Japan is a place where the ultramodern and the ancient shake hands every hour. Samurai capitals became megacities; Edo became Tokyo, and Heian became Kyoto. You’ll weave from lantern-lit alleys to glass-clad towers, tasting ramen steam and temple incense in the same day.

Over seven days, this itinerary balances Tokyo’s skyline views, cutting-edge art, and street eats with Kyoto’s gardens, shrines, tea culture, and riverside strolls. We’ve folded in a Mt. Fuji and Hakone day trip, plus immersive tours, so you can see more and plan less.

Practical notes: cash is still handy, but IC cards like Suica/PASMO work widely. The Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto is fast, frequent, and wonderfully punctual. Spring and autumn are peak seasons; reserve popular restaurants and activities in advance.

Tokyo

Japan’s capital is a city of layers—from quiet shrine forests to pop-culture arcades and Michelin ramen counters. Neighborhoods feel like distinct worlds: walk from serene Meiji Shrine into Harajuku’s fashion kaleidoscope, then to Omotesando’s sleek architecture.

Top highlights include Senso-ji in Asakusa, Shibuya Crossing (nicknamed the “scramble” since the 1970s), Shinjuku’s neon canyons, and new stars like Shibuya Sky and teamLab Borderless at Azabudai Hills. Food spans centuries: from tempura recipes refined in Edo to wagyu, yakitori, and buttery Tokyo cheesecake.

• Stay (Hotels.com or VRBO):
  • The Peninsula Tokyo (Hibiya/Imperial Palace views): Check availability
  • Hotel Gracery Shinjuku (Godzilla-head icon, great Shinjuku base): Check availability
  • Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo (Shinjuku, pools and high views): Check availability
  • Browse apartments and homes on VRBO: Tokyo VRBO stays
  • See more hotels (Hotels.com): Tokyo hotels
• Getting in: Book flights to Tokyo on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Narita to central Tokyo is ~60–90 minutes by train; or choose a private car for small groups: Narita Airport Private Transfer (up to 5 people, from about ¥23,800 one-way).
• Local flavor: Coffee at Onibus (Nakameguro) or Koffee Mameya Kakeru (Omotesando). Ramen at Afuri (yuzu-shio) or Rokurinsha (Tokyo Station). Tonkatsu Tonki (Meguro) for crisp, juicy cutlets; Katsu Midori (Shibuya Mark City) for conveyor-belt sushi with quality cuts.

Day 1: Land in Tokyo, Asakusa beginnings

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Stretch your legs in Asakusa: stroll Nakamise-dori’s Edo-era snack stalls to Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple. Grab a quick bite—try ningyo-yaki sponge cakes, menchi-katsu croquettes, or crisp senbei rice crackers.

Evening: Walk the Sumida River promenade for Tokyo Skytree views at dusk. Dinner options nearby: Asakusa Imahan (sukiyaki, marbled wagyu in sweet-salty broth), Daikokuya (tempura with a 130-year legacy), or Hoppy Street izakayas for yakitori and stews. Turn in early to reset the clock.

Day 2: Shrines, style, and Shibuya nights

Morning: Coffee and croissants at PATH (Yoyogi-Uehara) or a pour-over at Fuglen (Tomigaya). Enter the cedar forest of Meiji Shrine, then pop into Harajuku for Takeshita Street crepes and vintage shops. Omotesando’s architecture trail (Tadao Ando’s Omotesando Hills, Toyo Ito’s TOD’s) is steps away.

Afternoon: Lunch at Udon Shin (handmade Sanuki udon, Shinjuku) or Afuri (yuzu ramen). Explore Shibuya: cross the famed Scramble, then ride up to Shibuya Sky for 360-degree city vistas. Shop at Shibuya Parco (Nintendo/Tokyu Hands) or Cat Street boutiques.

Evening: Izakaya crawl in Omoide Yokocho (grilled skewers at Torien-style counters) and a nightcap in Golden Gai (tiny themed bars like Albatross or Champion). For a sit-down dinner, book Tonki (Meguro) for tonkatsu or try Nabezo (Shinjuku) for DIY shabu-shabu.

Day 3: Tsukiji tastes, old Tokyo, and sumo culture

Morning: Join this guided market walk to taste your way through Tokyo’s culinary heart: Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Culture Walking Tour.

Grab extra bites after: tamagoyaki from Marutake, tuna bowls at Itadori offshoots, or oyster stands. Coffee at Turret Coffee (deep espresso, nostalgic vibe).

Afternoon: Stroll Ginza (department stores and artisanal boutiques), then the Imperial Palace East Gardens for stone walls and seasonal flowers. If you love digital art, visit teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills) for an immersive light-and-sound dreamscape.

Evening: Experience the world of sumo in Asakusa: Tokyo Sumo Entertainment Show with Chicken Hot Pot and Photo — complete with chanko nabe, the wrestlers’ hearty stew.

Post-show drinks: riverside craft beer at Sumida Riverside Studios area or classic cocktails at Bar High Five (Ginza).

Day 4: Day trip to Mt. Fuji and Hakone

Escape to Fuji country on a full-day tour with mountain vistas, lake cruises, and hot-spring towns. This popular option includes the Fuji 5th Station and a return by bullet train:

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

Alternatively, design a private route with photo stops and a Hakone loop:

Mount Fuji (Mt. fuji) private tour by car with pickup from Tokyo

Expect 10–11 hours door-to-door. Lunch is typically included or arranged en route; ask for houtou noodles or trout from Yamanashi if you can.

