Japan layers ancient ritual and cutting-edge cool with disarming grace. Samurai citadels and Zen gardens sit a few train stops from anime megastores, robot cafes, and a culinary scene that worships seasonality. In a single week, you can watch incense spiral at a 7th-century temple by morning and clink highballs in a six-seat bar by night.

Tokyo pulls you into its kinetic orbit: lantern-lit alleys, ramen steam, and crosswalks that behave like theater. Kyoto counters with wood-scented lanes, mossy shrines, and tea poured with quiet precision. Between them, Mt. Fuji presides—snow-capped in winter, blue and brooding in summer—best admired on a day trip through the hot spring valleys of Hakone.

Practical notes: tap-and-go IC cards (Mobile Suica/PASMO/ICOCA) make trains effortless; tipping isn’t expected; convenience stores are shockingly good for quick bites. Bring cash for small vendors, book popular restaurants ahead, and pack a light layer for temple mornings. Now—let’s map seven unforgettable days.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a constellation of neighborhoods, each with its own rhythm. Asakusa preserves Edo-era spirit around Senso-ji; Harajuku mixes street fashion and crepes; Shibuya is a kaleidoscope of screens and crowds; Nihonbashi and Ginza serve tradition with polish.

• Iconic sights: Senso-ji Temple, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Skytree, Imperial Palace gardens, and the new teamLab Borderless digital art museum.
• Food highlights: slurp tonkotsu at Ichiran, try tempura in Asakusa, nibble skewers in Omoide Yokocho, and browse basement “depachika” food halls at Isetan or Mitsukoshi.
• Coffee to power your wanders: Turret Coffee (Ginza), Onibus Coffee (Nakameguro), and KOFFEE MAMEYA (Omotesando) for a tasting-format deep dive.

Where to stay (Tokyo): For easy access and varied budgets, consider:

• Luxury: The Peninsula Tokyo (Imperial Palace views); The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo (Roppongi skyline); Aman Tokyo (minimalist serenity).
• Upper-mid: Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo (Shinjuku), Hotel Gracery Shinjuku (Godzilla-head terrace).
• Good-value/family: Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku, or for Disney days Hilton Tokyo Bay.
• Browse more: VRBO Tokyo or Hotels.com Tokyo.

Getting to Tokyo: Compare flights on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights. From Haneda, reach central Tokyo in ~25–35 minutes by rail. From Narita, budget ~50–60 minutes on the Narita Express; the Keisei Skyliner to Ueno takes ~41 minutes. Train tickets can be checked on Trip.com Trains.

Kyoto

Kyoto is Japan’s cultural heart: 1,000+ temples, wooden teahouses, and the glow of lanterns threading lanes where geiko still walk to evening appointments. It’s a city best savored at a human pace—early temple strolls, seasonal sweets, and slow dinners along the Kamogawa.

• Top sights: Fushimi Inari’s torii tunnels, Kiyomizu-dera’s hillside veranda, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), and the rock garden at Ryoan-ji.
• Neighborhoods: Gion’s machiya townhouses, Nishiki Market’s snack gauntlet, and Pontocho’s narrow alley of traditional eateries by the river.
• Coffee/tea: Inoda Coffee (retro kissaten), % Arabica (Higashiyama/Arashiyama), Weekenders Coffee (hidden roastery), and Vermillion (near Fushimi Inari).

Where to stay (Kyoto):

• Luxury: The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto (riverside refinement), Kyoto Brighton Hotel.
• Upscale: Kyoto Tokyu Hotel.
• Value/boutique: Hotel M's Plus Shijo Omiya, Hotel M's Est Shijo Karasuma, and the social Piece Hostel Sanjo.
• Browse more: VRBO Kyoto or Hotels.com Kyoto.

Tokyo → Kyoto: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen (Nozomi) ~2 hr 15 min; expect ~¥14,000–¥15,000 per reserved seat (~$95–$110). Search schedules and fares on Trip.com Trains. JR Passes can make sense for longer, rail-heavy trips, but for this one-way hop, point-to-point tickets are usually best.

Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo, Lantern Alleys and Neon First Impressions

Morning: In transit.

Afternoon: Land and ride rail into the city (Haneda ~30 minutes; Narita ~50–60 minutes). Drop bags at your hotel and decompress with an anpan (sweet red-bean bun) from Kimuraya in Ginza—baking since 1874—and a cortado at Turret Coffee, the baristas pulling shots behind a vintage turret truck.

