Japan is a study in contrasts: sleek bullet trains gliding past rice fields, 1,000-year-old temples tucked behind vending machines, and cuisine that ranges from standing-room sushi to multi-course kaiseki. Tokyo dazzles with neon and neighborhoods that feel like their own small cities. Kyoto slows the tempo—lantern-lit lanes, incense-scented temples, and tea whisked by hand.

Across seven days, this itinerary balances iconic sights with local finds: early-morning markets, back-street coffee bars, indie bookstores, hidden gardens, and seasonal sweets. You’ll ride the Shinkansen, sample ramen styles side-by-side, and learn why Kyoto’s tofu, matcha, and sake have cult followings. Expect a thoughtful rhythm—busy mornings, cultural afternoons, and evenings with atmosphere.

Practical notes: Pick up a Suica or Pasmo IC card for tap-and-go transit (and convenience stores). For a Tokyo–Kyoto round trip, point-to-point tickets typically beat a nationwide rail pass. Cash is still common at small shops; tipping isn’t customary. Spring cherry blossoms and fall foliage are peak seasons—book transport and hotels early.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a patchwork of villages stitched together by trains: boho Shimokitazawa, stately Marunouchi, electric Akihabara, old-soul Asakusa, sleek Omotesando. The city rewards curiosity—turn down side alleys for kissaten coffee, noren-curtained yakitori stands, and artisan knife shops. Iconic sights like Senso-ji and Shibuya Crossing are essential; equally compelling are morning strolls through Yanaka’s old town or sunset views from Shibuya Sky.

• Top sights: Senso-ji, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Scramble & Shibuya Sky, teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills), Ueno Park museums, Tokyo Skytree.
• Food musts: Tsukiji Outer Market for tamagoyaki and sashimi bowls, ramen at Fuunji (tsukemen) or Afuri (yuzu shio), tonkatsu at Maisen, sushi at Uogashi Nihon-Ichi (standing bar).
• Fun facts: Shibuya Crossing handles thousands of pedestrians per signal; Senso-ji dates to 628 CE; “depachika” (department store food halls) are edible art galleries.

Where to stay (search and compare): Browse central neighborhoods like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, or Tokyo Station for the best rail access. Check availability and deals on Hotels.com Tokyo or apartment-style stays on VRBO Tokyo.

Getting to Tokyo: Search international flights (price varies by origin; from the U.S. West Coast, roundtrips often run ~$700–$1,200 outside peak) via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From Narita, the Narita Express to Tokyo Station takes ~1 hour; from Haneda, the monorail and JR lines reach the center in ~25–35 minutes.

Day 1: Arrival, Check-In, Neon Night

Afternoon: Arrive in Tokyo and check into your hotel. Shake off the flight with a gentle walk in Shinjuku Gyoen if time permits (serene lawns and teahouses), or browse the Isetan Shinjuku depachika for snacks—bento, wagyu croquettes, strawberry shortcake.

Evening: Dive into classic yakitori on Omoide Yokocho (grilled chicken skewers; order negima and tsukune). For something convivial and affordable, Torikizoku chain does set-price skewers. Cap the night with a free skyline view at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, or sip a craft cocktail at Bar BenFiddich (reservations recommended; inventive herbaceous drinks).

Day 2: Asakusa, Old Tokyo Lanes, and Skytree

Morning: Start in Asakusa at Senso-ji before crowds. Snack your way through Nakamise-dori: ningyo-yaki cakes, senbei rice crackers. Coffee and a hearty breakfast at Suke6 Diner (eggs, breads) or try warm melonpan at Asakusa Kagetsudo.

Afternoon: Stroll Kappabashi Kitchen Street for knives and realistic food samples, then head to Ueno Park for a museum (Tokyo National Museum) or pond walk. Late lunch: tempura at Tendon Tenya (budget, fast) or old-school Tempura Daikokuya (expect waits).

Evening: Ride up Tokyo Skytree for a wide-angle sunset. Dinner on Hoppy Street back in Asakusa—compact izakayas serving nikomi stew and yakitori. If you prefer ramen, slurp rich tsukemen at Fuunji near Shinjuku (go early; lines move fast).

Day 3: Meiji Shrine to Shibuya Sky

Morning: Enter the cedar-scented paths of Meiji Shrine, then cut through Harajuku (Takeshita-dori for crepes, thrift shops). Coffee at Fuglen or Blue Bottle Aoyama. Brunch-y option: airy pancakes at bills Omotesando.

Afternoon: Architectural stroll down Omotesando (Tadao Ando’s Omotesando Hills, Prada Aoyama). Pop to teamLab Borderless at Azabudai Hills for immersive digital art (book timed tickets; ~¥3,800). Alternatively, explore indie boutiques in Shimokitazawa.

Evening: Time sunset for Shibuya Sky (outdoor deck; advanced booking advised; ~¥2,200). Dinner options: citrus-bright ramen at Afuri, silky tonkatsu at Maisen Aoyama, or fast, delicious conveyor-belt sushi at Uobei. Nightcap in Nonbei Yokocho (tiny bars) or Golden Gai (cover charges common; cash-friendly).

Kyoto

Kyoto was Japan’s imperial capital for over a millennium. Today, cedar-townhouses (machiya), lantern-lit alleys, and tea rooms coexist with modern galleries and riverfront cafes. The magic is in the mornings—crimson gates empty at Fushimi Inari, mist over Arashiyama’s bamboo—and in evenings along Pontocho, where the Kamogawa reflects a thousand lights.

