Two weeks in Japan is a luxury that lets you go well beyond the classic Tokyo–Kyoto core — adding Hiroshima and Miyajima, more day trips, an onsen town, and time to slow down and wander. Here's a comprehensive 14-day itinerary that still keeps a sane pace.
The shape of the trip
Fourteen days supports three or four bases moving roughly west across the country: Tokyo, the Kansai region (Kyoto/Osaka), and Hiroshima, plus day trips and an onsen night. Fly open-jaw if you can. The Shinkansen makes the west-to-east spread easy.
Days 1–4: Tokyo and Hakone
Three days in Tokyo (the icons, old town, modern Tokyo, neighborhoods) plus a Hakone day trip or overnight for hot springs and Mt Fuji. See our Tokyo itinerary for the day-by-day.
Days 5–6: Around Tokyo
With extra time, add another day trip — Nikko for spectacular forest shrines, or Kamakura for the seaside Great Buddha — and a slower day to explore a Tokyo neighborhood in depth or revisit a favorite.
Day 7: Travel to Kyoto
Shinkansen to Kyoto. An afternoon easing in — Fushimi Inari or the downtown and Nishiki Market.
Days 8–10: Kyoto and Nara
Two full days in Kyoto (eastern Higashiyama and Gion; western Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji), plus a day trip to Nara for the giant Buddha and deer. Add an evening tea experience or a quieter temple if you have appetite for more.
Day 11: Osaka
A day (or overnight) in Osaka — Osaka Castle and a night of street food in Dotonbori. Easy from Kyoto.
Days 12–13: Hiroshima and Miyajima
Shinkansen west to Hiroshima. Spend a day at the moving Peace Memorial Park and Museum, and a day on nearby Miyajima island to see the famous "floating" torii gate, hike or ride up Mt Misen, and meet more friendly deer.
Day 14: Departure
Travel back toward your departure airport (or fly out of Kansai if your routing allows), with a final morning for anything you missed. If you based cleverly, you've looped west without ever doubling back far.
Alternative add-ons
With two weeks, you can swap in other regions depending on your interests:
- Koyasan — a sacred mountain with temple-lodging (shukubo) and morning prayers, near Osaka.
- Takayama and the Japan Alps — traditional towns and mountain scenery.
- Kanazawa — a refined city with one of Japan's finest gardens.
- An onsen town like Kinosaki for a relaxing night or two.
Tips
- This is the itinerary where a JR Pass is most likely to pay off — with Tokyo–Kyoto–Hiroshima and back, price a 7- or 14-day pass against your total Shinkansen fares; the long western legs can tip it into savings. Do the math for your exact route.
- Build in slower days — two weeks is long enough that constant sightseeing burns out; leave room to wander.
- Use luggage forwarding (takkyubin) between cities so you're not hauling bags on every train.
- Add at least one ryokan/onsen night for a traditional experience.
Bottom line
Two weeks lets you experience Japan comprehensively — the two great cities, the best day trips, Osaka's food, and the meaningful detour to Hiroshima and Miyajima — at a pace that still leaves room to breathe. It's the trip that turns a first-timer into a lifelong returnee.
