Tokyo & Kyoto in Five Days

Start the day with a unique experience: join a live Sumo wrestling morning training. If it is not the season to watch the official Sumo wrestling in the national stadium, this is the perfect way to immerse yourself in their culture on a smaller scale. These morning sessions happen behind closed doors and in different areas of the city, but the most common neighborhood is the Ryogoku area. It usually lasts for two hours and you sit down quietly and observe their morning practice.

Continue the morning by strolling through the streets of Kuramae area, a charming neighborhood steeped in history and brimming with creativity — a paradise for shopping lovers.

• Start by visiting the Nakamura tea life store, a cozy shop that has been family-run since 1919 and produces and sells organic green tea and tea accessories. Then, make a quick stop at Yuwaeru, where you can eat delicious and healthy traditional Japanese food, including Nekase-genmai brown rice.

• For a post-meal coffee, schedule a stop at Leaves Coffee Roasters, Lonich or Lucent, which are all local raosteries specializing in sharing the wonders of coffee with everyone.

• Head to the upscale studio M+ for high-quality wallets, bags and other handcrafted leather accessories.

• If you have sweet tooth, you must make a detour by Camera, another cool store with handmade leather accessories alongside a counter serving coffee and sweet treats.

• For unique souvenirs, visit Koncent, a store that showcases the best of Japanese design, with a curated selection of lifestyle products that seamlessly blend form and function (everyday items like kitchen goods, office supplies and gifts).

• If you need a stylish leather bag that's also made to last, head straight for the factory store operated by the notable Ren brand for simple designs that make the most of high-quality leather. They carry the big-hit item, the coin case, and also made-in-Himeji original leather series.

• One of my favorite spots, which to me really represents Japan and its craft, is Jiyucho. As you enter, an inviting atmosphere greets you with the aroma of freshly brewed tea mingled with the faint scent of paper and ink. Among the offerings are beautifully designed prompt cards encouraging you to reflect on your daydreams and hopes for the future. Take a moment to ponder, then put pen to paper and write a postcard to your future self. It is a ritual that invites you to slow down and capture a snapshot of your current self — your thoughts, feelings and aspirations — that you can revisit later.

After so much shopping and strolling, you are deserving of a drink. Head to the Riverside distillery (open from 1 pm), a craft gin distillery in Tokyo creating next-generation gin. Instead of a free tasting, the shop offers a free whiff – staff will spray each spirit onto a pad for you to smell, just like at a perfumery. It is a great way to get an idea of what each one will taste like without downing a flight of straight gin. If you are looking to get more than just an idea of what this place can do, head upstairs to Stage, the venue's bar and restaurant. A slick single room that is all copper fittings, polished concrete and pot plants, Stage is where the distillery really gets to strut its stuff.

By now you must have reached almost 15,000 to 20,000 steps, so you deserve a break and to enjoy the amazing hotel that you have selected. You might want to consider a swim, sauna or spa to relax after a very busy morning.

It is now time to really appreciate what Japan has to offer with dinner at a local sushi restaurant: Tachigui Sushi Tonari, listed in Michelin Bib Gourmand. Sushi Tonari means "sushi next door." The space is intimate and they offer an omakase course to discover local flavors at their best. They can only accommodate 10 people sitting at the counter, so pre-booking is a must.

Up for one last drink? Tokyo Confidential is the place. A seriously sophisticated house party may be the best way to describe the essence of Tokyo Confidential, one of the hottest new bars to open in Asia in 2023. At the heart of the venue is a show-stopping bar top carved from 300-year-old reclaimed shrine wood that snakes through the main room, or you can make your way to their balcony and admire the stunning views of Tokyo Tower.

Start the day by exploring Ginza, a neighborhood famously known for its high-end shopping with every luxury brand-name store available as well as a food spot.

• Make your way to Ginza Six, a modern mecca for luxury shopping, art exhibits and a rooftop garden surrounded by greenery — there is something for everyone’s taste.

