Japan blends centuries-old ritual with future-forward cool. Samurai castles and Zen gardens sit beside neon skylines and ramen counters that hum late into the night. In two weeks you’ll taste regional specialties, soak in mineral-rich baths, and trace history from Edo-era shrines to Meiji modernization and postwar reinvention.

Expect ultra-efficient trains, spotless streets, and an obsession with detail—whether it’s the hand-polished rice for sushi or the way tea is whisked to a fine froth. Cash is still handy for small shops, but cards and mobile payments are widely accepted. Tipping isn’t customary; a sincere “arigatou” is appreciated.

Timing matters here. Visit popular temples early, book coveted restaurants ahead, and bring an International Driving Permit if you’re tempted by licensed street-kart tours. Pack light—stations can be busy—and use coin lockers or luggage-forwarding services between cities to keep travel smooth.

Tokyo

Japan’s capital is a living collage: lantern-lit alleys, silent shrines, and eye-popping districts like Shibuya and Akihabara. From sushi breakfasts to avant-garde art, Tokyo rewards curiosity at every corner.

Arriving: Fly into Haneda (closer) or Narita. Compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Narita Express to Tokyo Station takes ~60 min; Haneda’s monorail or Keikyu lines reach the city in ~20–30 min.

Where to stay: For convenience, base in Shinjuku/Shibuya (nightlife, transit), Ginza (shopping, walkable to Tsukiji area), or Asakusa (traditional vibe). Browse stays on VRBO Tokyo or Hotels.com Tokyo.

Days 1–2: Icons, neighborhoods, and first tastes

• Asakusa + Ueno: Start at Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple; stroll Nakamise-dori for ningyo-yaki cakes. Walk or hop to Ueno Park’s museums for a history primer.
• Shibuya + Harajuku: Cross the famous Scramble, then explore backstreets of Cat Street and Omotesando. Visit Meiji Shrine’s cedar forest for a calm reset.
• Food stops: Lunch on tsukemen at Rokurinsha (Tokyo Station’s Ramen Street) for rich, dippable noodles. Try Kyoto-style yuzu ramen at AFURI Harajuku for a lighter counterpoint.
• Cafes: Sip pour-overs at Onibus Coffee (Nakameguro) or the cozy Little Nap Coffee Stand by Yoyogi Park—perfect for a quiet morning.
• Dinner + drinks: Book Tempura Tsunahachi (Shinjuku) for crisp, sesame-oil tempura, then wander Omoide Yokocho for tiny yakitori bars. In Shibuya, Nonbei Yokocho channels postwar alley charm.

Days 3–4: Art, markets, and unique experiences

• teamLab Planets Tokyo (Toyosu): An immersive, barefoot light-and-water art world—go early to avoid lines. Pair with Toyosu’s gourmet halls or stroll old Tsukiji’s outer market for tamagoyaki and tuna skewers.
• Ginza shopping + depachika: Explore Mitsukoshi and Matsuya’s basement food halls—bento, wagashi, and immaculate fruit. Add a kissa stop at Kissa You (Ginza) for retro omurice and thick toast.
• Akihabara or Kappabashi: In Akiba, browse arcades and retro consoles; in Kappabashi, pick up Japanese knives and pottery used by chefs.
• Izakaya night: Uoshin Nogizaka serves top-notch seasonal seafood; try grilled fish collars and sashimi platters. For shabu-shabu, Nabezo offers all-you-can-eat wagyu and vegetables at fair prices.

Day 5: Wellness and day-trip options

• Soak + spa: Unwind at Spa LaQua (Tokyo Dome City) with carbonated baths and saunas, or 24-hour Thermae-Yu in Shinjuku for late-night soaks.
• Day trip ideas: Kamakura (Great Buddha, seaside cafes) or Nikko (ornate Toshogu Shrine, cedar avenues). Both are easy by train—search schedules on Trip.com Trains.
• Sweets: Try classic taiyaki at Naniwaya (Azabu-Juban) or fluffy pancakes at Flipper’s (Omotesando).

Tokyo → Kyoto (morning of Day 6): Take the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station. Hikari trains take about 2 hr 40 min; Nozomi about 2 hr 15 min. Expect ~13,500–14,500 JPY one-way (roughly $90–$110). Check times and purchase via Trip.com Trains. Reserve luggage space if carrying large suitcases on busy routes.

Kyoto

Once Japan’s imperial capital, Kyoto is temple-dotted and tea-scented. Wooden machiya townhouses, narrow alleys, and lantern-lit canals offer a gentler rhythm than Tokyo.

Where to stay: Base near Gion/Higashiyama for atmosphere, Kyoto Station for transit convenience, or Kawaramachi for shopping. Browse VRBO Kyoto or Hotels.com Kyoto.

Days 6–7: Eastern Kyoto classics

• Fushimi Inari-Taisha: Go at dawn to walk through thousands of vermilion torii gates with fewer crowds; the summit loop offers city views.
• Kiyomizu-dera → Sannen-zaka → Ninen-zaka: Temple terraces, cobbled lanes, and artisan shops—ideal for ceramics and incense.
• Gion + Pontocho: Evening stroll among wooden teahouses. You may spot geiko on their way to appointments; be respectful and avoid blocking paths.
• Cafes + bites: Espresso at Weekenders Coffee (hidden behind a parking lot), matcha lattes at % Arabica Higashiyama. Sample obanzai (home-style Kyoto plates) at Gion Tanto.

