Japan’s story spans samurai courts and bullet trains, tea rituals and techno pop. In a single week, you can ping between ultramodern Tokyo—neon, fashion, art—and Kyoto’s temple-studded lanes where incense drifts past machiya townhouses. This 7-day girls’ trip itinerary braids the best of both: indulgent eats, hands-on culture, smart shopping, and spa-level downtime.

Expect hyper-reliable trains, spotless streets, and a food scene that thrills from market stalls to Michelin counters. Japan is famously safe for women travelers, with excellent signage and courteous staff. Carry a reloadable IC card (Suica/PASMO), mind temple etiquette (no loud voices, shoulders covered for sacred halls), and pack comfy shoes for those scenic staircase climbs.

When to go? Spring (cherry blossoms) and autumn (fiery maples) are classics, but winter illuminations are magical and summer matsuri bring parades and fireworks. Cuisine highlights include sushi and sashimi, buttery tonkatsu, wagyu, ramen and udon, and seasonal kaiseki in Kyoto—plus matcha soft-serve for the sweet tooth.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a mosaic of micro-neighborhoods: futuristic Shibuya, polished Ginza, leafy Meiji Shrine, indie-cool Daikanyama. It’s a city where you can breakfast on market-fresh seafood, spend the afternoon inside a digital art dreamscape, and toast the night at a world-class cocktail bar.

• Don’t-miss sights: Shibuya Scramble Crossing and Shibuya Sky, Meiji Jingu, teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills) or teamLab Planets (Toyosu), Asakusa’s Senso-ji, and the Tsukiji Outer Market.
• Food to try: Standing sushi bars (fast and pristine), tonkatsu at century-old institutions, yuzu-scented ramen, and Ginza depachika (department store food halls).
• Neighborhoods for browsing: Omotesando (architecture and boutiques), Daikanyama (bookstores and lifestyle shops), Nakameguro (canal-side cafes).

Stay in Tokyo: For easy nights out, base in Shinjuku or Shibuya; for style-forward quiet, try Aoyama or Daikanyama. Browse stays on VRBO Tokyo or compare hotels on Hotels.com Tokyo.

Getting to Tokyo: Fly into Haneda (closer) or Narita. Search fares on Trip.com flights. From Haneda, it’s ~20–30 minutes by Monorail/Keikyu (~¥500–¥700). From Narita, the Narita Express takes ~60 minutes to Shinjuku (~¥3,000).

Kyoto

Kyoto is Japan’s cultural heart: vermilion gates, lantern-lit alleys, tea houses, and craft ateliers. It’s photogenic at every turn—especially the bamboo grove in Arashiyama and the slopes around Kiyomizu-dera.

• Top experiences: Fushimi Inari’s 10,000 torii at dawn, temple-hopping through Higashiyama, matcha tastings, a guided tea ceremony, and an evening stroll through Gion and Pontocho.
• Tastes of Kyoto: Kaiseki (seasonal haute cuisine), tofu specialties near Nanzen-ji, obanzai home-style dishes, and wagashi confections paired with whisked matcha.
• Easy day trips: Nara for friendly deer and the Great Buddha; Uji for green tea culture.

Stay in Kyoto: Gion/Higashiyama for old-town charm, Downtown (Shijo–Kawaramachi) for shopping and transit, or Arashiyama for tranquility. See options on VRBO Kyoto and Hotels.com Kyoto.

Day 1: Land in Tokyo, Shibuya Nights

Afternoon: Arrive and check into your Tokyo stay. Shake off jet lag with a loop around Shibuya: peek at the Hachiko statue, then watch the tidal flow of humanity at Shibuya Crossing. Elevate to Shibuya Sky for panoramic sunset views—the city glows like circuitry after dark.

Evening: Keep dinner easy and iconic: ramen at Afuri (citrusy yuzu shio, thin noodles) or Ichiran (choose your broth richness in private booths). For a celebratory toast, try The SG Club (Latin-Japanese riffs, Asia’s 50 Best). Dessert? Matcha parfait at Kagurazaka Saryo’s Shibuya branch if you’re nearby.

Day 2: Tsukiji Bites, Ginza Glam, teamLab Magic

Morning: Fuel at Tsukiji Outer Market: nibble tamagoyaki-on-a-stick, tuna onigiri, or a quick chirashi bowl at Sushi Zanmai (reliable and early). Stroll to Hama-rikyu Gardens for a lakeside matcha in the Nakajima teahouse—Edo-era calm within earshot of skyscrapers.

Afternoon: Browse Ginza’s boutiques and duck into a depachika (Mitsukoshi basement) for bento artistry and exquisite wagashi. Then plunge into digital wonder at teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills) or teamLab Planets (Toyosu)—immersive rooms where light, sound, and your movement paint the walls.

Evening: Dinner at Tonkatsu Maisen Aoyama (butter-soft pork cutlets, panko as airy as snow) or Uogashi Nihon-Ichi (standing sushi; ultra-fresh, move at your pace). Cap the night at Bar BenFiddich (apothecary vibes, herb-driven originals) or Bar High Five in Ginza (classic technique, velvet service).

