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2 Weeks in Japan Itinerary: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka in Three Bases
A 2 weeks in Japan itinerary in three bases: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, with Hakone, Nara and Hiroshima day trips, 2026 rail fares and pass maths.
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In this guide
The best 2 weeks in Japan itinerary uses three beds, not six: five nights in Tokyo, five in Kyoto and three in Osaka, with Hakone, Nara and Hiroshima as day trips that return to the same hotel. You fly into Tokyo, travel west in one line and fly home from Kansai. Only one week? Use 7 days in Japan instead.
How should you split 14 days in Japan?
Sleep in three places and treat everything else as a day trip. Every hotel change costs half a day of checking out, hauling bags through stations and checking in. For example, five hotels in 14 days cost you four of those half days, which is two full days of sightseeing lost to logistics. Three hotels cost you two half days. That is why this route puts Hakone, Nara and Hiroshima on day trips instead of giving each a bed. Hakone is 1 to 2 hours from Tokyo, Nara is about 45 minutes from Kyoto, and Hiroshima is about 85 minutes from Osaka, so none of them needs a bag.
| Base | Nights | Days | How you arrive | Day trip from here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | 5 | 1 to 5 | Fly into Haneda or Narita | Hakone |
| Kyoto | 5 | 6 to 10 | Shinkansen from Tokyo, about 2 hours 13 minutes on the Nozomi | Nara |
| Osaka | 3 | 11 to 13 | Train from Kyoto, 15 to 30 minutes | Hiroshima and Miyajima |
Day 14 is departure from Kansai Airport. Book an open-jaw flight, into Tokyo and out of Osaka, because flying home from Tokyo would burn most of your last day on a train.
The catch is what this route leaves out. There is no Hakone ryokan night, no Takayama and no overnight in Hiroshima. A ryokan is the right trade if onsen matter more to you than Nara, and the Hakone travel guide covers it. Choose one trade, not three.
What do you do in each base?
Each block below follows the same arc: settle in, see the headline sights, eat in the neighbourhoods, take one bigger outing, then move on.
Days 1 to 5: Tokyo
Day 1 is for landing. Drop your bags near Shinjuku or Asakusa and walk until dinner. Shinjuku puts almost everywhere within one direct train ride, while Asakusa is quieter and cheaper but a 25 to 30 minute ride from the west side. Save timed tickets for later, because jet lag makes arrival day the wrong day for a schedule.
Day 2 is Asakusa and Ueno. Reach Senso-ji before the tour groups, then walk to Ueno Park for the afternoon. Day 3 covers Meiji Jingu, then Harajuku, the Shibuya crossing and Shinjuku after dark. The Tokyo travel guide has the area breakdown and ticket prices.
Day 4 is Hakone. It works as a day trip from Shinjuku: the 2-day Hakone Freepass from Shinjuku costs 7,100 yen in 2026, and you only need one of its days (Hakone Navi). Ride the mountain train to Gora, the cable car and ropeway over the sulphur vents at Owakudani, and the pirate ship across Lake Ashi. However, Fuji is often hidden by cloud, so go on a clear morning if the forecast lets you swap days 3 and 4.
Day 5 is unplanned. Sleep late, pick the neighbourhood you liked best on day two and go back. Ramen shops fill you for 900 to 1,200 yen (Japan trip cost guide), and what runs out in Tokyo is energy, not money. Takkyubin is Japan’s door-to-door luggage courier, and most hotels will book it for you. Send your big bag to Kyoto tonight, then carry a light bag on the train.
Days 6 to 10: Kyoto
Day 6 is the Shinkansen west. The Nozomi is the fastest bullet train on the Tokaido line. It takes about 2 hours 13 minutes and costs 14,170 yen reserved, while the slower Hikari takes about 2 hours 40 minutes for 13,850 yen (Self Guide Japan). Base near Shijo and Karasuma for restaurants and two subway lines, then walk through Gion at dusk. Since March 2026, Kyoto’s lodging tax adds 400 yen per person per night on most mid-range rooms, paid at check-out.
