7-Day Tokyo/Kyoto Itinerary for First Time Visitors

Helen Foster

If you’re coming to Japan for the first time and only have a week to explore, what’s the best use of your time? Here’s a simple 7-day plan to hit the spots most first-time travellers want to see.

If you asked me to tell you honestly how you should spend one week in Japan, I would tell you to stay in Tokyo and embrace everything in and around this fantastic city. It will save you money, save you stress and you’ll still see some fantastic sights.

But then someone else will come along and tell you you haven’t been to Japan unless you’ve seen Kyoto or Mount Fuji. And I get that – so this plan covers the basics exploring the top sights most people want to see in Tokyo and letting you dip your toes into Kyoto. If you want to try to see Mount Fuji, it offers time to do that too.

Article by Helen Foster. Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. See our Affiliate Disclosure.

It is definitely a whistlestop tour. To give yourself a little more breathing room, if you haven’t already booked your flights, and you have this as an option, flying into Tokyo and out of Osaka will buy you a little more time.

At a Glance

Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo – evening in Shinjuku

Day 2: Tokyo – Asakusa and Akihabara

Day 3: Optional Day Trip from Tokyo

Day 4: Tokyo – Shibuya – travel to Kyoto

Day 5: Kyoto – Fushimi Inari Taisha and Higashiyama

Day 6: Kyoto – Arashiyama – back to Tokyo

Day 7: Toyosu, teamLab, Odaiba

Day 1: Welcome to Tokyo

Exactly how much you’ll get done today depends on when you arrive, whether you managed to sleep on the plane and if you have jetlag. But, so I cover all eventualities, I will start in the morning. If you arrive later, you can start the plan at the point that fits your schedule and energy level best.

Arrival Time

If you fly into Tokyo, you’ll land at Narita or Haneda Airport. Check our arrival guide to make your arrival smoother; then once you’ve got through immigration and have your luggage, head into the city.

If it’s before 3 pm, you’ll be unlikely to check into your hotel, but most hotels will look after your bags until check-in time. If not, there are lockers in the main stations of Tokyo, so leave your bags in the station near your hotel.

If you haven’t decided where to stay yet, our guide on the best area in Tokyo for first timers will help narrow things down.

Before Check In – Explore Locally

If you’re staying in one of the most popular tourist areas, like Shinjuku, Asakusa, Shibuya, or Ginza, you will have plenty to do on your doorstep.

If you feel raring to go and want to start with the big sights immediately, most of these areas appear a little later in the plan so you can find some ideas of what you might want to visit (Ginza isn’t on the list, so check our Ginza guide if you’re staying there), but on this first day, it’s also good to wander the backstreets and take things in.

We can get too caught up in ticking off the big sights in Japan (and you will on the rest of this plan), but the true beauty of the place comes from the small things you just stumble across.

Today, when, perhaps, you’re not entirely with it, is a great day just to get a feel for your surroundings, to find the little ramen shop near your hotel that will be perfect if you’re tired one evening, to try fun drinks from the nearby vending machine, or wander into the smaller local shrines.

Or, if you’re feeling brave, revive yourself in the local sento (public bath) and start your trip in a uniquely Japanese way – naked with strangers! See our guide to using an onsen so you know what to expect. Sento’s have a similar process, the only difference is their water doesn’t come from a natural hot spring.

Afternoon/Evening – Shinjuku

Okay, let’s start with some proper sightseeing. Shinjuku is made to visit at night when the neon lights shine, the people bustle, and the giant Godzilla head on top of the Toho Cinema building starts to roar. With all that’s happening around you, you’ll easily stay awake until your normal bedtime.

East Shinjuku

The beating heart of Shinjuku is Kabukicho, Tokyo’s entertainment district.

Float containing drummers and dragon heads rolls behind a girl in a sparkly costume and blue wig dancing on stage at Tokyo's Samurai show restaurant

If you want to start your trip with a totally ‘Only in Japan’ experience, book into the late afternoon show of the Samurai Restaurant which you’ll find in the middle of Kabukicho.

This took over where the iconic Robot Restaurant left off, and it’s terrific fun. Sadly, even though the show is family-friendly, the building it’s held in is accessible to over-18s only so kids can’t attend.

Find our longer review here if you’d like to see more pictures.

Those with kids might prefer to visit the Kabukicho Tower, which has fun restaurants and a gaming area.

West Shinjuku

Now, I do have to mention that Kabukicho is a red-light district, although, unlike the ones you might have experienced in bigger Western cities. If this worries you, look at our guide to what to expect from Kabukicho – or, just head to the west side of Shinjuku instead.

Here, you can head to the Tokyo Metropolitan Building’s observatory to get a view of Tokyo. The observation area is free, and you might even see Mount Fuji on a clear day. Once darkness falls, the building has fun projections on the outside starting at 5.30 pm (check the official site for the rest of the timings).

