14-DAY JAPAN TRAVEL ITINERARY
Japan Itinerary
Two weeks through Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka. Cherry blossoms, bullet trains, and the best food on earth.
April 1 – April 14, 20263 cities + 4 day tripsJR Pass recommended
Trip Overview
This 14-day itinerary takes you through Japan's three must-visit cities during peak cherry blossom season. Starting in the electric streets of Tokyo, winding through Kyoto's ancient temples and bamboo groves, and finishing in Osaka's food-obsessed Dotonbori. With day trips to Hakone, Nara, Hiroshima, and Nikko, you'll experience both the hyper-modern and the ancient — all connected by the world's best rail network.
14
Days
3
Cities
4
Day Trips
Flight Details
Outbound Flight
| Flight | JL 0002 |
| Airline | Japan Airlines |
| Departure | 2026-04-01, 11:45 AM (SFO) |
| Arrival | 2026-04-02, 3:30 PM (NRT) |
Return Flight
| Flight | NH 0001 |
| Airline | ANA |
| Departure | 2026-04-14, 5:00 PM (KIX) |
| Arrival | 2026-04-14, 8:00 PM (SFO) |
Note: Arrive at Narita (NRT), depart from Kansai (KIX). This open-jaw booking saves you from backtracking to Tokyo on the last day.
Daily Breakdown
Day by day itinerary
Week 1: Tokyo
Day 1 / April 1 (Wed)
Arrival & Shinjuku Introduction
Activities
- Arrive at Narita Airport (NRT) at 3:30 PM
- Activate JR Pass at the airport counter
- Narita Express (NEX) to Shinjuku station (~90 min)
- Check into hotel in Shinjuku area
- Evening walk around Shinjuku: Omoide Yokocho (Piss Alley) for yakitori
Recommended Restaurants
- Omoide Yokocho — Grilled skewers and beer in a nostalgic post-war alley
- Ichiran (Shinjuku) — Solo-booth tonkotsu ramen. Open 24h.
Day 2 / April 2 (Thu)
West Tokyo: Shibuya & Harajuku
Activities
- Morning: Meiji Shrine — peaceful forest walk in the heart of Tokyo
- Late morning: Harajuku's Takeshita Street — crepes, quirky fashion, and purikura photo booths
- Afternoon: Shibuya Scramble Crossing — the world's busiest intersection
- Visit Hachiko statue outside Shibuya Station
- Evening: Dinner and drinks in Shibuya's backstreets
Recommended Restaurants
- Uobei (Shibuya) — High-tech conveyor belt sushi at bargain prices
- Gonpachi (Nishi-Azabu) — The "Kill Bill" restaurant with incredible soba and yakitori
Day 3 / April 3 (Fri)
Central Tokyo: Tsukiji & Akihabara
Activities
- Early morning: Tsukiji Outer Market — sashimi breakfast, tamagoyaki, grilled scallops
- Late morning: teamLab Borderless (or Planets) — immersive digital art museum
- Afternoon: Akihabara Electric Town — anime, electronics, arcade centers
- Visit a themed café (Maid Café or Gundam Café)
- Evening: Explore Ueno district or relax in Shinjuku
Recommended Restaurants
- Sushi Dai (Toyosu) — Legendary sushi. Arrive by 5 AM or skip.
- Gyukatsu Motomura (Akihabara) — Deep-fried beef cutlet you grill at your table
Day 4 / April 4 (Sat)
East Tokyo: Asakusa & Sumida
Activities
- Morning: Senso-ji Temple — Tokyo's oldest temple. Walk through Nakamise shopping street.
- Late morning: Sumida River Cruise to Hamarikyu Gardens
- Afternoon: Tokyo Skytree (350m & 450m observation decks) or Tokyo Tower
- Explore Roppongi for evening art and dining
Recommended Restaurants
- Imahan (Asakusa) — Traditional sukiyaki, a Tokyo institution since 1895
- Afuri (Roppongi) — Yuzu-shio ramen with a light, citrusy broth
Day 5 / April 5 (Sun)
Day Trip: Nikko
Activities
- Early start: JR Nikko Line from Shinjuku (2 hours, covered by JR Pass)
- Toshogu Shrine — lavishly decorated UNESCO site, see the "See No Evil" monkeys
- Shinkyo Bridge — sacred red bridge at the entrance
- Kegon Waterfall — 97m cascade near Lake Chuzenji
- Return to Tokyo by evening
Transport: JR Nikko Line from Shinjuku (2 hrs, covered by JR Pass)
Week 1 → 2: Kyoto
Day 6 / April 6 (Mon)
Travel Day: Tokyo to Kyoto
Activities
- Morning: Activate your 7-day JR Pass
- Board Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kyoto (2.5 hours)
- Request seat on the right side for views of Mount Fuji
- Buy an ekiben (train bento box) at Tokyo Station
- Arrive at Kyoto Station — check into hotel near Kyoto Station or Gion
- Afternoon: Fushimi Inari Taisha — walk the iconic torii gate path (go late for fewer crowds)
- Evening: Explore Nishiki Market ("Kyoto's Kitchen") for dinner
Day 7 / April 7 (Tue)
Northwest Kyoto: Bamboo & Gold
Activities
- Early morning: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — arrive by 7 AM to avoid crowds
- Tenryu-ji Temple — stunning Zen garden next to the bamboo grove
- Late morning: Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) — one of Japan's most iconic sights
- Afternoon: Ryoan-ji Temple — famous rock garden, contemplate the 15 stones
- Evening: Pontocho Alley for dinner along the Kamogawa River
Recommended Restaurants
- Okutan Kiyomizu — Yudofu (hot tofu) in a serene temple setting
- Pontocho Sushi — Traditional Edomae sushi on the riverside
Day 8 / April 8 (Wed)
East Kyoto: Temples & Geishas
Activities
- Morning: Kiyomizu-dera Temple — wooden terrace with sweeping Kyoto views
- Walk the Philosopher's Path — 2km canal-side stroll lined with cherry trees
- Afternoon: Explore Gion district — traditional wooden machiya houses
- Evening: Geisha spotting in Gion (early evening near Shimbashi bridge)
- Optional: Traditional tea ceremony experience
Recommended Restaurants
- Gion Karyo — Multi-course kaiseki dinner. Reserve weeks ahead.
