If you ask me, I think 14 days in Japan is just enough time to see all of the best spots. It gives you enough time to check out the major cities as well as take a few day trips to nearby, more off-the-beaten path locations. Check out this ultimate 14 day Japan itinerary to see how to best spend your time!
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Before You Begin
If this is your first time traveling to Japan, I highly recommend doing some research into the country’s transportation system, customs, etc. I believe you’ll find it much easier to put together a Japan itinerary if you sort of know what you are getting yourself into.
Useful articles:
- Top Japanese Phrases for Travel
- Best Japan Travel Apps – Directions, Food, & More
- Navigating Japan’s Train System: Tips for Traveling Japan by Train
- Is the Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) Worth It?
14 Day Japan Itinerary
Day 1: Travel Day
You’ll likely spend your first day in Japan just getting settled. Depending on whether or not your purchased any discount passes, as well as a phone SIM card or pocket Wi-Fi, you may have to pick them up and/or get them activated. Between that and getting to your hotel in Tokyo, you’ll likely find that a good chunk of your day is gone. If you are lucky, you may have some time to explore the area around your hotel in the evening.
Days 2-4: Tokyo
Three days in Tokyo is just enough to see all the highlights of the city. It will give you about half a day or so in each of Tokyo’s main districts such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, Akihabara, Harajuku, Asakusa and more.
I recommend spending the morning of your first day in Tokyo just exploring the Asakusa area. Here, you’ll find some of Tokyo’s top attractions, such as Senso-ji, Nakamkise-dori, and Tokyo Skytree. In the afternoon, you can get lost in the craziness of Akihabara. Take some time to appreciate the center of Tokyo’s tech and anime culture. You may even stumble upon Akihabara Radio Kaikan and the handmade shops along Aki-Oka Artisan.
On the morning of your second day in Tokyo, head over to the Tokyo Imperial Palace, the home of Japan’s imperial family. Join a guided tour of the Inner Grounds, or do a self-guided tour of the East Gardens. Then make your to the Shinjuku area, where you can find many places to eat lunch and do some shopping. Other points of interest include Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and the free observatory at the top of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
On your last day in Tokyo, I suggest starting off in the Harajuku area. You can visit the famous Meiji Shrine and take a walk down Takeshita-dori, which is well known for its street fashion. Then, finish off your day in Shibuya, where you can watch the craziness known as the Shibuya scramble, the busiest intersect in Japan (and possibly the world). Nearby you can also see the statue of Hachiko, a representation of a popular legend in Japan.
Days 5-6: Tokyo Day Trips
There is definitely still plenty more that can be done in Tokyo, but your time would likely be better spent exploring some of the other regions just outside of Tokyo. There is a seemingly endless list of places that make for great day trips from Tokyo including Hakone, Kamakura, Sendai, and more. However, with only two days, I’d recommend taking day trips to Lake Kawaguchiko and Nikko.
Lake Kawaguchiko is one of the Fuji Five lakes. Not only does it offer fantastic views of Mt. Fuji, but it’s also one of the most accessible Mt. Fuji viewing spots. Some popular spots include Chureito Pagoda as well as Music Forest.
I’ve always considered Nikko to by like a mini-Kyoto. It’s a great place to take a deep dive into Japanese culture and history without all the crowds. It’s home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as the mausoleum of a historic political leader.
At the end of your last day trip, hop on the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) and head off to Kyoto!
Days 7-9: Kyoto
Kyoto was probably one of my favorite destinations in Japan. If you have an interest in traditional Japanese culture, customs, and history, you likely will too. The city is full of countless historically significant structures, and has plenty of fun activities to help you delve into it all.
The first thing I recommend doing while is renting kimono in Kyoto for the day. What better way is there to experience Japanese culture first hand? If you do rent kimono, I recommend keeping the itinerary for the day simple and making sure it doesn’t include a lot of walking, as you’ll find it a bit harder to get around in the kimono. Taking a bus to popular temples such as Ginkakuji, Nanzenji, Shorenin, and Kiyomizudera.
Any trip to Kyoto needs to include a stop at Fushimi Inari. It easily topped the list of my favorite shrines and temples in Kyoto. With over 1,000 bright orange torii gates, it’s definitely a sight to see. Plus, it’s set on the side of the mountain, making for a great place to do some hiking. A bit further south you’ll find Fushimi Momoya Castle. It’s a bit off the beaten path, making it a great place to get some pictures and relax without any crowds. To the east of Fushimi Inari and Momoya Castle is Daigoji, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
On your last day in Kyoto, I recommend starting off at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. If possible, I’d get there early so that you can enjoy the tranquility of the walk and forest without all the other people. From there, hop on the Sagano Scenic Railway, where you can sit back and enjoy the relaxing views of Kyoto’s natural beauty. Also, don’t forget to make a stop at Kinkakuji, arguably one of Kyoto’s most famous temples, due to its bright gold color. Then, finish off your time in Kyoto by watching a Kembu demonstration, a traditional Japanese sword art practiced by ancient samurai, and maybe even take some lessons!
Days 10-12: Kyoto Day Trips
Similar to Tokyo, there are a lot of different places that make for great day trips from Kyoto. However, the main three I recommend are Osaka, Himeji and Nara.
With 19 million inhabitants, Osaka is the second largest metropolitan area in Japan. It’s well known for its shopping streets, modern architecture, and bountiful activities. Some of my favorites included Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, and the observatory atop Umeda Sky Building.
Himeji is home to one of Japan’s most famous castles. Himeji Castle, also nicknamed the White Heron castle due to its color and shape, has not only been designated as a national treasure but is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nearby the castle is also Kokoen, a great place for a stroll in a Japanese garden.
