Having only one week at your disposal means you will have to renounce to many destinations. A very reasonable choice is to stick to a classic Tokyo - Kyoto route. Along the way you can add a third destination or you can arrange for one or two side trips.
In this page we briefly outline a selection of seven-day itineraries along the Tokyo-Kyoto route.
Contents
-
First journey to Japan (choice of the itinerary, main destinations, side trips)
-
Recommended 7-day itineraries (Kyoto and Tokyo; inclusion of a third major destination, one-day excursions from Tokyo and Kyoto)
-
Where to stay (accommodation in Tokyo, Kyoto, Kanazawa)
Seven days in Japan: choice of the itinerary
A first journey to Japan should include both Tokyo and Kyoto. The two cities are gateways to exploring the modern and traditional culture of the nation and they are undoubtedly the main destinations of any first trip to Japan.
As a week is a very short period of time, you may want to limit your choices to these two destinations and possibly add one or two day-excursions.
Transfers between Tokyo and Kyoto can offer opportunities for short visits along the way. You can easily add a short visit to Kanazawa (most atmospheric in autumn and winter).
Near Kyoto are important destinations such as Nara, Osaka and Mount Koya. Nikko can be visited with a day trip from Tokyo.
Seven days in Japan: recommended itineraries
Tokyo and Kyoto are the two major destination for a 7-day itinerary in Japan. Both cities deserve long stays, ideally of at least 3-4 days. In view of this, we suggest you choose to devote an entire week, 7 days, to these two destinations.
Here are the suggested itineraries:
Itinerary 1: Tokyo, Kyoto with side-trips from both cities;
Itinerary 2: Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto
Itinerary 3: Tokyo and surroundings
Itinerary 4: Kyoto and surroundings
We assume that Narita Airport (near Tokyo) is the point of arrival and departure. Another option is to enter and exit the country through Kansai Airport (near Osaka and Kyoto).
If you travel from Asia you may also consider other points of entry such as the airports of Nagoya and Okayama.
Itinerary 1: Tokyo and Kyoto
If you do not feel comfortable with tight schedules and enjoy slow travelling and the possibility of improvising and letting the journey lead you, you may choose to plan to visit only Tokyo and Kyoto. You can allocate time in many different ways. We suggest spending 3 days in Tokyo and 4 days in Kyoto.
Transfers between the two cities take around 3 hours. Therefore, if you travel in the early morning or late afternoon, you will not waste time.
From both cities you can easily arrange side-trips. All transfers can be made by train or by bus. You can also join group tours, which are getting cheaper and cheaper.
A possible schedule that encompasses two side trips is the following:
-
Day 1: Tokyo; transfer between Narita Airport and Tokyo; visit to Asakusa and Sumida;
-
Day 2: Nikko, excursion from Tokyo; visit to the main shrines and temples (Toshogu, Futarasan-Jinja, Rinno-Ji);
-
Day 3: Tokyo; visit to Ueno, Shibuya and Shinjuku;
-
Day 4: Kyoto; early morning transfer to Kyoto from Tokyo; visit to the city centre, Pontocho and Gion;
-
Day 5: Kyoto; classic Higashiyama and Sakyo itinerary, from Kiyomizu-dera to Ginkaku-ji walking tour (through Sannen-zaka, Ninen-zaka, Maruyama Park, Philosopher’s Path);
-
Day 6: Nara, excursion from Kyoto; visit to the main shrines, temples and gardens in Nara Park (Kofuku-Ji, Isui-En, Todai-Ji, Kasuga Taisha);
-
Day 7: Kyoto; Kinkaku-Ji and Arashiyama (Tenryu-Ji, Bamboo Grove, Gio-Ji, Rakushisha); late afternoon transfer to Tokyo; end of the journey.
How to organise the transfers
If you choose a round trip flight itinerary (entry and exit through the same airport, typically Narita Airport), it would pay off to make use of a 7-day Japan Rail Pass ticket. This has to be activated at the airport of entry, so as to cover all major transfers of the itinerary:
-
Narita Airport-Tokyo (by N’EX, Narita Express)
-
Tokyo-Kyoto (by shinkansen, Hikari)
-
Excursions from Kyoto (such as Kyoto-Osaka, Kyoto-Nara, Kyoto-Himeji)
-
Kyoto-Tokyo (by shinkansen, Hikari)
-
Tokyo-Narita Airport (by N’EX, Narita Express, the fastest option)
If you exit the country from a different airport, typically Osaka, you do not need to buy a JR Pass.
