2 Week Japan Itinerary: The Ultimate First-Timer's Guide

Start at Takeshita Street in Harajuku (open from around 10:00) for the fashion, crepe stands, and street spectacle. Walk five minutes north to Meiji Jingu Shrine — a forested Shinto shrine that feels entirely removed from the city; the cedar-lined approach is free and takes about 10 minutes. Spend the afternoon at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (¥500 entry, open 09:00–18:00, closed Mondays). In the evening, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation decks are free and open until 22:30 — panoramic views over the entire city. Dinner in Shinjuku's Golden Gai: six alleyways packed with tiny bars seating 6–10 people each, the most sociable drinking district in Japan.

The Imperial Palace East Garden (free, open 09:00–16:45, closed Mondays and Fridays) provides good historical context for the city — the former inner citadel of Edo Castle, surrounded by moats and stone walls. Allow 60–90 minutes. Spend the afternoon in Ginza, Tokyo's most expensive shopping district. The Itoya stationery store (10 floors) is a genuine Tokyo highlight regardless of whether you buy anything. The basement food halls (depachika) of the Mitsukoshi and Matsuya department stores are free to browse and excellent for Japanese sweets and ready-to-eat dishes. For dinner, Ginza has sushi at every price point — from ¥1,500 lunch sets at a basement counter to full omakase.

Akihabara is Tokyo's electronics and anime district — multi-story buildings stacked with components, figurines, retro games, and maid cafes. Even if neither interests you, it is worth an hour for the visual spectacle. Pick one or two shops to explore properly: Yodobashi Camera for electronics, Mandarake Complex for vintage anime goods. Take the JR Yamanote Line one stop north to Ueno in the afternoon. Ueno Park contains the Tokyo National Museum (¥1,000, open 09:30–17:00, closed Mondays) — the best introduction to Japanese art history in the country. End the evening at Ameyoko Market, a covered street market below elevated tracks where you can eat well for under ¥1,000.

Travel from Shinjuku to Hakone on the Odakyu Romancecar (approximately 90 minutes, ¥2,600–¥3,000). The Hakone Free Pass (¥6,100 from Shinjuku) covers this train, the Hakone Ropeway, the Lake Ashi pirate ship cruise, and local buses for two days — buy it if you plan to use more than two or three services. Check Fuji's visibility the evening before at fujisan.ne.jp. If Fuji is hidden, the Hakone Open-Air Museum (¥1,600, open 09:00–17:00) is worth visiting regardless — a sculpture park with an onsen foot bath and a Picasso pavilion set into the hillside. Stay overnight at a traditional ryokan with private onsen: expect ¥25,000–¥45,000 per person at mid-range properties. Book three to four weeks ahead for weeknights, two to three months for weekends.

This optional day adds significant transit time but delivers a genuinely unusual experience: Japanese macaques sitting in outdoor hot spring pools at Jigokudani Monkey Park near Yudanaka in Nagano Prefecture. The best months are November through March, when fresh snow surrounds the steaming pools. From Hakone, return to Odawara, take the Shinkansen to Nagano (approximately 90 minutes, ¥7,260), then limited express to Yudanaka (40 minutes, ¥1,170), then a bus and 30-minute forest walk to the park (¥800 entry, open 08:30–17:00). If you skip this leg, travel directly from Hakone to Kanazawa by Shinkansen via Nagoya (approximately 3.5 hours, ¥14,000), arriving in time to explore Omicho Market.

Kanazawa receives far less tourist traffic than Kyoto despite comparable cultural depth. Start at Kenrokuen Garden (¥320, open 07:00–18:00), one of Japan's three designated great gardens — large enough to walk for 90 minutes without retracing steps. The adjacent Kanazawa Castle Park is free and worth 30 minutes. In the afternoon, walk through the Nagamachi Samurai District — preserved earthen walls, narrow lanes, and traditional townhouses that give a concrete sense of Edo-period urban life. The Nomura House interior (¥550, open 08:30–17:30) has one of the best small private gardens in Japan. Dinner near Omicho Market: fresh sea urchin (uni) on rice or snow crab at ¥2,000–¥4,000, significantly cheaper than the same quality in Tokyo.

