15 days · First trip
Japan in 15 days
A day-by-day itinerary: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and practical tips for your first big trip to Japan.
This guide is for you if…
You want the essence of Japan in two weeks without living on the shinkansen. Iconic cities, temples, food and one nature day — with enough slack to finish fresh.
When to go (at a glance)
If you can choose, late October or November usually balances it best.
Mar–Apr
Magical blossoms, high prices. Book months ahead.
May–Jun
Nice weather; June brings rain (tsuyu).
Jul–Aug
Heat + festivals. Peak urban energy.
Sep–Nov
Golden autumn — top window for this plan.
Dec–Feb
Dry cold, fewer tourists, winter lights.
Ballpark budget
Per person per day · mid-range · excluding international flights
€60–120
Stay
€35–55
Food
€15–30
Local + tickets
€110–200
Total / day
Run the numbers on a 7-day JR Pass
Day-by-day itinerary
Tap each block for detail. Less checklist, more experience.
Days 1–2Tokyo · Land softly
Jet lag, a gentle neighbourhood and Asakusa immersion.
- Day 1: Yanaka, gardens or daytime Shibuya. Early dinner.
- Day 2: Senso-ji at dawn, Sumida, Akihabara or Ueno.
Days 3–4Tokyo · Contrast
Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku and one deep dive.
- Meiji Jingu early + Shinjuku night (one drink is enough).
- Pick: teamLab (book), Shimokitazawa or Odaiba.
Day 5Side trip
Only one: Kamakura, Nikkō or Hakone.
- Kamakura = calm · Nikkō = long day · Hakone = onsen.
Days 6–8Kyoto · With restraint
Fewer temples, done well. Fushimi, Arashiyama and one axis.
- Fushimi Inari at dawn · Gion without geisha-hunting.
- Arashiyama early · day 8: north OR east axis.
Days 9–10Nara + Osaka
Deer and Todai-ji · street food and Dotonbori.
- Nara half or full day · Osaka wins at night.
Days 11–12Hiroshima + Miyajima
Memory, quiet and the torii by the tide.
- Peace Park with emotional space · Miyajima next day.
Days 13–15Close on your terms
More Kansai, Hokkaido (if booked) or back to Tokyo.
- Buffer day = shopping, urban onsen or unhurried Kobe.
Practical moves that change the trip
Getting around
IC card in cities · shinkansen between bases · takkyubin for hotel→hotel bags.
Where to stay
Tokyo: Shinjuku/Shibuya/Ueno · Kyoto: station or Gion · Osaka: Namba/Umeda.
Eat without stress
One hyped booking · improvise the rest · konbini is a train ally.
Quick etiquette
Quiet trains · no tipping · cash at temples · shoes off on tatami.
Mistakes that spoil the trip
Too many temples in one day
Kyoto overwhelms. Pick one axis and leave time for tea.
Rail Pass without the maths
A 7-day pass often beats a full 14-day pass.
Huge bags at rush hour
Ship the suitcase and ride light. Worth every yen.
Protect Hiroshima
Don’t leave it as leftover time. It deserves its own block.
Pre-flight checklist
Tick what you already have. Gaps hurt more at the airport.
Turn the guide into your trip
When you have dates, create the plan on TripMatches and find companions on a similar pace. Japan is better shared over the first 7 a.m. ramen.
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