First Time in Japan: A 7-Day Route That Isn't Exhausting

Japan overwhelms first-timers because there's too much of it and everyone's itinerary online tries to cram in eleven cities. For a first week, don't. Two bases — Tokyo and Kyoto — with a couple of day trips gives you the whole spectrum: neon and temples, chaos and calm, without living on trains.

Here's a week that works.

Days 1–3: Tokyo

Day 1 — Arrive, drop your bags, and go easy. Asakusa (Sensō-ji temple), then a first proper ramen. Jet lag wins tonight; don't fight it.

Day 2 — The big-city day. Shibuya crossing, the Meiji Shrine right next to it (a forest in the middle of the city), Harajuku for the spectacle, Shinjuku after dark. Eat everything.

Day 3 — Slow down. Tsukiji outer market for breakfast, teamLab or a museum, an afternoon in a quiet neighbourhood like Yanaka. Optional: a day trip to Nikkō or Kamakura if you're not templed-out yet.

Day 4: The train to Kyoto

The shinkansen (bullet train) is part of the trip, not just transit — ~2.5 hours, comfortable, and Mount Fuji out the right-hand window if the sky's clear. Arrive in Kyoto by lunch.

Days 4–6: Kyoto

Day 4 (afternoon) — Ease in around Gion, the old geisha district, and Kiyomizu-dera temple at golden hour.

Day 5 — The classics: Fushimi Inari (the thousand orange gates — go at dawn to beat the crowds), Arashiyama bamboo grove and the monkey park. It's a full day and a lot of walking.

Day 6 — Kyoto's quieter side: the Philosopher's Path, a tea house, Nishiki market for lunch. Maybe a half-day to Nara for the deer and the giant Buddha.

Day 7: Home (or Osaka)

Fly out — or if your flight's from Osaka, spend the morning eating your way through Dōtonbori first. Osaka is 15 minutes from Kyoto and Japan's best street-food city; a lot of people fly in/out of there on purpose.

Practical bits nobody tells you

• Get a transit IC card (Suica/ICOCA) on arrival — tap for every train, bus and convenience store.
• Carry cash. Japan is more cash-based than you expect, especially small restaurants.
• October and April–May are the sweet spots — comfortable weather, and you dodge the summer humidity. See Japan for timing.

What it costs

Japan isn't as expensive as its reputation once you're there. On-the-ground spending — incredible food, temple entries, local trains — runs modest by Western-Europe standards; it's the flights that are the big number. Getting the flight window right matters most here.

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That's the route. The cheapest flight window for your dates, which neighbourhood to base in, and a day-by-day plan paced so you actually enjoy it — that's what a Wayamigo guide builds. See Japan to start.