2-Week Japan Itinerary

Aug 27

Japan | Travel Aimz | www.travelaimz.com

Japan has become a top travel destination with lots of fascination surrounding it’s culture and history. You’ll be drawn to Japan for your own reasons, be it culture, food, scenery or all 3. We have put together a detailed 2 week Japan itinerary to ensure you cover off the best of all 3.

As you travel Japan you’ll come to realise there is so much more to this country than modern technology and samurai stories, with the Japanese putting great effort into preserving their history and culture for everyone to experience.

Overview

This two-week Japan itinerary will take you through cities of different charms and historical stamps, patching together a story of Japan beyond its metropolitan or spiritual stereotype. First, you’ll check off the major attractions in Tokyo, followed by the historical vestiges of Kanazawa. Osaka and Kyoto are two intrinsic pieces of the ‘travels in Japan’ puzzle; Hiroshima and neighboring Miyajima a modern accompaniment to Kyoto’s historical chapter. You’ll then round off your trip with laid-back Kyushu to balance out 14-days of non-stop city hopping.

Travel Japan: Your 2 Week Itinerary

Tokyo

Metropolitan Tokyo is the starting point of your Japan travels. A great way to budget is to start with the most expensive city and loosen up your wallet as you go. Most importantly, the majority of Japan’s trademark attractions are based in this diverse city alongside surprising pockets of tranquillity.

Day 1

Touch down in Tokyo and activate your JR Rail Pass for a quick commute downtown via Narita Express. Crowded Shibuya Crossing is the first item on your Japan itinerary, presenting trendy shopping streets and wacky cafés.

Head over to Shinjuku for Tokyo’s nighttime riot of glowing malls, entertainment centers and restaurants. You can meet this vibrant city head-on by pigging out at a family-run eatery, then chasing the boisterous atmosphere of Kabukicho’s izakayas or thumping clubs at infamous ni-chome.

Day 2

Tokyo isn’t always full of frantic energy – in fact, some of its major attractions embrace tranquility and meditation. Charming Yanesen, a neighborhood untouched by war and natural disasters, is home to the beautiful Nezu Shrine. It’s also within walking distance of Ueno Park; you can spend hours browsing the park’s collection of museums before dropping by Asakusa. Sensoji Temple is especially stunning during sunset; stone lanterns casting a warm glow over its scarlet façade. Round off your day with a trip up Skytree Tower for breathtaking views at 450 meters high.

Day 3

Start your day fresh with a sashimi bowl at Tsukiji Fish Market before exploring the grounds of Tokyo Imperial Palace. You can grab lunch at the iconic Tokyo Station or head to the trendy streets of Harajuku renowned for incredible street art and funky Tokyo fashion stores. Next walk through Yoyoji Park’s tree-shaded paths to reach Meiji Shrine, before finishing off your day by treating yourself to fine dining at the high-end Ginza district for dinner.

Kanazawa

Day 4

The next town in your 2-week Japan itinerary is Kanazawa. Set out early to arrive before noon. You’ll find history oozing from the old tea house district and samurai district, and shops teeming with traditional handicrafts. Sign up for a craft making class or experience a traditional tea ceremony; taking time to immerse yourself in Japanese culture will enrich your Japan travels so much more.

Day 5

You can choose between two itineraries for the day. Travel out to Takayama for more historical buildings or visit Shirakawago, a quaint mountain village famous for its ‘clasped-palms’ thatched roofs and small rice patties. Alternatively, you can treat yourself to a full day hot spring getaway at nearby Kaga Onsen Village.

Osaka

Day 6

Next, it’s back to urban luxuries in Osaka. You can head straight to either Osaka Castle or Shitennoji Temple for the obligatory cultural fix before popping to Umeda for lunch. The 2 km-long shopping haven of Shinsaibashi will eat up your afternoon hours, with an abundance of stores and boutiques providing you with more Japanese fashion. Lucky for you, Dotonbori is right next door, a foodie heaven offering takoyaki, okonomiyaki, standing ramen stalls and other famous Osaka eats.

Day 7

You can indulge in your childhood pleasures at Universal Studios Japan (USJ), the perfect Osaka attraction for families and anyone who is a kid at heart. The epic Harry Potter World ensures a full-day of actual magic.