- Menbakaichidai — Fiery "fire ramen" spectacle in northern Kyoto
Day 9 / April 9 (Thu)
Day Trip: Nara
Activities
- Morning: JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station (45 min, covered by JR Pass)
- Nara Park — feed the friendly deer (buy shika senbei crackers)
- Todai-ji Temple — houses the 15m-tall Great Buddha (Daibutsu)
- Kasuga Taisha Shrine — hundreds of bronze and stone lanterns
- Isuien Garden — beautiful traditional Japanese garden
- Return to Kyoto by late afternoon
Transport: JR Nara Line from Kyoto (45 min, covered by JR Pass)
Day 10 / April 10 (Fri)
Travel Day: Kyoto to Osaka
Activities
- Morning: Last Kyoto exploration — visit any missed temples or shop for souvenirs
- Late morning: JR Shinkansen from Kyoto to Shin-Osaka (30 min)
- Check into hotel in Namba or Shinsaibashi area
- Afternoon: Osaka Castle — explore the museum and grounds
- Evening: Dotonbori — walk the neon-lit canal, try takoyaki from street stalls
Recommended Restaurants
- Mizuno (Dotonbori) — Okonomiyaki, cooked right at your table since 1945
- Takoyaki stands on Dotonbori — Fresh octopus balls from any busy stall
Day 11 / April 11 (Sat)
Osaka: Food & Fun
Activities
- Morning: Kuromon Ichiba Market — "Osaka's Kitchen," sample fresh seafood and street food
- Afternoon: Shinsekai district & Tsutenkaku Tower — retro Osaka vibe
- Try kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) at the original Kushikatsu Daruma
- Evening: Return to Dotonbori for dinner and nightlife
- Optional: Hozenji Yokocho — atmospheric narrow alley with moss-covered statue
Recommended Restaurants
- Kushikatsu Daruma (Shinsekai) — The legendary original location
- Dotonbori Konamon Museum — Make your own takoyaki
Day 12 / April 12 (Sun)
Day Trip: Hiroshima & Miyajima
Activities
- Early start: Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima Station (90 min)
- Visit the Peace Memorial Museum & Atomic Bomb Dome
- Ferry to Miyajima Island (10 min)
- See Itsukushima Shrine — the "floating" torii gate
- Try Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki for lunch
- Return to Osaka by evening
Transport: JR Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima (90 min, covered by JR Pass) + JR Ferry to Miyajima
Day 13 / April 13 (Mon)
Osaka: Choice Day
Choose Your Adventure
- Option A: Universal Studios Japan — Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (arrive before 8 AM)
- Option B: Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan — One of the world's biggest aquariums, plus Tempozan Ferris Wheel
- Option C: Shopping & Relaxation — Shinsaibashi shopping arcade, Amerikamura vintage stores
- Evening: Final farewell dinner in Dotonbori
Recommended Restaurants
- Negiyaki Yamamoto — Osaka-style scallion pancake, lighter than okonomiyaki
- Ramen Shoten — Late-night ramen to cap off the trip
Day 14 / April 14 (Tue)
Departure
Activities
- Morning: Last-minute souvenir shopping at Shinsaibashi or Don Quijote
- Check out of hotel by 11 AM
- JR Kansai Airport Express from Namba Station (50 min)
- Arrive at Kansai Airport by 3 PM for 5 PM flight
- Safe travels! Japan — see you next time.
Packing Tips
Spring in Japan (April) means mild temperatures (10-20°C / 50-68°F) with occasional rain. Layering is key.
Clothing
- Lightweight jacket or cardigan
- Long-sleeve shirts & t-shirts
- Comfortable walking shoes (you'll walk 15k+ steps/day)
- Jeans or travel pants
- Scarf or light wrap
- Packable rain jacket or umbrella
Essentials
- Passport (always carry with you)
- JR Pass voucher (exchange at airport)
- Pocket WiFi or eSIM (pick up at airport)
- Portable charger / power bank
- Reusable water bottle — Japan has pristine tap water
- Small hand towel — many bathrooms don't have dryers
Toiletries
- Sunscreen (Japanese brands are excellent)
- Lip balm with SPF
- Basic first-aid kit (ibuprofen, band-aids)
- Hand sanitizer
- Travel-size tissues (many restrooms don't have paper)
Tech & Documents
- Universal travel adapter (Type A/B, 100V)
- Download Google Maps offline for Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka
- Install Japan Travel, Hyperdia, or Google Translate
- Print or save digital copies of hotel bookings and flight info
- Cash — Japan is still very cash-based outside tourist areas
Resources
Google Maps
Pre-loaded map of all destinations in this itinerary.
Packing Checklist
Printable packing list for spring in Japan. Light layers, walking shoes, and a travel umbrella.
Flight Details
Narita (NRT) arrival, Kansai (KIX) departure. Booking reference and terminal maps.
Weekly Overview
| Period | Location |
|---|---|
| Days 1-5 | Tokyo |
| Days 6-9 | Kyoto |
| Days 10-14 | Osaka |
Route Map
Interactive map
Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka