Japan Golden Route 7N is a first-trip circuit through the places most travellers want to see: Tokyo, the Hakone and Mount Fuji area, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka. It follows the rail route between them, so you travel by Shinkansen and avoid backtracking. It suits first-timers, couples and friends who want a mix of city, nature and heritage.
You spend three nights in Tokyo, covering the west side with Meiji Shrine, Harajuku and Shibuya, and the east side with Asakusa and Ginza. One night in Hakone adds lake scenery and a chance of Fuji views. Two nights in Kyoto cover Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera and Gion, plus a day trip to Nara. The last night is in Osaka, with Osaka Castle and Dotonbori.
The price includes seven nights in 4-star hotels on twin sharing, daily breakfast, airport transfers, Shinkansen travel as listed, local sightseeing transport and visa assistance. Flights, other meals, entry fees not listed, the visa fee and insurance are extra. Read our Japan travel guide and the 7-day Japan itinerary before you book.
Your trip expert can stretch, shorten or swap any day.
Land at a Tokyo airport and transfer to your hotel. Check in and rest after the long journey. If time allows, take a short evening walk near the hotel to get your bearings and pick up an IC card for local trains. Keep the first day light, because the next two days cover a lot of ground.
Start at Meiji Shrine in its wooded grounds, then walk into Harajuku and on to Shibuya. This side of Tokyo is the modern city, so expect crowds and long station walks. Move by train and subway, and keep the late afternoon free to rest before an evening out in the district.
Visit Asakusa, the historic neighbourhood of temple lanes and market streets, and see the Tokyo Skytree area nearby. In the afternoon, head to Ginza for shopping and dining. Many travellers say Tokyo needs this full day on the east side, so do not squeeze it into a half day.
Leave Tokyo for Hakone and the Mount Fuji area, known for lake scenery, ropeway rides and hot-spring stays. Fuji views depend on the weather, so treat any clear view as a bonus and never a promise. Your hotel is booked for one night here. A ryokan upgrade can be requested.
Take the Shinkansen to Kyoto after breakfast and check in. In the late afternoon, walk through Gion, Kyoto's traditional district, when the crowds ease. Allow time for the long station walks that travellers often underestimate, and keep dinner relaxed ahead of a full temple day.
Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kiyomizu-dera early, before the midday crowds build. Then take a half-day trip to Nara to see Nara Park, Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha and the free-roaming deer. Treat Nara as a walking day, and keep food and maps away from the deer.
Travel from Kyoto to Osaka and check in. Spend the afternoon at Osaka Castle, then head to Dotonbori for street food and the neon-lit canal at night. Osaka is the final stop, so use the evening to repack and keep your passport and tickets ready for departure.
Enjoy breakfast and check out. Your transfer takes you to the airport for departure, leaving plenty of time for check-in. Flights are booked separately, so confirm in advance whether you fly home from Osaka or return to Tokyo, and tell us so we can plan the last transfer.
Flights are not included.
Seven nights means four hotels, so pack light and ask about luggage forwarding.
Fuji views depend on the weather, and no clear view is promised.
Kyoto and Osaka are best seen from separate bases, not as repeated day trips.
Visit major Kyoto temples before 8:00 or after 16:00 to avoid the midday crowds.
Carry some yen in cash, because small restaurants, shrines and lockers may not take cards.
Breakfast is included daily; other meals are extra.
Flights are not included and are booked separately, ideally open-jaw into Tokyo and out of Osaka.
Entry fees not listed, the Japan visa fee and travel insurance are extra.
Cherry-blossom, Golden Week, Obon and autumn weeks sell out early, so book ahead.
FAQs
What travellers ask about this trip. Your trip expert can answer anything else.
Seven nights covers Tokyo, Hakone or Fuji, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka at a steady pace. It is a first-trip circuit. Adding Hiroshima or Hokkaido would make it rushed, so keep those for a longer trip of ten nights or more.
Seven nights in 4-star hotels on twin sharing, daily breakfast, airport transfers, Shinkansen travel as listed, local sightseeing transport and visa assistance. Flights, other meals, entry fees not listed, the visa fee, insurance and personal expenses are not included.
Fuji visibility depends on the weather, so a clear view cannot be promised. The Hakone and Fuji area night gives you one chance, and the day is kept flexible. Mornings are often clearer, and travellers often say patience helps.
Yes, where airline fares permit. Flying into Tokyo and out of Osaka saves a backtracking train ride, because the route runs from east to west. Flights are booked separately, so check fares for both options before you buy.
Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru have direct flights, though schedules vary and some services are seasonal. Check operating dates before booking. Other cities usually connect through Southeast Asian hubs, and the longer route can add several hours to the journey.
Book early for cherry-blossom weeks in late March and April, Golden Week in late April and early May, mid-August Obon and autumn foliage. Hotels and Shinkansen seats fill quickly in those periods, and prices rise sharply.
More ideas
Tokyo 2N · Hakone 1N · Kyoto 3N · Osaka 1N
Tokyo 3N · Kyoto 2N · Osaka 2N
Tokyo 3N · Hakone 1N · Kyoto 3N · Osaka 1N
*Approximate price per person, excl. GST. Contact us for exact pricing.
Tell us when you want to travel and who is coming. A trip expert builds a day-by-day plan with prices that you can change.
Prefer to answer a few questions step by step? Use the trip planner.
