Overview
Why Japan should be on every traveller's list
Few countries pack as much into a two week trip as Japan. You'll move from the neon-lit chaos of Shibuya to the silent moss gardens of Kyoto, sleep in a hot-spring ryokan under Mount Fuji, feed deer that bow back at you in Nara and end your nights at sizzling teppanyaki counters in Osaka — all linked by the fastest, most punctual train network on Earth.
This 14 day Japan itinerary is built for first-time visitors who want to see the icons without burning out. The route — Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and back to Tokyo — is the classic Golden Route, refined with the food spots, hotels and shortcuts we wish we'd known on our first trip.
The best seasons to visit Japan are late March to early May for cherry blossom and October to November for autumn leaves. June rains, summer sweats, and winter rewards skiers and snow-monkey hunters. Budget anywhere from £1,200 for a tight backpacking trip up to £3,000+ for a comfortable mid-range fortnight.
Quick Overview
Duration
14 Days
Countries
Japan
Best For
First-time visitors
Budget
£1,200 – £3,000+
Transport
Trains & Shinkansen
Highlights
Tokyo · Hakone · Kyoto · Nara · Osaka
The Route
Your 14-day Japan route
A clean loop that minimises backtracking and ends near Tokyo's airports.
Tokyo → Hakone (90 min Romancecar) → Kyoto (~2 hr Shinkansen) → Nara day trip → Osaka (15 min train) → Tokyo (~2.5 hr Shinkansen).
Day 1–4
Tokyo
Land at Haneda or Narita, grab a Suica card and dive into the most electrifying city on Earth.
Where to stay
Budget
- Hotel Plus Hostel Tokyo Akihabara — clean, central, capsule-style dorms
Mid-Range
- Hotel Gracery Shinjuku — atop the Godzilla building, walkable to Kabukichō
Luxury
- The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho — skyline views, marble bathrooms, jaw-dropping breakfast
Things to do
- Shibuya Crossing — go up to the Shibuya Sky observation deck at sunset
- Shinjuku — Omoide Yokocho lanes for yakitori, Golden Gai for dive bars
- TeamLab Planets — book tickets weeks ahead
- Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa at sunrise to beat the crowds
- Meiji Shrine and a wander through Harajuku and Yoyogi Park
- Akihabara — retro arcades, anime shops, themed cafés
- Tokyo Skytree or the (free) Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatory
- Day trip option: Nikko or Kamakura
Food recommendations
- Ichiran Ramen — solo tonkotsu booths, the ramen experience every first-timer needs
- Uobei Sushi — conveyor-belt sushi where every plate is ¥100ish
- Gyukatsu Motomura — breaded beef cutlets you grill yourself at the table
- Tsukiji Outer Market — early-morning tamago skewers and uni rice bowls
Getting around Tokyo
Get a Suica or Pasmo IC card at the airport — tap on, tap off across the Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway and JR Yamanote line. The Yamanote loop links almost every neighbourhood you'll want to visit. Avoid taxis except late at night — they're expensive and trains run until ~midnight.
Day 5
Hakone & Mount Fuji
Trade neon for hot springs. One slow night in a ryokan is the antidote to four days in Tokyo.
How to get there
Tokyo (Shinjuku) → Hakone-Yumoto on the Odakyu Romancecar, ~90 minutes. Buy the Hakone Free Pass to cover the loop's trains, ropeway, pirate ship and buses.
Things to do
- Hakone Ropeway over volcanic Owakudani valley
- Lake Ashi pirate-ship cruise with Fuji views on a clear day
- Owakudani black eggs — boiled in sulphur, said to add 7 years to your life
- Hakone Open Air Museum (Picasso pavilion + sculptures in the hills)
- Sunset Fuji viewpoint from Lake Ashi torii gate
Where to stay
Mid-Range
- Yutowa Hakone — modern ryokan with private onsen and tatami rooms
Day 6–9
Kyoto
The cultural heart of Japan — temples, geisha districts, tea houses and the country's best food culture outside Tokyo.
How to get there
Hakone-Yumoto → Odawara → Kyoto on the Tokaido Shinkansen (~2 hours). Reserve seats on the Hikari service to save money vs Nozomi.
Where to stay
Budget
- Piece Hostel Sanjo — design-led dorms 5 min from downtown
Mid-Range
- Hotel Resol Kyoto Kawaramachi Sanjo — central, walkable to Gion and Nishiki
Luxury
- The Thousand Kyoto or a traditional Gion ryokan
Best areas to stay: Gion (atmosphere), Downtown / Kawaramachi (convenience), Kyoto Station (transport).