Drinking and Dining

Both sides of Shinjuku are full of restaurants so you’re not going to struggle to find somewhere to eat (find some of my favourites in our Shinjuku area guide).

Or if you’re feeling a bit discombobulated (a word made for someone’s first night in Japan), head to one of Japan’s many chain restaurants, where you’ll be surrounded by locals, but, be able to order easily – usually with an English menu.

If you’re raring to go though, head to the tiny izakaya that line Shinjuku’s Omoide Yokocho, or go for drinks in the alleys of the Golden Gai bar district.

Note – you might be required to pay a seat fee in many of these small bars. See more about seat fees here, as not understanding them can lead to misunderstandings that you’re being scammed on your first day.

Right now, head to bed, ready to start a full day of sightseeing tomorrow.

Day 2: Tradition Meets Tech

Morning: Asakusa

Get up early to reach Asakusa before 9 am. This will allow you to enjoy the fantastic complex of Senso-ji Temple before the crowds arrive.

Spend some time exploring the backstreets of Asakusa, where you’ll find many other smaller shrines, independent shops and bakeries – and Japan’s oldest ‘theme park’, the now quaint Asakusa Hanayashiki.

Find more suggestions of cool little finds around here in the Asakusa section of our 4-Day Tokyo Itinerary. There’s even a shrine where people leave offerings of cucumber for water monsters!

man pulls rickshaw in Asakusa Tokyo

From here, you can either walk to Kappabashi Dori or explore Tokyo Skytree.

Kappabashi Dori is known as Japan’s Kitchen Street, but even if you don’t know one end of a chef’s knife from another, it’s fun to visit here and see the models of plastic foods made here. Not only will you be amazed at how many different foods there are, and how realistic some of them look, you can marvel at the prices of some of the more unique creations.

Or, cross the Sumida River and head toward Tokyo Skytree for a panoramic view of the city. The Solamachi Mall under here is also a great place to do your first shopping, and if you have a Kirby fan with you, it’s home to the Kirby Cafe (bookings are essential).

Afternoon: Akihabara

Akihabara is Tokyo’s pop culture haven – electronics, manga, and anime fans can spend hours here, but even if these aren’t on your list of hobbies, there’s still enough to do here for a few hours, and the area’s colourful buildings make for some iconic Tokyo photography.

Make sure you keep an eye out for interesting vending machines – you might find everything from edible beetles to Pokemon cards.

You might also want to visit Kanda Myojin shrine. This shrine is where you come to bless your gadgets, so make sure you fill in one of the anime-style prayer plaques, but they also have a cute shrine pony called Akita. Her job is to carry the gods around the shrine if they visit.

row of building in Akihabara Tokyo they are covered with adverts for the latest manga and anime

It’s easy to reach Akihabara from Asakusa – if you are at Kappabashi Dori, then get on the Tsukuba Express Line from Asakusa Station (there are two of these, make sure you pick the right one – it’s the closest one to Kappabashi Dori) to Akihabara Station. If you’re at Skytree, then there are a couple of routes you can take, so use Google Maps to check the quickest at the time you’re travelling.

Evening – Akihabara, Asakusa or Ueno

You could stay in Akihabara, enjoy one of the many themed cafes, or visit a Maid Cafe. Or, head back to Asakusa, where Hoppy Street and its namesake drink are waiting to entertain you (see more about this and other ideas for dining and drinking in our Asakusa guide).

If you want to take in another area, though, the streets around Ueno Ameyoko market are stuffed with shops, bars and restaurants. It’s an easy walk from Akihabara.

If you get overwhelmed by choice, Fukushin is a nice, easy stop for dinner. We went there twice on one trip!

Need Extra Planning Help?

Our Japan trip planners can help. Choose from our 62-page Japan Super Planner, which includes tips on everything from picking hotels to sightseeing. Or, try a specific planner like Tokyo Tips, Kyoto Tips, or the Rail Pass Planner. Find them in our Planners store – printable and digital versions are available.

Day 3: Take a Day Trip

This is an optional idea. Your itinerary is already pretty full, but if you need to see Mount Fuji on your trip or have your heart set on a trip to Disneyland, fit it in now. Ideas include…

Hakone

Famous for its hot springs, views of Mount Fuji, and the scenic Hakone Ropeway. If you’re just here for the day, the most popular thing to do is to take the Hakone Sightseeing Loop. Click that link to find my guide to how to do this while trying to beat the crowds.

Mount fuji topped with a cloud

Mount Fuji

Catch the train from Shinjuku to Lake Kawaguchiko and spend the day circling the lake by bike, or one of the local red and green loop buses hoping to catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji, or book a guided Mount Fuji tour to take in the sights the easy way.

