Allow roughly 1.5–2.5 hours from landing at Narita International Airport or Haneda Airport to reaching your Tokyo hotel, including immigration, baggage collection, the airport train or bus, and check-in. From Narita, the Narita Express is convenient for Shibuya but takes about 1 hour 20 minutes from the airport; from Haneda, the Keikyu or limousine-bus connection is usually around 45–75 minutes depending on your hotel and traffic. Keep your first evening flexible—if your arrival is delayed, go straight to Shibuya Sky only if your timed ticket still works, since entry is not guaranteed without advance booking.
Start at Shibuya Crossing, ideally around early evening when the surrounding signs begin glowing. The best free viewpoint is from the upper levels of Shibuya Scramble Square or nearby department-store windows; allow about an hour to absorb the crossing, browse the busy streets, and orient yourself. Then head to Shibuya Sky for its open-air rooftop panorama, allowing around 90 minutes. Reserve a timed ticket in advance—sunset slots are particularly popular, and rooftop access can be restricted by strong wind or rain. February evenings are cold, so bring gloves and a warm layer; the rooftop is much more exposed than the streets below.
Afterward, wander through Nonbei Yokocho, the narrow lantern-lit lanes beside the railway tracks. The tiny izakaya are atmospheric but have very limited seating, and some charge a small cover fee, so be prepared to wait or choose a bar with space rather than forcing a particular one. Finish at Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka, a casual conveyor-belt sushi restaurant where dishes are ordered on a touchscreen and delivered directly to your seat. Budget about ¥1,500–3,000 per person and expect a queue at peak dinner time; if it is busy, put your name down before exploring Nonbei Yokocho. All of these stops are within an easy 5–15-minute walk of one another, making this a compact first evening without needing another train.
Start early at Senso-ji, when the temple grounds are quieter and the lantern at Kaminarimon Gate is easier to appreciate without the Saturday crowds. Allow about 1½ hours for the main hall, the surrounding gates and a slow look around the incense burner. The temple grounds are free and open throughout the day, though the main hall generally operates from around 6:00am to 5:00pm, with slightly later opening in winter. From central Tokyo, use the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line to Asakusa Station; the temple is roughly a five-minute walk from the station.
Continue along Nakamise-dori, the traditional shopping approach to the temple. Give yourself about an hour for rice crackers, ningyo-yaki cakes and small souvenirs, but remember that many shops open closer to 9:00–10:00am. Walk onward to Kappabashi Dougu Street, about 15–20 minutes from Senso-ji, for its specialist knife shops, ceramics, restaurant signs and remarkably realistic plastic food displays. Shops typically keep daytime hours and may close around 5:00–6:00pm; knife purchases can often be wrapped for travel, but ask about export and airline rules before buying.
From Kappabashi Dougu Street, walk or take the Ginza Line from Tawaramachi Station toward Ueno for Ameya-Yokocho, allowing roughly 30–40 minutes including the transfer and a little station navigation. Spend an hour wandering the market street beneath the railway tracks, where seafood counters, dried goods and casual snack stalls create a much more local, bustling atmosphere than Asakusa’s souvenir lanes. For a proper sit-down lunch, eat around Kappabashi before leaving; otherwise, graze through Ameyoko, where prices vary but a casual meal is usually about ¥800–1,500.
Head from Ueno to teamLab Borderless in Azabudai Hills by Tokyo Metro—allow around 30–40 minutes door to door—and arrive for your booked late-afternoon entry. The experience takes about two hours, and timed admission is essential; check the official ticket time and entry rules shortly before visiting, as session availability and hours can change. Finish at Ginza Hachigou for ramen, budgeting about ¥2,000–4,000 per person. Service is limited and queues are common, so check the restaurant’s current evening schedule, expect a wait, and avoid arriving with large luggage.
Take an early Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto, allowing about two hours door-to-door for reaching the station, boarding your reserved seat and transferring onward. At Hakone-Yumoto, use the Hakone Tozan Railway to Gora, then walk a few minutes to the Hakone Open-Air Museum. Aim to arrive around late morning; allow roughly two hours for the sculpture gardens, indoor galleries and mountain views. Admission is typically around ¥2,000, and the grounds are exposed, so bring a warm layer and shoes suitable for uneven paths.
