Japan Travel Guide: Tokyo, Kyoto, and the Essential Two-Week Itinerary

Japan received 25 million international visitors in 2019, and the number exceeded 31 million in 2024, making it the world's most rapidly growing major tourism destination. This growth is not surprising: Japan combines the efficiency and safety of one of the world's most advanced societies with a cultural depth that rewards attention at every scale, from the 1,400-year-old temples of Nara to the precision of a Tokyo sushi counter, from the ryokan that has operated as a family inn for 400 years to the vending machine that sells fresh-brewed coffee in a quiet forest car park. Two weeks is the minimum to experience Japan properly; this guide builds a realistic itinerary and provides the practical context to navigate it.

Tokyo: Five Days of the World's Largest City

Tokyo is a polycentric city of 37 million people in the greater metropolitan area, organised around distinct neighbourhood identities rather than a single centre. Each major district has a distinct character, and understanding this prevents the mistake of trying to "do" Tokyo from a single base. The essential areas:

• Shinjuku: The city's transit heart (the busiest railway station in the world, with over 3.5 million daily passengers) and its most intense entertainment district. Kabukicho (the red-light district, safe to walk through), the Memory Lane yakitori alleys (Omoide Yokocho), and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (free observation decks with Mount Fuji views on clear mornings) are the core draws. Stay in Shinjuku for central access to the Yamanote Line.
• Shibuya: The Shibuya Scramble crossing (the world's busiest pedestrian crossing, with up to 3,000 people crossing simultaneously when the lights change) is 500m south of Shinjuku, anchored by the statue of Hachiko (the Akita dog who waited at the station for his deceased owner for 9 years). The Shibuya Sky observation deck (on the Scramble Square building, 230m up) provides the best aerial view of the crossing. Daikanyama and Nakameguro (both walkable from Shibuya) are the city's most appealing residential-aesthetic neighbourhoods for café and boutique exploration.
• Asakusa: The traditional Tokyo that survived the 1923 earthquake and 1945 firebombing largely intact. Senso-ji (founded 645 CE, Tokyo's oldest temple) anchors the district; the Nakamise shopping street leading to the temple gate is commercial but the temple itself is genuinely imposing. The Sumida River runs alongside; a river cruise from Asakusa to Odaiba provides a different perspective on the city's scale.
• Akihabara: The electronics and manga district, where multi-floor shops sell components, figures, retro games, and every dimension of otaku culture. Not for everyone, but the density of specialist retail is extraordinary in any field.

Tokyo Food: What to Actually Eat

• Ramen: Tokyo ramen style is shoyu (soy-based clear broth), distinct from the tonkotsu of Hakata or the miso of Sapporo. Fuunji (Shinjuku, tsukemen specialist) and Ichiran (chain but excellent for solo eating, each booth separated by wooden partitions) are reliable starting points.
• Sushi: The Tsukiji outer market (the old wholesale fish market relocated to Toyosu in 2018; the outer market restaurants remain) and Sushi Saito (the most sought reservations in the city, requiring connections) bracket the range. For accessible quality: Sushi Sora at the Mandarin Oriental, or counter omakase at any of the hundreds of neighbourhood sushi-ya charging ¥3,000 to ¥8,000 for lunch.
• Yakitori: Grilled chicken skewers over charcoal, served with salt (shio) or tare (sweet soy glaze). The Memory Lane alleys in Shinjuku and the Yurakucho under-rail-track restaurants are the most atmospheric settings.
• Convenience stores: 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart in Japan are a legitimate food destination. Fresh onigiri (rice balls), tamago sando (egg salad sandwiches), hot foods, and an overwhelming range of seasonal products at ¥200 to ¥600 constitute one of the world's best fast food systems.

