerary: 4 Days

Duration: 4 Days, 4 Nights
Estimated Budget: ¥38,000 (USD340, PHP17,000)

This itinerary assumes you will be landing at Kansai International Airport at night and will be staying in a double room at a budget hotel or hostel for ¥6000/night (¥3000/head).

If you need more help planning your Osaka-Kyoto trip, this post is for you: Osaka and Kyoto Travel Guide


Osaka – Nara – Kyoto Itinerary: 4 Days

Duration: 4 Days, 4 Nights
Estimated Budget: ¥45,000 (USD400, PHP20,000)

This itinerary assumes you will be landing at Kansai International Airport at night and will be staying in a double room at a budget hotel or hostel for ¥6000/night (¥3000/head). You will be visiting Nara but only on a day tour.


Osaka – Kyoto – Tokyo Itinerary: 8 Days

Duration: 8 Days, 8 nights
Estimated Budget: ¥85,000 (USD760, PHP38,000)

This itinerary assumes you will be entering Japan via Osaka and leaving via Tokyo. You will also be staying in a double room at a budget hotel or hostel for ¥6000/night (¥3000/head) in Osaka/Kyoto and ¥9400/night (¥4700/head) in Tokyo.


Tokyo – Kyoto – Osaka Itinerary: 7 Days

Duration: 7 Days, 6 nights
Estimated Budget: ¥85,000 (USD760, PHP38,000)

This is the reverse of the Osaka-Tokyo itinerary above. This one assumes you’re landing in Tokyo and leaving via Osaka. Your hotel budget here is the same: ¥6000/night (¥3000/head) in Osaka/Kyoto and ¥9400/night (¥4700/head) in Tokyo.


Tokyo – Nagoya – Kyoto – Osaka Itinerary: 15 Days

15-Day Budget Backpacking
Duration: 15 Days, 14 nights
Estimated Budget: ¥115,000 (USD1030, PHP51,200)

This one is for budget backpackers. This assumes you’ll be staying at hostel dorm (around ¥2000 per night). Because you will be visiting multiple cities including day tours in Ibaraki and Kawaguchiko, it would be great if you have a JR Pass.

You can check the updated rates or purchase one here: Check JR PASS Rates Here


Do you really need a JR Pass?

It depends on your chosen itinerary. In this post, we weighed in on the JR Pass. You might want to read it first before making a decision: For more info, read: Is the JR Pass Worth It?


Top Budget Hotels in Tokyo

According to TripAdvisor users as of Feb 2017.

Andon Ryokan

Andon Ryokan
Address: 2-34-10 Nihonzutsumi, Taito 111-0021, Tokyo Prefecture
Double/twin room from USD63 (P3139)

Check Rates
Hotel Horidome Villa

Hotel Horidome Villa
Address: 1-10-10 Horidome-cho Nihonbashi, Chuo 103-0012, Tokyo Prefecture
Double/twin room from: USD49 (P2443)

Check Rates

Tokyo Kiba Hotel

Tokyo Kiba Hotel
Address: 1-4-3, Kiba, Koto 135-0042, Tokyo Prefecture
Sleeping pod (capsule-like) from USD36 (P1806)

Check Rates
Agora Place Asakusa

Agora Place Asakusa
Address: 2-2-9 Kotobuki, Taito 111-0042, Tokyo Prefecture
Double/twin room from: USD66 (PHP3278)

Check Rates
Search for more: Tokyo Hotels

Top Budget Hotels and Hostels in Osaka (Under $70)

GOEN LOUNGE&STAY

Goen Lounge & Stay
T-SITE ANNEXⅡ 5F/6F 8-9, Okahigashi-cho, Hirakata, Osaka

Check Rates

ZenLabo Osaka

ZenLabo Osaka
1-7-6, Sennichimae, Namba, Osaka

Check Rates

Hostel Jin
2-4-19, Nishikujo, Konohana-Ku, Osaka

Check Rates

Ark Hostel

Ark Hostel and Cafe Dining
1-15-11 Edobori, NIshi-ku, Umeda, Osaka

Check Rates

Search for more: Osaka Hotels

Top Guest Houses in Kyoto (Under $70)

