Japan’s story stretches from ancient capitals and samurai roads to today’s precision trains and city lights. Tokyo, a small fishing village turned world metropolis, dazzles with shrines tucked beneath skyscrapers and alleys fragrant with yakitori smoke. Kyoto, seat of imperial power for over a millennium, keeps time with temple bells, tea rooms, and the soft rustle of kimono on stone lanes.

In one week you’ll meet both sides of Japan—neon and cedar, ramen and kaiseki, art museums that glow and gates that climb a mountainside. Expect early mornings, exquisite snacks, and views that reward each gentle climb. You’ll travel efficiently by Shinkansen, and we’ll pepper the journey with local cafés, neighborhood gems, and vantage points that feel like secrets.

Practical notes: Cash is still handy, but contactless IC cards (Suica/PASMO) and credit cards are widely accepted. Reserve popular spots (observation decks, tea ceremonies, kaiseki) a few days ahead. Mind the etiquette: no eating while walking in temples, keep voices low on trains, and slip off shoes where requested. Now, let’s begin.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a collage of villages—Asakusa’s incense, Harajuku’s style, Ginza’s polish, and Shibuya’s cinematic crosswalk. It’s where centuries-old shrines coexist with cutting-edge digital art, and where a perfect bowl of ramen can be found down a side street you almost missed.

• Top sights: Senso-ji and Nakamise in Asakusa, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Crossing and Hachiko, teamLab Planets (immersive digital art), Tsukiji Outer Market, and panoramic decks like Shibuya Sky or Tokyo Skytree.
• Eat and drink: Conveyor-belt sushi at Katsu Midori, ramen at Ichiran or Afuri, tonkatsu at Maisen Aoyama, specialty coffee at Fuglen or Blue Bottle, classic cocktails at Bar High Five or BenFiddich.
• Good to know: The Yamanote Line loops major hubs; avoid rush-hour crowds if you can. Prebook popular attractions at peak times.

Where to stay: For nightlife access, stay in Shinjuku or Shibuya; for refinement, Ginza; for old-town vibes, Asakusa. Browse stays on VRBO Tokyo and Hotels.com Tokyo.

Getting there: Fly into HND (closer) or NRT (more international). Search flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Haneda to central Tokyo takes ~20–30 minutes by Keikyu or monorail; Narita Express to Tokyo Station is ~60 minutes.

Day 1: Arrival, Asakusa beginnings, and a view

Morning: In transit.

Afternoon: Check in and head to Asakusa. Walk Nakamise-dori’s snack stalls (try ningyo-yaki sponge cakes) to Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, rebuilt with care after WWII. Slip behind the main hall to spot quieter sub-shrines and the five-story pagoda.

Evening: Dinner in Asakusa: classic tempura at Daikokuya (light, sesame-oil aroma) or a quick, wallet-friendly tendon at Tenya. Cap the night with a skyline moment—choose Shibuya Sky for a breezy, open-air deck over the crossing, or Tokyo Skytree for a glass-floored, high-altitude panorama.

Day 2: Meiji Shrine, Harajuku style, Shibuya nights

Morning: Grab coffee and a cardamom bun at Fuglen (Scandi-Japanese vibe) or Blue Bottle Omotesando. Stroll the cedar-scented path to Meiji Shrine—pause at the cleansing font, then circle to the treasure museum if you love emperor-era artifacts.

Afternoon: Harajuku’s Takeshita Street for crepes and people-watching; then Omotesando’s architecture stroll. Lunch at Afuri (yuzu-shio ramen—bright and citrusy). Continue to Shibuya: greet Hachiko, then watch the scramble from the Magnet or station overlooks.

Evening: Conveyor sushi feast at Katsu Midori (fatty tuna, ankimo in season) or classic nigiri at Sushizanmai. For a retro bar-hop, weave Golden Gai’s tiny taverns; or sip precision cocktails at Bar High Five (Ginza) or BenFiddich (Shinjuku), where house-made bitters star.

Day 3: Tsukiji eats, digital art, and downtown contrasts

Morning: Early to Tsukiji Outer Market—tamago-yaki on sticks, grilled scallops with butter, and a tuna onigiri at a standing bar. Espresso at Turret Coffee (nod to the market’s turret trucks). Then head to teamLab Planets in Toyosu for an immersive art walk through water and light.

Afternoon: Swing through Ginza’s flagship stores and Kabukiza’s gallery; or detour to Akihabara for arcades, retro games at Super Potato, and a quick katsu sando. If art calls, pop to the Nezu Museum’s garden in nearby Aoyama.

Evening: Ramen run: Ichiran (custom spice, solo booths) or a soy-forward bowl at Soranoiro. If you’ve got energy, an Omoide Yokocho yakitori skewer and a last lap around neon-lit Shinjuku wrap your Tokyo chapter.

Kyoto

Kyoto’s beauty is cumulative—alley by alley, season by season. Vermilion gates climb a sacred mountain, moss wraps temple stones, and wooden machiya houses hide cafés, kaiseki, and the hushed ritual of tea.

