Japan is a place where centuries-old tea houses sit a few steps from cutting-edge cafés, where silent shrines share a skyline with space-age towers. In a single week, you can savor Tokyo’s neon neighborhoods, then slow your pace among Kyoto’s gardens and lantern-lit lanes. This 7-day itinerary is designed for first-timers who want culture, cuisine, and a postcard view of Mt. Fuji—all without rushing.

Tokyo rose from Edo-era roots to become the world’s largest metropolis, a city that still finds time for morning shrine visits and steaming bowls of ramen at midnight. Kyoto, the former imperial capital, preserves Japan’s classical arts, wooden machiya townhouses, and strolling geisha—especially in Gion. Together, they’re a perfect pairing connected by the high-speed Shinkansen.

Practical notes: Book international flights into Tokyo (HND/NRT) and depart from Osaka’s Kansai Airport (KIX) for convenience. The Japan Rail Pass is not necessary for this route; buy point-to-point tickets. Load a Suica/PASMO transit card on your phone for local trains. No tipping is expected. Many restaurants are small—reserve when you can, and carry some cash for market stalls.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a city of micro-worlds: serene Meiji Shrine, stylish Omotesando, frenetic Akihabara arcades, and the cinematic swirl of Shibuya Crossing. It’s also a grazer’s paradise—sushi breakfasts, wagyu skewer snacks, and late-night izakaya hopping in Shinjuku’s alleys.

• Top sights: Senso-ji in Asakusa, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Sky, teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills), Tokyo Skytree, Ueno Park, Nezu Shrine, Yanaka Ginza.
• Where to stay (Hotels.com affiliates): The Peninsula Tokyo (imperial garden views), Hotel Gracery Shinjuku (buzzy Kabukicho, compact rooms), Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo (Shinjuku transport hub), Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku (value + location), Aman Tokyo (serene splurge, stellar spa).
• Also browse stays: VRBO Tokyo or Hotels.com Tokyo.

Getting there: Compare flights to Tokyo on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Optional NRT–city transfer: Private car (good with luggage or kids).

Day 1: Arrival, Asakusa & Old Tokyo

Afternoon: Land in Tokyo and check in. Head to Asakusa to stroll Nakamise-dori’s stalls (try ningyo-yaki cakes) and visit Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, rebuilt with Edo spirit after WWII. Grab a melonpan from Asakusa Kagetsudo while you wander.

Evening: Dinner ideas: Tempura at Daikokuya (light, sesame oil aroma), sukiyaki at Asakusa Imahan (marbled wagyu in sweet-salty broth), or a casual standing-sushi fix at Uogashi Nihon-Ichi. If you want a fun cultural show right in Asakusa, consider this interactive experience (includes hot pot): Tokyo Sumo Entertainment Show

Day 2: Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya & Shinjuku Night

Morning: Start at Meiji Shrine’s tall torii and camphor forest. Coffee at The Roastery by Nozy on Cat Street or KOFFEE MAMEYA Kakeru (book ahead for tasting). Brunch at bills Omotesando (ricotta hotcakes) or A Happy Pancake (soufflé style).

Afternoon: Explore Omotesando’s architecture, then Shibuya Crossing and the rooftop at Shibuya Sky for sweeping city views. If you want a uniquely Tokyo thrill, drive through Shibuya in costume with a guide: Official Street Go-Kart in Shibuya

Evening: Shinjuku food crawl: Omoide Yokocho for smoky yakitori stalls, then ramen at Afuri (yuzu shio) or Ichiran (solo booths). Finish with Golden Gai’s tiny bars—Albatross has chandeliers and jazz, or try Champion for karaoke vibes.

Day 3: Tokyo Highlights in One Go (Bus Tour)

Maximize your day with a coach tour that hits the classics—Meiji Shrine, Asakusa’s Senso-ji, Tokyo Skytree admission, and a Tokyo Bay ferry when schedules allow. It’s efficient, air-conditioned, and great if you like curated storytelling: 1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour

Post-tour dinner options: Tonkatsu at Tonki (Meguro; classic panko crunch), tempura tasting at Tempura Kondo (book ahead), or a counter-sushi experience at Kyubey (Ginza icon). Nightcap in Yurakucho’s brick-vaulted “Gado-shita” izakaya arches.

Day 4: Mt. Fuji & Hakone Day Trip

Trade neon for nature: visit Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station (weather permitting), cruise Lake Ashi, and ride the Hakone Ropeway for views over sulfur vents and Fuji on clear days—then zoom back by bullet train. It’s a full, memorable day: Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour (return by Shinkansen)

Back in Tokyo, slurp a restorative late bowl at Menya Musashi (rich tsukemen) or try curry rice at Bondy (Jimbocho)—comforting after a big day.

