How to Spend 14 Days in Japan - A Japan Travel Itinerary

Japan. The land of the rising sun. From the biggest city of Tokyo to the mountainous region of the Japanese Alps. Japan is full of diverse and unique places waiting to be explored. For many, Japan resides on the top of the list of places to visit, and I was no different. Japan is one of my favorite countries to explore and I had the pleasure to visit once more. I'll be traveling through this amazing country, visiting seven different cities, and trying to cram all the essentials into a two-week itinerary. And I'll be sharing it all with the goal to help you explore this fascinating country. Here's how I spent 14 days in Japan. Here's an overview of the journey ahead. We arrive in Osaka, the kitchen of Japan. A city famous for its love of food and nightlife. We then head to the secluded temple town of Koyasan, where we'll be staying overnight at a Buddhist temple. Afterwards, we visit the city of Nara, famous for the Nara Park and its dear population. From Nara, we head to Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, rich in culture and traditions. After Kyoto, we jump on the train and head up to Kanazawa, renowned for its goli production and housing one of the three great gardens in Japan. We then continue to the mountainous region of Takayama, where we explore the old town and relax at a Japanese onsen. And finally, our two-week journey ends with Tokyo. While in the city, we spend the remaining time visiting the most essential spots. Before we begin, here's a few things you will need to know. We decided to visit Japan in November, during the autumn season, and it's by far my favorite season to visit due to the beautiful autumn foliage and mild weather conditions. Public transportation will be the main way to get around. For that, you'll need to get your hands on an IC card. IC cards are rechargeable travel cards that can be used to pay for fares and even buy goods in some stores. They work in most major cities, but for more remote areas, you'll need to purchase a specific local ticket. A quick word on the Japan Rail Pass. If you follow this itinerary strictly, you will not be needing the JR Pass. A JR Pass is great if you're planning to do a round trip since it will cover the return trip expenses. But since this is a point-to-point trip, meaning we're starting Osaka and finishing Tokyo, it's actually more affordable going with single fare tickets. For navigation, I've always been using Google Maps in Japan. It works well and even tells you the connections you need to make. For more detailed information and planning ahead, I recommend checking out the website Hyperdia. We begin our journey in Osaka. Osaka is known for being the kitchen of Japan with many of the nation's favorite dishes originating from the city. It's a modern and lively place where the focus is on having a good time. People just seem to speak louder here, eat louder, and drink more. Not that I'm complaining. We arrive quite late in Osaka and head towards our hotel. After dropping off our belongings, we immediately head to the Dotonbori area in downtown Osaka. The area is known for the Glicoman sign and being a busy tourist spot with neon lights, shops, and plenty of food options. We explore the area and pick up a few treats along the way. But it was time for a meal and we head to the ever-popular Ichiran Ramen or Tonkatsu Ramen. It was Lisa's first time here and she definitely approves. The next day, we spend the morning at the Namba Yasaka Shrine. It's a small shrine famous for its lion head stage. If you plan to visit a lot of shrines and temples in Japan, then it's always a good idea to know how to pay your respects. Here's a quick how-to. First, ring the bell if there is one, bow twice, clap twice, and bow once. After finishing up at the shrine, we arrive at the Osaka Castle. The castle is one of Japan's most famous landmarks and it played a major role in the unification of Japan during the 16th century. For over 40 years, Amerikamura has been known for being the center of Japanese youth culture in Osaka. Similar to Harajuku of Tokyo, it's here you'll find the latest trend-setting fashion in Osaka. We opted to do a little bit of shopping to see if we could find something interesting. To get a better view of the city, we decided to visit the Umeda Sky Building. While here, you can access its famous observation deck which provides a great view of the entire city of Osaka. As dinner time arrives, we head arguably to my favorite okonomiyaki shop in the city, Okaru. Okonomiyaki are these savory Japanese pancakes made of flour, eggs, cabbage, and the protein of your choice. My go-to is the seafood version. Don Quijote is a well-known discount in Japan, but what's unique about this one in Osaka is its ferris wheel which you can actually take a ride on. It's rather a gimmicky experience, but it does provide a view over Dotonbori. If you find yourself with more time in Osaka, then here's a few more things to do. The Osaka Aquarium, Shinsekai, an old neon-lit neighborhood south of Minami. There's also the Universal Studios, the Tempo-san Ferris Wheel near the aquarium, and the Shinsaibashi Shopping District. Koyasan is the name of this secluded and small temple town nestled away in the mountains of Wakayama. It's more commonly known as the center of Japan's Shingon Buddhism, and home to over a hundred temples in which 50 of them allow for overnight stays. We decided to purchase the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket which covers the entire trip to Koyasan. It takes almost two hours to reach