Plans · Arrivals from Mumbai and Delhi
Japan itinerary from India: 5, 7 and 10 day plans
Three plans written around an overnight arrival from India, a real jet-lag day, and departure from the airport you are actually nearest to at the end.
Tokyo and one day trip
Day 1
Land Haneda / Narita, Chiyoda + Ginza
Slow arrival: Imperial Palace east side, Ginza at dusk, early dinner near the hotel.
Day 2
Shibuya + Shinjuku
Shibuya Sky booked ahead, Meiji Jingu in the morning, Omoide Yokocho after dark.
Day 3
Asakusa + Ueno + Yanaka
Old Tokyo on foot; Nakamise early, museum in the afternoon, Yanaka at golden hour.
Day 4
Day trip: Hakone or Kamakura
Hakone for Fuji views and onsen, Kamakura for the easiest day out.
Day 5
Minato + departure
teamLab or Azabudai in the morning, luggage forwarded, evening flight home.
Tokyo to Kyoto, out through Kansai
Days 1–3
Tokyo
Chiyoda, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Asakusa — the five-day plan compressed to its anchors.
Day 4
Shinkansen to Kyoto
Ekiben at Tokyo Station, arrive by early afternoon, Gion in the evening.
Day 5
Kyoto mornings
Fushimi Inari at 07:00, Arashiyama before ten, temples and tofu after a midday rest.
Day 6
Nara or Osaka
Nara for deer and Todai-ji; Osaka for Dotonbori and street food.
Day 7
Osaka → Kansai departure
Fly out of Kansai rather than backtracking to Tokyo.
The Golden Route, unhurried
Days 1–4
Tokyo + one day trip
Hakone or Nikko slots in without stacking three day trips.
Day 5
Fuji or Hakone overnight
Onsen ryokan, kaiseki or shojin dinner, mountain in the morning.
Days 6–8
Kyoto and Nara
Three Kyoto mornings is the difference between seeing it and queueing in it.
Day 9
Osaka
Markets, Umeda, and the loudest dinner of the trip.
Day 10
Kansai departure
Or add Hiroshima and Miyajima if you bought a rail pass.
Train times, entry costs and opening days are indicative — the route planner rebuilds any of these plans against real legs and fares at your travel style, and exports a PDF day sheet.
Landing from India without wasting a day
- Pick Haneda where fares allow: 30–45 minutes to central Tokyo instead of 60–90.
- Buy or add a Suica at the airport and skip ticket machines for the rest of the trip.
- Forward big luggage to your Kyoto hotel on the day you move — it costs less than a taxi.
- Keep arrival evening to one walkable district and eat before 21:00; kitchens close early.
- Book timed-entry headliners before you fly — they sell out weeks ahead.
Kansai and Osaka bookings worth holding
Universal Studios and the Kansai passes sell out or queue badly on the day. Partner listings — official fares and timings stay on the operator sites.
- Book on Klook ↗
Universal Studios Japan E-Ticket (QR direct entry)
Osaka · Price on partner site
- Book on Klook ↗
Universal Studios Japan Express Pass
Osaka · From $61.55 · indicative
- Book on Klook ↗
JR West Kansai Area Pass
Osaka · From $16.95 · indicative
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What Indian travellers ask about planning
＋ How many days do you need in Japan from India?
Seven days on the ground is the honest minimum once you account for a long-haul flight each way; five works if you stay in and around Tokyo. Ten days is where Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka stop feeling rushed.
＋ Should I fly into Haneda or Narita?
Haneda if you have the choice — it is roughly 30–45 minutes from central Tokyo against 60–90 from Narita, which matters after an overnight flight. Both are fine on arrival day; only Haneda saves you a real chunk of time.
＋ Are there direct flights from India to Japan?
Yes, non-stop services operate from Delhi and Mumbai to Tokyo, with one-stop routings through Southeast and East Asia usually cheaper. Non-stop costs more but returns most of an arrival day to you.
＋ What is the best time to visit Japan from India?
Late March to early April for blossom, and late October to early December for autumn colour and the clearest skies. For escaping the Indian summer, May to June is comfortable in the north; July and August are hot and humid everywhere except Hokkaido.
＋ Is a Japan Rail Pass worth it on a 7-day trip?
Usually not for Tokyo plus one Kansai leg — individual reserved tickets come out cheaper. It starts paying on a 10-day plan that also reaches Hiroshima or Kanazawa. Price your own legs in the route planner before buying.
＋ Can these itineraries work for vegetarians?
Yes. Each day slots a vegetarian-safe lunch and dinner, and every district in the atlas carries a vegetarian layer. The vegetarian food in Japan guide covers dashi, konbini and Jain-friendly options in detail.
Carry on
The atlas →
9 regions, 36 districts, 6 layers each.
Route planner →
Sequence your days against real transit legs.
Tokyo guide →
14 core visitor districts, explored in depth — hotels, food and day trips.
Japan visa for Indians →
Apply four to six weeks out.
Vegetarian food in Japan →
Dashi, konbini and Jain-friendly picks.