7 Days: Tokyo to Osaka
Tokyo to Osaka via Shinkansen is the classic Japan first trip. This plan gives you 3 full days in Tokyo, a Kyoto day trip, and 2 nights in Osaka — tight but deeply satisfying.
By Yiyan · Last reviewed: March 2026
Trip highlights
- • Ride the Shinkansen through Mount Fuji country
- • Shibuya Crossing at rush hour
- • Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa
- • Fushimi Inari torii gates in Kyoto
- • Dotonbori night food crawl in Osaka
Day-by-day outline
Day 1
Arrive Tokyo — Shinjuku Base
Arrive at Narita or Haneda. Pick up IC card (Suica or Pasmo). Check in Shinjuku. Evening: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building free observation deck, ramen dinner in Kabukicho.
Day 2
Tokyo East — Asakusa & Shibuya
Senso-ji at 7am before tour groups. Tsukiji Outer Market brunch (tuna nigiri, tamagoyaki). Shibuya Crossing in the evening. Rooftop at Shibuya Sky.
Day 3
Tokyo West — Harajuku, Akihabara
Meiji Shrine morning. Harajuku Takeshita-dori. Omotesando. Afternoon in Akihabara (multi-floor game shops). Ueno for museum if energy allows.
Day 4
Shinkansen to Osaka — via Kyoto
Hikari Shinkansen from Tokyo. Stop in Kyoto (store bags at station lockers). Fushimi Inari (arrives by 11am, crowd-free by 11:30). Nishiki Market lunch. Arrive Osaka Namba by 6pm.
Day 5
Osaka — Dotonbori & Osaka Castle
Morning Osaka Castle. Shinsekai for kushikatsu lunch. Kuromon Ichiba afternoon. Dotonbori evening food crawl (takoyaki, gyoza, crab).
Day 6
Nara Day Trip or Osaka Free Day
30 min to Nara: deer park, Todai-ji Great Buddha. Or: slow morning at Hozenji Yokocho alley, shopping in Shinsaibashi, Abeno Harukas observation deck.
Day 7
Depart from Osaka or Tokyo
Kansai International (45 min from Namba) for direct flights. Or Shinkansen back to Tokyo Narita/Haneda (2.5 hrs + transfer). Final souvenir: Pocky and Kit Kat flavours at Shin-Osaka station shops.
Plan your trip
Essential guides for this itinerary
Japan Food Guide
What to eat, where to find it, and halal options in Tokyo & Osaka.
Read the guide →
Cash & Currency
How much cash to carry, where to withdraw yen, and whether cards are accepted.
Read the guide →
IC Card Guide
Suica vs Pasmo vs ICOCA — which one to get and how to top it up.
Read the guide →
Rail Pass Calculator
Check whether a JR Pass saves you money on your specific route.
Try the calculator →
Affiliate
Recommended experiences
Tokyo Skytree Observation Deck
Skip the queue with a reserved entry ticket to Tokyo's iconic 634 m tower.
Book on Klook →Fushimi Inari Early Morning Tour
Walk the thousand torii gates before the crowds arrive with a small-group guided tour.
Book on Klook →TeamLab Planets Tokyo
Immersive digital art installation in Toyosu — timed entry tickets sell out fast.
Book on Klook →Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link to experiences we would genuinely recommend.