Two Weeks in Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima

The classic Japan first-time route is classic for a reason. Here's how to execute it in 2 weeks.

Route

Tokyo (5 nights) → Hakone (1 night) → Kyoto (4 nights) → Hiroshima day trip → Osaka (2 nights) → fly home.

JR Pass math

7-day JR Pass costs ¥50,000 (after 2024 price increase). 14-day is ¥80,000.

Point-to-point this itinerary:

Tokyo → Hakone via Odakyu (not JR, so pass doesn't cover): ¥2,280
Hakone → Kyoto: ¥14,000
Kyoto → Hiroshima round trip: ¥22,000
Kyoto → Osaka: ¥560
Osaka → Kansai airport: ¥2,380

Total point-to-point: ~¥41,200. A 7-day pass (for bullet train days only) saves money IF you time it right. Activate the pass day 5, use it for Hakone → Kyoto, Hiroshima day trip, Kyoto → Osaka, Osaka → KIX — total of 5 bullet-train uses in 7 days.

Non-Shinkansen travel (subways within cities) uses local IC cards (Suica/Pasmo), not the JR Pass.

Days 1-5: Tokyo

See our separate "7 days in Tokyo" guide. In a 2-week trip, compress to:

Day 1: Shinjuku + Shibuya
Day 2: Asakusa + Akihabara
Day 3: Harajuku + Omotesando + Yoyogi
Day 4: TeamLab + Odaiba OR Kamakura day trip
Day 5: Tsukiji + flexibility

Day 6: Tokyo → Hakone

2 hours via Odakyu Romancecar to Hakone-Yumoto. Hakone Free Pass ($45) covers regional transport including the pirate ship on Lake Ashi, cable cars, and the Hakone Open Air Museum.

Stay in a ryokan with onsen. Non-negotiable experience. Mid-tier: $350-500/night including kaiseki dinner + breakfast.

Day 7: Hakone → Kyoto

Return to Odawara, Shinkansen to Kyoto (2 hours).

Days 7-10: Kyoto

See our separate "3 days in Kyoto" guide. In a 14-day trip, expand:

Day 1: Eastern (Kiyomizu)
Day 2: Arashiyama + Ryoanji
Day 3: Fushimi Inari + southern temples
Day 4: Nara day trip (deer park, Todaiji with world's largest bronze Buddha)

Day 11: Hiroshima day trip from Kyoto

Shinkansen Kyoto → Hiroshima (90 min). Peace Memorial Park + Museum (₹200). Miyajima Island (ferry + torii gate floating in water). Back to Kyoto for final night.

Days 12-13: Osaka

Shinkansen Kyoto → Osaka (15 min).

Osaka is Japan's food city. Dotonbori for takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu. Osaka Castle.

Universal Studios Japan ($80) if family-friendly or Nintendo fan.

Day 14: Kansai airport + home

Haruka Limited Express from Osaka (75 min, covered by JR Pass if still active).

Cost (2 people, 14 days)

Flights US: $1,400-2,200
JR Pass 7-day × 2: $690
Accommodation: $150/night avg × 13 = $1,950 (including ryokan splurge)
Food: $75/day × 14 = $1,050
Sights + theme park + Miyajima: $500

Total: $5,590-6,390 for 2 people with flights.