Japan in 7 Days — the Golden Route: Tokyo–Hakone–Kyoto–Osaka

Land at Narita or Haneda, head into the city and drop your bags first. Don't cram the first day — your body's still tired and adjusting. Start gently at Senso-ji in Asakusa, pass under the red Kaminarimon gate, and walk Nakamise street nibbling on warm snacks. In the evening, take the train over for the city lights from Tokyo Skytree.

Today's for modern Tokyo. Start the morning at Meiji Shrine, a forest in the heart of the city, then walk into Harajuku and Takeshita Street, on to Shibuya to cross the busiest intersection in the world, and finish in Shinjuku after dark. Into digital art? Swing by teamLab — book tickets ahead.

This morning, forward your big suitcase ahead to Kyoto and carry only an overnight pack. Take the Romancecar from Shinjuku, ~85 minutes to Hakone, ride the ropeway over Owakudani, the sulphur-steam valley, then come down to cruise Lake Ashi and see the red torii of Hakone Shrine standing in the water. Tonight, sleep in a ryokan, soak in a mountain-view onsen, and enjoy a kaiseki dinner.

This morning, come down off the mountain to Odawara Station and board the shinkansen straight for Kyoto, about 2 hours. Drop your bags at the hotel, then spend the afternoon at Fushimi Inari, walking up the hill through a tunnel of ten thousand red torii. In the evening, stroll the old stone lanes of Gion — with luck you might see a maiko pass by.

Today is devoted to the legendary temples. Start the morning at the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), its gold leaf mirrored in the pond, then cross to the west side for the Arashiyama bamboo grove and a walk under the towering stalks. Late afternoon, head back to Higashiyama for Kiyomizu-dera, the wooden-terrace temple over the city, and walk the Sannenzaka–Ninenzaka stone streets with their view of Yasaka Pagoda.

This morning, take the ~45-minute train to Nara, the old capital before Kyoto. In Nara Park, tame wild deer wander up to be fed, and you can visit Todai-ji, with its giant bronze Buddha inside an enormous wooden hall. In the afternoon, ride on to Osaka, drop your bags, and in the evening dive into Dotonbori, the neon-lit canal district, for takoyaki and okonomiyaki.

The last day flexes around your flight time. If you fly out in the afternoon or evening, there's still time for Osaka Castle, standing tall in its park, and a walk through Kuromon Market for fresh seafood as a farewell meal. Pick up souvenirs around Namba or Shinsaibashi before catching the train straight to Kansai Airport (KIX).