Japan in 8 Days: 4 Recommended 8-day Itineraries to Japan

Check out our 8-day Japan itinerary suggestions below.

From Tokyo’s modern landmarks to Nikko’s painted landscapes, Kyoto’s ancient shrines, Hiromshima’s WWII history, and Osaka’s street food culture, you’re in for a serious Japanese treat over the next 8 days in Japan. Start in the country’s capital city, with an introduction to all its famous sites and districts, from Senso-ji Temple to Takeshita Street. Discover Fushimi Inari Arashiyama and Kyoto’s famed Geisha District in the city of a thousand temples. Travel via bullet train to Hiroshima, cruising to its neighbor island, Itsukushima. Eat your way through Osaka’s ramen, udon, mochi and takoyaki until you can’t.

See all Japan 8-day tours and trips. 

Ready for a spiritual awakening? As authentic as it gets, it’s time to live as the locals do during this eight-day adventure, highlighting Japan’s deep-rooted spirituality, religions from Shintoism to Buddhism, and centuries-old pilgrimage sites. Famous for its hiking, you’ll spend entire days walking from one destination to the next, for example, to Koyasan — where you’ll spend the night in a traditional Buddhist temple. Summit parts of the revered Kumano Kodo ancient pilgrim route, clocking in onsen towns, sunset viewpoints, rivers and mountain villages. Explore walking-friendly cities such as Kyoto, outlined with fantastic trails leading to its iconic temples on foot. 

Mount Fuji, the cascades of 20-meter-tall Shiraito Falls, magical bamboo groves, traditional Japanese villages from eons ago, giant buddhas, and islands all await you during these epic 8 days in Tokyo across to Osaka. You’ll be traveling across the country, literally from east to west. Ticking off Japan’s most treasured sites and famous destinations, days are jam-packed with a little free time to your demise. Fuji-san is a sure highlight, ascending the snow-capped mountain amid flower fields, forests and lakes, staying overnight in a traditional ryokan (Japanese inn). You’ll see the Samurai Capital, too (Kamakura), and a whole bunch of other fascinating towns and villages in between it all. 

You can also create a personalized tour for Japan.

Eight days; three megacities, here’s proving just how much you can do, see and experience with 8 days in Japan on a budget. Without skimping on sightseeing, you’ll rely on local transport modes, like the bullet train, and sightseeing methods, such as hop-on-hop-off buses, where you have the freedom to choose exactly what to do and explore in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka (as long as it’s along the dedicated bus line route). Uncover Japan’s culinary delights in the capital on a food-focused excursion to its famous Shibuya district, photograph Kyoto’s wooden houses and cherry blossom blooming parks, and step back in time at the stone-wall Osaka Castle. See more Japan budget tours.

There is much to discover during 8 days in Japan; take advantage of the country’s Shinkansen bullet trains, hire a car or motorbike, or explore the country by bicycle or on foot. For an easy experience, choose from one of our pre-packaged tours to Japan or alternatively, reach out to our travel experts for an 8-day Japan itinerary plan. You can create a bespoke Japan itinerary that matches your requirements

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