Japan is a popular family trip destination for its food, geishas, kimono, samurai, Pokemon Center, and more. Many families make Japan their first choice for holidays, as do many couples.
One week in Japan is not a long time, but it's enough to visit the highlights of two or three cities. Tokyo and Kyoto are usually on the top of the list, and you can see their highlights in a day-trip.
In this article, we recommend to you five itineraries that travel around Japan in one week. Choose an itinerary you like, contact us, and we will provide you with professional advice and adjust it to suit you.
China Highlights, Asia Highlights, and Global Highlights collaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.


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Alisa Liu is a star to work makes Asia Highlights even better
Alisa Liu was my contact person for Asia Highlights. She was remarkably punctual, she was thoughtful, and she handle an emergency on my end, with grace and patience. She recommended great hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka Japan that put us in the center of the action. The guides she choose were personable, punctual a knowledgeable about their cities. More
Brent Zadorozny,
Oct 2023
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Excellent service
Started using Asia Highlights to plan my trip to Japan. Sharon was very helpful, giving me all the information I would need for the tour. I would definitely use Asia Highlights again, when planning another trip to Asia. More
Rachel Nelson,
Oct 2023
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Japan tour
Our airport pick-up went very smoothly. Our guide, Vivian, on the second day was very nice, very accommodating, took into account our preferences. In Osaka, our trip to the castle was a very long walk with lots of steps to climb and quite honestly wasn’t very interesting. But Dotonburi is a must-see and we enjoyed that very much.Our trip to Hiroshima was very memorable. I highly recommend it. Our guide, Etsuko, was very knowledgeable and kind. The trip to Miyajima island, on the other hand, wasn’t too memorable. Our next city, Kyoto, is a truly wonderful place to visit. All the temples we went to were very interesting and very distinctive from each other (Kinkakuji temple, Nijo castle, Sanjusangendo temple,Kiyumizo temple, Fushimi Inari shrine, Kasuga Taisha shrine, Tojaidi temple). The sake tour was a downer and wouldn’t recommend it.Our guide, Ritsuko, was a darling. She was very knowledgeable too and kind and warm and easy to talk to. Our last tour in Tokyo was a rainy day and Sue, our guide, was able to change our tour to the next day. She was so efficient and so accommodating and so kind and very knowledgeable too. More
Mrs Cristina Hidalgo Loris,
Oct 2023
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Very good tour of Japan
Very good tour around Japan for 10 days, including Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto. Excellent guides and experiences. Albee, the tour organiser, was always available to sort out changes to itinerary or extra requests. More
Guy Slimmon,
Oct 2023
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Everything is good
All of the hotels were wonderful and our guides were super friendly, knowledgeable and flexible. We had a 10 day trip that included multiple cities and lots of different sights, we squeezed in as much as we could, including a 2 day hiking trip to Mt. Fuji (our guide Sun Nan was awesome!). Our guide in Tokyo, Jennifer, was lovely and our guide for 2 days in Kyoto, Dennis, was also super great. We did a food tour in Osaka with Vivian which was nice Sallie Fujimoto-Swun More
Ideale Tran,
Oct 2023
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Thank you for the wonderful experience…
Thank you for the wonderful experience we all truely enjoyed. From the beginning (making first contact with Sharon from Asia Highlights) to the end (Saying good bye to our amazing guide Lilly) the experience was top notch. Great communication while preparing the trip and excellent local knowledge of our tour guide. I can highly recommend Asia Highlights and would not hesitate to use them again for our next trip. More
Dany Gruosso,
Oct 2023
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Vacations in Japan
The guides Jessie and Vivian were very kind and professionals and the drivers as well. In a future vacation we will get in touch with Asia Highlights without a doubt. More
Hilda Andrade,
Oct 2023
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Experience with Asia Highlights
This was my first time working with a travel agent to plan an international trip and because of the seamless experience I had, I have decided to always work with an agent when booking international trips. Asia Highlights did an amazing job in ensuring we found a trip that worked well for our budget and provided us with special experiences in Japan that exceeded our expectations. From travel logistics in Japan to lodging and activities, we felt taken care of. If I had known that travel agents were this helpful, I would have worked with them in my prior travels. I definitely plan to book my next trip to Asia with this agent. More
Adie Ballantyne,
Oct 2023
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Jason and Cathy from Asia Highlights…
Jason and Kathy from Asia Highlights did a great job for us. They were very responsive and professional. Hotel choices and attractions made for a wonderful first time trip to Japan. More
Norman and Mary Van Zante,
Sep 2023
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This was one of the best experiences in…
This was one of the best experiences in Travel that I have ever had... and I have traveled extensively. The reliability of the the driver and guide, the kindness each displayed (different people in different cities same result) and the flexibility to work with my family's requests was outstanding. I now wish for this experience where ever I may travel next! More