Cherry blossom around the pagoda at Toji Temple, best in late March and early April.
Day 7 is Higashiyama. Kiyomizu-dera opens at 6am and charges 500 yen, and the wooden stage is nearly empty at that hour. Walk down through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka into Gion, and stay on the public streets because Gion’s private alleys are closed to visitors. Our Kyoto travel guide explains the rule and the fine.
Day 8 is Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji. Do the shrine’s torii path before 8am, then take the train to Arashiyama and the bus to Kinkaku-ji (500 yen). Crossing town for one temple at a time is how Kyoto days disappear.
Day 9 is Nara. Kintetsu from Kyoto reaches Nara in about 45 minutes. Todai-ji’s Great Buddha Hall costs 800 yen, or 1,200 yen for a joint ticket with the museum (Todai-ji official). Four to five hours is enough, and you sleep in Kyoto again tonight.
A grazing deer and cherry blossom beside the halls below Nigatsu-do, in the Todai-ji grounds.
Day 10 is slow on purpose. Walk the Philosopher’s Path, graze Nishiki Market and revisit whichever temple pulled at you. Travellers who skip this day remember queues. Travellers who keep it remember Kyoto.
Days 11 to 13: Osaka
Day 11 is a short move. Kyoto to Osaka takes 15 to 30 minutes, so you lose almost nothing. Base in Namba, within walking distance of Dotonbori’s neon canal, and eat that night. The Osaka travel guide has the neighbourhood detail, and the Japanese street food guide covers takoyaki and kushikatsu.
The Dotonbori canal in Osaka after dark.
Day 12 is Hiroshima and Miyajima. This is the long day, so start early. The Nozomi from Shin-Osaka takes about 85 minutes and costs around 10,970 yen reserved each way, while the Hikari or Sakura takes about 100 minutes for 10,420 yen (per Ekitan). Go straight to the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, which costs 200 yen and is open 7:30am to 7pm from September to November (museum official). Allow at least 90 minutes. Then plan nothing heavy, because the museum is hard going.
Afterwards, take the JR Sanyo line to Miyajimaguchi (about 25 minutes, 420 yen), then the 10-minute ferry at 200 yen plus a 100 yen visitor tax (japan-guide). Check tide times before you go, because the torii stands in water only at high tide. The honest downside is a very long day, so if you dislike rushing, sleep a night in Hiroshima instead.
Day 13 is the castle and the food. Osaka Castle’s park is free and the main tower costs 1,200 yen, doubled from 600 yen in April 2025 (Osaka Castle). Go at opening, eat around Kuromon Market, then spend the evening in Shinsekai. Himeji Castle is the alternative if you skip Hiroshima, a half-day trip west by Shinkansen.
Osaka Castle above its outer moat, with the business park behind.
Day 14 is departure. Trains run from Namba on the Nankai line and from Osaka Station on the JR line to Kansai Airport. Book an afternoon or evening flight if you can, since a single delayed train should not cost you a connection.
Find experiences for your Japan trip
If you book through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.Should you buy a JR Pass for 2 weeks in Japan?
No, on this route point-to-point tickets win by a wide margin. The 14-day Ordinary pass costs 80,000 yen, but from 1 October 2026 overseas agencies sell it at 84,000 yen while the official JR site holds the old price (japan-guide). Compare both before you pay. Our Japan Rail Pass guide has the break-even maths.
| Rail cost on this route | 2026 price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo to Kyoto, Nozomi reserved | 14,170 yen | Hikari is 13,850 yen and 27 minutes slower |
| Osaka to Hiroshima and back | About 20,000 to 22,000 yen | Depends on train and seat |
| Hakone Freepass, 2-day, from Shinjuku | 7,100 yen | Includes the return Odakyu ride |
| Total of the three | About 41,000 to 43,000 yen | Plus local trains and airport transfers |
| 14-day Ordinary JR Pass | 80,000 yen | 84,000 yen via agencies from 1 Oct 2026 |
The pass also excludes the Nozomi and Mizuho, so pass holders ride the slower Hikari or Sakura. Hiroshima is the only long return leg. Even with airport trains and local hops added, you stay well under 80,000 yen. The pass only wins if you add several more long day trips, such as Himeji or Kanazawa.
