Japan rewrites your sense of time: a nation where bullet trains skim past thousand-year-old temples, and vending machines coexist with moss gardens. From Edo-period shrines to cutting-edge art, the country’s layers reward both first-time visitors and seasoned Japan lovers. In a single week, you’ll taste ramen crafted like poetry, glide on the Shinkansen, and stroll lantern-lit lanes where geisha still perform.

Tokyo is your electric launch pad—part playground, part cultural capital. It’s a city of distinct neighborhoods: serene Meiji Shrine, teen fashion in Harajuku, and the iconic Shibuya Crossing, a camera-ready cauldron of motion. Kyoto slows the pulse with vermilion gates at Fushimi Inari, tea houses along Gion’s cobblestones, and bamboo groves that hum in the wind.

Practical notes: public transit is superb; load a Suica/Pasmo card onto your phone, and carry some yen for tiny shops. A 7-day Japan Rail Pass isn’t needed for this itinerary; buy point-to-point tickets. Book popular restaurants and experiences in advance, and note that respect for local etiquette—no loud phone calls on trains, shoes off in certain spaces—goes a long way.

Tokyo

Welcome to the world’s most charismatic megacity. Tokyo juxtaposes shrine forests with sky-high observation decks, counter bars with 20-seat noodle temples. It’s a city for grazing: sushi at breakfast, tonkatsu at lunch, yakitori by night. And yes, the coffee scene is serious—precision roasters and design-forward cafes abound.

Top sights span tradition and futurism: Asakusa’s Senso-ji, the Meiji Shrine cedar grove, Shibuya Sky, and art experiences like teamLab Planets. Shopping runs from vintage in Shimokitazawa to sleek Omotesando architecture. Evenings shine in Shinjuku’s Golden Gai, a grid of tiny bars with big personality.

• Where to stay (Tokyo): For a refined splurge near the Imperial Palace, consider The Peninsula Tokyo. In Shinjuku, Hotel Gracery Shinjuku (hello, Godzilla head) and Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku are traveler favorites. For sky-high views, The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo. Near Disney, check Hilton Tokyo Bay. Open-floor luxury lovers may eye Aman Tokyo. Browse all stays on Hotels.com (Tokyo) or apartment-style options on VRBO (Tokyo).
• Getting there & around: Search flights to Tokyo (HND/NRT) on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. For intercity trains later this week, see Trip.com Trains.

Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo, Shibuya Spark

Afternoon: Land in Tokyo and check into your hotel. Shake off jet lag with a stroll through Shibuya: pay homage to Hachiko, then watch the organized chaos at Shibuya Crossing from the street or a nearby viewpoint. Coffee? Try a light-roast pour-over at a specialty cafe in the area; Tokyo baristas treat extraction like fine art.

Evening: Casual dinner crawl in Shibuya or Shinjuku. For ramen, slurp yuzu-kissed bowls at Afuri or go for tonkotsu at Ichiran’s private booths. Prefer sushi? Stand-up spots like Uogashi Nihon-Ichi deliver pristine bite-sized bliss. Cap the night in Shinjuku’s Golden Gai—tiny themed bars (cash preferred), friendly bartenders, and a cinematic vibe.

Day 2: Tokyo Classics—Asakusa, Harajuku, Shinjuku

Morning: Start at Asakusa’s Senso-ji. Enter beneath the thunder gate, browse Nakamise-dori for traditional snacks (sweet rice crackers, red-bean treats), and peek at artisans at work. Brunch nearby on fluffy Japanese pancakes or a tamagoyaki (sweet omelet) skewer.

Afternoon: Cross town to Meiji Shrine’s forested paths, then pop into Harajuku’s Takeshita Street for fashion-forward shops and crepes. Wander Omotesando’s design-rich boulevard; architecture fans will love its Tadao Ando and Herzog & de Meuron moments. Late coffee at Koffee Mameya Kakeru or a local micro-roaster.

Evening: Feast in Shinjuku. Handmade udon at Shin Udon (watch the dough pulled before your eyes) or tempura at Tsunahachi (est. 1924). Consider joining this small-group food tour to hit hidden counters and izakaya:

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

Prefer a guided highlights day instead? This coach tour covers Skytree access, Meiji Shrine, and more (great for first-timers):

1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour

Day 3: Mt. Fuji & Hakone Adventure (Full-Day Tour)

Trade skyscrapers for volcanic vistas on a classic day trip. Ascend to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station (weather permitting), ride the Hakone Ropeway over sulfur vents at Owakudani, cruise Lake Ashi, and return to Tokyo by bullet train. Try kuro-tamago (black eggs) at Owakudani—folklore says one adds seven years to your life.

Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train

Dinner back in Tokyo: seek out yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) at a lively izakaya, then unwind at a modern sento like Thermae-Yu in Shinjuku.

Day 4: Contemporary Tokyo + Sumo Culture

Morning: Reserve time-based tickets for teamLab Planets in Toyosu—an immersive, barefoot digital art world where you wade through mirror ponds and light fields. Coffee afterwards at a nearby specialty shop.

Afternoon: Head to Akihabara for retro game shops and anime arcades; slip to nearby Kanda Myojin Shrine for a dose of history. Alternatively, explore Ueno Park’s museums (Tokyo National Museum, Ueno Zoo) and Ameya-Yokocho market snacks.

Evening: Dive into Japan’s national sport with a lively show in Asakusa featuring demos, stories, and a hearty chanko-nabe hot pot:

Tokyo Sumo Entertainment Show with Chicken Hot Pot and Photo

Post-show, stroll the lantern-lit lanes of Asakusa for taiyaki (fish-shaped pastries) or a crisp highball at a local bar.

