The classic first week, with temples and food and no rush between cities.
7 nights from Tokyo to Tokyo
Plan B details
Plan B has indoor swaps for 5 outdoor items.
Before you fly, five things matter most: check your passport and visa, book your stays and tickets, buy an eSIM and travel insurance, and decide on a rail pass. Open the list for every step, with links.
2 nightsTokyo · AsakusaPrice level ¥Find stays
About Asakusa Stays link to partner sites. See the note under Find stays.
Old Tokyo by the river. A big temple at the front door, lower prices and early nights.
When to stay here. Stay here for a first visit with a love for temples and old streets.
Stay here if: You want the old city and a temple at sunrise. You want lower prices and big rooms.
Skip it if: You want big bars and clubs close by.
Day 1: steps for your landing time
Midday, 11:00 to 16:00
- Get an IC card. Get an IC card such as Suica or ICOCA at the airport, or add one to your phone. It pays for trains and many shops. First-day guide
- Get online. Pick up your SIM or switch on your eSIM before you leave the airport, so you have maps at once. First-day guide
- Send big bags ahead. If you have a big bag, send it from the airport to your hotel with luggage forwarding, and travel light. First-day guide
- Go to your hotel. Keep the hotel address in Japanese on your phone. If you arrive before check-in, ask if the hotel can hold your bags. First-day guide
- Drugstore run. Buy small things for the first days: wet wipes, bandages, snacks and anything that you forgot. What to buy
- A light meal or an easy walk. Keep the first day easy. Eat close to the hotel and walk around your area.
EveningHoppy Street izakaya
Why it fits you. Open-air tables on a small street. Order grilled meat and a cold drink.
Other options
MorningYanaka old town walk
Why it fits you. You like temples. Small temples, old houses and a shopping street from the old days.
Plan B: Cup Noodles Museum
Other options
AfternoonKappabashi kitchen street
Why it fits you. Knife shops and plastic food models. They make good gifts.
Other options
EveningConveyor-belt sushi
Why it fits you. You like food. A low-price, easy sushi meal. Take plates from the belt or order on a screen.
Other options
2 nightsKyoto · Kita: Kinkaku-ji and KitanoPrice level ¥Find stays
About Kita: Kinkaku-ji and Kitano Stays link to partner sites. See the note under Find stays.
A quiet north side with the Golden Pavilion, small shops and local food.
When to stay here. Stay here for a long trip, or when you want low prices.
Stay here if: You want a local, quiet area with low prices. You like to take buses.
Skip it if: You want rail links at your door.
Moving to Kyoto today? You can send big bags ahead. Luggage forwarding guide
AfternoonTofu or vegetarian temple lunch
Why it fits you. You like food. Quiet set meals of tofu and vegetables in a calm room. Book ahead for a popular place.
Other options
EveningKaiseki multi-course dinner
Why it fits you. You like food. A set meal of small seasonal dishes. It is a special meal, so book well ahead.
Other options
MorningHome cooking class
Why it fits you. You like food. Make sushi or home dishes with a local teacher, then eat what you made.
Other options
AfternoonLocal cafe and soba lunch
Why it fits you. You like food. Small family shops serve soba noodles and coffee away from the crowds.
Other options
EveningEvening temple light-up
Why it fits you. You like temples. In some seasons temples open at night with lights on the trees. Check the dates.
Plan B: Pontocho alley dinner
Other options
1 nightsOsaka · Tenma and TemmabashiPrice level ¥Find stays
About Tenma and Temmabashi Stays link to partner sites. See the note under Find stays.
A local area with the longest covered shopping street and many small izakaya.
When to stay here. Stay here for a trip about food and local life.
Stay here if: You want to eat and drink like a local. You want low prices near the centre.
Skip it if: You want fast access to big sights.
Moving to Osaka today? You can send big bags ahead. Luggage forwarding guide
AfternoonTenjinbashi-suji covered street
Why it fits you. The longest covered shopping street in Japan, full of local shops and snacks.
Other options
EveningHozenji Yokocho lane
Why it fits you. You like temples. A stone lane with a moss-covered statue that people splash with water. A calm corner next to the noise.
Plan B: Tenma izakaya night
Other options
2 nightsTokyo · AsakusaPrice level ¥Find stays
About Asakusa Stays link to partner sites. See the note under Find stays.
Old Tokyo by the river. A big temple at the front door, lower prices and early nights.
When to stay here. Stay here for a first visit with a love for temples and old streets.
Stay here if: You want the old city and a temple at sunrise. You want lower prices and big rooms.
Skip it if: You want big bars and clubs close by.
Moving to Tokyo today? You can send big bags ahead. Luggage forwarding guide
AfternoonNakamise snack walk
Why it fits you. You like food. Rice crackers, sweet buns and green tea ice cream on the way to the temple.
Plan B: Tokyo Skytree views
Other options
EveningIzakaya dinner and drinks
Why it fits you. Order many small dishes to share. This is how many locals eat and drink after work.
Other options
MorningConvenience store breakfast
Why it fits you. You like food. Egg sandwiches, rice balls and hot coffee for a low price. Many visitors love it.
Other options
AfternoonTempura lunch
Why it fits you. You like food. Asakusa has old tempura restaurants. Try a set meal with shrimp and vegetables.
Other options
EveningYakiniku grill dinner
Why it fits you. You like food. You grill thin slices of beef at the table. Good for a group dinner.
Other options
MorningSenso-ji at opening
Why it fits you. You like temples. The oldest temple in Tokyo. Go at opening time, before the tour groups arrive.
Plan B: Ghibli Museum, Mitaka
Other options
What this trip costs, in levels. Stay price levels for your budget: ¥. These levels are relative (one yen sign is low, three is high). Live prices come from the partner sites.