Japan is consistently voted the world’s best travel destination — and for good reason. The country is a paradox of ancient and ultramodern, chaotic and calm, minimalist and overwhelming. Two weeks is the sweet spot: enough time to experience Tokyo’s enormous variety, Kyoto’s depth of tradition, Osaka’s vibrant street food culture and at least one or two days somewhere quieter. Here’s the definitive 14-day route.
Before You Go: Essentials
- JR Pass: If you’re doing Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka (and possibly Hiroshima), a 14-day JR Pass (~¥50,000) covers the Shinkansen bullet train and most JR lines. Buy before you leave home.
- IC Card: Get a Suica or Pasmo IC card at the airport. Works on all metro, buses, convenience stores and vending machines. Essential.
- SIM / eSIM: Buy a data SIM at the airport (IIJmio or HIS Mobile) for ¥3,000–4,000 for 30 days. Pocket WiFi rental is an alternative.
- Cash: Japan is still cash-heavy. 7-Eleven ATMs reliably accept foreign cards. Withdraw enough for each city — not everywhere takes cards.
- Reservations: Book popular restaurants (Ichiran, teamLab, high-end sushi) weeks or months ahead. Book Kyoto accommodation early — it fills up fast.
Days 1–4: Tokyo
Tokyo is one of the world’s great cities — and it’s enormous. Don’t try to see everything. Focus on depth in a few neighborhoods rather than ticking off a list.
- Day 1 — Arrival & Shinjuku: Check in and recover from jet lag with a gentle evening walk through Shinjuku’s neon-lit streets. Dinner at an izakaya. Early night.
- Day 2 — East Tokyo: Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa at 7am (before the crowds), Akihabara electronics district, Ueno Park and National Museum, Shibuya Crossing at dusk.
- Day 3 — West Tokyo: Harajuku (Takeshita Street + Meiji Shrine), Omotesando shopping boulevard, teamLab borderless digital art (book months ahead), Shimokitazawa neighbourhood for vintage clothes and live music.
- Day 4 — Day trip: Nikko (2h from Tokyo) for ornate shrines and waterfalls, or Kamakura (1h) for the giant Buddha and coastal temples. Return to Tokyo for farewell dinner in Shinjuku.
Days 5–8: Kyoto
Take the Shinkansen to Kyoto (2h15 from Tokyo, covered by JR Pass). Kyoto is Japan’s cultural capital — 1,600 Buddhist temples, the geisha district of Gion and some of the country’s finest kaiseki cuisine.
- Day 5 — Arrival & Higashiyama: Check in (stay in the Gion area if budget allows). Walk the preserved Higashiyama district to Kiyomizudera Temple at sunset. Dinner in Gion.
- Day 6 — Northern Kyoto: Fushimi Inari (the 10,000 torii gates — go at 5:30am for no crowds), Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle. Evening stroll through Gion hoping to spot a geisha.
- Day 7 — Arashiyama: Bamboo Grove at dawn (spectacular in early light), Tenryu-ji Zen garden, monkey park on the hillside, afternoon riverboat in the Hozu gorge.
- Day 8 — Nara Day Trip: Just 45 minutes by train. Feed the freely-roaming wild deer in Nara Park, visit Todai-ji (the world’s largest wooden building housing a giant Buddha) and wander the charming streets. Return to Kyoto for the night.
Days 9–10: Hiroshima and Miyajima
From Kyoto, take the Shinkansen to Hiroshima (covered by JR Pass, 1h20).
- Day 9 — Hiroshima: The Peace Memorial Park and Museum is one of the most moving experiences in travel. The A-Bomb Dome. The Children’s Peace Monument. Allow half a day and don’t rush. Afternoon: explore the city’s excellent food scene (Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is different from — and some say better than — the Osaka version).
- Day 10 — Miyajima Island: Take the JR ferry to Miyajima to see the iconic Itsukushima Shrine’s floating torii gate. Hike to the top of Mt. Misen for panoramic views. Return to Hiroshima and take the Shinkansen to Osaka (45 min).
Days 11–13: Osaka
Japan’s loudest, friendliest and most food-obsessed city. Osaka’s motto is kuidaore — eat until you drop.
- Day 11 — Dotonbori & Namba: The neon-bright Dotonbori canal district, street food crawl (takoyaki octopus balls, kushikatsu skewers, ramen), Kuromon Ichiba market.
- Day 12 — Osaka Castle & Shinsekai: Osaka Castle and its park (best in cherry blossom season), the retro Shinsekai neighbourhood for kushikatsu lunch, Den Den Town (Osaka’s Akihabara), evening in the atmospheric Hozenji Yokocho alley.
- Day 13 — Day trip to Kobe: Just 20 minutes by train. Kobe beef for lunch (even a modest Kobe beef lunch is transformative), Kitano Ijinkan foreign settlement district, Harborland waterfront. Return for a final Osaka dinner.
Day 14: Return to Tokyo
Shinkansen back to Tokyo (2h30). If your flight departs from Tokyo Narita, allow 90 minutes from the city. From Haneda, 30 minutes. Final shopping at duty-free and reflect on two weeks that almost certainly exceeded every expectation.
Japan Travel Tips
- Tipping is not just unnecessary — it can cause offense. Never tip.
- Shoes you can slip on and off easily are essential for temple visits.
- 7-Eleven, FamilyMart and Lawson convenience stores sell excellent, cheap food — onigiri, hot meals, sandwiches. Embrace them.
- Japan has almost no public rubbish bins — carry a small bag for your litter.
- Google Translate’s camera mode makes menus readable. Download the Japanese language pack offline.
- Rainy season is mid-June to mid-July — generally best avoided, though autumn leaves (November) and cherry blossoms (late March to early April) are the most spectacular times to visit.
Plan Your Japan Trip
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