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At a glance
- Route: Tokyo → Kyoto → Nara → Osaka (fly home from Kansai Airport)
- Overnight: Tokyo ×2 · Kyoto ×2
- Best for: First-time visitors with a short holiday who want the famous sights without wasting time
🗓 Day-by-day plan
Day 1 · Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree
Overnight: Tokyo
Pick up a Suica IC card on arrival. Walk from Senso-ji's Kaminarimon gate through Nakamise street, then cross the Sumida River to Tokyo Skytree — the deck is best at dusk. Dinner: tempura or an izakaya in Asakusa.
Day 2 · Tsukiji, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya, Shinjuku
Overnight: Tokyo
Breakfast grazing at Tsukiji Outer Market. Walk the forest of Meiji Shrine, stroll Harajuku, then cross Shibuya Scramble. Evening yakitori in Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho.
Day 3 · Shinkansen to Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera and Gion
Overnight: Kyoto
The Nozomi shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto takes about 2 h 15 min; send big bags ahead with a same-day luggage service. In the afternoon walk from Kiyomizu-dera down Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka to Gion's Hanamikoji at dusk.
Day 4 · Fushimi Inari, Nishiki Market, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama
Overnight: Kyoto
Reach Fushimi Inari before 8 am to have the thousand torii gates almost to yourself. Lunch at Nishiki Market, Kinkaku-ji in the afternoon, and Arashiyama's bamboo grove and Togetsukyo bridge late in the day.
Day 5 · Nara's deer, then Osaka's Dotonbori and home
Overnight: —
Kintetsu train to Nara (about 45 min) for the deer park and Todai-ji's Great Buddha. Afternoon takoyaki in Osaka's Dotonbori, then the Nankai Rapi:t express from Namba to Kansai Airport (about 40 min).
💴 Budget estimate (per person, excluding international flights)
| スタイル | 1日あたり | × 5 | Long-distance transport (estimate) | 合計 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 節約 ホステル・カプセル、コンビニと食堂、各駅停車と高速バス | ¥10,000 | ¥50,000 | ¥16,000 | ¥66,000 |
| 標準 ビジネスホテル、居酒屋と名物料理、新幹線の普通車 | ¥25,000 | ¥125,000 | ¥16,000 | ¥141,000 |
| 贅沢 旅館・高級ホテル、懐石とコース料理、グリーン車・貸切・ガイド | ¥60,000 | ¥300,000 | ¥16,000 | ¥316,000 |
Daily costs (accommodation, food, local transport, admission) are estimated at ¥10,000 budget / ¥25,000 standard / ¥60,000 premium. Transport figures are typical 2026 off-peak fares — check official sites for exact prices.
💡 Tips for this route
- Book open-jaw flights (into Tokyo, out of Kansai) to avoid losing half a day going back to Tokyo.
- With one-way travel a Japan Rail Pass does not pay off; buy the shinkansen ticket separately and use Suica for everything else.
- Kyoto's famous temples are best early; use the busy 10 am–3 pm window for travel and meals.
Other trip lengths
7 days · 10 days · 14 days · Japan itineraries · Japan itineraries
Frequently asked questions
What can you see in Japan in 5 days?
Two nights in Tokyo and two in Kyoto is the classic plan. Visit Nara and Osaka on the last day and fly out of Kansai Airport, and you will have seen the highlights of all four cities.
Do I need a Japan Rail Pass for 5 days?
No. If you only travel one way from Tokyo to Kansai, buying the shinkansen ticket on its own is cheaper.
