Seven days · comfort-first golden route

Japan,
without wasted motion.

18–24 October 2026 · Nanjing → Tokyo → Kyoto → Nara → Osaka → Nanjing. Activities begin at 10:00 except for the unavoidable outbound flight.

3 Tokyo nights2 Kyoto nights1 Osaka nightRail + taxi
Plan at a glance

Seven compact days

Time and comfort take priority over cost. The route uses an open jaw, exactly three hotel options per overnight base, realistic transfer time and a late-start rhythm.

7 days18–24 October 2026
4 citiesTokyo · Kyoto · Nara · Osaka
10:00Normal daily start
¥1.032M≈ CNY 44,180
Booking caution. One timetable source lists MU775 NKG→NRT through 24 October 2026, while another database shows no nonstop inventory. The preferred flight pair is therefore provisional and must be reconfirmed before paying for non-refundable hotels.
Airport matrix

Tokyo in, Osaka out

NKG, PVG and SHA were evaluated against NRT, HND and KIX, including nonstop, one-stop and open-jaw patterns.

Preferred provisional

MU775 outbound + HO1620 return

NRT
Tokyo arrival
→
KIX
Osaka departure
18 Oct: NKG 08:00 → NRT 12:00
24 Oct: KIX 16:00 → NKG 17:50
≈ ¥82,000
Outbound source · return source
Schedule-secure fallback

Position to PVG + JAL / ANA

HND
Tokyo arrival
→
KIX
Osaka departure
JL80 PVG 10:00 → HND 13:55
NH975 KIX 15:55 → PVG 17:20
≈ ¥95,000

Adds Nanjing–Shanghai positioning but avoids reliance on the disputed NKG nonstop.

NKG one-stop fallback

Korean Air via Seoul

NRT
Tokyo arrival
→
KIX
Osaka departure
NKG 12:55 → NRT 21:05
Direct KIX return retained
≈ ¥88,000

Operationally simple from Nanjing, but it loses most of Day 1.

Ground transport: Shinkansen and urban rail avoid parking, tolls, congestion and a costly one-way rental. Taxis preserve comfort for short transfers; a private car handles Osaka→KIX.
Daily schedule

Late starts, tight routing

Each day includes realistic transfer, meal and queue time. Only Day 1 begins before 10:00 because of the outbound flight.

01
Sunday · 18 October

Nanjing → Tokyo, Imperial Palace and Ginza

Early-flight exception
  1. Arrive NKG Terminal 2 65 min
  2. Provisional MU775 NKG→NRT 180 min
  3. Immigration and baggage 75 min
  4. Narita Express or pre-booked car 65 min
  5. Check in at Palace Hotel Tokyo 25 min
  6. Imperial Palace East Gardens 60 min
  7. Marunouchi and Tokyo Station walk 55 min
  8. Ginza shopping and café 105 min
  9. Sushi or kaiseki dinner 105 min
02
Monday · 19 October

Asakusa, Skytree, Ueno and Akihabara

Start 10:00
  1. Taxi to Asakusa 25 min
  2. Kaminarimon, Nakamise and Senso-ji 80 min
  3. Sumida riverfront 35 min
  4. Tempura or unagi lunch 65 min
  5. Tokyo Skytree decks 135 min
  6. Ameyoko market 55 min
  7. Akihabara electronics and collectibles 120 min
  8. Dinner in Akihabara or Kanda 90 min
03
Tuesday · 20 October

Meiji Jingu, Omotesando and Shibuya sunset

Start 10:00
  1. Taxi to Meiji Jingu 25 min
  2. Forest approach and sanctuary 90 min
  3. Harajuku side streets 50 min
  4. Omotesando lunch 65 min
  5. Architecture and shopping 75 min
  6. Shibuya Sky through sunset 80 min
  7. Crossing, Hachiko and Center-gai 65 min
  8. Shibuya dinner 105 min
  9. Optional Shinjuku night view 90 min
04
Wednesday · 21 October

