Japan layers ancient ritual and cutting-edge design with a precision all its own. For over a millennium Kyoto was the imperial capital; today Tokyo hums as a megacity of art, ramen, and restless creativity. Hiroshima, rebuilt as a “City of Peace,” anchors the journey with reflection and breathtaking nature on nearby Miyajima.

Across 14 days, ride the shinkansen between three essential cities, trace lantern-lit lanes in Kyoto’s Gion, and taste your way through Tokyo’s markets. Spring brings cherry blossoms; autumn sets temple gardens ablaze. Summer festivals and winter illuminations add their own sparkle, so there’s no wrong time to follow this route.

Practical notes: load Mobile Suica/PASMO on your phone for trains and convenience stores, carry some cash for small shops, and pack comfortable walking shoes. Reserve popular restaurants and activities in advance—especially for weekends and holidays. For long legs, book bullet train seats and keep your JR ticket handy at the gates.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a mosaic of micro-neighborhoods: incense curling through Asakusa’s Senso-ji, cedar stillness at Meiji Shrine, and the kinetic theater of Shibuya Crossing. Beyond the icons, slip into third-wave coffee bars, counter-only ramen shops, and nostalgic yokocho alleys where lanterns blink on at dusk.

Highlights you shouldn’t miss: Senso-ji and Nakamise shopping street; the skyline from Shibuya Sky or Tokyo City View; Harajuku’s Takeshita-dori and Omotesando’s architecture; Akihabara’s retro arcades; and an evening wander through Golden Gai’s pocket-sized bars.

Getting to Tokyo + Around

• Fly into HND or NRT. Compare fares on Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com. Typical nonstops from the U.S. West Coast run 10–12 hours; from the East Coast, 13–14 hours.
• Airport to city: Narita Express to Tokyo Station (~60 minutes), or Keikyu/Monorail from Haneda (~25–35 minutes). Use Mobile Suica on Apple/Google Wallet for tap-in/out.

Where to stay in Tokyo

• Browse vacation rentals near Asakusa, Shibuya, or Ginza on VRBO Tokyo or hotels on Hotels.com Tokyo.
• Top picks: The Peninsula Tokyo (imperial garden views, refined service), Hotel Gracery Shinjuku (fun Godzilla motif, steps from nightlife), The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo (sky-high Midtown views), Aman Tokyo (serene minimalism), Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku (value and location), Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo (family-friendly, easy transit).

Days 1–3: Old Tokyo, Markets, and Skyline Moments

• Asakusa + Sumida Riverside: Enter Tokyo’s past at Senso-ji, then browse taiyaki, senbei, and yukata along Nakamise-dori. Walk to Kuramae’s indie boutiques and coffee roasters. Lunch at Daikokuya (light, crisp tempura) or counter-sushi at Sushisei Asakusa.
• Tsukiji Outer Market morning bites: tamagoyaki at Yamacho, tuna skewers at Maguroya Kurogin, knife shops and tea stalls. Consider a guided tasting below.
• Shibuya & Harajuku: brave Shibuya Crossing, then ascend Shibuya Sky for sunset. Slurp yuzu-shio ramen at Afuri Harajuku or silky chicken paitan at Kagari Ginza. Dessert: BAKE cheese tart or matcha soft-serve at Nanaya Aoyama.

• Viator pick — Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Culture Walking Tour: Taste market classics with a guide and learn culinary history.
  Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Culture Walking Tour

  

Days 4–6: Meiji Jingu, Contemporary Art, Night Eats, and a Fuji Day Trip

• Meiji Shrine and Omotesando: Walk the cedar-lined approach, then explore Omotesando’s architecture (Tadao Ando at Omotesando Hills). Coffee at Blue Bottle Aoyama or Koffee Mameya Kakeru.
• Night in Shinjuku: Golden Gai’s tiny bars, Omoide Yokocho yakitori. Dinner at Nabezo Shinjuku (shabu-shabu) or Tonkatsu Tonki (old-school pork cutlets). For dessert, fruit parfait at Takano.
• teamLab Planets (Toyosu): Walk-through digital art—barefoot, mirror-like water rooms. Book ahead for busy weekends.
• Day trip to Mt. Fuji & Hakone: Lakeside viewpoints, ropeways, and onsen villages; return by shinkansen to maximize time.

