Japan is fabulous, simply fabulous. Spend just a couple of days on the island and you’ll be amazed by the country’s ability to perfectly mesh modernity with antiquity, nature with construction.

With just 7 days in the country, I recommend visiting Tokyo and Kyoto– enabling you to experience the modern and cosmopolitan Japan, while also basking in the country’s rich cultural heritage.

Tokyo is an endless sea of skyscrapers, yet this concrete jungle boasts massive green spaces. Stroll along the Imperial Palace East Gardens for some traditional Japanese gardens or visit Ueno Park, where cherry blossoms and lotus beds abound. The city is impeccable: I’ve never seen one more polished. And even in the midst of this bustling metropolis, you are surrounded by peace and quiet. The city is so serene that it’s easy to forget you are standing in a 13-million person city.

The city of Kyoto is a must, boasting over 1,600 temples alone. Kyoto was Japan’s capital for over a thousand years and is home to some of the most breathtaking Shinto and Buddhist temples in the world. It has a fully preserved traditional Geisha district with picturesque streets, typical wooden houses, and lively eateries. Moreover, the city is just minutes away from a breathtaking bamboo park and the city of Nara, known for its freely roaming deer.

General Recommendations:

• Mentally prepare for the food
  • Traditional Japanese food is nothing like the sushi you’re used to, so eat sushi before leaving in order to avoid cravings
  • If you’re a picky eater, book restaurants in advance, or at least research potential restaurants you’d be interested in eating at and schedule them accordingly
  • If you rather avoid dealing with restaurants, choose a hotel with speciality restaurants
    • Many upper-tier hotels have numerous restaurants offering international cuisine and Japanese food that’s more catered towards tourists
  • As a last resort: American fast-food chains abound
    • In Tokyo you can also find typical American chains such as TGI Fridays and Outback
• Carry your hotel’s business card with you
  • Most people do not speak English– this is an easy and effective way to communicate with taxi drivers
• Similarly, ask your hotel’s concierge to write the addresses of the places you’re visiting in Japanese for you, that way you can simply show the address to the driver
• You will constantly be approached by Japanese students who want to practice their English with you– worry not, they are not pickpockets!
• Be sure to plan your visit to the Imperial Palace East Gardens and museums ahead of time
  • The Imperial Palace East Gardens are closed on Mondays and Fridays
• In Kyoto, most temples close at around 4:30 pm, so plan your schedule accordingly
• Wear socks! Particularly in Kyoto, numerous temples ask you to take off your shoes before going inside, so wear socks or bring spare ones with you.

 

7-Day Itinerary: 

Day 1: Tokyo

• Tokyo Tower
  • Built in 1958, the Tokyo Tower was inspired by the Eiffel Tower and is mainly used for broadcasting. However starting in 2011, the tower was unable to provide sufficient broadcast signals to the city. As such, a taller tower, the Tokyo Skytree, was built in 2012.
  • There are two observation decks that are open to visitors, yet I recommend climbing Roppongi Hills instead for a better view of the city.
    • The Tokyo Tower is so iconic that you’ll want to have it in your panoramic shots of Tokyo!
• Shibuya Crossing
  • Shibuya Crossing is allegedly the world’s largest pedestrian crossing. First, get lost in a sea of people as you cross the intersection and then climb to the second floor of Starbucks to witness the scramble from above.
• Meiji-jingu Shrine
  • Dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, this Shinto shrine was first built in 1915. The shrine was destroyed during World War II and consequently restored in the war’s aftermath. It is located in a 170 acre manmade forest.
• Akasaka Palace
  • Drive by the western-styled palace that today serves as a guest house for foreign diplomats.
• Imperial Palace East Garden
  • The Imperial Palace was built where the Edo Castle of the Tokugawa shogunate used to stand. Today it is the residence of Japan’s Emperor, yet its magnificent East Garden is open to the public.
  • Visit the Seimon Ishibashi Bridge, Japan’s most iconic spot, for a beautiful shot of the palace’s exterior.
• Ginza
  • Ginza is Tokyo’s luxury shopping district. International luxury stores line the streets with impressive display windows and over-the-top architecture unique to each store. Even if you’re not there to splurge, stroll through the streets, window shop, and marvel at the extravagant architecture.
  • The area is also loaded with cafes and restaurants, so grabbing a bite to eat in Ginza is a good idea.
  • If you’re interested in seeing Tokyo’s neon lights, visit Ginza at night.
• Roppongi Hills- Tokyo City View
  • Finish off your day by visiting the observatory in Roppongi Hills. Located in the Mori Art Museum, you can walk through the art exhibition first, or go directly to the observatory. Visit the Tokyo City View Observation Deck first, which is an indoor observatory that blends into the museum and then climb up to the Skydeck, where you can enjoy an outdoor view of the city.