Days 8–9: Arashiyama, tea, and markets

• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove: Arrive early, then visit Tenryu-ji’s zen gardens and Okochi Sanso villa for hillside views. Monkey Park Iwatayama is a fun uphill detour.
• Nishiki Market: Kyoto’s “kitchen” since the 1600s—taste yuba (tofu skin), tsukemono pickles, and grilled mochi. Shop knives at Aritsugu, a storied cutler.
• Tea culture: Day trip to Uji for superior matcha; enjoy parfaits at Nakamura Tokichi or Tsujiri, and tour Byodo-in’s Phoenix Hall.
• Lunch + dinner: Slurp elegant udon at Omen (near Ginkaku-ji), savor tonkatsu at Katsukura (hand-ground sesame dipping), or try clear soy ramen at Menya Inoichi.

Day 10: Wellness and craft

• Funaoka Onsen: A historic sento with tilework and cypress baths—an atmospheric soak. For nature + baths, consider a Kurama-to-Kibune hike capped by Kurama Onsen.
• Workshops: Join a tea ceremony (English-friendly studios around Ninen-zaka) or a wagashi confection class to learn seasonal sweets aesthetics.
• Kyoto-style sushi: Try pressed mackerel at Izuju (Yasaka Shrine area)—a local specialty distinct from Edo-style nigiri.

Kyoto → Osaka (morning of Day 11): JR Rapid trains take ~30 minutes (~570 JPY). Shinkansen is ~15 minutes (~1,420 JPY). Check options on Trip.com Trains. Depart early to maximize your Osaka day.

Osaka

Osaka is Japan’s extrovert—gregarious, hungry, and always up late. Street food rules here, with neon reflections shimmering off the Dotonbori Canal and friendly vendors calling out to passersby.

Where to stay: Namba/Dotonbori for nightlife and eats, Umeda for transport links, or Shinsekai for vintage vibes. Browse VRBO Osaka or Hotels.com Osaka.

Days 11–12: Sights and serious street food

• Osaka Castle Park: Stroll the ramparts and museum for samurai-era context; cherry season is especially photogenic.
• Umeda Sky Building: Ride up to the Floating Garden Observatory for 360° city views, then shop Grand Front Osaka below.
• Dotonbori + Shinsaibashi: Graze on takoyaki at Wanaka or Kukuri, okonomiyaki at Mizuno, and kushikatsu at Daruma. Don’t miss the iconic Glico Running Man sign.
• Cafes: Try meticulous roasts at Lilo Coffee Roasters (Namba) or wine-and-coffee hybrids at Takamura in Nishi.

Day 13: Wellness, culture by night, and neighborhoods

• Spa time: Spa World (Shinsekai) offers themed baths and saunas; Naniwa no Yu is a quieter local onsen with city views.
• Amerikamura + Den Den Town: Thrift shops, indie boutiques, and retro game arcades—great for one-of-a-kind souvenirs.
• Night art: Stroll teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka (Nagai Park) after dark where illuminated installations transform flora into living canvases.
• Dinner: Splurge on wagyu at Yakiniku M Hozenji (order lean vs. marbled cuts to compare), or rich pork-bone bowls at Hanamaruken Ramen (Boneless Spare Rib Ramen is the move).

Day 14: Day trip options before departure

• Nara (easy): 45 minutes from Osaka to feed the bowing deer and see the giant Buddha at Todai-ji. Combine with Naramachi’s preserved townhouses and cafes.
• Hiroshima + Miyajima (ambitious): About 1 hr 20 min by Nozomi from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima; visit the Peace Memorial Museum, then ferry to Itsukushima Shrine’s floating torii. Expect ~20,000–22,000 JPY round-trip. Check trains on Trip.com Trains.
• Final bites: Seek pristine nigiri at Endo Sushi (Osaka Central Market, mornings), or slurp silky udon at Tsurutontan with oversized bowls.

Practical foodie and shopping notes

• Reservations: Popular counters (sushi, kaiseki) book out weeks ahead. Mid-range standouts like Katsukura, Omen, and Mizuno are easier with off-peak timing.
• Depachika grazing: Don’t miss department-store food halls in Ginza, Kyoto Station, and Umeda—perfect for budget-friendly bento and sweets.
• Shopping hits: Ginza (flagships), Shimokitazawa (Tokyo vintage), Nishiki Market (Kyoto specialties), Shinsaibashi-suji and Amerikamura (Osaka streetwear).
• Transit tips: Use an IC card (Suica/PASMO/ICOCA) for tap-in convenience across trains and buses. For this route, point-to-point Shinkansen tickets typically beat a 14-day rail pass on cost.
• Departing Japan: Compare return flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Many travelers fly out of KIX (Osaka) to avoid backtracking.

Suggested 14-day flow at a glance

• Days 1–5: Tokyo (icons, teamLab Planets, izakaya lanes, spa evening)
• Day 6: Shinkansen to Kyoto (2.5–3 hrs including station time)
• Days 6–10: Kyoto (Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, Uji tea, Nishiki Market, onsen)
• Day 11: Train to Osaka (~30 min)
• Days 11–14: Osaka (castle, Dotonbori food crawl, Spa World, optional Nara/Hiroshima)

Across two weeks you’ll taste the breadth of Japan—neon nights in Tokyo, temple mornings in Kyoto, and Osaka’s joyful street food. With efficient rail, soothing baths, and unforgettable meals, this itinerary balances big sights with local textures you’ll talk about for years.