How To Spend Two Weeks in Japan - A Travel Itinerary

japan what's the first thing that comes to your mind tokyo anime mount fuji sushi geisha kyoto cats or maid cafes history culture technology sakura spring autumn cosplay osaka himeji or hiroshima honshu shikaku hokkaido everyone has their own list and on the list of places to visit before you die japan ranks among the best there are just so many amazing inspiring hidden unique and outrageous experiences that you can find in japan so many that it can be hard to know where to begin but don't let this prevent you from the trip of a lifetime i have lived travelled and explored this beautiful diverse country for over five years and now i want to share my knowledge and experience with you too this is how i would spend two weeks in japan here is a sneak peek of what might prove to be the best trip you'll ever take arriving in tokyo to immerse yourself in the bustling heart of the country and whet your appetite for the journey ahead then contrasting this modern mega city we'll head into the countryside of yamanashi to glimpse the majestic mount fuji a must for any memory of japan then staying in kyoto japan's cultural seoul with its traditional streets and spiritual temples and shrines we then head to ancient nada japan's first capital but now better known for its polite bowing deer an incredible burning mountain event before diving into osaka to taste the culinary excellence that its streets have to offer then explore the hidden and mysterious setauchy japan's inland sea with its ruined fortresses breathtaking bridges an adorable rabbit island then paying our respects in hiroshima the location of the first atomic bomb and seeing how beautiful the city has become since that day before returning at last to tokyo visiting all the essentials and crossing off items from your personal list it goes without saying that we all have our own favorites when it comes to travel so i have included a variety of things to do with several options that you can select for yourself if any one item isn't your cup of green tea feel free to mix days or activities around this will be a round trip using japan rail pass so you can freely travel quickly both within and between cities using japan's excellent train network here are a couple things to know before we begin the japan rail pass can be bought for 7 14 or 21 consecutive days and might seem expensive at first glance but will save you hundreds of dollars over the course of your trip in some cases it is possible to purchase it at major airports but only at an increased cost the rail pass will cover basically all transport on this trip over the jr lines but in some cases such as the tokyo subway an additional fare will be required for these it's easy to pick up an ic card to quickly board trains they can be purchased at every station and can be refunded on your final day for their remaining balance there are a lot of apps for train times and navigation in japan but in recent years they have just not been as effective as google maps which is now all that i use for finding trains and getting around pocket wi-fi can be purchased at airports and camera stores but it is often also free in major cities and at cafes and you'll not have to worry too much about the language barrier japan is very well suited for foreign travelers and even without a single word of japanese you can enjoy this trip that said it's always nice to repay the hospitality of your hosts by learning a few phrases lastly don't tip there is no tipping culture in japan and doing so will lead to humorous scenes for onlookers as the shopkeepers will chase you down on the streets even through the rain in an effort to return even a single yen you left behind let's begin arriving in tokyo you'll be greeted one of the largest and busiest mega cities in the world but don't let that overwhelm you find your hotel drop off your bags and get out there and try some authentic japanese food to fuel up then just go out and explore the city there is something for everyone in tokyo start your trip off with a bang and go straight to that tokyo spot that you have been looking forward to the most whether it's the bustling shibuya scramble the fashionable streets of harajuku the madness of japan's electric town akihabara the tranquility of the imperial gardens you could even see all of these on the first day as they are all easily accessible from the yamanote or tokyo loop line my recommendation though is to pick just one or two that you've heard of and then just walk around exploring the streets for yourself finding all those little nooks and crannies that you just won't find on a map that makes japan so special the first two days are also a great time to acclimatize yourself to the country don't worry if there is something that you feel you missed because you'll have another chance when we return to tokyo at the end just make a note of it so that you'll remember if cities just aren't your thing then the beauty of the japan rail pass is that you can ditch tokyo entirely perhaps heading up to matsushima for the day the famed pine islands in miyagi which are the first of the three great sites of japan or nihon sanke and returning that same day for those of you staying in tokyo here are a few more things you can