One week is the classic first trip to Japan, and the route nearly everyone converges on is Tokyo plus Kyoto, linked by the bullet train, with a day trip or two mixed in. It balances big-city energy, traditional culture, and an easy pace without backtracking. Here's a day-by-day plan built for first-time American visitors, traveling in spring or autumn at a moderate pace.
Before you go: the essentials
A few things make this itinerary run smoothly. As a US passport holder you enter visa-free for up to 90 days — no visa needed. Because you'll do the Tokyo–Kyoto round on the Shinkansen, a Japan Rail Pass is often cost-effective for this route, though it's worth pricing against individual tickets for your exact plan. Get a Suica or Pasmo IC card the moment you land for all local transit, and remember there's no tipping anywhere. Book timed-entry sights like teamLab ahead.
Days 1–3: Tokyo
Day 1 — Arrival and Shibuya/Shinjuku
Fly into Haneda or Narita and head to your hotel (Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Asakusa all make great bases). Take it easy on jet lag — get your IC card, then ease in with the Shibuya Crossing and a wander through Shibuya and Shinjuku, ending with dinner in an atmospheric alley like Omoide Yokocho.
Day 2 — Old Tokyo and the skyline
Start early at Senso-ji in Asakusa, the city's oldest temple, then explore the Akihabara electronics district and head up Tokyo Skytree for the view. Mix in the Tsukiji Outer Market for a seafood lunch if you have time.
Day 3 — A day trip or teamLab
Use day three for a day trip — Hakone for hot springs and Mt Fuji views, or Nikko for forest shrines — or stay in the city for the immersive teamLab digital art museum and Meiji Shrine beside Harajuku. Pick based on the weather: a clear forecast makes Hakone's Fuji views worth it.
Day 4: Shinkansen to Kyoto
Ride the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto — about 2 hours 15 to 2 hours 30, city center to city center, and a bucket-list experience in itself. Drop your bags and spend the evening soaking up Gion, the historic geisha district, with dinner along the riverside Pontocho Alley.
Days 5–6: Kyoto
Day 5 — Eastern Kyoto
Explore the eastern hills: Fushimi Inari with its tunnels of red torii gates (go early), then up through the preserved Higashiyama streets to Kiyomizu-dera and its hillside veranda. This is Kyoto at its most atmospheric.
Day 6 — West and north
Head to Arashiyama for the bamboo grove and riverside scenery in the morning, then over to Kinkaku-ji, the dazzling Golden Pavilion, in the afternoon. Group sights by area like this to minimize travel time across the city.
Day 7: Nara day trip and departure
On your last day, take the short train to Nara to see Todai-ji's giant bronze Buddha and the famous free-roaming deer in the park — a perfect, all-ages finale. Alternatively, tick off any final Kyoto sights you missed. Then depart from Kansai Airport (KIX), which is the natural exit point from the Kyoto/Osaka side — flying out of KIX instead of returning to Tokyo saves you a backtrack.
Ways to adjust
This spine flexes easily. On day three choose Hakone, Nikko, or a city day depending on your interests and the weather. In Kyoto you can swap in Nijo Castle, the Imperial Palace, or the Philosopher's Path. If you have more time, add Osaka for food or Himeji for its spectacular castle. The structure — Tokyo first, bullet train to Kyoto, day trips around the edges — is what makes a first week in Japan flow.
What to book ahead
For a smooth trip, sort these early, especially in cherry blossom or fall foliage season: your flights (search flexible dates and consider flying into Tokyo, out of Kansai), your hotels in Tokyo and Kyoto, and any experiences or tours with limited capacity like teamLab or guided day trips. Locking these in ahead of time is the difference between a relaxed week and a scramble.