Transfers between Tokyo and Nikko are covered by the JR Pass for travels along the sole JR network. In general a more convenient option is offered by the Nikko World Heritage Pass, which is offered by the private company Tobu.
Itinerary 2: Tokyo, Kanazawa and Kyoto
If you are most interested in Japan’s traditional culture you might want to add a short visit to Kanazawa, a major city located near the western coast. The city boasts a unique historical centre that comprises a few neighbourhoods that retain the beauty and harmony of the traditional architecture. Not to be missed are also the Kenroku-En, a wonderful landscape garden, the Kanazawa-Jo, the city castle, and Nagamachi, the samurai district.
Kanazawa is located in the Chubu Region, which lies between Kanto and Kansai. This means you can visit Kanazawa as an intermediate destination along the journey between Tokyo and Kyoto. Moreover, you can take advantage of a new pass, which covers transfers between Tokyo, Kansai through Hokuriku Region.
You can allocate time in many different ways. We suggest spending 2 and a half days in Tokyo, 1 and a half days in Kanazawa, and 3 days in Kyoto.
As for day-trips, we suggest the following destinations:
-
From Tokyo: Nikko or Kamakura
-
From Kyoto: Nara
How to organise the transfers
If you choose a round trip flight itinerary (entry and exit through the same airport, typically Narita Airport), it would pay off to make use of a 7-day Hokuriku Japan Rail Pass ticket. This is cheaper than the regular 7-day nationwide Japan Rail Pass.
The pass has to be activated on the first day of the journey, so as to cover all major transfers of the itinerary:
-
Narita Airport-Tokyo (by N’EX, Narita Express, the fastest option)
-
Tokyo-Kanazawa (by shinkansen)
-
Kanazawa-Kyoto (by limited express)
-
Excursions from Kyoto (such as Kyoto-Osaka, Kyoto-Nara)
-
Kyoto-Tokyo (by limited express and shinkansen, through Kanazawa)
-
Tokyo-Narita Airport (by N’EX, Narita Express)
The only drawback is that all Tokyo-Kyoto transfers require passing through Kanazawa, which means you cannot travel along the direct Tokyo-Kyoto Tokaido Shinkansen Line. This indirect transfer takes around 5 hours instead of the typical 3 hours of the direct route.
Itinerary 3: Tokyo and surroundings
Tokyo is a small universe where you can find any kind of attractions. The city has something for anyone and while it is often regarded as a symbol for modern Japan, the city has plenty of landmarks and historical sites that will satisfy those who seek the beauty, meaningfulness and harmony of traditional culture.
Not far from Tokyo are also quite a few relatively secluded towns that offer access to beautiful and serene and largely untouched natural landscapes.
As the schedule is tight we suggest considering only the following day-trips:
-
From Tokyo: Nikko, Kamakura, Hakone, Mount Fuji and the Five Lake Region
A possible schedule that encompasses two side trips is the following:
-
Day 1: Tokyo; transfer between Narita Airport and Tokyo; visit to Asakusa (Senso-Ji and its surroundings) and Sumida (Edo-Tokyo Museum, Yokoamicho Memorial Park, Sky Tree Tower);
-
Day 2: Nikko, excursion from Tokyo; visit to Sannai, main shrines and temples (Toshogu, Futarasan-Jinja, Rinno-Ji);
-
Day 3: Tokyo; visit to Ueno (park and one or two museums) and Bunkyo (Koishikawa Koraku-En and Rikugi-En gardens, Tokyo Domu entertainment park, Kodokan Judo Headquarters);
-
Day 4: Tokyo; in spring visit to Minato (Aoyama Cemetery and Roppongi), Shibuya (Nezu Museum, entertainment and commercial district), Harajuku (Meiji-Jingu shrine and Omotesando) Meguro-gawa cherry blossom viewing spot;
-
Day 5: Tokyo; visit to Shinjuku (main museums, Shinjuku-Gyoen National Park, shopping and entertainment area, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation deck); possible addition: Ikebukuro or Ginza;
-
Day 6: Kamakura, excursion from Tokyo; visit to the main shrines and Zen temples in Kamakura and Kita-Kamakura;
-
Day 7: Tokyo; final visit to Akihabara (electric town) and Kanda (ancient temples and shrines, bookshops) or Odaiba (museums and Toyosu Market).