A quick rule: if your plan has fewer than three long Shinkansen return trips, buy tickets as you go. Otherwise, price the pass again with your real legs.
On total spend, 20,000 yen per person per day is a fair mid-range figure excluding flights, and the Japan trip cost guide breaks it down by tier. Hotels and food set most of it.
When is the best time to do this itinerary?
Late March to early April brings cherry blossom, and October to November brings autumn colour. Both windows are peak season with the highest hotel prices, so book three to four months ahead. The best time to visit Japan covers each month in turn. Avoid Golden Week in late April to early May and Obon in mid-August, unless you enjoy full trains.
Winter is clear, cheaper and underrated, with thinner crowds at every temple. Summer is hot, humid and busy with festivals, so keep the two slow days and start early.
The 14-day route in three bases
- Days 1–5 — Tokyo arrive, settle in, Asakusa and Ueno, Harajuku and Shibuya, a Hakone day trip, a deliberately unplanned day
- Days 6–10 — Kyoto the Shinkansen west, Gion, Higashiyama at opening time, Arashiyama, a Nara day trip, a slow day
- Days 11–14 — Osaka a short hop from Kyoto, Dotonbori, a Hiroshima and Miyajima day trip, the castle, the last night and departure
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Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo
Land at Haneda or Narita, drop your bags near Shinjuku or Asakusa and walk until dinner. Skip anything timed today.
- Shinjuku
- Asakusa
Overnight: Tokyo
-
Day 2: Tokyo: Asakusa and Ueno
Senso-ji before the tour groups, then Ueno Park and the museums, then an evening in Akihabara or back in Asakusa.
- Senso-ji
- Ueno Park
- Akihabara
Overnight: Tokyo
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Day 3: Tokyo: Harajuku, Shibuya and Shinjuku
Meiji Jingu first, then the Shibuya crossing in the afternoon and Shinjuku's lanes after dark.
- Meiji Jingu
- Harajuku
- Shibuya Crossing
- Shinjuku
Overnight: Tokyo
-
Day 4: Day trip to Hakone
The mountain loop by train, cable car, ropeway and lake boat, with Mount Fuji as the prize on a clear day. Back in Tokyo for dinner.
- Owakudani
- Lake Ashi
- Hakone Shrine
Overnight: Tokyo
-
Day 5: A slow day in Tokyo
Nothing booked. A long breakfast, a neighbourhood you liked on day two, ramen for lunch and your bags packed by evening.
Overnight: Tokyo
-
Day 6: Shinkansen to Kyoto
Just over two hours west, then hotel, lunch and an easy walk through Gion at dusk.
- Kyoto Station
- Gion
- Hanamikoji
Overnight: Kyoto
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Day 7: Kyoto: Higashiyama
Kiyomizu-dera at the 6am opening, then down through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka before the crowds arrive.
- Kiyomizu-dera
- Sannenzaka
- Ninenzaka
Overnight: Kyoto
-
Day 8: Kyoto: Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji
The torii path early, then the west and north of the city by train, with the Golden Pavilion in the afternoon.
- Fushimi Inari
- Arashiyama
- Kinkaku-ji
Overnight: Kyoto
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Day 9: Day trip to Nara
Kintetsu line to Nara in about 45 minutes for Todai-ji and the deer park, back in Kyoto for dinner.
- Todai-ji
- Nara Park
- Kasuga Taisha
Overnight: Kyoto
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Day 10: A slow day in Kyoto
The Philosopher's Path, Nishiki Market and a second visit to whichever temple pulled at you. No alarm.
- Philosopher's Path
- Nishiki Market
Overnight: Kyoto
-
Day 11: Move to Osaka
A 15 to 30 minute train, hotel in Namba, then the Dotonbori canal at night.
