Japan
4 nights
Four days barely scratches it — base near a Yamanote line station and let the trains do the work.
3 nights
Early mornings are Kyoto's secret; staying central puts the famous sites before the crowds.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Morning
Tokyo's oldest temple through the great Kaminarimon lantern gate.
Lunch
Melon pan, ningyo-yaki and matcha soft-serve along the temple approach.
Afternoon
Cross the river and ride to the 350m deck for a first sense of the city's scale.
Evening
Yakitori and highballs under the train tracks at Ameyoko.
Morning
A cedar forest in the middle of the city, minutes from Harajuku station.
Afternoon
Teen fashion chaos, then the tree-lined architecture mile.
Evening
The world's busiest scramble at golden hour, then dinner in the neon maze.
Morning
Tamagoyaki, tuna bowls and knife shops in the old fish-market lanes.
Morning
Tokyo National Museum's samurai swords and Buddhist sculpture.
Afternoon
Cat statues, croquette stands and shitamachi atmosphere.
Evening
The red-brick station framed by skyscrapers — pack for the morning shinkansen.
Lunch
Kyoto's 400-year-old food street: tofu doughnuts, pickles, tamagoyaki.
Afternoon
The wooden stage temple, then the preserved slopes of Sannenzaka.
Evening
Lantern-lit teahouse streets — walk Hanamikoji quietly and respectfully.
Morning
The vermilion gate tunnels up the sacred mountain — go at dawn.
Afternoon
Checkerboard moss and the valley bridge, one stop from Inari.
Evening
Riverside kaiseki or yakitori in Kyoto's narrowest dining lane.
Morning
The swaying green corridor, plus Tenryu-ji's world-heritage garden next door.
Afternoon
The gold-leaf pavilion floating over its mirror pond.
Afternoon
The 15-metre bronze Buddha in one of the world's largest wooden halls.
Evening
Back in Kyoto, join the couples spaced along the riverbank at dusk.
Lunch
Scallops torched to order and fugu stalls in Osaka's market hall.
Afternoon
The Tsutenkaku tower and kushikatsu joints of old-school Osaka.
Evening
Takoyaki, okonomiyaki and the Glico runner — eat until you can't.
Tokyo · mid-range
Location beats size in Tokyo — you're only there to sleep.
Kyoto · luxury
One ryokan night is essential; near Kiyomizu it's magical after dark.
Osaka · mid-range
Stumble home from the food crawl; direct airport trains below.
Tokyo · Ramen · budget
The essential Tokyo solo-dining experience.
Kyoto · Kaiseki · high-end
Kyoto's refined cuisine in its most atmospheric setting.
Answer a few questions and Trouble builds your route, daily plan, hotels and restaurants — ready to edit and share in minutes.