Pro tip: For both of the trips above, it’s important to note that Mount Fuji isn’t always visible. It’s a good idea to check the Fuji visibility checker before you visit so you’re not disappointed.

Save Money on Tours Here

Bonus – if you book many tours and tickets from Klook and use the code JaplaneaseKlook at check out you could save up to 10 per cent (T&Cs apply)

Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea

Immerse yourself in the magic of Disney. The parks in Tokyo offer a very different atmosphere than the US ones and shouldn’t be missed if you’re a Disney fan. DisneySea, in particular, offers unique attractions that are not found in any other Disney park worldwide.

If you’re not sure which park you should visit, have a look at our Disneyland or DisneySea decision guide.

Side view of the castle at Tokyo Disneyland. It has many turrets. Next to it on the lawn is a topiary dragon facing the lake next to the castle

Nikko

Explore the UNESCO-listed Toshogu Shrine, the ornate resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and enjoy the natural beauty of Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji. We’ve got a guide to the Nikko sights not to miss from a Nikko local here. It also tells you how to get there from Tokyo.

Return to Tokyo in the evening and relax.

If You’d Rather Not Take a Day Trip

Then, do tomorrow’s activities today and add an extra day to your Kyoto plans. You can use this to spend more time exploring Kyoto itself (using our four-day Kyoto itinerary to get some good ideas) or add a day trip to Nara or Osaka to your plans.

Day 4: Shibuya, Then Off to Kyoto

Morning: Shibuya or Shrines

Shibuya doesn’t wake up super early, making it a good choice for a travel day when you might need to pack and get yourself organised. If you wake up early and still want to get something else done, you might find some ideas in our guide to early morning Tokyo.

However, aim to arrive in Shibuya by around 10 am and head up to Shibuya Sky – probably the best view over Tokyo.

This gets very busy around sunset but you’ll be less swamped with people in the AM. Booking in advance is still a good idea to avoid disappointment and to save time queuing.

If you do want to visit Shibuya Sky at sunset, work this into one of your evenings on the plan, but note you have to be online to book the tickets as soon as they go on sale to get a slot. Also, right now, the official site isn’t accepting credit cards from outside of Japan, so you must book from a third party like Klook),

Hundreds of people cross Shibuya Crossing at night

Stop by the Hachiko Statue, a heartwarming tribute to Japan’s most loyal dog. Then, head across the famous Shibuya Crossing. As the day gets later, this gets busier. There are lots of places to view the crossing from above (see the top 5 here), and it is worth doing so to appreciate how orderly it all is, considering up to 3000 people can cross on each light.

Spend a couple of hours exploring the backstreets of Shibuya – you might want to have lunch with robots at the Pepper Parlour or shop for the latest trends at Shibuya Parco. See more in our guide to Shibuya.

If you’re more into traditional culture than popular culture, skip the shops, jump on the train to nearby Harajuku and instead explore the nearby Meiji Shrine.

Late Afternoon: Catch the Train to Kyoto

This might seem an unusual idea, most itineraries will see you traveling in the morning, but, with only a couple of days in Kyoto you’ll need to maximise your time, and that involves beating the crowds – and you’ll miss an important chance to do this if you arrive in Kyoto mid-morning tomorrow.

Taking a train to Kyoto at around 4 pm will see you arriving at your hotel at around 7.30 pm. You can check in and then head out to explore one of Kyoto’s dining areas like Pontocho Alley, explore the shops, shrines and restaurants of the Shinkyogoku Shopping Street, or just find a cute restaurant near your hotel.

If you’re still deciding where to stay in Kyoto, have a look at our guide to the best areas for first-timers here.

Day 5: Fushimi Inari Taisha and Higashiyama

Get up as early as you can as our first sight today is iconic – but because of that, it gets very, very busy. I’m talking about Fushimi Inari Taisha – the shrine with the red tori gates.

Depending on your energy levels, how early you arrive and your propensity for crowds, you can just walk to the Yotsutsuji intersection, which takes you through the first set of gates, gives you a glimpse of the city over the first overlook, and then back down.

On the map below, this turn-around point is near the toilet sign at the end of the first U-shaped loop of gates at the bottom.

Or, if you have a couple of hours to spare, follow the larger loop around the top of the shrine. While the highlight of this for most people is walking through the bright red gates, don’t miss the small shrines and other sites on the way down.

You can easily spend a whole day exploring this area (and if you didn’t choose to take a day trip to Tokyo, you might want to do just that), but with this time-crunched plan, you’re going to jump on the Keihan Main Line from Fushimi Inari Station to Kiyomizu-Gojo visit two other iconic Kyoto sights – Kiyomizu-dera Temple & Higashiyama

The famous decki at Kiyomizudera temple in Kyoto

Kiyomizu-dera will be busy by now, but it’s a must-do to admire stunning views of Kyoto from this wooden temple perched on a hill. On your way back down, explore the surrounding streets of Higashiyama, where you’ll find many smaller shrines and roads full of shops.