do visiting the iconic sosenji temple in asakusa one of tokyo's most popular destinations the temple is completely free to visit and you can also take a walk on the sumida river with views of the tokyo skytree you could take in the nightlife akabukijo street enjoy a drink in a small bar in goldengai or just relax at yokohama bayside park only 18 minutes away by train people often assume that this is part of tokyo but it's actually a city all on its own and in fact japan's second largest and the capital of kanagawa i find yokohama to be a lot more relaxed and spacious compared to its bustling and oftentimes cramped tokyo counterpart depending on the season it is possible to see mount fuji from tokyo when the conditions are right but it's time to get up close contrasting the urban landscape for the natural spending the day amongst the beauty of japan's most iconic mountain along the fuji five lakes at kawaguchiko which can be accessed either by highway bus or by taking the train to otsuki and then transferring to the fujiku line unfortunately this line isn't covered on the rail pass but it only costs 1200 yen or just under 10. the fuji five lakes are most beautiful in spring and autumn when the sakura or momiji maple leaves are out respectively the lake can be explored by bus or rental car cheaply and you can experience the mystery of fuji's lava caves or the shrouded aokigahara forest travelers between early june and september also have the option of climbing mount fuji but you'll have to modify this itinerary to do so reaching the summit can take between 6 and 10 hours depending on your level of fitness and about the same coming down it is possible to climb mount fuji overnight to catch the sunrise then descending the same day which is called bullet climbing or you can even rent a small cabin close to the summit for a slower and much more relaxing ascent these cabins can be expensive however and fill quickly so book ahead even though fuji might exhaust you for the next few days the opportunity to see the sun rise from japan's tallest peak is something that's definitely worth considering for those content to see fuji from the city or on the train to kyoto this day could be substituted with a trip to the aforementioned matsushima or depending on the season into the nagano mountains to witness japan's hot spring monkeys in jigokudani called hell valley due to its geothermal landscape it snows from november to february which is undoubtedly the best time to visit this spot this is a remarkable place to enjoy the winter landscape while taking a hot onsen bath kyoto cultural and spiritual heart of japan for many this will be the most memorable part of any trip and it's easy to see why with its beautiful historic streets structures and gardens you'll immediately notice the difference between kyoto and tokyo and may be tempted to spend many more days in this ancient capital of japan but here's my recommendation start every day early in kyoto it's much more beautiful in the morning before it becomes crowded a walk through fushimi and hari taisha with its thousands of a million tory gates is a must for every visitor in kyoto it is completely free and gets busier as the day goes on but as you climb the mountain people will begin to thin out and you'll be able to find a section just for yourself a whole lap through the shrine can take an hour or two and i always find something new each time i visit next head to kimi sadetta the water temple this is my favorite temple in all of japan and is particularly beautiful in autumn the street leading to the temple kimi suzaka is also a great place to look for small souvenirs and japanese suites try free samples offered by its stalls or sit down for a cup of tea from here i recommend walking downhill towards yasaka ginger it only takes about 12 minutes on foot but you can absolutely take your time getting lost in the historic streets admiring the architecture yasaka in summer is the center of gyanmatsuri kyoto's largest festival and speaking of gion it's just across the road from here and if you are lucky you may even capture glimpse of a real working geisha though they are much more reclusive these days if you absolutely can't leave japan without seeing geisha or their maiko apprentices then you can watch them perform at the yasaka hall this part of kyoto is best explored by foot and from here i recommend continuing your walk towards the kamal river you'll find pontocho alley perhaps the most iconic backstreet in japan just walking along this alley in itself is a joy but it is also a great spot for having a drink or for fine dining although it can be a little bit expensive so keep that in mind at the end of pontocho you'll find sanjo dori which is another great place to find a restaurant or just relax on the river itself and enjoy a drink there are no open bottle laws in japan so you can drink freely along the banks and many people gather here to do so just remember that it can be hard to find a trash can in japan and you might have to carry your cans and bottles around for a while if you're in kyoto during spring then i absolutely recommend visiting kyage an old incline railway which was used to move goods from lake biwoko to kyoto that is now lined with hundreds of sakura trees nearby nanzenji