Nozomi to Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera and Gion

Start 10:00
  1. Check out and reach Tokyo Station 25 min
  2. Buy bento and board 30 min
  3. Nozomi Tokyo→Kyoto 135 min
  4. Taxi to Park Hyatt Kyoto 30 min
  5. Kiyomizu-dera 105 min
  6. Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka and Yasaka Pagoda 80 min
  7. Yasaka Shrine and Gion 65 min
  8. Pontocho dinner 105 min
05
Thursday · 22 October

Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji and Fushimi Inari

Start 10:00
  1. Taxi to Arashiyama 40 min
  2. Tenryu-ji garden 60 min
  3. Bamboo Grove 40 min
  4. Riverside lunch 65 min
  5. Kinkaku-ji circuit 60 min
  6. Taxi to Fushimi Inari 45 min
  7. Torii gates to Yotsutsuji at dusk 125 min
  8. Kyoto dinner 150 min
06
Friday · 23 October

Nara temples and deer, then Osaka nightlife

Start 10:00
  1. Check out; forward luggage to Osaka 25 min
  2. Kintetsu Kyoto→Nara 45 min
  3. Tōdai-ji Great Buddha Hall 70 min
  4. Lunch near Nara Park 60 min
  5. Nara Park deer route 45 min
  6. Kasuga Taisha 60 min
  7. Kintetsu Nara→Osaka-Namba 70 min
  8. Check in at Conrad Osaka 40 min
  9. Dotonbori dinner crawl 150 min
07
Saturday · 24 October

Osaka Castle and return to Nanjing

Start 10:00
  1. Check out; store luggage 20 min
  2. Taxi to Osaka Castle 25 min
  3. Castle museum and observation level 105 min
  4. Lunch near the castle or Nakanoshima 55 min
  5. Collect luggage 25 min
  6. Private transfer to KIX 55 min
  7. Check-in and immigration 55 min
  8. Provisional HO1620 KIX→NKG 170 min
Verified attraction cards

Fourteen anchors

Hours and routine closures were checked on 20 August 2026. Temporary closures and weather-sensitive observatories still require a final pre-trip check.

Day 1 · 15:00 · 60 min

Imperial Palace East Gardens

A calm first look at Tokyo’s historic core.

October 09:00–16:30; last entry 16:00; normally closed Monday and Friday.
Official source
Day 2 · 10:30 · 80 min

Senso-ji

Tokyo’s essential old-city temple district.

Main hall generally 06:30–17:00 in October; outer precinct remains accessible.
Official source
Day 2 · 13:45 · 135 min

Tokyo Skytree

A broad urban panorama paired efficiently with Asakusa.

Timed ticket required; final admission is one hour before closing.
Official source
Day 3 · 10:30 · 90 min

Meiji Jingu

A forest sanctuary that resets the pace before Shibuya.

October gate hours approximately 05:40–16:40; no routine Tuesday closure.
Official source
Day 3 · 16:00 · 80 min

Shibuya Sky

Rooftop views over the crossing through sunset.

10:00–22:30; final admission 21:20; rooftop may close in wind or rain.
Official source
Day 4 · 14:15 · 105 min

Kiyomizu-dera

Kyoto’s defining hillside temple and terrace.

Standard October hours 06:00–18:00; no routine Wednesday closure.
Official source
Day 5 · 10:45 · 100 min

Tenryu-ji + Bamboo Grove

A major Zen garden followed directly by the bamboo path.

Tenryu-ji 08:30–17:00; last entry 16:50.
Official source
Day 5 · 14:25 · 60 min

Kinkaku-ji

The Golden Pavilion adds a visually distinct Kyoto landmark.

09:00–17:00; open year-round; adult admission ¥500.
Official source
Day 5 · 16:25 · 125 min

Fushimi Inari Taisha

The torii route is most atmospheric near dusk.

Grounds accessible 24 hours; staffed facilities generally around 09:00–17:00.
Official source
Day 6 · 11:45 · 70 min

Tōdai-ji

The Great Buddha Hall anchors the Nara half-day.