Koyasan from Osaka. The cable car ride from Gokurakubashi Station to Koyasan is clearly the highlight of the two-hour trip. After reaching the temple town, we check in at our temple lodging named Saizen-in. The rooms are traditional Japanese rooms with tatami floors, sliding doors, and shared bathroom facilities. So this is our temple stay for the day and night. A lot more luxurious than I imagined. The first place to visit was the Danjogaran Temple Complex. It was one of the first complexes built by Kobo Daishi, and houses around 20 temples and buildings including Kampondaito, the Great Pagoda. Not far from the complex, you'll find the Great Daimon Gate. This was the original entrance to Koyasan, but also now serves as the end destination for the old Choisimichi Pilgrimage Trail. From Daimon Gate, we head to Konkubuji, the head temple of Shingon Buddhism in Koyasan. We explore its many halls and corridors, as well as Banrute, Japan's largest rock garden, which supposedly should resemble a pair of dragons emerging from a sea of clouds. We grab a quick snack from the local convenience store, and then decide to head to the main attraction of Koyasan, Okinoin Cemetery. This misty and mossy cemetery is Japan's largest, stretching over two kilometers, and is home to over 200,000 graves. It's a serene and peaceful place, and I recommend taking an hour or so to simply explore. Okinoin is also home to the Kobo Daishi Mausoleum. This is where Kobo Daishi is said to be in an eternal meditation. There are no photos or video allowed after the bridge, so you'll just have to visit yourself to see. As the evening hours arrive, we head back to our temple lodging, where we're greeted with a traditional Buddhist meal. The meal itself is strictly vegetarian, and resembles that of the traditional kaiseki-style dinner. If you decide to stay at a temple, then don't forget to attend the morning ritual to complete the experience. Next, we head to Nara, a city nestled between Osaka and Kyoto. The city is most known for its and the many deer that roam the surrounding area. If you're interested in feeding one or two, crackers can be purchased from local vendors around the park. The deer will politely thank you for it. The first place to visit in Nara is the Great Temple of Todai-ji. It houses the Buddha statue Nara Daibatsu, which is the largest bronze statue in the world. While exploring the we also come across this square hole in a pillar known as Buddha's Nostril. It's said to bring good health and luck if you manage to crawl through it. As we explore the park further, we come across Kasuga Taisha, a Shinto shrine known for its hundreds of bronze lanterns, many of which have been donated by worshippers throughout the years. The lanterns are only lit twice a year during two lantern festivals, one in February and one in August. We decided to get a little bit of exercise and climb Mount Wakakuza, a 342 meters tall hill located in the park. Just climbing the little hill or mountain here in Nara. Lisa's right behind me. It's quite a little climb but nothing too tough and well worth the little climb to get an excellent view over the city and Nara Park. After walking around so much we needed a quick bite and you can't come to Nara without witnessing the famous mochi pounding show from this small mochi shop. The mochi was also excellent. For more things to do in Nara, try to follow Isuen Garden, the Nara National Museum, and the old merchant district of Nadamachi. Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, home to a number of important temples, shrines, houses, and gardens, the city is therefore a major tourist destination, second only to Tokyo. We board an early morning train to Arashiyama, an area known for its natural scenery. The first place to visit here is the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Right next to the bamboo grove you'll find Tenruji, one of the most important temples in Kyoto, as well as having one of the finest gardens in the entire city. From Tenruji, we walk along the Katsura River, the main river that runs through Arashiyama. From there we take a short walk up to the lovely Senko-ji Temple. This is arguably a bit of a hidden gem in Arashiyama. The temple provides a great view as well as the chance to meet the local temple dog. One cannot visit Arashiyama without coming across the Iwatayama Monkey Park, home to over a hundred Japanese snow monkeys. As we finish up with Arashiyama, we also make a quick stop at Ginkaku-ji. Currently a temple, it was formerly used as a retirement villa for a shogun. For dinner, we crave a bowl of ramen, and one of the best places in Kyoto is Ramen Senno Kaze. It's quite a well-known ramen shop, so do expect a queue during dining hours. We start the next day exploring the Nishiki Market, a well-known food market in Kyoto. There are over 100 stalls and shops in Nishiki, selling local dishes, seafood, and produce. Gion is the traditional entertainment district of Kyoto, and one of the major tourist areas. The best way to explore Gion is to simply walk the many historic streets such as Ninen-saka and Sanen-saka. In addition, Hanamikoji is a street famous for its tea houses and the place to catch a glimpse of a working geisha. The next morning, we head to another popular destination, the Fushimi Inari Shrine. It's a shrine dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice, and is famous for its thousands of torii gates. As you can see, it gets extremely crowded, but the further you walk up, the lesser the crowds become. We heard that temples are usually great places to watch the autumn