• Top sights: Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji, Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji, Gion and Pontocho, Nishiki Market.
• Eat and drink: Udon at Omen, Kyoto-style sushi at Izuju, tofu cuisine in Arashiyama, kaiseki at Gion Nanba or casual modern kaiseki at Giro Giro, matcha parfaits at Nakamura Tokichi, coffee at % Arabica or Inoda Coffee.
• Good to know: Many temples open ~8–9 a.m.—arrive early to dodge crowds. Evenings on Pontocho are atmospheric; book if you want river-view seating.

Where to stay: For old-town ambience, Higashiyama/Gion; for convenience, Kyoto Station area; for nature, Arashiyama. Browse VRBO Kyoto and Hotels.com Kyoto.

Getting from Tokyo to Kyoto: Take the Shinkansen Nozomi from Tokyo or Shinagawa to Kyoto (~2 hr 15 min; about ¥14,000–¥15,000, roughly $95–$120). Trains depart every few minutes in peak hours. Search trains on Trip.com Trains; book reserved seats if you’re traveling with luggage.

Day 4: Shinkansen to Kyoto, Fushimi Inari, sake district

Morning: Depart Tokyo by Shinkansen around 8–9 a.m. and arrive before lunch. Drop bags at your hotel.

Afternoon: Ride two stops to Fushimi Inari Taisha. Walk the torii-lined path to the Yotsutsuji viewpoint for city panoramas; continue higher if you crave quiet. On the way back, visit the Fushimi sake area—Gekkeikan’s Okura Sake Museum traces 400 years of brewing, and nearby tasting rooms pour crisp junmai.

Evening: Dinner in Pontocho: yakitori at Kushikura (binchotan-grilled chicken, cozy townhouse setting) or seasonal small plates at a riverside izakaya. Take an after-dinner stroll through lantern-lit Gion—keep voices low and be respectful in residential lanes.

Day 5: Arashiyama bamboo, Zen gardens, and a classic bathhouse

Morning: Early to Arashiyama’s Bamboo Grove before the tours arrive. Step into Tenryu-ji’s strolling gardens, then cross to the Oi River for a scenic pause. Lunch on yudofu (silken tofu hot pot) at a temple-affiliated restaurant—simple, delicate, very Kyoto.

Afternoon: Taxi or bus to Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion, sunlight blazing off gold leaf), then on to Ryoan-ji’s rock garden for a moment of serene riddle-solving. Coffee stop at % Arabica Arashiyama if you loop back.

Evening: Experience a traditional sento at Funaoka Onsen—muraled baths, woodwork, and neighborhood feel (bring or rent small towels; tattoos are increasingly accepted but check signage). Dinner options: refined kaiseki at Gion Nanba (seasonal kyo-ryori) or creative, accessible kaiseki at Giro Giro Hitoshina (multi-course, modern twists).

Day 6: Higashiyama heritage, tea, and Gion flavors

Morning: Coffee and a classic breakfast at Inoda Coffee Main Shop (Kyoto-style blend, eggs, and toast), then ascend to Kiyomizu-dera—its veranda, rebuilt without nails, floats over the hillside. Wander Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka’s stone lanes for pottery and fans.

Afternoon: Lunch at Omen near Kodai-ji (firm udon, seasonal sides). Visit Yasaka Shrine and Maruyama Park. Book a tea ceremony in Gion for an intimate lesson in whisking matcha—quiet, precise, memorable. Sweet stop: matcha parfait at Nakamura Tokichi or Gion Tsujiri.

Evening: Kyoto-style sushi at Izuju (pressed mackerel “sabazushi,” a local specialty), or the theatrical, fluffy omurice at Kichi Kichi (reserve ahead). A riverside walk along the Kamo-gawa sets a graceful final Kyoto night.

Day 7: Nara day trip and departure

Morning: Hop a JR Rapid from Kyoto Station to Nara (~45–50 minutes; about ¥720) or Kintetsu Limited Express (~35 minutes; ~¥1,160). Visit Nara Park’s free-roaming deer (buy official deer crackers), then step into Todai-ji’s Daibutsu-den to meet the Great Buddha—one of Japan’s most awe-inspiring wooden halls.

Afternoon: Quick lunch on kakinoha-zushi (persimmon-leaf-wrapped sushi) at Hiraso, and watch mochi-pounding at Nakatanidou if timing aligns. Return to Kyoto for your bags, then ride the Haruka Limited Express to Kansai International Airport (~75 minutes; ~¥2,900). Search flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. If you’re departing from Tokyo instead, the Shinkansen back is ~2 hr 15 min.

Evening: In transit.

Optional add-ons and insider tips

• Nishiki Market: Snack through Kyoto’s “kitchen”—yuba (tofu skin), grilled eel, and sesame mochi. Go before lunch for elbow room.
• Station bento: Grab an ekiben before long rides—try beef tongue in Sendai-style boxes or Kyoto’s mackerel sushi set.
• IC cards: Load a Suica/PASMO for quick tap-in on subways and convenience stores.
• Luggage: Consider a takuhaibin (luggage forwarding) service between hotels to travel light on trains.

In a week you’ve crossed from Tokyo’s neon bustle to Kyoto’s temple hush, with a bow to Nara’s Great Buddha along the way. Keep this itinerary close: it balances headline sights with local flavors and leaves room for the unscripted moments that make Japan linger in memory.