SakuraVisa

7-day Japan itinerary: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka

A first trip to Japan that sees the highlights without rushing: three nights in Tokyo, two in Kyoto and one in Osaka, flying into Tokyo and home from Osaka.

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    Arrive in Tokyo

    Land at Narita or Haneda, take the train or airport bus into the city, check in, and keep the evening light: a walk around your neighbourhood and an early night.

    Night: Tokyo

  2. Day 2

    Old Tokyo: Asakusa and Ueno

    Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise shopping street in Asakusa, then Tokyo Skytree. Afternoon in Ueno Park and the Ameyoko market street.

    Night: Tokyo

  3. Day 3

    Modern Tokyo: Harajuku, Shibuya and Shinjuku

    Meiji Jingu Shrine in the morning, Harajuku and Omotesando, Shibuya Crossing in the afternoon, and the night views from Shinjuku.

    Night: Tokyo

  4. Day 4

    Shinkansen to Kyoto

    Take the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto (about 2 hours 15 minutes on the fastest trains). Check in, then an easy evening walk through Gion and along the Kamo River.

    Night: Kyoto

  5. Day 5

    Classic Kyoto

    Fushimi Inari Taisha early to beat the crowds, then Kiyomizu-dera and the old lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka.

    Night: Kyoto

  6. Day 6

    Arashiyama, then on to Osaka

    Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) in the morning. In the late afternoon, ride to Osaka (about 15 minutes by Shinkansen or 30 by JR special rapid) for dinner in Dotonbori.

    Night: Osaka

  7. Day 7

    Osaka and fly home

    Osaka Castle Park in the morning if your flight allows, then to Kansai International Airport. Flying home from Osaka saves going back to Tokyo.

    Night: —

Getting around

  • Book flights into Tokyo (Narita or Haneda) and out of Osaka (Kansai), so you never travel backwards.
  • Tokyo to Kyoto is about 2 hours 15 minutes by Shinkansen; Kyoto to Osaka is 15–30 minutes by train.
  • Send big suitcases ahead with a luggage delivery service (takkyubin) and travel light on train days.
  • A rechargeable IC card (such as Suica or ICOCA) works on trains, buses and in convenience stores.

Need a visa? The same trip as a Schedule of Stay

If you need a visa, the embassy asks for your plan in its Schedule of Stay format: one row per day with your contact and where you sleep. Here is this trip in that format (example hotels). Learn more in our schedule of stay guide.

DateActivity planContactAccommodation
2027/04/05Arrive at Narita International Airport (NRT) aboard flight PR 428, clear customs and transfer to Sample Hotel Ueno (Tokyo), check in and rest after the flightSample Hotel Ueno Tel. +81-3-0000-0000Sample Hotel Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo
2027/04/06Sightseeing in Asakusa (Senso-ji Temple) and visit Tokyo SkytreeSample Hotel Ueno Tel. +81-3-0000-0000Sample Hotel Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo
2027/04/07Visit Meiji Jingu Shrine, stroll around Harajuku and Shibuya CrossingSample Hotel Ueno Tel. +81-3-0000-0000Sample Hotel Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo
2027/04/08Check out from Sample Hotel Ueno, travel from Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen (bullet train), check in to Sample Hotel Kyoto and restSample Hotel Kyoto Tel. +81-75-000-0000Sample Hotel Kyoto, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
2027/04/09Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha (Thousand Torii Gates) and Kiyomizu-dera TempleSample Hotel Kyoto Tel. +81-75-000-0000Sample Hotel Kyoto, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
2027/04/10Check out from Sample Hotel Kyoto, travel from Kyoto to Osaka by Shinkansen (bullet train), check in to Sample Hotel Namba and rest; short afternoon visit: Explore Osaka Castle, Osaka Castle Park, and Osaka Museum of HistorySample Hotel Namba Tel. +81-6-0000-0000Sample Hotel Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka
2027/04/11Check out from Sample Hotel Namba, transfer to Kansai International Airport (KIX), return departure flightSample Hotel Namba Tel. +81-6-0000-0000-

Upload your own flight and hotel bookings and we build your Schedule of Stay to match them, night by night.

Skip the typing

Scan your passport, add your trip, and download every official form filled in, for you or your family of up to 5.

Start now

Related guides