Kyoto

Kyoto is the Japan of wood and water: vermilion gates at Fushimi Inari, moss gardens at Saiho-ji, and tea steam curling from machiya eaves. You’ll wander lanes where geiko and maiko still keep to centuries-old rhythms.

• Top sights: Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji, Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion), Nijo Castle, Nishiki Market, Gion and Pontocho.
• Where to stay (Hotels.com affiliates): The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto (riverside, refined), Kyoto Tokyu Hotel (tranquil, near Nishi Hongan-ji), Hotel M's Plus Shijo Omiya (great base), Piece Hostel Sanjo (design-forward budget).
• Also browse stays: VRBO Kyoto or Hotels.com Kyoto.

Tokyo → Kyoto (Day 5 morning): Take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station. Nozomi: ~2h15; Hikari: ~2h40. Expect around ¥14,000–¥15,000 ($95–$110) one-way reserved. Book on Trip.com Trains. Tip: forward large luggage overnight via a takkyubin service and travel light.

Day 5: Arrive Kyoto, Nishiki Market & Gion at Dusk

Morning: Depart Tokyo by Shinkansen. Grab an ekiben (station bento)—try miso katsu or seasonal seafood rice.

Afternoon: Check in, then graze through Nishiki Market: soy milk donuts at Konnamonja, tako-tamago (baby octopus with quail egg), and fresh yuba. Browse Aritsugu for handmade knives.

Evening: Join a storytelling walk to understand geisha culture before you spot them: Kyoto Gion Geisha District Walking Tour

Dinner after in Pontocho alley: yakitori at Torito Pontocho (charcoal-grilled skewers) or kyo-ryori at Gion Nanba (seasonal kaiseki).

Day 6: Arashiyama, Zen Gardens & Golden Pavilion

Morning: Beat the crowds at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove just after sunrise. Visit Tenryu-ji’s strolling gardens, then try yudofu (simmered tofu) at Yudofu Sagano by Tenryu-ji—simple, silky, very Kyoto.

Afternoon: Taxi or bus to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) for its glittering reflection, then continue to Ryoan-ji’s famed rock garden. Coffee break at % Arabica in nearby Kitayama or at the riverside % Arabica Arashiyama if you missed it earlier.

Evening: Tonkatsu dinner at Katsukura (hand-ground sesame + house sauce) or Kyoto-style sushi at Izuju (saba bozushi). For a nightcap, try a small sake bar on Kiyamachi-dori—ask for a junmai from local Fushimi breweries.

Alternative full-day option: Cover Kyoto’s big hitters efficiently with a guided coach: PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour

Day 7: Fushimi Inari Sunrise, Kiyomizu-dera & Departure

Morning: Climb through the vermilion tunnels of Fushimi Inari Taisha at dawn (cooler, quieter). Coffee at Vermillion – espresso bar by the tracks. Head to Kiyomizu-dera for wooden-stage city views and stroll Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka’s preserved streets.

Afternoon: Quick lunch near Kyoto Station—Musashi Sushi (conveyor-belt but quality) or Isetan Department Store’s depachika for beautiful bento. Then ride the JR Haruka Express to KIX (~75 min; ~¥2,800). Search tickets on Trip.com Trains and compare flights home via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Tokyo & Kyoto Food and Coffee Shortlist

• Sushi: Kyubey (Ginza institution), Sushi Zanmai (late-night friendly), Uogashi Nihon-Ichi (standing sushi, fresh and fast).
• Ramen: Afuri (yuzu broth), Ichiran (customizable), Menya Musashi (hearty tsukemen), Kyoto Menbaka Fire Ramen (theatrical scallion blaze).
• Izakaya: Uoshin Shibuya (seafood), Omoide Yokocho stalls (gritty, nostalgic), Gion’s small sake bars (ask for Fushimi brews like Tamagawa or Kizakura).
• Cafés: The Roastery by Nozy, % Arabica (Higashiyama/Arashiyama), Weekenders Coffee, Inoda Coffee (retro Kyoto vibes).

Optional Add-Ons If You Have More Time

• Tech and art: teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills) in Tokyo for immersive digital art.
• Nara half-day: From Kyoto, see Todai-ji’s Great Buddha and the friendly deer in Nara Park (40–50 min by train; go early).
• Guided foodie night: In Tokyo, a deep-dive tasting across hidden eateries: Shinjuku Food Tour (13 dishes)

  

In one week, you’ll have bowed at ancient altars, crossed the world’s busiest intersection, and tasted Japan from sushi breakfasts to sake nightcaps. Tokyo energizes; Kyoto restores. You’ll leave already plotting the next season to return.