Day 2: Tokyo

• Tsukiji Fish Market
  • Start off your day visiting Tokyo’s largest fish market, which consists of an inner and an outer market. The outer market has an array of shops and restaurants where you can taste local products. In the inner market, you can witness the famous tuna auctions. However, in order to see the auction in action you must arrive at the market by 5:00 am and spots are limited to 120 people. Spots cannot be reserved, they are allotted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
  • The fish market will move to a new location in November 2016.
• Hamarikyu Garden
• Sumida River Ride
  • Embark at Hinode Pier and choose the route that arrives at Asakusa, which lasts approximately 35 minutes. Glide under 12 of Tokyo’s bridges as you enjoy the city’s breathaking skyline.
• Tokyo Skytree
  • The Tokyo Skytree is the tallest structure in Japan and second tallest in the world, tagging shortly behind Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. Although you can climb up to the observation deck, I recommend just stopping by for a quick photograph and saving the climb for Rappongi Hills.
• Nakamise
  • The Nakamise Shopping street leads to Tokyo’s famous Asakusa Kannon Temple. Nakamise is lined with shops selling souvenirs, traditional Japanese handcrafts, and Japanese delicacies.
  • If you wish to avoid crowds, do not go through Nakamise, rather walk along the outer edges.
  • I highly recommend buying souvenirs in Nakamise– you will not find such a wide variety of goods elsewhere.
• Asakusa Kannon Temple
  • Also known as Sensoji, Asakusa Kannon Temple is Tokyo’s oldest and most popular Buddhist temple. Legend says that in 628, two fishers found a statue of the goddess Kannon in the river and decided to build a temple in her honor.
• Kappabashi
  • If you’re opening a restaurant, Kappabashi is the place to go! This street is lined with all types of shops that sell absolutely everything you need to open your own restaurant, even plastic food for display!
• Ueno Park
  • Finish off your day by taking a walk through Tokyo’s most popular park, which is home to Tokyo’s National Museum, cherry blossoms, and a zoo.

Day 3: Tokyo-Kyoto

Take the Shinkansen Nozomi bullet train to Kyoto. The trip lasts approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes. If you are short on time and cannot visit Mt. Fuji, you should be able to see the mountain from the train. Mt. Fuji will appear on the right side of the train about 1 hour after leaving Tokyo as the train approaches Shin-Fuji Station. Try to sit on the right side of the train for an optimal view.

