The Golden Route in a week: Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka, day by day

Day 1, TokyoMust

Tokyo: Shibuya, Harajuku and Meiji Shrine

The first day, after a night of jet lag: a shrine in the forest in the morning, Takeshita street, the crossing, and Shibuya Sky for sunset (ticket in advance). The full route: Shibuya, Harajuku and Meiji Shrine: the first day in Tokyo.

¥11,200 · ≈ $71Book Shibuya Sky weeks in advance.Open in Maps

Metro 30 min ↓

Day 2, TokyoMust

Tokyo: Asakusa, Ueno and Skytree

Old Tokyo: Senso-ji before the crowds, the kitchenware street, the National Museum, Ameyoko market, and Skytree at sunset, with dinner at the foot of the tower. The full route: Asakusa, Ueno and Skytree: old Tokyo in one day. In the evening pack a small bag for Hakone and send the suitcase to Kyoto.

¥9,600 · ≈ $61Open in Maps

Train 90 min ↓

Day 3, HakoneMust

Hakone Loop and a night in a ryokan

The Romancecar from Shinjuku, a mountain railway, the open-air museum, a ropeway over the sulfur, a boat on the lake with Fuji, and the torii gate in the water. A two-day Hakone pass is ¥7,100. Sleep in a ryokan with an onsen and a kaiseki dinner: the night of the trip. The full route: Hakone: the ropeway loop, sulfur eggs, Lake Ashi and an onsen.

¥14,000 · ≈ $89Book a ryokan in Hakone months in advance.Open in Maps

Shinkansen 130 min ↓

Day 4, KyotoMust

Kyoto: shinkansen to Kyoto, and Fushimi Inari in the afternoon

From Odawara by shinkansen to Kyoto (2 hours, ¥12,000). In the afternoon straight to Fushimi Inari (free, always open): at 16:00 the crowds thin out and at sunset the gates turn orange. Evening in Pontocho. The full-day version of Fushimi: Fushimi Inari: the torii gates at sunrise, Tofuku-ji and the sake district.

¥15,000 · ≈ $95Open in Maps

Walk 0 min ↓

Day 5, KyotoMust

Kyoto: Higashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera at sunrise, Sannenzaka, and Gion in the evening

The most photographed day in Kyoto, in an order that beats the crowds: the temple at 06:30, the lanes empty, Kodai-ji, a rest, and Gion as the lanterns come on. The full route: Higashiyama: Kiyomizu-dera in the morning, the Sannenzaka lanes, and Gion in the evening.

¥9,000 · ≈ $57Open in Maps

Walk 0 min ↓

Day 6, Arashiyama and NaraMust

Arashiyama and Nara: the bamboo grove in the morning, Nara in the afternoon

Two half days: the bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji from 07:30 to 11:00 (Arashiyama: the bamboo grove at sunrise, Tenryu-ji, monkeys and the Romantic Train), then the Kintetsu train to Nara for the deer and the Great Buddha until sunset (Nara: the deer, the Great Buddha and the lantern shrine). Evening back in Kyoto. A long day, good with kids because there are animals.

¥6,000 · ≈ $38Open in Maps

Train 30 min ↓

Day 7, OsakaMust

Osaka in one day: the castle, Kuromon, Shinsekai and Dotonbori

A 30-minute train from Kyoto to Osaka (¥580), suitcase in a locker or at a hotel near Namba. The castle (¥1,200), Kuromon market, kushikatsu in Shinsekai, and the neon of Dotonbori at night. The full route: Osaka in one day: the castle, Kuromon Market, Shinsekai and Dotonbori at night. Tomorrow: 50 minutes to Kansai airport.

¥9,500 · ≈ $60Open in Maps