Japan balances the ancient and the ultramodern with a precision all its own. In Tokyo, postwar resilience forged a city of shimmering towers, historic temples, and a culinary scene that feels both humble and world-beating. Kyoto, the imperial capital for over a thousand years, keeps the country’s ritual and craft alive in lantern-lit lanes. Osaka—brash, friendly, and hungry—has long been the nation’s kitchen.

Visiting in January means crisp air, bright winter skies, and often the best visibility of Mt. Fuji. Expect 3–10°C (mid-30s to 40s°F), warm interiors, and seasonal comforts like oden, nabe hot pots, and steaming bowls of ramen. Mid-January also brings Tokyo’s Grand Sumo Tournament energy to town, and city illuminations linger after New Year’s.

Practical notes: For a one-week hop between Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka, point-to-point Shinkansen tickets typically beat a nationwide rail pass. Use IC cards (Suica/PASMO/ICOCA or mobile) for subways and buses. Pack comfortable walking shoes, a compact umbrella, and layers for temple mornings and late-night food runs.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a living collage: Shinto shrines tucked under expressways, third-wave coffee next to 200-year-old soba shops, and the organized chaos of Shibuya Crossing. Neighborhoods are the secret—Meiji-jingū’s forest in Harajuku, izakaya smoke curling in Shinjuku’s alleys, and the thunder-red gate of Asakusa’s Sensō-ji.

• Don’t miss: Meiji Shrine, Omotesandō’s architecture, Shibuya Sky views, Sensō-ji, Akihabara arcades, teamLabs (if tickets available), and yakitori counters down Omoide Yokocho.
• Eat & drink: Noodle heaven at Afuri (yuzu shio ramen), crisp tempura at Tsunahachi, conveyor-belt fun at Nemuro Hanamaru, yakitori at Bird Land Ginza, and kissaten-style coffee at Cafe de L’Ambre.
• Fun fact: Shibuya’s “Scramble” sees up to 3,000 people cross at once—orderly jazz.

Stay (Tokyo): Browse stays on VRBO Tokyo or Hotels.com Tokyo. Expert picks: The Peninsula Tokyo (Imperial Palace views, impeccable service), Hotel Gracery Shinjuku (fun Godzilla terrace, great for nightlife), or Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo (Shinjuku hub with family-friendly rooms).

Getting to Tokyo: Compare international flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. From Narita, the Skyliner is ~41 minutes to Ueno; the Narita Express is ~60 minutes to Tokyo/Shinjuku. Book trains on Trip.com Trains. Prefer a meet-and-greet? Consider this private transfer:
Narita Airport(NRT) Private Transfer To/From Tokyo 1-way or Round

Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo, Asakusa at Dusk, and Sumo or Tempura Night

Afternoon: Land, check in, and shake off jet lag with a river breeze along the Sumida. Walk through Kaminarimon Gate to Sensō-ji—Tokyo’s oldest temple—when lanterns glow and Nakamise stalls sell ningyō-yaki (little sponge cakes) and senbei crackers.

Evening: Choose your welcome to Tokyo. For culture and spectacle, book the lively Shinjuku sumo performance—photos and drinks included.
Tokyo Shinjuku Sumo Show Experience with Photo and Drinks

Or keep it classic with tempura at a long-running Asakusa shop (try prawn and kisu whiting over rice), then a nightcap at a retro kissaten or riverside bar.

Day 2: Tokyo Icons—Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya, and Shinjuku Eats

Morning: Enter the cedar-scented calm of Meiji-jingū, then slip into Harajuku for crepes on Takeshita-dōri and boutique architecture along Omotesandō (look up at the Prada facade). Coffee break: The Roastery by Nozy (hand-drip, Tokyo roast).

Afternoon: Head to Shibuya for a look from Shibuya Sky or scramble across the famous intersection. Pop into a depachika (Basement food hall) for an immaculate bento and seasonal wagashi.

Evening: Eat your way through alleyway joints and izakaya that most visitors miss with a local-led feast—13 different dishes across four stops in Shinjuku.
Tokyo: Shinjuku Food Tour (13 Dishes at 4 Local Eateries)

After, wander Golden Gai’s tiny bars—each with its own theme and regulars. Alternative dinner recs: yakitori at a counter near Omoide Yokocho, ramen at Afuri (citrusy, clean), or tonkatsu at Maisen Aoyama.

Day 3: Day Trip—Mt. Fuji and Hakone Views

Trade neon for mountain air on a full-day excursion to Fuji’s 5th Station and Hakone’s lake-and-onsen scenery—returning by bullet train. Winter often means crystal-clear Fuji views.

Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train

Back in Tokyo, celebrate with sushi (Sushi no Midori for high-value nigiri) or a steaming clay-pot oden in Yurakuchō’s brick arches.

Tokyo bonus for food lovers: If you prefer markets to mountains, swap in a morning culinary deep-dive at historic Tsukiji’s outer market—taste tamagoyaki, tuna, dashi, and more with a guide:
Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Culture Walking Tour

Kyoto

Kyoto’s spell lies in detail: incense smoke curling before lacquered halls, the hush of moss gardens, and tea bowls warmed in both hands. It’s the keeper of Japan’s arts—kimono weaving, Zen gardening, kaiseki cuisine—and a city that rewards slow walks.

• Top sights: Fushimi Inari’s vermilion torii, Kiyomizu-dera’s hillside stage, Gion’s wooden machiya lanes, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Tenryū-ji gardens, and Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion).
• Eat & drink: Tofu yudōfu near Tenryū-ji, obanzai home cooking in Ponto-chō, wagashi sweets at Kagizen Yoshifusa, and matcha at Ippodo.
• Cultural tip: If you spot a maiko in Gion, admire respectfully from a distance—no blocking or chasing photos.

Stay (Kyoto): Browse VRBO Kyoto or Hotels.com Kyoto. Favorites: The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto (riverfront refinement), Hotel M's Plus Shijo Omiya (value near transit), Piece Hostel Sanjo (social and spotless).

Getting from Tokyo to Kyoto: Morning Shinkansen makes for an easy move. Nozomi: ~2h15m (fastest), Hikari: ~2h40m. Expect ~¥14,500 one-way reserved. Book on Trip.com Trains.

Day 4: Travel to Kyoto, Fushimi Inari, Higashiyama, and Gion by Night

Morning: Depart Tokyo by Shinkansen; bento onboard is half the fun—look for wagyu sukiyaki or mackerel sushi boxes. Drop bags at your hotel and head south to Fushimi Inari; continue uphill beyond the first gates for quieter pathways.

Afternoon: Stroll Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka to Kiyomizu-dera—built without nails, its veranda floats over the city. Snack ideas: yatsuhashi sweets, soy milk donuts, or a warm bowl of kitsune udon.

Evening: Explore Gion’s lantern-lit alleys and dine on seasonal obanzai (small plates) or charcoal-grilled river fish. For a guided, tasting-rich introduction to Kyoto by night, consider this small-group tour in Gion:
Kyoto Night Foodie Tour in Gion (9+ dishes + 6 Sake tastings)

Day 5: Arashiyama’s Bamboo, Zen Gardens, and Samurai or Tea

Morning: Arrive early to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, then enter Tenryū-ji’s garden—one of Kyoto’s finest borrowed-scenery landscapes. Cross Togetsukyō Bridge and, if you like a spirited climb, visit Iwatayama Monkey Park for city views.

Afternoon: Warm up with yudōfu (tofu hot pot) or Kyoto-style soba. Continue to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and, time permitting, Daitoku-ji’s subtemples (Kōtō-in’s moss is mesmerizing in winter).

Evening: Choose a hands-on tradition. Wield a practice sword and step into Edo history:
Kyoto Samurai Experience

Or join a guided walk through Arashiyama’s highlights (ideal if you prefer stories and secrets unlocked by a local):
Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour: Bamboo, Monkeys, Gardens & Secrets

Osaka

Osaka is big-hearted and belly-first. Neon canyons, talkative chefs, and the constant sizzle of grills define Dōtonbori and Shinsekai. Castles and rivers frame the day; backstreet counters and sake houses fuel the night.

• Highlights: Osaka Castle and park, Dōtonbori canal and Glico sign, Kuromon Market tastings, Umeda Sky Building, and Tenjinbashisuji’s endless arcade.
• Eat & drink: Takoyaki (try Aizuya or Wanaka), okonomiyaki at Mizuno or Kiji, kushikatsu Daruma, and rich tonkotsu or shoyu ramen at Hanamaruken.
• Local vibe: Kuidaore—“eat till you drop”—isn’t a joke; it’s policy.

Stay (Osaka): Browse VRBO Osaka or Hotels.com Osaka. Picks: Swissotel Nankai Osaka (directly above Namba Station), Hotel Sunroute Osaka Namba (steps to Dōtonbori), or Hotel Universal Port (best for Universal Japan access).

Getting from Kyoto to Osaka: JR Special Rapid: ~28 minutes to Osaka Station (~¥600). Shinkansen (Kyoto–Shin-Osaka): ~15 minutes (~¥1,500). Book via Trip.com Trains.

