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Itineraries
One week, ten days, two or three weeks: four routes ready to follow, with trains, prices and nights.
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7 days in Japan, the essentials
Tokyo, then Kyoto and Nara: two hotels, two long rides, and your flight home from Kansai, with no backtracking to Tokyo.
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2 hr 11 to 2 hr 15Tokyo → Kyoto on the Nozomi
≈ 18,000 ¥in train fares, versus 50,000 ¥ for the JR Pass
1 hr 24from Kyoto Station to Kansai Airport, no change
Book a multi-city ticket: into Tokyo, home from Kansai. Check whether a nonstop leaves Kansai for your city; if not, compare with a one-stop flight. Going back to Tokyo on the last day costs about 11,000 ¥.
PlanJapanItineraries · 7 daysTwo cities, day by day
Three nights in Tokyo, three in Kyoto. Adult fares, unreserved seats, checked in October 2026.
D1Arrive at Haneda or Narita. In the evening, Asakusa and Senso-ji lit up.
D2Shibuya and Harajuku: Meiji-jingu shrine, then the city from above at SHIBUYA SKY.
D3Shinjuku: Shinjuku Gyoen garden (closed Mondays), the free view from the Government Building, Omoide Yokocho at night.
D4The Shinkansen in the morning, Fuji on your right on a clear day. Gion and the Kamo River in the evening.
D5Fushimi Inari early, 5 min away by JR train, then Kiyomizu-dera and Higashiyama on foot.
D6Day trip to Nara: the deer in the park, the Great Buddha of Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha. Back to Kyoto at night.
D7Departure: Arashiyama or the Golden Pavilion if your flight leaves in the afternoon, then the Haruka straight to Kansai Airport.
See Fuji from the Shinkansen
Ordinary car: seat E. In the Green Car, four seats per row: seat D.
PlanJapanItineraries · 7 daysBook this trip, stop by stop
Our picks from the Tokyo and Kyoto chapters. Range: $ budget, $$ mid-range, $$$ comfort.
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When to book what
- As soon as your dates are set
The multi-city flight, then the Kyoto hotel: it sells out fast in cherry blossom and fall foliage season.
- One month ahead, at 10 a.m. Japan time
Your Tokyo → Kyoto Shinkansen seat, on the E side. On smart EX, up to a year ahead.
- Between one month and 21 days ahead
EX Hayatoku 21 on smart EX: a reserved Nozomi seat for 12,430 ¥ instead of 14,170 ¥. Limited seats, not during Golden Week, Obon or New Year.
- Two weeks ahead
SHIBUYA SKY: sales open at midnight, Japan time.
- Before you leave
The HARUKA One-way Ticket, 2,200 ¥ instead of 3,060 ¥: you can't buy it in Japan.
PlanJapanItineraries · 7 days