From Gora, take the Hakone Tozan Cable Car up to Sounzan, then continue by Hakone Ropeway toward Owakudani and, if conditions allow, onward toward Togendai. The complete route takes about two to three hours with transfers, queues and photo stops; winter wind can be strong, and ropeway service may pause during poor weather or volcanic-gas advisories. Get off at Owakudani for around 45–60 minutes to view the steaming volcanic valley and try its famous black eggs. The walking area is compact but steep in places, and the ropeway can be busy on Sundays, so keep a little flexibility rather than planning a tight connection.
From Owakudani, return via the ropeway and cable car toward Kowakudani, then continue to Hakone Kowakudani Onsen Ryokan for check-in, a traditional hot-spring bath and dinner. Allow about three hours from arrival through settling in and bathing; ryokan dinner is often served at a set time, commonly between 6:00 and 7:30pm, so confirm the meal time when booking. A stay with dinner generally costs roughly ¥20,000–50,000 per person depending on the room and meal plan. Pack a small overnight bag for the bath and dinner, and keep valuables out of the changing-room area.
Begin at Hakone Shrine in Moto-Hakone, ideally around 8:00am. Walk beneath the tall cedar avenue before heading down to the famous lakeside torii; the approach is atmospheric in winter, though the stone steps can be damp and the torii viewpoint may involve a short queue. Allow about 1½ hours. The shrine grounds are free, and modest clothing plus comfortable shoes are best. From the shrine, walk a few minutes along the waterfront to board the Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise toward Hakone-machi. Allow roughly 1½ hours including boarding, and check the morning sailing timetable because winter services can be less frequent; the boat fare is usually around ¥1,200–1,500, depending on the ticket and route.
Disembark at Hakone-machi and visit Hakone Checkpoint, a carefully restored Edo-period barrier station on the old Tokaido road. Give yourself about an hour to see the gates, guard rooms and small museum, then pause for lunch nearby—soba, black eggs and simple lake-view set meals are the most practical choices. The checkpoint generally operates during daytime hours and admission is modest, around ¥500; allow extra time if you want to climb to the observation area above the site. After lunch, use the Hakone Tozan Bus toward Miyanoshita; the ride can take 30–45 minutes depending on traffic and road conditions. At NARAYA CAFE, settle in for its valley views, coffee, tea and sweets—budget approximately ¥1,000–2,000 per person. Check the café’s current weekly closing day before travelling, as local businesses sometimes adjust winter schedules.
From Miyanoshita, continue by bus or train to Hakone-Yumoto, usually around 20–30 minutes, and spend the late afternoon at Hakone Yuryo. Reserve a private open-air bath ahead if possible, particularly for a Monday evening; allow about two hours and budget roughly ¥2,000–5,000 per person depending on the bath and extras. Bring a small towel or buy one on site, and remember that private baths still require washing before soaking. Finish with a relaxed dinner near Hakone-Yumoto: choose a local kaiseki meal for a slower regional tasting menu, or a traditional soba restaurant for something lighter. Set aside approximately ¥3,000–8,000 per person, and check the final order time—many smaller restaurants close early once the day-trippers have left.
Leave Hakone around 7:30–8:00am so you can reach Odawara Station, manage luggage and boarding, and still arrive in Kyoto around lunchtime. Allow roughly 3½–4½ hours door to door, including the local connection from your ryokan, the Shinkansen journey and the transfer to your Kyoto hotel. Reserve the Tokaido Shinkansen through SmartEX if possible; a window seat on the right-hand side when traveling west may offer a glimpse of Mount Fuji, though winter cloud is common. After dropping bags at your accommodation, take a short break before heading into central Kyoto.
Make Nishiki Market your first stop, allowing about 1½ hours to browse its covered arcade and sample Kyoto specialties such as grilled seafood, pickles, yuba and seasonal sweets. It is usually busiest around lunchtime, so keep moving with the pedestrian flow and avoid eating while walking. From Nishiki Market, walk or take a short taxi to Nijo Castle; the route takes roughly 15–20 minutes on foot or around 10 minutes by taxi depending on traffic. Spend about two hours touring the former shogunal residence, including the ornate interiors and gardens. Check the official opening schedule before setting out—castle hours and last admission can vary by season—and budget approximately ¥1,300 for standard adult entry.
