When you are planning a trip to Japan, you try to make the route as varied as possible and you try to put as many places as possible on it. But how can a 14-day tour of Japan be ? Can you see many things? Although you always have to “sacrifice” some places to see others, we believe that in two weeks you can see and enjoy this country a lot.
We have done this route without counting the travel days and assuming that it will be 14 full days in Japan.
14-day Japan tour
First five days in Tokyo
Starting in Tokyo is always a good option and we recommend spending about five days here.
First day in Tokyo
You can start the day by walking through Shin-Okubo, the Korean neighborhood . Afterwards, stroll through the Shinjuku district , where the Golden Gai , the head of Godzilla on the TOHO building and the Tokyo City Hall stand out . This building has a free viewpoint at 202 meters high from where you get incredible views of the entire city.
After wandering the streets of Shinjuku, it’s time to visit the largest and most famous Shinto shrine in Tokyo, the Meiji Jingū . The gardens and museum close at 4:30 PM, the sanctuary at 6:00 PM. We recommend organizing the visit well so that you have time for everything. We also recommend checking the schedules beforehand in case there have been variations.
In the afternoon you will visit the Shibuya neighborhood , with its interesting Takeshita street , its famous crossing and the Hachiko statue at the main station.
Second day in Tokyo
It is time to get up very early to be able to witness the fish auction at Tsukiji Market . After such an intense experience, you can stroll through the Hamarikyu Gardens and visit the Nippon Television Network Corporation, which has on its facade a clock designed by the animation studio Ghibli .
Leaving this area behind, you reach Ginza, where the Kabuki-za theater , the Godzilla statue and the Tokyo International Forum stand out . Taking advantage of the fact that you are in this area, we recommend visiting the Imperial Palace , official residence of the Japanese royal family, and the Yasukuni temple .
The evening may end up Jimbacho area full of bookshops, and Akihabara, the neighborhood geek Japan.
Third day in Tokyo
The day can start in Ueno Park , where there are temples, a beautiful pond and even a zoo. Then you can visit the Asakusa area , where taking the Kaminarimon gate and passing through Nakamise Street , you reach the Asakusa temple , Sensō-ji .
Ideally, then go to Sumida Park , from where you can see the Tokyo Sky Tree . And those who dare, can go up to it and see the city from the heights.
In the afternoon you can catch a boat from Asakusa Station, cruise the Sumida River and arrive at Odaiba , the man-made island of Tokyo.
Fourth day in Tokyo
This fourth day can be used to visit museums or some other areas of interest:
- Tokyo National Museum : includes ancient ceramics, Buddhist sculptures, samurai swords, kimonos …
- Ghibli Museum : ideal for lovers of animation, especially the films of this studio.
- Ikebukuro neighborhood: the neighborhood of manga and visual kei .
- Suidobashi / Iidabashi : in this area there are several interesting points, such as the Tokyo Dome City, the Koishikawa Korakuen Park, the Saint Mary of Tokyo Cathedral and the Kagurazaka neighborhood, where there are still active geishas.
The day has to end in the Tokyo Tower area. There is no better way to say goodbye to this magnificent city than by climbing this tower at sunset or at night.
Fifth day: excursion from Tokyo
We recommend taking an excursion from Tokyo to Nikko or Kamakura. We know that the decision can be complicated because either option is precious.
Nikko
- Toshogu Shrine : famous for its three wise monkeys. It is the most spectacular.
- Go through the Niomon, Nitenmon and Karamon gates to visit the Taiyuinbyo .
- Rinnoji Temple : It has some golden statues in the Sanbutsudo hall.
- Shinkyo Bridge.
- Kanmangafuchi Abyss : famous for its Jizo statues.
- Nikko Botanical Garden.
- Tomozawa Imperial Villa.
Kamakura
- Daibutsu : the Great Buddha.
- Hase-dera Temple.
- Gokurakuji Temple.
- Hokokuji temple bamboo forest.
- Zuisenji Temple.
- Wakamiyaoji Sacred Path : It leads to the Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu shrine , the most important of all.
- Climb the wooden stairs to the Engakuji temple .
- Visit one of the five great Zen temples : Kenchoji, Jufukuji, Jochiji, Jomyoji and Tokeiji.