foliage. First up is Nansenji, famous for the large aqueduct and the surrounding temple area. Next door, we find Eikanto Temple, a famous autumn foliage spot thanks to its pristine garden. The last place we visit while in Kyoto is the small alley of Pontonjo, famous for its atmospheric dining area filled with restaurants and bars. We decided to grab our last meal here and tried some very expensive beef. And yes, it was definitely worth the price. Got more time in Kyoto? Well, here's a few extras. To reach our next destination, which was Kanazawa, we had to board the JR Thunderbird Limited Express. It would take around two hours to reach Kanazawa. This was the perfect opportunity to try out the many bento box train meals, which were sold at the various stations across Japan. Kanazawa is often called Little Kyoto, and one can see why since the city has maintained many well-kept historic districts. The city is also renowned for its gold leaf production, being responsible for over 99% of Japan's output. Throw in some great art museums and one of the best gardens in the country, and Kanazawa is quite the hidden gem. Although most of the main sites are centrally located, meaning walking is doable, buses are still the main way to get around. You can use an IC card on the JR Machi bus line, but other lines require a local one-day pass or paying for the fare. We decided to visit the Omicho Market since it was close to our hotel. The market has a 300-year history dating back to the Edo period. Now it's a popular food market with over 170 stalls, earning its title the Kitchen of Kanazawa. We opted for a quick lunch at the very popular Mori Mori Sushi, a well-known conveyor belt sushi restaurant residing in the market. Ordering like many other places in Japan is done through a tablet, or you can simply grab a Kanazawa has plenty of museums, but one that caught my attention in particular was the D.T. Suzuki Museum. The museum was opened to celebrate the life and work of Suzuki Daisetsu Tetaro, a prominent Zen Buddhist. A more popular museum and one of the big attractions in Kanazawa is the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. It's a much larger museum compared to the D.T. Suzuki and you can easily get lost for hours exploring the many halls and exhibits. For dinner, we decided to visit a small cozy sushi shop called Sushi Ipe. The restaurant was run by an elderly couple and the elderly woman was especially friendly and attentive, explaining any noteworthy sushi pieces. Our goal for the following day was to visit the last essential places on our Kanazawa to-do list. We started off visiting the Oyama Shrine. During our visit, we were lucky enough to witness a wedding ceremony being held at the shrine. From the shrine, we took a short walk up to the Kanazawa Castle, a partially restored castle which was the seat of the powerful Maeda clan. After walking through the castle grounds, we reached the Kenroken Garden. The garden is particularly known for these protective ropes which are tied in a cone shape around the trees to provide support when the season shifts to winter. It's one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan and arguably also one of the best places to see the change of seasons. Also in the park, you can find this small Japanese tea house where you can experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony if you're interested. Right outside the park, you can also find Hakuichi which sells the gold leaf covered soft serve. Being in Kanazawa, I had no option but to try it. Higashichaya is one of the three historic tea house districts in Kanazawa. Here, geishas used to entertain the wealthy of the city with traditional dancing, music, and drinking games. While many of the buildings have been converted to restaurants and shops, it's still a place to visit when in Kanazawa. While researching Kanazawa, I heard about this place which served a black miso ramen and being a ramen lover myself, I just knew I had to give it a try. It's a small ramen shop specialized in miso ramen. You can get the miso in three different flavors and colors. I opted for the black miso which uses squid ink. As we walked back to our hotel, the last place we stopped by was at the Suzumi Gate, the iconic red gate and unofficial symbol of Kanazawa. Here, you can often find live street performances as we experienced during our trip. Takayama is a small city located in the mountainous Hida region of Gifu. The small city is especially known for its carpentry as well as its famous Hida beef and sake. Due to its location, it's also a place near many onsen hotspots which was the main reason for our visit. We started the day exploring the old town where there was a daily morning market. We also visited the Takayama Jinja, an old government building and former headquarters of the Hida province. We then ended up at Sanmachi-suji, a quaint historic neighborhood filled with traditional merchant houses and sake breweries. It's a deep place to try the city's famous sake if you're interested. Takayama is often a popular stop on the way to the famous Shirakawa-go. If you however don't have the time to visit like us, you can instead visit the Hida Folk Village which is an open-air museum that displays very similar mountain village houses found in Shirakawa-go. It was now time for us to head to our ryokan. We took a bus to Okuhira Onsen and arrived at our ryokan for the night. The ryokan comes with traditional Japanese rooms with the option of having your own private onsen as well as access to a rooftop onsen. Before we took a dip, we head down for dinner