Japan rewards curiosity. Samurai strongholds gave way to bullet trains and robot cafés, yet tea houses and torii gates still feel eternal. This itinerary traces that arc—from neon Tokyo to storybook Kyoto—curating days that flow logically, taste incredible, and make sense on the map.

Expect headline sights—Shibuya Crossing, Meiji Shrine, Fushimi Inari Taisha, and Arashiyama—balanced with insider bites: stand-up sushi bars, obanzai kitchens, and third‑wave coffee. We’ve also woven in a Mt. Fuji & Hakone day tour, a Shinjuku food walk, and free time for aimless exploring (highly recommended).

Practical notes: IC cards (Suica/PASMO) are widely usable again, most restaurants accept cards but some ramen shops are cash-only, and cherry blossom (late Mar–early Apr) and foliage (Nov) seasons book fast. Trains run to the minute—so will you.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a jolt of energy: a city where centuries-old temples sit a few stops from experimental art and Michelin ramen. Neighborhoods feel like worlds—Asakusa’s lanterns, Harajuku’s street fashion, Ginza’s cocktail temples, Shimokitazawa’s vinyl and vintage.

• Top sights: Senso-ji in Asakusa, Meiji Shrine’s forest, Shibuya Crossing, Skytree views, and waterfront Odaiba.
• Eat/drink: Stand-up sushi in Yurakucho, tonkatsu in Aoyama, yakitori in Omoide Yokocho, cocktails in Ginza.
• Fun fact: Tokyo’s first train ran in 1872—today the Shinkansen hits 285 km/h between Tokyo and Kyoto.

Where to stay (Tokyo): For luxury near the Imperial Palace, book The Peninsula Tokyo or skyline views at The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo. Excellent midrange picks: Hotel Gracery Shinjuku, Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku, or Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo. Family-friendly for Disney days: Hilton Tokyo Bay. Browse apartments on VRBO Tokyo or check more hotels on Hotels.com Tokyo.

How to arrive: Compare flights to Tokyo (HND/NRT) on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. From NRT, the Narita Express to Shinjuku is ~1 hr 20 min (~3,300 JPY); from HND, Keikyu or Monorail + JR is ~30–45 min (~500–700 JPY). Check times/fares on Trip.com trains.

Day 1: Land in Tokyo, Asakusa First Impressions

Morning: In transit to Tokyo. On arrival, pick up an IC card (Suica/PASMO) and pocket Wi‑Fi at the airport.

Afternoon: Check in, then walk Asakusa’s Nakamise-dori to Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple (7th century). Snack on hot melonpan at Asakusa Kagetsudo and try ningyo-yaki sponge cakes from a family stall that’s been here for generations.

Evening: Grab yakitori under the lanterns in Hoppy-dori or scoot to Ueno’s Ameyoko for standing sushi at Uogashi Nihon-Ichi—point and the chef places each piece directly on the counter. Cap the night with Skytree views or a free skyline panorama at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku, then a nightcap in Golden Gai (tiny bars like Albatross G are wonderfully atmospheric).

Day 2: Shibuya, Harajuku, Meiji Forest, and a Foodie Night

Morning: Coffee at Onibus Coffee Nakameguro (fruit‑forward pour-overs) or Bread, Espresso & in Omotesando (buttery French toast). Stroll Harajuku’s Takeshita Street, then reset in Meiji Shrine’s cedar-scented forest.

Afternoon: Explore Shibuya: cross the Scramble, peek at Hachiko, and ride up to Shibuya Sky for a rooftop cityscape. Lunch ideas: Afuri (yuzu-shio ramen, clean and citrusy), Uobei (futuristic conveyor sushi), or Uoriki Kaisen Sushi inside Tokyu Foodshow (great value nigiri).

Evening: Join a small-group feast through alleyway eateries on the Tokyo: Shinjuku Food Tour (13 Dishes at 4 Local Eateries). You’ll sample yakitori, gyoza, skewers, and classic bar snacks while learning how locals order and pair sake.

Optional add‑on pre‑tour: a close-up cultural intro at Tokyo Shinjuku Sumo Show Experience with Photo and Drinks—a lively demonstration with Q&A and chanko nabe lore.

Day 3: Mt. Fuji and Hakone Day Tour (Full Day)

Trade city towers for sacred peaks on the Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train. Typical stops include the Mt. Fuji 5th Station (weather permitting), Lake Ashi cruise, and Owakudani’s volcanic valley, with a Shinkansen ride back to Tokyo in the evening. Expect ~11 hours door to door; bring layers as mountain weather changes fast.

Day 4: Markets, Modern Art, and Ginza Cocktails

Morning: Breakfast graze at Tsukiji Outer Market: tamagoyaki on a stick, uni-topped crackers, and a quick donburi at Iso Sushi. Coffee at Turret Coffee (rich espresso pulled on an old-school machine).

Afternoon: Immerse yourself in digital installations at teamLab Planets in Toyosu (timed tickets). Then wander the new Edo-style food halls at Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai for a late snack or onsen break.

Evening: Dinner in Nihonbashi or Ginza: Kaneko Hannosuke (tempura tendon with sesame oil aroma), Kyubey (classic Edomae sushi; book ahead), or Tonkatsu Maisen (Aoyama honten—pork so tender you can cut it with chopsticks). Finish with a precision cocktail at Bar High Five in Ginza or BenFiddich in Shinjuku—both world-class, spirit-forward bars.

