Japan marries ancient ritual with high-tech ease. Kyoto was the imperial capital for over a millennium, while Edo—renamed Tokyo in 1868—exploded into today’s megacity of design, pop culture, and culinary wizardry. Bullet trains (Shinkansen) knit it all together, making a two-city week both thrilling and comfortable.

Expect seasonal beauty: sakura (cherry blossoms) in spring, lush green and festivals in summer, fiery foliage in autumn, and serene temples dusted with snow in winter. From sushi counters to ramen steam and Kyoto’s refined kaiseki, food is a major character in this story.

Practical notes: load a mobile Suica/PASMO or buy an IC card for subways and buses; carry some cash for small shops; and check typhoon forecasts August–October. Book popular viewpoints and restaurants ahead. This plan assumes arrival Day 1 afternoon and departure Day 7 afternoon.

Tokyo

Tokyo dazzles with contrasts: a lantern-lit shrine a block from a 50-story tower, indie coffee next to a 200-year-old eel shop, and a ramen counter with a line that moves with samurai efficiency. Districts feel like mini-cities—Asakusa’s temple streets, Harajuku’s creativity, Shibuya’s kinetic crossings, and Shinjuku’s skyscrapers and late-night eats.

Top sights span tradition and trend—Meiji Jingu’s forested calm, Senso-ji’s incense haze, teamLab-style digital art, and rooftop views like Shibuya Sky. Food-wise, chase Edomae sushi, tonkatsu, yakitori, wagyu, and ramen styles from shoyu to yuzu-scented shio.

Where to stay (Tokyo):

• Search vacation rentals: VRBO Tokyo
• Browse hotels: Hotels.com Tokyo
• Standout picks:
  • The Peninsula Tokyo (imperial garden views, polished service)
  • Hotel Gracery Shinjuku (fun Godzilla motif, steps from nightlife)
  • Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku (excellent transit access and value)
  • Aman Tokyo (zen-modern sanctuary with a sublime spa)

Getting to/around Tokyo:

• International flights: compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com (airports: HND, NRT).
• Airport transfer: book a private car for stress-free arrival: Narita ↔ Tokyo Private Transfer (1–1.5 hours, up to 5 people).
• Intercity/rail: check schedules and tickets on Trip.com Trains. In-town, tap in with a Suica/PASMO (mobile works great).

Featured Viator experiences in Tokyo:

• Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour (return by Shinkansen)

  

• Tokyo Customized Private Tour: See Top Attractions in 1 Day

  

• Tokyo Shinjuku Sumo Show & Experience with Photo

  

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

  

Day 1: Arrival, Asakusa at Sunset, and Sumo Night

Afternoon: Land in Tokyo (HND/NRT). If you prefer a quick, door-to-door ride, book the Narita ↔ Tokyo Private Transfer. Check in, then head to Asakusa’s Senso-ji—Tokyo’s oldest temple—when the five-storied pagoda glows and Nakamise Street’s shops ease into evening.

Evening: Dinner nearby: try tempura at Daikokuya (light, sesame oil aroma), or classic tonkatsu at Katsukichi. If you’d like a cultural kick-off, book the Tokyo Shinjuku Sumo Show & Experience for close-up bouts and Q&A—fun, informative, and photo-friendly.

Day 2: Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Omotesando, and Shinjuku Eats

Morning: Enter Meiji Jingu’s 170-acre forest for a calm start and a brush with Shinto ritual. Coffee and pastry at BREAD, ESPRESSO & in Omotesando, or a pour-over at Onibus Coffee Nakameguro. Stroll Takeshita Street’s pop boutiques, then Omotesando’s modernist architecture.

Afternoon: Walk or short train to Shibuya. Visit Shibuya Sky for a 360° platform view over the world’s busiest crossing—book timed tickets in advance. Lunch picks: Afuri (yuzu-shio ramen, bright and citrusy), or Uogashi Nihon-Ichi (stand-up sushi that’s quick and high-quality).

Evening: Explore Omoide Yokocho (grilled skewers wafting through narrow alleys) and Golden Gai’s postage-stamp bars. For a guided feast, join the Shinjuku Food Tour to sample 13 dishes across insider spots—yakitori, wagyu bites, and regional specialties.

Day 3: Full-Day Mt. Fuji & Hakone Excursion

Spend the day beyond the city on the Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour (return by Shinkansen). You’ll ascend to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station (weather permitting), cruise Lake Ashi, and ride the Hakone Ropeway over volcanic Owakudani. Returning via bullet train drops you back in Tokyo fast, with a taste of Japan’s alpine drama.

Back in town, celebrate with sushi at Sushi no Midori (well-known for quality and value) or counter-serve standing sushi if you want something quick and local.

Kyoto

Kyoto is Japan’s cultural heart: vermilion gates, moss gardens, tea houses, and wooden machiya lanes. Over 2,000 temples and shrines dot the city; you’ll recognize icons like Fushimi Inari’s torii tunnels, Kiyomizu-dera’s hillside veranda, and the Bamboo Grove of Arashiyama.

Food is refined yet comforting—kyo-kaiseki’s seasonal artistry, tofu and yuba (tofu skin), silky obanzai home cooking, plus standout ramen and tonkatsu. At dusk, Gion’s geisha district hums softly; lanterns flicker along Pontocho Alley beside the Kamogawa River.

