Japan 14 Day Itinerary: Cities, Onsen and Hiroshima

JGO! editorial team — WEBMARKS Inc. (Fujisawa, Kanagawa)

By JGO! editorial team — WEBMARKS Inc.

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A 14-day trip gives you time to travel from Tokyo to Osaka through hot springs, historic towns and Hiroshima. This itinerary follows the Japan National Tourism Organization’s Golden Route model: 13 nights, eight overnight bases and seven hotel changes.

It suits travellers who want variety and are comfortable moving regularly. For a slower trip, skip a stop or use the three-base alternative below.

Route: Tokyo → Hakone → Kyoto → Nara → Kurashiki → Hiroshima and Miyajima → Himeji → Osaka

Contents

1. Why this 14-day route works
2. Day-by-day plan: Days 1–7
3. Day-by-day plan: Days 8–14
4. Getting around: trains, times and passes
5. How to book your 14-day trip
6. Hakone and Miyajima: regional highlights
7. Slower and family-friendly versions
8. Mistakes first-time visitors can avoid
9. FAQ

1. Why this 14-day route works

The route combines Tokyo and Kyoto with an onsen stay, smaller historic districts and time in Hiroshima. It travels mainly west until Hiroshima, then turns east towards Himeji and Osaka.

The main trade-off is the number of hotel changes. If that sounds tiring, remove Kurashiki or Himeji and add the night to Kyoto or Osaka. Choose the places you most want to enjoy rather than trying to squeeze every stop into a shorter stay.

2. Day-by-day plan: Days 1–7

Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo

After checking in, take an easy walk around your hotel. If you arrive early enough, visit Asakusa for Sensoji Temple and Kaminarimon Gate. Leave the evening open for dinner near your accommodation, especially after a long flight.

Day 2: Explore Tokyo

Choose neighbourhoods rather than trying to cross the entire city. For a lively day, explore Shibuya and Shinjuku. For shops and restaurants, focus on Ginza. Leave time for a meal and a break between stops.

Day 3: Kamakura and Yokohama

Take a day trip south from Tokyo. In Kamakura, choose a few temples, such as Engakuji or Meigetsuin, and allow time to move between them. If you also want to see Yokohama, stop there on the way back.

For a quieter day, visit Kamakura alone and return to Tokyo without adding Yokohama.

Day 4: Travel to Hakone

From Shinjuku, take the Odakyu Line towards Hakone-Yumoto. The limited-express Romancecar is a convenient choice, but requires a separate limited-express charge even when using a Hakone Freepass.

Plan sightseeing around your ryokan’s check-in and dinner times. Lake Ashi and Hakone Shrine make a good pairing; travellers more interested in mountain views can choose the railway, cable car and ropeway instead. Finish with an onsen soak and an overnight stay.

Day 5: Continue to Kyoto

Return through Hakone-Yumoto to Odawara Station, then take a shinkansen that stops at Odawara to Kyoto. Check the train’s stops and departure time before leaving your ryokan.

After dropping your bags, choose one area for the afternoon. Nijo Castle or the Kyoto Imperial Palace works well for a city-focused visit; Sanzenin Temple in Ohara is an alternative if you prefer to travel farther from the centre.

Day 6: A full day in Kyoto

Spend the day on the sights that interest you most. The Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art and the nearby Keage Incline offer an art-and-walking combination. Alternatively, use the day for temples, gardens or a slower meal in a historic neighbourhood.

Day 7: Nara

Take a train from Kyoto to Nara and leave your luggage at your accommodation before exploring. Walk through Nara Park and Naramachi, the old merchant district.

Horyuji Temple is another option, but requires additional travel outside central Nara. Plan around that visit rather than adding it to an already full day.

3. Day-by-day plan: Days 8–14

Day 8: Kurashiki

Travel from Nara towards Shin-Osaka, take the Sanyo Shinkansen to Okayama, then change to a local train for Kurashiki. JNTO estimates the local train from Okayama at around 15 minutes and the walk from Kurashiki Station to the Bikan Historical Quarter at about 10 minutes.

Spend the afternoon walking beside the canal, visiting shops or choosing a museum. Kojima Jeans Street and seasonal fruit picking are alternatives, but each needs its own transport planning. See JNTO’s Kurashiki guide for access details.

Day 9: Hiroshima

Return towards Okayama or travel via Shin-Kurashiki, then continue by shinkansen to Hiroshima. Spend the afternoon at the Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. For dinner, try Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki; Okonomimura is one option.

Adult admission to the museum is ¥200. Hiroshima City lists online advance reservations for the early-morning entry period and certain late-day periods; the late-day times vary by season. Check the city’s museum visitor information when choosing your entry time. For a wider walk, use JNTO’s Hiroshima route.

Day 10: Miyajima

From Hiroshima Station, take the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi, walk to the ferry terminal and cross to Miyajima. Visit Itsukushima Shrine and its great torii gate, then explore the island at your own pace. Return to Hiroshima for a second night.

JNTO estimates the train at about 30 minutes, followed by a short walk and a ferry crossing of about 10 minutes. Add time for waiting and walking on the island. See the Setonaikai access guide for the route.

Day 11: Himeji

Take a shinkansen from Hiroshima to Himeji and visit Himeji Castle. The castle is about a 20-minute walk or five-minute bus ride from Himeji Station.

Admission for an adult who does not live in Himeji is ¥2,500; the combined castle and Koko-en Garden ticket is ¥2,600. Regular castle hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with last entry at 4 p.m. Check the official castle visitor information for closures and current arrangements. Stay overnight in Himeji.

