Japan layers ancient ritual atop cutting-edge innovation. Samurai castles and timber shrines coexist with bullet trains and vending machines that sing. In this 5-day itinerary you’ll experience Tokyo’s electric neighborhoods and Kyoto’s timeless temples, with a classic Mt. Fuji and Hakone escape in between.

Tokyo began as a fishing village called Edo; by the 18th century it was one of the world’s largest cities. Kyoto, Japan’s imperial capital for over a millennium, preserves UNESCO icons and tea houses where seasons are savored in a bowl of matcha. Together they tell Japan’s full story—lively, refined, and endlessly curious.

Practical notes: Pick up a Welcome Suica/PASMO for tap-and-go transit. Trains are punctual; the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto takes about 2 hours 15 minutes. Cash is still handy at smaller shops, but cards and mobile pay are widely accepted. Spring (sakura) and autumn (foliage) are peak seasons—book trains, hotels, and popular restaurants early.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a mosaic of mini-cities: lantern-lit Asakusa, cutting-edge Shibuya, and stylish Omotesando. Spend your time zigzagging from Meiji Shrine’s cedar-scented calm to ramen counters and record stores. Don’t miss Shibuya Crossing—this “scramble” has funneled crowds since the 1930s and remains an urban ballet of organized chaos.

• Top sights: Senso-ji Temple, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Skytree views, Imperial Palace gardens.
• Food highlights: Standing sushi bars (Uogashi Nihon-Ichi), tempura at Shinjuku Tsunahachi, tonkotsu ramen at Ichiran, yakitori lanes in Omoide Yokocho.
• Coffee breaks: Turret Coffee (Tsukiji-style espresso), Glitch Coffee (single-origin pour-overs), Koffee Mameya (beans-focused “bar”).
• Fun fact: Tokyo’s subway moves over 8 million riders daily—timed to the minute.

Stay in Tokyo: Browse stays on VRBO Tokyo or Hotels.com Tokyo. Editor picks: The Peninsula Tokyo (imperial-park views), Hotel Gracery Shinjuku (Godzilla HQ, walkable to nightlife), Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku (great transport hub), Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo (family-friendly, pool).

Getting in and around: Compare flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From Haneda to central Tokyo: 25–30 minutes by Keikyu/Monorail (~¥500–700). From Narita: Skyliner (41 min, ~¥2,570) or Narita Express (50–70 min, ~¥3,070). For intercity trains, see Trip.com Trains.

Day 1: Arrival, Asakusa Old Tokyo, and Sumo Culture

Afternoon: Arrive and drop bags at your hotel. Head to Asakusa’s Nakamise-dori, a 300-meter lane of snack stalls leading to 7th-century Senso-ji. Try ningyo-yaki (red-bean cakes) and age-manju (fried buns) as you admire the thunderous Kaminarimon gate lantern.

Evening: Settle in Asakusa for dinner—classic tempura at Daikokuya (light, sesame oil aroma) or an izakaya on Hoppy Street for skewers and highballs. Then dive into a uniquely Japanese spectacle:

Featured activity (tickets sell out):

Tokyo Sumo Entertainment Show with Chicken Hot Pot and Photo

Watch demonstrations in a real ring and tuck into chanko nabe, the hearty stew that fuels wrestlers. It’s interactive, fun, and a window into a sport with Shinto roots.

Day 2: Mt. Fuji and Hakone—Lakes, Views, and Onsen Towns (Full Day)

Escape Tokyo for Japan’s most iconic peak. This day trip weaves Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station views with Hakone’s lake cruise and volcanic scenery. You return by Shinkansen, maximizing time and comfort.

Featured day tour: Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train

Expect Fuji panoramas (weather dependent), Lake Ashi sightseeing, and time in Owakudani’s steamy valley. Returning by bullet train saves over an hour compared to bus. Tip: Pack layers; mountain weather shifts fast.

Evening (back in Tokyo): Celebrate with a ramen crawl—Ichiran for individualized bowls or Afuri for yuzu-scented shio. Nightcap at a Shinjuku jazz kissaten or a tiny Golden Gai bar (five seats, big personality).

Optional Tokyo add-ons (if you have extra energy one evening):

• Tokyo: Shinjuku Food Tour (13 Dishes at 4 Local Eateries)

• Private Photoshoot at Shibuya Crossing Tokyo

Kyoto

Kyoto is Japan’s memory palace—1,000+ temples, geisha gliding through Gion at dusk, and kaiseki meals that read like poetry. Explore wooden alleyways in Higashiyama, torii tunnels at Fushimi Inari, and the whispering Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.

• Top sights: Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), Arashiyama bamboo and river.
• Food highlights: Kyoto-style obanzai (seasonal small plates), yuba (tofu skin) at Nishiki Market, matcha parfaits at Tsujiri, hand-cut udon at Omen.
• Coffee breaks: Kurasu Kyoto (near Kyoto Station), Weekenders Coffee (hidden roastery courtyard), % Arabica Higashiyama (views toward Yasaka Pagoda).
• Fun fact: Kyoto’s grid layout dates to 794 CE when it became Heian-kyō, the imperial capital.