Where to stay (Kyoto):

• Search vacation rentals: VRBO Kyoto
• Browse hotels: Hotels.com Kyoto
• Standout picks:
  • The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto (riverside serenity, fine dining)
  • Hotel M's Plus Shijo Omiya (great base near transit)
  • Kyoto Tokyu Hotel (calm, modern-Japanese design)
  • Piece Hostel Sanjo (stylish, social, central value)

Getting from Tokyo to Kyoto: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo or Shinagawa to Kyoto. The Hikari/Nozomi run ~2 hr 15–30 min; reserved seats from roughly ¥14,000–¥15,000 ($95–$110). Check times and book on Trip.com Trains.

Featured Viator experiences in Kyoto:

• 10 Must-see Spots in Kyoto One Day Private Tour

  

• From Kyoto/Osaka: Kyoto Must-see Spots & Nara Park One Day Tour

  

Day 4: Tokyo → Kyoto, Higashiyama Lanes, and Gion Evening

Morning: Check out and ride the Shinkansen to Kyoto (~2 hr 20 min). Drop bags and grab a light lunch: Sizuya Bakery’s “curry-pan” is a beloved quick bite; or slurp shio ramen at Menya Inoichi.

Afternoon: Walk the Higashiyama route: Kiyomizu-dera’s stage peering over the city, then Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka’s stone lanes lined with pottery shops and sweet stalls (try yatsuhashi, cinnamon-scented). Stop at % Arabica in Yasaka for a caffeinated pause.

Evening: Stroll through Gion’s wooden teahouse streets at twilight—quiet, respectful photography is key. Dinner ideas: kyo-kaiseki at Gion Nanba (seasonal artistry), or obanzai plates and local sake at Kamo Tamagawa. Finish with a river walk along Pontocho Alley’s lantern-lit restaurants.

Day 5: Arashiyama Bamboo and Golden Pavilion Circuit

Morning: Beat the crowds at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove just after sunrise—hauntingly beautiful in the early light. Visit Tenryu-ji’s Zen garden, then a tofu-centric brunch: yudofu at Shigetsu (temple cuisine) or Yudofu Sagano near the grove.

Afternoon: Taxi or bus to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) for its mirror-lake shimmer, then to Ryoan-ji’s minimalist rock garden—15 stones, yet only 14 visible at once. Coffee break at % Arabica Nijo for a creamy flat white before looping back downtown.

Evening: Tonkatsu perfection at Katsukura Sanjo (panko crunch, sesame-grind ritual) or ramen at Gogyo (signature “burnt miso,” smoky and rich). Optional: book the 10 Must-see Spots in Kyoto Private Tour to streamline transport and insights across today’s highlights.

Day 6: Nara Day Trip (Temples and Friendly Deer)

Make it an easy day tour that hits Nara Park’s bowing deer, Todai-ji’s Great Buddha (a 15-meter bronze housed in a vast wooden hall), and Kasuga Taisha’s lantern-lined paths. For logistics handled, join the Kyoto Must-see & Nara Park One Day Tour—it balances Kyoto’s key stops with Nara’s serene highlights.

Post-tour dinner back in Kyoto: conveyor-belt sushi at Musashi Sushi (fun and family-friendly), or charcoal-grilled yakitori at Torito Pontocho with a glass of local junmai ginjo.

Day 7: Fushimi Inari Sunrise and Farewell

Morning: Start early at Fushimi Inari Taisha—thousands of vermilion torii weaving up the hillside, magical in the morning hush. If time allows, head to Fushimi’s sake district for a tasting flight (Gekkeikan’s heritage anchors the area) and a simple tofu or udon lunch nearby.

Afternoon: Departure. If you’re flying home from Kansai International (KIX) or Itami (ITM), compare options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you’re looping back to Tokyo for an onward flight, the Shinkansen to Shinagawa/Tokyo takes ~2 hr 20 min; check times on Trip.com Trains.

Optional Add-On in Tokyo (if extending or swapping a day): Customized City Day

Prefer a tailored deep-dive? A guide shepherds you through must-sees and neighborhoods you’ll love, minus the guesswork. Book the Tokyo Customized Private Tour and shape it around Senso-ji, Meiji Jingu, Tsukiji outer market bites, and a skyline finale.

Daily Food & Coffee Shortlist (Recap)

• Tokyo breakfast/coffee: BREAD, ESPRESSO & (Omotesando), Onibus Coffee (Nakameguro), Blue Bottle (Aoyama).
• Tokyo lunch: Afuri (yuzu-shio ramen), Ippudo (tonkotsu), Uogashi Nihon-Ichi (stand-up sushi).
• Tokyo dinner: Omoide Yokocho yakitori bars, Nabezo (sukiyaki/shabu), Sushi no Midori (popular value).
• Kyoto breakfast/coffee: % Arabica (Higashiyama/Nijo), Sizuya Bakery.
• Kyoto lunch: Yudofu Sagano/Shigetsu (tofu cuisine), Katsukura Sanjo (tonkatsu), Omen (handmade udon).
• Kyoto dinner: Gion Nanba (kaiseki), Torito Pontocho (yakitori), Gogyo (burnt miso ramen), Musashi Sushi (conveyor-belt fun).

Estimated Travel Times & Costs (snapshot):

• NRT → central Tokyo: 60–90 min by car; private transfer available via Viator.
• Tokyo → Kyoto (Shinkansen): ~2 hr 15–30 min; reserved seat from ~¥14,000–¥15,000 ($95–$110). Book via Trip.com Trains.
• Kyoto → KIX: ~75–90 min by limited express or airport bus; compare on Trip.com.

In seven days, you’ll taste both sides of Japan: Tokyo’s inventive pace and Kyoto’s timeless poise—plus a day under Mt. Fuji’s gaze. With smart train hops, insider eats, and well-chosen tours, this itinerary delivers depth without rush. Bookmark it, tweak it to your season, and you’ll travel like a pro.