Day 4: Kyoto 

• Sanjusangen-do
  • This Buddhist temple has 1001 statues of Kannon. At the center stands the main statue, which is surrounded by 1000 human-sized statues that are covered in gold leaf.
  • No photogrpahy is allowed.
• Tofukuyi Temple
  • Famous for its traditional Zen garden, Tofukuyi Temple is one of the most important Zen temples in the city.
• Fushimi Inari-taisha
  • Fushimi Inari has become Kyoto’s most iconic shrine. Its thousands of torii gates snake through the mountain, creating a magnificent sight. Although the shrine was originally created for Inari, the god of rice, today each gate represents a monetary donation.
  • Tip: Do not take your pictures in the first torii gates. Rather, continue walking further in order to avoid crowds. Walk through the first path of torii gates until you reach two parallel rows of gates. The right hand-side gate is to go up the mountain, while the left-hand side gate is to come back down. Walk through the right-hand gates until the path opens up to a new set of gates (this will take you no more than 5 minutes), then instead of continuing going up, take the left-hand path down. Since most people continue walking, this path of gates is almost empty, allowing you to take great pictures.
• Gion
  • Finish your day by visiting the famous Gion district, which has been conserved with traditional Japanese architecture. It is known as Kyoto’s Geisha district and is lined with numerous shops and restaurants. Be sure to trail off the main road, since the small alleys are the most enchanting.

Day 5: Day Trip to Nara

• Todaiji Temple
  • This Buddhist temple is the world’s largest wooden building and is home to a 15-meter tall bronze Buddha statue. Surrounding the temple, tame deer roam around, which you can freely feed and pet.
• Deer Park
  • Take a walk through Nara Park to see more freely roaming deer.
• Kasuga Shrine
  • Kasuga Shrine is a must see. Its thousands of stone lanterns blend with nature in an almost mystical manner. The shrine is also home to bronze lanterns, which just as the torii gates, are donations. The lanterns are lit twice a year: once in February and once in August.
• Arashiyama
  • On your way back to Kyoto, stop at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, where you can stroll through bamboo paths and take a walk along the river. The adjacent streets are lined with numerous souvenier shops that have traditional Japanese architecuture.

Day 6: Kyoto

• Ginkaku-Ji (Silver Pavilion)
  • Originally served as the retirement villa of shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the grandson of shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, who built the Golden Pavilion. The Silver Pavilion is a beautiful Zen temple that is surrounded by a dry sand garden, streams, and green gardens.
• Kinkanku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
  • The Golden Pavilion is a must see attraction in Kyoto. The Pavilion lies at the edge of a pond and is covered in gold leaf. The Golden Pavilion attracts mobs of tourists, so go early in the morning and avoid weekends.
• Ryoan-ji
  • Ryoan-Ji is Japan’s most famous Zen rock garden and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Nijo Castle
  • Built in 1603, the Nijo Castle originally served as the residence of the first Tokugawa. The castle exhibits the architectural style of Japan’s feudal era and today is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • For all history lovers, it is extremely interesting to see the stark contrast between the Nijo Castle and European castles of the same era.
  • I highly recommend visiting the Nijo Castle instead of Kyoto’s Imperial Palace. You are able to step inside the Nijo Castle, while you are only allowed to see the Imperial Palace from outside.
• Heian Jingu Shrine
  • The Heian Jingu Shrine was built in 1895 in celebration of the 1100th anniversary of Kyoto’s establishment as the Japanese capital. The shrine is known for its Chinese architectural influences.
• Higashiyama District
  • Higashiyama is hands-down one of Kyoto’s hidden gems. With its extremely well-perserved traditional architecture, Higashiyama transports you to ancient Japan. Walk down the narrow cobblestone paths and along the wooden buildings as you make your way towards Kiyomizudera. Souvenir shops, cafes, and handcraft stores abound.
• Kiyomizu-dera
  • Finish your day by visiting Kiyomizu-dera temple, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city.

Day 7: Sayonara Japan!

Restaurant Recommendations:

Tokyo:

• Gonpachi
  • This restaurant offers a wide variety of traditional Japanese cuisine in a lively atmosphere.
  • I recommend ordering the prix fixe menu, which enables you to try a little bit of everything the restaurant has to offer and all courses are absolutley delicious.
  • You can also order single skewers in order to try different ones.
  • Fun fact: This restaurant inspired a scene from the the movie Kill Bill!
• Wolfgang Puck Pizza Bar
  • If you’re not feeling experimental food-wise, try Wolfgang Puck’s Pizza Bar, which offers exquisite Italian food in a relaxed setting.