Steal My Japan Itinerary

By Sadie | See with Sadie

The exact guide I made for 12 days in Japan, from Hokkaido to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka

Planning a trip to Japan can definitely feel overwhelming. There are so many moving parts - cities, things to do, restaurants to try, and train systems to figure out. It’s so easy to spend months planning and still feel like you’re missing something.

That's why I'm here to make it easy for you.

Here’s my exact 12 day Japan itinerary. Including where I stayed, what I did, the day trips I took, and the activities I would absolutely do again.

I traveled through Hokkaido → Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka, with a few day trips in between.

If you’re planning your own Japan trip, save this post!

My Japan Route at a Glance

• Day 1–3: Hokkaido

• Day 4–7: Tokyo

• Day 8–10: Kyoto

• Day 11–12: Osaka

• Day 13: Fly to Korea

This route gave me a mix of city life, food, nature, culture, shopping, temples, and adventure without spending the entire trip in one place.

Hokkaido

Where I Stayed: Hotel Mystays Premier Sapporo Park

I started my trip in Hokkaido, which was such a fun way to ease into the country before heading into busier cities.

Day 1: Travel Day

My journey started with a long travel day: Cincinnati → Newark → Tokyo → Sapporo

After landing in Sapporo, I took the train into the city, checked into my hotel, grabbed a quick dinner, and went straight to bed. And honestly, after that many hours of travel, I was VERY ready for sleep.

Day 2: Otaru & The Sapporo Beer Museum

I started the morning with a half-day trip to Otaru.

My stops:

• Otaru Canal

• Denuki Koji alley

• B3 Coffee

• Yabuhan Soba

After exploring Otaru, I headed back toward Sapporo and stopped for matcha before visiting the Sapporo Beer Museum. I did a museum tour and I added the beer tasting afterwards. I ended the evening at Odori Park and had soup curry for dinner, one of the foods Hokkaido is known for.

Day 3: Flower Fields & Blue Pond

This was one of my favorite days in Hokkaido because we got out of the city. I took the train toward Biei and spent the day exploring the surrounding nature.

My Stops:

• Panoramic flower gardens

• Shirogane Blue Pond

• Shirahige Waterfall

• Cafe Yomu

Day 4: Travel to Tokyo & Asakusa

I flew from Sapporo to Tokyo in the morning and headed straight into exploring. After dropping our bags at the hotel, we visited:

• Senso-ji Temple

• Kaminarimon Gate

• Nakamise Dori

• Sumida Park

This was my first real taste of Tokyo, and it was the perfect introduction to the city.

Where I Stayed: Petit Grande Miyabi

Tokyo

Tokyo was easily one of the most exciting stops of the trip. There is SO much to do here, so I recommend choosing a few neighborhoods each day rather than trying to see everything at once.

Day 5: Shibuya & Harajuku

This was my big Tokyo day.

My itinerary:

• Onitsuka Tiger

• Good Good Not Bad

• Meiji Shrine

• Yoyogi Park

• Shibuya Sky

• Shibuya Crossing

• Takeshita Street

• Teppanyaki dinner

Shibuya Sky was one of my must-do activities, and I highly recommend booking your time slot ahead of time.

Then I spent the evening exploring Harajuku and Takeshita Street. If you love shopping, street food, and people watching, give yourself plenty of time here.

Day 6: Akihabara & Perfume Workshop

This was a much slower day after a busy Shibuya day. I started with coffee and soba before exploring Akihabara. Then we split up for a little while, and I went to an Ann Fragrance perfume workshop in Asakusa. This ended up being such a fun experience because I got to create something I could actually take home with me.

My tip: Don't make every day of your Japan trip a 5 AM wake-up call. Build in slower afternoons and flexible time.

Day 7: Mt. Fuji Adventure

This was probably my most unexpected favorite experience of the entire trip. Instead of doing a traditional Mt. Fuji sightseeing tour, I went canyoning near Mt. Fuji.

We traveled from Tokyo to Mishima and then continued toward the canyon, where we met our guides.

The activity included:

• Canyoning

• Rappeling

• Waterfalls

• Nature surrounding Mt. Fuji

• Local guides

This was SO different from anything else we did in Japan.

If you're looking for something beyond the typical tourist attractions, add an adventure day to your itinerary.

Looking for activities in Japan?

Check out Fujiyama Canyoning Japan

GetYourGuide also has tours, day trips, food experiences, cultural activities, and other experiences throughout Japan.

