7 days in Japan: itinerary

The 7-day route that works is a straight line: Tokyo, then Kyoto, then Osaka for the last night so the airport run is short. Both cities sit on the same Shinkansen line, so you move once with luggage and use Kyoto as a base for Nara.

Do not try to loop back to Tokyo. Returning east on day seven costs half a day and a fare you do not need. Book an open-jaw ticket into Tokyo (HND or NRT) and out of Osaka Kansai (KIX) if the fare difference is small; if it is not, a one-way Shinkansen back to Tokyo is the fallback.

Day 1 is arrival, not sightseeing. Clear the airport, drop bags and stay within a couple of stops of your hotel: a department-store food hall, a convenience-store dinner and an early night beat any attempt at a full itinerary after a long flight.

Days 2 and 3 in Tokyo work best as clusters, not a checklist. Pick one area per half day — Shibuya and Shinjuku on one side, Asakusa and Ueno on the other — and let the walking between stops be the point. If you want a day trip, Kamakura or Nikkō both fit inside a day; Nikkō is the longer run.

Day 4: take a morning Shinkansen to Kyoto and use the afternoon for the eastern temples, which are close together. Day 5 is Arashiyama or the northwest, then Gion after dark. Day 6 gives you the choice: Nara's Great Buddha hall and deer park as a half day, or a full Kyoto day if you would rather not move again.

Day 7: a 30-minute train to Osaka, drop bags, then eat. Osaka is the right last stop because Kansai Airport is a direct train or bus away, and the city is at its best in the evening.

The Shinkansen is the reason this route works. Tokyo to Kyoto is about 2 hours 15 minutes on the fastest service; unreserved cars are cheaper, reserved seats are worth it if you travel with bags on a Friday or a holiday. Buy at the station or online; seat reservations are included with most tickets.

Inside cities, an IC card (Suica, ICOA or the equivalent on your phone) covers trains, buses and convenience stores, and saves buying a ticket each time. A one-day metro or bus pass pays off only on a heavy sightseeing day.

For a week on this route, a nationwide JR Pass usually costs more than point-to-point tickets; run the numbers before buying. Luggage: forwarding a bag between hotels costs roughly ¥2,000–2,500 per piece and arrives next day, which is cheaper than hauling it on a crowded train (2026 estimate, check).

In Tokyo, stay within a few minutes of a JR Yamanote loop station. Shinjuku and Shibuya put you in the middle of the nightlife and the west-side sights; Ueno and Asakusa are cheaper and closer to the airport train from Narita. Anywhere on the loop keeps transfers short.

In Kyoto, the trade-off is buses versus trains. Staying near Kyoto Station makes arrivals and Nara easy; staying in the city centre or near Gion puts the temples and evening streets within walking distance but means crowded buses. For three nights, central Kyoto is usually the better call.

In Osaka, Namba is the pick for one night: food, nightlife and a direct airport train. Book the last night near the station you will leave from, not the cheapest room in the city.

A realistic week for one person runs ¥180,000–320,000 excluding international flights, depending on hotel class. That is roughly USD 1,200–2,100 at 2026 rates (check).

The two big levers are accommodation and food. A business hotel or hostel bed in Tokyo costs a fraction of a mid-range Western-style room, and a convenience-store or standing-noodle breakfast saves real money without costing you the trip. Trains are the fixed cost: the Shinkansen leg and airport transfers are what they are.

Swap Tokyo's third night for a Hakone onsen night if you want a ryokan and a shot at Mount Fuji; forward your bag to Kyoto and travel light. This is the single best change to the standard route.

If Hiroshima and Miyajima matter more than a relaxed Tokyo, cut a Tokyo night and add one in Hiroshima on the way west, stopping at Himeji or Okayama to break the ride. That makes the week tight but doable.

If you have more time, 10 days adds Hakone and a second Osaka night; 14 days adds Kanazawa and Hiroshima without rushing. If you would rather stay in one region, a Tokyo-only or Kyoto-and-Osaka week is a legitimate trip, not a compromise.