Day Trips from Tokyo

• Nikko (2 hours north by Tobu Railway): The Toshogu Shrine complex, built 1617 to 1636 as the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu (founder of the Tokugawa shogunate), is the most ornate piece of wooden architecture in Japan, covering 20 buildings including the famous Yomeimon Gate. Arrive before 9am on weekdays to avoid tour groups.
• Kamakura (1 hour south by JR Yokosuka Line): The Great Buddha (Kotoku-in Daibutsu, 1252, a bronze Amida Buddha 13.35m tall, originally housed in a wooden structure destroyed by tsunami in 1498 and now sitting in the open air) and a circuit of the town's 19 Zen temples make Kamakura the best day trip from Tokyo for cultural depth.
• Hakone (90 minutes from Shinjuku by Romancecar): The traditional hot spring (onsen) resort area with views of Mount Fuji (clear on the approximately 60 days per year when weather cooperates), the Hakone Open Air Museum, and the chance to stay in a ryokan and experience kaiseki dinner, communal onsen bathing, and futon sleeping in a structured traditional setting.

Kyoto: Three Days of Japan's Cultural Capital

Kyoto served as Japan's imperial capital from 794 to 1869 and contains 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 1,600 Buddhist temples, and 400 Shinto shrines. It is the most concentrated repository of traditional Japanese culture in existence. The essential sites:

• Arashiyama: The bamboo grove (spectacular for 10 minutes at dawn before the crowds arrive; not worth the visit after 9am), Tenryu-ji (the oldest Zen garden in Kyoto, created 1339, with the garden designed to frame Arashiyama mountain), and the Sagano Scenic Railway (a 7.3km narrow-gauge tourist railway through a river gorge) anchor the western district.
• Fushimi Inari Taisha: 10,000 vermilion torii gates donated by businesses and individuals, winding 4km up Mount Inari. The lower section is crowded from 8am; hiking to the summit (2 hours) escapes most visitors. The shrine is dedicated to Inari, the Shinto deity of foxes, rice, and business.
• Gion: Kyoto's traditional entertainment district, where geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) and their apprentices (maiko) move between tea houses in the evening. The Hanamikoji street cobblestone lane at dusk is the most photographed street in Japan and genuinely atmospheric before the tourist wave arrives.
• Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion): A 14th-century Zen temple whose top two floors are entirely covered in gold leaf, reflected in the mirror pond. One of the most visited sites in Japan, and the crowds are proportional. Worth it despite them.

The Two-Week Itinerary

• Days 1-5: Tokyo (arrival, Shinjuku/Shibuya, Asakusa/Akihabara, day trip Kamakura, day trip Nikko or Hakone)
• Days 6-8: Kyoto (Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari, Gion and Higashiyama walking course, Nishiki Market)
• Day 9: Nara day trip from Kyoto (Todai-ji temple and the 1,300 semi-wild sika deer that roam freely through Nara Park)
• Days 10-11: Osaka (Dotonbori street food, Osaka Castle, Kuromon Market, takoyaki and okonomiyaki)
• Days 12-13: Hiroshima and Miyajima Island (the Peace Memorial Museum and the floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine, a half-day ferry ride from Hiroshima)
• Day 14: Return to Tokyo for departure, or extend south to Fukuoka (the food city of Japan, particularly ramen and yakitori) or north to the Japanese Alps

Practical Information

• Getting around: The Japan Rail Pass (7-day ¥50,000, 14-day ¥80,000) covers all Shinkansen and JR trains, providing extraordinary value for multi-city itineraries. Buy before arriving in Japan. Suica or Pasmo IC cards cover all urban transit, vending machines, and convenience stores within cities.
• Best time: Cherry blossom season (late March to mid-April, varying by year and latitude) is the most celebrated; very crowded and requires booking accommodation 6 months ahead. Autumn foliage (November) is equally beautiful with somewhat lower crowds. July and August are extremely hot and humid. January to February offers cold but crisp weather and essentially no tourist crowds at major sites.
• Budget: Japan is considerably more affordable than its reputation suggests. Mid-range travel: ¥10,000 to ¥18,000 per day ($65 to $120) including accommodation, food, and transport within cities. The Shinkansen is the largest single expense for multi-city travellers.

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