and the sui rokaku aqueduct can also be seen here but they are a little bit better in autumn colors the next day take a 20 minute train to arashiyama the storm mountain and take a stroll through the famous bamboo grove like fushimi this is best explored early in the morning or on a weekday before it becomes too crowded to get that perfect travel shot afterwards you can take a relaxed walk towards the target secure bridge trying some of the street food on offer and take a look at the kimono forest an art installation at arashiyama station which mimics the bamboo forest but by using the patterns of real kimonos speaking of commodores if you wish to rent a kimono there are numerous places to do so here scattered throughout the area for around 2 000 yen an hour which is a much more cost effective alternative to buying one as a souvenir along the banks of the tourket secure bridge is also a great place to take a break and enjoy some ice cream or a traditional snack just across the bridge you can also experience feeding macaques at the iwatayama monkey park they are quite friendly and come down from the mountains during the day but be sure to follow the rules as they are still wild animals iwatayama offers great views of kyoto and the katsura river which you can walk along or even rent a row boat but to fully experience the mountains i recommend taking the turoko romantic railway which winds its way through the canyon along the vibrant beautiful green river to kameoka arashiyama is beautiful all year round but i enjoy it best in autumn and winter rounding out your day from here you can visit the nearby kinkakuji the golden pavilion which incorporates three distinct styles of architecture shinden samurai and zen over three floors the exterior of course is covered in gold leaf and it is spectacular in the sun or covered in snow there are over 1600 temples and shrines in kyoto between the large sites and the small ones scattered throughout the city so you can take your time to explore on your last day summer i would recommend are higashi honganji nijo castle the kyoto imperial castle and heian jingu shrine if you'd prefer a side trip then you can explore shiga prefecture just 30 minutes away by train and home of japan's largest lake exploring the rural countryside and history of ikani castle or the old merchant moats of omihachiman going a bit further you can even explore gifu a less traveled but incredibly diverse prefecture where you can see ancient cormorant fishing fireflies in summer a pond that resembles a monette painting or even see fish swimming through the streets of gujo hachiman japan's water city northern kyoto is another great option but it is surprisingly out of the way and will take almost two and a half hours to reach should you choose to though you'll be rewarded with the second of the three great views of japan amano hashidate the bridge to heaven there is a quirky little local tradition to stand on the mountain bend over and view the pine sandbar upside down through your legs which gives the appearance of it leading up into the sky which is where its name comes from and from here just by going a bit further north you can find the fisherman village of inecho referred to as the venice of japan due to its old family boathouses it is even possible to rent one of these and stay overnight an experience that might make the detour all the worthwhile nada japan's first ancient capital dating back to the year 710 it only takes 45 minutes to reach nada so this day could be an additional stay in kyoto if you could set aside four or five hours to visit but i much prefer to stay in this city famous for its friendly deer overnight as that is the only way to experience the park early in the morning when the light is at its best and the mist is still in the air from nada station you can walk all throughout the city and up to the park feeding the deer is a popular activity and you can buy special dear senbei or crackers for about 200 yen like people most of the deer are polite and will thank you for the food with a bow but some are impatient and will do anything to taste the delicious senbei while in nada you will almost definitely see someone running away from the hungry deer or find yourself being chased as well but it's still all in good fun to daiji temple the largest wooden structure in japan is found here which houses the 15 meter tall giant bronze daibutsu statue visitors to nada in spring can also be treated to the best sakura spot in all of japan yoshino this mountain has over 30 000 sakura trees which bloom at different stages and it is unlike anywhere else in the country yoshino is a little bit out of the way however and you'll need to take the kintetsu which is not covered by the jr pass although the beauty of the sightseeing trains such as the blue symphony more than make up for this the luxury seats can be reserved for as little as 700 yen or around six dollars the mountain town is beautiful but the sakura are the main draw someone would only include this side trip if you happen to be inara in april an all year round alternative side trip from yoshino either when traveling from kyoto to nada or returning is uji this small town is famous for its matcha green tea and byodo in temple the phoenix hall of this temple is