Japan pairs centuries-old temples and tea traditions with cutting-edge design, cuisine, and punctual trains. From Edo-period shrines and geisha districts to neon-lit crossings and sky-high viewpoints, this 7-day itinerary balances culture and cuisine with the ease of fast rail.

Tokyo dazzles with neighborhoods that feel like distinct worlds, while Kyoto slows the tempo with moss gardens, bamboo groves, and lantern-lit alleys. You’ll eat ramen worth the wait, sample sake at its source, and enjoy quiet mornings at shrines before the crowds arrive.

Practical notes: IC cards (Suica/PASMO) work on most transport and at convenience stores; many spots take cards but keep some cash. Book popular restaurants and activities (tea ceremonies, teamLab Borderless, Ghibli Museum) in advance. Tattoos may be restricted at some baths—check policies. Spring and autumn are peak seasons; start early for top sights.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a mosaic of micro-neighborhoods—Meiji Shrine’s forest, Harajuku’s street fashion, Shibuya’s streaming crowds, and Asakusa’s incense-scented Senso-ji. Eat your way through ramen counters, standing sushi bars, and tiny izakaya that feel like time capsules.

Highlights include the Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Sky, Senso-ji, Akihabara arcades, teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills), and the Tsukiji Outer Market. For quieter corners, browse books at Daikanyama T-Site, stroll Kiyosumi Garden, or explore Yanaka’s old-town charm.

• Where to stay: Shinjuku for nightlife/transport, Shibuya for dining and shopping, Asakusa for old Tokyo atmosphere, or Ginza for refined calm. Browse stays on VRBO Tokyo or compare hotels on Hotels.com Tokyo.
• Getting in: Fly into Haneda (closer) or Narita. Search flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From Narita, the Keisei Skyliner (~41 min) or JR Narita Express (~55–70 min) are fastest; from Haneda, the Tokyo Monorail or Keikyu lines reach the city in ~15–30 minutes.
• Local gems: Koffee Mameya Kakeru (coffee omakase), Kagari (rich tori-paitan ramen), Warayakiya (straw-seared bonito), and Nonbei Yokocho’s tiny bars by Shibuya Station.

Kyoto

Kyoto wears its history lightly: vermilion gates marching up a sacred mountain, tea steam curling from machiya townhouses, and carp gliding beneath maple leaves. Yet the city also thrives on modern craft—from third-wave coffee to inventive kaiseki.

Don’t miss Fushimi Inari’s torii tunnel, Kiyomizu-dera’s veranda, Arashiyama’s bamboo grove, and the gold-leaf glow of Kinkaku-ji. Seek out a tea ceremony, stroll Gion’s lantern-lit lanes, and snack through Nishiki Market’s 400-year-old food arcade.

• Where to stay: Gion/Higashiyama for temples at your doorstep, Downtown/Kawaramachi for dining and shopping, or Arashiyama for a nature base. See options on VRBO Kyoto and Hotels.com Kyoto.
• Getting there from Tokyo: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi (~2 hr 15 min; reserved seat ~¥14,000–¥15,000). Check times on Trip.com Trains.
• Local gems: Weekenders Coffee (courtyard roastery), Omen for hearty udon with mountain veggies, Hafuu for wagyu cutlet, and Camellia tea ceremony near Ninenzaka.

Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo, Old Town Asakusa, and Night Views

Morning: Fly into Tokyo. Compare fares and schedules on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Pick up an IC card (Suica/PASMO) at the airport for subways and convenience-store buys.

Afternoon: Check in, then head to Asakusa’s Senso-ji—Tokyo’s oldest temple—with Nakamise-dori stalls selling ningyo-yaki cakes and fans. Grab a coffee at Sunaba Coffee or try Asakusa Kagetsudo’s warm melonpan.

Evening: Dine at Uogashi Nihon-Ichi (standing sushi; quick, quality cuts) or Tempura Daikokuya (light, sesame-oil tempura). For skyline views, ride to Tokyo Skytree or sip a highball on the Asahi Beer Hall’s top floor. Nightcap at Kurand Sake Market (self-serve sake bar) or slip into Nonbei Yokocho’s tiny taverns near Shibuya.

Day 2: Shrines, Fashion, and Shibuya Crossing

Morning: Meiji Shrine’s forested torii gates set a calm tone; arrive early to hear the gravel crunch underfoot. Coffee at The Roastery by Nozy (single-origin hand pours) and a quick pastel crepe on Takeshita Street for pop culture flair.

Afternoon: Lunch at Afuri Harajuku for citrusy yuzu-shio ramen, then wander Omotesando’s architectural boutiques. Head to Shibuya Sky for panoramic views; descend to witness Shibuya Crossing, a kinetic icon since the 1930s, then browse Shibuya Parco’s indie fashion and Nintendo store.

Evening: In Shinjuku, slurp award-winning tsukemen at Fuunji (thick dipping noodles, fish-pork broth). Explore Omoide Yokocho’s smoky yakitori stalls—try Torijiro for skewers and chicken meatballs—then peek into Golden Gai’s postage-stamp bars like Albatross (vintage chandelier vibe).