Stay in Kyoto: Explore VRBO Kyoto homes or Hotels.com Kyoto. Editor picks: The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto (riverside serenity), Kyoto Tokyu Hotel (modern-Japanese calm), Kyoto Brighton Hotel (spacious rooms), Piece Hostel Sanjo (stylish and social), Hotel M's Plus Shijo Omiya (value near transit).

Tokyo–Kyoto travel: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kyoto (Nozomi about 2h15). Expect ~¥14,000–¥15,000 reserved seat (about $95–$110; prices fluctuate). Morning departures are frequent; book via Trip.com Trains. Luggage racks fit medium suitcases; consider same-day luggage forwarding if carrying large bags.

Day 3: Shinkansen to Kyoto, Higashiyama Wanders, Gion by Night

Morning: Depart Tokyo early on the Shinkansen (aim for 8–9 AM). Pick up ekiben (station bento) like yakitori or salmon rice boxes for the ride. Check in or store bags on arrival.

Afternoon: Stroll Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka’s stone lanes to Kiyomizu-dera. The temple’s cypress-veranda “stage” has dazzled visitors since 1633. Snack along the way: yatsuhashi (cinnamon mochi) and hot tofu skewers near the pagoda.

Evening: Cross into Gion at blue hour. Dine at Omen Gion (hand-pulled udon with mountain vegetables) or Gion Tanto (home-style obanzai and grilled fish). Walk Pontocho Alley afterward—lanterns, wooden teahouses, and a chance (never guarantee) to see a maiko en route to an engagement.

Day 4: Kyoto Icons in One Sweep (Full Day)

Cover the greatest hits efficiently with a guided coach day—ideal in a city where temples are spread out. Expect Fushimi Inari’s vermilion gates, Kiyomizu-dera terraces, Arashiyama’s bamboo, and often Kinkaku-ji.

Featured day tour: PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour

Evening: Browse Nishiki Market’s after-hours calm and dine nearby: sushi at Musashi’s conveyor counters (fast and fresh), soy milk hot pot (yuba nabe) at a traditional townhouse, or Kyoto-style katsu at Katsukura (pork cutlets with mortared sesame). Dessert? Matcha parfait at Tsujiri.

Day 5: One Last Shrine, Last-Minute Shopping, Departure

Morning: If Fushimi Inari wasn’t fully explored, go at dawn for near-empty torii tunnels up Mount Inari. Alternatively, visit the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) right at opening—its gold leaf gleams over a mirror-still pond.

Afternoon: Final bites and souvenirs in Kyoto Station’s food halls—box up namafu (wheat gluten delicacies) and mochi for the journey. Depart in the afternoon by Shinkansen to Tokyo (if flying out from there) or head directly to Kansai International (allow ~75–90 minutes from central Kyoto via JR Limited Express to KIX). Book trains/flights via Trip.com Trains and Trip.com Flights.

Tokyo Food and Coffee Shortlist (Use on Days 1–2)

• Breakfast/coffee: Suke6 Diner (Asakusa eggs and pancakes), Turret Coffee (espresso milk “zabuton”), Glitch (light-roast pour-overs).
• Lunch: Uogashi Nihon-Ichi standing sushi (fast, pristine nigiri), Afuri (citrusy ramen), Tempura Shinjuku Tsunahachi (crowd-pleasing classics).
• Dinner: Omoide Yokocho yakitori alleys, Kyushu-style motsunabe hot pot in Shinjuku, or tonkatsu at Maisen (fillet cut melts in panko).

Kyoto Food and Coffee Shortlist (Use on Days 3–5)

• Breakfast/coffee: Kurasu Kyoto (carefully sourced beans), % Arabica Higashiyama (photo-worthy lattes), Weekenders Coffee (courtyard roastery).
• Lunch: Omen (udon and vegetable tempura), Nishiki Market snack graze (grilled eel skewers, croquettes, tamagoyaki), Ippodo Tea for matcha and sencha flights.
• Dinner: Gion Tanto (obanzai), kyo-kaiseki tasting menu houses (book ahead), Kushikatsu skewers along Pontocho for something casual.

Getting Between Cities and Booking Tips

Shinkansen: Tokyo–Kyoto Nozomi ~2h15; Hikari ~2h40. Reserve seats during peak seasons. Book on Trip.com Trains. Expect ~¥14,000–¥15,000 one-way.

Flights: If open-jaw flights are cheaper (into Tokyo, out of Osaka/Kansai), compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Transit passes: Metro day passes can pay off in Tokyo; in Kyoto, buses and subways cover most sights, but walking connects the dots beautifully.

More Experiences You Can Swap In

• All-in-one city sampler: 1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour

• Sumo-centric evening: Tokyo Shinjuku Sumo Show Experience with Photo and Drinks

Final Notes: Bring comfortable shoes, carry a small umbrella, and keep some cash for markets and shrines. For luggage, consider same-day forwarding to free your hands for street food and photos.

Summary: In five days you’ll taste Tokyo’s high-energy neighborhoods, breathe Kyoto’s temple air, and spend a full day tracing the silhouette of Mt. Fuji. This itinerary blends headline sights with local eats and coffee stops—thoughtfully paced, well-connected, and ready to book.