which was a Japanese kaiseki, a multi-course meal. Heading back up to our room after dinner, we were pleasantly surprised with the room being prepared for a good night's sleep. I know this is a customary thing in a ryokan but still I thought it was nice. But instead of calling it a night, we head up to the rooftop onsen. There are two separate onsens to try and we had it pretty much all to ourselves. Despite the slight rain and clouds covering the night sky, it was still a decent experience. Next morning, we decided to wake up early and enjoy our last moments with our onsen. The morning light did a great job in revealing the beautiful landscape that we missed during last night. We then headed down for a quick breakfast before checking out. Before we embark on our long trip to Tokyo, we decided to visit the Shin-Hotaka roadway. It's one of the most popular sightseeing spots in all of Gifu. The roadway ascends nearly 1,000 meters to a mountaintop observatory offering panoramic views of Japan's northern alps, a place I'm looking forward to revisit on another date. We board the Shinkansen bullet train and head to our final destination of this trip, Tokyo. Skyscrapers, bright lights, busy, and efficient. There isn't much to say about Tokyo which hasn't already been said. It's a modern super city, packed with sights and activities that would keep any traveler busy for weeks. During our time in Tokyo, we stayed at the Tokyo Sen capsule hotel. While I've stayed at capsule hotels before, this place was a bit more unique. Inspired by traditional Japanese rooms, each capsule was afforded a lot more space than the regular capsule, which made the stay more comfortable. The hotel came with the expected amenities, so overall it was an enjoyable stay. On our first day in Tokyo, we decided to visit the Meiji Shrine. The entrance is marked by a large torii gate and leads into a forest area where the shrine resides. The shrine is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife. It's one of the most popular shrines in Japan and welcomes over 3 million visitors a year. Not far from the shrine, you'll find Harajuku. The center of Harajuku is Takeshita Street, with its many side streets lined up by trendy shops, fashion boutiques, and fast food stores all geared towards the trendy youth of Tokyo. Within Harajuku, we decided to visit a small cafe where the main attraction is spending some time with micro pigs. It's my first time being in such a cafe, but animal-centric cafes are very common in Tokyo. Just don't expect too much from the beverage list, which to be honest isn't really the point of visiting cafes such as this. From Mipei Cafe, we head down to the famous Shibuya Crossing, a popular scramble crossing in Shibuya. And at peak hours, thousands of pedestrians scramble across what many believe to be the world's busiest crosswalk. To get a better view of the crossing, we head up to the Max Park building where you can get access to an excellent rooftop view of the crossing below. As hunger strikes, we dive into the popular sushi chain Obey Sushi, known for its budget-friendly prices and conveyor-style system. The following day, we decide to spend the entire day exploring Akihabara, Tokyo's famous electric town. It's a buzzing commercial area, mostly famous for being the center of geek culture in Japan. Anime, manga, video games, and maid cafes are in full display here. Whether you're into this or not, it's still an area worth exploring. First, try out the many arcades in Akihabara. Bust out your favorite dance moves or maybe win a prize if you're lucky. There's also a lot of shopping that can be done here, so who knows, you might find your perfect souvenir. On our last day in Tokyo, we decided to visit TeamLab Borderless, a digital art museum with several unique exhibits on display. Here are some highlights. Borderless World for its waterfall-inspired artwork. There's also the Crystal World, which features thousands upon thousands of colorful LED lights. The Forest of Lamps is probably the most popular display here in the Borderless Museum, so do expect long queues. I also want to give a quick mention to the NT House, which displays a digital artwork on your tee. After TeamLab, we head to one of many popular and atmospheric alleyways of Tokyo, Omoide Yokocho, also known as Memory Lane. It's a narrow and atmospheric alleyway filled by small eateries, paper lanterns, fake maple leaves, and the grueling smell of yakitori. My advice is to explore the many isekai and try anything that might interest you. If you have more time or just looking for different things to do, here's a short list. The iconic Tokyo Tower, a symbol of Japan's post-war rebirth. The ancient Sensoji Temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo. Kapukicho, the famous entertainment district found in Shinjuku. There's also the Tokyo Sky Tree, the new relocated fish market, Inezu Shrine, and the famous Garden of Shinjuku Yōen. Now, this video wouldn't be complete without a full budget breakdown. The total cost for two people during this two-week trip was around 3,100 US dollars. So, that was my two-week trip to Japan. I don't think I'll ever get tired of visiting this country and I hope things get better around the world soon so we can all travel again. But more importantly, I hope this video was helpful or at least gave some inspiration if you're planning a trip to Japan yourself. But if you have any questions or feedback, then do leave them in the comments below and I'll try to get back to you. But until then, stay safe out there and here's hoping for a better year ahead.