• Head to Dover Street market next, a popular destination for fashion enthusiasts where you can find unique pieces to take home. You will also spot a Uniqlo Ginza Flagship store, a unique experience blending modern and traditional Japanese styles.

• Once you are tired of shopping, make your way to the Ginza Wako building, an iconic landmark with a Neo-Renaissance clock tower. Nearby, you will find Hama-Rikyu Gardens, a tranquil oasis within Ginza offering a respite from the bustling city.

• Ginza is also the heart of technology in Tokyo — if this interests you, consider a stop at Nissa Crossing, a brand experience gallery showcasing Nissan’s vision for the future of mobility — definitely a must for car lovers.

We all know shopping triggers hunger, so it's time to head to Tsujiki Fish Market, one of my favorite spots in Tokyo and a heaven for seafood aficionados. Inside, you will find retail markets, restaurants and restaurant supply stores. For some context, before 2018, Tsujiki was the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world. I recommend seeing the tuna auction at Toyosu in the early morning and then moving onto Tsukiji for a fresh seafood breakfast and some shopping. You can eat anywhere — the food is simply amazing all around, so do not be afraid to try!

Start your afternoon heading to Shibuya to go all the way up the Sky Tree Observatory, offering sweeping city views from level 350 and a glass-floor area (better to pre-book your tickets and choose a time slot to avoid the queue). Let’s take advantage of being in the neighborhood to try some of the best ice cream in the city with a stop at Azuki to Kori. In addition, if you didn’t complete your shopping list in the morning, you can head to Bohemian Shimokitazawa, a laid-back bohemian district that is home to vintage clothing stores, select bookstores, music shops and funky, distinctive cafés and bars.

Thinking of Japan, Wagyu beef must be coming to your mind, and that’s what you will experience at Shima, an institution cherished by lovers of Japanese beef. In a humble-looking restaurant located in a basement of Nihonbashi neighborhood, Chef Manabu Oshima has been cooking some of the best steaks one can have on this planet. He selects and dry-ages the best beef pieces himself before grilling them on binchotan with an unmatched expertise. Do not leave without ordering your sando sandwich to go.

End this amazing day with a last stop at one of Ginza’s well-rated bars. Choose from Bar Opa (a 23-seat basement bar that has made a habit of producing national cocktail champions), Bar Orchard (choose from an array of seasonal fruit on the bar; there's no menu, and the bartender will create a bespoke cocktail for you) or Apollo Bar (a Japanese whisky destination with an extensive selection on offer).

Today is the day for something special and a bit more different than the type of activities you have experienced so far. Make your way to Asakusa, a cool neighborhood that retains the vibe of an older Tokyo, with traditional craft shops and street-food stalls.

Time to ride a kart through the Tokyo streets. On a one-hour itinerary, you will pass by the Sensoji temple, then go to the Sky Tree in Shibuya to Akihabara and then the Sumo stadium area. There are two type of karts — one- or two-seaters depending on who wants to drive — and it is important to know that this activity requires an international driving license. They can provide you with a Super Mario character outfit like the one used in the video game, which makes this really fun to do with friends or family.

Then, take the time to stroll through the street of Asakusa for an early lunch before catching the train to Kyoto. This is the perfect area to try some of the best street food in Tokyo, from tonkatsu at Asakusa Gyukatsu to flavorful ramen at Yoroiya Ramen or delicious unagi dishes at Asakusa Unana. For dessert lovers, you must try the matcha gelato at Suzukien or the sweet potato dessert at Imo Pippi.

Time to discover another part of Tokyo and head to Shinjuku, considered part of the heart of the busy city. If you are still hungry, make a stop at Spicy Curry Roka for some mind-blowing local flavorful curries — it’s a busy spot that's very highly rated, so expect a small queue depending on the time of the day.

For an amazing view of the city, enter the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building, which offers free entrance and views of the Tokyo skyline. Walk around the streets of Shinjuku, full of life at any given hour of the day. Make your way to the Yayoi Kusama museum, a contemporary art museum dedicated to the work of the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. It is an immersive exhibition with high sensory experiences including immersive rooms and corridors, heavy patterning and mirrors — a must-see if you love art and culture.

