Japan rewards curiosity. Ancient shrines sit quietly beside avant‑garde art, and convenience-store snacks can be as memorable as Michelin dinners. In seven days, you’ll taste Tokyo’s high-voltage neighborhoods and Kyoto’s temple-dotted hills—two cities that together tell the story of old and new Japan.

Expect spotless trains, courteous crowds, and seasonal cuisine: spring cherry blossoms, summer festivals, autumn maples, and winter hot pots. Cash is still handy, but most places accept cards and mobile IC (Suica/PASMO). Tipping isn’t customary; a sincere “arigatō” goes far.

This itinerary prioritizes efficient routes, great food, and meaningful encounters—from market tastings to shrine rituals. You’ll ride the shinkansen, stroll bamboo paths, and linger where lanterns glow. Book your flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com, and trains on Trip.com.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a constellation of neighborhoods: tradition in Asakusa, indie coffee in Nakameguro, fashion in Harajuku, and skyscrapers in Shinjuku. It’s where Shibuya Crossing’s 1930s-era intersection became a global icon and where sushi breakfasts can still start before sunrise.

• Top sights: Meiji Shrine, Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo Skytree views, Shibuya Crossing, teamLab Planets (immersive art), Imperial Palace gardens.
• Food & drink to try: Tsukiji Outer Market tastings, tempura, tonkatsu, yakitori on Omoide Yokocho, ramen (shoyu to tonkotsu), melonpan ice cream.
• Fun facts: Tokyo’s Yamanote Line loops 21+ miles; vending machines are everywhere (hot coffee in winter!), and conbinis are a culinary adventure.

Where to stay (Tokyo): Luxury: The Peninsula Tokyo, The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo, or Aman Tokyo. Mid-range: Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo, Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku, Hotel Gracery Shinjuku. Family/Tokyo Disney: Hilton Tokyo Bay. Browse more options on Hotels.com Tokyo or apartments on VRBO Tokyo.

Getting in: From Haneda (HND), Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho (≈20 min) or Keikyu to Shinagawa; from Narita (NRT), Narita Express to Tokyo/Shinjuku (≈60 min). Check timetables and fares on Trip.com Trains.

Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo, Shibuya and Shinjuku Night

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off jet lag with an easy walk through Shibuya—watch the famous Crossing from the second-floor windows of nearby cafés and stroll Center Gai’s neon canyons.

Evening: Dinner in Shibuya: try Han no Daidokoro Kadochika (wagyu yakiniku grilled at your table) or Nabezo Shibuya (shabu-shabu with premium beef and vegetable buffets). Craving noodles? Ichiran for solo-booth tonkotsu or Afuri for yuzu-shio ramen. Nightcap in Omoide Yokocho (Shinjuku) where tiny yakitori counters sizzle late.

Day 2: Tokyo Highlights by Coach (Maximize Your Time)

Cover the big hitters efficiently on the 1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour—a guided circuit often including Meiji Shrine, Senso-ji in Asakusa, a Tokyo Bay cruise (when operating), and admission to Tokyo Skytree. It’s ideal for first-timers, with stories that add context to the cityscape.

Post-tour dinner ideas: Katsukichi (aged pork tonkatsu fried in copper pans), Tempura Fukamachi (exquisite, book ahead), or classic conveyor-belt fun at Sushiro branches around town.

Day 3: Markets, Old Tokyo, and Playful Night

Morning: Join the Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Culture Walking Tour to learn how chefs shop and what’s seasonal. Taste tamagoyaki, fresh tuna, grilled scallops with butter, and wagyu skewers while exploring the storied Outer Market.

Afternoon: Ride to Asakusa for Senso-ji’s incense-swirled temple and Nakamise’s snack stalls (try ningyoyaki cakes). Then enjoy an engaging cultural show at the Tokyo Sumo Entertainment Show with Chicken Hot Pot—learn rules, snap photos ringside, and savor chanko-style flavors.

Evening: Optional adrenaline: dress up and drive the streets (with valid passport and International Driving Permit) on the Official Street Go-Kart in Shibuya, which loops the famous Crossing.

Dinner: In Asakusa, try Asakusa Imahan (sukiyaki) or grab a hot melonpan ice cream from Asakusa Kagetsudo. Coffee stops today: Onibus Coffee (Nakameguro) or Fuglen Tokyo (Shibuya) for Nordic-style roasts.

Kyoto

Kyoto is Japan’s cultural heart: 17 UNESCO sites, sublime gardens, and hidden tea houses. Walk beneath Inari’s vermilion torii gates, cross the Katsura River at Arashiyama, and watch maiko slip between wooden machiya at dusk.

• Top sights: Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), Arashiyama bamboo grove, Nijo Castle, Philosopher’s Path.
• Food & drink: kaiseki (seasonal haute cuisine), yudofu (tofu hot pot near Nanzen-ji), matcha sweets, obanzai home-style dishes, sake in Fushimi.
• Fun facts: Kyoto was Japan’s capital for over a thousand years; many alleys still follow Heian-era grids, and the Gion district preserves geisha traditions.