April–October 07:30–17:30; adult admission ¥800.
Official source
Day 6 · 14:05 · 45 min

Nara Park

A direct walking link between the major temples.

Open public park; deer are most active in daylight.
Official tourism source
Day 6 · 14:55 · 60 min

Kasuga Taisha

Lantern-lined approaches complete Nara without backtracking.

General worship 06:30–17:30; special worship 09:00–16:00.
Official source
Day 6 · 19:00 · 150 min

Dotonbori

Osaka’s highest-energy food and neon district.

Public district accessible continuously; business hours vary.
Official tourism source
Day 7 · 10:50 · 105 min

Osaka Castle Museum

A final historical landmark with a city panorama.

2026 hours 09:00–18:00; final admission 30 minutes before closing.
Official source
WGS84 · OpenStreetMap

Interactive route map

Clickable attraction markers only. Hotel labels are deliberately omitted to keep the map readable.

Three choices per base

Luxury-first hotels

Prices are planning estimates for the stated stay dates; taxes, inventory and room categories remain dynamic.

Tokyo · 3 nights

18–21 October

Palace Hotel is recommended for moat views and fast access to Marunouchi and Tokyo Station.

Recommended

Palace Hotel Tokyo

Moat-facing rooms, excellent service and immediate Tokyo Station access.

≈ ¥315,000
Check live price

The Peninsula Tokyo

Large rooms beside Hibiya and the Imperial Palace.

≈ ¥275,000
Check live price

The Tokyo Station Hotel

Heritage property inside Tokyo Station; easiest Shinkansen transfer.

≈ ¥300,000
Check live price

Kyoto · 2 nights

21–23 October

Park Hyatt is recommended because its Higashiyama location makes the Kiyomizu-to-Gion routing unusually efficient.

Recommended

Park Hyatt Kyoto

Ninenzaka setting with Yasaka Pagoda and city views.

≈ ¥390,000
Check live price

HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO

Heritage architecture and a calm Nijo Castle setting.

≈ ¥330,000
Check live price

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

Historic pond garden and resort-style facilities in Higashiyama.

≈ ¥300,000
Check live price

Osaka · 1 night

23–24 October

Conrad Osaka is recommended for skyline views and the most comfortable final night.

Recommended

Conrad Osaka

High-floor river and skyline views with excellent service.

≈ ¥75,000
Check live price

InterContinental Osaka

Directly connected to Grand Front Osaka and rail.

≈ ¥60,000
Check live price

The St. Regis Osaka

Central Hommachi location and simpler Namba access.

≈ ¥55,000
Check live price
One traveler

Planning budget

The selected luxury-hotel path dominates the total. The exchange rate used was 1 JPY ≈ CNY 0.0428105, checked 20 August 2026.

Flights
¥82,000
Hotels
¥780,000
Tickets
¥18,000
Food
¥84,000
Transport
¥68,000

All values are estimates, not locked quotations.

Estimated total
¥1,032,000
Approximately CNY 44,180
Flights ¥82k · Hotels ¥780k
Tickets ¥18k · Food ¥84k · Local transport ¥68k
Strong alternatives

What did not fit

These are worthwhile, but each weakens the seven-day routing or conflicts with the 10:00 start preference.

8.8/10

teamLab Borderless

Consumes a timed two-to-three-hour block and weakens Tokyo’s old-city/skyline balance.

8.7/10

Hakone / Mount Fuji

Weather-dependent and would displace an entire Tokyo day.

8.5/10

Universal Studios Japan

Requires a full day and usually an early start.

8.4/10

Himeji Castle

Excellent, but adds a long detour on the final Osaka/KIX day.

7.9/10

Tsukiji Outer Market

Best early in the morning, conflicting with the normal start rule.

Evidence

Key sources

Schedules, hotel links, attraction hours and map coordinates were checked on 20 August 2026. Recheck live inventory immediately before booking.