12 days, 11 nights

The following is a suggested itinerary for first time travelers to Japan who spend 12 days and 11 nights in Japan, and arrive/depart from Tokyo's Narita Airport.

Day 1 - Arrive at Narita Airport
Arrive at Narita Airport and spend the rest of the day in Tokyo.
Day 2-5 - Tokyo with sidetrips
Spend four full days in Tokyo with two of those days spent on daytrips to nearby Kamakura and Nikko. Also consider one of our suggested Tokyo itineraries.
Day 6 - Tokyo to Kyoto
In the morning, travel by shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto (3 hours). Spend the afternoon and evening exploring Kyoto.
Day 7-9 - Kyoto with sidetrips
Spend four full days in Kyoto, with one day spent on a daytrip to nearby Nara. Also consider one of our suggested Kyoto itineraries.
Day 10 - Kyoto to Hiroshima
In the early morning, travel from Kyoto to Hiroshima (2 hours) and visit the Hiroshima Peace Park. In the afternoon, continue on to Miyajima (40 minutes) and overnight there.
Day 11 - Miyajima to Tokyo
Get up early and spend a few more hours on Miyajima. Leave the island around eleven for Himeji (2 hours). Spend the afternoon exploring Himeji Castle. Return to Tokyo in the evening (3-4 hours).
Day 12 - Depart from Narita Airport
Depart Japan from Narita Airport.

Regular train tickets will be cheaper than a Japan Rail Pass for this itinerary; however, travelers who do not mind paying extra for the convenience and flexibility of the pass' all-you-can-ride priviledge could consider using a 14-day Japan Rail Pass. Below are some sample budgets for the itinerary, excluding airfare. Find out more about the sample budgets and about the current yen exchange rates.

	Single Traveler	Two Travelers
Low Budget	119,000 - 183,000 yen	237,000 - 343,000 yen
Medium Budget	183,000 - 309,000 yen	343,000 - 508,000 yen
High Budget	over 309,000 yen	over 508,000 yen

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