For dinner, explore Shibuya and walk around the streets of the neighborhood buzzing throughout the night. If you are still up for a bite, stop by Pizza Murano, a fusion of Italian craft with Japanese flavors, which is a a new trend in town and definitely worth a try. Chef and owner Yuki Motokura records the temperature and the humidity, and checks in on his pizza dough himself. He has married these dual culinary influences to create two original cream-based pizzas — the must try is the Japanese Umami. Make sure to reserve ahead of time.

If you are still up for a nightcap, make your way to Bar Track, just a few minutes away from your last stop. Listed as part of the World 50 Best Discovery, Bar Track is an intimate, welcoming space perfect for audiophiles and whisky lovers; it has an excellent vinyl selection with a great vintage sound system.

Head to Tokyo Station for a two-hour train ride, which will take you to the beautiful city of Kyoto, once the capital of Japan. It's famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. Make a quick stop at the hotel to drop your belongings and let’s not wait a second to start discovering our surroundings.

Make your way to Kiyomizu-dera Temple first, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its wooden stage and panoramic views. This temple has a lot of story and is the perfect first stop to immerse yourself in Kyoto’s history.

Head back to the center of Kyoto and, if you are up for a Japanese feast, I suggest going for sushi and sashimi. Here are some options: Kyoto Cuisine Matsusho, where real sashimi fans can enjoy authentic recipes. Hokkori Kyoto Kiyamachi, which is reminiscent of former Kyoto, is a sashimi restaurant that also specializes in other cuisines, such as sea bream rice, earthen pot rice and sake, which are perfect pairings for your gastronomic cravings. Or, try Sumibi Yakiniku Tsunku, which was on Savor Japan’s best sashimi restaurant list.

Then, head to Gion to explore this historical district, known for its traditional wooden machiya houses and potential geisha sightings. There is a lot to see in this area, so below is a quick itinerary to ensure you do not miss anything important.

• Let’s start with the Ichiriki Chaya Tea House. Here, warriors would meet to plan their vendettas and ultimately reshape the history of Japan forever.

• Then, head to Kenninji Temple — the huge black gate is the entrance. You will be suddenly in sublime peacefulness. Kenninji is the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto. Do not forget to visit the beautiful gardens, and be aware that it closes at 5 pm.

• Directly opposite of Kenninji Temple is Gion Corner, where you can enjoy seven types of traditional performing arts: kyo-mai (Kyoto style dance) performed by maiko, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, koto (Japanese harp) music, gagaku (Japanese classical music), kyogen (traditional Japanese comic theatre) and bunraku (traditional Japanese puppet theatre).

• Then, head to Yasui Konpiragu Shrine and The Love Stone. If you walk towards the hill for 100 meters, you will see a tiny street heading to the Yasui Konpiragu Shrine. In the middle of the shrine, you will see a huge stone covered in small pieces of white paper. That stone has the shape of an Ema, which you see in all shinto shrines. The legend goes that if you write your wishes on a wooden Ema piece and then crawl under this huge stone, you can break a bad relationship and start good relationships. Tip: You can donate a small amount of money to the shrine and write your own wishes onto one of the wooden tablets.

• Next is the Yasaka-no To Pagoda, the five-storied pagoda from the 1500s that will make you feel like you are back in the Edo Period. This is the place where locals take their wedding photos.

• Continue towards Miyagawacho Neighborhood. Even though this area is less than 500 meters away from the main street in Gion, it is considered a separate geisha district for historic reasons. If you are a geisha fan, you must not skip this area. Miyagawacho is much quieter than Hanamikoji Street and you are more likely to see geishas walking on the street because there are a number of geisha lodging houses (okiya) and old teahouses (ochaya).

