So, you have 2 weeks in Japan and are wondering what to do.
When you think of Japan, what comes to mind first?
Tokyo, Geisha, Mount Fuji, sushi, anime or maid cafes?
Everyone has their own list, and Japan is on many people’s lists of places to see before they die.
In Japan, you can find so many amazing, thought-provoking, unique, and crazy things to do.
In fact, there are so many things to do that it can be hard to know where to start.
But don’t let that stop you from taking the trip of a lifetime.
For more than 24 years, I’ve lived in, traveled around, and learned about this beautiful, diverse country, and now I want to share what I’ve learned with you.
Here’s a sneak peek at what could be the best trip you’ll ever take if you have two weeks in Japan.
Arrival in Japan
Most folk will arrive in Tokyo at the start of their two weeks in Japan.
So that’s a logical starting point.
When you arrive in Tokyo, you can get a feel for the busy heart of the country and get excited for the rest of the trip.
Then, to get away from this modern megacity, we’ll go to the countryside of Yamanashi to see the majestic Mount Fuji, which is a must-see for anyone who wants to remember Japan.
Then we will go to Nagoya, to see a different side of Japan.
Following this, it’ll be Kyoto, which is the cultural heart of Japan with its old streets, spiritual temples, and shrines.
Then we go to ancient Nara, which was Japan’s first capital but is now better known for its polite bowing deer and old temples and shrines.
Next we we will go to Hiroshima, where the first atomic bomb was dropped, to pay our respects and see how beautiful the city has become since that day.
After that, we’ll take a shinkansen back to Tokyo.
Seeing all the important places and crossing things off your own list along the way.
Getting Around
We all have our own favorite things to do when we travel, so I’ve put together a list of different things to do with several options from which you can choose.
If you don’t like one thing, you can switch around the days or activities at any time within your 2 weeks in Japan.
This will be a round-trip using the Japan Rail Pass, which lets you use Japan’s excellent train network to move quickly within and between cities.
You can buy a Japan Rail Pass that is good for seven, fourteen, or twenty-one days in a row.
At first glance, it might seem expensive, but it will save you hundreds of dollars over the course of your trip.
In some cases, you can buy it at a major airport, but you will have to pay more.
The rail pass will cover almost all of this trip’s transportation on the JR Lines, but in some cases, like the subway in major cities, you will need to pay extra.
For these, it’s easy to get an IC card.
They can be bought at every station, and you can get back any money left on them on your last day.
There are a lot of apps for finding train times and getting around in Japan, but they haven’t been as good in recent years as Google Maps.
Now, I only use Google Maps to find trains and get around.
Points to Remember
You can buy wifi at airports and camera stores, but it’s often free in big cities and cafes, and you won’t have to worry too much about the language barrier.
Japan is a great place for people from other countries to visit, and you can enjoy this trip even if you don’t know any Japanese.
It’s always nice to learn a few phrases to thank your hosts for their kindness.
Last, don’t leave a tip.
In Japan, it’s not common to leave a tip, and if you do, the shopkeepers will chase you down on the street, even if it’s raining.
Tokyo 101
Let’s start with a basic introduction to Tokyo.
You’ll find yourself in one of the world’s biggest and busiest megacities, but don’t let that stress you out.
Find your hotel, drop off your bags, and then go out and try some real Japanese food to get your energy up.
Then go out and see what the city has to offer.
Everyone can find something they like in Tokyo.
Start your trip with a bang by going straight to the Tokyo spot you’ve been most excited about.
This could be:
- The scramble (Shibuya crossing),
- Harajuku,
- The chaos of Akihabara – Japan’s electric town
- Or the Imperial Gardens.
But I’d say pick just one or two that you’ve heard of and then just walk around and explore the streets on your own.
That’s the best way to find all the special places in Japan that you won’t find on a map.
You can also get used to your new country during the first two days.
If you feel like you missed something, don’t worry.
Just write it down so you don’t forget.
