Japan 7-Day First-Timer
Tokyo + Hakone + Kyoto + Nara + Osaka in one week. The classic Golden-Route compressed for travelers visiting Japan for the first time.
Last updated 2026-05-03 · 7-day self-guided plan
Tokyo Arrival — Shinjuku & Shibuya
Land, Wander, Don't Sleep Yet
Beat jet lag by staying outside until 22:00
1Shinjuku Gyoen
Imperial garden with three landscape styles — French, English, Japanese.
1.5 HoursCost: ¥500
2Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observatory
Free 202m observation deck. Mt. Fuji visible on clear winter days.
1 HourCost: Free
3Shibuya Crossing & Hachiko
World's busiest scramble + the loyal-dog statue.
1 HourCost: Free
4Omoide Yokocho dinner
Postwar yakitori alleys under the JR tracks. Smoky, tiny, perfect first dinner.
1.5 HoursCost: ¥2,500
Day 1 Estimated Cost
- Narita Express to Shinjuku¥3,250
- Food¥4,000
- Shinjuku Gyoen¥500
- Subway¥600
Tips
Suica/Pasmo IC card at Narita arrivals = no need to buy single tickets all week.
Walking shoes broken in BEFORE landing — first day is 8+ km on average.
Convenience store onigiri beats jet-lag hunger at 03:00 — open 24/7 everywhere.
Shibuya Sky sunset slot books out 2 weeks ahead — or settle for free MetGov deck.
Tokyo — Asakusa & Akihabara
Old Tokyo Morning, Otaku Afternoon
Two opposite faces of Tokyo in one day
1Sensoji Temple
Tokyo's oldest. Walk Nakamise Street, draw an omikuji fortune at the main hall.
2 HoursCost: Free
2Sumida River cruise to Hamarikyu
40-min boat down the river to a samurai-era seaside garden.
1 HourCost: ¥1,040
3Akihabara Electric Town
Anime, retro games, manga floors. Mandarake doujin shop has 8 floors.
2 HoursCost: Budget for shopping
4Shinjuku Golden Gai
180+ tiny themed bars in 6 alleys. Most accept tourists; some have ¥1,000 cover.
2 HoursCost: ¥1,000+ cover charge
Day 2 Estimated Cost
- Food¥4,000
- Sumida cruise¥1,040
- Subway¥800
- Bar tab¥3,000
Tips
Asakusa → Akihabara = single Ginza Line ride, 8 min, ¥180.
Sensoji is paved stone — no heels.
Asakusa monjayaki at Mugitoro — pan-fried savory pancake, ¥1,800.
Sensoji at night with main lantern lit — fewer crowds, dramatic shadows.
Hakone — Mt. Fuji Day Trip
Cable Car, Lake & Onsen
Old-school spa-resort loop with active volcano + lake views
1Hakone-Yumoto Station
Romance Car from Shinjuku 85 min. Free Pass covers ALL onward Hakone transport.
0.5 HourCost: Hakone Free Pass ¥6,100
2Owakudani Volcanic Valley
Ride the Hakone Ropeway over sulfurous fumaroles. Eat the black eggs (¥500/5).
1.5 HoursCost: Included
3Lake Ashi Pirate Ship
30-min boat across the caldera lake. Mt. Fuji + Hakone Shrine torii view on a clear day.
1 HourCost: Included
4Hakone Open-Air Museum
Mountain-side sculpture park with a 300+ piece Picasso pavilion.
1.5 HoursCost: ¥2,000
Day 3 Estimated Cost
- Hakone Free Pass (2-day)¥6,100
- Romance Car reserved seat¥1,290
- Open-Air Museum¥2,000
- Food¥4,000
Tips
Hakone Free Pass 2-day ¥6,100 from Shinjuku — pays back in 1 round-trip.
Layered clothing — Owakudani is 800m elevation, 5°C cooler than Tokyo.
Black eggs add 7 years of life (folklore) — egg shells turn black from sulfur.
Pirate Ship + Mt. Fuji clearest at 09:00 morning departure from Hakonemachi.
Shinkansen → Kyoto Eastern Loop
Bullet Train + Temple Hike
Travel west, drop bags, climb Higashiyama
1Shinkansen Tokyo → Kyoto
Nozomi 2h15min, Hikari 2h45min. Mt. Fuji on the right side at minute 40 from Tokyo.
2.5 HoursCost: ¥14,170
2Fushimi Inari Taisha
Vermilion torii tunnel up Mt. Inari. Loop to Yotsutsuji junction = 1.5h, full summit = 3h.
