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Day 1 to 3: Tokyo
- Arrive at Narita or Haneda, take Narita Express or covered JR services to Tokyo.
- Explore Shibuya, Shinjuku, Asakusa and a day trip to Nikko or Kamakura.
- Activate the JR Pass on day 3 when you head west.
Golden route itinerary
Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka itinerary with the JR Pass
The classic golden route. Here is a 7 day Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka itinerary that fits perfectly inside one 7 day Japan Rail Pass and pays the pass back several times over.
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Day 3 to 5: Kyoto
- Shinkansen Hikari from Tokyo to Kyoto, around 2 hours 40 minutes.
- Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, Gion and Kinkakuji over two full days.
- Day trip to Nara on JR Nara line, fully covered.
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Day 5 to 7: Osaka
- Short shinkansen hop from Kyoto to Shin Osaka, 15 minutes.
- Dotonbori, Osaka castle, food walks and a side trip to Himeji or Kobe.
- Optional Universal Studios Japan day with the JR loop covered.
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Day 7: return to Tokyo
Shinkansen back to Tokyo on day 7 to catch your flight from Haneda or Narita. The 7 day pass covers everything end to end.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to common questions.
Is a 7 day JR Pass enough for Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka?
Yes, easily. Activate the pass on the first long shinkansen day and the 7 day window covers the round trip and Osaka or Nara side trips.
How much does this itinerary save?
Round trip Tokyo to Kyoto plus Osaka and Nara side trips costs around 32,000 to 36,000 yen one way without a pass. A 7 day pass at 50,000 yen pays for itself easily.
Can I extend to Hiroshima?
Yes. Add a day or two and the same 7 day pass still covers Hiroshima and Miyajima ferry.
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