Things to do
Here are a few more things you can do if you’re staying in Tokyo.
Visiting the famous Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, which is one of the most popular places to go in Tokyo, is free.
You can also walk along the Sumida River and see the Tokyo Skytree.
You could also check out Yokohama.
People often think this is part of Tokyo, but it’s actually its own city.
It’s Japan’s second-largest prefecture and the capital of Kanagawa.
Here, you’ll find Japan’s largest Chinatown.
I find Yokohama to be a lot more calm and open than its busy and often crowded counterpart, Tokyo.
When the weather is right and the season is right, you might be able to see Mount Fuji from Tokyo, but it’s time to get up close.
Mt Fuji
What’s next in our trip to Japan?
Between the beginning of June and the end of September, travelers can also climb Mount Fuji.
But they will have to change this plan.
Depending on how fit you are, it can take between six and ten hours to get to the top and about the same to get back down.
You can climb Mount Fuji overnight to see the sunrise and then come down the same day.
The chance to see the sunrise from Japan’s highest peak is something that anyone who wants to see should think about.
Not far away in Nagano prefecture is Jigokudani Yaen-koen.
Here, you can see Japan’s monkeys in their hot springs.
From November to February, when it snows, is the best time to visit.
This is a great place to take a hot onsen bath and look at the winter scenery.
Nagoya
We have a whole post on what to do in Nagoya.
So it seems silly to cover it here.
But it is a convenient stop on the way to Kyoto from Tokyo if you want to see something different during your 2 weeks in Japan.
One extra option is a quick train ride to Shirakawa go in Gifu prefecture.
On to Kyoto
Kyoto is the cultural and spiritual heart of Japan.
It’s easy to see why this will be the most memorable part of a trip for many people.
You’ll notice right away that Kyoto is different from Tokyo because it has beautiful old streets, buildings, and gardens.
This old Japanese capital may make you want to stay for a long time.
But here’s what I think.
Get up early every day in Kyoto.
It looks much better in the morning before it gets busy.
Everyone who comes to Kyoto must see the Fushimi Inari Gates.
It’s free but gets more crowded as the day goes on.
As you go up the mountain, the crowds will thin out and you’ll be able to find a spot all to yourself.
A full climb up and down can take an hour or two and there’s plenty to see on the way up and down.
Next, go to Kiyomizu temple.
This is one of the most iconic places in Japan.
This is my favorite temple in all of Japan.
The street that leads to the temple is especially beautiful in the fall.
The surrounding area is also a great place to buy small gifts and sweets from Japan.
During cherry blossom season, this place can be overwhelming.
Gion
Not far away is the district of Gion.
If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a real working geisha, though they’re much more private these days.
You’ll find Pontocho alley, which might be the most famous alley in all of Japan.
It’s fun just to walk down this alley.
But it’s also a great place to have a drink or a really good meal, though it can be a little pricey, so keep that in mind.
In Japan, there are no laws against drinking outside.
Just remember that it can be hard to find a trash can in Japan, so you might have to carry your can or bottles around for a while.
Now, if you really want to get a feel for the mountains, you should take the Sagano ‘Romantic’ Railway.
The Sagano Railway runs a scenic train in western Kyoto’s Saga-Arashiyama.
“Sagano Torokko Ressha” is the train’s Japanese name.
Arashiyama is beautiful all year long.
From here, you can go to the Golden Pavilion.
The outside is, of course, covered in gold leaf, and when the snow is on it, it looks beautiful in the sun.
There are over 1600 temples and shrines in Kyoto, both big and small ones, that are spread out all over the city.
On your last day, you can take your time to see as many as you can.
No one should spend 2 weeks in Japan without seeing at least some of Kyoto.
On to Nara.
Like Kyoto, it’s famed for its shrines and temples.
Nara
The year 710 was when Japan’s first capital city was built.
It only takes 45 minutes to get to Nara from Kyoto.
We will take the train for a short ride.
JR though, no bullet trains.
I much prefer to spend the night in this city known for its friendly deer.
