Japan marries ancient ritual with cutting-edge design, where centuries-old shrines sit a few subway stops from anime arcades and Michelin ramen. From Tokyo’s electric neighborhoods and skyline views to Kyoto’s lantern-lit lanes and vermillion gates, a week here can feel like a film reel of contrasts—fast, quiet, savory, serene.

History is never far: shogun capitals, merchant markets, and temple towns shaped the culture you’ll taste in sushi counters, tea houses, and izakaya grills. You’ll also meet modern Japan—bullet trains that hum across the country, art installations that glow, and chefs who refine tradition rather than replace it.

Practical notes: pick up a Welcome Suica (Tokyo) or ICOCA (Kansai) IC card for trains and convenience stores; most places now accept credit cards, but small cash is handy. A JR Pass isn’t necessary for this plan; single shinkansen tickets are usually better value. Slurp your noodles, pocket your trash (bins are rare), and we’ll handle the timing so each day feels full but never frantic.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a living collage—Shinto chants drifting through cypress at Meiji Jingu, fashion flares on Takeshita-dori, and late-night jazz in Shinjuku basements. It’s also one of the world’s great food cities, from standing sushi bars to wagyu sanctuaries and third-wave coffee hideouts.

• Top sights: Senso-ji in Asakusa, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Skytree views, and contemporary digital art at teamLab Planets (Toyosu).
• Neighborhoods to wander: Yanaka for old-town lanes, Nakameguro for canal-side cafes, Akihabara for retro consoles and electronics, and Daikanyama for curated boutiques.
• What to eat: Edomae sushi, tonkatsu cutlets, yakitori skewers, and citrusy yuzu-shio ramen; pair with craft sake or highball cocktails.

Stay in Tokyo: Browse stays near Shinjuku (transport hub), Shibuya (nightlife), or Asakusa (temples and tradition) on VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com.

Getting in and around: Price flights on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com. For trains and subways in Japan, see Trip.com (trains). Prefer a direct airport ride? Consider this transfer: Narita Airport(NRT) Private Transfer To/From Tokyo 1-way or Round.

Day 1: Arrival, Asakusa beginnings, and Skytree sparkle

Afternoon: Land in Tokyo and settle into your hotel. Head to Asakusa for your first taste of old Edo—walk Nakamise-dori’s snack stalls to Senso-ji’s thunder gate and incense-swirled main hall. For coffee and a reset, stop by Suke6 Diner or switch to matcha soft-serve at Suzukien.

Evening: Book dinner at Daikokuya Tempura (famous tendon bowls since the 1880s) or try Uogashi Nihon-Ichi standing sushi for a quick, ultra-fresh intro. Cap the night with Skytree or Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center’s free viewpoint for city lights.

Day 2: Classic-to-cool Tokyo loop + Shinjuku food tour

Morning: Espresso at Onibus Coffee Nakameguro, then subway to Meiji Jingu. Stroll under towering cedars to the shrine, then pivot to Harajuku’s Takeshita-dori (trendy crepes, thrift). For lunch, Tonkatsu Maisen Aoyama Honten serves a melt-in-mouth kurobuta cutlet with shredded cabbage and tangy sauce.

Afternoon: Walk Omotesando’s modernist architecture, then head to Shibuya. Watch the famous Scramble Crossing from a cafe perch and check out Hachiko statue. Snack idea: Afuri’s yuzu-shio ramen for bright, citrusy broth.

Evening: Dive deep into local eats with a guided tasting: Tokyo: Shinjuku Food Tour (13 Dishes at 4 Local Eateries). You’ll graze through izakaya favorites—yakitori, karaage, gyoza, seasonal skewers—and learn what to order where.

Day 3: Full-day Mt. Fuji & Hakone

Leave the metropolis for lakes, volcano views, and hot-spring country on this popular excursion: Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train. Typically includes the 5th Station on Mt. Fuji (weather dependent), Lake Ashi, and Hakone Ropeway vistas, then a zippy shinkansen ride back to Tokyo in the evening.

Day 4: Markets, modern art, and a night of sumo

Morning: Breakfast graze at Tsukiji Outer Market—try tamagoyaki omelets at Marutake, beef stew at Kitsuneya, or a sushi set at Sushi Zanmai Honten. Coffee at Turret Coffee Ginza (nutty espresso) before a short walk through Ginza’s polished arcades.

Afternoon: Head to Toyosu for teamLab Planets (immersive, walk-through digital art—book timed slots). If you prefer subcultures, explore Akihabara’s retro game shops and figure stores instead; slurp a bowl at Kanda’s Kagari ramen (rich tori paitan) for lunch.

