Welcome to Japan, where centuries-old temples share skylines with glass towers, and dinner might mean Michelin-worthy ramen one night and a hushed kaiseki feast the next. In this 7-day Tokyo and Kyoto itinerary, you’ll trace samurai avenues, sip pour-over coffee with roasters who obsess over grams and seconds, and ride the Shinkansen past tea fields and coastal plains.

Tokyo dazzles with districts that each feel like a different city—fashion-forward Harajuku, lantern-lit Shinjuku, and venerable Asakusa anchored by Sensō-ji. Kyoto slows the tempo with moss gardens, bamboo groves, and shrine paths that catch the first light—especially Fushimi Inari’s vermilion gates at dawn. Together, they’re Japan’s essential pairing for culture, cuisine, and contrast.

Practical notes: Tap-to-pay IC cards (Suica/PASMO, including mobile versions) make city transit effortless; cash is still handy for markets and small shops. The JR Pass isn’t necessary for this route—single tickets on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen are usually better value. Book marquee experiences (Shibuya Sky, teamLab Borderless, popular ramen or kaiseki spots) ahead.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a constellation of neighborhoods stitched together by immaculate trains and an endless appetite for reinvention. One minute you’re washing your hands at a Shintō shrine under towering cedars; the next you’re watching a chef torch sea urchin at a 10-seat counter.

• Top sights: Meiji Jingu, Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya Sky, Sensō-ji in Asakusa, teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills), Ueno Park museums, Hamarikyu Gardens.
• Food highlights: Sushi counters from friendly to fanatical, yakitori alleys, tempura legends, buttery tonkatsu, and ramen styles from yuzu-shio to burnt miso.
• Neighborhood vibes: Trendy Harajuku/Omotesandō, late-night Shinjuku, classic Asakusa, luxe Ginza, bohemian Shimokitazawa and Nakameguro.

Where to stay (Tokyo): For nightlife and convenience, aim for Shinjuku or Shibuya; for tradition and budget, Asakusa; for upscale shopping and quiet nights, Ginza/Marunouchi. Browse stays on VRBO Tokyo or compare hotels on Hotels.com Tokyo.

Getting in: Fly into Haneda (closer) or Narita. Search fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From Haneda, the monorail or Keikyū lines reach the city in 20–30 minutes; from Narita, the Skyliner or Narita Express takes ~40–60 minutes.

Day 1: Arrival, Asakusa Atmosphere, and a View

Morning: In transit. On arrival, load a Suica/PASMO (physical or mobile) and drop bags at your hotel.

Afternoon: Stroll Asakusa’s Nakamise-dori to Sensō-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, perfumed by incense and framed by the thunder gate’s giant lantern. Snack as you go: warm melonpan at Asakusa Kagetsudō and taiyaki (red-bean fish-shaped cakes) from street stalls.

Evening: Ride to Tokyo Skytree for dusk views or opt for the open-air rooftop at Shibuya Sky (book timed tickets; ~¥2,200). Dinner nearby in Shibuya: smoky yakiniku at Han no Daidokoro Bettei (wagyu by the gram) or conveyor-belt fun at Genki Sushi Shibuya for a casual first-night feast.

Day 2: Meiji Shrine, Harajuku Fashion, and Shibuya Nights

Morning: Coffee at Fuglen Tokyo (Scandi-style espresso) or GLITCH Coffee & Roasters (light-roast single origins). Enter the forested torii of Meiji Jingu, then wander Takeshita Street for crepes and street fashion.

Afternoon: Lunch at AFURI Harajuku (yuzu-shio ramen—bright, citrusy broth) or pork loin perfection at Tonkatsu Maisen Aoyama Honten. Browse Omotesandō’s modernist boutiques, then a serious coffee stop at KOFFEE MAMEYA where baristas dial in beans to your taste.

Evening: Cross the famous Shibuya Crossing, a choreography of thousands since the 1970s redesign. Explore tiny bars in Nonbei Yokocho. Dinner ideas: creative izakaya plates at Uogashi Shibuya (seafood-focused) or seasonal tempura at Tsunahachi (Shinjuku Honten is the classic, but branches are citywide). Nightcap back in Shibuya or on a high floor in Shinjuku.

Day 3: Old Tokyo to Neon Tokyo

Morning: Return to Asakusa early if you crave quieter temple photos. Brunch at Suke6 Diner (thick French toast, good coffee). Walk or cruise to Hamarikyu Gardens and sip matcha at Nakajima no Ochaya, a teahouse on a tidal pond once reserved for shoguns.

Afternoon: Head to Azabudai Hills for teamLab Borderless (immersive digital art; prebook, ~¥3,800). Alternatively, museum-hop in Ueno (Tokyo National Museum) or shop in Ginza’s grand department stores.

Evening: Shinjuku night: squeeze into Omoide Yokocho for yakitori skewers, then wander Golden Gai—a honeycomb of tiny themed bars. Ramen finale? Ichiran Shinjuku (customizable tonkotsu booths) or a refined set-menu sushi at Manten Sushi Marunouchi if you book ahead.

Kyoto

Kyoto is Japan’s former imperial capital and keeper of its most elegant traditions—tea ceremony, geiko culture, and gardens raked into living calligraphy. Lantern-lit lanes and wooden machiya houses make twilight walks feel cinematic.