Guest House Oumi

Guest House Oumi
19-11 Nishinokyo-Nagamotocho, Nakagyo-ku, Central Kyoto

Check Rates

Guest House Gajyun

Guest House Gajyun
165, Ebisucho, Higashiyama-ku, Higashiyama, Kyoto

Check Rates

Guesthouse Tu Casa
414-4, 8 Miyagawasuji, Higashiyama, Kyoto

Check Rates

MOSAIC HOSTEL KYOTO

MOSAIC HOSTEL KYOTO
4-1 Kasuga-cho, Nishikujo, Minami-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Station

Check Rates


Search for more: Kyoto Hotels
Klook TPT2024
Klook THEPOORTRAVELER

2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣9️⃣ • 3️⃣ • 2️⃣4️⃣ (updated)
2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣7️⃣ • 5️⃣ • 2️⃣5️⃣ (first up)


More Tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️


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Weywey

I probably visit your japan articles for so many times as I am traveling to Japan next month (solo trip). I am pretty anxious about how much it would cost me.
Can I ask for advice if it’s better to get JR pass TOkyo-kyoto-osaka-tokyo is my itinerary.i wanted midnight bus but just wondering if it would cost the same if I have JR pass? Thanks!
More power!

yoshke

Hi Weywey, overnight bus is a looot cheaper than JR Pass. If you can handle an 8-hour bus ride overnight, go for it.

Here’s our article about JR Pass: http://www.thepoortraveler.net/2017/03/is-jr-pass-worth-it/

DANA

Hi. This post is so helpful. I’m planning for a 8d/7n trip to Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo-Osaka, solo traveler btw. :)

Day 1 – Arrival
Day 2 – USJ + Dotonbori
Day 3 – Arashiyama / Fushimi Inari / Gion
Day 4 – Tokyo = Meiji Shrine / Shibuya + Hachiko / Takeshita / Sanrio Puroland
Day 5 – Disneyland
Day 6 – Ueno Park / Tokyo Museum / Akihabara / Return to Osaka
Day 7 – Osaka Castle / Umeda Sky Bldg / Back to MNL

If ever I get JR pass, do you think it will cost me the same if I use midnight buses back and forth Osaka? Or it’s better if I depart na lang from Tokyo to MNL? (Mas cheaper kasi sa Osaka. Hahaha.)

Thank you so much in advance. :)

Meg Palapal

Hi! Would just like to ask if the budget you posted per option is on a per head basis? For example on option 7, budget is 38k pesos per person if there were 2 of us planning to take this trip?

Lexi @ KinesiOdyssey.com

Traveling Japan was one of my FAVORITE countries of all time. Kyoto was especially…well, special for lack of a creative word LOL Mindblowing might be more apt. Also, the Rail Pass was a HUGE cost saver. Great suggestion!

I’m curious if you guys can manage a budget trip like this for a ski trip, though. The snow is FANTASTIC out near Sapporo, but it was the most expensive part of my trip

yoshke

Hi Lexi, oh the only time we tried skiing was at Fujiten (near Lake Kawaguchi). I think it’s a bit cheaper than other ski resorts, no entrance fee, but getting there was super expensive because if you don’t have a car (and we didn’t), the only way to get there was by taxi. And you know how costly Japan cab rides are.

Pipo S. Onrubia

Hi. We are 3 in the family going to Osaka next month for a week. Can you give us an itinerary for budget travellers? Thanks.

En Jabar

Hi Yoshke. Thanks for posting all these tips on Japan. I’d like to visit Hiroshima, would you mind sharing if you have been there. We would love to include it in our itinerary of osaka, kyoto amd Hiroshima. Thanks

Jenelyn

Hi. I just want to ask for some advice. I have booked a plane ticket for Manila-Tokyo and vice versa this coming September. We plan to stay for a week but we thought that its too long if we will just stay in Tokyo. I just want to know if its practical to get a Whole Jr pass? Can we used that to go to Osaka and return to Tokyo? Hope you could help. Thank you

Win

Hi, Your link to Sappora Itinerary Sample and Nagoya Itinerary Sample on the top of your page are swapped. Maybe you didn’t notice it.

