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14 days in Japan: a relaxed two-week itinerary from Tokyo to Hiroshima

Two weeks is when Japan starts to feel unhurried. With 14 days in Japan you can see the big three cities (Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka), and still have room for a quieter castle town, a day by the sea on Miyajima, and a few mornings with nothing planned at all.

This Japan itinerary for 14 days keeps the same simple idea as our 10-day route: travel in one direction and never double back. You fly into Tokyo and out of Osaka, and you take a scenic arc through Kanazawa on the way. Below you'll find each day, why it sits where it does, and the train times and rough costs that make it easy to plan.

The route at a glance

Why this order? Tokyo comes first because it's the easiest place to land and get over jet lag. Kanazawa sits on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line, so going Tokyo → Kanazawa → Kyoto makes a gentle arc instead of a straight dash down the coast, and it adds a calmer city between two busy ones. Kyoto gets four nights because its best places are quietest early, and you'll want several mornings. Hiroshima is a short hop west of Kyoto, and Osaka comes last because it's on the way back towards the airport.

If you'd rather have a hot-spring night, swap Kanazawa for Hakone. The 10-day itinerary shows how that leg works.

Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo and keep it small

After a long flight, plan very little. Check in (Shinjuku, Shibuya or near Tokyo Station all work well) and eat close to your hotel.

From Haneda, the Keikyu line reaches Shinagawa in about 11–14 minutes. From Narita, the Narita Express takes about an hour to Tokyo Station (about ¥3,100). Add Suica or PASMO to your phone wallet on day one, as it covers trains, buses and convenience stores.

Day 2: Meiji Jingu, Harajuku and Shibuya

We start at Meiji Jingu because the forest shrine is calm in the morning, which is a soft way to begin. Walk through Harajuku and down Omotesando, then carry on to Shibuya for the afternoon.

If you'd like the view over the crossing, book a sunset slot at Shibuya Sky. Tickets open two weeks before each date, and sunset times go first.

Day 3: Asakusa, Ueno and an evening in Akihabara

Go to Senso-ji in Asakusa before about 8am. It's one of the city's busiest sights, and early is the only time it feels peaceful. Then take the short ride to Ueno for the park, a museum, and the snack stalls of Ameyoko.

In the evening, Akihabara is fun for arcades, or you can take a quieter river cruise from Asakusa.

Day 4: A free day in Tokyo

By now, people in a group usually want different things, and that's fine. Use this day to split up and meet for dinner. Good options are teamLab (book timed tickets), Tsukiji Outer Market and Ginza, the cafés of Shimokitazawa, or a day trip to Kamakura, about an hour away on the JR Yokosuka Line.

Day 5: Tokyo to Kanazawa

Take the Kagayaki on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. It's the fastest service, about 2½ hours, and every seat is reserved, so book ahead. Kanazawa feels very different from Tokyo: smaller, slower and full of old wooden streets.

Spend the afternoon at Omicho Market and the Higashi Chaya district, where the old teahouses now hold cafés and gold-leaf craft shops.

Day 6: Kenroku-en and the castle

We give Kanazawa a full day because Kenroku-en, one of Japan's most admired gardens, is best enjoyed slowly and early, before tour groups arrive. Kanazawa Castle Park is right next door.

In the afternoon, visit the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art or the Nagamachi samurai district. Both are an easy walk or short bus ride away.

Day 7: Kanazawa to Kyoto

Take the shinkansen to Tsuruga, then the Thunderbird limited express to Kyoto. It's one easy change on the same platform area, and the whole trip takes about 2 hours. Book both legs together.

Spend a gentle first evening in Gion and along Pontocho. For your base, Kawaramachi is lively at night, while Kyoto Station is handiest for day trips.

Day 8: Fushimi Inari and Higashiyama

We know an early alarm is a big ask, but Fushimi Inari is worth it. Before about 8am, the tunnels of red torii gates are calm. Allow 2–3 hours if you'd like to walk the full mountain loop.

Afterwards, head to Kiyomizu-dera and walk down the stone lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka to Yasaka Shrine.

Day 9: Arashiyama and west Kyoto

Arashiyama's bamboo grove fills up quickly, so go early, then visit Tenryu-ji's garden and walk along the river. In the afternoon, Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) is a short taxi or bus ride away and pairs well with this side of the city.

Day 10: A day trip to Nara

Nara is close and easy: about 45 minutes on the JR Miyakoji Rapid, or about 35 minutes on the Kintetsu Limited Express. You'll see Todai-ji's great Buddha, the bold deer of Nara Park, and the lanterns of Kasuga Taisha, and be back in Kyoto by late afternoon.

Day 11: Kyoto to Hiroshima and Miyajima

A Nozomi takes about 1 hour 40 minutes from Kyoto to Hiroshima. We go straight on to Miyajima: a local JR train to Miyajimaguchi, then a 10-minute ferry. The island's famous "floating" torii gate looks its best near high tide, so check the tide table and plan around it.

Stay the night on Miyajima if you can. Once the day visitors leave, the island becomes quiet and lovely.

Day 12: Hiroshima, then on to Osaka

Spend the morning at the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. It's moving and best not rushed, so allow two to three hours. Have okonomiyaki for lunch, Hiroshima style, with noodles layered in.

In the afternoon, take the shinkansen to Shin-Osaka, about 1½ hours, and settle into your last base.

Day 13: Osaka, at an easy pace

Osaka is the place to eat. Start at Osaka Castle park in the morning, then spend the afternoon and evening in Dotonbori and Shinsekai. If your group still has energy, Universal Studios Japan is a full day out; buy tickets online before you go.

Day 14: Kuromon Market and fly home

Depending on your flight time, have a last breakfast at Kuromon Market. Kansai Airport is roughly 35–75 minutes from central Osaka, depending on where you stay. Leave extra time for check-in and security queues, especially in peak seasons.

Getting around: train times and fares (approximate)

Do you need a JR Pass for 14 days in Japan?

Probably not, even on this longer route. The 14-day ordinary Japan Rail Pass costs about ¥80,000 bought online. Adding up the single tickets above, plus airport trains, comes to roughly ¥50,000–55,000. The pass covers most of these legs (not Nozomi without an extra ticket), but it only starts to pay off if you add more long trips, such as a day trip from Hiroshima to Fukuoka or a detour to Hokkaido. Check the numbers for your own plans before you buy.

Rough budget per person (approximate, excluding flights)

These are our planning estimates, not quotes. Prices change with seasons, exchange rates and how many of you share a room.

What to book early

Planning this trip as a group

More Japan itineraries

Questions

Is 14 days enough for Japan?

Yes. Two weeks lets you see Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka at a comfortable pace and add Kanazawa, Hiroshima and Miyajima without rushing.

What is a good Japan itinerary for 14 days?

Tokyo (4 nights), Kanazawa (2), Kyoto (4), Hiroshima or Miyajima (1) and Osaka (2), flying into Tokyo and out of Osaka so you never double back.

Is a JR Pass worth it for 2 weeks in Japan?

For this route, usually not. Single tickets add up to about ¥50,000–55,000, while the 14-day pass is about ¥80,000.

Should I add Hakone or Kanazawa?

Choose Hakone for a hot-spring night and mountain views, or Kanazawa for gardens, old streets and seafood. Kanazawa suits a two-week loop better because it sits on the way to Kyoto.

Is this itinerary good for groups?

Yes. The free days make it easy to split up, and apartments for 4–8 people are common in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

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