A week is enough for a first trip to Japan. You can see the big city of Tokyo and the old temples of Kyoto. The key is to stay in each city for several nights, and to use one train day to move between them. Do not try to see everything. Pick a few things in each place and enjoy them.
The shape of the week
Here is one simple shape. Adjust it to your flights and your interests.
| Part | Nights | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Most of the first part | Neighbourhoods, a day trip, food |
| Train day | None | Move from Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen |
| Kyoto | Most of the last part | Temples, gardens, a day trip to Nara or Uji |
Keep the first and last day light. Jet lag is real, and the first day is often tired. Use the first afternoon for a walk near the hotel.
Tokyo: three or four days
Choose two or three areas and plan one main thing for each day. Good first choices are Asakusa for the old temple, Shibuya for the crossing and shops, and Shinjuku for the views and the nightlife. Walk between them where you can, and use the trains for the longer trips.
Add one day trip. Kamakura and Nikko are both easy from Tokyo. Pick one, not both, if you want a slow week.
The train day
The Shinkansen runs from Tokyo to Kyoto. Trains are frequent, and seats are easy to book at the station. Plan to leave your hotel in the morning with your bags. Some hotels hold bags for you. Check before you check out.
Check first: Whether a rail pass suits your route, and its current price and rules. Use the JR official site. Do not decide on a pass from an old blog post, because rules and prices change. This plan does not use a pass price.
Kyoto: three or four days
Kyoto is smaller and easier to walk. Visit the famous shrine with many red gates, and walk up the hill to the view. Spend a morning in the old streets of Gion and Higashiyama. Then take a day trip, such as Nara.
Start early at the big sights. The crowds build from late morning, and the light is better early.
Food in both cities
Eat a mix of quick and slow meals. Try a counter meal, a noodle shop and a sweets shop. Use Tabelog to find places near each area. Read the most recent reviews, and check the opening days, because many small places close on one day a week.
A simple daily rhythm
- Morning: the main sight, while the air is cool and the crowds are small.
- Lunch: a shop or a market street near your route.
- Afternoon: a walk, a garden or a museum. Rest in the middle of the day.
- Evening: dinner in the area, and an early night after a long day.
Temple manners
Temples and shrines are places of worship. Speak quietly, and follow the signs about photos. Some halls ban photos inside. Remove your shoes where the sign asks you to. Wash your hands at the basin before you enter a shrine.
Common mistakes
The first mistake is packing too many places into the week. Two cities are enough for a first trip. Each extra stop costs a morning of travel and a night of packing. Keep the plan light.
The second mistake is booking every hour. Leave gaps for rest, for a walk you did not plan and for the weather. Many of the best moments come from a free afternoon.
The third mistake is leaving the Kyoto temples for the last day. Walk the main sights early in the trip, while you still have time to change the plan if the weather turns.
The last mistake is carrying too much luggage on the train day. Use a takkyubin service to send bags ahead, or check whether your hotel will hold them. Travel light on the Shinkansen.
What to do next
A week with two cities works best with a clear plan for each day. Use the planner to build a route with your dates and interests. Read the Tokyo page and the Kyoto page for each city, and check the Gion area before you book your Kyoto nights.
Check first: Your flight times and the train times for the train day. Use the operator's timetable a few days before you travel. Check the weather for each city with the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