Kyoto

Kyoto, the old capital of Japan, is oozing with thousands of years of Japanese history and culture. With countless shrines, temples and leaf-strewn paths. Arguably the historic epicenter of Japan, you might want to consider bypassing Osaka completely and spending more time in Kyoto instead.

Day 8

The Hankyu Express train from Umeda Station will take you to Kyoto in under an hour, dropping you off by Teramachi Shopping Arcade. Take your lunch break at any of the restaurants, animal cafés or seafood stalls in adjacent Nishiki Market. Gion district is next on your Japan itinerary, with some great architecture for some great pictorial shoots. You might even see a geisha in full traditional dress.

Day 9

Every tour of Japan needs a dedicated day for visiting temples and shrine. Allocate a day for the big four: Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkakuji, Ginkakuji and Fushimi Inari-taisha. You can complement their stunning strolling gardens and picturesque settings by dressing up in a kimono.

Alternatively, venture out of central Kyoto to Arashiyama for an exemplary selection of temples, shrines and scenic attractions scattered around the valley. The Bamboo Grove, Tenryuji Temple, Katsura Rikyu Imperial Villa and Okochi-Sanso Villa are particularly stunning.

Hiroshima + Miyajima

The next two days of your Japan travels will take you into modern Japanese history where you’ll learn about the effects of a world war.

Day 10

You can expect an introspective day starting with a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum & Park, which commemorates those who died during the bombing of Hiroshima in World War II. Seeing the horrors experienced that day and the repercussions that followed is unsettling, but it’s nevertheless an important memorial. Once you’ve had some time to reflect here head on over the A-bomb Dome .

Day 11

After a busy few days it’s time for a few days of relaxation. Head over to Itsukushima Island (a.k.a Miyajima) where you’ll fall in love with the unique floating structure of Itsukushima Shrine and its well-known torii gate. Take a walk around the surrounding souvenir streets before heading up to the Mount Misen Walking Trials that take you up to the peak for bird-eye view.

Kyushu

Shrine | Japan | Travel Aimz | www.travelaimz.com

Day 12

Kyushu is home to various onsen (hot spring) towns, diverse terrains and gorgeous landscapes that you can dedicate an entire trip to. For this particular Japan trip, you’ll have to settle with two days in Fukuoka. Here, you can wind down and relax at the all-in-one mall downtown: Canal City, before strolling over to Ohori Park or Dazaifu Tenmangu, then head to Kushida Shrine, for a quick culture fix.

Day 13

Have a nice lie in before heading over to Nokonoshima Island, just a short ferry ride away. Explore the sprawling Nokonoshima Park whose flower fields blossom in spring and fall. Head back to the main island for the evening and enjoy the hearty hakata-styled cuisine. Finish off you trip with a night soak in a public host spring.

Day 14

Sadly, It’s time for you to return to Tokyo, and head home. Jump on the Shinkansen (Bullet train) which will get you there in a flash! Congratulations for pulling off your two-week Japan itinerary, and if you have the luxury of another night’s stay, make sure to drop by the Tokyo Tower observation deck for one last sweep of Japan’s capital city.

Getting around Japan – Travel options

Train: To help you budget and travel Japan efficiently, the JR Railway Pass is a great choice (unless you’re driving). Japan Railways (JR) operates the most comprehensive transportation network in Japan; they provide cross-country rail, city lines and buses to cover transportation between and within cities. Paying for a one-way trip from Tokyo to Kanazawa alone costs ¥14,000 while the Kyushu-Tokyo return trip costs ¥23,000. And that’s not counting in-city travels!

The JR Pass offers a 14 consecutive day rate of ¥47,250, half-priced for children aged 6 – 11. *Please note once the ticket has been activated the date cannot be changed, so be sure to only activate it on your first day of use.

Car: It’s also worth considering renting a car for your tour of Japan, as you’ll have more freedom in terms of scheduling. Driving will also allow detours to other major attractions beyond city borders such as Lake Biwa near Kyoto. It’s also more convenient for those travelling in groups as you won’t have to lug baggage around public transport.

Travelling across Japan can sound intimidating if you’ve never visited before and hitting up so many cities may seem ambitious. If you plan your Japan itinerary well, you’ll soon realise how efficient travelling this country can be! By the end of your whirlwind trip, the combination of delicious food, riveting culture, rich landscapes and history will have removed any doubts you started off with. You’d be raring to go again and maybe settle in a single place next time.

Download your 2-week Japan Itinerary (PDF)