Joy

Hi does the budget includes transportation cost in japan during the trip?

stephanie

hi po, pla po namin mag punta ng japan next month. me, husband and yung son ko. manila-osaka tokyo to manila po ang plano namin. first time namin sa japan, kailangan ba namin bumili ng jr pass? hingi po sana ako ng suggestion mo, kung ilang days namin kailangan mag stay ng osaka para makalibot and sa tokyo.. 10-13 days po kami mag stay ng japan.

Jocelyn dimaculangan

Can you recommend a travel agencies that organise the itinerary tokyo with disneyland

Nicole Villanueva

hi, so we are going to Japan for the first time in August. I’ve only booked 6D/5N going to Tokyo…. Reading your articles, seems that is too short, waaaah :( Anyway, so just to confirm, if we stay in TOkyo we won’t be needing the JR pass right? How will we get around the city? Also, where do you think is the best area to stay as springboard to must-go places in Tokyo? The only sure place we will visit is Tokyo Disney as well as Mt. Fuji tour. What else can you recommend?
Thanks in advance!

Nicole

Super thank you again!!! I’m going crazy making the itinerary…. All your articles are very helpful!

MEDIZA POSO

Hi Pwede po humingi ng soft copy of Tokyo – Kyoto – Osaka Iterynary. Thanks po

Elsa

Do you have a itinerary for tokyo – hakone-mt fuji- kyoto- osaka- tokyo? Thanks.

Chi

Hi ask ko lng po if single entry lng ang visa. Can we enter in tokyo and exit in osaka? Or same exit din kame dapat kung saan ang point of entry nmin? Thank you!

Isla

Hi! I love how comprehensive yet simple your website and itineraries are!
May I know though if can replace Disney Sea/Land with Fuji Q, in your 8-day Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo itinerary? We have exactly 8 whole days for touring, that is excluding our arrival and departure days. We will travel this September na. Just got our visa. hehe

wayne funk

hi Yoshke I will travel with my wife and two daughters age 18 and 20 to japan in march for 35 days. we will use the 21 day japan rail pass. we would like to visit Okinawa also. we fly out of Edmonton alberta Canada and will fly to okinowa first then return from Tokyo. this is our first trip to japan. could you help us with this itinery or suggest a good site for this period of time. Thank you and any help is appreciated.

Sarangssi

Hi! I want to Travel to Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto but I have roundtrip ticket MNL-NRT. No exact days yet since I can still rebook my flight but still with NRT. Is it okay not to get JR Pass? Or I do I need it to get back to Tokyo?

stephanie

hi Sir .. good day po . we’re planning to visit japan this november . 2 adult and 1 kid i saw your iteneray .. can you help me look for a budget hotel wre we can stay .gusto ko po sana na eto mga puntahan namin 7 days po tokyo kyota osaka wla po kase kayong hotel na nailagay. buget hotel po sna .. salamat

Ingrid

Hello

I have a question on the itinerary particularly on Tokyo – Kyoto – Osaka Itinerary: 7 Days.
1. What type of pass or card recommended to use on this itinerary? Is PASMO card enough to use in all the transportation needed?
2. PASMO card is accepted also in OSAKA and Kyoto train/buses?

Louise

Hi. Would a single-entry visa suffice if we fly to Osaka then fly out from Tokyo?

Rhona

Hi, Me and my brother are planning to explore Japan later this month for the first time. And we’ll be spending 10 days. Our flight will be MNL-OSAKA-MNL. What mode of transportation can you recommend if we want to go to Tokyo and come back to Osaka? And what are other itineraries can you recommend? Thank you so much.

Girlie

Hi, paano mo gumawa ng itinerary templates for 7 days? Any app you can recommend? Love your blog and it’s so helpful! Thank you!

Faith F.

Hello. I want to consider your 8 days / 7 days multi city itinerary, might follow it sa planned Japan trip. One question though, would want to include in the itinerary the visit to see Mt. Fuji. What route can you recommend in between those days? Thank you!

Alex sanoria

Hi sir,

We would like to follow the 8 days intinerary (osaka – kyoto – tokyo )
1. Do we need to get JR pass?
2.. in your itinerary , is it DIY? If so we need to buy all the tickets in advance thru klook or at site(japan)
3. Or you have arrange tour packages in agency?

Hope you can ease my mind and help me with this.

More power to you!

