As a seasoned traveler with a deep love for Japan, I’ve carefully crafted this 7 days in Japan Itinerary to ensure you make the most of your week-long journey. Get ready to immerse yourself in the wonders of Tokyo and Osaka, the historic streets of Kyoto and Nara, and the breathtaking Mt. Fuji. Read on to plan your dream Japan adventure!
7 days in Japan Itinerary: Highlights
- Food trip in Osaka
- Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Japan
- Nara Day Trip from Osaka/Kyoto
- Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan
- Cherry Blossom viewing in Tokyo
- Mt. Fuji Day Trip from Tokyo
- DisneySea/Disneyland from Tokyo
7 days in Japan Itinerary: Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo
This itinerary is specifically designed for first-time visitors to Japan who plan to spend 7 days and 6 nights in the country. The trip will begin at Osaka’s Kansai International Airport and end at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, or vice versa.
Day 1 (Osaka)
Choose a flight that arrives in Osaka earlier in the day, providing you with the opportunity to explore the city in the afternoon. This will allow you to combat jet lag and become familiar with Japan’s transportation system during the initial hours of your arrival.
Upon arrival at Kansai International Airport, you can check in to a hotel or guesthouse of your choice. For convenience, I recommend staying near the city center, specifically in areas near train stations like Umeda and Namba. This will give you easy access to a wide range of dining options and popular tourist attractions.
To kick off your Osaka adventure, I suggest starting in the afternoon by visiting Osaka Castle. The castle can be easily accessed from a number of train lines. The nearest JR station is Osakajokoen Station on the JR Loop Line. After exploring the castle, you can visit other attractions in the area, such as the Osaka Aquarium, Tenmangu Shrine, or Umeda Sky Building.
Later in the afternoon or evening, head to the Dotonbori-Shinsaibashi area to experience Osaka’s unique food culture. This lively district is best reached by taking the Midosuji Subway line and getting off at either Namba Station (subway) or Shinsaibashi Station. Spend the rest of your day exploring the area and trying some of the local delicacies.
Where to Stay in Osaka
HOTEL THE FLAG Shinsaibashi
1-18-30 Higashishinsaibashi, Chuo, Osaka, Japan
Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka Premier
3-4-15 Nakanoshima, Kita-Ku, Osaka,Japan
The Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi
1-10-24 Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo, Osaka, Japan
Day 2 (Osaka or Nara)
If you are a theme park fan, then you can spend an entire day in Universal Studios Japan. There are plenty of amazing attractions here but the highlight, for me, is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. To get to USJ, take the JR Yumesaki (aka Sakurajima) line from Osaka Station or Nishikujo Station to Universal City Station.
Another option is a day trip to Nara from Osaka, which is a great way to immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of Japan. The journey to Nara takes about 45 minutes on the JR Rapid train, leaving plenty of time to explore all that this city has to offer. A few notable sights include Todaiji Temple and Horyuji Temple. If you’re going to Nara Deer Park, do not pet the deer and do not to feed them with any food other than deer rice crackers (shika senbei).
Day 3 (Kyoto)
Coming from Osaka, you can take JR, Hankyu Rail or Keihan Rail to get to Kyoto Station. Here’s my suggested itinerary for Day 3:
- Start your day by visiting Ginkakuji Temple (Silver Pavilion)
- Walk along the Philosopher’s Path, a beautiful stone walkway that follows a canal lined with cherry trees
- Visit Nanzenji Temple, one of the most important Zen temples in Japan
- Head to Yasaka Shrine, a Shinto shrine located in the Gion district
- Explore the Higashiyama district, a historic area of Kyoto that’s filled with traditional shops and restaurants
- Finally, visit Kiyomizudera Temple, a famous Buddhist temple on a hill overlooking Kyoto
Getting around the city is very easy because of its extensive bus network. Though Kyoto also has trains and subway network, I find navigating the city easier when I take a bus. Raku Bus is the city-run public bus in Kyoto, will cover most of your travel needs. Bus No. 100 goes to eastern Kyoto particularly the Higashiyama and Okazaki areas. Bus No. 101 goes its way up the middle of Kyoto to the northern parts of the city. Raku Bus No. 102 goes to the northern part of Kyoto.
Project Gora tip:Purchase a Kyoto All-day bus pass (JPY 500) for unlimited bus ride on Raku and Non-Raku buses. It is more economical than paying for individual tickets because each time you ride a bus, it will cost you a minimum of JPY 230.
Where to Stay in Kyoto
Citadines Karasuma-Gojo Kyoto
432 Matsuyacho, Gojo Karasuma-dori Higashi-iru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8105, Kyoto
Hotel Anteroom Kyoto
7 Aketacho Higashikujo, Minami-ku, Kyoto 601-8044, Kyoto Prefecture
Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Urush*teim
Kichimonjicho 425, Shimogyo-Ku, Kyoto, Japan
Day 4 (Kyoto)
On day 4, consider Fushimi Inari as your first destination. Fushimi Inari Shrine is dedicated to Inari, the Shinto God of Rice. The place is famous for its thousand vermilion torii gates along the trail that leads to the forest of the sacred Mount Inari. The best way to access Fushimi inari is by taking JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station to JR Inari station (JPY 140). Travel approximately takes 5 minutes.
Then, make your way to your second destination, Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), which is among the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kyoto. It is a Zen temple with two floors completely covered in gold leaf. The best way to access Kinkakuji is by going back to Kyoto Station following the same route then take Kyoto City Bus number 101 or 205. Travel approximately takes 40 minutes and admission is JPY 400.
