Japan in 7 Days
One week is enough for two cities and one detour. This plan uses Tokyo and Kyoto as bases with a night in Hakone between them, so you unpack three times instead of six.
7
Days
£120–£180 / $150–$220 per person per day
Per day
Late March–May and October–November
Best time
8
Nights
Your day-by-day plan
Download CSVArrive Tokyo
Morning · Land, airport train into the city, drop bags
Afternoon · Walk your own neighbourhood, buy an IC card
Evening · Early izakaya dinner, sleep before 10pm
Old Tokyo
Morning · Senso-ji and Asakusa backstreets before the crowds
Afternoon · Ueno Park and a single museum
Evening · Yanaka or Ginza depending on your mood
Modern Tokyo
Morning · Shibuya and Meiji Jingu
Afternoon · Harajuku, Omotesando, Shimokitazawa
Evening · Shinjuku, Omoide Yokocho
Hakone
Morning · Train to Hakone, luggage forwarding to Kyoto
Afternoon · Open-air museum and the lake loop
Evening · Ryokan dinner and onsen
To Kyoto
Morning · Shinkansen to Kyoto, check in
Afternoon · Higashiyama and Kiyomizu-dera late afternoon
Evening · Pontocho alley
Kyoto & Arashiyama
Morning · Fushimi Inari at 7am — genuinely worth the alarm
Afternoon · Arashiyama bamboo grove and the monkey park
Evening · Nishiki market snacks
Nara or Osaka, then home
Morning · Day trip to Nara, or Osaka street food
Afternoon · Return, collect bags
Evening · Airport transfer