14 Day Japan Itinerary
Two weeks that keep the Golden Route spine but add a region with real character — the mountain towns and thatched villages of the Japanese Alps between Tokyo and Kyoto, then the west to Hiroshima and Miyajima.
Fourteen days is the trip people spend years wanting to repeat: Tokyo, an onsen night, Takayama and Kanazawa in the mountains, the temples of Kyoto and Nara, and the Peace Memorial and floating torii to finish. Below it's day by day — morning to evening, with where to eat, exactly how to get between places, and where to stay.
The route
- 1 Tokyo 3 nights ✈ Arrive
- 2 Hakone 1 night
- 3 Takayama 1 night → Shirakawa-gō en route
- 4 Kanazawa 2 nights
- 5 Kyoto 3 nights + day trip: Nara
- 6 Hiroshima 2 nights + day trip: Miyajima
- 7 Osaka 1 night · fly out ✈ Fly home
Route: Tokyo (3 nights) → Hakone (1) → Takayama (1) → Kanazawa (2) → Kyoto (3) → Hiroshima (2) → Osaka (1, fly out of Kansai). A loop up into the Alps between Tokyo and Kyoto, then west to Hiroshima and back to Osaka.
Indicative, mid-range, per person, excluding international flights and ~¥45,000 of intercity rail over the fortnight. With this much train travel, a JR Pass is worth pricing — though the Alps buses and some limited expresses aren't covered.
This is the route where a Japan Rail Pass most often pays off — but the Alps legs (buses to Shirakawa-go, and some limited expresses) sit outside it. Do the maths in our rail pass guide, and see Getting around Japan.
These are just cues — for what each dish is, the districts to find it in and a few dependable places near the day's sights, see where to eat in Tokyo.
Reality check. Days 1 and 14 are half-days once flights are counted, and Day 5 (Hakone→Takayama) is a long travel day — settle in and enjoy the ride. You change hotels six times, so takuhaibin luggage forwarding earns its keep; the Alps buses (Takayama–Shirakawa-go–Kanazawa) should be reserved in peak.
Where to stay
One base per stop, chosen for the route. Each links to that city's full where-to-stay guide.
Pick: a business hotel around Shinjuku Station, or a quieter hotel in Asakusa. Suits: first-timers who want everything a short train away. Watch: rooms are small — pay up a category for space.
Where to stay in Tokyo →Pick: a ryokan with a private or in-room onsen and kaiseki dinner. Suits: the trip's one traditional-inn night. Watch: book early; arrive mid-afternoon for the fixed dinner.
Where to stay in Hakone →Pick: a small ryokan or minshuku within walking distance of Sanmachi Suji and the morning market. Suits: a compact mountain-town night. Watch: just one night — stay central.
Where to stay in Takayama →Pick: a hotel by the striking station for the bus loop, or central Korinbo for Kenrokuen and the chaya districts on foot. Suits: two nights to slow down. Watch: the sights spread across the city — mind the bus loop.
Where to stay in Kanazawa →Pick: a machiya townhouse in Higashiyama for dawn temples, or a hotel by Kyoto Station for easy hops. Suits: temple-first or logistics-first travellers. Watch: Higashiyama is hilly and quiet at night.
Where to stay in Kyoto →Pick: a hotel near the Peace Park for the trams and river, or by the station for the Miyajima run. Suits: pairing the memorial with the island. Watch: stay near a tram line.
Where to stay in Hiroshima →Pick: Namba for the food and Dōtonbori, or Umeda for a fast Haruka run to Kansai. Suits: a final night near the airport line. Watch: a light night after a big trip.
Where to stay in Osaka →Make it yours
Shorter
Cut the Alps for the 10-day, or the classic 7-day Golden Route.
More Alps
Add a night in Takayama or Kanazawa, or swap in Matsumoto and the Kamikōchi valley for hiking.
Cheaper
Business hotels and minshuku over ryokan, a JR Pass for the long legs, and konbini or market meals.
Family-friendly
Shirakawa-go and Nara's deer are winners; keep museum and temple days short and lean on Osaka's Universal.
Snow
Run it Dec–Mar and the Alps turn white — Shirakawa-go under snow is unforgettable, though buses can be slower.
Reverse it
Fly into Kansai and out of Tokyo if your flights suit — it works west-to-east too.
Before you go
- Forward your luggage (takuhaibin).
With six hotel changes, send the big bag ahead and travel with a small case — especially through the Alps.
- Reserve the buses and trains.
The Takayama–Shirakawa-go–Kanazawa buses, Shinkansen and limited expresses in peak, plus teamLab and the Hakone ryokan.
- Get an IC card & data.
Suica/PASMO for local trains and konbini, plus an eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi. See practical information.
- Do the entry admin.
Most visitors are visa-free; complete Visit Japan Web before you land.
- Price the rail pass.
With this much train travel a JR Pass often pays off — but the Alps buses and some limited expresses aren't covered. Do the maths.
Good to know
Questions people actually ask
Is two weeks too long for a first trip to Japan?
Not at all — it's the length that lets you add a region with real character (here, the Japanese Alps) without rushing the essentials. If you'd rather not change hotels six times, the 10-day trims the Alps.
Are the Japanese Alps worth the detour?
Yes. Takayama's old town, the thatched village of Shirakawa-go and Kanazawa's gardens and geisha districts are a complete change of pace from the big cities — mountain air, craft traditions and superb food, all reachable by train and bus.
Do I need a Japan Rail Pass for the 14-day?
This is the route where it most often pays off, given the long Shinkansen legs. Note the Alps buses and some limited expresses fall outside it, and the pass covers the Hikari but not the faster Nozomi. Our rail-pass guide has the sums.
How do I get from Kanazawa to Kyoto now?
Since the 2024 Hokuriku Shinkansen extension to Tsuruga, you take the Shinkansen from Kanazawa to Tsuruga and change to the Thunderbird limited express for Kyoto — about 2 h 10 in total. Confirm the current connection when you book.
Could I do this trip in winter?
Yes, and the Alps are magical under snow — Shirakawa-go especially. Expect cold, occasional slower buses, and shorter daylight; pack warm and keep the schedule flexible.
Check this before you go
Researched August 2026 from our own trips and official sources. Train times, bus reservations and fares change and should be confirmed close to travel; the itinerary structure is stable. Review due February 2027.
- Japan National Tourism Organization — regions, events and current advice
- Nōhi Bus — Takayama–Shirakawa-go–Kanazawa reservations and times
- Visit Hiroshima — Peace Park and Miyajima tide times and hours
Where to go next
Been recently?
Itineraries drift as trains, buses and prices change. If you've just done this route, these are the details most worth a second pair of eyes.
- How did the Kanazawa–Kyoto connection work post-2024? Routing changed
- Were the Alps buses easy to reserve in your season?
- Did the Miyajima tides line up with your visit?
Tell us what you found — we date every change and say what we altered.