the very same that can be found on the back of the tanyan coin and the river which runs through the middle of the city makes for a great afternoon walk you can also view cormorant fishing here as well between july and september a secret tip for those who happen to be a nada on the fourth saturday of january one of japan's most incredible festivals is held here on this day the wakakusa yamiaki or literally grilled mountain festival where you can witness an entire mountain being set a blaze shortly after the sun has set the scale of this event can be witnessed from all over the town but the best spots are definitely the base of the mountain though you do need to get there quite early to find a space it's now time to get back somewhere a bit more urban so we'll be spending the next two days in osaka japan's third largest city but you'll immediately notice the difference between it and tokyo osaka is louder grittier feels more lived in people like to have fun and love to eat when they come to osaka this is a great time in your trip to really let loose explore the back streets and maybe do a bit of shopping but don't fill up your bags just yet as there will be another chance to at the end of this trip dotonburi in the namba minami area is the heart of osaka and where you will find the iconic glycoman sign at the ebc bridge this is where everyone meets up for a night in the town of osaka somewhat ironically as you'll often have to wade through a sea of other people also looking for their friends but it's a local tradition along the river and the shinsaibashi's shopping streets have endless places to grab a bite to eat and i recommend the osaka specialty okonomiyaki and takoyaki another great place to enjoy some street food is just 20 minutes away in kobe non-kinmachi chinatown is lined with vendors who offer some of the most delicious dumplings duck and steamed pork buns i've ever tasted and you can easily fill yourself up here for the day for less than one or two thousand yen but just be careful every time i've tried to experience kobe beef i find myself back in nankinmachi because it's just that good kobe also holds a special event over the christmas period called the luminary one of the most spectacular and largest lighting displays in the world for some more things to do in osaka i recommend the kaiyukan aquarium the second largest in japan where you can see giant deepwater japanese sea crabs and even whale sharks universal studios with its recently opened super nintendo land shinsekai a retro street famous for its neon lights and fried kushikatsu sticks and osaka castle park the park is a great place to relax in the city and its ancient castle moat is one of if not the largest and most impressive in japan the castle is a beautiful reconstruction and its exterior is gorgeous but i would skip going inside unless you really want to see the view from the top as its interior is really no different from any modern building a much better alternative is himeji castle which is 45 minutes away from osaka himeji can be visited while you're still in osaka or as you travel down to or back from hiroshima himeji castle is without a doubt japan's most prestigious and extravagant castle with its massive size and intricate detail it only takes a few hours to view the castle so i wouldn't really devote a whole day here but as a side trip it's definitely worth it for day 10 i'm going to show you a secret little spot that you've likely never heard of as we head south to wakayama taking a short train to the kata port and then a ferry to tomogishima a series of four tiny islands in the osaka bay between the mainland and owaji here you'll find the abandoned ruins of a fort built to protect the bay from pirates what makes this unique island so special is just how freely you can explore the tunnels and ruins of the red brick installation it feels like a whole other world in this place and the jungle moss and ruins served as the inspiration for the studio ghibli film lapida castle in the sky it is also possible to camp on this island but it can be comfortably explored in a single day tomokoshima has been one of my favourite hidden locations to visit in japan and one of my top recommendations for something a little bit different but if a mysterious lost island isn't your thing then dayton is a great time to visit koyasan temple in the mountains or naji falls both of which can be found here in wakayama [Music] after leaving wakayama we begin to move towards the chugaku or central region of japan and hiroshima but not before making some side trips and you can take two different paths here this would also be a good time to stop at himeji since we're gonna go right past it before stopping in onomichi a small town but the gateway to the inland sea of japan which shelters over 3 000 small islands connected by bridges and fairies from here you can either take a ferry to visit okonoshima japan's rabbit island where you can enjoy the seaside and feed thousands of wild bunnies before continuing to hiroshima or have a luggage service send your bags ahead and rent a bicycle for 1 000 a day and cross what many consider to be the greatest cycling course in the world the island ocean road or shiminami kaido i would absolutely recommend this course if you're up for it