This route balances Tokyo’s neighbourhoods with historic Kyoto, Osaka’s food scene, and a peaceful finish in Hakone. Days are grouped by area to keep local travel manageable; longer transfers are saved for dedicated travel days.
Budget
About ¥220,000–¥350,000 per person, excluding international flights and accommodation; this estimate includes intercity transport, local travel, admission fees, and everyday meals.
Best time to visit
Late March to May for spring blossoms and mild weather, or October to November for autumn foliage and comfortable sightseeing. Both periods are popular, so book accommodation and major attractions ahead.
Asakusa and Sumida
Ease into Tokyo with its best-known old-town sights, all close together on foot.
Morning
Visit
Explore Tokyo’s oldest temple and the Nakamise shopping street leading to it. Allow about 2–3 hours.
FreeAfternoon
Walk to
It’s about a 10-minute walk from ; relax by the river and enjoy views toward Tokyo Skytree.
FreeEvening
See Tokyo Skytree at dusk
Walk about 20 minutes from , or take a short train ride, for city views and dinner at the tower complex.
About ¥2,100
Ueno and Yanaka
Pair Ueno’s major museum-and-park district with the quieter lanes of historic Yanaka.
Morning
Explore
Stroll the park’s ponds, shrines, and tree-lined paths; allow about 10 minutes on foot from Ueno Station.
FreeAfternoon
Choose a museum
The is about a 10-minute walk from the park’s central paths. Give yourself a few hours for its collections.
About ¥1,000Evening
Browse
Take a taxi or local train for roughly 15–20 minutes from the museum area, then wander the compact shopping street and nearby lanes.
Free
Harajuku and Shibuya
Discover Tokyo’s youthful street culture, a peaceful shrine, and Shibuya’s famous crossing.
Morning
Walk the grounds of
Enter the forested shrine grounds near Harajuku Station and take a quiet morning walk.
FreeAfternoon
Browse
Walk about 10 minutes from the shrine’s Harajuku-side entrance to this lively shopping street; it can be crowded.
FreeEvening
See Shibuya Crossing
It’s about a 15-minute walk from or a short train ride. Watch the crossing, then choose from Shibuya’s many dinner spots.
Free
Shinjuku
Spend the day among Shinjuku’s gardens, department stores, and atmospheric evening lanes.
Morning
Visit
Enjoy a slower start among landscaped gardens; allow about 2–3 hours.
About ¥500Afternoon
Browse Shinjuku’s department stores
Walk about 15 minutes from the garden to the station district for food halls, shops, and a relaxed lunch.
FreeEvening
Explore
Walk around 10 minutes from Isetan to these narrow dining lanes; arrive early or expect to wait at popular counters.
About ¥1,500–¥4,000
Marunouchi and Ginza
Mix Tokyo’s imperial setting with polished shopping streets and a lively food-focused evening.
Morning
Walk the East Gardens
Explore the public gardens of the former Edo Castle grounds; allow about 1–2 hours.
FreeAfternoon
See and its shops
Walk about 15 minutes from the East Gardens to the station’s historic Marunouchi side, then browse the underground food and shopping areas.
FreeEvening
Stroll Ginza
Take the Marunouchi Line about 5 minutes from , or walk around 20 minutes, to browse Ginza’s bright streets and find dinner.
Free
Odaiba
Enjoy a waterfront day of modern architecture, museums, and bay views.
Morning
Visit teamLab Planets
Start at this immersive digital art museum; book a timed entry in advance and allow around 2 hours.
About ¥3,800–¥4,200Afternoon
Explore
Travel about 20 minutes by train or taxi from teamLab Planets to the bayfront park for the Rainbow Bridge and waterfront views.
FreeEvening
See the bay from
Walk about 10 minutes from the park to the waterfront complex for dinner and evening views.
About ¥1,500–¥4,000
Kamakura day trip
Take a day trip south for a great Buddha, temple gardens, and a coastal-town atmosphere.
Morning
Visit
Take a train from central Tokyo to Kamakura, then local transport or a roughly 25-minute walk to the Great Buddha.
About ¥300Afternoon
Explore
Walk about 10 minutes from to this hillside temple, known for its gardens and sea views.
About ¥400Evening
Return through Komachi-dori
Take the Enoden train about 5 minutes to Kamakura Station, or walk roughly 30 minutes, then browse the street before returning to Tokyo.
About ¥1,000–¥3,000
Travel to Kyoto and explore Gion
Make the Shinkansen journey, settle in, and spend the evening in Kyoto’s atmospheric historic centre.
Morning
Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto
Take a Tokaido Shinkansen from to Kyoto Station; the fastest trains take about 2 hours 15 minutes.
About ¥13,320Afternoon
Check in and take a gentle break
Allow around 15–30 minutes by taxi or train from Kyoto Station to your accommodation, depending on its location.
Evening
Stroll Gion and
Travel about 15–20 minutes by taxi or bus from central Kyoto Station to Gion; enjoy a respectful walk and dinner nearby.
Free
Higashiyama and Kiyomizu
See Kyoto’s classic temple-and-lane scenery on foot, with time to pause at local shops.