Getting from Tokyo to Kyoto: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen. Nozomi trains take ≈2 hr 15–30 min; one-way reserved seat typically ≈¥14,500–¥16,500 (about $100–$115). Morning departures are frequent; book seats on Trip.com Trains. For this 7-day, two-city plan, a nationwide rail pass usually doesn’t save money.

Where to stay (Kyoto): Luxury: The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, Kyoto Brighton Hotel. Mid-range: Kyoto Tokyu Hotel, Hotel M's Est Shijo Karasuma, Hotel M's Plus Shijo Omiya. Budget/hostel: Piece Hostel Sanjo. See more on Hotels.com Kyoto or apartments on VRBO Kyoto.

Day 4: Shinkansen to Kyoto, Higashiyama Stroll, Gion at Dusk

Morning: Depart Tokyo on a Nozomi around 8:00–9:00. Grab an ekiben (bento) at the station—look for seasonal vegetables and wagyu. Arrive Kyoto Station before lunch and drop bags.

Afternoon: Walk the Higashiyama slopes: Yasaka Pagoda views, pottery shops on Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka, and Kiyomizu-dera’s wooden stage. Coffee with a view at % Arabica Higashiyama or matcha soft-serve from kiosk stands nearby.

Evening: Join the Kyoto Gion Geisha District Walking Tour to learn the history and etiquette around geiko and maiko culture—best done after sunset when lanterns glow.

Dinner: Try Gion Tanto (Kyoto-style okonomiyaki), Gogyo Kyoto (famous “burnt” miso ramen), or a sake-paired kaiseki experience (advance booking recommended).

Day 5: Kyoto’s Icons in One Day

Maximize sightseeing on the PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour, which commonly includes Kiyomizu-dera, the vermilion tunnels of Fushimi Inari, and time in Arashiyama (bamboo grove and Togetsukyo Bridge). It’s a compact way to see multiple UNESCO sites with context and transport handled.

After the tour, dine along Pontocho Alley: consider Yakiniku Hiro Pontocho (top-grade beef), Ippudo Nishiki-koji (ramen), or a cozy izakaya for seasonal obanzai. Dessert: warabimochi or matcha parfait.

Day 6: Nara Morning, Philosopher’s Path Afternoon

Morning: Take a rapid train to Nara (≈45–60 min; check options on Trip.com Trains). Visit Todai-ji’s Great Buddha Hall and wander Nara Park where sacred deer bow for crackers. Coffee at ROKUMEI COFFEE; lunch at Edogawa Naramachi (grilled unagi) or Maguro Koya (tuna bowls).

Afternoon: Return to Kyoto for the Philosopher’s Path walk from Ginkaku-ji toward Nanzen-ji, especially scenic in cherry blossom and fall foliage seasons. Consider a tea ceremony at a Gion teahouse to learn whisking and etiquette.

Evening: Browse Nishiki Market—sample tako tamago (octopus with quail egg), sesame croquettes, and yuba (tofu skin). Dinner at Katsukura Shijo (stellar tonkatsu with stone-ground sesame sauce) or late-night gyoza at Gyoza Hohei.

Day 7: Golden Morning and Departure

Morning: Visit Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) right at opening to beat crowds, or tour Nijo Castle to hear the “nightingale floors” chirp. Brunch coffee at Weekenders Coffee (hidden courtyard roastery) or a final matcha at % Arabica.

Afternoon: Depart from Kansai International Airport (KIX): the Haruka Limited Express from Kyoto Station takes ≈75 min (about ¥2,900). Check live timetables and reserve on Trip.com Trains. If you’re flying out of Tokyo instead, the shinkansen back to Tokyo takes ≈2 hr 15–30 min; connect to Narita or Haneda afterward.

Practical Tips

• Transit: Get a mobile Suica/PASMO for tap-and-go travel. Tokyo subways are dense; in Kyoto buses cover many sights, but subways and taxis can save time.
• Connectivity: Pocket Wi‑Fi or eSIM makes navigation and translations easy.
• Etiquette: No eating on the go in shrines/temples, keep voices low on trains, and remove shoes where required.
• Seasonality: Book early for cherry blossom (late Mar–early Apr) and autumn foliage (Nov). Summers are humid; carry water and cool towels.

Optional Tokyo Add-Ons (if you have energy/time)

• Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide for a tailored deep dive—mix architecture, pop culture, and food according to your interests.

For all intercity trains and local lines, compare schedules and reserve on Trip.com. For international and domestic flights, check Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Summary: In one week, you’ll span lantern-lit lanes and sky-high views, market tastings and temple mornings, all stitched together by the shinkansen. Keep this itinerary handy—it balances headline sights with local moments you’ll remember long after your last bowl of ramen.