Japan is bigger than it looks on the map, especially if you’re from a massive country like Canada, Australia or the US. It’s tempting to think that you can go “everywhere in Japan” in just a short amount of time.
At the same time, having the right travel plan will allow you to cover the maximum amount of ground for however long you have. Paired with Japan’s world-leading public transportation, the right strategy for tackling your time in Japan will take your trip to the next level.
Since most travelers have about 2 weeks in Japan, especially on their first trips, I thought this might be a good place to start. Give me the next 10 minutes of your time, and I’ll help you make your 14 days in Japan unforgettable.
Two Weeks in Japan is Not a Lot
As you’ll know if you’ve started planning a trip around Japan in 2 weeks on your own, you can’t see nearly as much in this amount of time as you might’ve initially thought. As fast as the bullet train is, it doesn’t erase the fact that Japan spans thousands of kilometers from east to west, to say nothing of how difficult its mountainous geography can make north-south travel.
Unless you’ve already explored Japan’s tourist trail—if, in other words, you’re returning to hone in on a secondary or tertiary part of Japan, such as the San’in region, or Shikoku island—you’ll effectively be confined to Tokyo, Kyoto/Osaka and the region between them. If you move efficiently, however, you may be able to swing down to Hiroshima, or to traverse the Japanese Alps via Kanazawa—more on that in a second.
Where to Go With Two Weeks in Japan
Tokyo
Tokyo is where you’ll land in Japan, so you’ll need to spend at least a couple of nights here. Of course, you should want to discover Japan’s captivating capital, need notwithstanding. From futuristic districts like Shinjuku and Shibuya, to ancient Asakusa, Tokyo is the world’s most satisfying study in contrasts. Day trips to nearby destinations like Nikko and Kamakura hammer this fact home.
Mt. Fuji
It should also go without saying that you should visit Mt. Fuji during your 2 weeks in Japan, though how you do it is up for debate. While it’s easy to see on a day trip from Tokyo (or, if it’s clear, from various spots within the capital), overnight stays are also alluring. In winter or spring, sleep at lake level in either Kawaguchiko or Yamanakako in the Fuji Five Lakes region. Alternatively, from July to September, you could climb Mt. Fuji like I did.
Kyoto
Japan’s capital for centuries before Tokyo was, Kyoto is definitely a city that lives up to the hype. On the other hand, it’s difficult to deny how crowded spots like Kiyomizu-dera temple and the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest have become. Remedy this by spotlighting lesser-visited attractions like Kifune Shrine, or by taking day trips to the deer-filled city of Nara, to Lake Biwa, or to the quirky coastal town of Obama.
Osaka
Osaka doesn’t always feature prominently in every two week Japan trip. Some travelers simply see it as a day trip from Kyoto. However, staying in Osaka overnight can be worthwhile, and not just if you want to eat your weight street food in districts like Dotonbori or Shinsekai. Osaka is a great base for day trips, be that to Himeji Castle, to the beef city of Kobe or even up to sacred Mt. Koya.
Hiroshima or Kanazawa
Hiroshima is a city I love more every time I visit, but is also a place you’re doomed to misunderstand if you go for the most obvious reason. Indeed, while you can technically visit on a day trip, I recommend staying at least two nights. This allows you to see war-related attractions in Hiroshima’s city center, and also to visit scenic Miyajima island, and potentially even to take a day trip to Onomichi or Yamaguchi prefecture’s Kintai Bridge.
An alternative option would be to head north from Kyoto or Osaka to Kanazawa, a beautiful historical city on the Sea of Japan coast in the Hokuriku region. Explore award-winning Kenroku-en garden, take day trips to Fukui or Toyama prefectures or return to Tokyo the “back way” via the Japanese Alps, which includes destinations like Shirakawa-go, Takayama and the ancient Nakasendo Way postal route.
Is 2 Weeks in Japan Enough?
A two-week trip to Japan is “enough” in the sense that with the right plan, you can get alluring cross section of Japan. Whether on the tourist trail or off-the-beaten-path, your experiences will be such that you can leave satisfied, presuming that this will be your only trip to Japan. By contrast, if you’re open to returning in the future, a trip of this length will plant plenty of seeds.
Indeed, my favorite sort of Japan 2 week itinerary is the one you plan after you’ve seen “the basics.” I’m thinking about road-tripping along the tsunami-ravaged Sanriku Coast, or around Hokkaido’s Shiretoko Peninsula in autumn. Alternatively, you could island-hop in Okinawa (which, in my opinion, is even better than the actual Hawaii), or bike across the Seto Inland Sea.
Other FAQ About Exploring Japan for 2 Weeks
What is a good 2 week itinerary for Japan?
If you’ve never been to Japan before, then you’ll likely split your two weeks in Japan between Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, with optional excursions to Mt. Fuji and Hiroshima, with the possibility of returning the “back way” via Kanazawa and the Japanese Alps. On a return trip to Japan, you can use two weeks to dig deep into any off-the-beaten-path destination.
What to see in Japan in 14 days?
Visiting Japan in 14 days allows you not only to see cities (the neon-lit streets of Tokyo; Kyoto’s ancient cobbles, with temples and shrines rising above them), but nature, including iconic scenes such as towering Mt. Fuji and the “floating” torii gate of Miyajima island near Hiroshima. Depending on how efficiently you travel, you may be able to see significantly more than this.
How to spend 14 perfect days in Japan?
If you’ve never been to Japan before, I recommend spending a few days in Tokyo (with optional day trips to Nikko, Kamakura and Mt. Fuji), before riding the Shinkansen westward, to Kyoto and potentially Osaka as well. Take day trips from there to Nara, Himeji or Kobe, or instead visit cities like Hiroshima and Kanazawa, or even hike through the Japanese Alps.
The Bottom Line
You can’t see the whole country with 2 weeks in Japan, but you can nonetheless cover a lot of ground. First-time visitors to Japan can divide their trip between Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, with excursions to Mt. Fuji and Hiroshima, or even up to Kanazawa (on the Sea of Japan coast) and the Japanese Alps. Alternatively, if you’re returning, you can go far off Japan’s beaten path, including to secondary and tertiary regions, or to other islands like Kyushu, Shikoku, Hokkaido and the Okinawa archipelago. Need personalized help putting together your two-week Japan odyssey? Commission a custom Japan itinerary today!
