With two weeks to spend in Japan, you can take a classic tour around the country's highlights—including Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima—or opt for an itinerary focusing specifically on culture and history. Travelers with children love a family-oriented tour featuring hands-on activities, like sushi-making classes and a samurai sword-fighting course, plus visits to two major theme parks. Adventurous visitors opt for an off-the-beaten-path journey around Japan's hidden gems or an active trip around the country's wintry landscapes.

Itinerary #1: Classic Highlights of Japan

On this two-week journey around Japan, you'll visit sacred temples and shrines in Kyoto, cycle through the countryside, and roam around the modern cities of Tokyo and Hiroshima.

Japan, Tokyo - Tokyo's Shinjuku Park
Tokyo's Shinjuku Park
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Tokyo  Tokyo
Day 2 Enjoy a Guided Tour of Tokyo  Tokyo
Day 3 Discover Hiroshima's History Hiroshima
Day 4 Boat to Miyajima Island Miyajima
Day 5 Relax in Kyoto  Kyoto
Day 6 Go on a Guided Tour of Kyoto  Kyoto
Day 7 Learn About Traditional Arts in Kyoto Kyoto
Day 8 Day-trip to Nara Kyoto
Day 9 Go Back in Time in Takayama Takayama
Day 10 Cycle in the Countryside Takayama
Day 11 See the Historic Farmhouses of Shirakawa-go  Shirakawa
Day 12 Wander Through Landscaped Gardens in Kanazawa Kanazawa
Day 13 Revel in One Last Night on the Town in Tokyo Tokyo
Day 14 Depart Tokyo  


Welcome to Japan! Begin the trip in Tokyo with a guided tour of the city's top sights before continuing onward to Hiroshima, where you'll visit the area where an atomic bomb went off during World War II. Enjoy a relaxing boat ride to nearby Miyajima Island before the trip takes you to Kyoto. You'll learn about geisha culture, flower arranging, and other traditional arts while in town. Day-trip to Nara, where native deer wander around ancient shrines, then return to Kyoto.

Base yourself in Takayama for the next two nights of the trip, doing cultural sightseeing on the first day, then a cycling trip through the surrounding countryside on the next day. Shirakawa-go is your next destination, home to historic farmhouses built to withstand heavy snow. You'll visit the world-famous landscape gardens of Kanazawa before circling back to Tokyo, where you'll bar-hop in the Golden Gai district on the last night of the trip. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Culture & History of Japan

Travel through Japan's cultural past with this two-week immersive holiday that starts in Tokyo, then takes you to mountain hot springs, the historic post towns of the Nakasendo Trail, the traditional thatched-roof farmhouses of Shirakawa-go, and the mountaintop temples of Mount Koya.

Japan, Kyoto - Kyoto's Kinkaku-ji Temple
Kyoto's Kinkaku-ji Temple
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Tokyo Tokyo
Day 2 Discover Tokyo's Top Attractions Tokyo
Day 3 Visit Obuse & Yudanaka Hot Springs Yudanaka Onsen
Day 4 Tour Matsumoto Castle & Narai Narai
Day 5 Walk on the Nakasendo Trail Tsumago
Day 6 Transfer to Takayama Takayama
Day 7 Go Back in Time in Takayama Takayama
Day 8 See Traditional Farmhouses in Shirakawa-go Shirakawa
Day 9 Walk Along the Canals in Kyoto Kyoto
Day 10 Visit Shrines & Temples in Kyoto Kyoto
Day 11 Day Trip to Nara Kyoto
Day 12 Enjoy a Scenic Train Ride to Mount Koya Mt Koya
Day 13 Have a Night on the Town in Tokyo Tokyo
Day 14 Depart Tokyo  


Kick off your adventure in Tokyo. After a couple of days in the capital city, you'll travel northwest to the small town of Obuse, once home to the famous woodblock artist Katsushika Hokusai, whose “Great Wave” print is one of the most recognizable pieces of art in the world. Visit the Hokusai-kan Museum to view his historic works, then go to a sake tasting before moving on to Yudanaka Onsen, a hot spring village famous for its resident snow monkeys. 

Tour Matsumoto Castle and enjoy a short walk on the Nakasendo Trail before heading to historic Takayama and then Shirakawa-go to see the region's traditional farmhouses. Go for a stroll along Kyoto's canals and visit the city's shrines and temples with a guide, then stop in Nara before continuing on the beautiful train ride to Mount Koya, an important religious center since the ninth century. Today it's home to over 100 monasteries and the vast Okuno-in Cemetery. You'll go back to Tokyo for a night on the town before the trip is over. Learn more

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Itinerary #3: Family Adventure in Japan

Offering ancient traditions and futuristic fun, this 14-day family-friendly holiday features a sushi class, a samurai sword-fighting course, visits to the character cafés and comic book shops of Tokyo, boating on a lake near Mount Fuji, and day trips to Disney Sea and Universal Studios Japan.  

