Best Japan Travel Guide: How To Optimize One Week In Japan

MLE Travel Diary — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 15:00:00 +0000

Low on PTO and want to know how to optimize your trip with one week in Japan? I’ve put together the best Japan travel guide to help you plan your trip and maximize your time!

When you have less vacation time, it can be hard to decide which Japan city to visit.

From personal experience, I would suggest spending more than one week in Japan. There is so much to explore, and it took some time for me to adjust to the culture and language as well.

However, I definitely understand PTO constraints, so this post will help you maximize the time you DO have to visit Japan!

With the right preparation, you can have an unforgettable experience, even with just one week in Japan. This guide will help you navigate the ins and outs of Japan travel, providing insider tips and recommendations to make your journey as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

I’ll be sharing the destinations I visited and what do in those cities, and logistics like Visa requirements, how to get your QR code for entry, weather and seasons, and more.

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Best Japan Travel Guide to Visa and Entry Requirements

Visa Requirement

There are different Visa requirements depending on your type of stay (long term vs short term vs other types) and which your nationality. As a US citizen coming for a short-term stay (less than 90 days), I was not required to have a Visa to enter Japan.

When planning your Japan travel, make sure to check the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for the most updated information on Visa requirements. With only one week in Japan, you’ll want to make sure you don’t waste any extra time at the airport.

QR Code for Entry

To expedite your experience at Immigration and Customs when you land, you can obtain a QR code online in advance. This QR code will also give you the ability to use the tax-free purchase function when shopping at tax-free shops.

You can put your entire group on the same registration, which is really helpful if you have a group staying at the same place. We did this before our arrival and it saved us a lot of time and confusion when we landed, giving us more time to explore with only one week in Japan.

Check out the official Visit Japan Web site to register your information. When you arrive to Immigration, you will just scan the QR codes.

Note you should have two separate QR codes – one for Immigration, and one for Customs Declaration. This preparation ensures a smoother start to your journey with one week in Japan.

Best Time to Visit For One Week in Japan

I visited Japan in mid-December, right in the middle of their fall season. The different colored leaves were SO vibrant and stunning!

The weather in December was very mild, ranging from the 50s to 60s, with a bit of rain on most days. If you come during fall, I’d recommend bringing an umbrella or making sure your hotel has them to borrow!

It was also surprisingly non-touristy for our one week in Japan. We often felt that we were the only tourists walking around, and rarely heard other English-speakers. Unless we were at a more popular tourist destination, then tourists were a bit more common.

The most popular time to visit is springtime, during cherry blossom season. This typically peaks around late March to early April. I would definitely love to come back during cherry blossom season!

In terms of the BEST season to visit, to be totally unbiased, I would need to visit Japan in all seasons. However, I really enjoyed visiting during Fall and would definitely recommend you do the same. It is also cheaper, especially if you are only spending one week in Japan.

Things to do in Tokyo

We flew from Los Angeles to Toyko Haneda Airport, which only took about 11 hours! We spent the first two nights in Ginza, at Agora Tokyo Ginza, and the last night in Odaiba, across the water at the Hilton Tokyo Odaiba.

Ginza is absolutely beautiful and considered the more upscale part of the city, so I felt very pampered and safe. It was really fun to walk around and explore all the luxury shops and nice restaurants. Ginza offers a unique blend of traditional and modern Japan, making it a must-visit destination with one week in Japan.

Odaiba, on the other hand, provided a fantastic view of the Tokyo Bay and a different perspective of the city, with its futuristic architecture and vibrant atmosphere. Both locations added a special touch to our Japan travel experience, offering a mix of relaxation and excitement.

To see everything the city has to offer at once, I’d recommend booking a private walking tour of Tokyo. Since the tour is private, it can be personalized to the sights you want to see (or don’t want to see) to maximize your one week in Japan!

teamLab Planets TOKYO

teamLab Planets TOKYO is an immersive art museum experience between Odaiba and Ginza. This is absolutely worth checking out – and should be included in any best Japan travel guide.

There are 4 rooms and 2 gardens you’ll get to explore. All are very unique and you will literally be part of the art. You get to wade through water, become one with the flowers, walk amongst hundreds of glittering lights and more!

