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Kate Anderson

Japan · Itinerary · No. 20

Japan in 7 Days

A ready-made first Japan week: Tokyo, Kyoto and one clean Shinkansen transition.

Seven days. Two cities. No national checklist.

A ready-made seven-day first Japan itinerary: three Tokyo days, a clean Shinkansen transition and three Kyoto days, without turning one week into a race across the country.

$15

Coming soon

This edition is being finalised.

The shop opens soon. Until then, have a wander: every guide, route and travel tool is here to explore.

Follow me on my journey
Better together: the Complete Japan Collection includes this and 3 more for $34.

What it helps you do

Follow a complete first-Japan route that gives Tokyo and Kyoto three strong days each, with one clean Shinkansen transition between them.

The shape of the trip

Each day has one anchor and stays in one part of the city.

The outline is below. The sequencing, timings, places to eat and the rules that make each day work are inside.

  1. Day 1Tokyo arrival + Shinjuku
  2. Day 2teamLab + Harajuku + Shibuya
  3. Day 3Asakusa + Ginza
  4. Day 4Tokyo → KyotoA direct Shinkansen transition day
  5. Day 5Fushimi Inari + Higashiyama + Gion
  6. Day 6Arashiyama + Nishiki
  7. Day 7Slow central Kyoto

What’s inside

Contents

  1. 01Before You Book rulesWeekday closures and the bookings that genuinely matter, so the days land in the right order.
  2. 02A complete 7-day routeEach day built around one anchor and one area, in a realistic geographic order.
  3. 03Exact daily sequencingTimes and the reason each stop sits where it does.
  4. 04Eat NearbyAn easy option and a special one, close to the route, so dinner isn't another mission.
  5. 05If You Have Energy · Leave Room For · Skip It IfThe pressure valves that keep it a holiday.
  6. 06Shinkansen + luggage guidanceHow the transition day works, so it doesn't eat the trip.
  7. 07Booking checklist and Make It Yours swapsRain, tiredness, closed days: what to change and what to keep.

Especially useful if…

  • First-time Japan visitors with about a week
  • Tokyo + Kyoto without adding extra cities
  • Structure without overplanning
  • Transport logic already thought through

What it isn’t

  • A city encyclopedia
  • A giant recommendation list
  • A route that sends you across town six times a day

The filtering has already been done for you.

Format

Printable PDF

Type
Itinerary
Last checked
October 2026
Delivery
Instant: a private download page, plus the link by email.

Questions

Do I also need the guide?

No, each route works on its own. The Japan Guide is for understanding the first trip and making your own choices; the routes are for when you want the days decided. The Complete Japan Collection includes both.

Can I change the route?

Yes. Each day has simple swaps and optional stops, so you can adjust it without breaking the geography that makes the day work.

What format is it?

A printable PDF that also reads well on your phone.

Is this custom travel planning?

No. It's a ready-made, researched route: the same plan for everyone, built so it still works when you swap pieces in or out.

Why isn't Hakone in the route?

Because the core seven days already work as Tokyo + Kyoto. The route keeps the transition direct rather than squeezing another destination into one week.

Something wrong with a file?

Email kateanderson.travel@gmail.com and we'll help. Terms of sale are on the Terms page.

Complete the trip