14 Day Japan Itinerary - Japan Rail Pass Blog (2023)

FAQs

Is 14 days in Japan enough? ›

There are so many fascinating aspects of Japanese culture. For this reason, this is a country you'll want to explore as much as possible when you visit. Although two weeks in Japan isn't nearly enough time to discover the whole country, it's a great start.

The estimated total cost for 2 weeks in Japan is ¥790,000 ($5450) for 2 people. This works out to ¥28,300 ($195) per person per day, and it includes flights, accommodation, transportation, food, activities, souvenirs, and other small expenses.

Two weeks is the perfect amount of time for your first trip to Japan. You'll be able to explore this wonderful country from the mountains to the sea, wandering through chaotic neon-lined streets and serene Zen temples, soaking in onsens and filling yourself with more ramen and sushi than you ever thought possible.

Can I ride all trains, buses and ferries? The JR Pass does not allow you to ride on subways or trams within cities. However, most big cities have a few JR lines that you can use to go around, like the Osaka Loop or Kanjo line and the Tokyo Yamanote line, for example.

The Japan Rail Pass and JR Tokyo Wide Pass are valid only on JR trains and the Tokyo Monorail. They cannot be used on subways or any other non-JR train.

The JR Pass does not include travel to Okinawa. I recommend using a flight to get there, or take the ferry from Kagoshima.

Re: Where should i go first, Kyoto or Osaka? I'd stay the majority of time in Kyoto as it offers a lot more. For the first night, while you can get to Kyoto, not a lot of places stay open late and they are mainly fast-food type places. So you may want to stay in Osaka and travel to Kyoto the following morning.

Is Sapporo worth a visit? ›

Sapporo first garnered international attention when it became the first city in Asia to host the Winter Olympics in 1972. Today, it's one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations – famous for its miso ramen, Sapporo beer, and playing host to the Sapporo Snow Festival which draws in over 2 million tourists annually.

The best time to visit Japan is during spring (March to May) and fall (September to November). This is when Japan is at its most vibrant, with delicate cherry blossom or bright red leaves adding contrast to the scenery.

Plan to spend around US$350-US$1,500 per person per day on your trip to Japan. A 2-week vacation to Japan costs around US$5,000 per person. A 10-day vacation to Japan costs around US$3,500 per person.

$1000 should be sufficient, but you must be strict with yourself. $50 a day just about creeps overbudget. I think you should set yourself about $30 a day and maybe sometimes jump up to $50/60 if you wanna try something. Don't worry too much.

High season is considered to be November and December. The cheapest month to fly to Japan is March.

If you can't get enough of big showy temples and shrines and want somewhere with a sense of history, staying in Kyoto is absolutely your best bet. But, if you love to wander and just absorb the feeling of different areas, I think Osaka fits the bill more than Kyoto.

With two weeks on your hands, you will be able to visit the two most important and distinct cities of Japan – Tokyo, and Kyoto, plus do some day trips from these two big cities to Nikko and Nara, or even Osaka if you want some more big city time.

Trains are the most popular way for travelers to explore Japan, and arguably the best. They are fast, efficient, and extremely reliable, and though they are not the cheapest form of transport available, they can get you just about anywhere in the country with minimal stress.

It is not necessary to starve yourself to save money when traveling in Japan, as it is easy to find a wide selection of cheap, quality meals throughout the country. The extremely budget-conscious could thrive on as little as 1500 to 2000 yen per day on food without sacrificing much variety or their health.

Credit, debit and prepaid cards of international brands are generally accepted throughout the country. There will be instances where stores may not display the symbols of the cards they accept, so ask the salesperson if you can use your card.

How much money should I bring to Japan for a week? ›

The average price of a 7-day trip to Japan is $1,659 for a solo traveler, $2,690 for a couple, and $1,913 for a family of 4. Japan hotels range from $62 to $304 per night with an average of $105, while most vacation rentals will cost $140 to $520 per night for the entire home.

The rail pass allows the unlimited rides on all JR Hokkaido Lines (except Hokkaido Shinkansen) within validity period.

Yes. The JR Pass is valid on the JR lines that connects the main airports to the main cities. If you land in Narita Airport, you can take the Narita Express to connect to Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro stations.

No visitor to Tokyo should be without a Suica card and no visitor to Japan should be without a JR Pass. The Suica card is convenient for intercity trains and buses while the JR Pass saves you time and money when traveling through the country.

Numerous trains in and around Kyoto can be accessed using your Japan Rail Pass. Kyoto Station is the central city's transportation hub for Japan Railways and other private services, as well as shopping centers. From here, you can access the Shinkansen bullet train to Osaka, Tokyo, and many other destinations.

With your pass, you can take unlimited rides on most shinkansen (bullet trains), as well as on rapid, express and local JR trains. Outside urban centers such as Tokyo and Osaka, the pass is best used to cover distance, as it does not include municipal subways and private suburban lines.

Fares on the JR Osaka loop line range between 120 – 260 yen per ride, depending on the distance travelled. The Japan Rail Pass covers the JR Osaka loop line, and makes for a great way to explore Osaka with.

Tickets and fares

If you have a Japan Rail Pass you can ride a part of the Fuji Excursion (Shinjuku – Otsuki) without needing an additional ticket. This means that JR Pass holders need to buy a ticket for the 'Otsuki – Mount Fuji / Fujikyu Highland / Kawaguchiko' section of the journey: Otsuki – Kawaguchiko: 1140 yen.