Arrive at Higashi Chaya District by 09:00 before tour groups appear. The preserved streets of 19th-century teahouses are Kanazawa's most photogenic corner, and several shops offer gold leaf workshops for ¥1,500–¥3,000 — Kanazawa produces over 99% of Japan's gold leaf. In the afternoon, visit the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art (¥1,200, open 10:00–18:00, closed Mondays). The circular glass architecture flush with the ground is as interesting as the collection inside, which includes James Turrell's swimming pool installation. The D.T. Suzuki Museum (¥310, closed Mondays) nearby offers a quiet architectural experience worth 45 minutes if your energy holds.

Travel from Kanazawa to Takayama by limited express (approximately 75 minutes, ¥2,310). Takayama sits in the Japanese Alps and feels remote despite easy rail access. Walk directly to Sanmachi Suji — preserved Edo-era merchant streets of dark-timbered sake breweries and craft shops. The morning markets (Jinya-mae and Miyagawa) run until noon and are the best place to buy pickles, local produce, and crafts at fair prices. Spend the afternoon at Hida Folk Village (¥700, open 08:30–17:00), an open-air museum of traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses with A-frame thatched roofs built to handle alpine snowfall — architecturally distinct from anything else on this itinerary. For dinner, Hida beef (local wagyu) is the mandatory order: street stall skewers at ¥1,000–¥2,500, or a proper restaurant set at ¥4,000–¥8,000.

Travel from Takayama to Kyoto via limited express Hida to Nagoya, then Shinkansen to Kyoto (approximately 3–3.5 hours total, ¥8,000–¥10,000). After check-in, go directly to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion, ¥500, open 09:00–17:00) — visit early afternoon to avoid morning tour buses. Then take the city bus to Ryoan-ji (¥500, open 08:00–17:00) for the most famous rock garden in Japan, and continue west to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove before dusk. In the evening, walk Gion's Hanamikoji Street around 17:30–19:00 — the best chance to see geiko or maiko passing between appointments. Dinner in Pontocho Alley, the narrow lane parallel to the Kamogawa River, runs ¥2,500–¥8,000 depending on the establishment.

Take the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station to Nara (45 minutes, ¥720). Most sights are within 20 minutes on foot from the station. The 1,300 free-roaming sika deer in Nara Park bow for shika senbei (deer crackers, ¥200 from vendors) and wander through temple grounds without any barriers. Todai-ji Temple (¥600, open 07:30–17:30) houses the world's largest bronze Buddha — 15 meters tall, cast in 752 CE. Kasuga Taisha Shrine, 15 minutes east through the deer park, is atmospheric for its thousands of bronze and stone lanterns. Allow four to five hours total and return to Kyoto by early evening.

Fushimi Inari Shrine is free and open 24 hours — arrive before 08:00 to walk the lower torii tunnels before crowds arrive. The full hike to the summit takes about two hours return; even the first 30 minutes to Yotsutsuji intersection rewards with views over Kyoto and dramatically fewer visitors than the entrance. After Fushimi Inari, walk to Nishiki Market — a 400-year-old covered market five blocks long selling pickled vegetables, fresh tofu, and grilled skewers. Budget ¥1,000–¥2,000 eating as you walk. In the evening, consider a sake tasting at a craft sake bar in the Higashiyama neighborhood, or a 60-minute tea ceremony in Gion (¥3,000–¥5,000 at several operators in the area).

Take the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Hiroshima (approximately 90 minutes, ¥10,580 unreserved). Visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum first (¥200, open 08:30–18:00) — one of the most thoughtfully designed memorial museums in the world; allow at least 90 minutes. The Atomic Bomb Dome directly across the river is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Hiroshima, take the JR San'yo Line to Miyajimaguchi, then a 10-minute ferry (¥200 one way) to Miyajima Island. Itsukushima Shrine's floating torii gate is best seen at high tide — check kanko.miyajima.or.jp before you go. Return to Osaka by Shinkansen (45 minutes, ¥3,340) and check in for your final night. Dinner in Dotonbori: takoyaki and kushikatsu at a riverside counter.

Osaka Castle (¥600, open 09:00–17:00) is best early when the grounds are quiet. From the castle, subway south to Shitennoji (¥500) — one of Japan's oldest temples, founded 593 CE, calmer than most Kyoto sights. The afternoon belongs to Dotonbori: takoyaki (¥600–¥800), okonomiyaki at a griddle counter (¥900–¥1,500), and kushikatsu skewers (¥100–¥200 each). Depart for Kansai International Airport (KIX) via the Nankai Rapid Express from Namba Station (35–45 minutes, ¥1,110) or the JR Haruka from Tennoji (45–60 minutes, ¥2,850). Allow at least two and a half hours before international departure.