The classic first-trip Golden Route: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka in one perfect week.
One week is enough to experience Japan's 'Golden Route', the trio of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka linked by the shinkansen. This plan eases you in with two days in Tokyo, sweeps through Kyoto's temples, and finishes in food-loving Osaka, with optional day trips if you'd rather go deep than broad. A 7-day JR Pass typically pays for itself on this route.
Shake off the jet lag with a first walk through the neon, a bowl of ramen and an observation-deck view.
Senso-ji temple, Ueno's museums and Ameyoko market, finishing in Akihabara's arcades.
Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Crossing and immersive digital art, or swap in a day trip to Hakone, Nikko or Kamakura.
Ride the bullet train (~2h15), drop bags, then walk the torii gates and old eastern lanes into the geisha quarter.
Bamboo grove, Zen gardens and the Golden Pavilion, or take the short hop to Nara's deer park.
Move to Osaka (~15 min from Kyoto) for takoyaki, neon canals and the castle, or day-trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima.
Squeeze in one more market or temple before departing from Kansai (KIX) or returning to Tokyo.
Yes for a first trip, one week covers Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka with a day trip or two. It's broad rather than deep; two weeks lets you add Hiroshima or the Japanese Alps.
For the Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka-(Hiroshima) corridor within 7 days, the JR Pass generally pays for itself. Compare your routes against individual ticket prices.
An 'open-jaw' ticket, into Tokyo, out of Osaka's Kansai airport, saves a backtrack at the end of the trip.