2 HoursCost: Free
3Kiyomizu-dera
Wooden hilltop stage looking back over Kyoto. Sunset light = postcard shot.
1.5 HoursCost: ¥500
4Gion Evening Walk
Hanamikoji Street + Shirakawa canal at twilight. No flash photography near geisha.
1.5 HoursCost: Free
Day 4 Estimated Cost
- Shinkansen Hikari¥14,170
- Bus 1-day pass¥700
- Kiyomizu Entry¥500
- Food¥4,000
Tips
Reserve shinkansen seats Right window (D-seat) for Mt. Fuji view.
Fushimi Inari summit = 233m climb, count an hour each way.
Kyoto-style breakfast — yudofu (boiled tofu) at Gontaro near Yasaka.
Hokan-ji Pagoda from Yasaka-dori at golden hour — Kyoto's icon shot.
Kyoto Western Loop
Bamboo, Bridges & Gold
Arashiyama → Kinkaku-ji → tea district
1Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Iconic green tunnel. Aim for 7–9am for empty paths.
1 HourCost: Free
2Tenryu-ji Temple
Zen UNESCO site with garden borrowed from Mt. Arashiyama.
1 HourCost: ¥800
3Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion
Gold-leaf temple over reflecting pond. Photographed from a single fixed viewpoint.
1 HourCost: ¥500
4Uji Tea District
Origin of premium matcha. Byodo-in Phoenix Hall (¥600) + tea ceremony at Tsuen.
1.5 HoursCost: ¥600
Day 5 Estimated Cost
- Food¥4,500
- Randen + JR Nara Line¥1,300
- Tenryu-ji + garden¥800
- Kinkaku-ji¥500
- Byodo-in¥600
Tips
Kyoto City Bus 1-day pass ¥700 if you'll do 3+ rides.
Bamboo path is gravel — no smooth-soled flats.
Matcha ice cream at Itohkyuemon Uji — premium grade ¥500 sets the bar.
Kinkaku-ji at 10am when sun fully lights the gold side.
Nara Day Trip
Bowing Deer & Giant Buddha
Half-day train ride from Kyoto
1Nara Park
1,200 wild sika deer that bow for crackers (¥200/pack from approved vendors only).
1.5 HoursCost: Free
2Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall
World's largest wooden building. 15m bronze Buddha cast in 752 AD.
1 HourCost: ¥600
3Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Vermilion shrine in cedar forest. 3,000 stone + bronze lanterns lit twice yearly.
1 HourCost: Free (¥500 inner)
4Pontocho Alley dinner (return Kyoto)
Riverside lantern alley. Kawayuka river-deck dining May–Sep.
2 HoursCost: ¥4,000
Day 6 Estimated Cost
- JR Kyoto-Nara round-trip¥1,500
- Todai-ji + Kasuga inner¥1,100
- Deer crackers¥400
- Pontocho dinner¥4,000
Tips
JR Nara Line rapid 45 min from Kyoto — IC card works.
Park is hilly grass — sneakers needed for deer chasing your crackers.
Kakinoha-zushi at Hiraso — sushi wrapped in persimmon leaf, Nara specialty.
Bowing deer wait until you bow first; crouch to eye level for the shot.
Osaka & Departure
Castle, Dotonbori, Last Bites
End strong before the airport run
1Osaka Castle
16th-century stronghold with city-view observation floor.
1.5 HoursCost: ¥600
2Kuromon Ichiba Market
150 stalls of tuna sashimi, A5 wagyu skewers, fresh strawberry mochi.
1 HourCost: Budget for food
3Dotonbori Glico Sign
Iconic running-man neon. Eat takoyaki + okonomiyaki for the Osaka full sweep.
1.5 HoursCost: Free
4KIX Airport via Haruka
Limited Express Haruka 75 min from Tennoji to Kansai International Airport.
1.5 HoursCost: ¥2,400
Day 7 Estimated Cost
- Shinkansen Kyoto→Shin-Osaka¥1,420
- Subway¥820
- Osaka Castle¥600
- Food (incl. street food)¥5,000
- Haruka KIX¥2,400
Tips
Haruka KIX Express + ICOCA card combo ¥3,200 saves ¥800.
Last day = light shoes since you're hauling luggage to Tennoji.
Osaka takoyaki rule — 8 balls/¥600 minimum at any street stall.
Glico Running Man from Ebisu Bridge at twilight — 17:30 best in winter.