Evening: Dive into Shinjuku. Wander Omoide Yokocho’s postwar alley of tiny grills; try Tachan or Kabuto for smoky yakitori and eel skewers, or Nabezo for shabu-shabu with seasonal vegetables. After dinner, thread Golden Gai’s pocket bars; Bar Albatross G is artful and welcoming. If you prefer views, go up to Shibuya Sky for a 360° cityscape.

Day 2: Tokyo Icons with a Private Guide + Night Food Tour

Morning: Meet a licensed local guide for a tailored highlight reel. This efficient private tour hits old and new Tokyo, with history layered into each stop.

Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

Afternoon: Classic pairing: Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa (incense and fortune slips), then Meiji Jingu’s forested shrine near Harajuku. Snack en route—taiyaki fish-shaped cakes or a crepe on Takeshita Street—and browse Omotesando’s design-forward boutiques. Coffee at KOFFEE MAMEYA for curated beans and tasting notes.

Evening: Explore Shinjuku’s backstreets on a guided feast—four eateries, thirteen dishes, and stories behind each bite, from izakaya favorites to regional specialties.

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

Day 3: Full-Day Mt. Fuji and Hakone Adventure

Morning: Depart on a deluxe coach for Fuji’s 5th Station. On clear days, the view reveals lava flows and sweeping alpine scenery. Continue to Hakone for an Owakudani volcanic valley stop (try a black egg boiled in sulfur springs) and a cruise on Lake Ashi.

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

Afternoon: Ride the Shinkansen back, a thrill in itself. If time allows on return, swing by teamLab Borderless for immersive digital art that feels like stepping into brushstrokes and light.

Evening: Celebrate the day with sushi. Sushiro Global Flagship in Shibuya is a techy conveyor-belt crowd-pleaser; for a classic touch, Umegaoka Sushino Midori (Ginza) serves generous cuts at fair prices. Cap it with a highball and jazz at Pit Inn (Shinjuku) if you’re a music fan.

Day 4: Bullet Train to Kyoto, Higashiyama Walk, Gion at Dusk

Morning: Board the Nozomi Shinkansen to Kyoto (~2 hr 15 min; ~¥14,000–¥15,000). Book seats on Trip.com Trains. Check in and enjoy a kissaten-style breakfast at Inoda Coffee—thick toast, eggs, and their famous “Arabian Pearl.”

Afternoon: Walk the Higashiyama slope: Kiyomizu-dera’s grand veranda, Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka’s stone lanes, and pottery shops in Gojozaka. Lunch on Kyoto-style udon at Omen Kodaiji or a seasonal tofu set near Kiyomizu-dera.

Evening: Gion glows at twilight. Stroll Hanamikoji Street respectfully; you may glimpse a geiko en route to an appointment. Dinner options: Tempura Endo Yasaka (delicate, seasonal), Gion Nanba (refined kaiseki), or Pontocho alley for yakitori and river views. Finish with a yuzu sorbet or warabi mochi at a traditional sweet shop.

Day 5: Kyoto’s Greatest Hits with a Private Guide

Morning: Start early at Fushimi Inari to walk under thousands of vermilion torii before the crowds. Meet your guide for a comprehensive city circuit tailored to your pace and interests.

10 Must-see Spots in Kyoto One Day Private Tour (up to 7 people)

Afternoon: Visit Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) shimmering across its pond, then Ryoan-ji’s famed Zen rock garden. Continue to Arashiyama: Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji temple garden, and the Katsura River banks.

Evening: Treat yourself to Kyoto-style tempura or sukiyaki. Katsukura (Sanjo) serves impeccably crisp tonkatsu with mortar-ground sesame. For noodles, Honke Owariya has dished soba since the 1400s. Nightcap along the Kamogawa—watch locals chatting on the river steps.

Day 6: Nara Day Trip—Buddhas, Lanterns, and Bowing Deer

Morning: Take the JR Nara Line (~45–60 minutes) or Kintetsu Express (~35 minutes) to Nara. Start at Todai-ji to meet the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) in the world’s largest wooden building. Deer wander Nara Park—pick up official crackers and they’ll bow politely before a snack.