Spend the rest of the afternoon in Arashiyama District. From Kinkakuji, hop on Bus no. 101 and get off at Kitano Hakubaicho Station. Take the Keif*cku Electric Railway aka Randen and get off at Arashiyama Station (requires a transfer at Kitabiranotsuji station).
You can also include this only-in-Kyoto experience in your Japan itinerary – Maiko Transformation for women or Samurai Transformation for men.
If you only got a day to explore Kyoto, you have to choose which attractions you want to visit. I created a 1-day Kyoto Itinerary which can help you plan your trip.
Day 5 (Tokyo)
Travel from Kyoto to Tokyo via Shinkansen (Bullet Train). Nozomi, the fastest Shinkansen costs JPY 14,110 one way from Kyoto Station to Tokyo Station and travel approximately takes 2 hours and 20 minutes. Hikari, which is slightly cheaper at JPY 13,800 one way, takes a little longer at 2 hours and 40 minutes. The slowest Shinkansen, Kodama costs JPY 13,500, reaches Tokyo in about 3 hours and 50 minutes.
Start your Tokyo adventure in Meiji Jingu, a shrine dedicated to the Meiji Emperor and his Empress. Despite being situated in the busy area of Harajuku, all the hustle and bustle were cut off the moment you turn right and cross over the 40-foot giant torii gate. The walk through the forest to get to the shrine is very relaxing. Travel from Shinjuku Station of JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku Station approximately takes 5 minutes (JPY 140).
End your day at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building back in Shinjuku where you can get a glimpse of Mount Fuji under favorable weather conditions. This is also a perfect place for sunset viewing where you can get a panoramic view of Tokyo and beyond.
You can also catch the most stunning views of Tokyo at the 360° open-air observation deck called Shibuya Sky. As it stands 230 meters above the ground, it is the highest point in the Shibuya district.
If you want to save some yen and avoid the queues, you can book your Shibuya Sky tickets online in advance for only JPY 1,800 (745 pesos or USD 13). But take note that tickets purchased online are only valid for a specific time slot on a specific date. Individuals with disabilities are also entitled to a 50% discount on the admission fee.
Where to Stay in Tokyo
The Gate Hotel Asakusa Kaminarimon by Hulic
2 Chome-16-11 Kaminarimon, Taito City, Tokyo
Tokyu Stay Shinjuku
3-7-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku 160-0022, Tokyo, Japan
The Millennials Shibuya
1-20-13 Jinnan, Shibuya 150-0041 Tokyo, Japan
Day 6 (Tokyo)
If your travel dates happen to be in Spring, specifically Cherry Blossom season, do not miss cherry blossom viewing in Ueno Park, Shinjuku Gyoen, Chidorigafuchi or Sumida Park. If it’s Autumn, you can see beautiful yellow ginkgo trees in Marunouchi Gyoko-dori and Yoyogi Park.
In the afternoon, check out some of Tokyo’s famous destinations like Akihabara, the center of Japan’s otaku (diehard fan) culture. Don’t miss Harajuku, Shibuya and Omotesando. For dog lovers like me, pay a visit to Hachiko’s statue located in Shibuya Station’s Hachiko Exit. Another prominent landmark in Shibuya is the large intersection known as “The Scramble”.
Mt. Fuji Day Trip from Tokyo
On Day 6, embark on a Mt. Fuji Day Trip from Tokyo. There are various tours tailored to the seasons, ensuring a personalized experience. These tours will lead you to panoramic viewpoints, tranquil nature walks, and cultural insights.
Theme Park Day: Disneyland or DisneySea
Alternatively, you can spend the day at Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea, two of the most popular theme parks in Japan. Both parks offer a variety of attractions, shows, and parades, as well as themed areas based on popular Disney movies and characters. You can purchase a Tokyo Disneyland one-day passport here.
Note that the Tokyo Disney parks can be quite crowded, especially on weekends and holidays, so it’s a good idea to arrive early and plan your day accordingly. You can check the park schedules and plan your ride strategy in advance to maximize your time at the parks.
Day 7 (Tokyo)
On day 7, you can spend a few hours shopping before your scheduled time of departure. Find the nearestDonki (short for Don Quijote), which is one of Tokyo’s cheapest supermarkets selling a huge variety of goods. Buy some Japanese snacks like Tokyo Banana, Japanese Rice Cake Mochi Daif*cku and Kitkat Matcha (Gren Tea) flavor to take home for your friends and family.
After shopping, head to Narita International Airport and take Narita Express (covered by JR pass). The regular price costs JPY 3,190 and travel is approximately 90 minutes. A faster and cheaper option is via Keisei Skyliner, which can get you from Ueno Station to Narita in just 40 minutes. A cheaper alternative is Keisei Main Line (regular commuter train) which requires one train transfer. From Shinjuku, take JR Yamanote line to Nippori Station (20 minutes, JPY 230) then transfer to Keisei Main Line to Narita Airport (about 80 minutes, JPY 1030).
If you have a heavy luggage, you may consider taking the airport limousine instead. Book yourTokyo Narita International Airport Limousine Bus Round Trip Ticket here.
With this suggested itinerary, is a Japan Rail Pass worth it?
The Japan Rail Pass costs JPY 50,000 (roughly USD 330) for Ordinary Car/Second Class valid for 7 consecutive days. If you are going to follow this itinerary (arriving in Kansai and departing in Narita or vice versa), then the pass will not pay off. If you are going to different prefectures within a week (multiple bullet train rides), then it may be worth it.
I suggest coming up with an itinerary first then calculate your train ticket costs using the JR pass calculator. Get your JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days) here.
Did you like this 7 days in Japan itinerary? Got any questions? Comments? Insights? I’m all ears! Let’s chat down below.Arigatou!
