Japan marries futurism with deep tradition—one moment you’re beneath a 1,300-year-old temple roof, the next you’re gliding past neon superstructures. This 7-day Tokyo and Kyoto itinerary captures both sides: street food and tea ceremonies, skyscraper views and mossy gardens, fashion hubs and lantern-lit alleys.

Tokyo rose from Edo-era roots into the world’s largest metropolis, a place where vending machines hum on shrine-lined streets and innovation feels ordinary. Kyoto, Japan’s former imperial capital, protects the country’s aesthetic soul across 1,600 temples, centuries-old crafts, and some of the finest kaiseki dining anywhere.

Practical notes: IC cards (like Suica/PASMO) make transit easy; Japan’s trains are punctual and clean. For intercity travel, the Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Kyoto takes about 2–2.5 hours. Expect superb cuisine—from sushi and tempura to wagyu, ramen, and wagashi (traditional sweets)—with thoughtful hospitality at every stop.

Tokyo

Tokyo dazzles with districts that feel like mini-cities: the pop-and-fashion of Harajuku, the serene woods of Meiji Shrine, the old-town lanes of Asakusa, and the glass-and-steel skyline of Roppongi. Top experiences include Senso-ji Temple, the scramble of Shibuya Crossing, and contemporary art like teamLab Borderless (reborn in Azabudai Hills).

Food is a sport here: slurp ramen at counters, try standing sushi bars, grill skewers at smoky yakitori alleys, and finish with parfaits or matcha. Coffee culture is serious too—third-wave roasters pour meticulous cups.

• Stay (Tokyo): Browse apartments and homes on VRBO Tokyo or compare hotels on Hotels.com Tokyo.
• Getting there: Search flights to Japan on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From Haneda, reach central Tokyo in ~30 minutes; from Narita, allow 45–60 minutes by express train.

Day 1: Arrival, Asakusa First Impressions, Skytree Views

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Start in Asakusa’s Nakamise-dori for traditional snacks (try ningyo-yaki sponge cakes and senbei rice crackers). Visit Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, and stroll to the riverside for views of Tokyo Skytree.

Evening: Ride up Tokyo Skytree for dusk-to-night panoramas. Dinner nearby at Tempura Daikokuya (old-school tempura, light and crisp) or hop to Ueno for standing sushi at Uogashi Nihon-Ichi—fast, fresh, and fun.

Day 2: Meiji Shrine, Harajuku Fashion, Shibuya Nights

Morning: Coffee at Fuglen (Scandi-Japanese vibes) or Onibus Coffee in Shibuya. Walk the forested approach to Meiji Jingu, then explore Harajuku’s Takeshita Street and Omotesando’s design boutiques.

Afternoon: Lunch at Afuri (yuzu-shio ramen, light and aromatic) or Harajuku Gyoza-ro (pan-fried dumplings, long-loved). Browse Cat Street’s indie fashion and pop into design-forward book and craft shops.

Evening: Experience Shibuya Crossing from street level and a vantage point (a high-floor café or station deck). Dinner in Omoide Yokocho, Shinjuku—tiny yakitori joints like Torien, then cocktails at Bar BenFiddich (botanical-forward) or squeeze into a Golden Gai bar such as Albatross.

Day 3: Tsukiji Outer Market, teamLab Borderless, Onsen-Style Soak

Morning: At Tsukiji Outer Market nibble tamagoyaki on sticks, toro tuna sushi, and grilled scallops. Try a sit-down sushi breakfast at Sushi Zanmai (reliable and lively).

Afternoon: Head to Azabudai Hills for teamLab Borderless, a walk-through digital art universe (book ahead). Coffee break at Sarutahiko Coffee (rich roasts) or Blue Bottle Kiyosumi if you swing by the east side.

Evening: Unwind at Spa LaQua (Tokyo Dome City): saunas, hot baths, and rest lounges. Dinner late at Ichiran (solo ramen booths, tonkotsu focus) or Nabezo for all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu with quality cuts and veggies.

