May 2025
Perfect 2 Week Itinerary for your First Trip Through Japan’s Golden Route
Congrats! If you are reading this, that means you are considering or booked a trip to Japan and you are going to love it. Planning a trip to Japan can be daunting and I will say, it was certainly the most time consuming trip from researching and planning a trip to date. Thankfully, I have everything you need to know here and we will go through each topic in this post so you know exactly what to expect when visiting Japan for the first time and the best way to spend two weeks.
What to expect for your first trip to Japan including numerous planning tips and tricks – here!
How to Get There
Getting to Japan can be the biggest hurdle for people since for most of the world, it is pretty far away. For us flying from the northeast part of the US, we flew 14 hours non-stop to Tokyo. I know some people cringe at a 14 hour flight but it was 100% our preference. If you also have to fly that far, consider layover options or even spend a day or two in California or Hawaii to break up the trip.
There are three airports you should look at when searching for flight routes – Haneda and Narita in Tokyo, and Osaka. Having three airport options increases flexibility and options for the itinerary that fits your trip best. We flew into Haneda and it was close to downtown Tokyo and easy to get there. Narita is the larger airport so it will have the most flight options. Both Tokyo airports are extremely well connected via public transit so you can’t go wrong with either.
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When to Visit
Japan experiences all four seasons so it is important to know what kind of trip you want and things you wish to do to find the most ideal time to visit.
- Spring is very popular for the cherry blossoms – the famous sakura trees! There are also lots of festivals this time of year to celebrate the sakura blossoms. If you are chasing the perfect peak for cherry blossoms, use a tracker to follow the blossom to get the best timing.
- Summers get hot and humid and while that is not everyone’s preference, it does have advantages like lower crowds and the most beautiful beaches in the south of the country. Did you know Japan has over 260 inhabited islands in the archipelago? This is also the only time of year to climb Mt Fuji so if that is on your bucket list, you will be visiting from July to September.
- Fall is another popular time of year due to the fall foliage, especially if you want to visit the countryside.
- Winter is cold and depending on where you visit, you can experience some of the world’s best winter sports such as skiing in Nagano.
- Avoid major Japanese holidays and breaks, especially the end of April and beginning of May. This period is known as Golden Week where several holidays fall. Schools are closed and locals take this time off to travel the country. This is also cherry blossom season in certain parts of the country so it can be extremely crowded.
- We visited at the end of May after the Golden Week crowd which is a shoulder season for Japan. It was fairly crowded at certain times due to pent up demand from pandemic but indicators – such as tickets to theme parks – did reflect it was generally a slower time. We did purchase as many tickets ahead of time as possible and when we went to use them, same day ticket purchases were not possible.
Where to Stay
Japan offers typical accommodation options for visitors with a few unique options to be aware of.
- There are standard hotel rooms but on average, they are smaller than western hotel rooms so keep that in mind, especially if you are traveling in a group larger than two people.
- There are Airbnbs which can offer more room and amenities for longer stays. Airbnbs are licensed here so they are legitimate rentals.
- Ryokans are traditional Japanese inns that feature beautiful wood features and hospitality. This accommodation is often accompanied by meals, including kansei style, yukata (casual kimonos), and onsens, which are hot springs.
- Capsule hotels are a unique accommodation where you rent what is equivalent to a capsule – like a medication capsule. You have a bed that you climb into and some space in your tube for a light, outlet, and maybe a shelf. These are typically affordable options.
Japan is a large country so depending on where you are going will help dictate which options are best for you.
- In Tokyo and Kyoto, we stayed in Airbnbs. This gave us a more affordable option for accommodations and we were able to stay in the less tourist areas which is how we like to travel. It also gave us an opportunity to ask a local for recommendations and advice.
- In Tokyo, we stayed in Okachimachi which is between Ueno and Akiharbara. It was significantly cheaper than staying in Shibuya or Shinkuju which is typically where tourists stay. Tokyo is so well connected with public transit so as long as you are close to a train station – ours was three blocks away – you can get anywhere you need.
