One week is the classic length for a first trip to Japan, and it's enough to see the essentials without rushing — if you keep the route simple. The proven approach is to base in just two cities, Tokyo and Kyoto, linked by the Shinkansen, with day trips on either side. Here's a balanced day-by-day plan.
The shape of the week
Resist the urge to cram in five cities. Two well-chosen bases — Tokyo then Kyoto — let you settle in, unpack once per city, and use the trains for day trips rather than constantly relocating. The bullet train between them takes about 2 hours 15 minutes, so the one big move mid-trip is painless.
Days 1–3: Tokyo
Day 1 — arrival and the west side. Land, get an IC card and mobile data at the airport, and head to your hotel. Ease into the day with Shibuya Crossing, Harajuku, and the calm of Meiji Shrine, then a relaxed dinner — don't overschedule while jet-lagged.
Day 2 — old Tokyo. Start early at Senso-ji in Asakusa, head to Tokyo Skytree for the view, then Akihabara for the electronics-and-anime spectacle. An evening in an izakaya.
Day 3 — your pick. Either the immersive teamLab digital art museum plus upscale Ginza, or a day trip to Hakone for hot springs and Mt Fuji views. teamLab is the better rainy-day choice.
Day 4: Travel to Kyoto + Nara or Fushimi Inari
Take a morning Shinkansen to Kyoto (about 2h15m). After dropping your bags, ease in with an afternoon at Fushimi Inari, walking up through its tunnels of red torii gates, or head straight out to Nara for the giant Buddha and friendly deer if you arrive early enough.
Days 5–6: Kyoto
Day 5 — eastern Kyoto. The Higashiyama district: wander the preserved streets up to Kiyomizu-dera, then explore Gion, the geisha quarter, ending with dinner along Pontocho Alley.
Day 6 — west and north. The Arashiyama bamboo grove early, then the golden Kinkaku-ji, and if you have energy, the Zen rock garden at Ryoan-ji.
Day 7: Day trip or slow finish
Use your last full day for a day trip to Nara (if you didn't on day 4) or Osaka for food and energy — or slow down, revisit a favorite spot, and shop for souvenirs. Then it's time to head home, ideally flying out of Kansai (KIX) to avoid backtracking to Tokyo.
Tips to make it flow
- Fly open-jaw — into Tokyo, out of Osaka/Kansai — to save a backtrack.
- Get an IC card on arrival for effortless local transit in both cities.
- On the JR Pass: for this simple two-city route with one round trip, a nationwide pass usually isn't worth it anymore — individual Shinkansen tickets are typically cheaper. Do the math for your exact plan.
- Start early at the famous sights to beat crowds, and group each day by area.
- Build a light first day to shake off jet lag.
Bottom line
A week built around Tokyo and Kyoto, with Hakone, Nara, or Osaka as day trips, covers the best of Japan for a first-timer without feeling rushed. Keep the route simple, lean on the trains, and you'll come home already planning your return.
