Japan folds a millennium of stories into every alleyway—from Edo’s samurai lanes to Kyoto’s lantern-lit alleys and Osaka’s sizzling griddles. Shrines nestle under skyscrapers, bullet trains glide like clockwork, and the seasons rewrite the scenery each month. This 17-day itinerary focuses on three essential cities—Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka—with rich day trips and time to savor the food scene.

Expect contrasts: centuries-old temples at dawn, ramen counters at lunch, and rooftop views by night. You’ll taste regional specialties (yuzu ramen, Kyoto kaiseki, Osaka okonomiyaki), stroll bamboo groves, and watch torii gates glow at sunset. Day trips add Mt. Fuji vistas, deer-filled Nara Park, and World Heritage castles.

Practical notes: IC cards (Suica/PASMO/ICOCA) make trains and convenience-store runs effortless; most places take cards, but small shops prefer cash. Tattoos may be restricted at some onsen. Peak periods include cherry blossom (late Mar–early Apr), Golden Week (late Apr–early May), and fall foliage (Nov). Always check local advisories and reserve popular restaurants in advance.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a living kaleidoscope—Shinto shrines humming beside streetwear boutiques, sushi chefs shaping tradition, and neighborhoods with distinct personalities. Begin here to sync with Japan’s rhythm, ride the JR Yamanote Line loop, and chase sunsets from Shibuya Sky or Roppongi’s rooftops.

Getting in and around: Fly into Haneda (closer) or Narita. Compare fares on Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com. From Haneda, the monorail to Hamamatsucho takes ~20 minutes; from Narita, the Narita Express to Tokyo Station takes ~55 minutes. For intercity rail, see Trip.com trains.

Where to stay: Browse stays on VRBO Tokyo or Hotels.com Tokyo. Standouts: The Peninsula Tokyo (Imperial Palace views), Hotel Gracery Shinjuku (Godzilla head and nightlife access), Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo (Shinjuku convenience), Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku (great transit hub), The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo (Midtown height), or Aman Tokyo for serene minimalism.

Days 1–3: Historic Tokyo, neighborhood walks, and skyline views

• Asakusa & Ueno: Start at Senso-ji’s Kaminarimon Gate, nibble taiyaki along Nakamise-dori, and cruise the Sumida River. Ueno Park adds museums and a lakeside stroll.
• Ginza & Imperial: Window-shop along Chuo-dori, explore artful depachika food halls, and circle the Imperial Palace moat loop at golden hour.
• Shibuya & Harajuku: Cross Shibuya Crossing’s neon maze, then detour to Cat Street’s boutiques. Meiji Shrine’s cedar forest quiets the mind between adventures.
• Coffee & breakfast: Onibus Coffee (Nakameguro) for single-origin pours; Koffee Mameya Kakeru for tasting flights; Café de L’Ambre (since 1948) for aged-bean brews; bakeries like VIRON (Shibuya) or PATH (Yoyogi-Uehara) for pastries and that famous Dutch baby.
• Lunch and dinner: Slurp yuzu-shio at Afuri, dip tempura at Tempura Shinjuku Tsunahachi, try standing sushi at Uogashi Nihon-Ichi, and end at an izakaya in Omoide Yokocho or Nonbei Yokocho—grilled yakitori, sake, and Showa-era ambiance.

Recommended tour: See the city’s big hitters in a day on the 1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour (matcha, Skytree, and Tokyo Bay cruise included).

Days 4–6: Pop culture, food alleys, and Mt. Fuji day trip

• Akihabara & Odaiba: Browse retro game shops and anime towers, then glide to Odaiba for teamLab Borderless’ digital art and rainbow-lit bay views.
• Shinjuku nights: Ride up to the free Metropolitan Government Building observatory, bar-hop Golden Gai’s pocket-sized counters, or reserve Shibuya Sky.
• Street go-kart experience: Dress up and roll past Shibuya’s icons with the Official Street Go-Kart in Shibuya (international driving permit required).

Food crawl: Join a local on the Tokyo: Shinjuku Food Tour (13 Dishes at 4 Local Eateries) and learn izakaya etiquette while sampling skewers, sashimi, and regional sides.

Mt. Fuji & Hakone day trip: Swap the city for torii-framed vistas on the Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour (return by Shinkansen). Expect the 5th Station, Lake Ashi cruise, and an Owakudani ropeway ride.

Alternative: Prefer a custom route? Book a car with the Tokyo Customized Private Tour to shape the city in your style.

Tokyo → Kyoto (morning of Day 7): Nozomi shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station is ~2 hr 15 min; reserved seats roughly ¥14,000–¥16,000 (~$95–$110). Book via Trip.com trains.

Kyoto

Kyoto is Japan’s cultural heart, a city of carpentered quiet and seasonal poetry. More than a dozen UNESCO sites dot its hills, from gilded Kinkaku-ji to the torii tunnel of Fushimi Inari. Night falls and paper lanterns flicker along Pontocho Alley as the Kamo River whispers.

Where to stay: Compare VRBO Kyoto and Hotels.com Kyoto. Favorites: The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto (riverfront calm), Kyoto Tokyu Hotel (modern with a serene courtyard), Hotel M's Plus Shijo Omiya (value and access), Piece Hostel Sanjo (social design), Kyoto Brighton Hotel, or Hotel M's Est Shijo Karasuma.