Morning
Visit
Arrive early to enjoy the temple and its hillside views before the busiest part of the day.
About ¥500Afternoon
Walk and Sannenzaka
Walk about 10 minutes downhill from to these preserved lanes, with time for a tea or snack stop.
FreeEvening
Explore
Walk around 15 minutes from to the shrine; the lantern-lit grounds make a lovely early-evening visit.
Free
Arashiyama
Spend the day in western Kyoto among bamboo, temple gardens, and riverside scenery.
Morning
Walk the
Reach Arashiyama by train from central Kyoto in roughly 20–30 minutes, then enter the grove early for a calmer walk.
FreeAfternoon
Explore
Walk about 5 minutes from the bamboo grove to this temple’s garden and historic halls.
About ¥500Evening
Relax by
Walk about 10 minutes from to the river for an easy sunset stroll, then choose dinner in Arashiyama.
Free
Fushimi Inari and southern Kyoto
Walk the famous shrine trail, then explore sake heritage in nearby Fushimi.
Morning
Walk through
Take the JR Nara Line about 5 minutes from Kyoto Station to Inari Station. Walk as far up the torii-gate trail as you like.
FreeAfternoon
Visit the
Travel about 25–35 minutes by train and on foot from Fushimi Inari to the Fushimi sake district; check opening hours before you go.
About ¥600Evening
Dine around Fushimi-Momoyama
Walk about 10–15 minutes from the museum to the station area for dinner, then return to central Kyoto by train in around 15–20 minutes.
About ¥1,500–¥4,000
Central Kyoto
Combine a morning castle visit with and an easy evening by the .
Morning
Tour
Explore the castle’s historic interiors and gardens; arrive near opening time and allow a couple of hours.
About ¥1,300Afternoon
Browse
Take a taxi or subway about 15–20 minutes from to the market, then sample local specialties at a relaxed pace.
About ¥1,000–¥3,000Evening
Walk along the
Walk about 10 minutes from to the river for a restful evening; choose dinner in nearby Ponto-chō.
Free
Nara day trip
Visit Nara’s great temple and park before returning to Kyoto for the night.
Morning
Visit
Take a JR or Kintetsu train from Kyoto to Nara, then walk or take a local bus to the temple area.
About ¥800Afternoon
Explore
Walk about 5 minutes from into the park; keep food tucked away around the deer and follow posted guidance.
FreeEvening
Stroll
Walk about 20 minutes from the park or take a short local bus ride to browse the old merchant-district lanes before catching a train back to Kyoto.
Free
Osaka: Osaka Castle and Namba
Head to Osaka for castle grounds, a relaxed city lunch, and the famous lights of .
Morning
Travel to Osaka and visit
Take a JR train from Kyoto to Osaka, then continue to ; allow about 45–60 minutes for the full trip from central Kyoto.
About ¥1,200Afternoon
Walk
Explore the park around the castle on foot; the grounds are extensive, so allow time for a break and lunch nearby.
FreeEvening
Try street food in
Take a train or taxi about 20–30 minutes from to Namba, then follow the canal-side signs and choose a few dishes to share.
About ¥2,000–¥5,000
Hakone and the hot-spring countryside
Travel to Hakone for mountain scenery, art, and a restful onsen evening.
Morning
Travel to Hakone
Take the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Odawara, then continue by local train or bus to Hakone; allow roughly 3–4 hours overall.
About ¥13,500–¥15,000Afternoon
Visit
Travel around 40–50 minutes from Odawara to the museum by local train and on foot; give yourself time for its outdoor sculpture gardens.
About ¥2,000Evening
Unwind at a Hakone onsen
Continue about 10–20 minutes by train, bus, or taxi to your lodging and soak in its hot spring; check whether a meal and bathing are included.
About ¥1,000–¥3,000
Hakone and return to Tokyo
Enjoy a final mountain-and-lake outing, then leave time for the journey back to Tokyo.
Morning
Take in
Travel about 30–60 minutes by bus from your Hakone lodging, depending on its location, for lakeside views and a relaxed start.
FreeAfternoon
Visit
Walk about 15 minutes from the lakeside area to the shrine; allow extra time if there is a queue for the lakeside torii gate.
FreeEvening
Return to Tokyo
Take a bus to Odawara and a train onward to Tokyo; allow around 1.5–2.5 hours depending on connections.
About ¥3,500–¥5,500
Good to know
Getting around
Use an IC card such as Suica or ICOCA for most local trains, buses, and convenience-store purchases. Compare individual Shinkansen tickets with rail passes for your exact route before buying.
Luggage
Consider forwarding large bags between hotels so the longer train transfers and Hakone visit are easier. Keep an overnight bag with essentials.
Reservations
Book teamLab Planets and popular restaurants in advance. Shinkansen seat reservations are especially helpful during busy travel periods.
Temple etiquette
Follow signs about photography and restricted areas, keep voices low in sacred spaces, and avoid blocking narrow lanes while taking photos.
Hakone planning
Check current transport and attraction operations before setting out, as mountain weather can affect services. An overnight stay gives you more time to enjoy the area without rushing.