• Top sights: Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Tenryū-ji, Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), Gion and Ponto-chō.
• Experiences: Tea ceremony, obanzai home-cooking, sake tasting in Fushimi, riverside dining in summer.
• Pace: Early starts reward you with quiet shrines; afternoons are for markets and gardens; evenings shine in Gion’s narrow alleys.

Getting there from Tokyo: Take the JR Tōkaidō Shinkansen Nozomi from Tokyo or Shinagawa to Kyoto Station (~2 hr 15 min; reserved seats ~¥14,000–15,000 one-way). Search and book trains on Trip.com Trains. Large luggage over 160 cm (sum of dimensions) requires an oversize seat reservation.

Where to stay (Kyoto): Gion/Higashiyama for old-town ambience, Kawaramachi/Sanjo for convenience and dining, Arashiyama for nature. Compare stays on VRBO Kyoto or Hotels.com Kyoto.

Day 4: Tokyo to Kyoto, Nishiki Market, and Gion

Morning: Board an early Nozomi; grab an ekiben (station lunchbox) for the ride—look for seasonal bento with wagyu or grilled mackerel. You’ll reach Kyoto by late morning.

Afternoon: Drop bags and head to Nishiki Market, a 400-year-old pantry. Sample matcha croissants, skewered eel, tamagoyaki, fresh tofu, and pickles. For a sit-down late lunch, try Honke Owariya (soba since 1465) or tempura bowls at Tempura Endo near Gion.

Evening: Twilight walk through Gion and Yasaka Shrine. Dinner ideas: modern kaiseki at Giro Giro Hitoshina (creative, great value; reserve) or Kyoto-style obanzai at Kamoshita (seasonal small plates). Stroll Ponto-chō alley after dinner; keep voices low—this is a residential heritage area.

Day 5: Fushimi Inari, Higashiyama Classics, and Ramen After Dark

Morning: Beat the crowds at Fushimi Inari Taisha by arriving at sunrise; hike partway for quieter torii tunnels. Espresso reward at Vermillion – espresso bar beside the shrine.

Afternoon: Explore Kiyomizu-dera and the stone lanes of Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka. Try a tea-tasting flight or wagashi sweets at a traditional teahouse. Lunch with a view at Okutan Kiyomizu (yudōfu tofu set) or crispy chicken nanban at Mumokuteki Café if you prefer modern café fare.

Evening: Slurp Kyoto’s famous burnt-miso ramen at Gogyo Kyoto—smoky, rich, unforgettable. Post-dinner, slip into a speakeasy-style cocktail bar like L’Escamoteur, where the bartender-magician shakes and stirs among apothecary bottles.

Day 6: Arashiyama Bamboo, River Views, and Onsen-Style Soak

Morning: Arrive early to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove before the tour buses, then tour Tenryū-ji’s sublime gardens. Coffee with a river view at % Arabica Arashiyama or grab a matcha soft-serve along the main street.

Afternoon: Lunch overlooking the Katsura River at Arashiyama Yoshimura (soba and tempura) or charcoal-grilled eel at Unagi Hirokawa (reserve). Ride the Sagano Scenic Railway (Torokko) through the gorge if seats are available (~25 min each way). Optional hike to Iwatayama Monkey Park for city views.

Evening: Ease travel-weary legs at historic Funaoka Onsen (a classic neighborhood sento; bring small towel; tattoos increasingly accepted but check rules). Dinner back downtown: chewy udon and seasonal sides at Omen Kodai-ji or Kyoto-style tempura at Yasaka Endo.

Day 7: Nara Morning, Souvenirs, and Departure

Morning: Optional quick trip to Nara if your flight is later in the day: JR local (~45–50 min, ~¥720) or Kintetsu express (~35–40 min). Visit Tōdai-ji’s Great Buddha and greet the bowing deer in Nara Park. Snack on freshly pounded yomogi mochi at Nakatanidō and consider an eel lunch at Edogawa Naramachi if time allows.

Afternoon: Return to Kyoto for last-minute shopping along Teramachi and Shinkyogoku arcades—ceramics, tenugui cloths, and matcha. Pick up bags and transfer to Kyoto Station or Kansai Airport. For trains and airport connections, check schedules on Trip.com Trains; for flights out of Kansai (KIX) or Itami (ITM), search Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Evening: If you’re still in town, a quick, elegant meal near the station: Kyoto Ramen Koji (ramen “food court” with regional styles) or seasonal small plates and sake at an easygoing izakaya along Kiyamachi.

Coffee and Breakfast Shortlist (both cities): GLITCH Coffee (Tokyo), Fuglen (Tokyo), Onibus Coffee Nakameguro (Tokyo), % Arabica (Kyoto), Weekenders Coffee (Kyoto), Vermillion (Kyoto). Expect meticulous pours and limited seating—arrive early.

Booking tips: Reserve Shinkansen seats a few days in advance during peak seasons (spring cherry blossoms and autumn foliage). For lodging, Tokyo books up fastest around major conventions and Kyoto around festival dates (Gion Matsuri in July, autumn leaves in November). See VRBO Tokyo, Hotels.com Tokyo, VRBO Kyoto, and Hotels.com Kyoto.

In one week you’ll balance shrine serenity, city buzz, and unforgettable meals—punctuated by the speed and comfort of Japan’s bullet trains. Tokyo sets the hook; Kyoto reels you in with timeless beauty. You’ll leave with a palate trained for umami and a camera roll full of lantern light and cedar shadows.