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At a glance
- Route: Tokyo → Hakone → Kyoto → Nara → Osaka
- Overnight: Tokyo ×3 · Hakone ×1 · Kyoto ×2 · Osaka ×1
- Best for: First-timers who want a balance of big city, hot springs and old capital
🗓 Day-by-day plan
Day 1 · Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree
Overnight: Tokyo
Kaminarimon and Senso-ji, snacks along Nakamise, then the Tokyo Skytree deck for the city lights.
Day 2 · Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku
Overnight: Tokyo
Walk the approach to Meiji Shrine, browse Harajuku's Takeshita Street, watch Shibuya Scramble from above, then spend the evening in Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho or Golden Gai.
Day 3 · Tsukiji and Akihabara, or a day trip to Kamakura
Overnight: Tokyo
Breakfast at Tsukiji Outer Market, a stroll through Ginza, then Akihabara. If you prefer temples, Kamakura and its Great Buddha are about an hour away by train.
Day 4 · Hakone hot springs and Owakudani
Overnight: Hakone
Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto (about 85 min). Ride the mountain railway, cable car and ropeway to Owakudani, then the pirate ship on Lake Ashi for Fuji views on clear days. Night in a ryokan with yukata and a multi-course dinner.
Day 5 · To Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera and Gion
Overnight: Kyoto
Shinkansen from Odawara to Kyoto (about 2 h). In the afternoon walk from Kiyomizu-dera down Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka to Gion's Hanamikoji at dusk.
Day 6 · Fushimi Inari, Nishiki Market, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama
Overnight: Kyoto
The thousand torii of Fushimi Inari first thing, lunch at Nishiki Market, then Kinkaku-ji and the Arashiyama bamboo grove.
Day 7 · Nara's deer and Osaka's food
Overnight: Osaka
Kintetsu from Kyoto to Nara (about 45 min) for the deer and Todai-ji's Great Buddha. In the evening head to Osaka for takoyaki and kushikatsu in Dotonbori or Kuromon Market; fly home from Kansai Airport the next day.
💴 Budget estimate (per person, excluding international flights)
| スタイル | 1日あたり | × 7 | 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 | ¥70,000 | ¥22,000 | ¥92,000 |
| 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 | ¥175,000 | ¥22,000 | ¥197,000 |
| 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 | ¥420,000 | ¥22,000 | ¥442,000 |
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
- Travel light to Hakone: ship your big luggage from your Tokyo hotel straight to your Kyoto hotel.
- The Hakone Freepass covers the mountain railway, ropeway and pirate ship.
- This is also a one-way route, so separate tickets are usually cheaper than a Japan Rail Pass.
Other trip lengths
5 days · 10 days · 14 days · Japan itineraries · Japan itineraries
Frequently asked questions
What is the best one-week route in Japan?
The Golden Route — three nights in Tokyo, one in Hakone and two in Kyoto — is the classic. Add Nara and Osaka at the end and you will have covered the main highlights.
How much does a week in Japan cost?
Excluding international flights, plan on roughly ¥92,000 on a budget, ¥197,000 for a standard trip or ¥442,000 for a premium trip per person, including about ¥22,000 of long-distance transport.