- In Kyoto, we stayed in Shimogyo Ward on the west side of the Kamo River and the popular Gion district. The train station stop Karasuma was literally around the corner, as were bus stops.
- We booked an overnight in Hakone to see Mt Fuji and this gave us the great opportunity to experience a Ryokan. One night was perfect to experience the onsen, dinner and breakfast. If you have time, I would highly recommend adding one night in a ryokan during your visit.
It is important to book accommodations early, much earlier than you would for other trips. For the number of people plus the tourists – there are not enough accommodations during busy times of year. I found the Airbnbs with a generous cancellation policy and I booked them in December when we first started talking about taking this trip and I am so glad I grabbed them when I did.
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How to Get Around
The transportation in Japan is absolutely incredible and impressive. It is the most ahead of its time or rather everywhere else in the world is behind. The country and cities are so well connected and everything is immaculate. Figuring out all the public transportation can be daunting – and it is something I spent a lot of time researching to ensure I really understood the options. Let’s break everything down.
- Public transportation such as trains, subways and buses are available and can get you everywhere
- Shinkansen “Bullet Trains” move millions of people quickly across the entire country reaching speeds up to 300 km/hour.
- Taxis and ride share options are available but are typically expensive compared to the public transportation routes.
- As a tourist, there is little need to rent a car unless you are traveling to some distant spots in the countryside. If you are renting a car, you will need an international drivers license. They also drive on the left hand side so that is something to note if you are renting a car.
I have so much information on using the public transportation and Shinkansen trains – I have another blog post for Navigating Japan’s Transportation with so many details that will make your trip go smoothly. But as a quick summary:
- You will want an IC card to ride the public transportation. IC card is the general name for a metro card. There are several companies that issue IC cards but they all work the same. We went with Suica and it works in all the cities we visited.
- IC cards work on the trains, subway, and buses – and even vending machines and convenience stores.
- You will need to Shinkansen tickets separately, just as you would for any high speed rail.
- Follow etiquette on all transit – there is no talking at all – you can hear a pin drop. It is a clear indicator you are a tourist if you are talking on transit. Be respectful of the place you are traveling to and follow their lead. Do not disturb the peace.
Check out all the details around navigating Japan’s transportation here!
Where to Eat
The food in Japan was amazing and I have an entire guide on food. There are so many options here and the goal on my trip was to try one of as many different types as possible. In addition to familiarizing yourself with all the delicious food, here area few things to know ahead of time:
- If you make dining reservations, you must be on time – not early, not late but on time. We typically make reservations for every night of a trip and this trip was the complete opposite. For two weeks, I made only two dinner reservations! So why the change?
- Many places either did not take reservations or it was difficult to figure out how to make a reservation. While I could find phone numbers, calling in English was not a viable option.
- I was nervous about being late for reservations – I read that some places will give up your table if you are a few minutes late. I did not want to worry about being late for a reservation if we were exploring or having a good time elsewhere.
- By not having reservations, it kept our options open and instead I created a list of restaurants I wanted to eat at and sorted them by area so depending on where we were, we could eat at one of the places on the list.
I explain more in the food guide, but convenience stores are next level when it comes to snacks and food. Vending machines have drinks of all sorts – including hot and cold beverages. While we are on the topic of food, now is a good time to mention despite Japan being exceptionally clean, there are no trash cans to be found. So, if you purchase a drink or a wrapped food item, that trash is going on a journey with you for quite some time until the unicorn of a trash can appears.
PRO TIP: When searching for places to eat, look at reviews in Japanese to see how liked the restaurant is by locals. Also, search for key words in Japanese characters – look up the word in Google Translate before seraching in Google Maps.