Evening: Experience power and ritual at a performance-meets-demonstration: Tokyo Shinjuku Sumo Show & Experience with Photo. Before or after, sample yakitori at Torishiki-style counters (bookings essential) or go casual under paper lanterns in Omoide Yokocho’s alley bars.

Kyoto

Kyoto is the keeper of Japan’s classical arts—tea ceremony, kimono weaving, kaiseki cuisine—and the stage for seasonal drama: maple scarlet, moss green, plum pink. Temples and gardens are threaded by wooden machiya townhouses, noren curtains, and alleys that glow at dusk.

• Must-sees: Fushimi Inari’s endless torii gates, Kiyomizu-dera’s cliffside views, Arashiyama’s bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji gardens, the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), and Gion’s geiko districts.
• What to eat: Kyoto-style kaiseki, tofu hotpots (yudofu), otsukuri (sashimi), obanzai veggie plates, and matcha sweets. Sake lovers: Fushimi’s breweries await.

Stay in Kyoto: Base yourself near Gion or Kawaramachi for walkability, or by Kyoto Station for day-trip convenience. Compare stays on VRBO or Hotels.com.

Tokyo → Kyoto (Day 5 morning): Ride the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen (Nozomi) from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station, ~2 hr 15 min. Expect about ¥14,000–¥15,000 (~$95–$110) for a reserved seat; bookable via Trip.com (trains). A JR Pass isn’t required for this single intercity hop.

Day 5: Arrive Kyoto, Nishiki Market bites, and Gion at dusk

Morning: Depart Tokyo early on the shinkansen; grab station ekiben (bento) for the ride—try a wagyu sukiyaki box or salmon onigiri.

Afternoon: Drop bags, then weave through Nishiki Market for Kyoto flavors: soy milk doughnuts at Konnyamonja, fresh tofu at Konnamonja-style stalls, yuba (tofu skin) skewers, pickles, and sesame ice cream. Coffee at Weekenders Coffee near a hidden shrine courtyard.

Evening: Explore Gion’s hanamachi lanes and cross to Pontocho Alley for dinner. Options: Katsukura (ultra-crisp tonkatsu with choice of salts), Omen near Gion (handmade udon with seasonal veg), or Yakiniku Hiro (Pontocho) for charcoal-grilled Kyoto wagyu. Nightcap at Beer Komachi (tiny craft beer spot with local bites).

Day 6: Kyoto’s icons in one expertly guided day

Cover the highlights efficiently with a private guide: 10 Must-see Spots in Kyoto One Day Private Tour (up to 7 people). Expect a smart route linking Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, Gion lanes, Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji gardens, plus insider context on court nobility and Zen aesthetics.

Dining ideas after your tour: Try Gion Nanba (seasonal kappo counter), Honke Owariya (1465-founded soba institution), or Veg Out (riverside plant-forward bowls and matcha cakes).

Day 7: Fushimi Inari sunrise or Arashiyama calm, then departure

Morning: If you didn’t fit it in yesterday, go early to Fushimi Inari for quieter torii tunnels, then espresso at Vermillion - espresso bar by the shrine. Alternatively, head to Arashiyama at dawn for the bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji’s landscaped ponds; breakfast croissants at % Arabica by the river.

Afternoon: Depart from Kansai International (KIX) or Osaka Itami (ITM). From Kyoto Station, the Haruka Limited Express reaches KIX in ~75 minutes (about ¥3,000 / ~$20–$25); check schedules and fares on Trip.com (trains), and price your onward flight via Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com.

Extra Tokyo and Kyoto food and coffee shortlists (for free time)

• Tokyo coffee: Koffee Mameya Kakeru (Omotesando tasting flights), GLITCH Coffee (light-roast purism), Little Nap (Yoyogi Park).
• Tokyo meals: Umegaoka Sushino Midori (value sushi sets), Niku no Mansei (multi-floor steakhouse near Akihabara), Udon Shin (silky handmade noodles in Shinjuku).
• Kyoto sweets & tea: Tsujiri (matcha parfaits), Nakamura Tokichi (matcha warabi mochi and anmitsu, central branch), Gion Kinana (ice cream with Kyoto flavors).
• Kyoto izakaya vibes: Kushikura (charcoal-grilled chicken), Guilo Guilo Hitoshina (creative kaiseki at friendly prices, reservations recommended).

Optional add-ons if you have a spare evening: Prefer an interactive culture fix in Asakusa instead of Shinjuku? Consider this fun show built around a real dohyo: Tokyo Sumo Entertainment Show with Chicken Hot Pot and Photo.

In one week you’ll trace Japan’s story from shrine to skyline: Tokyo’s neighborhoods and noodles, Mt. Fuji’s silhouette over Hakone, and Kyoto’s temple-studded hills. With smart train hops, memorable meals, and a few guided experiences, this itinerary keeps logistics light and the wonder dialed up.