Itineraries七日
The 7-day first-timer route: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka
Three cities, one Shinkansen spine — paced for a first visit.
Last reviewed · Sep 2026
This is the classic loop. Fly into Tokyo, out of Osaka (Kansai) if you can — an 'open-jaw' ticket saves a day of backtracking.
| Day | Base | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tokyo | Arrive, IC card, evening in Shinjuku |
| 2 | Tokyo | Asakusa, Ueno, Akihabara |
| 3 | Tokyo | Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, Shibuya |
| 4 | Kyoto | Shinkansen (~2h15). Higashiyama & Gion |
| 5 | Kyoto | Fushimi Inari at dawn, Arashiyama |
| 6 | Osaka | Morning in Nara, evening in Dotonbori |
| 7 | Osaka | Osaka Castle, fly from Kansai |