Japan in 7 Days: Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka
The Route
Day by day ↓7 days · 1 shinkansen · fly into Tokyo, out of Osaka.
Day by Day
| Day | Base | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tokyo | Land at Haneda or Narita. Shibuya Crossing and a sky deck at sunset. |
| 2 | Tokyo | teamLab, Harajuku and Omotesando, Shinjuku at night. |
| 3 | Tokyo | Mount Fuji day trip: Lake Kawaguchi viewpoints (about 2 h each way). |
| 4 | Kyoto | Shinkansen (about 2 h 15 min). Arashiyama bamboo grove, Gion at dusk. |
| 5 | Kyoto | Fushimi Inari gates at dawn, then Nara and its deer (35–50 min each way). |
| 6 | Osaka | Train 30 min. Castle park, Dotonbori street food, Umeda Sky. |
| 7 | Depart | Nankai Rapi:t to Kansai Airport (about 40 min). |
Transfers
| Leg | How | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haneda → Shibuya / Shinjuku | Train | 30–45 min | — |
| Narita → central Tokyo | Narita Express / Skyliner | 45–90 min | — |
| Shinjuku → Lake Kawaguchi | Train or highway bus | About 2 h | — |
| Tokyo → Kyoto | Shinkansen Nozomi | About 2 h 15 min | ¥14,170 (reserved) |
| Kyoto → Nara | JR or Kintetsu | 35–50 min | Under ¥1,000 |
| Kyoto → Osaka | JR Special Rapid | About 30 min | Under ¥1,000 |
| Namba → Kansai Airport | Nankai Rapi:t | About 40 min | — |
Is the JR Pass Worth It in 2027?
| Cost | |
|---|---|
| Tokyo → Kyoto, Nozomi reserved | ¥14,170 |
| Kyoto → Nara and back, Kyoto → Osaka | Under ¥3,000 |
| This week, single tickets | ≈ ¥17,000 |
| 7-day JR Pass (from 1 Oct 2026) | ¥53,000 |
No. Buy single tickets. Even a ride back to Tokyo keeps you well under the pass price. Since 1 October 2026 the pass is ¥53,000 (7 days), ¥84,000 (14 days) and ¥105,000 (21 days); pass holders also pay ¥4,960 extra for a Nozomi between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka.
Tap in with an IC card for everything else. Suica and PASMO cards are on sale again since March 2025; on an iPhone, the Welcome Suica Mobile app does the same job.
Cost per Day
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed / room | Hostel or capsule, from about ¥3,000 | Business hotel ¥12,000–17,000 a room | 4–5★ hotel or ryokan |
| Food | Ramen ¥900–1,500; set lunch about ¥1,000–1,500 | Izakaya dinners | Kaiseki, sushi counters |
| Getting around | Tokyo subway ticket ¥800 (24 h) | + shinkansen | + taxis, Green Car |
| Per person, per day | ¥10,000–15,000 ≈ $65–95 | ¥20,000–35,000 ≈ $125–220 | ¥50,000+ ≈ $315+ |
Prices checked November 2026. Business-hotel price is the 2026 Tokyo average for a room; peak weeks cost more. Japan’s departure tax is ¥3,000 since 1 July 2026 (added to your ticket). $1 ≈ ¥155–160.
Best Months
| Months | Why | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Late Mar–early Apr | Cherry blossom | ★ Busiest, priciest |
| Oct–Nov | Autumn leaves | ★ Best weather |
| May, late Sep | Shoulder months | ✓ Good value |
| Dec–Feb | Snow, onsen | ✓ Cold, clear |
| Jun / Jul–Aug | Rainy season / heat | ◐ Hot and humid |
Avoid Japan’s own holiday peaks if you can: Golden Week (29 April–5 May), mid-August and New Year.
Good to Know
- Open-jaw ticket: fly into Tokyo and home from Osaka (KIX) — no ride back.
- Entry: many passports get up to 90 days visa-free; fill in Visit Japan Web before you land. Japan visa
- More time? The two-week route adds Hakone, Nikko and Hiroshima.
Plan
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