Planning Two Weeks in Japan
Japan is one of the most rewarding travel destinations on earth — and one of the most misunderstood. First-timers often worry it will be expensive, difficult to navigate, or culturally impenetrable. The reality is the opposite: Japan is exceptionally user-friendly, public transport is flawless, the food is extraordinary, and the Japanese approach to hospitality (omotenashi) makes every interaction feel considered.
Two weeks is a reasonable first trip. This itinerary covers the classic Golden Route — Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka — with detours to Hiroshima, Miyajima and Nara. It’s enough to get a real feel for Japan without feeling rushed.
Before You Arrive
Japan Rail Pass
The JR Pass gives unlimited travel on most shinkansen (bullet trains) and JR-operated local trains nationwide. For a 2-week trip covering Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka–Hiroshima, the 14-day pass pays for itself.
- 14-day ordinary pass: ~¥50,000 ($330 USD at current rates)
- Must be purchased outside Japan before travel (available online or from authorised agents)
- Activate at any major JR station on arrival
IC Card (Suica or Pasmo)
Load a Suica or Pasmo card for all local transport — subway, buses, convenience stores. Load ¥3,000–5,000 upon arrival at Tokyo station. You can top up at any station machine.
Cash
Japan remains significantly cash-based. ATMs at 7-Eleven and Japan Post Bank accept foreign cards reliably. Withdraw ¥30,000–50,000 at arrival. Many smaller restaurants, temples, and rural vendors are cash-only.
Days 1–5: Tokyo
Five days barely scratches Tokyo. This city contains multitudes — ancient temples coexist with the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing, robot restaurants, and Michelin-starred ramen joints.
Day 1: Arrival & Shinjuku
- Suica card from airport, JR Narita Express or Limousine Bus to central Tokyo
- Evening walk through Shinjuku — the neon-drenched entertainment district. Kabukicho, Memory Lane (Omoide Yokocho), the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation deck (free, closes 10:30pm)
Day 2: Shibuya & Harajuku
- Shibuya Scramble Crossing: Best viewed from Starbucks above or Shibuya Sky observation deck
- Harajuku & Takeshita Street: Japan’s most eccentric fashion street
- Meiji Shrine: Serene forested shrine, 17 minutes from the Harajuku chaos
- Omotesando: Tokyo’s most elegant shopping boulevard. Window-browse the flagship architecture (Prada, Louis Vuitton, Hermès — all architectural statements)
Day 3: Asakusa & East Tokyo
- Senso-ji Temple (Asakusa): Tokyo’s oldest and most visited temple. Go early (6–7am) to experience it before crowds. The Nakamise shopping street is at its best at first light.
- teamLab Borderless or Planets: Immersive digital art complex. Book weeks ahead. Genuinely unlike anything else.
- Akihabara: Electronics and anime district. Overwhelming and fascinating even for non-fans.
Day 4: Tsukiji & Ginza
- Tsukiji Outer Market: The famous fish market moved wholesale operations to Toyosu, but the outer market still has spectacular breakfast. Arrive before 8am.
- Ginza: Tokyo’s most exclusive shopping district. The Itoya stationery store alone is worth an hour.
- Tokyo Tower or Tokyo Skytree: Both are spectacular at night. Skytree has higher views.
Day 5: Day Trip — Nikko or Kamakura
- Kamakura (1h from Tokyo): Giant outdoor Buddha (Kotoku-in), Zen temples (Engaku-ji, Kencho-ji), hiking trails connecting the temples. One of the best day trips from Tokyo.
- Nikko (2h from Tokyo): Opulent mausoleum (Tosho-gu) in forested mountains. The famous monkey carving (“See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”) lives here.
Day 6: Travel to Kyoto
Board the Shinkansen Hikari or Nozomi (Tokyo to Kyoto: 2h15, covered by JR Pass for Hikari). Arrive and check in. Walk the Nishiki Market (Kyoto’s “Kitchen”) in the afternoon.
Days 7–9: Kyoto
Kyoto is Japan’s cultural soul — the former imperial capital for over a thousand years. It contains a quarter of Japan’s national treasures.