Days Six and Seven: Takayama
Takayama is located in the Hida region, in the Japanese Alps . Although many tourists do not include it in their first route through Japan, we consider that it is very worth spending a couple of nights in this city and getting to know that most traditional part of the country. It is also the perfect place to stay in a ryokan (traditional Japanese hotel) and bathe in an onsen (thermal baths).
What to see in Takayama?
Ichinomachi, Ninomachi and Sannomachi streets are part of the old town , known as Sanmachi Suji . In these streets there are perfectly preserved houses from the Edo period. Currently they are museums, art galleries, craft shops or cafes. The beautiful red Nakabashi Bridge is also located in this area. There are two houses that you can enter to see in detail how they lived during this period, one is that of the Kusakabe family , the other that of the Yoshijima family .
In Takayama there are several very beautiful temples, such as Shinshuotaniha Shoren , Sakurayama Hachimangu and Hida Kokubun-ji , which is the oldest and has a large ginkgo tree 38 meters high and about 1,200 years old.
The old government office , the morning market and the foot baths are also well worth a visit, the perfect place to recharge your batteries.
Shirakawago excursion
Buses depart daily from Takayama to the historic village of Shirakawago . We recommend dedicating a day and a half to Takayama and reserving the other half day for this excursion, which can be done on your own or with a guide. This last option is the best.
Shirakawago is famous for its typical gassho-zukuri style houses , whose roof is triangular, steeply sloping and made of straw. Only then can they bear the weight of snow in winter. The city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
Days eight to twelve: Kyoto and surroundings
After doing a final review of Takayama, it’s time to get to know Kyoto , one of the most important cities in the country and also one of the most visited along with Tokyo.
Day eight: first contact with Kyoto
Entering the Yasaka-jinja shrine and strolling through Gion , the best-known geisha quarter in the country, may be the perfect way to start getting to know this beautiful city. Hanamikoji Street , lined with paper lanterns, is one of the most popular. You can also visit the Gion Corner Theater and walk the street parallel to the Shirakawa Canal .
Day nine in Kyoto
The day begins with a visit to the Kinkaku-ji Temple , also known as the Golden Pavilion . Its peculiarity is that the outer walls of the temple are covered with gold leaf. Nearby is the Ryoan-ji Buddhist Temple , which has the most famous Zen garden in the world. We believe that the best way to enjoy these places is to visit them first thing in the morning, when there are fewer people.
After this enriching visit, the next stops could be the Nijo Castle , a clear example of the type of constructions that were carried out during the Edo period, and the Heian Shrine , known for its great red torii.
In the afternoon, more calmly, you can do the Path of Philosophy . The path could be done in less than an hour, but since there are several points of interest that will ask for a stop , it will take a little more time. The path begins at the Ginkakuji Temple , also known as the Silver Pavilion, and ends at the Eikan-do Temple .
Day ten in Kyoto
Arashiyama is ideal to spend a whole day. You can walk, cycle and even ride a boat. The main points of interest are:
- Tenryū-ji Temple : the most impressive.
- Bamboo Forest : It is the key point of Arashiyama and is considered a must-see.
- Nanomiya Shrine.
- Kameyama Park.
- Former residence of actor Okochi Denjiro and residence of poet Rakushisha .
- Seiryō-ji Temple.
- Moss and maples garden of Gio-ji temple.
- Atago Sanctuary. At the end of the street is also the Adashino Nenbutsu-ji temple .
- Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple , where there are 1200 stone statues.
- Cross the Togetsukyo Bridge and stop for a good matcha ice cream.
- Visit the Iwatayama Macaque Park .
- Daikaku-ji Temple.
- Jōjakkōji Temple and Nison-in , in the mountains.
Day eleven in Kyoto: Nara and Fushimi Inari-Taisha
This day you need a good early morning to visit, before Nara and the Fushimi Inari-Taisha shrine, the Kiyomizu-dera temple (Temple of Pure Water). The ideal is to be in this temple at 6:00, which is when they open and the time when there are fewer people. The Kiyomizu-dera Temple is actually a collection of temples and religious enclosures, although the most famous is the balcony of the main hall , which is on the side of the mountain with the Otowa waterfall at its feet.