Day 3: Markets, Modern Art, and Roppongi Flavors

Morning: At Tsukiji Outer Market, graze on tamagoyaki at Marutake, grilled scallops with soy butter, and tuna handrolls at Sushi Zanmai. Walk to Hama-rikyu Gardens for matcha in the Nakajima teahouse—Edo-era calm amid skyscrapers.

Afternoon: Experience teamLab Borderless at Azabudai Hills—immersive digital art that blurs walls, floors, and motion. Coffee at Koffee Mameya Kakeru (bar-style coffee “courses” and pairings) or Blue Bottle Kiyosumi if you prefer a garden stroll.

Evening: Dine in Roppongi at Warayakiya—bonito seared over straw flames, smoky and theatrical—or try Tonkatsu Maisen Aoyama for tender pork cutlets. If you’re still curious, pop into Mori Art Museum or enjoy jazz at Blue Note Tokyo after dinner.

Day 4: Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen, Higashiyama Walks

Morning: Depart on the Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi from Tokyo Station to Kyoto (~2 hr 15 min; ~¥14,000–¥15,000 reserved). Reserve seats and check schedules on Trip.com Trains. Grab an ekiben lunch box—try beef sukiyaki or salmon bento—for the ride.

Afternoon: Drop bags, then wander Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka lanes to Kiyomizu-dera. The temple’s veranda, perched without nails, has drawn pilgrims for centuries; the views stretch to the city’s western hills.

Evening: Dinner options: Gion Nanba (seasonal kaiseki; reserve), Kyoto Gogyo (signature burnt miso ramen—deep, smoky), or Izakaya Teyanden in Pontocho (small plates and sake by the river). Stroll Hanamikoji in Gion for a chance—respectful and distant—to see geiko on evening appointments.

Day 5: Fushimi Inari, Tofuku-ji, and Sake District

Morning: Beat the crowds at Fushimi Inari Taisha—start at dawn for near-empty torii tunnels and city views from the mid-mountain lookout. Espresso and toast at Vermillion (just behind the shrine) or a Japanese set breakfast at Iyemon Salon.

Afternoon: Walk to Tofuku-ji for Zen gardens and photogenic bridges, then continue to the Fushimi sake district. Tour the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum and sample junmai and ginjo styles at local tasting bars.

Evening: Dine in Pontocho: Pontocho Kappa Zushi for classic sushi and river vibes, or Mimasuya for obanzai (Kyoto home-style vegetable dishes). Dessert at Tsujiri for matcha parfaits and warabi-mochi.

Day 6: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Zen Gardens, and Bathhouse Wind-Down

Morning: Arrive early in Arashiyama for the Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji’s strolling garden; it’s magical in the morning mist. Coffee at % Arabica by the river, then cross the Togetsukyo Bridge for mountain views.

Afternoon: Taxi or bus to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) for the shimmering postcard, then to Ryoan-ji’s famed rock garden—fifteen stones, but from any angle you’ll see only fourteen. Late lunch at Omen near Ginkaku-ji (chewy udon with seasonal sides) if you swing east, or Katsukura (downtown) for panko-crisp tonkatsu with ground sesame tare.

Evening: Soak at a public bath such as Funaoka Onsen (retro sento; check tattoo rules) or Tenzan-no-Yu (natural hot spring complex; verify policies). Dinner at Hafuu (wagyu cutlet and steak) or Ramen Inoichi for clear, elegant broths—comfort in a bowl.

Day 7: Nishiki Market Bites, Last Temples, and Departure

Morning: Shop and snack through Nishiki Market: soy donuts at Konna Monja, yuba (tofu skin), skewered eel, and pickles at Nishiri. Coffee at Weekenders Coffee (hidden courtyard roastery) and a sweet stop at Demachi Futaba for fresh mochi if the line isn’t daunting.

Afternoon: If time allows, stroll the Philosopher’s Path or visit the tranquil gardens of Shoren-in. Depart via JR Haruka Express from Kyoto Station to Kansai Airport (~75 min); search return flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Evening: In transit. If you have a late flight, squeeze in the nearby Kyoto Station sky garden for a farewell city view and grab ekiben for the road.

Optional add-ons: Akihabara retro gaming arcades, Nezu Museum’s garden in Tokyo, a formal tea ceremony at Camellia near Ninenzaka, or a half-day trip to Uji for matcha and Byodo-in’s Phoenix Hall.

Where to book stays quickly: VRBO Tokyo, Hotels.com Tokyo, VRBO Kyoto, Hotels.com Kyoto. Trains and intercity timetables: Trip.com Trains. Flights in and out: Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

In one week, you’ve tasted Tokyo’s buzz and Kyoto’s serenity—ramen steam to temple incense. With smart starts and a Nozomi ride between cities, this Japan itinerary delivers a satisfying arc of history, food, and design you’ll want to revisit.