Kyoto

Day 8: Tokyo → Kyoto

I took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto in the morning. Once we arrived, we dropped our bags and explored:

• Kyoto Gyoen National Garden

• Kyoto Imperial Palace

• Nishiki Market

Where I Stayed: Kyoto Brighton Hotel

Nishiki Market was a great first introduction to Kyoto because you can wander, snack, shop, and explore without having to follow a strict schedule.

Day 9: Matcha Ceremony, Kimonos, & Gion

This was one of my favorite classic Japan days. I started with a kimono rental and traditional matcha tea ceremony in Gion. Then we explored:

• Gion

• Hōkan-ji Temple

• Yasaka Shrine

• Maruyama Park

• Sanjūsangendō Temple

And obviously, we stopped for coffee. This is the day I'd recommend if you want the "iconic Japan" experience.

Put on a kimono, Drink matcha, Walk through Gion, Take ALL the pictures.

Day 10: Fushimi Inari + Kyoto

We woke up VERY early for Fushimi Inari Taisha. And yes, getting there early was worth it. The torii gates get incredibly crowded, so going first thing in the morning gave us a much better experience. After Fushimi Inari, we grabbed coffee and breakfast before heading to Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple.

We finished the day exploring downtown Kyoto, including:

• Pontocho Alley

• Kamogawa River

• Shijo Street

• Shopping

• Ramen

Osaka

Day 11: Kyoto → Osaka

I took the train from Kyoto to Osaka in the morning and dropped my bags at the hotel.

Where I Stayed: Nipponbashi Art Hotel

Then we spent the day exploring:

• Kuromon Market

• Shinsekai

• Osaka Castle

• Dotonbori

Dotonbori at night was definitely one of those "okay, I'm really in Japan" moments. The neon lights, restaurants, street food, and energy make it such a fun place to walk around.

Day 12: Nara Day Trip

If you're staying in Osaka, take the day trip to Nara. We left early to beat the crowds and started at Nara Park.

My Nara itinerary:

• Feed the deer

• Todai-ji Temple

• Coffee

• Udon lunch

• Higashimuki Street

• Nakatanidou mochi

• Kakigori

Day 13: Osaka → Seoul

Technically my trip continued into South Korea, but this was the end of my Japan itinerary. I flew from Kansai International Airport to Seoul and spent the next few days exploring Korea. If you have extra time, adding another country to a Japan trip can be a great way to maximize a long-haul flight.

My Exact Japan Route

If you're trying to recreate this trip, here's the simplest version:

• Sapporo: 3 nights

• Tokyo: 4 nights

• Kyoto: 3 nights

• Osaka: 2 nights

• Nara: A day trip from Osaka

This gave me enough time in each city without constantly packing and unpacking.

Everything I Packed for Japan

I also put together my Japan travel essentials on my amazon storefront.

From electronics, skincare, and the little things that made traveling through Japan easier, you can shop everything I used here:

Shop My Japan Travel Essentials on Amazon

My Activity Picks

For activities, tours, and experiences, I recommend checking Klook before your trip.

Shop Tours & Experiences on Klook

Some of the types of experiences I would look for include:

• Tokyo city tours

• Kyoto tea ceremonies

• Mt. Fuji experiences

• Food tours

Japan has thousands of experiences available, including options in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and beyond.

My Japan Planning Tips

1. Don't try to see everything.

Japan is HUGE. You will enjoy your trip much more if you pick a few cities and actually experience them instead of trying to hit 10 cities in 12 days.

2. Stay near a train station.

This made our trip SO much easier. You'll be taking trains constantly, so location matters.

3. Book your most popular activities ahead of time.

Especially anything with a specific reservation time.

4. Get comfortable using public transportation.

Japan's train system can look intimidating at first, but once you understand it, it's incredibly convenient.

5. Leave room for spontaneity.

Some of my favorite moments happened in between the things I had planned.

6. Don't underestimate how much you'll walk.

Wear comfortable shoes. Seriously.

7. Build in rest.

A 5 AM wake-up followed by a 10 PM bedtime every day is NOT sustainable. Give yourself slower days.

Want Me to Plan Your Japan Trip?

If you love this itinerary but do not want to spend 40+ hours researching trains, hotels, restaurants, and activities, that's where I come in. I plan personalized trips based on your travel style, budget, interests, and bucket-list experiences so you don't have to figure everything out yourself.

See With Sadie

From the first idea to the final itinerary, I'll help you create a trip that actually feels like you.

Ready to start planning?

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Save This Japan Itinerary

Sapporo → Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka → Nara. Two weeks, Multiple major destinations, One unforgettable trip. If you're planning a Japan trip, steal this itinerary. 

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