Japan layers past and future with cinematic flair. Samurai-era streets sit a train stop from glass towers, and the shinkansen stitches it all together with to-the-minute precision. This 7-day Tokyo and Kyoto itinerary focuses on culture, cuisine, and neighborhood wandering—the way Japan reveals itself best.

Expect historic temples, quiet gardens, and pop-culture landmarks, interleaved with sushi counters, ramen joints, kissaten retro cafés, and third-wave coffee. You’ll ride the bullet train, sample market snacks, and end evenings in atmospheric alleyways where noren curtains sway and the grill smoke is a promise.

Practical notes: Pick up a Suica or PASMO (in Tokyo) and ICOCA (in Kansai) IC card for tap-and-go transit. Cash still matters at small spots, though cards are increasingly accepted. Reserve high-demand restaurants where possible, and plan teamLab and tea ceremonies ahead—popular experiences sell out quickly.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a mosaic of “villages”: shrine-laced Harajuku, foodie-favorite Asakusa, design-forward Omotesando, and night-owl Shinjuku. Mornings can be serene at Meiji Jingu; nights pulse at Shibuya Crossing and Golden Gai. Between, you’ll find ramen legends, conveyor-belt sushi, hidden kissaten, and experimental cocktail bars.

• Don’t miss: Senso-ji in Asakusa, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Crossing, teamLab (Borderless at Azabudai Hills or Planets in Toyosu), Ueno’s museums, and Tokyo’s skyline viewpoints.
• Where to stay: Base near Shibuya/Shinjuku for nightlife and transit, or Asakusa for old-Tokyo vibes. Browse stays on VRBO Tokyo or compare hotels on Hotels.com Tokyo.
• Getting there: Fly into HND or NRT. Check fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Day 1: Arrival, Shibuya First Impressions

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off jet lag with a gentle stroll through Yoyogi Park, then slip into Meiji Shrine’s cedar-scented paths for a calm reset.

Evening: Dive into Shibuya. Cross the famous scramble—pop-culture icon since the late 20th century, choreographed chaos that’s oddly poetic. Dinner at Umegaoka Sushino Midori (value-forward sushi; expect a queue) or Afuri Harajuku (yuzu-scented ramen, light and aromatic). Nightcap in Nonbei Yokocho or Omoide Yokocho, alleys packed with tiny izakaya; order yakitori and a highball.

Day 2: Asakusa Traditions and Ueno Museums

Morning: Coffee and hearty breakfast at Suke6 Diner (Asakusa; bakery breads and eggs). Visit Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple. Browse Nakamise-dori for ningyo-yaki cakes and senbei rice crackers; duck into side lanes for quieter shots of the five-story pagoda.

Afternoon: Walk or hop the Ginza Line to Ueno Park. Pick a museum: Tokyo National Museum for samurai armor and ukiyo-e, or the National Museum of Nature and Science. Lunch light at Uogashi Nihon-Ichi (standing sushi; fast and fresh), or go classic with Daikokuya (tempura with a cult following; get the tendon bowl).

Evening: Head to Ameya-Yokocho for street snacks, then dinner in Kuramae at Mensho (creative ramen with house-milled flour) or back to Asakusa’s Hoppy Street for open-air izakaya fare. For cocktails, consider Bar BenFiddich (herbal, farm-to-glass style) in Shinjuku—arrive early; seating is limited.

Day 3: Markets, teamLab, and Tokyo Bay or Roppongi

Morning: Graze at Tsukiji Outer Market—tamago-yaki skewers at Marutake, grilled scallops, and a hand roll at Sushi Sei. Coffee at Toranomon Koffee or KOFFEE MAMEYA Kakeru (reservations recommended for tasting flights).

Afternoon: Immerse in digital art at teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills) or teamLab Planets (Toyosu; barefoot, water installation). Pre-book tickets. If time allows, stroll Odaiba’s waterfront or explore Mori Art Museum and the lookout at Roppongi Hills.

Evening: Dinner at Maisen Aoyama (butter-soft tonkatsu; try the kurobuta) or Nabezo Shinjuku (all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu/sukiyaki with quality beef and veg). For a refined pour, Bar High Five in Ginza crafts textbook Japanese cocktails with quiet theater.

Day 4: Harajuku, Omotesando, and Shinjuku Nights

Morning: Start with a buttery croissant at BOUL'ANGE Omotesando or a pour-over at Fuglen Tokyo (retro-Nordic coffee bar). Wander Cat Street for indie boutiques and design pop-ups.

Afternoon: Picnic in Shinjuku Gyoen, then shop Isetan’s food halls. Late-day views from the free Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatory, or go paid at Shibuya Sky for a dramatic sunset panorama.

