7 Day Itinerary for First Timer’s in Japan
Bamboo Forest
So you’re planning your trip for the first time to Japan and have no idea where to start! This guide will allow you to see 3 different iconic regions in Japan filled with some of the best places to visit, eat, and stay! Japan is truly magical and a place I would need multiple visits to feel like I got the full experience. I’m so excited for your upcoming trip, and know you can’t go wrong with wherever you choose to go in Japan.
When to Visit:
The spring time in Japan is absolutely magical! The cherry blossoms come into bloom and it truly is a bucket list experience. The peak time to visit is from March to mid April to see them in full bloom.
Japan is also known for having incredible skiing in the North part of the country so if you want to partake in Japow then I would visit anywhere between mid January to late February.
How to get There and get Around:
We flew on a direct flight from Denver to Narita (NRT) and then took an hour train ride into Tokyo. If you want to be closer to the city then I would fly into Haneda
(HND).
There is a Japan Rail pass you can buy for 7, 14, or 21 days. If you are traveling to other regions the pass offers rides specific to different areas in Japan and can be a more affordable way to get around and not have to think twice about transportation while you’re there.
You HAVE to buy your JR pass ahead of time so keep that in mind if you’re like me and book everything super last minute. There is an option to buy it upon arrival, but there is a chance it won’t be available!
Since we knew we’d only have time for Kyoto and Tokyo we decided to just buy a round trip bullet train ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto. This ended up saving us some money in the end. We used buses for pretty cheap to get around town once we were there.
We weighed so many different options and had to really map out everywhere we wanted to go, deciding on what type of transportation to take, and then made a final decision if the 7 day pass was worth it. The buses will be the cheaper option, but they take so much longer than if you were to use a bullet train so sometimes paying extra is worth saving your time.
What to Bring:
The fashion in Japan is honestly so sick and something I aspire to incorporate more into my wardrobe. Leave some room to take home some clothes for sure!
The type of clothing also varies on what you are planning to do, but we visited the end of February and one thing I wished was I brought a few more layers because it was bit colder than what I planned for.
Japan is a pretty modest country so make sure to abide by that out of respect for the people who live there. People will stare if you wear something crazy revealing.
Walking shoes are a must so make sure your footwear is geared towards getting in a lot of steps. We walked a ton every day and so I lived in my sneakers the whole trip.
A good day bag to carry everything because once we left the air b n b we were out the whole rest of the day
Camera gear of course! Bring your dslr, film camera, or any other gear you like to shoot with!
Where to Stay:
If I were in Tokyo I would stay in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ginza, or Asakusa depending on if you want to stay near the heart of the city, near old town, or have an urban feel!
We wanted to try a unique experience and stayed in a book and bed hostel. We expected a more capsule style pod experience, however it truly was a hostel. I would stay here for a night if you want to meet people and stay in Shinjuku for an affordable price.
If you’re looking for an affordable hostel close to Tokyo station Citan is a popular hostel and around 25 per night.
If you are traveling with a group there are a ton of affordable options on air b n b which we used in Kyoto and our first night in Tokyo.
If you head to fuji there are also great hostel options.
K’s house is a great hostel and there are two different hostels around Fuji.
book and bed hostel
Day 1: Spend the night adjusting in Tokyo
Grab dinner and walk around where you are staying. We decided to go for the cheapest air b n b on the outskirts of Tokyo since we were mainly going to eat and sleep then wake up early to catch the bullet train.
Day 2: Take a bullet train to Kyoto
Take an early morning train to Kyoto to have a full day in Kyoto.
Go to 7/11 to stalk up on snacks, caffeine, and sweet treats for your your hour and half experience on the Shinkansen
Start the afternoon by going to the Nishimi Fish Market
Make sure to have cash out because most places don’t take cards!
Some fun foods to try include: Sashimi, tako-tamago, sake, gyoza, and matcha
After the market, head to Fushimi Inari Shrine for sunset. This is one of the most iconic places to see and take photos. We walked all the way to the top to catch a stunning view of the city!
Nishimi Fish Market
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Day 3: Kyoto
Start the morning early by taking a bus to the bamboo forest. It is a little bit of a process to get there from Kyoto so make sure you get an early start to avoid the crowds. We walked around the whole forest and it took us around 3 hours to see everything.
After the bamboo forest, take a bus ride to Chureito Pagoda. It is an insanely intricate temple with beautiful views. If it is a clear day you can see Mt Fuji in the background and you’ve probably seen it as an advertisement to visit Japan. It does get crowded during the day just like every popular attraction in Japan so a sunrise or sunset could be another great opportunity to go to this sight.
Enjoy dinner in town at Den Shichi for incredible sushi and head to bed early for another early start the next morning.
Day 4: Kyoto & Tokyo
Wake up early and walk around the Gion district. Grab a coffee at %! Best latte ever!! If you’re looking for a good view after walk to the top of Kiyomizu-dera. Walk back to your air b n b and grab your belongings and take the bullet train back to Tokyo. We stayed at a book hostel near Shinjuku and left our luggage there.
Watch the sunset at Shibuya Sky Tokyo! Or there are so many rooftop bars to choose from to also watch the sunset from.
Make sure to explore downtown at night because it is such a unique experience! See the cat in Shinjuku, late night ramen, and just walk around the different districts!
Day 5: Tokyo - Shibuya & Asukusa
start out the morning by heading to another famous temple then head to Senso-ji Temple. It is the oldest temple in Tokyo.
Head to Nakamise Dori Shopping St. market for lunch and to get some local goods
Yoyogi park is nice for an escape from the city whether you want to stroll, have a picnic , or just lie in the grass for hours which is what we did.
Shop and explore around Shibuya! There are so many cool stores, cafes, and districts to get lost in! Of course you have to cross the street multiple times at Shibuya crossing.
Visit Shibuya sky for a viewpoint of the city and of course it would also be a great spot to view the sunset.
If you want some ramen, go to Ichiran. It was the best we had during our time in Japan. You sit in individual seats and fill out a card of what you want in your bowl. Then they raise a curtain and deliver to you through it and then you have solitude while eating. It truly is every introverts dream!
Day 6: Tokyo and Fuji
Spend half the day in Tokyo wrapping up on something you feel like you didn’t have time to see. I would grab coffee at Little Nap Coffee Stand and then head to the Tsukiji market for more food and souvenirs.
Another option is to go to Harajuku and eat at the Pig Cafe
Take a train or bus and spend the night in Fuji at a hostel there!
Grab dinner near your hostel at Beef Cutlet Restaurant koushuya, la luce or dino diner!
Day 7: Fuji
Spend the day at an onsen, hike or ski!
The ski resorts near Fuji are not as noteworthy as the mountains on the north side of the island, however just being able to say you skied in Japan would be sick!
There are so many onsens to choose from and one of the most popular one is Lake Kawaguchiko Onsen and Hakone Onsen
Yoshida trail is one of the most popular and and easiest trails around Fuji
Make sure to go to Lawson convenience store either at sunrise or sunset and have a mini photoshoot!