Nara is likely most famous for being the home of Todaiji, which houses Japan’s largest, bronze Buddha statue. The second thing it’s most famous for is arguably its people friendly deer. If you have some deer treats, you may even be able to get them to bow to you!
Day 13: Hiroshima
Hiroshima is a bit far to travel, especially just for one day. However, I personally feel that it’s a place every person should visit. It’s home to the Atomic Bomb Dome, also called the Genbaku Dome or Hiroshima Peace Memorial, which is one of the only buildings to survive the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima at the end of World War II. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is probably the most impactful, but also heart wrenching places to visit, because you can actually see the true extent of the damage of the atomic bomb. Also in the area are the Children’s Peace Monument, the Cenotaph and Peace Flame.
Day 14: Travel Day
If you made it all the way to Hiroshima during this 14 day Japan itinerary, and you are flying out of Tokyo, you’ll likely loose most of your last day to traveling. If you take the bullet train, you can likely make it back to Tokyo in about 4 hours, which may give you some extra time to do some last minute sightseeing depending on how late your flight is. Otherwise, take the time to explore the airport and pick up any last minute souvenirs for friends and family.
How Much Should I Budget?
How cheap or expensive the Japan trip is totally up to you. It really comes down to how cost-conscious you are. Do you prefer lodging that simply has a place to sleep for the night, or do want comfort and simple luxuries? How involved do you want to get with some of the activities. These types of questions will be the biggest driving factors of your budget.
Conversion Rate at time of writing: $1 USD = ¥110.85 JPY
Transportation & Discount Passes
For this 14 day Japan itinerary, I HIGHLY recommend buying the Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass). Depending on the routes you take, you could spend anywhere from ¥68,900 ($622 USD) to ¥83,500 ($753 USD) just in transportation costs. The cost of a 14-day Japan Rail Pass, plus the cost of trains and busses not covered by the Japan Rail Pass comes out be ¥53,370 ($482 USD). By purchasing the Japan Rail Pass, you could save between ¥15,530 and ¥30,130 ($140 and $271 USD).
I also recommend getting an IC Card, a re-loadable card that you can use to pay for the trains and buses not covered by the JR Pass. It is not a discount pass, although paying by IC Card is generally 2 – 9 yen cheaper than a ticket. Having one is more for convenience, so you don’t have to get in line to buy a ticket every time you want to ride the train or bus.
Find more information about the Japan Rail Pass and IC Cards
Food
Assuming you’re not looking for the ultimate fine dining experience, you’ll likely pay about ¥1,000 ($9.01 USD) for a breakfast or lunch meal, and closer to ¥2,000 ($18.02 USD) for dinner. If you’re a nightlife person, I’d add an extra ¥2,000 – ¥3,000 ($18.02 – $27.03 USD) for drinks at an izakaya (Japanese pub).
For 14 days in Japan, a food budget of ¥56,000 – ¥77,000 ($500 – $700 USD) should be plenty.
Hotels
Most standard, western-style, 3 star hotels in cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Hiroshima will likely be about $90 – $120 USD a night. Hostels and capsule hotels can range anywhere from $20 – $70 USD a night, depending on how fancy the place is and how close it is to downtown. On the luxury end, you can get as fancy as you would like. You could go from simple luxury around $250 USD a night, to over the top fancy at $920 USD a night. Thankfully, most of the top hotels in Japan are closer to the $100 USD a night range,
If you get the opportunity, I recommend staying in a Ryokan, or traditional Japanese Inn. These style inns typically feature the traditional tatami mats, shoji paper sliding doors, and traditional Japanese clothing for guests to borrow. Depending how fancy of a place you want to stay at, Ryokans typically range from $70 – $200 USD per night.
Overall, you’re looking at about $1,000 to $1,700 in lodging expenses.
Activities
Thankfully, most of the activities and sightseeing in this 14 day japan itinerary are free. However, many of the temples and shrines have an admission fee, and there are a handful of activities that require tickets or reservations. Depending on what type of package you purchase for some of the activities, you can expect to spend about ¥18,500 – ¥28,000 ($166 – $253 USD).
Souvenirs & Shopping
Chances are, you’re going to want at least one souvenir from Japan, especially if this is your first time. Thankfully, there are lots of places along this Japan 14 day itinerary to pick up some souvenirs. Shopping districts such as Shinjuku and Shibuya in Tokyo as well as Dotonbori in Osaka are great places to start. Also, most shrines and temples sell small trinkets such as omamori (good luck charms), small Buddha statues, and other souvenirs. For more traditional Japanese handicraft, keep your eye open as you walk around Kyoto for shops selling more traditional Japanese products such as kokeshi dolls, furin (japanese windchimes), and similar items unique to Japan.
Like food, budgeting for souvenirs comes down to personal preference. Most smaller souvenirs like Japanese fans, chopsticks, maneki-neko (beckoning cats), Japanese towels, and such will likely be about ¥1,000 ($9.01 USD) or less per item.
As a general rule of thumb, I typically budget about $100 USD for souvenirs if the trip is less than a week. However, for 14 days in Japan, I would probably budget closer to $200 – $300 USD. Just remember you have to fit all your souvenirs in your suitcase when you go home!
The Total Budget
When you combine the estimated costs of transportation, food, hotels, activities, and shopping, the total budget for 14 days in Japan comes out to be….
- For budget travelers: $2,000 USD
- For mid-range travelers: $3,200 USD
- For luxury travelers: $5,000 USD
Additional Information
Figuring out where to go, what to do, and how much it all will cost is a big part of planning a trip to Japan. Unfortunately though, it’s not everything. Here are a few more articles that can provide even more helpful information when planning a 7 day trip to Japan.
If you’re looking for some alternatives to the activities listed above, you can check out my in-depth itineraries.
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