After this visit, it is time to go to Nara . This city is famous for the large number of wild deer that are found in parks and even on some streets. But, in addition, it has the great Todai-ji temple , with the statue of the Great Buddha. There are other points of interest, such as the Isuien Gardens , the road to the Kasuga Taisha shrine filled with bronze lanterns, the Kōfuku-ji temple and the oldest wooden temple, Hōryū-ji .
In the afternoon it will be time to leave Nara for the Fushimi Inari-Taisha . This temple is dedicated to the god Inari and is famous for its long corridor of red torii down the mountain. Doing the entire route can take about 3 hours if done calmly. Going up during the day, watching the sunset from the top and going down at night can be very beautiful and curious. When it gets dark the lights come on and with the torii everything takes on a beautiful reddish color. The temple does not close, so the tour can be done in complete peace of mind.
Day twelve in Kyoto: excursion to Osaka
For those who are going to Japan for more than 14 days, we would recommend spending more than one day in Osaka . Even so, in one day it is totally feasible to see the essential places of the third largest city in the country.
- Umeda Sky Building : it is one of the best viewpoints in the city. Its architecture is also very peculiar. Right at its feet, on Takimi Koji Street there are many interesting and curious bars and restaurants.
- Gate Tower Building : Inside this building there is a highway.
- Osaka Castle : it is one of the most obligatory visits.
- Sumiyoshi Taisha : It is the most important shrine.
- Isshinji Temple in Tennoji : it is the most spectacular.
- Den Den Town neighborhood : It is the Akihabara of Osaka.
- Tsūtenkaku Tower.
- Dotonbori : famous for the neon of the Glico Man.
Last two days: Hiroshima and Miyajima
Day thirteen: Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day
The last days of the route through Japan arrive and also the end of the trip. It is time to get to know one of the saddest parts of the country, but no less interesting, Hiroshima.
The Peace Memorial Park awakens sadness, invites silence and reflection but, at the same time, encourages us to smile because the message is beautiful: peace.
You have to go to the Atomic Bomb Dome to see what remains of the Industrial Promotion Hall. Afterwards you can visit the Peace Memorial Museum , which is as interesting as it is hard. After this moment in which it was perhaps difficult to hold back tears, you can visit the Cenotaph for the victims of the atomic bomb , where the names of all the people who died as a result of the bomb appear. You can also see the Flame of Peace , which since it was lit in 1964 has not been extinguished and, in fact, it is said that it will not go out until all the nuclear weapons in the world disappear. We recommend seeing the Children’s Peace Monument , full of paper cranes; visit the Stopped Clock at 8:15, at which time the bomb exploded; cross one of the five Gates of Peace , which have the word peace written in various languages; and see the Mobilized Students Memorial Tower .
For a more joyous touch to the day, after spending a morning in the Peace Memorial Park, we recommend visiting the island of Miyajima . It is totally feasible to do both in one day.
Miyajima Island is famous for its floating torii and Itsukushima-jinja Shrine , one of the most beautiful and best-preserved Shinto shrines in the country. We can take advantage of the afternoon to walk around the island, where there are also quite a few deer in the wild.
Day fourteen: back to Tokyo
Depending on the time of your return flight, we recommend a short stop in Okayama to visit the gardens and castle . The peculiarity of this castle is that it is black, something unusual.
Recommendations for the route through Japan
For those travelers who plan to do this route or a similar one, we recommend the Japan Rail Pass . It saves time, money and is very comfortable. As we also recommend, for being a very relaxing and interesting experience, staying in a ryokan that has onsen . Most of them have bathrooms separated by sex, but many also offer the possibility of reserving a private one to be able to be with the family or as a couple for a while.
Japanese culture is very different from ours, so we recommend getting well informed about its customs and traditions so as not to offend anyone. Or at least try. Sometimes it is difficult not to make a mistake, but we believe that it is a way to know a little more about this fabulous country.
This is our route through Japan. Obviously everyone can design it in their own way, add days in one place and remove them from another. Even change one city for another and the route will be just as interesting. A trip is not a competition and what it is about is to see what makes you most excited and enjoy it to the fullest.