You can use your JR Pass to take the Tokaido Shinkansen line's Hikari bullet train from Tokyo Station to Shin-Osaka Station, Shin-Kobe Station or Himeji Station. Once in one of these stations, you can transfer to the Sanyo Shinkansen (Sakura train) and arrive in Hiroshima at Hiroshima Station.

Which is better Kyoto or Tokyo? ›

Kyoto is more relaxing. Tokyo is about 30% more expensive than Kyoto for travelers. If you prefer big cities, modern technology, nightlife and a huge selection of restaurants, Tokyo is for you. If you're after temples, shrines, garden, geisha and hiking, Kyoto is for you.

The cherries usually bloom in Osaka in the last week of March and the first week of April. Thus, you have to be pretty lucky to catch them during a short trip to Japan.

Tokyo has plenty of cheap spots, often clustered into districts like Omoide Yokochō in Shinjuku, but you'll generally find Kyoto a little cheaper overall.

Take the JR Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto (4 hours) and transfer to the Hokuto limited express to Sapporo (3.5 hours). The entire one way trip costs around 29,000 yen and takes around eight hours. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass.

The main attractions in the center of Sapporo are within a walkable distance of one another. Susukino Station is located at a distance of approximately 1.5 km, about a 20 minute walk, from JR Sapporo Station. We recommend walking along Sapporo Ekimae-dori street to enjoy a view of the cityscape.

Travel to Sapporo by train is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass. This is an affordable option with the added bonus of views of much of the Japanese countryside.

When is the rainy season in Japan? In most Japanese regions (including Tokyo), the rainy season runs from the beginning of June to mid-July.

The typhoon season in the Pacific usually begins with less severe storms in April and does not end until November. The most severe typhoons usually occur in August and September. The most severe typhoon to make landfall in Japan in the past 12 months was »Nanmadol«.

Cherry blossom season in Japan is generally said to be late March to April, but given the geographical scope of the country, the blooming period actually covers around 4 months!

Cash is still a favored method, although the COVID-19 pandemic has boosted the use of digital and contactless payments. Most major credit cards are accepted for purchases in larger stores and restaurants. However, be aware that shrines and other locations in rural areas might only take cash.

How far does the dollar go in Japan? ›

Yen to Dollar

As it currently stands, 1 USD equals just about 109 JPY (Japanese Yen). These figures can change, so it is a good idea to frequently visit a currency exchange website to know how far your dollar will go in Japan.

The cost of transportation in Japan is one of the few areas where prices can be high. Visitors typically spend between 2,000 and 8,000 yen (the Japanese currency) per week on public transportation such as local trains or buses.

Ten days is enough for a first timer, but you could easily stretch this itinerary to two weeks in Japan if you have a few extra days, or skip one or two places if you only have a week there. Mad, mind-boggling, and futuristic are all words that come to mind when I think of our 10-day trip to Japan.

The estimated total cost for 2 weeks in Japan is ¥790,000 ($5450) for 2 people. This works out to ¥28,300 ($195) per person per day, and it includes flights, accommodation, transportation, food, activities, souvenirs, and other small expenses.

Osaka vs Tokyo: The Bottom Line

If you want to be at the heart of everything, Tokyo can be your best bet. But, if you want to enjoy a lower cost of living and friendlier neighbors, Osaka can be the better choice. Both cities have something unique to offer, and living in either city can be a fantastic experience.

Total Travel Time

From the United States, flying to Japan takes approximately 14 hours from the east coast and 10 hours from the west coast. Every connection and layover adds to this time. For example, if you're traveling from Los Angeles to Tokyo, the direct flight of 10 hours is a breeze.

7 to 10 days are ideal for first time visitors to Japan. You wouldn't be able to see all around Japan, but it is possible to pick best highlights of the country.

Is two weeks in Japan enough? Two weeks is definitely enough time to see some of Japan's main highlights. In this two week Japan itinerary, you'll visit Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Kobe – it's the perfect amount of time when you're visiting Japan for the first time.

At the end of the day, 12 days in Japan is just enough to explore the tip of the iceberg. There were so many things we wanted to do but simply couldn't fit into the itinerary.

How many days can tourist stay in Japan? ›

You must have a valid passport and an onward/return ticket for tourist/business "visa free" stays of up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for the entire time you are staying in Japan. You cannot work on a 90-day "visa free" entry.

Our Golden Route Japan itinerary loosely follows the Tokaido Road, the most traveled route during the Edo Period connecting Kyoto to Tokyo. Today, this route is referred to as the "Golden Route" and is popular among visitors as it features famous sites along the route including Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka.

The best places to stay in Japan for first-timers are Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka because they are the most popular cities in Japan. If you have a long holiday in Japan, you can make your trip to Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Fukuoka, Okinawa, Hakone, and Kamakura.

And you can't travel freely around Japan yet, you must take a fully packaged tour with fixed itineraries accompanied by a guide at all times during your trip, from your arrival to departure. It's also limited to people who haven't traveled outside of the 'blue' countries within 14 days prior to a visit to Japan.

At least two full days are needed to get a taste of Kyoto; however, the city is extremely rich in history and culture, and you could easily spend a week exploring Japan's ancient capital and not run out of first-class attractions to visit.

Currently, tourists with U.S. passports do not need visas for short-term visits (up to three months). Passengers who have been fully vaccinated and boosted with vaccines approved by the Japanese government and who are arriving in Japan after October 11, 2022, will not require a pre-travel COVID-19 test.

Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes, visa free tourism resumed October 11, 2022. The U.S. Embassy strongly urges any U.S. citizens considering travel to Japan to carefully review the information available from the Government of Japan.