Get your tickets here. I definitely recommend booking your tickets online in advance to be safe! Pro-tip: come towards the end of the night, when there are less crowds! We reserved the 7:30 PM time slot and it was perfect.

You will need to take your shoes and socks off to enter this museum. There are free lockers at the entrance that you can use to store all of your belongings. They also have accessible shortcuts and walkways!

The water did come up pretty high in one room – almost up to my knees (I’m 5’5″) so fair warning! I wore a skort which was perfect, but my boyfriend had to really roll up his pants.😂 Also there are mirrored grounds in a few exhibits, so make note of that if you want to wear a dress!

Official Street Go-Kart in Shibuya

If you only have one week in Japan, Go-Karting needs to be on your list. Especially if you are a Mario Kart fan! You get to dress up as your favorite character and race all across the city on this guided tour.

Book your experience here! To participate, drivers must hold a valid driving license. For international tourists, this means either an international driving permit (IDP) or a Japanese driver’s license.

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Ueno Park and Ueno Zoological Gardens

Ueno Park is a GREAT spot to check out the stunning fall leaves! It reminded me a bit of Central Park in New York City – a beautiful green space in the middle of a busy city.

While you’re walking around Ueno Park, you can also check out Ueno Zoological Gardens. There you’ll be able to see Giant panda bears, Polar bears, Hokkaido brown bears, Japanese macaques, and more. Exploring Ueno Park and the zoo is a fantastic way to experience nature and wildlife right in the heart of Tokyo. Don’t miss this iconic destination during your one week in Japan travels!

Shibuya Sky Deck and Shibuya Scramble Crossing

Shibuya Sky Deck is an absolute must when you have just one week in Japan! Here you’ll get to witness the hustle and bustle of Shibuya Crossing from above.

Make sure to reserve your time slot tickets online in advance – you can do so on their website. Tickets usually sell out, and you aren’t able to buy them on-site in person.

We reserved the 4:00 PM time slot, which was about 45 minutes before sunset. This was perfect – I would recommend going an hour before sunset so you can see Japan during day and nighttime, plus watch the sunset from above!

While the rooftop is definitely the main attraction, make sure you walk around the 46th floor! There are really cool large silver balloons suspended from the air and on the ground all around the floor!

The entrance can be accessed directly by crossing the connecting bridge from the Shibuya Train Station. I would also give yourself extra time (15-20 min) to figure out where you’re going – we got so lost and confused trying to figure out how to get to the entrance.

Odaiba Marine Park

Fun fact: Odaiba is a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. It offers a blend of modern architecture, entertainment, and stunning waterfront views. Odaiba is great if you are looking to escape the historic feel for a bit and experience futuristic attractions and optical illusions during your one week in Japan.

One of its iconic landmarks is the Rainbow Bridge, which you can see in both photos above both during the day and at night. It’s a great backdrop for memorable photos! Also, you can see Tokyo’s replica of the Statue of Liberty stands, which serves as a symbol of friendship between Japan and France.

Tokyo Food Recommendations

You really cannot go wrong with the food in Tokyo, it is all so delicious. I am a big fan of sushi, and this was the freshest fish I have ever had. We probably had some sort of sushi meal every day we were there for the whole one week in Japan.

I will mention a couple spots that really stood out and are worth stopping by:

1. Tsukiji Outer Market: This is a huge outdoor marketplace with tons of fresh seafood, vegetables, wagyu beef, and other traditional Japanese foods. This is absolutely worth checking out, and is very popular for breakfast.

2. Grill Bon: Featured above, they offer a small menu with these affordable premium wagyu beef Katsu sandwiches. It’s a small, unassuming spot and a good way to experience Japan like a local. We came here twice in one week, that’s how good it was.

3. Kintarō Sushi: There are a few different locations throughout the city. We ate at the spot right across from Ueno Park, which is perfect if you time it with your visit to the Park! The sushi was so fresh and the staff was so friendly!

Things to do in Kyoto

To really optimize the best Japan travel guide for just one week in Japan, head to Kyoto for a couple of days after exploring Tokyo. We spent two days in Kyoto, but I wish we had 3 days in each place.