Day 4: Tokyo Neighborhoods, Then Shinkansen to Kyoto

Morning: Explore Yanaka’s retro lanes—boutiques, craft shops, and small shrines. Coffee and toast at Cafe Kayaba (a renovated 1916 townhouse) or grab matcha soft-serve from a local sweets shop.

Afternoon (Travel): Take the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station. The Nozomi takes ~2 hr 15 min; expect about ¥14,000–¥15,500 one-way. Check schedules and reserve via Trip.com Trains. Check in and orient around Kyoto Station’s sky bridge.

Evening: Casual Kyoto dinner at Kyoto Gogyo (black burnt miso ramen with a smoky edge) or Musashi Sushi (conveyor-belt sushi, fresh and budget-friendly). Night stroll to the Higashi Hongan-ji grounds for serenity.

Kyoto

Kyoto is the keeper of Japan’s aesthetics—vermilion gates, Zen gardens, tea houses, and kimono-clad locals moving through alleys unchanged for centuries. The city’s rhythm is slower; mornings at temples feel sacred, and evenings along the Kamo River glow softly.

Highlights include Fushimi Inari’s thousand torii, Kiyomizu-dera’s wooden stage, golden Kinkaku-ji, and the bamboo groves of Arashiyama. Food spans delicate kaiseki to soul-warming obanzai (home-style Kyoto dishes) and steaming bowls of ramen.

• Stay (Kyoto): Find machiya townhouses and apartments on VRBO Kyoto or browse hotels on Hotels.com Kyoto.

Day 5: Fushimi Inari, Tea and Sweets, Gion After Dark

Morning: Arrive early to Fushimi Inari Taisha to enjoy quieter paths through the torii tunnels. Espresso at Vermillion near the shrine—excellent flat whites and a tiny terrace.

Afternoon: Head to Kiyomizu-dera and wander Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka lanes; try yatsuhashi sweets (cinnamon or matcha). Lunch at Omen Kodaiji (thick udon with seasonal sides) or Menya Inoichi (clear broth ramen with premium chicken and seafood notes).

Evening: Explore Gion and Shirakawa canals at dusk—watch for geiko/maiko en route to appointments. Dinner at Gion Nanba (refined kaiseki; reserve) or a relaxed yakitori at Toritō Pontocho, followed by matcha parfait at Gion Tsujiri.

Day 6: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Zen Gardens, Riverside Dining

Morning: Early start in Arashiyama for the Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji garden. Breakfast set or tofu specialties at Yudofu Sagano near the temple—simple, seasonal, and very Kyoto.

Afternoon: Visit Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), then a contemplative pause at Ryoan-ji’s rock garden. Coffee at % Arabica Arashiyama (riverside views) or in central Kyoto at Weekenders Coffee (courtyard kiosk, superb espresso).

Evening: Dinner at Izakaya Kappo Sakamoto (seasonal small plates, sake list) or try Kyoto-style obanzai at Mumokuteki Café (cozy, vegetable-forward). Nightcap along the Kamo River—watch street performers near Sanjo.

Day 7: Nishiki Market, Nijo Castle, Departure

Morning: Graze through Nishiki Market—tako-tamago (octopus with quail egg), soy milk donuts at Konnamonja, pickles, and fresh sashimi skewers. If time allows, tour Nijo Castle (nightingale floors and painted screens).

Afternoon (Departure): Collect luggage and head to Kyoto Station for your onward train or to Kansai Airport. For rail planning, check Trip.com Trains. For flights, compare on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Grab bento and a final bottle of matcha latte for the ride.

Optional Add-On: Nara Day Trip (from Kyoto)

Have extra time? Nara is 45–60 minutes away by train. Visit Todai-ji’s giant Buddha, stroll Nara Park with friendly deer, and see Kasuga Taisha’s lanterns. Snack on freshly pounded mochi at Nakatanidō and try kaki-no-ha-zushi (persimmon leaf sushi) at Hiraso.

In one week you’ll have tasted Tokyo’s pace and Kyoto’s poise—the neon and the cedar, the ramen steam and temple incense. Whether you return for powder snow, cherry blossoms, or autumn maples, Japan rewards repeat visits with ever-deeper layers.