Japan is where centuries-old ritual slides alongside tomorrow’s tech. Samurai capitals and Zen gardens survive amid robot cafés, bullet trains, and department-store food halls so dazzling they feel like museums. In a single week, you can taste edomae sushi, sip matcha whisked to perfection, and watch sunset from a rooftop high above a sea of lights.

From Tokyo’s pop-culture playgrounds to Kyoto’s temple-dotted hills, this itinerary balances iconic sights with insider stops. You’ll step through Meiji Shrine’s forest, cross Shibuya’s famous scramble, and greet fox guardians at Fushimi Inari. Between the two, the Shinkansen makes the journey part of the adventure.

Practical notes: Cashless payment is common, but coins help for shrines and small shops. Be mindful of etiquette—quiet on trains, no eating while walking in busy streets, and shoes off where requested. Seasonal perks abound: spring cherry blossoms, summer festivals, fiery autumn maples, and velvety winter light.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a mosaic of micro-neighborhoods—each with its own rhythm. Shinto tranquility at Meiji Jingu, indie fashion in Harajuku, ramen steam in Shinjuku backstreets, and high design in Roppongi coexist within a single loop of the JR Yamanote Line.

Art fans should not miss teamLab Borderless (reborn in 2024 at Azabudai Hills), while food lovers can graze through Tsukiji’s outer market or dive into department store “depachika” basements in Ginza. After dark, the city glitters: neon lanes like Omoide Yokocho, cocktail temples such as Bar High Five, and panoramic rooftops like Shibuya Sky.

• Top sights: Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Crossing & Shibuya Sky, Senso-ji in Asakusa, Tokyo National Museum (Ueno), teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills), Ginza depachika, Akihabara arcades.
• Eat & drink: Ramen at Fuunji (tsukemen master), yuzu-scented bowls at Afuri, tempura at Tsunahachi, standing sushi at Uogashi Nihon-Ichi, cocktails at Bar Ben Fiddich or Bar High Five.
• Where to stay: Search stays in central neighborhoods (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, or Asakusa) on VRBO Tokyo or Hotels.com Tokyo.
• Getting there & around: Fly into HND (closer) or NRT via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Expect ~10–12 hours nonstop from the U.S. West Coast (~$700–$1,200 roundtrip in typical seasons). Use Suica/PASMO and the JR Yamanote Line plus subways for easy transit.

Day 1: Arrival, Asakusa Atmosphere, River Lights

Afternoon: Land at HND/NRT, pick up an IC card and pocket Wi‑Fi, and check in. Head to Asakusa for Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple. Stroll Nakamise-dori, nibbling on ningyo-yaki cakes or melon pan while viewing the five-story pagoda.

Evening: Dinner nearby: try Tempura at Tsunahachi (light, sesame-oil crisp since 1923) or standing sushi at Uogashi Nihon-Ichi for fast, high-value nigiri. Cap the night with Sumida River views or ride up Tokyo Skytree for a glittering panorama.

Day 2: Meiji Forest to Shibuya Neon

Morning: Begin in Meiji Shrine’s hushed cedar forest. Coffee at Fuglen in Shibuya or Bread, Espresso & in Omotesando for a buttery “mu” loaf slice.

Afternoon: Window-shop Takeshita-dori and Cat Street, then pivot to Shibuya Crossing—watch waves of humanity from the second-floor Starbucks or Shibuya Tsutaya windows. Slurp yuzu ramen at Afuri (refreshing, citrusy broth) or go rich with Fuunji’s velvety chicken-pork tsukemen near Shinjuku.

Evening: Book sunset at Shibuya Sky for 360° views. For dinner, grill wagyu at Han no Daidokoro (cuts by marbling grade) or skewer up at a yakitori alley like Omoide Yokocho. Nightcap at Bar Ben Fiddich (herbal, farm-to-glass cocktails) or explore Golden Gai’s pocket-sized bars.

Day 3: Markets, Digital Art, and Ginza Eats

Morning: Start at Tsukiji Outer Market—tamagoyaki rolls, fresh oysters, and charcoal-seared tuna onigiri. Sit-down sushi staples include Sushi Zanmai (consistent, late-opening hours).

Afternoon: Immerse in teamLab Borderless at Azabudai Hills—roaming, interactive lightscapes that blur art and physics. Then drift to Roppongi for the Mori Art Museum or straight to Ginza’s depachika at Mitsukoshi/Matsuya to ogle immaculate bento, wagashi, and counter-side tempura.

Evening: Dinner in Ginza: Sushi no Midori (value-forward, reservations advised) or kappo-style tempura at Tempura Kondo if you can book. Finish with precise classics at Bar High Five, where the ice is sculpted by hand and technique reigns.