and it can be completed in one day if you start early enough or set aside an additional day and take your time while staying on the islands the inland sea seems almost tropical with 70 kilometers or 44 miles off coastline to experience some of the best sunsets in japan can be viewed here especially over japan's longest bridge the kureshi makaikyo which in itself is four kilometers or two and a half miles long which actually makes it longer than mount fuji is tall it is possible to visit both the rabbit island and complete the shimonamikaido in a single day but really only for an experienced cyclist the beauty of renting a bike along the inland sea is that you can drop them off early at various points and take ferries back or along to hiroshima so you will not need to return to onomichi after reaching ihime provided that your luggage was indeed sent forward arriving in hiroshima either by ferry or train this will be the last major city before we return to tokyo hiroshima is a relaxed city with trams running through the streets and you could be forgiven for forgetting that this was the location of an atomic attack with just how beautiful its streets have become the only reminder being the ruins of the genbaku or atomic dome a building which ruins still stood after the atomic attack and now serves as a reminder in the peace park it is hard to describe the feelings experienced visiting the hiroshima peace memorial but it is really something you should try to experience at least once in your lifetime a short ferry ride from the city you'll be able to visit itsukushima shrine on miyajima island the location of the famous red tory village and gate the third and last nihon sangkai great view of japan in recent years this site has been undergoing renovations which are said to be completed in 2022 but the island itself is both peaceful and historic a great quiet spot to reflect on your trip and also to feed some more deer which roam freely which brings us to your last two days in japan returning to tokyo by bullet train will take several hours but feel free to get off at any city you might have missed or feel like you would like to explore more this is the buffer time to cross anything off from your list explore or get your final shopping in before returning home and this is when i really like to do those small items that were just not as important as the main attractions like check out some capsule hotels game arcades little hole in the wall izakaya bars or just go around and take photos of the city streets tokyo is all about what you want to do and finding your space to enjoy it but consider taking this time to try something outside your comfort zone if you chose akihabara over harajuku why not try the later now if just for the experience go to that cat or mate cafe if that's what you really wanted to do even if it's just a good story to tell your friends back home just enjoy yourself because that's what travel is all about i really packed a lot of things into this itinerary because i want to inspire you to have the best time you can but not to worry if it's too tight a schedule you can just pick up the things that you liked the most and drop those if you didn't i like to do as much as possible when traveling somewhere new but that's not for everyone with that said let's take a quick look at what all this would cost the jr rail pass at time of recording costs 47 250 yen or around 370 us dollars this might sound high at first but without this pass the same trains would cost over 100 000 yen so it's actually gonna save you hundreds of dollars when used correctly accommodation prices will vary of course depending how you travel but a reasonably comfortable hotel in japan can be found for between three and five thousand yen for a night for one person so 56 000 yen or around 440 dollars is a reasonable it is possible of course to save more here and not have heard of to find a cheaper hostel or capsule hotel for around 2500 yen so you could save a bit more money here as well if you really wanted to for food and activities you're going to be looking at around 15 000 yen a day to fully experience everything or around 1200 us dollars this is where the most flexibility will come from sure it is possible to eat for around 500 to 1000 yen a day eating out of cambinis and then spend only two or three thousand on activities which would save yourself over 60 percent of this cost but you probably wouldn't enjoy it as much and it is a holiday after all when all the said is done it is your money though so spend it how you think best but for me i'd budget this trip at around 250 000 yen or 1980 us dollars excluding flights i just love exploring japan i had a lot of fun looking back at the places i've visited over the years there is just so much that you need to see with your own eyes here and so much more i have yet to see feel free to leave any travel questions tips or comments about my suggestions below and i respond to each of them in time and if you really want to see a great hidden location in japan then you need to check out this video where i visit guju hachiman in the mountains of gifu

Channel: Inaka Adventure

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Id: er3W4ieNpW0

Length: 22min 49sec (1369 seconds)

Published: Fri Jun 03 2022