How Many Days Do You Need For Japan?

Find out how many days you’ll need when planning your exciting vacation in Japan.
How many days do you need for Japan? Photo: Richard Tao | Unsplash

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It goes without saying that Japan is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Curious adventurers flock to the island of some 126 million people to learn of its fascinating history, experience is captivating culture, and explore its wide array of exciting attractions.

And now fate has brought you here to help plan your trip to the East Asian nation. Maybe you’ve already gathered a list of things to do and places you’ll explore. And maybe you’re already familiar with the best time to visit and have learned whether Japan is expensive as a tourist.

But there is one more important question that you’ll need to answer before finalizing your plans: How many days do you need for Japan?

Japan is full of adventures. Photo: sorasak | Unsplash

What Should Determine How Long You Stay?

Your trip to Japan will depend on two key factors—staying in one city or exploring a multitude of regions. Let’s cover how long you’ll need for each scenario.    

Staying in One City

It’s not uncommon to visit Japan and enjoy a stay in just one city. Popular places like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Sapporo, and Yokohama are jam-packed with enough attractions and exciting things to do that a multicity trip isn’t even necessary—well, at least in one sitting.

For a single city trip in Japan, I highly recommend giving yourself a minimum of 5-6 days of fun. Here’s what an example itinerary could look like:

  • Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo | Settle in
  • Day 2: Tokyo Skytree | Senso-ji Temple | Shinjuku
  • Day 3: Imperial Palace | Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden | Shibuya
  • Day 4: Tokyo Disneyland |Odaiba
  • Day 5: Samurai Museum | Tokyo Tower | Golden Gai
  • Day 6: Edo-Tokyo Museum | Harajuku | Takeshita | Departure

This simple guide has you visit top attractions spread across the city while giving you plenty of time to explore places you’ll want to add to the list or discover in person during your trip. The verdict? One highly fulfilling trip!

The busy streets of Tokyo. Photo: Jazael Melgoza | Unsplash

Preparing for a Multi-City Trip

If you’re looking to make stops at numerous cities in Japan, I suggest adding 3-4 days to your trip, per city. Let’s not forget, Japan is a very modern country, and nine times out of ten, the next city you travel to will also have plenty of stimulating things for you to do.  

Here’s an example of what an itinerary may look like with an added city:

  • Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo | Settle in
  • Day 2: Tokyo Skytree | Senso-ji Temple | Shinjuku
  • Day 3: Imperial Palace | Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden | Shibuya
  • Day 4: Tokyo Disneyland |Odaiba
  • Day 5: Samurai Museum | Tokyo Tower | Golden Gai
  • Day 6: Edo-Tokyo Museum | Harajuku | Takeshita | Departure to Osaka by Train/Flight
  • Day 7: Kuchu Teien Observatory | Osaka Castle | Dotonbori
  • Day 8: Super Nintendo World or Universal Studios Japan | Shinsekai
  • Day 9:  Namba Yaska Jinja Temple | Ramen Noodle Museum | Departure
Shinsekai, Osaka. Photo: Kit Ko | Unsplash

So, What’s Next?

So, now that you’ve got a good idea of how many days you’ll need for Japan, how long do you think you’ll spend in touring the country? Will you stay in just one city or will you travel to different regions like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka? Either way, your trip to Japan is bound to be full of jaw-dropping experiences and incredible adventures. Safe and happy travels!

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