After the castle, use the subway from Nijojo-mae toward central Kyoto, then continue on foot to Pontocho Alley for an atmospheric early-evening stroll. The narrow lane is best enjoyed slowly, with a look at the parallel Kiyamachi streets and the canal-side atmosphere; many restaurants are reservation-only or expensive, so treat this as a walk rather than a dining plan. Finish at Gion Duck Noodles near Gion-Shijo for its distinctive duck ramen, typically ¥1,500–3,000 per person. Expect possible queues and check the restaurant’s current hours on the day, as small Kyoto shops sometimes close early or sell out.
Start early in Arashiyama, ideally reaching the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove around 7:30–8:00am. From central Kyoto, the JR Sagano Line to Saga-Arashiyama Station is usually the quickest option—about 15–20 minutes from Kyoto Station, followed by a 10–15-minute walk. The grove itself is free and takes about an hour at an unhurried pace; arrive before tour groups, as the main path becomes noticeably busier from mid-morning. Continue to Tenryu-ji, where the temple buildings and garden open from around 8:30am. Allow 1–1½ hours, especially for the landscaped pond garden and mountain backdrop. Temple admission is typically around ¥500–¥800 depending on which areas you enter, but check the official schedule closer to February as winter hours can vary.
Walk west toward Togetsukyo Bridge for late-morning views across the Katsura River and the wooded hills. Spend roughly 45 minutes here, perhaps picking up a warm drink or snack from one of the nearby streets rather than committing to a long sit-down lunch. From the bridge, follow signs to Iwatayama Monkey Park; the entrance is near the south side of the river, and the uphill path takes about 20–30 minutes. The park involves a real, sometimes steep hike, so wear shoes with good grip. Allow about two hours including the summit viewpoint and macaque area; admission is generally around ¥600, and visitors should never feed or touch the animals.
After descending, take a slower walk beside the Katsura River, using the quieter stretches away from the bridge for an hour of fresh air and a break from the crowds. February can feel cold beside the water, so bring gloves and allow flexibility if the path is damp. For dinner, go to Unagi Hirokawa, a well-known eel restaurant near the bridge, where a meal generally costs about ¥4,000–8,000 per person. Advance reservation is strongly recommended; if you cannot secure a table, do not rely on same-day walk-in availability. The restaurant’s opening days and dinner service can change, so confirm its February schedule and reservation procedure before setting out. Return to central Kyoto by JR from Saga-Arashiyama Station or by taxi if you are tired—allow roughly 30–45 minutes door to door, with traffic often slowing the bus route in the evening.
Start early at Fushimi Inari Taisha, ideally arriving around 7:00am before the lower torii paths become crowded. The shrine grounds are open around the clock and free to enter; allow about two hours for the first series of vermilion gates and, if you feel energetic, part of the uphill route toward the summit. From central Kyoto, take the JR Nara Line to Inari Station—the shrine entrance is directly outside. Wear shoes with good grip, as the stone steps can be damp in February.
Continue to Sanjusangen-do, about 15–20 minutes by train and on foot, or roughly 10 minutes by taxi depending on traffic. Its long wooden hall and rows of Buddhist statues make this a particularly atmospheric stop in the late morning. It generally opens around 8:30am and costs approximately ¥600; allow an hour, remembering that photography is restricted inside. Walk or take a short taxi onward to the Kyoto National Museum, checking its exhibition calendar first because special exhibitions and regular collection displays have different schedules and some Mondays or holiday periods may affect access.
Spend around two hours at the Kyoto National Museum, then take a relaxed break in the Higashiyama area before continuing to Maruyama Park. The museum is close enough to walk to the park in roughly 20–25 minutes, though a taxi is sensible if your legs are tired. Maruyama Park is pleasant for an unhurried hour, with ponds, gardens and small paths that feel calmer than the main shopping streets. February is chilly, so use one of the nearby cafés for a warm drink rather than planning a long outdoor stop.
From the park, walk through the atmospheric lanes toward Kodaiji Temple, allowing about 1½ hours for the gardens, wooden buildings and views across the surrounding hillside. Standard daytime admission is usually around ¥600, but check the seasonal calendar because special evening illuminations may change the hours and ticket arrangements. Finish at Omen Ginkakuji for udon, budgeting roughly ¥2,000–4,000 per person. Take a taxi from Kodaiji if you want to arrive comfortably; the restaurant is popular, so expect a wait at dinner and consider going slightly early. Double-check its opening days and last seating before setting out, as Kyoto restaurants often close on an irregular weekday rather than following a simple daily schedule.
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