Walking in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto
Walking in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Tokyo Tokyo
Day 2 Explore Futuristic Odaiba & Learn to Cook Japanese Food Tokyo
Day 3 Have Fun at a Cultural Theme Park in Nikko Tokyo
Day 4 Check Out Manga, Anime & Kawaii Character Cafés Tokyo
Day 5 Enjoy a Free Day in Tokyo Tokyo
Day 6 Get Up Close to Mount Fuji Fujikawaguchiko
Day 7 Explore Mount Fuji & Lake Kawaguchi Fujikawaguchiko
Day 8 Sample Tea & Sweets in Kyoto Kyoto
Day 9 Discover Bamboo Groves & Temples at Arashiyama Kyoto
Day 10 Day Trip to Nara Kyoto
Day 11 Have Fun at Universal Studios Japan Kyoto
Day 12 Sightsee in Historic Hiroshima Hiroshima
Day 13 Boat to Miyajima Island Hiroshima
Day 14 Depart Japan  


Start the adventure in Tokyo with an exploration of futuristic Odaiba and a chance to make sushi during a cooking class with a chef. Learn about ninja culture at a theme park in Nikko, then head back to Tokyo to visit manga and anime shops and colorful character cafés. You'll have a day to explore the Disney Sea theme park. Then you'll day-trip to a traditional village and get a closer look at Mount Fuji, taking some time to boat or swim in picturesque Lake Kawaguchi.

You'll get hands-on—and indulge your sweet tooth—while learning about tea ceremony traditions and candy making in Kyoto. Marvel at the massive bamboo grove at Arashiyama and encounter resident deer around the shrines of Nara before enjoying a day of fun at Universal Studios Japan. Sightsee in Hiroshima and boat out to Miyajima Island, seeing the large red torii gates that rise out of the water from the boat's deck. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Off the Beaten Path in Japan

This unique 14-day trip by steam train, ferry, and boat leads you to hidden destinations that few tourists explore, including a homestay in Izumo, the pristine beaches of the remote Goto islands, and more.

Japan, Nagasaki - Evening view over Nagasaki
Evening view over Nagasaki
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Tokyo, Create Your Own Japanese Sake Tokyo
Day 2 Enjoy Views of Tokyo Tokyo
Day 3 Go Back in Time to the Edo Era Tokyo
Day 4 Discover the Future of Japanese Tech  Tokyo
Day 5 Relax During a Countryside Homestay in Izumo Izumo
Day 6 Walk Through Rice Fields in Izumo Izumo
Day 7 Meet a Geisha & See Yasaka Shrine Kyoto
Day 8 Explore Amanohashidate's Temples & Shrines Kyoto
Day 9 Wander Around Nara with Native Deer Kyoto
Day 10 Take the Steam Train to Arashiyama Ferry
Day 11 Discover the Mysterious Goto Islands Fukuejima
Day 12 Explore Oushima Island  Fukuejima
Day 13 Enjoy Huis Ten Bosch Theme Park Nagasaki
Day 14 Nagasaki Historical Tour Tokyo


Jump right into Tokyo's food and drink scene on day one, blending your own fruits and flavors to create a unique bottle of sake that will be ready for you to pick up at the end of the trip. You'll spend the next few days discovering off-the-beaten-path attractions around the buzzing capital city, learning about futuristic art and technology, and going back in history to educate yourself about the Edo period.

Then it's off to the countryside, where you'll spend several days with a local family during a homestay in Izumo. You'll enjoy homemade meals and also have the chance to meet a geisha for an extended conversation. Visit Yasaka Shrine before continuing to Amanohashidate to see its temples and shrines, then to Nara, where native deer await amid the historical monuments. Take a steam train to Arashiyama before transferring onward to the mysterious Goto Islands. You'll go to Huis Ten Bosch Theme Park, twice the size of Disneyland, and tour historic Nagasaki on the last full day of the trip. Learn more 

Itinerary #5: Winter in Japan: Skiing, Sumo, Sake & More

Ski, snowboard, and hike your way around Japan on this outdoorsy two-week adventure through the country's wintry landscapes, including stops in Kyoto, Tokyo, and the slopes of Niigata, an off-the-beaten-path mountain resort.

Japan - A cable car above the ski slopes in Japan
A cable car above the ski slopes in Japan
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Welcome to Japan! Kyoto
Day 2 Explore the Ancient Capital of Kyoto Kyoto
Day 3 Walk Through a Bamboo Forest in Arashiyama Kyoto
Day 4 Visit Himeji Castle Kyoto
Day 5 Go Back in Time in Takayama  Nagoya
Day 6 Ski the Slopes of Niigata Minami-Uonuma
Day 7 Dip in the Hot Springs of Nagano  Minami-Uonuma
Day 8 Enjoy a Free Day to Relax Minami-Uonuma
Day 9 Get to Know Tokyo Tokyo
Day 10 Enjoy Sumo & Sake  Tokyo
Day 11 Side-trip to Nikko's Temples & Shrines Tokyo
Day 12 Visit a Village Near Mount Fuji Tokyo
Day 13 Explore Futuristic Odaiba Tokyo
Day 14 Depart Tokyo  


This journey begins in Kyoto, where you'll sightsee the ancient capital, day-tripping to Arashiyama and its famous bamboo forest for a relaxing hike. Visit Himeji Castle, one of the most spectacular castles in Japan—it's known as the "White Heron Castle" because the structure resembles a heron in mid-flight. You'll learn more about Japanese history in Takayama before hitting the ski slopes in Niigata.

After a day of skiing or snowboarding, treat yourself to a dip in the hot springs of Nagano. The region is rich with natural mineral springs, and depending on where you go, you may have company—monkeys are famous for bathing here, too! You'll head to Tokyo next, where you'll base yourself for the rest of the trip. See sumo wrestlers in action and sample sake at a tasting, then side-trip to Nikko's temples and a village near Mount Fuji. On the last full day of the trip, enjoy sightseeing, shopping, and bar-hopping in busy Tokyo! Learn more

More 2-Week Japan Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Japan? Check out these other 14-day Japan itineraries, with walking tours, cultural journeys, and best-of trips to hit the highlights. 

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Map of 2 Weeks in Japan - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
Map of 2 Weeks in Japan - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas