Japan is the country that consistently ranks as travelers' most memorable destination — and the reason is simple: it delivers on every promise. The temples are as beautiful as the photos. The food is as extraordinary as people say. The trains run to the second. This guide covers the essential 2-week route for first-timers, with honest costs and timing.
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The 2-week route
- Days 1–4: Tokyo — Shibuya, Shinjuku, Asakusa, Harajuku, Akihabara
- Days 5–6: Hakone — Mount Fuji views, onsen, ryokan stay
- Days 7–9: Kyoto — temples, geisha districts, Arashiyama
- Days 10–11: Osaka — food, Dotonbori, day trip to Nara
- Days 12–14: Back to Tokyo — any neighborhoods missed, Tsukiji market
Tokyo: where to focus
Tokyo is overwhelming on day one and addictive by day two. Don't try to cover everything — pick neighborhoods. Shibuya and Shinjuku for the neon-and-crowds Tokyo experience. Asakusa for the Senso-ji temple and old Tokyo atmosphere. Shimokitazawa for vintage shops and live music. Yanaka for a glimpse of Tokyo before the postwar rebuild.
The best single view of the city: Tokyo Skytree at dusk (€15, book timed entry ahead). The best free view: the Metropolitan Government Building observation deck in Shinjuku.
Kyoto: timing is everything
Kyoto's famous sites are genuinely beautiful — and genuinely crowded from 9am onwards. Fushimi Inari (the 10,000 torii gates) is best experienced at dawn or after 5pm. Arashiyama bamboo grove: go at 6:30am, it's completely empty. Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion): crowded by 9am but the garden is large enough to spread out.
Book at least one tea ceremony in Kyoto (€15–25) — it's one of Japan's most accessible cultural experiences. The Urasenke school offers authentic sessions in English.
Eating in Japan
Japan has arguably the world's best food culture at every price point. Ramen: €7–12 at excellent dedicated ramen shops. Sushi: conveyor belt (kaiten-zushi) for €15–25, or a proper omakase counter from €60. Izakaya (Japanese gastropub): €20–35 per person including drinks. Konbini (convenience stores): surprisingly excellent, cheap, and open 24/7.
Getting around
Buy a Suica IC card at Narita or Haneda airport on arrival — it works on all trains, subways, buses and at convenience stores across Japan. Load ¥5,000–10,000 to start. The JR Pass (from €250 for 7 days) is worth buying if you're doing Tokyo→Kyoto→Osaka — the Shinkansen alone between these cities costs €130 round trip.
Staying in a ryokan
At least one night in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) is essential. Tatami floors, yukata robes, multi-course kaiseki dinner, communal onsen baths. Mid-range ryokan in Hakone or Kyoto: €80–150 per person including dinner and breakfast — genuinely one of the world's great hotel experiences.
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Frequently asked questions
Less than its reputation suggests. A mid-range traveler spending on good food, comfortable hotels, and JR Pass will spend €100–150/day. The main cost is the flight. Within Japan, a bowl of excellent ramen costs €8, a night in a business hotel €40–60, and the Shinkansen to Kyoto €60 one way.
It depends on your route. Tokyo→Kyoto→Osaka round trip costs about €130 on Shinkansen — a 7-day JR Pass costs from €250, so it's worth it if you add Hiroshima, Hakone, or other trips. Calculate your planned routes before buying.
Cherry blossom (late March–mid April) is stunning but crowded and expensive. Autumn foliage (November) rivals spring for scenery with slightly fewer crowds. May–June and September–October are excellent shoulder seasons with good weather.
No — Japan is remarkably easy to navigate as a non-Japanese speaker. Train stations have English signage, Google Translate camera mode handles menus, and most tourist-area staff speak basic English. Learning a few phrases (arigatou, sumimasen) is appreciated.