Donna Huck,
Sep 2023
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Prompt response!
First and foremost, this review is based strictly on prompt response from Asia Highlights.I was browsing Asia Highlights website on the night of September 17th 2023 and really impressed of the positive reviews. So I decided to send an e-mail for an estimate of a private tour guide in Tokyo Japan for 6 days/7 nights including hotel accommodation for my 90-year-old father and I. I provided as much information as I can what areas of interest we would like to visit. I was really expecting a 72-hour delay response from Asia Highlights given time difference in California and Japan. The following day, I received an e-mail from Kate Long. Impressive! Kate provided a very detailed suggested itinerary with great consideration for my 90-year-old father. I truly appreciated her thoughtfulness! I will definitely reach out to Asia Highlights on our next trip! Thank you Kate! More
F K,
Sep 2023
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Perfectly planned and organized
Albee at Asia Highlights created a diverse, fun-filled itinerary for our trip. She listened carefully to our interests and made sure that we made the best use of our time in Japan. Our local guides, drivers and vehicles were excellent. Albee was always available to answer all my questions with a lightening fast response time. A very memorable experience and I would definitely book with Asia Highlights again. More
Carol Ann Paget Brown,
Sep 2023
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Sharon provided great service while…
Sharon provided great service while planning and booking our Japan trip! Unfortunately, we had to cancel due to family medical reasons. Sharon was very understanding of this and helped process the cancellation and refund in a very timely manner. When we are ready to book our trip again, I will certainly be reaching out to Sharon and Asia Highlights! More
Ali Tahir,
Sep 2023
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I just wanted to tell you how pleased…
I just wanted to tell you how pleased we were planning and coordinating our recent Japan trip with Alisa Liu. Alisa was responsive, answered questions in a timely manner despite our 15 hour time difference, and coordinated a trip for a 6 person multi-generational tour to everyone's satisfaction. (ages7-70!)We were particularly thankful for her help as 2 typhoons bore down on Japan during our stay. She helped us rearrange train and hotel reservations, and was able to get us a refund from a hotel that would not typically offer that. I have referred other friends to her with confidence. More
Berdine Bender,
Sep 2023
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Leah Stine
Not only Albee was great! Each of our guides and drivers were also a joy. Daniel was our first knowledgeable guide who spoke excellent English and was so much fun throughout the day. Jeremy was our guide for the next few days and he also was fun, flexible, and had so many interesting tidbits to share with us throughout the day. Kiko was our guide on the next leg of our journey. She had such a joyful sense of adventure and curiosity that was such a hoot. Vivian was also professional and very aware to what our needs were in the moment. Tian was incredibly flexible and when our plans literally changed when he picked us up, he showed great flexibility and took us to some really fun places at the last minute that were some of our best experiences. And finally Charlie was our last guide and he was so thoughtful and consistently anticipated our needs. By the time we realized we might need something, he would already have it taken care of. All of our guides were so thoughtful and conscious of either making sure we got time to ourselves or of being available right when we needed them. They were each fun and had their own personal flavor that they brought to the experience. We are so grateful for the consideration and flexibility that Asia Highlights showed us consistently and would highly recommend them for anyone interested in visiting Asia. Thank you so much! It was an amazing trip! More
Leah Stine,
Aug 2023
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Alisa is awesome!
We have been looking to go to Japan for a long time. The food, the culture, and the rich history have always intrigued us. We tried many times to set up pieces of the trip on our own, but couldn’t put together a sensible vacation. Then we found Asia Highlights and Alisa! She helped us tailor a remarkable adventure to Japan! She answered our many questions and shifted our itinerary to maximize our time in each city. I highly recommend Alisa to help you put together the trip of a lifetime. We are looking forward to our journey! More
Mark Linn,
Aug 2023
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Sharon has been very helpful since the…
Sharon has been very helpful since the beginning coordinating our itinerary in order to accommodate everything we want to see, it been great working with her More
May,
Jul 2023
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When I first book I was scared of what…
When I first book I was scared of what to expect, but oh my God! What an amazing experience this has been, from Sharon to all the guides Shawn and Mr. Ho, such amazing people! Their work is excellent More
Saul Velez,
Jul 2023
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Albee was very helpful and responsive…
Albee was very helpful and responsive in helping me make plans for their 10 day Japanese tour. More
Bhavini Patel,
Jul 2023
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Alisa was a perfect tour consultant
Alisa responded to my numerous questions with efficiency and accuracy. She was constantly suggesting options to make the trip more enjoyable More
Matha Goram,
Jul 2023
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What to See in Japan in One Week?

