Japan rewards the curious traveler. In one week, you’ll taste your way through Osaka’s “eat-till-you-drop” food scene, step into Kyoto’s living history of temples and tea, and ride Tokyo’s tidal wave of color, fashion, and innovation. This itinerary prioritizes efficient train connections, authentic dining, and a balanced rhythm of must-see icons and hidden corners.

Osaka flourished as a merchant city and food hub during the Edo period, and its reputation endures—expect sizzling okonomiyaki, kushikatsu, and late-night ramen. Kyoto preserves the aesthetic heart of Japan, where Zen gardens, kimono-clad maiko, and tea houses sit just off narrow stone lanes. Tokyo surges forward with pop culture and design while honoring shrines, sushi craft, and seasonal rituals.

Practical notes: Pick up an IC card (ICOCA in Kansai, Suica/PASMO in Tokyo; mobile versions work on most phones). Luggage forwarding (takuhaibin) makes city hops effortless. Trains run to the minute, and English signage is excellent. Cash is still useful at markets and small eateries, though cards and mobile pay are increasingly accepted.

Osaka

Osaka is Japan’s street-food capital and the Kansai region’s energetic gateway. Dotonbori’s glow, Umeda’s skyline views, and the retro vibe of Shinsekai make the city feel like a living movie set—equal parts appetite and attitude.

• Don’t miss: Osaka Castle, Dotonbori canal, Kuromon Market, Umeda Sky Building, and a kushikatsu crawl in Shinsekai.
• Food highlights: Okonomiyaki at Mizuno, wagyu at Matsusakagyu Yakiniku M, takoyaki at Acchichi Honpo, and cheesecake at Rikuro Ojisan.
• Fun fact: Locals call Osaka kuidaore—“to eat oneself into ruin.” You’ve been warned.

Stay in Osaka (Namba/Umeda are most convenient):

• Luxury: The St. Regis Osaka (butler service on Midosuji), Swissotel Nankai Osaka (above Namba Station, perfect for food/nightlife).
• Mid-range/family: Hotel Universal Port or Universal Bay Condominium (for USJ fans), Hotel Sunroute Osaka Namba.
• Budget: Hotel Taiyo.
• Browse more: VRBO Osaka | Hotels.com Osaka

Getting to Osaka (KIX/ITM): Search flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From KIX to Namba, the Nankai Limited Express takes ~45 min; JR Haruka to Tennoji/Shin-Osaka ~35–50 min.

Kyoto

Kyoto is a thousand years of craft and ceremony distilled into one city. Wander bamboo groves, trace the vermilion tunnels of Fushimi Inari, and hear the muted hush of temple bells at dusk.

• Don’t miss: Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Gion, Kinkaku-ji, and Pontocho Alley.
• Eat & drink: Soba at Honke Owariya (since 1465), udon at Omen, katsukura-style tonkatsu, and coffee at % Arabica or Kurasu.
• Tip: Start major sights early; Kyoto’s narrow lanes get pleasantly quiet before 8:30 am.

Stay in Kyoto (central Shijo/Kawaramachi or near Kyoto Station):

• Luxury: The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, Kyoto Brighton Hotel.
• Mid-range: Kyoto Tokyu Hotel, Hotel M's Plus Shijo Omiya, Hotel M's Est Shijo Karasuma.
• Budget: Piece Hostel Sanjo.
• Browse more: VRBO Kyoto | Hotels.com Kyoto

Osaka → Kyoto: JR Special Rapid (~30 min, ~¥580/$4) or Shinkansen (~15 min, ~¥1,440/$10). Book trains on Trip.com Trains.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a constellation of neighborhoods—Asakusa’s old soul, Harajuku’s style lab, Shinjuku’s neon canyons—stitched together by the world’s best rail network. Tradition and futurism sit side by side, often on the same block.

• Don’t miss: Senso-ji, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Crossing, teamLab Borderless (Azabudai), and the views from Shibuya Sky or Tokyo City View.
• Food stops: Tsukiji Outer Market tastings, Afuri’s yuzu-shio ramen, Uogashi Nihon-Ichi standing sushi, and Golden Gai’s tiny bars.
• Tip: Suica/PASMO works on almost all lines. Avoid rush hour if carrying luggage.

Stay in Tokyo (Shinjuku/Ginza/Marunouchi for first-timers):

• Luxury: The Peninsula Tokyo, The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo, Aman Tokyo.
• Mid-range: Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo, Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku, Hotel Gracery Shinjuku. Families: Hilton Tokyo Bay.
• Browse more: VRBO Tokyo | Hotels.com Tokyo

Kyoto → Tokyo: Nozomi Shinkansen ~2 hr 15 min (reserved seat ~¥14,000/$95). Book via Trip.com Trains. For flights home, search Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Day 1: Land in Osaka, Neon First Impressions

Morning: Fly into Kansai International (KIX). Use the Nankai Limited Express to Namba (~45 min) or JR Haruka to Tennoji/Shin-Osaka. If early, grab an onigiri and bottled matcha at a convenience store so you can hit the ground running (Trip.com Flights).

Afternoon: Check in near Namba. Coffee at LiLo Coffee Roasters (fruit-forward single origins), then stroll Shinsaibashi Arcade to Dotonbori’s Glico sign. Late lunch at Mizuno for okonomiyaki—order the “yamaimo-yaki” for a fluffy, custardy texture.

Evening: Taste takoyaki from Acchichi Honpo as you walk the canal. Dinner at Matsusakagyu Yakiniku M (melt-in-your-mouth A4/A5 wagyu; staff can guide cuts and grill times). Dessert is a warm cheesecake from Rikuro Ojisan. Nightcap: try local craft beer at Beer Belly (Minoh Beer on tap) or a cocktail at Bar Nayuta.