Thank you

Pris Yeo

Hi Yoshke Dimen,

Greetings to you from Singapore.

I am planning a family trip of 10 days to Osaka/Nara/Kobe/Nagoya/Kyoto/Osaka in mid Nov this year. My tentative itinerary is as follows. Appreciate for your input. TQVM.

Day 1 Arr at Osaka at night
Day 2 Osaka city tour
Day 3 Nara day tour with train from Osaka
Day 4 Kobe day tour with train from Osaka
Day 5 Leave for Nagoya from Osaka- Nagoya castle
Day 6 Shirakawa-go day tour
Day 7 Ohsukamon & Ohsu shopping street
Day 8 Leave for Kyoto from Nagoya
Day 9 Visit Kyoto
Day 10 Leave from Kyoto to Osaka for afternoon flight to Sg

Is the route feasible & practical? Appreciate for your suggestions. TQVM.

Donna Nuada

Hi Yoshke Dimen,

Greetings from the Philippines

My friend and her 2 sons will visit(1st time) Japan this June 20 to 26. Our entry is at Narita Airport, We dont have yet a place but we plan to stay in Tokyo, would you recommend any please? Or if not in Tokyo, where? Thanks in advance!

Margaret

Hi! I’m planning to follow your Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo itinerary but will tweak it a bit to make it a 10-day trip. Our itinerary is still flexible. I’m planning to add one full day for Universal Studios in Osaka, and another for a day tour in Mie, specifically in Nabana no Sato. Any tips on which pass/es to use and if it’s necessary to go back to Osaka or go directly to Kyoto? Thank you in advance!

Margaret

Hello! Thanks for replying. I’m thinking of adding Nagoya to our itinerary as well. Is a day tour to Shirakawa-go worth it in the spring season + Takayama (we’re travelling april 2020 btw)? Or should we go there in autumn/winter instead? Any suggestions for this itinerary? Thank you!

Day 1 – Arrival in Osaka (visit places covered by Osaka Amazing Pass)
Day 2 – Universal Studios Japan + Dotonbori
Day 3 – Nara Day Tour
Day 4 – Transit to Kyoto, Fushimi Inari, Gion District
Day 5 – Arashiyama, Golden Pavilion, Transit to Nagoya
Day 6 – Free morning + Nabana no Sato in the afternoon
Day 7 – Nagoya Castle, Toyota Museum, Sakae District
Day 8 – Transit to Tokyo, Ueno Park, Akihabara
Day 9 – Shinjuku
Day 10 – Shibuya, Harajuku
Day 11 – Departure from Tokyo

Russel Arevalo

Hello Miss Yoshke Dimen,

I and my friends will be visiting Tokyo in October but we only plan to visit Hitachi Seaside Park, Tokyo Disneysea and Mt. Fuji. Is it practical to get the JR pass? We will be only be there for 5 days.

Thank you in advance!

Ana

Hi!

We’ll be travelling Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo by February 29 for 8 days trip with group of 8 adults and 1 child.
please check if my itinerary is doable and any suggestion?
Thank you so much!

Day 1 PM flight.
Day 2 Osaka Castle, Kuromon Market, Dotonbori
Day 3 USJ
Day 4 Kyoto Day Tour: Arashiyama, Fuji inari shrine, gion district
Day 5 Tokyo: Yoyogi Park or Ueno Park???
Day 6: DisneySea
Day 7: Shibuya, Akihabara
Day 8 Manila

Kristin Liwanag

Hello! We already Visited Japan(tokyo, osaka, yokohama, atami) as a couple but we wanted to go back with kids this time. May you please suggest an itinerary that includes Disneyland, UStudios, hokkaido and other places that we have not visited yet. Thank you!

elite

Hi, Do you have sample itinerary trip in Japan for 1 week during January.
including skiing.

Rina

Hi, Yoshke!

Do you have a priced version of you Tokyo – Kyoto – Osaka Itinerary: 7 Days? Just so I could see the breakdown of the Php38,000.00, too.

By the way, thank you for the detailed itinerary. I’ll be sure to use your affiliate links. :)

Thanks,
Rina

Lei

Hi, Yoshke!

