Regarding what #2 said about "In my experience, these offer the best value..."

• I have gotta say, I was actually pretty let down by the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD when I used it for a similar trip. While the versatility is there on paper, the low light performance in those narrow Shinjuku streets is unfortunately not as good as expected. Once you hit that f/5.6 aperture, the a7IV starts pushing the ISO way too high and you lose that crispness you bought a full-frame sensor for. If you are serious about weight, you should probably look at the Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD. It is super light, under 400g, and fits that $700ish price point perfectly. I had issues with the older RXD motors in lenses like the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD being a bit slow to lock on, but the VXD motor in the 20-40mm is much snappier. Methodically speaking, it is the most logical choice for a street kit because it covers your wide architecture shots and a standard 40mm street view. The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 is a safe bet, but even that can feel a bit chunky after eight hours of walking. Honestly, I find the bokeh on many of these Tamron zooms to be kinda nervous or busy compared to the Sony glass you are used to. It is a frustrating trade-off for the price and weight savings. Stick to the newer VXD models though... they are way more reliable for travel.

OMG you are gonna love Japan! I did a two week trek through Tokyo and Kyoto last year and I totally get the weight struggle. Carrying a heavy kit is the absolute worst when youre hitting 20k steps a day. Honestly, if you want one lens that does it all without breaking your back or the bank, you gotta grab the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2. It is absolutely amazing! My neck was literally screaming by day three when I was lugging around the heavy Sony GM glass. Switching to this Tamron was a total game changer for me. Its so much lighter and the autofocus is snappy enough for those quick street shots in Shinjuku. The image quality is fantastic for the price... like, seriously, the sharpness is wild. Plus it usually sits right around $700-$800 so it fits your budget perfectly. Most days I barely noticed it on my a7IV. Another sleeper hit if you want more range is the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD. It went with me to Osaka and being able to zoom in on distant temple details without swapping lenses was a lifesaver. Its super versatile and surprisingly light for a superzoom. You really cant go wrong with either but the 28-75 G2 is my absolute favorite for street stuff. Have an incredible trip!!

In my experience, these offer the best value for travel:

• Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2
• Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD Both are affordable and light.