Afternoon: Walk the lantern-lined path to Kasuga Taisha, then browse Naramachi’s preserved merchant houses and craft shops. Lunch on kakinoha-zushi (persimmon leaf–wrapped sushi) or a warming bowl of locally loved narazuke pickles with rice.

Evening: Return to Kyoto. Explore Nishiki Market at day’s end: sample tako tamago (octopus with quail egg), yuba (tofu skin), and Kyoto pickles. For dinner, try a yakitori specialist on Pontocho or book Yudofu Sagano for a seasonal tofu course—simple, soulful, and very Kyoto.

Day 7: Last Sips of Kyoto + Departure

Morning: If Arashiyama’s Bamboo Grove wasn’t on Day 5, go at sunrise for photogenic calm. Otherwise, opt for a tea experience—learn whisking techniques for matcha in a small teahouse. Coffee people: Weekenders Coffee is a serene courtyard stop near Karasuma.

Afternoon: Pick up final gifts—Uji matcha, Kyoto ceramics, and wagashi sweets—then transfer to your departure station/airport. The Haruka Limited Express reaches Kansai Airport from Kyoto in ~75 minutes; Tokyo-bound Shinkansen departures are frequent. Check times on Trip.com Trains.

Evening: In transit.

Practical Eating & Coffee Shortlist

• Tokyo breakfasts: Kimuraya (Ginza anpan), A Happy Pancake (fluffy soufflé stacks), convenience-store onigiri for early starts.
• Tokyo lunches: Tonkatsu Maisen Aoyama (cutlet mastery), Menya Musashi (Shinjuku ramen), Tsukiji Outer Market for tamagoyaki and fresh nigiri.
• Tokyo dinners: Nabezo (shabu-shabu), Sushino Midori (generous sushi), Torikizoku (budget yakitori fun).
• Kyoto lunches: Omen Kodaiji (udon), Honke Owariya (historic soba), Katsukura (tonkatsu with endless cabbage).
• Kyoto dinners: Tempura Endo Yasaka (seasonal), Gion Tanto (home-style Kyoto obanzai), riverside picks along Pontocho.
• Cafés: Onibus (Tokyo), KOFFEE MAMEYA (Tokyo), % Arabica (Kyoto), Weekenders Coffee (Kyoto), Vermillion (Kyoto).

How We Move Between Cities (and Costs)

• Tokyo ⇄ Mt. Fuji/Hakone: Full-day tour by coach and Shinkansen return (see Day 3 activity above).
• Tokyo → Kyoto: Shinkansen Nozomi ~2 hr 15 min, ~¥14,000–¥15,000 reserved; bookable via Trip.com Trains.
• Kyoto → Nara: 35–60 minutes by Kintetsu or JR; just tap in with ICOCA/PASMO/Suica.

Optional Tokyo Add-ons (If You Have More Time)

• teamLab Borderless (Azabudai) or teamLab Planets (Toyosu) for immersive digital art.
• Ueno Park museums (Tokyo National Museum) for samurai armor and Hokusai prints.
• Akihabara retro arcades and anime shops for pop-culture treasure hunts.

Kyoto Hotel Picks At a Glance: Luxury riverside indulgence at The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, elegant calm at Kyoto Tokyu Hotel, stylish value at Hotel M's Plus Shijo Omiya, and social stays at Piece Hostel Sanjo. For private townhouses, check VRBO Kyoto.

Tokyo Hotel Picks At a Glance: Sky-high city views at The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo, palace-adjacent polish at The Peninsula Tokyo, Shinjuku convenience at Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku or Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo, and theme-park proximity at Hilton Tokyo Bay. Browse more options on Hotels.com Tokyo or VRBO Tokyo.

Alternate Tokyo Day (if you swap Day 2): Prefer a custom full-day walk instead of the 6-hour? Consider this option that lets you dial in sites like Skytree, Senso-ji, and Shibuya Crossing in one day.

Tokyo Customized Private Tour: See Top Attractions in 1 Day

In one week, you’ll feel Japan’s dual heartbeat: Tokyo’s restless creativity and Kyoto’s timeless grace, with Fuji’s silhouette etched in memory. You’ll have eaten across lanes and centuries, from alley grills to kaiseki artistry. Save this guide—the best trips here are the second and third ones, built on your new favorites.