Japan blends avant-garde energy with centuries-old ritual. Tokyo dazzles with neon, world-class sushi, and experimental art; Kyoto whispers with temple bells, tea houses, and lanes where kimono-clad walkers glide by at dusk. Together they form a perfect 7-day itinerary: two cities, distinct personalities, one unforgettable trip.

Food is the nation’s heartbeat—ramen steam twisting into winter air, knife-sharp sashimi at standing counters, and humble bowls elevated into art. With a mid-range budget, you’ll savor everything from market bites to izakaya feasts and a hands-on cooking session. We’ve layered in a Mt. Fuji and Hakone day trip for mountain panoramas and soothing onsen town vibes.

Practical notes: no tipping is expected, cash is still handy, and IC cards (Suica/PASMO/ICOCA) make trains a breeze. Book intercity Shinkansen seats, travel light (luggage forwarding is common), and slurp your noodles—it’s encouraged. This plan assumes an afternoon arrival on Day 1 and an afternoon departure on Day 7.

Tokyo

Tokyo is kinetic poetry: ancient shrines tucked behind glass towers, alleyway izakaya that out-cook glossy restaurants, and districts with their own dialects—Shinjuku’s sleepless sparkle, Asakusa’s timeless calm, and Shibuya’s restless fashion pulse. It’s also a serious food city, from standing sushi to Michelin ramen, with markets that turn the everyday into theater.

• Top sights: Senso-ji Temple, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya Crossing, teamLab Planets, Tokyo Skytree views, and leafy Ueno Park.
• Foodie notables: Tsukiji Outer Market snacks, backstreet yakitori, kissaten coffee culture, and yuzu-shio ramen pilgrimages.
• Fun fact: The first Ginza brick buildings arose in the 1870s as a “modern” model district—now it’s a showcase of design and craft.

Where to stay (mid-range picks via Hotels.com; browse VRBO too):

• Hotel Gracery Shinjuku (Godzilla-topped, central for nightlife): Check availability
• Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku (easy JR access, great value): Check availability
• Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo (larger rooms, views, family options): Check availability
• Splurge: The Peninsula Tokyo (near the Imperial Palace): Check availability
• Browse apartments/homes on VRBO: Tokyo VRBO stays
• More hotels on Hotels.com: Search Tokyo hotels

How to get to Tokyo: Search flights into HND or NRT on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Narita Express to Shinjuku takes ~1h25m (~¥3,200). Prefer a car? Book a private transfer: Narita Airport(NRT) Private Transfer To/From Tokyo 1-way or Round.

Getting around: Grab a Suica/PASMO and use JR lines plus subways. Peak hours are packed; aim slightly off-rush when possible.

Day 1: Arrival, Shinjuku Glow, and Izakaya 101

Afternoon: Land and check in. Shake off jet lag with a stroll through Shinjuku Gyoen’s cypress and camellias. Coffee at a retro kissaten (try a siphon brew and a thick-cut toast) to set the mood.

Evening: Explore Omoide Yokocho’s lantern-strung alleys for smoky yakitori and bubbling nikomi stew—perfect intro to izakaya culture (order a “toriaezu nama,” draft beer to start). For ramen, consider Afuri (yuzu-shio brightness) or Menya Musashi (thick, meaty broth). Finish with a leisurely loop through Kabukicho’s neon, then up to the free Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatory for night views.

Day 2: Markets and Old Tokyo + Sumo Dinner Show

Morning: Tsukiji Outer Market breakfast crawl: bite-sized tamagoyaki, grilled scallops brushed with soy butter, and a standing sushi counter for pristine nigiri. Walk to Hamarikyu Gardens for saltwater ponds and a matcha break in the teahouse.

Afternoon: Tram or subway to Asakusa. Wander Nakamise-dori to Senso-ji’s thunder gate, then dip into Kappabashi “Kitchen Town” for knives and donburi bowls. Grab melonpan ice cream or taiyaki for a sweet lift.

Evening: Experience the sport behind the stew with a lively show and a hot pot that fuels wrestlers: Tokyo Sumo Entertainment Show with Chicken Hot Pot and Photo.

After, hop to Asakusa’s backstreets for craft sake bars or head riverside to admire Skytree glowing above the Sumida.

Day 3: Meiji Forest to Shibuya + Night Food Tour

Morning: Enter the quiet torii of Meiji Jingu, then dial up the tempo on Takeshita-dori (crepes, mochi donuts) and architectural Omotesando (stop for drip coffee and a seasonal pastry).

Afternoon: In Shibuya, watch the scramble from an upper-floor lookout, browse indie fashion, and try a standing sushi spot like Uogashi-style counters—fast, fresh, fun. If you’re into immersive art, teamLab Planets in Toyosu turns light and water into sculpture.

Evening: Join a local guide to eat like an in-the-know Tokyoite: Tokyo: Shinjuku Food Tour (13 Dishes at 4 Local Eateries).

Expect skewers, regional bites, and tips on ordering and etiquette—ideal for a foodie with a mid-range budget.

Day 4: Mt. Fuji and Hakone Day Trip

All day: Trade towers for volcanic vistas on a well-paced excursion: Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train.

Reach the 5th Station on Fuji, cruise Lake Ashi’s mirror waters, and ride the Hakone Ropeway over Owakudani’s fumaroles. Return to Tokyo by Shinkansen in time for a late ramen—ya shoyu at a counter near your hotel is perfect.