Kyoto

Once the imperial capital, Kyoto holds over a thousand temples, delicate tea houses, and lanes where wooden machiya glow at night. It’s a city of seasons: blush-pink cherry trees in spring and vermillion maples in fall reflected in temple ponds.

You’ll wander from orange torii tunnels at Fushimi Inari to moss gardens and bamboo groves. In the evenings, Pontocho Alley and Gion whisper with shamisen strings, and you might glimpse a maiko on her way to an engagement.

• Stay (Hotels.com or VRBO):
  • The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto (riverside serenity, stellar kaiseki): Check availability
  • Kyoto Tokyu Hotel (quiet, elegant base near Nishi Hongan-ji): Check availability
  • Hotel M's Plus Shijo Omiya (value, transit convenience): Check availability
  • Piece Hostel Sanjo (design-forward budget pick): Check availability
  • Browse apartments and homes on VRBO: Kyoto VRBO stays
  • See more hotels (Hotels.com): Kyoto hotels
• Getting from Tokyo to Kyoto: Take the Shinkansen (Nozomi ~2 hr 15 min; Hikari ~2 hr 40 min). Standard one-way adult fare is roughly ¥13,500–¥15,000 depending on seat type. Book tickets on Trip.com Trains. For flights to/from Osaka (KIX/ITM) at trip’s end, search Trip.com Flights.
• Local flavor: Coffee at % Arabica (Higashiyama or Arashiyama) and Weekenders Coffee. Kyoto classics: Honke Owariya soba (since the 15th century), Omen (udon with seasonal veggie sides), Gion Nanba or Giro Giro Hitoshina for creative kaiseki, Yakiniku Hiro for wagyu.

Day 5: Tokyo to Kyoto, Fushimi Inari and Gion

Morning: Check out and ride the Shinkansen to Kyoto (aim for a mid-morning departure; reserve luggage space). Grab an Ekiben bento at Tokyo Station—try beef sukiyaki or salmon harasu—so lunch is sorted on board.

Afternoon: Drop bags and head to Fushimi Inari Taisha. Walk under thousands of vermillion torii; a 60–90 minute loop to the mid-mountain lookouts offers city views. Coffee with a temple view at Vermillion café just off the shrine approach.

Evening: Join a storytelling walk through Kyoto’s geisha district: Kyoto Gion Geisha District Walking Tour - The Stories of Geisha.

Dinner in Pontocho Alley: riverside kaiseki with seasonal hassun platters, or casual yakitori at small counters. For dessert, try matcha parfaits at Gion’s long-loved tea salons.

Day 6: Arashiyama sunrise to golden pavilions

Morning: Beat the crowds at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove at sunrise. Visit Tenryu-ji for its Zen garden, then stroll the Katsura River to the Togetsukyo Bridge. Breakfast at % Arabica Arashiyama or anmitsu sweets at local wagashi shops.

Afternoon: Taxi or bus to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) sparkling over its pond, then to Ryoan-ji’s famed rock garden. Late lunch nearby: Okutan for tofu cuisine (a Kyoto specialty) or Menbaka Fire Ramen near Nijo for a theatrical bowl.

Evening: Explore Nishiki Market (pickled vegetables, soy doughnuts, sesame croquettes), then dinner at Omen Kodai-ji for udon with seasonal sides or Yakiniku Hiro for wagyu grilled at your table.

Day 7: Higashiyama lanes and farewell

Morning: Visit Kiyomizu-dera, its stage hovering above the hillside since 1633. Wander Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka’s preserved streets to Kodai-ji gardens. Coffee at Blue Bottle (near Yasaka) or a formal tea-tasting at local teahouses.

Afternoon: Lunch at Honke Owariya (buckwheat soba) or Inoda Coffee (retro Kyoto kissaten). Depart from Kyoto to Osaka’s KIX/ITM airports by limited express (50–80 minutes) or return to Tokyo by Shinkansen (~2 hr 15 min). Search trains on Trip.com Trains and flights on Trip.com Flights.

Optional/Alternate Tokyo Day Tours (if you swap Day 2):

Prefer a curated overview that hits the greatest hits in one go? Consider this coach tour with Skytree admission and a matcha experience: 1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour

Optional/Alternate Kyoto Day Tour (if you prefer a guided day):

Cover Kyoto’s icons in a single day—Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari, and more—without the transit puzzle: PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour

Getting around and practical tips

• Transit: Pick up a Suica/PASMO IC card for subways and buses. In Kyoto, buses reach temples; for clusters (Kinkaku-ji/Ryoan-ji), taxis can save time.
• JR Pass: For this 7-day Tokyo–Kyoto plan, point-to-point tickets often beat a national pass on price. If you’re adding more long-distance rides, run the math.
• Cash & etiquette: Many small eateries are cash-friendly; bow lightly, speak softly on trains, and avoid walking while eating in temple districts.

With city lights, shrine paths, bamboo breezes, and Fuji’s slopes in one week, you’ll see a polished cross-section of Japan. Come hungry and curious—the country rewards both.