Travel
Kyoto in 2 days: a first-time itinerary, east side then west
A two-day Kyoto plan grouped by area: Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera and Gion on day one, then Arashiyama, the Golden Pavilion and Pontochō on day two.
Japan travel guides
Itineraries, where to stay, hotels and road trips in Japan.
Kyoto
Travel
Day trips from Kyoto: Nara, Osaka, Himeji, Uji and more compared
Kyoto sits at the heart of the Kansai rail network. How to reach Nara, Osaka, Himeji Castle, Uji, Kobe and Lake Biwa for a day, what to see and how long to allow.
Travel
Where to stay in Kyoto: station, downtown, Gion or Arashiyama?
Kyoto's sights are spread out and its buses get crowded, so location matters. How Kyoto Station, Downtown, Gion, Arashiyama and the north compare, plus ryokan tips.
Tokyo
Travel
Tokyo in 3 days: a first-visit itinerary planned by area
A three-day Tokyo plan grouped by area: Asakusa, Ueno and Skytree, then Meiji Jingu, Shibuya and Shinjuku, then Tsukiji, the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Tower.
Travel
Tokyo in 4 days: a first-visit itinerary that keeps travel short
A four-day Tokyo plan grouped by area: Asakusa and Ueno, Harajuku to Shinjuku, Ginza and the bay, and a flexible last day in Kamakura or west Tokyo.
Travel
Where to stay in Tokyo: the main areas compared for a first visit
Tokyo is vast, so your base shapes every day. How Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, Asakusa, Roppongi, Ikebukuro and Shinagawa compare, plus trains, IC cards and airports.