Day 2: Osaka Icons, Castle to Street Eats

Morning: Start at Granknot Coffee in Horie. Then join the Osaka Castle Walking Tour and Castle Tower Admission for the backstory of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the castle’s ingenious defenses.

Afternoon: Lunch-graze at Kuromon Market: fatty tuna skewers, grilled scallops with soy butter, and wagyu cubes. Metro to Shinsekai for retro arcades and kushikatsu at Kushikatsu Daruma (dip once!). Ride up Umeda Sky Building for city views if skies are clear.

Evening: Dive into Kansai flavors with the Osaka Private Food Tours by Local Foodies (personalized tastings in backstreets; a great way to learn what to order and why).

Day 3: Morning Train to Kyoto, Temples & Gion by Night

Morning: Osaka → Kyoto by JR Special Rapid (~30 min, ~¥580/$4) or Shinkansen (~15 min, ~¥1,440/$10). Book on Trip.com Trains. Grab 551 Horai pork buns and an ekiben at Shin-Osaka for the ride.

Afternoon: Stroll Kiyomizu-dera’s terraces, then amble Sannenzaka/Ninenzaka’s preserved lanes. Coffee at % Arabica Higashiyama (balanced, bright roasts). Late lunch at Omen Gion for handmade udon with sesame-miso veggies.

Evening: Join the Kyoto Gion Geisha District Walking Tour - The Stories of Geisha to understand geiko/maiko traditions as lanterns glow.

After, dine at Gion Tanto (home-style Kyoto dishes like yuba and nasu dengaku) or try classic Kyoto-style sushi at Izuju. Sip small-batch nihonshu at Sake Bar Yoramu—tell the owner what flavors you enjoy.

Day 4: Arashiyama, Gardens, and Tea

Morning: Train to Arashiyama. Espresso at % Arabica by the river, then the Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour: Bamboo, Monkeys, Gardens & Secrets for Tenryu-ji’s Zen garden and the bamboo grove’s hush.

Afternoon: Lunch with a river view at Arashiyama Yoshimura (buckwheat soba and tempura). Optional hike to Iwatayama Monkey Park for Kyoto basin views. Head back toward Kiyomizu area for a refined tea moment at the Kyoto Kiyomizu Tea Ceremony with Scenic Garden Views.

Evening: Dinner in Pontocho Alley: Katsukura (perfectly crisp tonkatsu) or Yakiniku Hiro (well-sourced wagyu). Finish with kinako ice cream at Gion Kinana.

Day 5: Bullet Train to Tokyo, Asakusa Traditions & Shinjuku Nightlife

Morning: Kyoto → Tokyo on the Nozomi Shinkansen (~2 hr 15 min, ~¥14,000/$95). Reserve seats and ride from Kyoto Station to Tokyo or Shinagawa; book via Trip.com Trains. Grab a station ekiben and drip coffee from % Arabica or Inoda.

Afternoon: Drop bags and head to Asakusa. Explore Nakamise’s snack stalls (senbei crackers, ningyo-yaki cakes), then Senso-ji’s incense-swirled main hall. Lunch at Sometaro (DIY okonomiyaki on a tabletop griddle) or Daikokuya for Edo-style tendon (tempura over rice).

Evening: Eat and drink like a local on the Best of Shinjuku: Izakaya Food Tour (4 Stops, 14+ Tastings). You’ll weave through Omoide Yokocho and backstreets—think yakitori skewers, karaage, and sake pairings.

After the tour, peek into Golden Gai’s tiny themed bars (try Bar Albatross for chandelier-lit coziness).

Day 6: Mt. Fuji & Hakone Day Trip (return by bullet train)

Spend the day on the Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train. Typical stops include Mt. Fuji 5th Station (weather permitting), Lake Ashi cruise, and Owakudani’s volcanic vistas, then a quick Shinkansen back—maximum scenery, minimal logistics.

On return, slurp a late bowl at Afuri (yuzu-shio ramen, light and citrusy) or go classic with Ichiran’s tonkotsu—personal spice and richness levels make it fun.

Day 7: Tsukiji Tastes, Last-Minute Shopping, Depart

Morning: Join the Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Culture Walking Tour to learn market etiquette and sample tamagoyaki, tuna, and seasonal bites with a guide.

Afternoon: Quick sushi lunch at Uogashi Nihon-Ichi (stand-and-dine, fast and fresh) or a katsu sando to-go. Shop in Ginza or Shibuya for stationery, tea, and confections before heading to the airport. Prefer a car? Book a private transfer if flying from Narita: Narita Airport(NRT) Private Transfer To/From Tokyo. For flights, search Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Evening: In transit. If you have a late flight, one last coffee at Fuglen Shibuya or Blue Bottle Aoyama makes a fine farewell.

Optional adds and swaps

• Osaka: Theme-park lovers can swap Day 2 for Universal Studios Japan 1-Day Studio Pass + Express Pass.
• Nara: Deer and Great Buddha before crowds with the early tour from Kyoto or Osaka: Nara Early Morning Tour.

Transit tips and costs: Pay-as-you-go Shinkansen tickets are typically cheaper than a 7-day rail pass for this itinerary. Seat reservations are recommended on Kyoto–Tokyo legs, especially during peak seasons. City subways and buses cost roughly ¥210–¥300 per ride; IC cards cap small savings and huge convenience.

This one-week Japan trip stitches together Kansai’s legendary cuisine, Kyoto’s contemplative beauty, and Tokyo’s electric pulse. With efficient trains, thoughtful food stops, and a few expert-led tours, you’ll see the classics—and savor the in-betweens—like a well-informed local.