THE BEST TWO-WEEK TRAVEL ITINERARY TO JAPAN

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Let's get in position: you already have your ticket purchased, you know more or less what you want to see but you are not sure how to set up the perfect travel itinerary to Japan. We understand it perfectly: there are so many places that you want to visit that it is difficult to make a selection and distribute the days. We've all been there ... so we think it's a good idea to create what, for us, is the best two-week travel itinerary to Japan, ideal for a first trip to the country of the rising sun.

And to help you plan the rest of the aspects of the trip, check out this post, where we give you a few tips to travel to Japan (and not screw it up). And to this one, with the 10 experiences that you should live on a first trip to Japan.

Now, without further ado we will tell you what, for us, is the best travel itinerary to Japan, for those who visit it for the first time and have approximately two weeks of time:

Days 1 and 2- Osaka -

To maximize our days in Japan, the ideal would be to get a flight that arrives in Osaka and start the trip here, to finish in the capital: Tokyo. A couple of days in Osaka is enough to start soaking up Japanese culture, especially its nightlife. Osaka is one of the least valued cities in Japan and the truth is that we do not understand the reason: we found it beautiful, interesting and fun. It also eats fancy!

→ What to see and do in Osaka

Day 3- Nara -

You can visit Nara with a day trip from Osaka or Kyoto, or what we propose: stay here for one night and thus have plenty of time. Anyway, go! And not only to meet the beautiful and curious deer, but because in the past, during medieval times, Nara was the capital of the country and retains a lot of temples and interesting buildings to see, such as the Todaiji Temple or the Kasuga Taisha shrine.

→ What to see and do in Nara

Alternative- Koyasan -

It is not a stop that many people make during their first trip and arrive can be somewhat messy, but believe us: everything is worth it to get to Koyasan, sleep in a traditional shukubo (Japanese monastery) and visit one of the most mystical places in the country of the rising sun.

→ Travel guide to Koyasan

Days 4 and 5- Hiroshima and Miyajima -

It was the morning of August 6, 1945, when a terrible event was about to put on the world map this quiet city in southern Japan: we speak, of course, of the atomic bomb. But don't fall into the error of believing that Hiroshima today is a gray and sad city: nothing is further from the truth. The city knew how to recover and for us it was one of the great surprises of the trip.

In a travel itinerary to Japan you can not miss a visit to Miyajima, one of the most emblematic enclaves of the country. You can easily get there from Hiroshima and we recommend you to spend a whole day here since, beyond the immense Torii de Miyajima, which captures almost all the eyes of tourists, there are many things to see.

→ What to see and do in Hiroshima→ What to see and do in Miyajima

Days 6, 7 and 8- Kyoto -

Kyoto is one of the great treasures of Japan: if Tokyo represents its most technological, modern and modern part, this city is its traditional heart. City of hundreds of temples, neighborhoods that seem anchored in the past and with a very, very strong personality. At least 3 days are needed to dive in Japanese culture in Kyoto, to jump from temple to temple, and become almost an expert in Japanese cuisine.

→ What to see and do in Kyoto

Days 9 and 10- Kanazawa, Takayama and Shirakawa-go - *

It is the area called "The Japanese Alps", a land of samurai with and if you can include it in your trip to Japan it will be worth it. The landscapes are different from what has been seen so far, the villages connected by the train track are calm and, although tourism is noted, it is possible to connect with the authenticity that small places like these offer.

And of course take an excursion to the town of Shirakawa-go, with its characteristic wooden houses with triangular roofs.

* If you go bad weather, with a lot of pain this could be the stage to eliminate from your itinerary.

→ What to see and do in Takayama
→ Our passage through Shirakawa-go

Days 11, 12, 13 and 14Tokyo + excursions

We spent a whole month in Tokyo and we still have many things to know. It is a city that engages and disorients: for now you will seem to be in another dimension, futuristic how not! But suddenly you travel to the past, thanks especially to traditional neighborhoods like Asakusa, where you will feel like inside a film of the Ghibli Studios.

→ What to see and do in Tokyo

From Tokyo there are also very interesting excursions and, if you can take a little time, you will love them. These are the two most famous:

Nikko excursion, to get to know the impressive Toshogu sanctuary, where the Tokugawa Ieyasu mausoleum is located (shogun japan) and where the traveler will freak out with the architecture of different artistic styles and with a mixture of Buddhist and Shintoist symbols. The size of the 3 monkeys is perhaps the most famous: it represents 3 monkeys, one covering the eyes, another the ears and another the mouth. You can visit Nikko for free or on a guided tour.
Mount Fuji excursion. This volcano is one of the most powerful and beloved symbols of the country. It is not so easy to see it, as it is often covered by clouds, but with some luck you can see one of the most incredible prints you will ever see. You can visit Mount Fuji for free or on a guided tour.

In case you arrive and depart to / from Tokyo, a good idea would be to split the visit in two: the first 2 or 3 days discover the city and its different neighborhoods. Then start the trip through the rest of the country, to return again to Tokyo and dedicate the last two days to the proposed excursions.

And we arrive at the time of return. Say goodbye to Japan with a see you soon, because you'll see ... you're coming back! And it is that Japan hooks so much that you will want to return to know more incredible places.

Take advantage of your extra days to visit some of these sites:

Himeji, with its incredible medieval castle, a World Heritage Site since 1993 and recently restored.
Kobe, city famous for the quality of its meat ... nothing more and nothing less than one of the best (and most expensive) in the world.
Kamakura, one of the most famous excursions to do from Tokyo, to know the immense statue of the Amida Buddha that measures about 13 meters high and weighs 93 tons!

Here we leave you the map with the proposed itinerary:

We hope our 2-week travel itinerary to Japan you liked it! If you have any more questions or questions, leave us a comment and we will be happy to answer you! Good trip!