The most popular streets are the slopes of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka – although they will likely be very crowded.

If shopping isn’t your thing or the crowds get too much, quickly step off to one of the side streets and head toward the quieter shrines and temples of Ryozen-Kannon and Kodai-ji. Don’t miss the chance to make a wish on one of the lucky statues you’ll find here.

Evening: Wander Gion

End your day exploring Kyoto’s famous geisha district. You might spot a geiko (Kyoto geisha) or maiko (apprentice geisha) walking to appointments. However, if you are lucky enough to do so, please watch respectfully from a distance and don’t try to stop them or photograph them.

To learn more about the ancient art of geisha entertainment, it’s a good idea to take one of the evening geisha tours that can explain how this tradition, that’s not easy for foreigners to truly experience, actually works.

Or book in for an actual performance by maiko at the Gion Corner centre.

Day 6: Arashiyama, Then Back to Tokyo

Morning: Arashiyama

It’s time to see bamboo and there are few options for this in Arashiyama.

If you want to see the famous bamboo forest on everyone’s Instagram, then go to the main Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.

If you want to avoid the crowds, instead, start your day at the Jizoin (Take no Dera) Bamboo temple, which has a beautiful bamboo grove (below), or visit the Adashino Nenbutsuji shrine, which is actually the grove on the tourist posters.

The latter is becoming more popular on social media as the less crowded alternative to the main bamboo grove, but please note that Adashino Nenbutsuji includes a graveyard for people who died alone, so please use respect here. Don’t do entire photo sessions with changes of clothes, keep noise to a minimum and take note of the areas of the shrine that don’t allow any photographs at all.

Other sites you might want to visit in Arashiyama include the Saihoji moss temple (which requires reservations in advance), the fantastic Otagi-Nenbutsu-ji with its carved statues (my favourite place in the whole of Kyoto) and the Sagano Romantic Train (definitely try and do this if you’re here in autumn as the views of the autumn leaves are stunning).

Clear perspex tubes filled with kimono fabric stand in a circle around a fountain in the Kimono Forest in Kyoto

You can also enjoy shops and restaurants along the main street and even soak your feet in a footbath on the station while looking at the beautiful Kimono Forest art installation. There’s a lot more to Arashiyama than the Bamboo forest.

Late Afternoon/Evening: Return to Tokyo

Again, you might think, ‘Why so soon?’ especially if your flight isn’t until tomorrow evening.

Well, because while Japan’s trains are usually punctual to the minute, they can’t control the weather or other accidents or emergencies, so if you’re flying back out of Tokyo, it’s a good idea to get back there the night before your flight – especially if you’re traveling during the winter where snow might cause problems, or during typhoon season (August, September and October) when rain might.

If you choose to fly back from Osaka, I would be tempted to go and stay there for a night as with its famous lights and bars and restaurants on every corner; it’s definitely a place for night owls. If you don’t want to move hotels again, maybe just head in for an evening.

Day 7: Final Day

Today is the day you fly home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t sneak in some extra sights before you leave. obviously, you’ll need to adapt your itinerary around when you need to leave for the airport.

If you’re flying out of Osaka, then you might want to explore Osaka city, or you can visit Nara to see the deer, go explore shrines and matcha in Uji. or see the stunning Ukimido Shrine in half a day from Kyoto.

Assuming you’ve gone back to Tokyo, though, here are some ideas to finish your trip making a few more memories.

Morning: Toyosu and teamLabs

Head to Toyosu Market. This is Tokyo’s new fish market, and while the view of the market itself is nothing to write home about, the restaurants are fantastic – and with fewer crowds than the now unpleasantly crowded Tsukiji market.

If you really want to start your day early, you could apply to visit the early morning tuna auction. Otherwise, just enjoy a fresh sushi or sashimi breakfast and then visit nearby teamLab Planets.

Dish of chopped fish on rice served with broth and miso soup in Toyosu Market, Tokyo, Japan

This interactive digital art museum has recently been expanded, and it now makes a great alternative to its busiest sibling, teamLab Borderless.

Book your tickets here in advance to ensure you get a slot that fits your flight time.

Afternoon: Odaiba

If you still have time, then you can visit Odaiba: Explore this futuristic waterfront area. Highlights include the DiverCity Mall (with its giant Gundam statue), the Miraikan Science Museum and my favourite spot, Small Worlds Tokyo.

See our guide to Odaiba for more on these and some more ideas.

Then, head to the airport – and relax. You’ve done a lot in the last seven days.

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