If you want to save yourself the time and headache of planning everything yourself, I recommend booking a 1-Day Bus Tour in Kyoto. This will allow you to enjoy the serene atmosphere, historical landmarks, and traditional culture that the city has to offer, plus the official guide will be able to tell you everything you need and want to know about Kyoto.

We stayed at the Hyatt Place Kyoto, which offered spacious accommodations and a convenient location near the Marutamachi Subway station. This allowed us easy access to explore the city and its surrounding areas. When planning your Japan itinerary, consider allocating ample time to immerse yourself in the beauty and charm of Kyoto.

Fushimi Inari Shrine

Fushimi Inari is a highly popular mountainside Shinto Shrine in Kyoto, making it a must-visit destination for one week in Japan. The shrine features a walking path (with small stairs) through hundreds of traditional gates, like the ones featured above, creating a picturesque and spiritual atmosphere.

It is FREE to visit, and you are able to hike all the way up to the top of the mountain. It takes about 45 minutes, but is more intense than I anticipated! We made it about halfway before deciding to turn around. This is a very good way to get in your workout on vacation!

This site is very popular, so if you’re looking to snap that instagram-worthy photo, you will likely need to hike further up. But it is very easy to get a clear photo if you’re willing to walk for at least 20 – 30 minutes further up the hill.

The Fushimi Inari Shrine is open 24 hours, so you can show up early to catch the sunrise here! Or stay late to watch the sunset and then hike back down.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is SO cool! It is free to enter, and features an accessible walking path through a forest of towering bamboo trees. This is a must for your one week in Japan.

We learned that some bamboo trees can grow almost 3 feet per day!🤯 These were really so beautiful to walk through.

We went right before sunset and it was pretty popular, but we were able to snap a few pics without people in the background. I would recommend waking up early and going first thing in the morning if you want to avoid any crowds at all.

Arashiyama is a fun little area to walk around. It did seem to close down pretty early – by 6 PM a lot of the shops and restaurants seemed to be closing up for the night. Another reason to visit earlier or in the afternoon!

Kyoto Imperial Palace

I highly recommend adding the Kyoto Imperial Palace to your Japan travel itinerary. This historical site allows you to walk the Palace grounds and see where the Emperor of Japan and the imperial family used to live.

You can opt for a self-guided tour during the day or join one of the free guided tours available in Japanese, Chinese, and English. The English tours typically take place at 10 AM and 2 PM. Otherwise, there are pamphlets that are free to take that provide an overview of each stop along the self-guided tour route.

My favorite part was the two beautiful Japanese gardens, one of which is shown above. They are so peaceful and I wish I could just sit on a bench and read a book here all day long. I will definitely come back when I have longer than one week in Japan.

Kyoto Food Recommendations

When it comes to dining in Kyoto during the best Japan travel guide experience, you simply cannot go wrong! We stumbled upon a few hidden gems that I’ll share with you here:

1. Sushitetsu: This spot came highly recommended, and it certainly lived up to its reputation! Sushitetsu is a nigiri restaurant with counter seats surrounding the sushi chefs, providing an intimate dining experience where you can watch your dinner being prepared right in front of you. This is a must if you’ve got just one week in Japan.

There is an English menu available for easy ordering. If you don’t have a reservation, I suggest arriving 15-20 minutes before they open to write down your name on the waitlist.

2. Boulangerie Friandise Karasuma: We stumbled across this bakery accidentally, but the incredible scent pulled us in and did not disappoint! They have a ton of freshly baked pastries and sandwiches. I wish I could go back and order one of everything again.

3. Anzukko: If you’re looking for gyoza in Japan, look no further. I recommend making a reservation here to try the gyoza tasting menu! It’s a great way to try all of the gyoza they offer, and you can order additional sides as well.

4. Arabica Kyoto Arashiyama: This is a coffee shop located right by the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove with amazing views of the Katsura River! I highly recommend fitting this into your Japan itinerary and stopping here on your way to or from the Bamboo Grove.

Planning one week in Japan? Check out the NoFilter app for more inspiration and must-see spots in Japan and throughout the rest of the world!

And as always, feel free to send me an email or DM on Instagram with any questions or for personalized travel tips. Your journey to Japan starts here!

mariss

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