How to organise the transfers
It would not be economical to buy any JR Pass tickets. For transfers within Tokyo you can simply use the subway tickets and day passes. Excursions to Nikko and Kamakura are quite cheap. If you choose to visit Hakone you can take advantage of a specific tourist pass that covers transfers from/to Tokyo and local transportation in Hakone.
For transfers between Narita Airport and Tokyo’s city centre you can opt for solutions by train (the local Sobu Line train offering the cheapest option) of by limousine bus. Another choice is to use the Keisei Main Line, especially convenient if you find a hotel in Asakusa or Ueno.
Itinerary 4: Kyoto and surroundings
The ancient capital of Japan, Kyoto, is a fascinating history and the cultural heart of the nation. Moreover, Kyoto is at the centre of a region which is home to some of Japan’s most sacred sites and many places of historical and artistic interest.
You can easily spend an entire week in Kyoto without getting short of excitement and opportunities to discover something new and inspiring to you.
In addition, there is plenty of choice when it comes to arranging side trips to minor locations, off-the-beaten tracks destinations and scenic places.
If you are into traditional culture we suggest you devote four full days to Kyoto. Other days can be used for side trips. If you are a keen traveller, you may even choose to visit some places for the second time. This is often the case in autumn and spring when nature creates a unique context with foliage and flowering phenomena.
As for the other day-trips, we suggest considering the following destinations:
-
From Kyoto: Nara, Osaka, Himeji, Uji, Mount Koya, Kobe
We assume that you enter and exit the country through Kansai Airport, main hub in the region of Kansai.
A possible schedule that encompasses two side trips is the following:
-
Day 1: Osaka; transfer between Kansai Airport and Osaka; visit to Osaka (Umeda, Osaka Castle, Keitaku-En, Harukasu Tower, Nihombashi and Namba);
-
Day 2: Koyasan, transfer from Osaka, one night in Koyasan; visit to the main shrines, temples;
-
Day 3: Nara, transfer from Koyasan, one night in Nara; visit to the main shrines, temples and gardens in Nara Park (Kofuku-Ji, Isui-En, Todai-Ji, Kasuga Taisha);
-
Day 4: Nara and Kyoto; visit to Naramachi old district; transfer to Kyoto. Visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha. Visit to Kyoto’s city centre (Pontocho and Nishiki Market) and Gion;
-
Day 5: Kyoto; classic Higashiyama and Sakyo itinerary, from Kiyomizu-dera to Ginkaku-ji walking tour (through Sannen-zaka, Ninen-zaka, Maruyama Park, Philosopher’s Path);
-
Day 6: Kyoto; Nijo Castle, Kamishichiken, Kitano Tenmangu shrine and Kinkaku-Ji;
-
Day 7: Kyoto; full day in Arashiyama (Tenryu-Ji, Bamboo Grove, Gio-Ji, Rakushisha, Daikaku-Ji); late afternoon transfer to Osaka; end of the journey.
How to organise the transfers
If you choose a round trip flight itinerary (entry and exit through the same airport, typically Kansai Airport), you do not need to buy any JR Pass tickets.
A good option is to buy the Koyasan World Heritage Pass which covers transfers between Osaka and Koyasan as well as local transportation in Koyasan.
Transfers between Osaka, Nara and Kyoto are very cheap and you can simply use local and express trains. There is no need to buy any discount tickets.
An exception is when you choose to stay in Osaka and visit Kyoto with day trips. This solution is suitable to those who need to cut costs or failed to find any suitable accommodation at affordable tariffs in Kyoto. This circumstance occurs frequently in spring, autumn and during the national holidays.
Related articles:
Itineraries in Japan: 5 days | 10 days | 14 days
First journey to Japan: Ten-day classic itinerary
