Tokyo & Kyoto: Best Itinerary Ideas
How many days do you need in Tokyo & Kyoto?
- Most travelers spend 6-8 days in Tokyo and Kyoto combined
- Visiting Tokyo and Kyoto in 4 or 5 days is possible, but it will feel rushed
- With 9 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
- The most common extensions are Osaka and Hakone
How Many Days to Spend in Japan
Recommended Itineraries for Tokyo & Kyoto
Recommended Itinerary for 6 Days
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival in Tokyo, Explore | Tokyo |
| Day 2 | City Tour From Traditional to Modern | Tokyo |
| Day 3 | Get Close to Mount Fuji at Lake Kawaguchiko | Tokyo |
| Day 4 | Tokyo to Kyoto, Explore | Kyoto |
| Day 5 | Nara Day Tour from Kyoto | Kyoto |
| Day 6 | Kyoto to Tokyo, Depart |
On this adventure, you'll see Japan's highlights while visiting two of its most famous cities. Begin in bustling Tokyo and discover the urban nightlife and explore temples and shopping streets on a guided tour. Then take a day trip to Lake Kawaguchiko for views of Mount Fuji. Next, transfer to Kyoto and get to know its temples and historic neighborhoods, opting for a traditional tea ceremony. Cap off your journey with a day trip to Nara, famous for its scenic deer park. Read more
Recommended Itinerary for 1 Week
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Tokyo, Explore | Tokyo |
| Day 2 | Tokyo Tour with a Private Local Guide | Tokyo |
| Day 3 | Tokyo to Kyoto, Explore | Kyoto |
| Day 4 | Kyoto Tour with a Private Local Guide | Kyoto |
| Day 5 | Day Trip to Nara | Kyoto |
| Day 6 | Kyoto to Tokyo, Free Time | Tokyo |
| Day 7 | Depart Tokyo |
This weeklong adventure splits its time between two of Japan's most important cities with a mix of customizable tours and free time to explore on your own. Start off in Tokyo for a taste of modern Japan with top-notch architecture, animé, modern art, high fashion, and cuisine. Then head to traditional Kyoto for beautiful temples and shrines, ancient gardens, and cultural experiences like tea ceremonies and calligraphy. Read more
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Extended Itineraries
9-Day Itinerary Including Osaka & Hakone
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival in Tokyo, Free Afternoon | Tokyo |
| Day 2 | Modernity and Tradition Tour, Stroll Tokyo in a Kimono, Nighttime Foodie Tour | Tokyo |
| Day 3 | Day Trip to Nikko | Tokyo |
| Day 4 | Day Trip to Kamakura | Tokyo |
| Day 5 | Tokyo to Hakone, Explore | Hakone |
| Day 6 | Arrive in Kyoto, Traditional Afternoon Tea Ceremony | Kyoto |
| Day 7 | Arashiyama Bamboo Walking Tour, Kyoto Temple Afternoon Tour | Kyoto |
| Day 8 | Explore Osaka & Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine | Osaka |
| Day 9 | Depart Osaka |
Explore Japan's natural beauty and intricate rituals on this fascinating nine-day itinerary. In Tokyo, you'll travel back in time by wandering the streets in a kimono. Head to Hakone to cruise on Lake Ashi, enjoy spectacular views of Mount Fuji, and finish the day in soothing natural thermal springs. Continue to Kyoto for Buddhist temples, gardens, palaces, and shrines, then end in Osaka to revel in the city's dynamic "foodie" districts. Read more
9-Day Itinerary Including Osaka
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Tokyo, Free Afternoon | Tokyo |
| Day 2 | See Mount Fuji from Lake Ashi | Tokyo |
| Day 3 | Sumo Practice Viewing in Tokyo | Tokyo |
| Day 4 | Tokyo to Kyoto, Welcome to Beautiful Kyoto | Kyoto |
| Day 5 | Hiking at Fushimi Inari Shrine | Kyoto |
| Day 6 | Explore Arashiyama | Kyoto |
| Day 7 | Kyoto to Osaka, Sightseeing in Osaka | Osaka |
| Day 8 | Suntory Yamazaki Whiskey Distillery | Osaka |
| Day 9 | Depart Osaka |
Japan's culture is an intoxicating mix of old and new. Staying in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka over nine activity-filled days, you'll get under the skin of both sides of this fascinating country. See the historical and futuristic sides of Tokyo and cruise among the neon lights of Osaka. Immerse yourself in Japanese tradition, from watching a sumo wrestling practice to sampling whiskey at a top distillery. You'll also walk among Kyoto's serene shrines and temples and get to know geisha culture. Read more
10-Day Itinerary Including Hakone
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Tokyo, Explore | Tokyo |
| Day 2 | Tokyo Day 2 | Tokyo |
| Day 3 | Tokyo Day 3 | Tokyo |
| Day 4 | Tokyo to Hakone, Explore | Hakone |
| Day 5 | Hakone Day 2 | Hakone |
| Day 6 | Hakone to Kyoto, Explore | Kyoto |
| Day 7 | Kyoto Day 2 | Kyoto |
| Day 8 | Kyoto Day 3 | Kyoto |
| Day 9 | Kyoto to Tokyo, Free Time | Tokyo |
| Day 10 | Depart |
This 10-day itinerary follows the path of Japan's ancient Tokaido Highway (the Golden Route) from the skyscrapers of ultra-modern Tokyo to the cultural heart of Kyoto. In between the two cities, you'll stop in the beautiful town of Hakone to soak up Mount Fuji views, hot springs, and excellent museums. Traveling by bullet train, your flexible Japan Rail Pass offers plenty of day trips for a truly customizable adventure. Read more
How to travel between Tokyo & Kyoto
Kyoto is 283 miles (445 km) from Tokyo, but you can get from Tokyo to Kyoto in just over two hours if you travel on a high-speed Shinkansen (bullet train). By air, the journey will take about three hours, including ground transportation. Read more
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