What to Do
The Golden Route main stops include Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. It would be impossible for me to capture all the possibilities on how you can structure your two week trip. That being said, I will highlight some of the popular attractions at the major stops and you can pick and choose what to incorporate into your trip. Regardless, do not over plan your trip. There are so many shops, museums, food, and more – do not forget to have time to simply wander around as well!
| Tokyo | Kyoto | Osaka |
| Explore the various neighborhoods including: Akihabara, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and more Tuna auction at Toyosu Market and the Tsukiji food market Get tickets to a baseball game or Sumo Tournament Take a day trip to Tokyo DisneyLand and/or Tokyo DisneySea or Ghibli Park Visit TeamLab Planets and/or TeamLab Borderless Stop at the Samurai Restaurant Time | Explore the various areas including: Higashiyama District and the famous Gion District Fushimi Inari Taisha (hint: go early or late in the day to avoid the crowds) Nishiki Market Traditional tea ceremony Take a trip into the countryside to Kurama and Kibune walk Day trip to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove with Sagano Scenic Train, and Hozugawa River Cruise | Osaka Food Tour of Dotonbori Visit Osaka Castle Universal Studios Japan Super Nintendo World Take a day trip to Kobe and check out the Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum and Kobe wagyu beef |
While the cities are fantastic, if you have time it is worth adding some of the countryside to your itinerary as well – the nature in Japan is amazing. And while there are opportunities to do day trips from the cities, especially in Kyoto, there is a calmness in staying an overnight or two in a ryokan. Ryokans are traditional Japanese inns that feature beautiful wood features and hospitality. This accommodation is often accompanied by meals, including kansei style, yukata (casual kimonos), and onsens, which are hot springs. A stop in Hakone is along the way between Tokyo and Kyoto and is a great way to break up the trip while sneaking a peek at Mt Fuji.
Perfect Itinerary
There are many ways to structure two weeks in Japan and for a first visit, I would say our itinerary was darn near perfect on a solid option that takes you through the Golden Route and into the countryside – including stops at Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka. An easy way to start planning to the spend five days in Tokyo and five days in Kyoto with the extra days for travel and other destinations like Osaka and Hakone. PRO TIP: Start your trip by traveling to the farthest destination and work your way back to the place you will be departing from – ie if you are traveling in and out of an airport in Tokyo, save Tokyo for the end of your trip – trust me. Also, do not forget to check out What to Expect When Visiting Japan for the First Time.
This is just one example of how to structure your trip – feel free to mix and match to make it your own.
| Activity | |
| Day 0 | Travel to Japan |
| Day 1 | Arrive in Tokyo Travel to Kyoto Arrive in Kyoto |
| Day 2 | Explore Kyoto Higashiyama District and the famous Gion District Imperial Palace Nishiki Market |
| Day 3 | Fushimi Inari Taisha Nishiki Market Traditional tea ceremony |
| Day 4 | Day Trip: Kurama and Kibune walk or Arashiyama Bamboo Grove |
| Day 5 | Day Trip: Osaka or Kobe or Universal Studios Japan Super Nintendo World |
| Day 6 | Travel to Hakone Ryokan Stay |
| Day 7 | Hakone – Hakone Tozan line Ropeway – Owakudani |
| Day 8 | Depart ryokan and Hakone Travel to Tokyo Arrive in Tokyo |
| Day 9 | Explore Tokyo – Akihabara, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku |
| Day 10 | Day Trip: Tokyo DisneySea, Tokyo DisneyLand, or Ghibli Park |
| Day 11 | Tuna auction at Toyosu Market and the Tsukiji food market |
| Day 12 | Museum of choice: TeamLab Planets and/or TeamLab Borderless |
| Day 13 | Event of choice: Baseball game or Sumo Tournament |
| Day 14 | Travel home |
Have the best trip! Enjoy the rest of my Japan content below.
Read what to expect in Japan – here!
Check out all my packing tips and tricks here!
To read all the details of our trip – here!
To see our full itinerary – here!
Read the food guide – here!
My complete packing list for Japan – here!
See all blog posts for Japan – here!
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