Evening: Slurp at Udon Shin (handmade udon; tempura side is excellent) or Ichiran (customizable tonkotsu ramen, solo booths). Bar-hop Golden Gai—dozens of postage-stamp bars with themes from Showa-era jazz to film noir; many welcome visitors with a small cover.

Kyoto

Kyoto is craftsmanship and ceremony—1,000 temples, perfumed cedar, and lantern-lit lanes where geiko glide to evening appointments. Days begin with temple bells and end with kaiseki courses that read like poetry of the seasons.

• Don’t miss: Fushimi Inari’s vermilion torii, Kiyomizu-dera’s hillside hall, Arashiyama’s bamboo grove, Nishiki Market, and a guided tea ceremony.
• Where to stay: Gion/Higashiyama for old-town ambience; Kyoto Station area for transport. See VRBO Kyoto and Hotels.com Kyoto.
• Getting there: From Tokyo, take the Shinkansen (Nozomi ~2h15; ~¥14,500 reserved seat). Search schedules on Trip.com Trains.

Day 5: Tokyo to Kyoto, Higashiyama Stroll

Morning: Depart Tokyo Station on a Nozomi or Hikari. Grab an ekiben lunchbox for the ride—wagyu sukiyaki or mackerel sushi are standouts. Travel time ~2h15–2h40; cost ~¥14,170–¥14,500 one-way.

Afternoon: Check in, then wander Higashiyama: Yasaka Pagoda, Ninen-zaka, and Sannen-zaka’s stone lanes. Coffee at % Arabica Higashiyama (single-origin espresso with a view) or Weekenders Coffee (courtyard roastery near Karasuma).

Evening: Dinner on Pontocho Alley: try Pontocho Kappa Zushi for casual sushi or reserve Gion Nanba for seasonal kaiseki that showcases Kyoto vegetables and delicate dashi. Post-dinner, stroll the Kamo River or sip a classic at L’Escamoteur—a magician-bartender’s cabinet of curiosities with exquisite drinks.

Day 6: Arashiyama, Tenryu-ji, and Riverside Eats

Morning: Go early to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove before the crowds, then visit Tenryu-ji’s strolling gardens. Optional hike to Iwatayama Monkey Park for city views.

Afternoon: Lunch at Arashiyama Yoshimura (handmade soba facing Togetsukyo Bridge) or book Tenryu-ji Shigetsu for temple shojin-ryori (vegan Buddhist cuisine). Soak tired feet at the Arashiyama Station footbath or detour to Funaoka Onsen, a classic tiled sento back in town.

Evening: Return central. Ramen devotees should try Menya Inoichi (clean shoyu and shio broths; limited seats). For yakitori and sake, Torito near Sanjo balances charcoal-grilled skewers with a deep sake list.

Day 7: Fushimi Inari, Nishiki Market, Departure

Morning: Sunrise climb at Fushimi Inari Taisha. Grab a flat white at Vermillion by the shrine gate after descending. The early start buys quiet paths and vermilion arcs without the rush.

Afternoon: Snack your way through Nishiki Market: soy-milk donuts at Konna Monja, sesame skewers, grilled eel, and yuba. If time allows, book a tea ceremony at Camellia (Gion) to learn matcha etiquette. Depart from Kyoto: either bullet train back to Tokyo (~2h15) or fly out of Osaka (ITM/KIX). Check trains on Trip.com Trains and flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Evening: If your flight is later, close with a final Kyoto bite: Omen Kodai-ji (thick udon with seasonal veg) or Izakaya Tan (small plates and local sake). Pick up gifts—yatsuhashi sweets, matcha, or Aritsugu knives—before you go.

Getting Between Cities and Around Town

Tokyo ⇄ Kyoto: Nozomi shinkansen is fastest (about 2h15). Hikari is JR Pass-friendly (about 2h40). Expect ~¥14,000–¥15,000 one-way. Browse options on Trip.com Trains.

Air: For open-jaw tickets (arrive Tokyo, depart Osaka) or multi-city, compare on Trip.com Flights and Kiwi.com.

Transit tips: IC cards (Suica/PASMO/ICOCA) work on most trains, subways, and buses. Taxis are clean and reliable; cashless payment common. Rush hour is intense—plan major transfers mid-morning.

In a week you’ll span Tokyo’s kinetic neighborhoods and Kyoto’s contemplative lanes, weaving ramen slurps with shrine stillness and bullet-train speed. It’s a balanced Japan itinerary—big sights, small pleasures, and time to wander, ensuring you leave with both postcard moments and personal favorites.