Kyoto

Kyoto, the former imperial capital, is a tapestry of torii tunnels, mossy stones, and kitchens devoted to the seasons. Lantern-lit lanes in Gion whisper of geiko appointments; mornings in Arashiyama glow green through bamboo. For food lovers, Nishiki Market is the pantry of dreams—pickles, tofu skins, skewered seafood, and sweets.

• Top sights: Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and Gion’s wooden machiya streets.
• Foodie notables: Obanzai (Kyoto-style home cooking), matcha desserts, tofu kaiseki, sake tastings from nearby Fushimi.
• Fun fact: Kyoto is famed for pristine groundwater—why tea, tofu, and sake taste exceptionally pure here.

Getting to Kyoto from Tokyo: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen. Nozomi is fastest (~2h15m, ~¥14,000–¥14,500 reserved seat one-way); Hikari (~2h40m) is JR Pass-friendly. Book seats on Trip.com Trains. Morning departure recommended; ship a suitcase with a same/next-day forwarding service and travel light.

Where to stay (value-forward to mid-range):

• Hotel M's Plus Shijo Omiya (smart rooms, great transit): Check availability
• Kyoto Tokyu Hotel (quiet pocket, elegant common spaces): Check availability
• Piece Hostel Sanjo (design-forward budget, social vibe): Check availability
• Kyoto Brighton Hotel (spacious rooms, refined service): Check availability
• Browse VRBO homes and townhouses: Kyoto VRBO stays
• More hotels on Hotels.com: Search Kyoto hotels

Day 5: Tokyo → Kyoto, Nishiki Market, and Gion at Dusk

Morning: Shinkansen to Kyoto (aim for ~9:00 a.m. train; arrive before noon). Drop bags and grab a light lunch—Katsukura’s tonkatsu is crisp and comforting, or a conveyor-belt Musashi Sushi run for casual fun.

Afternoon: Dive into Nishiki Market. Sample tako tamago (baby octopus with quail egg), soy milk donuts, pickles (tsukemono), and yuba (tofu skin). Join a hands-on Japanese cooking class in a local studio where you’ll learn knife basics and seasonality (obanzai-style sides and miso soup)—a perfect skill souvenir for a foodie.

Evening: Stroll Gion’s Shirakawa Canal as lanterns flicker. Dinner at a cozy izakaya specializing in Kyoto vegetables and grilled local chicken; try yuba sashimi and blistered shishito. Cap with matcha parfait or warabi mochi near Hanamikoji.

Day 6: Temples by Day, Osaka Street Food by Night

Morning: Visit Kinkaku-ji (go early for reflections), then Ryoan-ji’s rock garden for quiet minimalism. Coffee at % Arabica in Higashiyama and a light kyo-sandwich en route to Kiyomizu-dera’s wooden veranda with sweeping city views.

Afternoon: Free time for a tea ceremony or a pottery studio browse. Alternatively, cover Kyoto’s greatest hits with a private guide for efficiency: 10 Must-see Spots in Kyoto One Day Private Tour (up to 7 people).

This is great if you prefer a curated route and context-rich storytelling.

Evening: Hop 30 minutes by rapid train to Osaka’s Namba for a guided feast: Osaka Food Tour: 13 Dishes at 5 Local Eateries.

Crunch takoyaki, smoky kushikatsu, and regional specialties with neon-lit Dotonbori as your backdrop. Train back to Kyoto by 10–11 p.m.

Day 7: Fushimi Inari Sunrise, Tofu Brunch, Departure

Morning: Early start at Fushimi Inari before crowds—thousands of vermilion torii climbing the sacred hill. Enjoy a tofu-forward brunch (yudofu hot pot, goma-dofu) nearby; Kyoto’s delicate tofu is a highlight.

Afternoon: Last-minute shopping for wagashi sweets or tea, then head to Kyoto Station for your train to Tokyo (if flying out of HND/NRT). Nozomi to Shinagawa or Tokyo Station (~2h15m), then onward airport rail. Book seats on Trip.com Trains. Flights: check Trip.com or Kiwi.com for best schedules.

Optional Tokyo Add-ons (if you swap a night outing)

• Prefer a custom city overview? Tokyo Customized Private Tour: See Top Attractions in 1 Day

  

• Want more Fuji views? Consider a private Mt. Fuji charter for flexibility: Mount Fuji Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Tokyo

  

Daily Food & Coffee Shortlist (sprinkle through your week):

• Tokyo breakfast/coffee: Turret Coffee Tsukiji (strong espressos), a classic kissaten near your hotel for siphon, or bakery runs at depachika (Isetan Shinjuku) for buttery croissants and bento.
• Tokyo lunches: Tonkatsu at Maisen Aoyama Honten, tempura bowls in Nihonbashi, standing sushi at a Uogashi-style bar.
• Tokyo dinners: Ebisu Yokocho for skewer-hopping; ramen at Ichiran (solo booths) or Afuri (citrus-bright).
• Kyoto snacks: Nishiki Market’s soy donuts, tsukemono tastings, sesame ice cream.
• Kyoto dinners: Obanzai izakaya for seasonal small plates; Tempura Endo Yasaka for a tempura-focused set; simple yakitori near Sanjo for budget-friendly skewers.

In one compact week you’ll taste Japan from street to kaiseki, walk shrine paths and bamboo lanes, and see Fuji rise above misty lakes. Tokyo feeds your curiosity; Kyoto slows your steps—together, they’re the perfect first (or fifth) taste of Japan.