Day 4: Museums, Old Tokyo Lanes, and Electric Town

Morning: Ueno Park’s Tokyo National Museum offers a concise sweep of samurai armor, lacquer, and Buddhist sculpture. Coffee at Kayaba Coffee in Yanaka for retro kissaten vibes and egg sandwiches.

Afternoon: Wander Yanaka Ginza’s low-rise streets—craft shops, croquette stands, and neighborhood cats—before jumping to Akihabara for arcade nostalgia at retro game shops and multi-floor claw machines.

Evening: Feast on chanko nabe (sumo stew) at Kirishima in Ryogoku or go hearty with shabu-shabu at Nabezo (choose wagyu and balanced broths). If you prefer seafood, try a counter izakaya under Yurakucho’s train tracks for charcoal-grilled fish and sake.

Kyoto

Kyoto holds the keys to Japan’s classical heart. Wooden machiya townhouses, stone lanes, and temple bells set a quieter tempo, best felt in the soft light of early morning. Tea culture thrives here, as do kaiseki tasting menus that read like seasonal poetry.

From the orange torii tunnels of Fushimi Inari to the moss gardens of Saiho-ji and riverside breezes of Arashiyama, Kyoto rewards unhurried wandering. Evenings glow in Gion and Pontocho, where lanterns sway and the Kamo River glints.

• Top sights: Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera, Gion & Hanamikoji, Nishiki Market, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Tenryu-ji, Nijo Castle, Philosopher’s Path.
• Eat & drink: Udon at Omen (near Ginkaku-ji), tonkatsu at Katsukura, conveyor-belt sushi at Musashi, wagashi at Kagizen Yoshifusa, cocktails at L’Escamoteur.
• Where to stay: Base near Gion, Kawaramachi, or Kyoto Station for easy transit. Browse VRBO Kyoto or Hotels.com Kyoto.
• Tokyo → Kyoto travel: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen (Nozomi is fastest) in ~2 hr 15 min; reserved seat typically ¥14,000–¥15,500 (~$95–$110). Compare and book on Trip.com Trains. Grab an ekiben (station bento) at Tokyo Station before boarding.

Day 5: Bullet Train to Kyoto, Nishiki Market, Gion Glow

Morning: Depart Tokyo after a quick station breakfast—try a katsu-sando or onigiri with roasted salmon. Ride the Shinkansen; watch Mount Fuji slide by on right-side seats if skies are clear.

Afternoon: Check in, then graze through Nishiki Market. Sample soy-milk doughnuts at Konnamonja, tsukemono pickles at Nishiri, grilled eel skewers, and knife craftsmanship at Aritsugu. Coffee pick-me-up at Weekenders Coffee hidden behind a parking lot.

Evening: Stroll Gion’s lantern-lit lanes and Yasaka Shrine. Dinner options: Katsukura (juicy panko-crusted tonkatsu with mortar-ground sesame sauce), Omen Kodai-ji (udon with mountain vegetables), or Musashi Sushi (belt sushi that’s fast and fun). Nightcap at L’Escamoteur—whimsical cocktails in a magician’s den.

Day 6: Fushimi Inari Dawn, Tea and Castles at Dusk

Morning: Arrive early at Fushimi Inari to walk the vermilion torii in the quiet blue hour. Espresso and cinnamon toast at Vermillion cafe just beyond the shrine gates.

Afternoon: Meander Tofuku-ji’s zen gardens en route back. Head downtown for a guided tea tasting at Ippodo Tea Co., then tour Nijo Castle’s creaking “nightingale floors” and painted chambers.

Evening: Explore Pontocho Alley, a narrow lane of wooden eateries by the river. Eat yakitori at Torito Pontocho (skewers over binchotan charcoal), savor Kyoto-style kaiseki at Gion Nanba if you can reserve, or try Wajoryomen Sugari for rich ramen and tsukemen in a restored townhouse.

Day 7: Arashiyama Morning and Departure

Morning: Beat the crowds at the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji’s gardens. Walk the Ōi River to the Togetsukyo Bridge; for coffee, seek out % Arabica Arashiyama’s river views.

Afternoon: Early lunch with soba and tempura at Arashiyama Yoshimura overlooking the river, or tofu cuisine at Shoraian if booked. Collect your bags and head to your departure: the JR Haruka Express from Kyoto Station to Kansai International Airport takes ~75 min (about ¥2,800–¥3,300, ~$20–$25); check schedules and prices on Trip.com Trains. For international flights, compare options on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Evening: If your plane is later, squeeze in a last stroll along the Kamo River or browse Kawaramachi’s shops for ceramics, tenugui hand towels, and matcha sweets to take home.

In one week you’ll have tasted modern Tokyo and classical Kyoto, linked by the country’s most iconic ride—the Shinkansen. This itinerary layers blockbuster sights with small pleasures: a perfect bowl of ramen, a quiet shrine path, a view you’ll think about for years.