Japan in 7 days

Complete Itinerary: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka & Mount Fuji

📸 Best Photography Spots in Tokyo

Shibuya, Sensoji, Harajuku, Tokyo Tower + crowd-free hours

Day 1-4: Tokyo (4 days)

Day 1: Shibuya Crossing (FREE, busiest 6pm-9pm), Hachiko statue, Shibuya Sky observation deck (¥2,000). Evening: Shinjuku nightlife, Memory Lane yakitori alleys.

Day 2: Sensoji Temple Asakusa (FREE, arrive 7am to avoid crowds), Nakamise shopping street, Tokyo Skytree (¥2,100-3,400). Afternoon: Akihabara electronics/anime district.

Day 3: Harajuku Takeshita Street (FREE, trendy fashion), Meiji Shrine (FREE, beautiful forest), Yoyogi Park. Afternoon: Omotesando luxury shopping.

Day 4: Tsukiji Outer Market breakfast (sushi ¥1,000-3,000), Imperial Palace gardens (FREE), TeamLab Borderless digital art (¥3,200). Evening: Roppongi or Ginza.

Day 5: Mount Fuji Day Trip

Bus from Shinjuku (¥2,800 round trip, 2h). Lake Kawaguchi offers best Fuji views. Oshino Hakkai traditional village (FREE). Pagoda photo spot (¥500). WEATHER DEPENDENT - Fuji often cloudy!

Day 6-8: Kyoto (3 days)

Shinkansen Tokyo-Kyoto (2.5h, ¥13,320 one-way - JR Pass ¥29,650/7 days worth it if doing round trip!).

Day 6: Fushimi Inari Shrine (FREE, 10,000 red torii gates - arrive 7am!), walk partial trail (2-3 hours). Afternoon: Gion geisha district walk (FREE).

Day 7: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (FREE, go early 7am), Tenryuji Temple (¥500), Monkey Park (¥600). Afternoon: Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion (¥500).

Day 8: Nara day trip (45min train ¥720). Nara Park deer (FREE, buy crackers ¥200 to feed them), Todaiji Temple giant Buddha (¥600). Back to Kyoto evening.

Day 9-10: Osaka or Back to Tokyo

Option A - Osaka: Osaka Castle (¥600), Dotonbori neon district (FREE, amazing at night), street food paradise (takoyaki ¥500-800). Osaka cheaper than Tokyo!

Option B - Return Tokyo: More neighborhoods: Odaiba (futuristic island), Ueno Park + museums, shopping in Ikebukuro/Shinjuku.

💰 How Much Does Japan Cost? Expensive BUT Clean & Safe!

Tokyo pricey, smaller cities more affordable - see real budget

See Costs →

Transportation

JR Pass 7 days: ¥29,650 ($200) - worth it for Tokyo-Kyoto round trip!
Tokyo Metro: ¥170-320 per ride, day pass ¥600
Shinkansen bullet train: Tokyo-Kyoto ¥13,320 one-way (2.5h)
Kyoto buses: ¥230 flat fare, day pass ¥700
IC Card (Suica/Pasmo): ¥2,000 preloaded - works everywhere

Food

Convenience store meal: ¥300-600 (high quality!)
Ramen: ¥800-1,200 (filling meal)
Sushi conveyor belt: ¥100-300 per plate
Mid-range dinner: ¥2,000-4,000 per person
Vending machine drinks: ¥120-150
Tipping: NOT customary - actually offensive to tip!

Language and Culture

Language: Japanese. English limited outside Tokyo tourist areas. Download Google Translate offline!

Tipping: NEVER tip - considered rude!

Customs: Bow when greeting, shoes off indoors, quiet on trains, don't eat while walking.

Best Time to Visit

Spring (Mar-May): Cherry blossoms (late Mar-early Apr), perfect weather, VERY crowded
Summer (Jun-Aug): Hot humid, rainy season Jun-Jul, festivals but uncomfortable
Fall (Sep-Nov): Fall colors (Nov), excellent weather, moderate crowds
Winter (Dec-Feb): Cold, snow in mountains, cheap, empty - skiing great!