Day 3: Meiji Shrine, Omotesando Style, Daikanyama Books, Shinjuku After Dark

Morning: Coffee at Blue Bottle Shibuya or Koffee Mameya Kakeru (geeky flights), then step into the cypress-scented hush of Meiji Jingu through towering torii gates. Wander Harajuku’s Takeshita Street for color-pop boutiques and fluffy “A Happy Pancake” if you’re in the mood.

Afternoon: Walk Omotesando’s tree-lined avenue (Tadao Ando and Herzog & de Meuron facades abound), then browse Tsutaya Books at Daikanyama T-Site—Japan’s temple to print. Linger in Nakameguro’s canal cafes; try City Bakery for a pretzel croissant and iced coffee.

Evening: Head to Shinjuku. Dinner options: Nabezo Shinjuku Sanchome (all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu with crisp veggies and sauces) or Omoide Yokocho yakitori joints where skewers sizzle over binchotan. For a women-friendly bar hop, sample a couple of tiny Golden Gai spots—look for posted cover charges and English menus.

Day 4: Tokyo → Kyoto by Shinkansen, Higashiyama Stroll

Morning (travel): Take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kyoto. Nozomi: ~2h15 (fastest); Hikari: ~2h40 (JR Pass-friendly). Expect ~¥14,000–¥15,000 for an ordinary reserved seat (~$95–$110). Check times and reserve via Trip.com trains. Grab an ekiben (station bento) for the ride—teriyaki salmon, pickles, perfect rice.

Afternoon: Drop bags and head into Higashiyama’s old lanes. Visit Kiyomizu-dera for sweeping city views, then wander Sannenzaka/Ninenzaka—stone steps, paper lanterns, artisanal shops. Pause at Kagizen Yoshifusa (founded 1726) for kuzukiri noodles or yokan with hot tea.

Evening: Stroll Gion and Yasaka Shrine as lanterns glow. Splurge on kaiseki at Kikunoi or Gion Nanba (multi-course poetry of seasonal bites), or go casual with yakitori at Kushikura. Nightcap at L’Escamoteur (storybook cocktails, vintage apothecary decor).

Day 5: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, River Breezes, Sento Soak

Morning: Beat the crowds at Arashiyama’s Bamboo Grove—arrive by 7–8 am for hushed pathways and ethereal photos. Climb to Tenryu-ji’s gardens, then detour to Okochi Sanso Villa for manicured landscapes and matcha.

Afternoon: Brunch near the river at Bread, Espresso & Arashiyama Garden (Japanese-French pastries, airy toast) or % Arabica Arashiyama for espresso with a view. Optional: cross to Monkey Park Iwatayama (short, steep hike; playful macaques and hilltop views).

Evening: Restore at Funaoka Onsen, a classic neighborhood sento (gender-separated baths; bring modesty and follow bathing etiquette). Dinner back downtown: Tempura Endo Yasaka (light, crackling batter) or Musashi Sushi (fun conveyor-belt experience).

Day 6: Fushimi Inari Dawn + Nara Day Trip

Morning: Start at sunrise at Fushimi Inari Taisha—walk through tunnels of vermilion gates as cicadas hum. Coffee and a pastry at Vermillion - espresso & matcha near the shrine.

Afternoon (Nara): Train to Nara: Kintetsu Kyoto → Kintetsu Nara ~35–45 minutes (~¥1,230) or JR ~45–60 minutes (~¥720). Check schedules on Trip.com trains. Visit Todaiji to see the Great Buddha, wander Nara Park with its bowing deer (buy shika senbei crackers), and admire Kasuga Taisha’s bronze lanterns. Snack stop: Nakatanidou’s famous mochi-pounding—catch the live demo if you can.

Evening: Return to Kyoto. Dine along Pontocho Alley: try Omen Kodai-ji (handmade udon with vegetable toppings), or sample Kyoto obanzai at a cozy izakaya. For a final cheers, pop into Bee’s Knees (speakeasy-style, jazz, balanced classics).

Day 7: Nishiki Market Grazing, Last Sips of Matcha, Departure

Morning: Browse Nishiki Market—taste sesame croquettes, soy-simmered vegetables, and pickled yuzu radish. Coffee at Weekenders Coffee or a traditional breakfast set at Inoda Coffee (retro Kyoto institution).

Afternoon: Last-minute shopping around Shijo–Kawaramachi for ceramics, washi, and tea. Depart from Kyoto Station (Shinkansen back to Tokyo if needed) or fly out of Kansai International Airport (KIX) or Itami (ITM). Compare fares on Trip.com flights.

Practical Notes and Local Gems

• Transit cards: Suica/PASMO top up at stations and convenience stores. Google Maps and Japan Transit Planner are excellent for routing.
• Cash vs. card: Cards widely accepted in Tokyo; Kyoto’s smaller shops may prefer cash. ATMs at 7-Eleven work with foreign cards.
• Etiquette: No eating on the go in shrines/temples; queue neatly; speak softly on trains.
• Gifts to bring home: Tokyo depachika sweets, Kyoto incense (Shoyeido), Uji matcha, handcrafted chopsticks, and tenugui cloths.

In one week you’ll taste the spectrum of Japan—from Tokyo’s buzz to Kyoto’s quiet beauty—while collecting moments that feel both cinematic and intimate. This girls’ trip itinerary balances headline sights with thoughtful pauses, leaving room for serendipity and second helpings of matcha soft-serve.