• Top sights: Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera, Gion and Pontocho, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji, Nishiki Market.
• Food musts: Kyoto-style kaiseki, tofu cuisine (yudofu), matcha sweets, obanzai (home-style small plates), yakitori, and refined ramen at Menya Inoichi.
• Local experiences: Tea ceremony, sake tasting in Fushimi, evening geiko/maiko spotting around Hanamikoji (look, don’t block or photograph without permission).

Where to stay (search and compare): Base near Gion/Higashiyama for temple walks, or by Kyoto Station for easy transport. See options on Hotels.com Kyoto and VRBO Kyoto (machiya-style rentals are atmospheric).

Tokyo → Kyoto transport: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station. Nozomi trains take ~2 hr 15 min; Hikari ~2 hr 40 min. One-way reserved seats are about ¥14,000–¥15,000 (~$95–$110). Check schedules and fares via Trip.com Trains.

Day 4: Morning Shinkansen, Higashiyama, and Gion

Morning: Depart Tokyo around 8:30 a.m., arrive Kyoto ~10:45 a.m. Drop bags and head to Higashiyama. Coffee at % Arabica Kyoto Yasaka or Blue Bottle Kiyomizu. Walk the stone lanes of Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka to Kiyomizu-dera (city views from the wooden veranda).

Afternoon: Browse pottery and incense shops; try warabi mochi at Kagizen Yoshifusa. Explore Kodai-ji and its bamboo path. Late lunch of handmade udon at Omen Kodaiji or Kyoto-style soba at Honke Owariya (historic).

Evening: Twilight stroll through Gion and Pontocho. Dinner picks: refined kaiseki at Gion Nanba (book ahead), creative tofu cuisine at Tofuya Ukai (Kyoto branch), or yakitori at Toritō. Finish with a riverfront drink along the Kamogawa.

Day 5: Arashiyama Bamboo and Tea Ceremony

Morning: Reach Arashiyama by 7:00–7:30 a.m. for a near-empty Bamboo Grove. Visit Tenryu-ji and its Zen garden. Coffee with a view at % Arabica Arashiyama. Optional climb to Okochi Sanso villa (landscaped gardens, tea included).

Afternoon: Lunch riverside: soba at Arashiyama Yoshimura or tofu cuisine at Shoraian (reservations). If you’re up for it, Iwatayama Monkey Park offers city panoramas. Return to central Kyoto for a hands-on tea ceremony (e.g., Camellia Tea Ceremony near Ninenzaka; small-group, English guidance).

Evening: Sample Kyoto ramen at Menya Inoichi (delicate shio broth) or conveyor-belt sushi at Musashi Sushi for variety. Dessert: matcha parfait at Nakamura Tokichi (Kyoto Station/ujicha specialist).

Day 6: Nara Day Trip and Kyoto Sento Night

Morning: JR train from Kyoto Station to Nara (~45 minutes; ~¥720 each way; frequent departures—check Trip.com Trains). Visit Todai-ji and its Great Buddha, then wander Nara Park (bow to the deer; they may bow back).

Afternoon: Lunch at Edogawa Naramachi (unagi) or grab warm yomogi mochi from Nakatanidō (famous pounding). Explore Kasuga Taisha’s lanterned paths and the preserved lanes of Naramachi. Return to Kyoto by late afternoon.

Evening: Soak like a local at Funaoka Onsen (historic sento; follow bathing etiquette). Dinner afterward: wagyu at Yakiniku Hiro (various cuts, grill-at-table) or Kyoto-style okonomiyaki at Donguri (casual, family-friendly).

Day 7: Fushimi Inari at Dawn, Nishiki Market, Departure

Morning: Catch Fushimi Inari Taisha at first light—climb through tunnels of vermilion torii for views. Coffee and classic breakfast at Inoda Coffee (retro kissaten vibe). Alternatively, sit riverside at Vermillion Café near the shrine.

Afternoon: Last-minute browsing at Nishiki Market (pickles, knives, yuba tofu, spice blends from Shichimiya). Head back for checkout and transfer to the airport. The Haruka Express from Kyoto to KIX takes ~75 minutes (~¥2,900); airport limobus to Itami is ~55 minutes (~¥1,340). Search outbound flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Evening: Most travelers fly out this afternoon. If you have extra time, toast the trip with a tasting in Fushimi (Kyoto’s sake district) and pick up a bottle as a souvenir.

Extra Tips and Local Gems

• Breakfast & coffee: Tokyo’s Onibus Coffee (Nakameguro) for pour-overs; Kyoto’s Weekenders Coffee hidden behind a parking lot near Karasuma.
• Markets: Explore Ameya-Yokocho near Ueno for snacks and streetwear bargains.
• Shopping: Department store food halls at Daimaru Kyoto and Mitsukoshi Ginza for edible gifts (yokan, sencha, wagashi).
• Etiquette: Eat where you buy; avoid walking while eating on crowded streets. In trains, ringtones off and voices low.

Booking hub: Trains within Japan: Trip.com Trains. Flights to/from Japan: Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Hotels: Hotels.com Tokyo, Hotels.com Kyoto; apartments: VRBO Tokyo, VRBO Kyoto.

In one week, you’ll taste Tokyo’s energy and Kyoto’s elegance—ramen steam and temple incense, city lights and moss gardens. This Japan itinerary delivers big sights and small rituals, leaving room for serendipity and second helpings. You’ll depart already plotting a return.