This is because that’s the only way to see the park early in the morning when the light is at its best and the mist is still in the air.
You can walk all over the city and up to the park from Nara Station.
People like to feed the deer, and you can buy special deer food, called senbei, for about 200 yen.
Senbei is a kind of Japanese rice cracker.
Most deer are polite and will bow to thank you for the food, but some are impatient and will do anything to get a taste.
When you’re in Nara, you’ll almost certainly see someone running away from a hungry deer or find yourself being chased, but it’s all good.
On the way to Hiroshima
We have several options here
Kobe
It’s time to go back to a more urban area, so we’ll spend the next two days in Kobe.
More than anything else, Kobe is famed for its famous Kobe beef.
This beef is noted for its flavor because it is marbled with fat, making it tender and juicy.
However, if you eat it at a restaurant, it will be quite expensive.
Sannomiya in Kobe is a great area to eat Kobe beef.
This is my personal favourite.
Another top thing to do which can take the best part of a day is Mount Rokko.
Mount Rokko, often known as Rokko-san, is a renowned tourist attraction in Kobe.
You may either hike or take a cable car up the mountain.
Some tourists trek to the summit as part of a day excursion.
But the night views, which are claimed to be one of Japan’s 3 great night views, are the major draw.
Kobe is probably my favourite city in Japan.
Himeji
You can stop by Himeji (near Kobe) on your way to or from Hiroshima.
Himeji Castle is without a doubt the most important and expensive castle in Japan.
Even though the castle is huge and has a lot of detail, it only takes a few hours to see it all.
I wouldn’t spend a whole day here, but it’s worth it as a side trip.
Hiroshima
This is the last big city we’ll visit before going back to Tokyo.
This is a calm city with trams that run through the streets.
Its streets have become so beautiful that it would be easy to forget that they were the site of an atomic attack.
The only thing that reminds people of what happened are the ruins of the Atomic Dome.
These ruins still stood after the atomic attack and are now a reminder in the Peace Park.
It’s hard to explain how it feels to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
But it’s something that everyone should try to do at least once in their lives.
On a side note, the one in Nagasaki is even more moving but that’s much further away.
Miyajima
You can visit the Itsukushima shrine on Miyajima Island by taking a short ferry ride from the city of Hiroshima.
This is where the famous Red Torri is located.
When my family visited many years ago, this was their favourite place during their 2 weeks in Japan.
This quiet spot is a great place to think about your trip and feed some more wild deer.
This brings us to your last two days in Japan.
Taking the bullet train back to Tokyo will take several hours.
But you can get off at any city you may have missed or want to see more of if you want to.
This is the time you have to finish anything on your list, go exploring, or do your last bit of shopping before going home.
This is when I like to do the little things that aren’t as important as the main attractions.
Like, check out some capsule hotels, game arcades, and little holes in the wall, or just walk around and take pictures of the city streets.
In Tokyo, you can do whatever you want and find your own space to do it, but you might want to use this time to try something new.
Even if it’s just a good story to tell your friends back home, have fun because that’s what traveling is all about.
Prices
So, let’s quickly look at how much 2 Weeks in Japan would cost.
At the time this was written, a JR Rail pass costs 47,250 yen.
This might seem expensive at first, but if you didn’t have this pass, the same train would cost over 100,000 yen, so if you use it right, it will save you money.
Prices for hotels will vary depending on how you travel, but a night for one person in a decently comfortable hotel in Japan will cost between 3,000 and 5,000 yen.
To do and eat everything, you’ll need about 15,000 yen, per day.
This is where you will have the most freedom.
For me, this trip would cost about 250,000 yen, if you don’t count flights.
Exchange rates will always vary.
Before You Go
I love traveling around Japan.
There is so much you need to see for yourself here, and I still have so much more to see.
So, if you have 2 Weeks in Japan, I hope you now have some ideas on what to do.
If you have any travel questions, tips, or comments about what I’ve said, feel free to get in touch