Days 7–9: Temples, tea, and wooden lanes

• Higashiyama stroll: Dawn at Kiyomizu-dera, then weave through Sannen-zaka to Ninen-zaka’s preserved townscape. Try yuba (tofu skin) donburi at local teahouses.
• Fushimi Inari: Climb the vermilion torii path to viewpoints; go early or late to avoid crowds. Nearby, Vermillion Café pours espresso with a pond view; try inari-zushi stands around the station.
• Golden north: Kinkaku-ji’s reflection, Ryoan-ji’s rock garden, and a bamboo detour to Arashiyama (Tenryu-ji, riverside boats, and the grove at off-peak hours).
• Breakfast & coffee: % Arabica Higashiyama for latte art, Weekenders Coffee in a hidden parking-lot roastery, and Inoda Coffee for retro vibes and thick toast.
• Lunch & dinner: Omen for udon near Ginkaku-ji; Katsukura for crisp tonkatsu; Kichi Kichi for theatrical omurice; Gion Nanba for seasonal kaiseki; finish with nihonshu at Yoramu (tiny sake bar with deep pours).

Guided overview: Cover the icons efficiently on the PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour—Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, and more.

Evening culture: Join the Kyoto Gion Geisha District Walking Tour to decode geiko and maiko traditions while gliding through lantern-lit alleys.

Days 10–11: Nara and Uji day trips

• Nara (45–60 min by train): Feed polite bowing deer in Nara Park and stand beneath Todaiji’s Great Buddha. Try kakinoha-zushi (persimmon-leaf sushi) and watch mochi-pounding at Nakatanidou.
• Uji (20–30 min): Taste verdant matcha at historic tea shops, visit Byodoin’s Phoenix Hall, and sample matcha soba or soft-serve swirls along the riverfront.
• Dinner back in Kyoto: Pontocho Alley for riverside yakitori, Musashi Sushi for conveyor-belt fun, or Yudofu near Nanzen-ji for temple-style tofu hotpot.

Kyoto → Osaka (morning of Day 12): JR Special Rapid: ~30 minutes, ~¥570 (~$4) from Kyoto to Osaka Station; shinkansen: ~15 minutes, ~¥3,000 (~$20). Check schedules on Trip.com trains.

Osaka

Osaka is Japan’s kitchen—louder, funnier, and hungrier. Neon crabs wave over Dotonbori, sizzling okonomiyaki scents the air, and locals joke at kushikatsu counters. It’s also a great springboard to Himeji Castle, Kobe beef, and Hiroshima’s peace memorials.

Where to stay: Explore options on VRBO Osaka or Hotels.com Osaka. Picks: The St. Regis Osaka (boutique service on Midosuji), Swissotel Nankai Osaka (above Namba Station, perfect for day trips), Hotel Sunroute Osaka Namba, value Hotel Taiyo, family-friendly Hotel Universal Port, and Universal Bay Condominium.

Days 12–14: Street food, neighborhoods, and skyline moments

• Dotonbori & Namba: Hunt classics—takoyaki (try Aizuya, the original), okonomiyaki at Mizuno, kushikatsu in Shinsekai (dip once!). Grab cheesecake fresh from the oven at Rikuro Ojisan.
• Markets & coffee: Kuromon Ichiba for uni-topped scallops and wagyu skewers; cafes like LiLo Coffee Roasters, Takamura Wine & Coffee, and Granknot Coffee fuel the strolls.
• Views & vibes: Sunset at Umeda Sky Building’s Floating Garden; river walk through Kitahama’s brick warehouses and craft-beer bars (Minoh Beer Warehouse, Beer Belly).
• Family fun: Spend a day at Universal Studios Japan; eat butter soy-corn and karaage between rides, then unwind along the Tempozan waterfront.

Days 15–17: Day trips—Hiroshima/Miyajima and Himeji/Kobe

• Hiroshima & Miyajima (full day): Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima is ~1 hr 30–2 hr (¥10,000–¥12,000, ~$70–$85). See the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, then ferry to Miyajima for Itsukushima Shrine’s floating torii and grilled oyster stalls (try Kakiya). Return by evening.
• Himeji & Kobe (full day): Himeji Castle’s gleaming keep is ~30 min by shinkansen or ~1 hr by JR Rapid from Osaka. Continue to Kobe for harbor walks and a teppan-cooked Kobe beef lunch (book ahead), plus patisseries in Kitano.
• Osaka eats to end: Yakitori alleyways near Ura-Namba, ramen at Ramen Yashichi or Human Beings Everybody Noodles, and dessert taiyaki by the canal. Raise a last toast with highballs along Hozenji Yokocho.

Departure: Fly home from Osaka (KIX) or return to Tokyo by shinkansen (~2 hr 30 min). Compare fares on Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com; trains via Trip.com trains.

Suggested 17-Day Flow at a Glance

• Days 1–6: Tokyo core neighborhoods, food tour, go-kart, and Mt. Fuji/Hakone day trip.
• Days 7–11: Kyoto temples and lanes, Gion night tour, plus day trips to Nara and Uji.
• Days 12–17: Osaka eats and neighborhoods, plus day trips to Hiroshima/Miyajima and Himeji/Kobe.

Across 17 days, you’ll ride the bullet train, trace geisha legends in Kyoto, taste Osaka’s soul food, and stand before Mt. Fuji’s snowcap. It’s a balanced loop through Japan’s past and present—with enough breathing room to linger over another bowl of ramen.