Things to do
- Fushimi Inari — go before 7am to walk the torii gates alone
- Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and quiet Ryoan-ji rock garden
- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest + Tenryu-ji and a riverside lunch
- Nishiki Market — Kyoto's 'kitchen' for sample-sized everything
- A traditional tea ceremony in Gion
- Philosopher's Path at dusk, ending at Nanzen-ji
- Pontocho Alley for dinner along the Kamo River
Food recommendations
- Men-ya Inoichi — Michelin Bib Gourmand shoyu ramen
- Kyoto Engine Ramen — chicken-based, less salty than Tokyo styles
- Nishiki Market stalls — tamago, sashimi skewers, matcha everything
Day 10
Nara Day Trip
An easy half-day from Kyoto — bowing deer, one of Japan's oldest temples and the most theatrical mochi-pounding you'll ever see.
How to get there
Kyoto → Nara on the Kintetsu Limited Express, ~40 minutes door to door. Return to Kyoto in the evening or push on to Osaka.
Things to do
- Nara Deer Park — buy shika senbei crackers and watch the deer bow for them
- Todai-ji Temple to see the 15m bronze Great Buddha
- Kasuga Taisha — lantern-lined paths through the forest
- Nakatanidou mochi pounding demonstrations (try to catch the 11am show)
Day 11–14
Osaka
Japan's food capital — louder, friendlier and hungrier than Tokyo, with side-trip access to Kobe, Himeji and Hiroshima.
Best areas to stay: Namba (food + nightlife), Dotonbori (in the middle of it all), Umeda (shopping + train hub).
Things to do
- Dotonbori at night — Glico sign, neon canals, takoyaki on every corner
- Osaka Castle and the surrounding park (cherry blossoms in spring)
- Universal Studios Japan — book Super Nintendo World express passes
- Shinsekai retro district + Tsutenkaku Tower
- Kuromon Market for premium wagyu skewers and grilled scallops
Food recommendations
- Kukuru Takoyaki — the gold standard for octopus balls
- Matsusaka Yakiniku M — wagyu yakiniku without Kobe's price tag
- Mizuno Okonomiyaki — Michelin-recognised Osaka pancake
Optional day trips
Kobe (30 min) for the wagyu, Himeji (45 min) for Japan's most beautiful castle, or a full day to Hiroshima and Miyajima (~1.5 hr each way by Shinkansen).
Fly home from Kansai Airport, or take the Shinkansen back to Tokyo in ~2h 45m for your return flight.
Getting Around
Japan Transport Guide
Shinkansen (bullet train)
The fastest, smoothest way between cities. Tokyo → Kyoto is ~2h 15m for around ¥14,000 (£75). Worth it when you'll cover long distances; for this 14-day route, individual tickets usually beat a JR Pass. Reserve seats during sakura and Golden Week.
IC Cards: Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA
One tap-to-pay card that works on metros, JR lines, buses and convenience stores nationwide. Buy at any airport machine and load ¥3,000 to start. Suica/Pasmo are Tokyo, ICOCA is Kansai — all three work interchangeably.
Airport Transfers
Narita: Narita Express to Shinjuku (~80 min). Haneda: Tokyo Monorail or Keikyu line (~25 min, much cheaper). Kansai: Haruka Limited Express to Kyoto (~75 min) or rapid service to Osaka (~65 min).
Useful tips
Trains stop ~midnight — plan late nights around that. Download the Japan Travel by Navitime app for routing. Carry cash; many small restaurants are cash-only. Pocket Wi-Fi or an Airalo eSIM keeps Google Maps alive.
The Numbers
Japan Budget Breakdown
All-in estimates per person for 14 days — includes accommodation, food, transport and activities (flights excluded).
| Budget Style | Cost For 14 Days | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | £1,200 – £1,700 | Hostels, IC card transit, conbini meals, free temples. |
| Mid-Range | £2,000 – £3,000 | 3-star hotels, Shinkansen, sit-down ramen and izakaya. |
| Luxury | £4,000+ | Ryokans, Green Car Shinkansen, kaiseki dining, private tours. |
Add roughly £500–£900 for return flights from the UK depending on season.
FAQ
Common questions about visiting Japan
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