Kyoto

Japan’s cultural heart sways to older rhythms—tea steam, temple bells, and geiko shuffling to evening appointments. Kyoto rewards wandering: townhouse cafes, artisan workshops, and stone-paved lanes where history lives quietly.

Highlights include Fushimi Inari’s thousand torii gates, the hillside Kiyomizu-dera, Zen gardens at Ryoan-ji, and Arashiyama’s bamboo grove. Food is seasonal and delicate—kaiseki tasting menus, yudofu (tofu hot pot) near temple precincts, and obanzai (Kyoto-style home cooking).

• Where to stay (Kyoto): Riverside elegance at The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto. Excellent midrange picks: Kyoto Tokyu Hotel, Hotel M's Plus Shijo Omiya, and Hotel M's Est Shijo Karasuma. Great value hosteling at Piece Hostel Sanjo. Boutique comfort at Kyoto Brighton Hotel. Browse all stays on Hotels.com (Kyoto) or find apartments on VRBO (Kyoto).
• Getting there from Tokyo: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo or Shinagawa to Kyoto. Nozomi: ~2 hr 15 min; Hikari: ~2 hr 40 min. Expect ~¥14,000–¥15,500 ($95–$110) one-way reserved. Check schedules and fares on Trip.com Trains. Consider forwarding luggage (takkyubin) a day ahead and riding light.

Day 5: Shinkansen to Kyoto, Fushimi Inari & Gion

Morning: Depart Tokyo by Shinkansen (aim for a 8:30–9:30 am train). Grab an ekiben (station bento) for the ride—teriyaki salmon, pickles, and rice perfectly packed.

Afternoon: Drop bags at your Kyoto hotel and ride the JR Nara Line to Fushimi Inari. Hike under vermilion gates; even a 45–60 minute loop gives magical views. Coffee break at a nearby specialty cafe; try a matcha latte and wagashi (tea sweets).

Evening: Explore Gion and Pontocho’s narrow alleys at dusk. For dinner, book Tempura Endo Yasaka for feather-light fry, savor yakitori at a cozy counter in Pontocho, or try Kyoto-style obanzai at a homey spot. Then join a guided stroll that unpacks geisha history and etiquette:

Kyoto Gion Geisha District Walking Tour - The Stories of Geisha

Day 6: Kyoto Icons in One Sweep (Full-Day Tour)

Cover Kyoto’s headline sites efficiently with a curated coach day: Kiyomizu-dera’s wooden stage, Fushimi Inari’s torii corridors, Arashiyama’s bamboo, Kinkaku-ji’s golden brilliance, and local shopping streets. It’s a smart use of time if you prefer fewer transfers and expert commentary.

PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour

Post-tour dinner: try Menya Inoichi for clear, umami-rich shoyu ramen (a local favorite), or settle into a kaiseki menu where seasonal Kyoto vegetables, tofu, and river fish shine.

Day 7: Hands-on Ramen + Departure

Morning: Learn to craft noodles from scratch and build your own bowl—an edible souvenir and a great story to take home:

Ramen Cooking Class at Ramen Factory in Kyoto

Afternoon (Departure): Head to Kansai International Airport (KIX). The JR Haruka Express runs Kyoto–KIX in ~75 minutes; expect ~¥3,000–¥3,500. Buses take ~90 minutes. Check trains on Trip.com Trains, and book your open-jaw return flight via Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Daily Coffee & Dining Shortlist

• Tokyo breakfasts: Tsukiji Outer Market bites (tamagoyaki, onigiri), Aussie-style flat whites near Shibuya, or traditional kissaten (think thick toast and siphon coffee).
• Tokyo lunches: Standing sushi bars for fast, impeccable nigiri; tonkatsu cutlets in Ginza; tempura bowls around Nihonbashi.
• Tokyo dinners: Yakitori alleys (Omoide Yokocho), ramen pilgrimages (shoyu, miso, or yuzu styles), and craft cocktails in Meguro or Golden Gai.
• Kyoto breakfasts: Inoda Coffee for a retro morning set; matcha with a sweet at a tea house; bakery-cafes for shokupan toast.
• Kyoto lunches: Nishiki Market grazing (tofu donuts, skewers, pickles), udon shops near Gion, or soba by temple districts.
• Kyoto dinners: Kaiseki tasting (reserve); yudofu near Nanzen-ji; obanzai counters; ramen at Menya Inoichi; riverfront eateries along Pontocho in warm months.

Getting Between Cities and Tours: Quick Links

• Flights (into Tokyo / out of Osaka-KIX): Trip.com, Kiwi.com
• Trains (Shinkansen, airport rail): Trip.com Trains

Optional Extras if You Have Energy

• Swap Day 2 for a fully guided city sampler (see 1-Day Bus Tour link above) to cover more ground with reserved entries.
• Art lovers can add the Nezu Museum or Mori Art Museum in Tokyo; in Kyoto, consider a tea ceremony near Gion.
• Foodies can add a second tour night in Osaka (40 minutes from Kyoto by train) and dive into Dotonbori’s neon and street eats.

In one elegant arc, this 7-day Japan itinerary moves from Tokyo’s kinetic neighborhoods to Kyoto’s time-honored calm, with a dash of Mt. Fuji drama in between. You’ll return home with bullet-train momentum, temple stillness, and a new lifetime standard for ramen.