Are you having trouble planning your two-week trip to Japan? This Japan Itinerary tour will help you discover the best things to see, where to go, where to stay, everything you need to organize your 15-day trip to Japan.
I remember when I started organizing my first trip to Japan… so many things to see and so few days available. Being able to fit everything into a two-week itinerary could be a bit frustrating, but don’t worry, on this page I will guide you through an itinerary specifically designed to give you a fantastic travel experience.
But before you leave, I’d like to tell you one thing: one of the most common mistakes made when preparing an itinerary in Japan is putting too many things to see and not considering the distances and travel times between one place of interest and another. I understand the desire to see as much as possible, but I’m also sure you want to avoid living a rushed vacation.
Taking this 2-week Japan travel itinerary as an example, due to recent price increases, it is no longer worth buying a 14-day Japan Rail Pass, but a 7 days one.
Alternatively, you can purchase a Kansai region pass (which covers Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, etc.) such as the Kansai Thru Pass, which gives you unlimited access to the subways in Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe, and the Keihan Railway, Kintetsu Railway, etc. lines, or the JR West Kansai Pass, which covers JR trains and buses, excluding the shinkansen.
As for accommodations, it may not be worth booking in every single city you intend to visit (some can be day trips) and I recommend always staying as close as possible to the main stations.
15-day Japan Tour
- Days 1-5: Tokyo (plus a day trip to Kamakura)
- Days 6-11: Kyoto (plus day trips to Osaka and Nara)
- Days 12-13: Hiroshima + Miyajima
- Day 14: Tokyo + return Home
Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo
Welcome to Japan! Depending on the airport you land at, some areas will be more easily and quickly accessible. If you landed at Haneda, I recommend booking in the Shinjuku, Shibuya or Ginza area. If you landed at Narita, I recommend booking in Ueno , great location to get around Tokyo! (We’ll continue the itinerary assuming you’re staying here).
Take the first day to check-in and start getting oriented, without overdoing it, and try to go to bed following the Japanese time zone to recover from jet lag more quickly.
Day 2: Ueno + Asakusa
Go to Ueno Park and enjoy a morning among temples and historic monuments, and consider visiting the Tokyo National Museum. Then go to Asakusa, reachable by the Ginza line, where you can admire the famous Kaminarimon gate leading to the oldest temple in Tokyo: Senso-ji.
If you’re interested in admiring Tokyo from above, an experience I highly recommend, go to the Tokyo Skytree, which is just over 1km from Asakusa. I particularly recommend the night view.
Day 3: Harajuku + Shibuya + Shinjuku
Take the Yamanote Line to Harajuku, the fashion and shopping district. First take a walk in Yoyogi Park, especially recommended during cherry blossom season, and then stroll along the famous Takeshita-dori.
You can then decide whether to go to Shibuya using the Yamanote Line or taking a walk of just over 1.5km. In front of the station (Exit 8, also called “Hachiko Exit”) you’ll find the famous Hachiko statue and the most famous intersection in the world.
Then spend an evening in Shinjuku, maybe dining in one of the characteristic Japanese izakaya restaurants in Omoide Yokocho and taking a tour of the bars along the Golden Gai streets.
Day 4: Tsukiji Market + Odaiba
On the fourth day, take the Hibiya Line metro to reach the Tsukiji market. Although the market officially moved to Toyosu in October 2018, Tsukiji still hosts the outer market and many restaurants.
There’s no better place to enjoy a breakfast or lunch with the freshest sushi.
Then go to the artificial island of Odaiba, taking the Yurikamome line from Shiodome station to Daiba station, where you’ll find different shopping centers.
ALSO READ: Top 10 Free Activities to do in Tokyo
Day 5: A trip to Kamakura
Take the fifth day to take a trip to Kamakura, a small city south of Tokyo but rich in history. Here you will find temples, shrines, and the famous Great Buddha statue.
Around the city you can find dozens and dozens of temples, among the most famous the Hokokuji Temple and the Hasedera Temple. If you don’t feel like visiting temples all day, I recommend moving towards lunchtime to the enchanting island of Enoshima, reachable by the Enoden Line.
Day 6: Arrival in Kyoto
To get to Kyoto, take one of the Shinkansen bullet trains (Hikari or Kodama), included in the price of your Japan Rail Pass. Let’s imagine staying in the Gion district, which I particularly recommend. On the streets of this district, if you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a geisha or a maiko. The most important street is Hanamikoji.
In the Gion district, I recommend staying at the Rinn Gion Kenninji or the Gion Elite Terrace hotel. Both hotels are charming and perfectly located to easily reach the bus stops or the most important places in the eastern area (including Maruyama Park, Kodai-ji Temple, and Kiyumizudera).
After checking in, go on foot to Maruyama Park for a relaxing walk. Then walk through the characteristic streets south of the park, towards Kiyomizudera Temple. The route I recommend is to walk (in order) through Ishibe-koji (check the map), Ninenzaka (check the map), and Sannenzaka (check the map).
Around Kiyomizudera, you’ll find lots of little shops where you can find a variety of traditional souvenirs, including sweets, snacks, and Japanese crafts.