Day 6: Osaka Castle, Kuromon Grazing, and Dōtonbori After Dark

Morning: Walk the moats and massive stone walls of Osaka Castle, then climb the keep for city panoramas. If you like context (and skip-the-line entry), join a guided history walk:
Osaka Castle Walking Tour and Castle Tower Admission

Afternoon: Snack through Kuromon Market: fatty toro skewers, uni-capped tamagoyaki, and grilled scallops with soy butter. Coffee pit stop: Lilo Coffee Roasters or Brooklyn Roasting Company Kitahama by the river.

Evening: Dive into Tenma and Kyōbashi—locals’ neighborhoods—for a small-group night crawl with 15+ tastings, from kushikatsu to oden. It’s Osaka at its most convivial.
Osaka Deep Night Food Tour: 15+ Tastings, Tenma-Kyobashi (6 Max)

Prefer DIY? Hit Dōtonbori for takoyaki stands (Aizuya vs. Wanaka taste test), okonomiyaki at Mizuno, and neon-lit photos beneath the Glico Running Man.

Day 7: Nara Deer at Dawn, Then Depart

Morning: Make a quick hop to Nara for ancient temples before the crowds. An early-bird tour threads through Kōfuku-ji, Tōdai-ji’s Great Buddha, Nara Park’s deer, and Kasuga Taisha’s lantern paths—back by lunchtime.
Nara Early Morning Tour (Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available)

Afternoon: Collect bags and head for your onward flight. From Namba, Nankai Rapi:t to KIX is ~38–43 minutes (~¥1,450); JR Haruka from Tennoji/Shin-Osaka is ~35–50 minutes (~¥2,400). Book trains on Trip.com Trains and flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Optional Coffee, Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Shortlist

• Tokyo coffee/breakfast: Glitch Coffee (light roasts), Blue Bottle Aoyama (airy space), bakeries in Ginza depachika for immaculate pastries.
• Tokyo lunches: Tonkatsu at Maisen, ramen at Afuri or Ginza Kagari, tempura-don in Asakusa.
• Tokyo dinners: Yakitori counters in Omoide Yokocho, kaisendon in Tsukiji outer market, izakaya seafood at Uoshin.
• Kyoto breakfast: Inoda Coffee main store (retro set with eggs and toast), % Arabica Higashiyama (espresso with a view).
• Kyoto lunches: Yudōfu near Tenryū-ji, soba at Omen near Ginkaku-ji, tofu kaiseki at Tōsuiro.
• Kyoto dinners: Ponto-chō riverside obanzai, sukiyaki or shabu-shabu on Shijō-dōri, wagashi and matcha at Ippodo.
• Osaka breakfast: LeBRESSO (thick-cut toast), Blue Bottle Umeda for a quick caffeine fix.
• Osaka lunches: Okonomiyaki at Mizuno or Kiji, ramen at Hanamaruken, eel bowls near Kuromon.
• Osaka dinners: Dōtonbori takoyaki crawl, kushikatsu Daruma in Shinsekai, standing bars (tachinomi) for sake and small plates.

Travel Between Cities (At-a-Glance)

• Tokyo → Kyoto: Nozomi ~2h15m (fastest), ~¥14,500 reserved. Morning departures recommended. Book on Trip.com Trains.
• Kyoto → Osaka: JR Special Rapid ~28m (~¥600) to Osaka Station, or Shinkansen ~15m (~¥1,500) to Shin-Osaka.
• Osaka → KIX Airport: Nankai Rapi:t ~38–43m (~¥1,450) from Namba; JR Haruka ~35–50m (~¥2,400) from Tennoji/Shin-Osaka.

More Great Tours You Can Swap In

• Prefer a guided “greatest hits” day in Tokyo?
  1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour

  

• Hands-on sushi in Tokyo or Osaka:
  Sushi Making Tokyo Roll and Authentic Japanese Sushi Class

  

  
  Sushi Making Osaka Roll and Authentic Japanese Sushi Class

  

Kyoto hotel links (quick access): Kyoto Tokyu Hotel, Kyoto Brighton Hotel, Hotel M's Est Shijo Karasuma.

Osaka hotel links (quick access): The St. Regis Osaka, Universal Bay Condominium.

In one winter week, you’ve crossed Japan’s golden triangle—Tokyo’s energy, Kyoto’s grace, and Osaka’s appetite—with a Fuji foray and Nara’s contemplative calm. Keep this plan handy: it balances headline sights with insider eats and time-saving transport, perfect for January’s clear skies and cozy bowls.