Travel
One week in Japan
The classic first route from Tokyo to Kyoto in seven days
One week is enough for Japan's classic route: three days in Tokyo, a night near Mount Fuji in Hakone, three days in Kyoto with a day trip to Nara, and an evening in Osaka. The Tokaido Shinkansen links it all, and the trip can start in Tokyo and end at Kansai Airport.
This route suits a first visit: it combines the modern capital with the temple city of Kyoto, adds a taste of mountain and hot-spring Japan in Hakone, and finishes with the ancient capital of Nara and the food of Osaka. All legs are short, and luggage can be forwarded between hotels so that travelling light is easy.
Flying into Tokyo and out of Kansai International (an 'open-jaw' ticket) avoids backtracking. For one week and this route, individual Shinkansen tickets are usually cheaper than a nationwide Japan Rail Pass, but a comparison on the official sites is worthwhile.
Step by step
- 1Day 1: Tokyo – arrival and ShinjukuArrive at Narita or Haneda, buy an IC card, check in and spend the evening in Shinjuku.
- 2Day 2: Tokyo – Asakusa, Ueno, GinzaSensō-ji in the morning, Ueno Park and museums, and an evening in Ginza or around Tokyo Station.
- 3Day 3: Tokyo – Harajuku and ShibuyaMeiji Jingū, Harajuku and Omotesandō, then Shibuya; forward luggage to Kyoto in the evening.
- 4Day 4: HakoneRomancecar from Shinjuku, the Hakone loop by mountain railway, ropeway and lake boat; night in a ryokan.
- 5Day 5: Kyoto – eastern templesShinkansen from Odawara to Kyoto; Kiyomizu-dera, Higashiyama lanes and Gion in the evening.
- 6Day 6: Kyoto – Fushimi Inari and the westFushimi Inari at dawn, then Kinkaku-ji, Ryōan-ji and Arashiyama.
- 7Day 7: Nara and OsakaMorning in Nara, afternoon and evening in Osaka's Dōtonbori; fly home from Kansai the next day.
Tokyo (days 1–3)
Three days give a good first impression of Tokyo's contrasts. Asakusa with Sensō-ji and the old-town atmosphere of Ueno and Yanaka represent the historic side; Shibuya's scramble crossing, Harajuku and Shinjuku's skyscrapers and nightlife show the modern city. The Imperial Palace East Gardens, Ginza and the Tokyo National Museum can fill another day.
IC cards and the Tokyo subway make it easy to move between districts; staying near a Yamanote Line station saves time.
Sensō-ji, Nakamise shopping street, Ueno Park and museums.
The scramble crossing, Meiji Jingū and youth fashion.
Skyscrapers, Shinjuku Gyoen garden and Omoide Yokochō alleys.
The Imperial Palace, Marunouchi and Tokyo Station.
Hakone or the Fuji Five Lakes (day 4)
Hakone, about an hour and a half from Shinjuku on the Odakyū Romancecar, offers hot springs, a mountain railway, a ropeway over the steaming Ōwakudani valley and a boat across Lake Ashi with views of Mount Fuji on clear days. A night in a ryokan with an onsen bath is a highlight of many trips.
The Fuji Five Lakes area around Kawaguchiko, reached by bus or train from Shinjuku, is the alternative for closer views of the mountain. Both can be done as a day trip, but staying overnight is more relaxed; luggage can be sent ahead to Kyoto.
Hot-spring resort in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
Caldera lake with the torii of Hakone Shrine.
Lakeside town at the foot of Mount Fuji.
What to expect in a traditional inn.
Kyoto (days 5–6)
From Odawara (for Hakone) or Mishima (for the Fuji area), the Tokaido Shinkansen continues to Kyoto. Two days allow the essentials: Fushimi Inari's tunnels of torii gates early in the morning, Kiyomizu-dera and the lanes of Higashiyama, and Gion in the evening; then the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), the rock garden of Ryōan-ji and Arashiyama with its bamboo grove.
Kyoto is best explored by a mix of bus, subway, train and walking; starting early avoids the worst crowds at the famous sites.
The former imperial capital with more than 1,600 temples.
Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto
The World Heritage ensemble of temples, shrines and Nijō Castle.
Etiquette for purification, offerings and photos.
Nara and Osaka (day 7)
Nara is under an hour from Kyoto by JR or Kintetsu. Tōdai-ji with its Great Buddha, the deer of Nara Park and Kasuga Taisha shrine are all within walking distance. In the afternoon, continue to Osaka for the neon and street food of Dōtonbori and Namba, before heading to Kansai Airport the next morning.
With a later flight, the morning can be spent at Osaka Castle; from Namba the Nankai line runs directly to the airport.
Japan's first permanent capital, with Tōdai-ji and Kasuga Taisha.
Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara
World Heritage temples, shrine and primeval forest.
Kansai's commercial capital and its food culture.
Osaka's signature savoury pancake.
Alternatives and variations
Travellers who prefer fewer hotel changes can base themselves in Tokyo for four nights and in Kyoto or Osaka for three, visiting Hakone, Nikko or Kamakura as day trips from Tokyo and Nara from Kyoto. Those interested in history can swap Hakone for Nikko's lavish shrines or Kamakura's Great Buddha.
In a week it is best not to add more distant destinations such as Hiroshima; that is where a second week begins.
Seaside former shogunal capital with the Great Buddha.
Tōshō-gū shrine and mountain scenery north of Tokyo.
The extended route to Hiroshima, Kanazawa and the Alps.
Frequently asked questions
Is one week enough for Japan?
One week is enough for the classic Tokyo–Kyoto route with Hakone, Nara and Osaka. For Hiroshima, the Japanese Alps or more remote regions, two weeks or more are better.
Do I need a Japan Rail Pass for one week?
For this route, individual tickets are usually cheaper than the nationwide pass. Compare the total fares with current pass prices on the official site before deciding.
Should I stay in Kyoto or Osaka?
Kyoto is better for early starts at the temples; Osaka has more nightlife and often more hotel choice. They are less than half an hour apart by train.
Can I see Mount Fuji on this route?
From Hakone and the Fuji Five Lakes on clear days, and from the right-hand side of the Shinkansen towards Kyoto (seat E in ordinary class). Visibility is best in the colder months.
What is the best time of year for this itinerary?
Late March to May and October to November, with pleasant weather, cherry blossom or autumn colours. Summer is hot and humid; winter is cold but clear and quieter.
Related
Sources
- 1.Japan National Tourism Organization (opens in a new tab) — JNTO
- 2.JR-Central – Tokaido Shinkansen (opens in a new tab) — Central Japan Railway Company
- 3.Kyoto City Official Website (opens in a new tab) — 京都市
- 4.Hakone Town (opens in a new tab) — 箱根町