• Shirakawa Dori is the hidden gem of the Gion District, tucked on the other side of Shijo Street, away from the crowd. It runs parallel to Shijo Dori and the Shirakawa Canal, the latter of which has picturesque roads, flanked by tall willow trees that are a sight to behold themselves. I recommend having the matcha tea and parfait set at Gion Komori right in the center of the alley.

• One more foodie stop: be sure to pop by Patisserie Gion Sakai, located on Hanamikoji Dori. This charmingly historic building is home to one of the best collections of sweets in the city, including cakes, tarts, meringues, cookies and pastries.

• Then, heading east on Shijo-dori Street is the magnificent Minamiza Theater. The theater hosts a range of performances, but their most iconic ones are kabuki. From the early 17th century, kabuki theater flourished here in Kyoto, and Minamiza was once one of the city's seven kabuki theaters.

For dinner, explore Nishiki Market, where you can sample local food and snacks. It is a great experience to just walk around the stalls and try different delicacies, but it can be an added value to book a guide who can really give you insights and show you some hidden gems inside the markets that might not be accessible as a simple tourist.

This is already your last day in Japan, so let’s make the best of it and visit one of the most beautiful sights in Japan: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. From Kyoto Station, take the JR San-in or Sagano lines to Saga-Arashiyama Station, which takes approximately 20 minutes. From the JR Saga-Arashiyama Station, you may take a bus, which departs approximately every seven minutes. Alternatively, you may walk about 15 minutes to the bamboo grove.

Explore the enchanting natural bamboo forest, which consists mostly of mōsō bamboo and has several pathways for tourists and visitors. There is something almost magical about the light dappling on the forest floor. For maximum effect, approach the grove from the side gate of Tenryu-ji Temple. You can stroll around the streets for a few hours and stop for a matcha, ice cream or lunch in any of the small restaurants located in the small town. Take your pick as they are all very affordable and offer delicious local food.

After lunch, make an outing of your trip before heading back to Kyoto by visiting some iconic landmarks in the vicinity: the famous Tenryu-ji Temple and gardens, the Nonomiya-jinja shrine and the stunning Okochi Sanso Garden. Those are all within walking distance of the bamboo forest. Then, jump on a train ride back to the city once you are done exploring this beautiful area of Kyoto.

For your last dinner in Japan, make your way to Pontocho Alley, where you can enjoy a delicious dinner in this narrow lane with plenty of small restaurants. Exploring the dining scene in Pontocho Alley provides an opportunity to savor the flavors of traditional Japanese cuisine in a historic and atmospheric setting. Here are some recommendations, whether you choose to indulge in kaiseki or try other specialties.

• Wagyu Beef at Kyo-no-Yakiniku-Dokoro Hiro Pontocho: This yakiniku restaurant serves some of the best Wagyu beef in town. Run by a popular beef shop in Kyoto, Hiro has several branches across Kyoto.

• Oden (hot pot) at Yamatomi: Serving more than 100 kinds of dishes for 500 yen, from fresh vegetables to sausages to seafood and red meat, Yamatomi makes for one of the best eats in Pontocho. Oden is a must-try here.

• Kamameshi at Yoshiya: One of Kyoto’s most famous kappo (a traditional style of dining where you see the chefs prepare your food), Yoshiya serves a wide variety of dishes such as sashimi, tempura and stewed dishes; but one of their specialties is kamameshi, a rice pilaf with many ingredients like mushrooms and oysters.

• Seafood at Robin: Set in a renovated 150-year-old machiya (a traditional wooden townhouse), open-air dining at Robin facing Kamogawa River is one of a kind. This restaurant serves a variety of seafood dishes, from grilled fish and stewed red snapper to sashimi and tempura.

• Soba at Ukiya Pontocho: For anything soba (buckwheat noodles), Ukiya is the first name that comes to mind. They serve soba noodles freshly made by hand every morning! Try their Uki soba, which is served with whipped raw egg and natto.

This is it — tomorrow will be the time to take the train back to Tokyo and get ready for your flight. I hope you had as good of a time as I did while creating this itinerary!