I recommend checking out my Kyoto Areas Free Guide, that will help you orient yourself in the city!
Day 7: Temple tour
Dedicate the day to visiting your favorite temples (visiting them all is unfortunately a utopia, there are too many!). To move from one temple to another, use the efficient buses, which offer a daily pass for only 500 yen (just over 4 euros).
Among my favorite temples, I recommend visiting the Kinkakuji (the Golden Pavilion temple), the Ginkakuji (the Silver Pavilion temple), the Nanzenji, as well as the Nijo Castle and the Kyoto Imperial Palace.
Day 8: Fushimi Inari
Take the Keihan Line from the Gion-Shijo station to reach a must-see destination on your Kyoto trip: Fushimi Inari.
After enjoying the morning walking among the famous red torii gates, I also recommend visiting the Tofukuji Temple (a 10-minute walk away), which offers a breathtaking sight with the red leaves in autumn, and the Daigoji Temple.
Day 9: Arashiyama
I recommend taking a full day to enjoy Arashiyama, there are so many wonderful things to see!
Take the Hankyu-Kyoto Line from Kyoto-Kawaramachi station (5 minutes walk from your hotel) and change at Katsura, then take the Hankyu-Arashiyama line. Cross the Togetsukyo bridge and immediately go to the famous bamboo forest.
Then take all the time you need to explore the area calmly. Don’t miss the Tenryuji Temple (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the Okochi Sanso gardens. Go back and end the day by going to the monkey park, at the foot of Mount Arashi (the entrance is near the bridge), and enjoy the beautiful panoramic view of Kyoto at sunset.
READ ALSO: What to See in Kyoto: 25 attractions to add to your itinerary
Day 10: Excursion to Nara
Dedicate this day to a day trip to Nara, which is an hour’s train ride from Kyoto Station on the Nara Line (included in the price of your Japan Rail Pass), the city where deer roam undisturbed.
Take a walk in the park and take a tour of the temples. Must-sees on your list: Kokufuji Temple, the impressive Todaiji Temple, Horyuji Temple, the oldest wooden temple in the world, and Kasuga Taisha, the most important Shinto shrine in Nara.
Day 11: Trip to Osaka
To get to Osaka, go to Kyoto Station and take the Tokaido-Sanyo Line (included with your Japan Rail Pass). I recommend starting with Osaka Castle and then organizing the rest of your time as you please.
Some activities I recommend include the Kaiyukan Aquarium, the Shinsekai district, the Shitennoji Temple, and the panoramic view from the Umeda Sky Building. Definitely end the day by visiting the famous Dotonbori street in the late afternoon. Here you’ll find plenty of restaurants and shops for shopping. Don’t forget to try the takoyaki, Osaka’s famous street food!
I also have to mention the Osaka Universal Studios, the famous theme park with must-see attractions for Harry Potter fans (you can literally walk through the streets of Diagon Alley!), Minions, and Super Mario.
If you want to visit the Universal Studios as well, I recommend staying a night in Osaka and sacrificing 1 day of your itinerary, or adding it in, as the park can easily take up an entire day.
ALSO READ: 25 Things to Absolutely Do and See in Osaka
Day 12: Hiroshima
From Kyoto Station, take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen to get to Hiroshima.
Thousands of tourists visit Hiroshima to see the UNESCO World Heritage Peace Memorial, dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives as a result of the atomic bomb during World War II.
I also recommend visiting Hiroshima Castle and the Shukkeien Garden.
Day 13: Miyajima
One of the most magical places in all of Japan, Miyajima is a small island in the Inland Sea of Japan. You’ve probably already seen the famous Itsukushima Shrine somewhere. Enjoy a walk on the island’s mountain and try the local cuisine.
Day 14: Return to Tokyo
Unless you have a late evening flight, I recommend returning and staying a night in Tokyo and then calmly taking your flight the following day. Dedicate this last day to something you didn’t have a chance to do at the beginning of the trip, maybe try a restaurant you had on your list and buy some last souvenirs.
Conclusion
As you could read in this article, a 15-day trip to Japan is perhaps the minimum to really enjoy the most important cities.
In less than two weeks, it will be difficult to add Hiroshima and Miyajima to the itinerary, as well as a trip to Nara or Osaka.
A special mention to few destinations left out of the itinerary, such as Mount Koya (accessible from Kyoto, you stay in a temple with monks in the mountains) and Magome and Tsumago (two charming traditional mountain villages connected by the Nakasendo pilgrimage route, walkable in about 3 hours).
I have personally traveled this itinerary multiple times and I’m sure that for first-time travelers to Japan, it is a very well-balanced itinerary for two weeks.
Now it’s your turn, I wish you a great trip to Japan!
Japan 15 Day Tour: Questions and Answers
How much does a 2-week trip to Japan cost?
You should expect to spend at least $2,500 (per person) for your 15-day (two-week) trip to Japan. Consult my guide about How much is a trip to Japan and how much should you bring?
But as often happens when organizing an important trip, understanding the actual cost of your trip to Japan will certainly depend on the type of trip and which destinations you intend to visit. Japan has many luxury accommodations and high-end restaurants, but there are also many budget-friendly options to fully enjoy the trip while saving money.
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