• Viator pick — Tokyo Customized Private Tour: See Top Attractions in 1 Day: A flexible guided day that hits Senso-ji, Skytree, Shibuya, and more—tailored to your pace.
  Tokyo Customized Private Tour: See Top Attractions in 1 Day

  

• Viator pick — Tokyo Shinjuku Sumo Show Experience with Photo and Drinks: Up-close with pro wrestlers, Q&A, and photos—an easy way to engage with Japan’s national sport.
  Tokyo Shinjuku Sumo Show Experience with Photo and Drinks

  

• Viator pick — Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train: Ride to the 5th Station, cruise Hakone, and zip back by shinkansen.
  Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train

  

Tokyo eats: coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner

• Coffee/breakfast: Verve Coffee Roasters Shinjuku (California roasts, airy atrium), Onibus Nakameguro (canal-side sips), Ginza Kimuraya (historic anpan buns).
• Lunch: Uogashi Nihon-ichi Standing Sushi (quick, excellent nigiri), Tsujita (rich tsukemen), Butagumi (curated pork cuts for tonkatsu).
• Dinner: Teyandei Nishi-Azabu (modern izakaya), Tempura Kondo (seasonal tempura; book ahead), Narisawa for a splurge (innovative kaiseki rooted in satoyama).

Tokyo → Kyoto (Morning of Day 7)

• Ride the Tokaido Shinkansen (Nozomi) from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station: ~2 hr 15 min, from about ¥14,000–¥15,000 (≈$95–$105) reserved seat. Check schedules and book on Trip.com trains.

Kyoto

Kyoto, the “City of Ten Thousand Shrines,” distills a thousand years of courtly culture into moss gardens, tea houses, and wooden machiya lanes. At dawn, shrine bells echo in the foothills; by evening, Gion’s lanterns glow and the scent of grilled river fish drifts from kappo counters.

Plan early starts for Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama, then linger in lesser-known quarters like Nishijin’s textile streets or Ohara’s hillside temples. Between temples, pause for matcha and seasonal wagashi—the ritual is part of the journey.

Where to stay in Kyoto

• Search neighborhoods like Gion, Higashiyama, and downtown on VRBO Kyoto or browse hotels on Hotels.com Kyoto.
• Top picks: The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto (riverside elegance), Kyoto Tokyu Hotel (quiet, sleek), Hotel M's Plus Shijo Omiya (great transit), Piece Hostel Sanjo (stylish social hub), Kyoto Brighton Hotel (spacious rooms), Hotel M's Est Shijo Karasuma (value near Nishiki).

Days 7–8: Fushimi Inari, Higashiyama, and Gion by Night

• Fushimi Inari Taisha at sunrise: ascend through vermilion torii; reward yourself with espresso and matcha at Vermillion by the tracks. Explore sake alleys nearby; Fushimi is Kyoto’s historic brewing district.
• Higashiyama walk: Kiyomizu-dera’s veranda, Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka’s preserved lanes, then Yasaka Pagoda. Lunch at Omen Ginkakuji (handmade udon) or Okutan (Buddhist tofu cuisine since the 1600s).
• Gion evening: Stroll Hanamikoji as lanterns light up. Book a kaiseki at Gion Nanba (seasonal finesse) or try counter yakitori at Toritoyo. Cap the night with a quiet bar like Bar Rocking Chair.

• Viator pick — Kyoto Gion Geisha District Walking Tour - The Stories of Geisha: Decode geiko and maiko traditions with a local expert as you weave through Gion after dark.
  Kyoto Gion Geisha District Walking Tour - The Stories of Geisha

  

Days 9–11: Arashiyama, Zen Gardens, and Day Trip to Nara

• Arashiyama early: Bamboo Grove before 8 a.m., Tenryu-ji’s strolling garden, riverside views from the Togetsukyo Bridge. Lunch on mackerel sushi at Iwasa Sushi or soba at Yudofu Sagano.
• Zen circuit: Ryoan-ji’s rock garden, Kinkaku-ji’s Golden Pavilion, then quieter Daitoku-ji sub-temples for raked perfection.
• Nishiki Market tasting stroll: yuba, tsukemono, and sesame croquettes; coffee at Weekenders Coffee tucked behind a parking lot—very Kyoto.
• Nara day trip: Todai-ji’s Great Buddha, Nara Park’s sika deer, and Kasuga Taisha’s forested lanterns—go early to beat crowds.