Day 7: Eastern Kyoto
- Fushimi Inari Taisha: Start at 6am. The famous thousands of torii gates lead up Mount Inari. The first 30 minutes from the trailhead is crowded; the upper sections are peaceful. Allow 2–3 hours to reach the top.
- Kiyomizudera Temple: Wooden stage platform jutting from a hillside. Best in cherry blossom season (late March–early April) or autumn colours (November).
- Gion District (evening): Kyoto’s geisha district. Walk Hanamikoji Street around 6pm — you may see maiko (apprentice geisha) moving between engagements.
Day 8: Northern & Central Kyoto
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove: Another dawn visit. The grove is genuinely ethereal in early morning light; by 9am the selfie-stick crowds have arrived.
- Tenryu-ji Temple: UNESCO-listed Zen garden. Among the best in Japan.
- Philosopher’s Path: A 2km canal-side walk lined with cherry trees, connecting temples in north-east Kyoto.
- Nijo Castle: The shogun’s Kyoto palace. Famous for its “nightingale floors” — designed to squeak underfoot to alert guards.
Day 9: Tea Ceremony & Nara Day Trip
- Tea ceremony experience: Many options at various price points. A matcha tea ceremony in a traditional townhouse (machiya) is one of Kyoto’s most memorable experiences.
- Nara afternoon: 45 minutes from Kyoto by train. The famous freely-roaming deer (sacred messengers of the gods, supposedly) will eat crackers from your hand and bow to ask for more. Todai-ji Temple houses an enormous bronze Buddha. Both beautiful and slightly chaotic.
Days 10–11: Osaka
30 minutes from Kyoto by shinkansen (or 15 minutes by express train). Osaka is Japan’s food capital — louder, wilder, and cheaper than Tokyo or Kyoto.
- Dotonbori: The neon-lit entertainment strip. Takoyaki (octopus balls), okonomiyaki, kushikatsu — eat everything.
- Kuromon Ichiba Market: Osaka’s professional kitchen market. Sample everything.
- Osaka Castle: Impressive exterior, reconstructed interior, excellent city views from the top floor.
- Shinsekai district: Old-school retro neighbourhood, brilliant kushikatsu, the vintage Tsutenkaku Tower.
- Namba and Shinsaibashi: Shopping, nightlife, the chaotic street energy that defines Osaka.
Day 12: Hiroshima & Miyajima
Day trip or one-night stop from Osaka (1h30 by shinkansen).
- Peace Memorial Park & Museum (Hiroshima): Among the most powerful and important museum experiences in the world. Allow 3–4 hours. Approach with appropriate gravity.
- Atomic Bomb Dome (Genbaku Dome): The only structure left standing at the hypocentre. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Miyajima Island (afternoon): A short ferry from Hiroshima. The famous floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine appears to float at high tide. Resident deer wander freely. One of Japan’s most iconic views.
Days 13–14: Return to Tokyo / Departure
Return to Tokyo if flying from Narita or Haneda. Use remaining days for anything missed — TeamLab, a specific neighbourhood, Mount Fuji views from Kawaguchiko (2h from Tokyo by bus if weather permits).
Budget Guide
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (per night) | ¥3,000–5,000 (capsule/hostel) | ¥12,000–25,000 (hotel) |
| Food (per day) | ¥2,000–3,000 | ¥5,000–8,000 |
| Local transport | ¥500–1,000/day | ¥1,000–2,000/day |
| JR Pass (14 days) | ¥50,000 | ¥50,000 |
| Entrance fees | ¥300–1,000 per site | ¥300–2,000 per site |
Total 2-week budget: ¥180,000–250,000 ($1,200–1,700 USD) at budget level; ¥350,000–500,000 ($2,300–3,300 USD) mid-range.
Japan is cheaper than its reputation suggests once you embrace the Japanese way of eating — convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) serve genuinely excellent, fresh food at extraordinary value. A full meal costs ¥400–800.
Japan will exceed your expectations. Almost everyone who visits says the same thing: they wish they’d stayed longer.