I’ll be touring Osaka (3days) -Kyoto (2days) -Tokyo (4days). I’ll be getting the JR pass but Im still confused if I ALSO need to get the ICOCA. Can I use the JR pass around Tokyo, or there’s a different pass for this? Thank you!

Kaye

Hi do you have recommended itinerary for 12 days? Tokyo day 1-5 transit to Osaka day 6 then day 7-12 kansai region. Hope to hear from you. Thank you!

Patty

is the amount indicated like the osaka kyoto tokyo, around 38k, is that good for two or per person? We got a bit confused with the intro of this article. Just want to clarify. Thanks

Lorby

Hi Yoshke! Your blog is so informative. Thank you for all the details. :) I would just like to ask help with the best itinerary for us, a family of 4 (kids are 10 and 1 yr 4 months). We will be going to Japan this coming Feb 10-19 and Osaka is our entry and exit. We are planning to tour Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Tokyo including USJ and Disney Sea if possible with the length of stay we have. Since we have a toddler with us and a senior citizen, can you give/suggest to us the best possible itinerary with the pass we need to buy? Hope to hear from you! Thank you very much!

Rita Perez

Need your help if possible, this it our (adult son/me) first trip to Japan and we would like to visit everywhere but I know we can’t. I have already booked a hotel in Tokyo, purchased the 14 days JR pass and booked a couple of shows/places (below) which apparently sell out. Still pending to book the One Piece Tower/Park and Ghibli Museum. We are traveling during year end and I know many things are closed which is where am having a hard time. We want to spend a couple of days in Hokkaido/Sapporo and then go back to Tokyo, visit Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Kanazawa, etc. We want to visit Mt. Fuji, Bamboo Forest the Temples, the Golden Castle, and the Imperial Palace, Akihabara, Harajuku, Shinjuku, Shibuya, the deer, Disney, etc. I know it’s a lot and have no clue where to go first b/c I don’t know what will be closing down for new years. I also need an idea for my son’s New Year’s birthday. How can I make the most of my trip and plan it to make it super worth it. We are from Miami, FL USA it’s a very long trip and not sure how many times I can go again.

DEC26 Day 1 – Arrival at Narita Airport 3:20 PM
27 Day 2 –
28 Day 3 –
29 Day 4 –
30 Day 5 –
31 Day 6 –
JAN 1 Day 7 – My son’s birthday
2 Day 8 –
3 Day 9 – have tix for TEAMLAB BORDERLESS (TOKYO) ENTRANCE 12:00 noon
4 Day 10 –
5 Day 11 –
6 Day 12 –
7 Day 13 –
8 Day 14 –
9 Day 15 – have tix for YAYOI KUSAMA MUSEUM – TOKYO 1:00 PM
10 Day 16 –
11 Day 17 – Departure from Narita Airport at 6:45 pm

Rita

Thank you for response and trying to help us. It ca be moved..

Rita

Thank you so much for the help. I will further research the New Years shut down for the attractions and see what I can remove / change. Again thank you so much for all the info it is greatly appreciated. I will definitely will need to plan more than one trip.

Rita

Sorry just noticed I had a few typos. I can change it for later in the trip, that is not a problem.

Rita Perez

I know! I have been trying myself for a while, thank you so much for your help. I am very exited!! Will tell you all about it when I come back.

Cheche

Hi!! Please help.. im planning to visit kyoto and nara for 2 days then ride a bus overnight to tokyo. Should i buy a pass? Hope you reply.. thanks!!

Adjie

Hi, ask lang po san po best mag palit ng currency dito na sa pilipinas o dun na po sa japan? Thanks

Paul Red

Thanks to these itinerary references to create my own itinerary and have a budget for every place to visit for the first time. Because of the pandemic, I still have more time to save money. :) I’m a big fan of this Blog. Try to listen also to their Podcast on Spotify to have more details about their travel experience.

Chloe

Hi, we are planning for 10D9N trip (Tokyo – Nikko – Kurakama – Hakone – Mt Fuji – Lake Kawaguchiko). Is JR tokyo wide pass + SUICA enough for us? thanks

Katrina

Hi! Can you recommend an 8 day trip for Nagoya-Tokyo area? Or if you have a better suggestion for the itinerary, arrival and departure is in Nagoya. Thank you!!