Kyoto

Kyoto wears history lightly: 1,000+ temples, machiya townhouses, and hidden gardens tucked between bakeries and boutiques. It’s the cradle of tea ceremony and kaiseki, yet café culture and craft coffee thrive here, too.

• Top sights: Fushimi Inari’s vermilion gates, Kiyomizu-dera’s wooden stage, Arashiyama’s bamboo, Gion’s lantern-lit lanes.
• Eat/drink: Obanzai home-cooking, tofu cuisine by the Katsura River, Kyoto-style sushi (saba-zushi), matcha parfaits.
• Tip: Start major temples early; serenity gives way to crowds by mid-morning.

Where to stay (Kyoto): Riverside luxury at The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, refined comfort at Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or Kyoto Brighton Hotel, great value at Hotel M's Plus Shijo Omiya, and social vibes at Piece Hostel Sanjo. See more stays on VRBO Kyoto and Hotels.com Kyoto.

How to get there from Tokyo: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen (Nozomi) from Tokyo/Shinagawa to Kyoto in ~2 hr 15 min. Reserved seat ~14,000–15,000 JPY ($95–$110). Check schedules and e‑tickets on Trip.com trains.

Day 5: Shinkansen to Kyoto, Fushimi Inari, and Gion Night Walk

Morning: Depart Tokyo after breakfast; board a mid-morning Nozomi to reach Kyoto around lunchtime (~2 hr 15 min). Grab a station bento (ekiben)—try mackerel sushi or wagyu on rice—then check in.

Afternoon: Head to Fushimi Inari Taisha. Hike through torii tunnels; for quieter paths, continue beyond the Yotsutsuji viewpoint. Coffee break at Vermillion Espresso (balanced shots and a terrace by the tracks).

Evening: Explore Gion and Shirakawa canal at dusk when lanterns glow. Dinner options: Omen Kodai-ji (handmade udon with seasonal veg), Katsukura (panko-crisp tonkatsu with sesame you grind yourself), or Izuju (Kyoto-style saba-zushi—marinated mackerel on vinegared rice). Finish with a matcha parfait at Tsujiri Gion.

Day 6: Kyoto’s Icons in One Go (Full Day)

Max out your day with the PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour, covering heavy hitters like Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari (if you want a revisit at a different time of day), and Arashiyama. It’s efficient if you prefer curated logistics and a guide’s context on history and seasonal customs.

Day 7: Arashiyama Bamboo at Dawn, Nishiki Market Bites, Departure

Morning: Arrive in Arashiyama by first light for the bamboo grove before the crowds, then step into Tenryu-ji’s gardens. Brunch by the Katsura River: Shoraian (silken tofu course cuisine; reserve) or Arashiyama Yoshimura (hand-cut soba with river views). Coffee at % Arabica Arashiyama for a last, creamy flat white.

Afternoon: Return to central Kyoto for a quick Nishiki Market tasting run: soy milk doughnuts at Konnyamonja, fresh yuba, skewered eel, and pickles from a fifth-generation shop. Last-minute shopping along Teramachi and Kawaramachi arcades. Then head to your departure: Haruka Express from Kyoto Station to KIX (~75 min, ~3,000 JPY), or Shinkansen back to Tokyo for late flights. Check train times on Trip.com trains and flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Evening: Flight day—keep dinner light at the airport: try a final bowl of Kyoto-style ramen or kitsune udon. If you’re overnighting, book a last toast along Pontocho Alley—small izakaya like Torito (yakitori) offer seasonal skewers and local sake.

Extra Tokyo dining ideas (slot in on Days 1–4):

• Breakfast/coffee: Fuglen Coffee Roasters (Scandi-Japanese café culture), Blue Bottle Kiyosumi (roastery warehouse vibes), or The Roastery by Nozy Coffee (Omotesando).
• Lunch: Menya Musashi (rich tonkotsu ramen), Torishiki (yakitori master—book ahead), or Gyukatsu Motomura (beef cutlet, you finish on a tabletop grill).
• Dinner: Tempura Kondo (refined, seasonal), Nabezo (all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu with excellent broth), or Pizza Studio Tamaki (if you need a break—Tokyo does Neapolitan brilliantly).

Suggested booking flow: Fly into Tokyo (HND/NRT), out of Osaka (KIX) to avoid backtracking. Reserve hotels early, secure tickets for teamLab and Shinjuku food tour, and pre-book Shinkansen seats during peak season. Use Trip.com flights, Kiwi.com, and Trip.com trains.

Hotel shortlists at a glance:

• Tokyo: The Peninsula Tokyo, The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo, Hotel Gracery Shinjuku, Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku, Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo, Hilton Tokyo Bay
• Kyoto: The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, Kyoto Tokyu Hotel, Kyoto Brighton Hotel, Hotel M's Plus Shijo Omiya, Piece Hostel Sanjo

Optional swaps if you want more structure in Tokyo: Consider a curated city overview like the 1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour for Meiji Shrine, Skytree admission, and a bay cruise in one go.

One week in Japan flies by, but this route hits the essentials while leaving space for serendipity. You’ll taste the capital’s edge, breathe in Kyoto’s calm, and glimpse Mt. Fuji’s silhouette—a trio that keeps travelers coming back.