- Tokyo is the center of Japan's economy, politics, and transportation. You can feel its awesome combination of traditional history and high-tech modernity. Anime, sumo, samurai, and Disneyland are all part of the essence of the city.
- Kyoto is a medieval capital with a long history. Shrines, geisha, and ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) are highlights you can't miss.
- Osaka, "the kitchen of Japan", is a great place to sample authentic Japanese food. Universal Studios is also there.
- Hakone, home of onsens (hot springs), is where you can see Mt. Fuji and stay at a ryokan.
- Hiroshima is an education in itself that calls on everyone to love peace.
You can tell us your preferences and requirements for your vacation in Japan, and we will customize a tour for you. If you're travelling with your kids and aging parents, you could get more ideas about How to Plan a First-Time Family Trip to Japan>>>
The Top 5 Itineraries for One Week in Japan
1) Classic Japan: Tokyo–Kyoto with a Side Trip to Osaka, Hakone, or Hiroshima

- Tokyo: 3 days
- Kyoto: 3 days
Tokyo and Kyoto are must-see cities in Japan. On a week-long trip, it is perfect to spend three days in each, and then choose one of the surrounding cities of Hakone, Osaka, or Hiroshima for a day-trip.
Tokyo: International flights to Tokyo are plentiful, so it is the ideal first stop for Japan travel. Visit Tokyo's Meji Shrine, sample local cuisine at Tsukiji Market, shop for anime books and products in Akihabara, go to the Pokemon Center (recommended for families)…
Kyoto: Explore the Gion district and have an afternoon tea with a geisha, enjoy a steaming tea at an ochaya (tea house), meander around Fumi Inami Shrine, wear a kimono (traditional Japanese clothing) and take photos, stay at a ryokan to experience traditional Japanese accommodation...
Day trips from Tokyo or Kyoto: Hakone, Osaka, and Hiroshima are all great for a day-trip, and you don't have to stay overnight.
- Hakone: It takes about an hour to get from Tokyo to Hakone by Shinkansen (bullet train). Enjoy hot springs in any season, and look up at Mt. Fuji from Lake Ashi.
- Osaka: It only takes 15 minutes to travel from Kyoto to Osaka by Shinkansen. Visit historic Osaka Castle, taste street food in Dotonbori. Osaka is close to Kansai Airport, so you can choose to leave Japan from Osaka.
- Hiroshima: It's 2 hours from Kyoto to Hiroshima by Shinkansen. You may want to go to Peace Memorial Park to see the atomic bomb site. This is a great opportunity for teenagers (and anyone) to learn about this historical event.
2) One Week with Cherry Blossoms: From March to May