- Namba
- Dotonbori
Overnight: Osaka
-
Day 12: Day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima
Early Shinkansen west for the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, then the JR ferry to Itsukushima Shrine. Back in Osaka late.
- Peace Memorial Park
- Peace Memorial Museum
- Itsukushima Shrine
Overnight: Osaka
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Day 13: Osaka Castle, Kuromon and Shinsekai
The castle at opening time, Kuromon Market for lunch and a last evening under Tsutenkaku tower.
- Osaka Castle
- Kuromon Market
- Shinsekai
Overnight: Osaka
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Day 14: Final morning and flight home
Nankai or JR train to Kansai Airport, with a last breakfast in the station if the flight allows.
- Kansai International Airport
Overnight: Osaka
Know before you go
Japan at a glance
Best time to visit
March to May, October to November
- January: cool, some showers
- February: cool, some showers
- March: mild, rainy
- April: mild, rainy
- May: warm, rainy
- June: warm, very wet
- July: warm, very wet
- August: hot, rainy
- September: warm, very wet
- October: mild, very wet
- November: mild, rainy
- December: cool, some showers
Some showers Rainy Very wet
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Currency
- Japanese yen (JPY)
- Language
- Japanese
- Time zone
- JST, UTC+9
- Plugs
- Type A / B, 100 V
- Driving
- On the left
Emergency110 police, 119 fire and ambulance
Frequently asked questions
Is 2 weeks enough for Japan?
Yes for a first visit. Fourteen days with three beds gives you five nights in Tokyo, five in Kyoto and three in Osaka, plus day trips to Hakone, Nara and Hiroshima. You will not see everything. Hokkaido, Kyushu and the northern Alps are all second-trip material.
Should I buy the 14-day JR Pass for this route?
No. The 14-day Ordinary pass costs 80,000 yen, rising to 84,000 yen through overseas agencies from 1 October 2026. The big rail costs on this route (Tokyo to Kyoto, a Hiroshima return and the Hakone pass) come to roughly 41,000 to 43,000 yen. The pass also excludes Nozomi and Mizuho trains.
Should I fly into Tokyo and out of Osaka?
Yes. An open-jaw ticket saves a full day of backtracking, because the route only ever runs west. Tokyo to Kyoto is about 2 hours 13 minutes on the Nozomi, and Osaka is 15 to 30 minutes beyond Kyoto.
Is Hiroshima too far for a day trip from Osaka?
It is doable but long. The Shinkansen takes about 1 hour 25 minutes each way, and the Peace Museum and Miyajima need most of a day. If you would rather not rush, add a night in Hiroshima and take one night off Tokyo or Kyoto.
When is the best time to do this itinerary?
Late March to early April for cherry blossom, or October to November for autumn colour. Both are peak season, so book hotels three to four months ahead. Avoid Golden Week (late April to early May) and Obon (mid-August), when trains and hotels fill with domestic travellers.
Useful links (8)
- Japan Rail Pass guide, japan-guide.com— japan-guide.com
- 2-week Japan itinerary route fares 2026, Self Guide Japan— selfguidejapan.com
- Tokyo to Kyoto Shinkansen fares and times 2026, Self Guide Japan— selfguidejapan.com
- Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima Shinkansen fares and times, Ekitan— ekitan.com
- Miyajima access, japan-guide.com— japan-guide.com
- Todai-ji admission fees (official)— todaiji.or.jp
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum visiting information (official)— hpmmuseum.jp
- Osaka Castle entrance fee— osakacastle.org
Photo credits
Thank you to Jakub Hałun, ChubbyWimbus at wts wikivoyage, DimiTalen, DXR and Martin Falbisoner for sharing these beautiful photographs and helping bring this guide to life.
Editorial byline
Sophie Bennett Asia editor
Sophie covers Japan and Thailand for Epic Trip Ideas: temple towns, festivals, rail journeys, street food and island routes, planned around seasons and local holidays. Sophie Bennett is a pen name the Epic Trip Ideas editors use for Japan and Thailand; every guide is checked against official sources before it goes live.