• Viator pick — 10 Must-see Spots in Kyoto One Day Private Tour (up to 7 people): See the headline sights efficiently with a local pro—ideal for maximizing time.
  10 Must-see Spots in Kyoto One Day Private Tour (up to 7 people)

  

• Viator pick — Nara Early Morning Tour (Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available): Beat the crowds and photograph Todai-ji and the deer before the rush.
  Nara Early Morning Tour (Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available)

  

Kyoto eats: coffee, lunch, dinner

• Coffee/sweets: % Arabica Higashiyama (views to Yasaka), Sagaraden Nomura (matcha), Tsujiri Gion (classic tea parfaits).
• Lunch: Menya Inoichi (delicate shio ramen), Musashi Sushi (conveyor-belt fun with good quality), Gion Tanto (home-style Kyoto dishes).
• Dinner: Isshisoden Nakamura or Kinobu for traditional kaiseki; Yakitori Hitomi for charcoal-grilled skewers; Sushi Matsumoto for refined Edo-mae in a tiny counter.

Kyoto → Hiroshima (Morning of Day 12)

• Ride the Sanyo Shinkansen (Sakura/Nozomi) Kyoto → Hiroshima: ~1 hr 40 min, from about ¥11,000–¥12,000 (≈$75–$85) reserved. Check options on Trip.com trains.

Hiroshima

Hiroshima is resilient and welcoming, with broad boulevards, leafy trams, and a culinary reputation for savory okonomiyaki and plump Seto Inland Sea oysters. It’s also your gateway to sacred Miyajima, where the vermilion torii of Itsukushima Shrine seems to float at high tide.

Balance remembrance at the Peace Memorial Park with time by the water, a streetcar ride to Hondori shopping street, and an evening okonomiyaki feast where noodles sizzle on a steel teppan right in front of you.

Where to stay in Hiroshima

• See more options on Hotels.com Hiroshima. Favorites: Sheraton Grand Hiroshima Hotel (attached to JR station, effortless transit), Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima (waterfront, ferry access), RIHGA Royal Hotel Hiroshima (central location), Santiago Guesthouse Hiroshima (budget/social).

Days 12–14: Peace Park, Okonomiyaki, and Miyajima

• Peace Memorial Park & Museum: Walk the cenotaph axis to the Atomic Bomb Dome to understand the city’s past and global peace mission. Quiet time by the river is part of the experience.
• Okonomiyaki crawl: Try Nagata-ya near the park for crispy-thin noodles and tangy sauce, or sample multiple griddles at Okonomimura, a multi-level temple to Hiroshima’s signature dish.
• Miyajima day trip: JR to Miyajimaguchi and ferry to the island. See Itsukushima Shrine and, if you enjoy light hikes, ascend to Mt. Misen for inland sea panoramas. Snack on momiji manju (maple-leaf cakes) and fresh-grilled oysters at Kakiya.

• Viator pick — Peaceful Hiroshima & Miyajima UNESCO 1 Day Bus Tour: Efficient transport and a guide to contextualize both the city and shrine island in one day.
  Peaceful Hiroshima & Miyajima UNESCO 1 Day Bus Tour

  

Hiroshima eats: coffee, lunch, dinner

• Coffee: Obscura Coffee Roasters (single-origin focus), Kitsune no Shitaraba (stylish kissaten vibe).
• Lunch: Rei (Hiroshima tsukemen with spicy dipping sauce), Ekohiiki (seafood rice bowls near the station).
• Dinner: Hassei (okonomiyaki institution), Kaki-tei (seasonal oysters), and izakaya grazing at Kanawa along the river.

Departing Hiroshima

• To Tokyo: Sanyo/Tokaido Shinkansen ~4 hours (Nozomi) from about ¥19,000–¥21,000 (≈$130–$145). Or fly HND in ~1 hr 35 min—compare prices on Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com.

Optional extras to sprinkle in

• Tokyo night eats tour: If you prefer a guided nibble-fest, consider a Shinjuku hop with multiple stops and local favorites.
  Tokyo: Shinjuku Food Tour (13 Dishes at 4 Local Eateries)

  

• Sushi class in Asakusa: Learn techniques you can bring home—shari (rice) matters as much as the fish.
  Sushi Making Tokyo Roll and Authentic Japanese Sushi Class

  

At-a-glance 14-day flow

• Days 1–6: Tokyo base with markets, shrines, Shinjuku nights, and a Mt. Fuji/Hakone day trip.
• Day 7: Morning shinkansen to Kyoto.
• Days 7–11: Kyoto temples and gardens, Gion evening walk, Arashiyama, and Nara day trip.
• Day 12: Morning shinkansen to Hiroshima.
• Days 12–14: Peace Memorial Park, okonomiyaki, and Miyajima excursion; depart.

Two weeks in Japan gives you the city’s buzz, temple stillness, and island horizons in one sweep. With bullet trains stitching it together and carefully chosen bites along the way, this itinerary balances depth and variety—leaving just enough wonder to bring you back.