- Days 1–3: Tokyo
- Days 4–6: Kyoto
- Day 7: Depart from Kansai Airport in Osaka
March to May is the best time to enjoy cherry blossom in Japan. It is the tourism peak season, as tens of thousands of travelers from Japan and abroad go to be in the best spots to enjoy the cherry blossoms for the short blooming period.
Having a picnic under the cherry trees while enjoying the blossoms and tasty snacks could be a memorable moment for your family, or just you and your partner.
3 days in Tokyo: Ueno Park, Shinjuku Gyoen, and Chidorigafuchi are the top three places to see cherry blossom. These attractions are easily accessible. You could visit them all in one day or you could just choose one of them. Visit Tokyo's landmark building, Tokyo Tower. Sample fresh sashimi and sushi at Tsukiji Market.
3 days in Kyoto: Meander around the Philosopher's Path and admire the cherry blossom along the street. At Gion you can see geishas in kimonos and watch them perform. Taking a day-trip in Nara, you could feed the deer at Nara Park. Hike on Mt. Yoshino if you want to be right in the middle of swathes of cherry blossom.
3) One-Week Countryside Itinerary: Tokyo–Kanazawa, Takayama, and Shirakawa-go


- Days 1–3: Tokyo
- Days 4–6: Kanazawa, Takayama, and Shirakawa-go
- Day 7: Back to Tokyo and departure
For those who want to discover rural life in Japan and visit small cities that are less crowded, Kanazawa, Takayama, and Shirakawa-go are the best choices.
Days 1–3: Explore Tokyo. Make sushi with your family at a local home, wear samurai armor at the Samurai Museum, stroll through Asakusa to experience the traditional Japanese style of the Edo period (1603–1867).
Days 4–6: Visit Kanazawa (gold-leaf products, Japanese-style garden of Edo period, and the national brew), Takayama (a well-preserved old town with onsens, ryokans, and Hida beef), and Shirakawa-go (traditional and stylish gassho-zukuri farmhouses, beautiful wintry lighting in January and February)
Contact us for further details.
4) One Week for Anime Lovers: Tokyo–Osaka
- Tokyo: 6 days
- Osaka: 1 day
For people who like Japanese anime and games, Japan is a paradise. You'll find all the anime books and products you like. Explore any anime museums that interest you.
Tokyo: From manga magazines to anime-themed cafes, you can find whatever anime you like in Akihabara and Ikebukuro, where most of the anime shops in Tokyo are gathered. Go to the Ghibli Museum, the Fujiko F. Fujio Museum, or the Pokemon Center if you're interested in their collections.
Every year in late March, Tokyo holds the world's largest anime expo, where you can see a variety of anime characters' cosplay and buy a variety of anime products.
Osaka: Nihonbashi is the main anime place. All the manga you're looking for can be found here.
5) One-Week Foodie Itinerary: Osaka–Kyoto–Tokyo

- Days 1–2: Osaka
- Days 3–4: Kyoto
- Days 5–7: Tokyo
Japanese cuisine is famous around the world, and a lot of travelers come to Japan for authentic ramen, sushi, sashimi, etc. How to eat well and travel well in one week?
2 days in Osaka: Osaka is known as "the kitchen of Japan", and Dotonbori is the food center of Osaka, where you can sample a variety of traditional Japanese cuisines. Take a day-trip to Kobe and taste the most famous Kobe beef.
2 days in Kyoto: Sample ramen, fried pork chops, and tofu dishes. Taste high-class kaiseki. Enjoy natural beauty at Nijo Castle and Kiyomizu Temple, and see local people in kimonos.
3 days in Tokyo: Taste the freshest sashimi and sushi at Tsukiji Market, try the most authentic ramen and tempura, enjoy a steaming tea at Hamarikyu Garden, and eat traditional snacks in Asakusa.
How Much Does It Cost for One Week in Japan?

Japan is one of the most affordable destinations in the developed world. It offers memorable attractions, high-quality accommodation, delicious restaurants, and warm service.
A 4-star hotel, private guide, private car, and tickets for attractions for full-day itineraries costs 350-500 USD per person per day for a family of 3-5 people. Thus, the total cost for 7 days in Japan is about US$2,500-3,500
Prices during the cherry blossom season can be two to three times higher than usual.
Suggested reading: How Much Is a Trip to Japan
Why Travel with Asia Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
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Get Inspired with Some Popular Itineraries
At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.