Day 12: Himeji, Kobe and Osaka

Continue east to Osaka. If sake interests you, consider a stop in Kobe’s Nada district on the way. Otherwise, go directly to Osaka and save the afternoon for the city.

In the evening, visit Umeda or book the Umeda Sky Building observation deck for a city view.

Day 13: Osaka

Choose neighbourhoods according to your interests. Dotonbori is a good choice for food and evening lights; Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street suits a longer shopping walk; Abeno Harukas offers an observation-deck visit.

Day 14: Depart

Check the airport on your ticket before planning your final transfer. For Kansai International Airport, JNTO lists the JR rapid train from Osaka Station at approximately 65 minutes. Add time for travel from your hotel, airport procedures and any train connection.

4. Getting around: trains, times and passes

Shinkansen and local trains

The shinkansen handles the longest journeys, while local trains connect places such as Nara, Kurashiki and Miyajimaguchi. Check both the station name and the train’s stops: Shin-Osaka is not Osaka Station, and not every shinkansen stops at Odawara.

For a Tokyo–Kyoto comparison, JR Central illustrates a fast journey of around 130 minutes. Day 5 starts at Odawara instead, and its duration depends on the train you choose. Use JR Central’s timetable to plan the service; the basic timetable does not list every extra train.

For ordinary shinkansen tickets, you need a basic fare and a limited-express charge. Compare reserved and non-reserved seats for your chosen service, and reserve if you want a specific departure or seats together. Suica and ICOCA are examples of rechargeable IC cards useful for many local journeys.

Is a JAPAN RAIL PASS worth it?

A 14-day trip does not automatically need a 14-day pass. This plan’s longest train journeys fall mainly between Days 5 and 11, so compare individual tickets with both a seven-day and a 14-day pass.

The official JAPAN RAIL PASS price page lists the following 14-day prices:

JR Group’s price-change announcement sets the revised overseas-agency prices for purchases from October 1, 2026, in the local time of the purchase location. It says the official online prices were unchanged in that revision. Check the price page before paying.

To compare costs, add up your planned tickets for:

1. Odawara to Kyoto.
2. Kyoto to Nara.
3. Nara to Kurashiki, including the shinkansen section.
4. Kurashiki to Hiroshima.
5. Hiroshima to Miyajimaguchi and the ferry.
6. Hiroshima to Himeji, then Himeji to Osaka.

Add other JR journeys you expect to make during the pass period. A seven-day pass starting on Day 5 would run through Day 11; price Day 12 separately in that comparison. The official online seven-day Ordinary pass is ¥50,000 for an adult; the overseas-agency price is ¥53,000.

The pass is available to qualifying overseas visitors entering for sightseeing with Temporary Visitor status. Some Japanese nationals living abroad also qualify under separate conditions. Check the eligibility rules before purchase, including the instructions for proof of entry if you use an automated immigration gate.

Child passes generally apply to ages 6–11. The official price page also describes an exception for a child who is 11 when the online payment is made or the exchange order is issued.

Nozomi, Mizuho and private railways

A JAPAN RAIL PASS alone does not cover Nozomi or Mizuho services on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen. Pass holders can use them by purchasing the designated special ticket before boarding. Hikari, Sakura, Kodama and Tsubame are alternatives covered on eligible sections.

The pass does not cover every private railway. Budget separately for the Odakyu and Hakone transport you intend to use. See the official scope of validity for details.

Luggage on the shinkansen

Measure your suitcase by adding its height, width and depth. On the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen, baggage over 160 cm and up to 250 cm in total dimensions requires a reservation for a seat with an oversized-baggage area.

JR Central’s current summary places baggage measuring 160 cm or less in the category that does not require a reservation. Another passage describes oversized baggage as “between 160 cm and 250 cm”; the summary and the more specific rule elsewhere on the page identify over 160 cm as the threshold. A reservation is required if you want to use an oversized-baggage space, even for a smaller item.

Passengers who bring qualifying oversized baggage without the required reservation are charged ¥1,000. Baggage over 250 cm cannot be brought on board. Check JR Central’s luggage guidance when booking.

5. How to book your 14-day trip

1. Choose your flights and bases. Arriving in Tokyo and departing from the Osaka area avoids returning to Tokyo at the end. Confirm the airports before booking the first and final hotels.
2. Reserve the Hakone ryokan. Check its location, dinner time, meal inclusions and bathing arrangements. Use those details to decide how much sightseeing fits on Day 4.
3. Book the remaining hotels. On one-night stops, accommodation near the station or your main sight can make luggage transfers easier.
4. Price the trains. Compare separate tickets with the seven-day and 14-day rail passes. Include Hakone transport and any Nozomi or Mizuho special ticket separately.
5. Reserve important seats. Book journeys where you need a particular departure, seats together or an oversized-baggage area. During major peak periods, Nozomi trains may run with all seats reserved.
6. Book time-sensitive visits. Check Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum’s reservation periods and any activities, meals or observation decks you want at a fixed time.
7. Recheck transport before travelling. Confirm train stops, ferry departures and your airport connection using the operators’ current schedules.

6. Hakone and Miyajima: regional highlights

Hakone: choosing a Freepass

The Hakone Freepass is worth considering if you plan to use several forms of transport, such as the mountain railway, cable car, ropeway and sightseeing boat. It covers designated routes and is available for two or three days.

The Shinjuku version includes one round trip on the Odakyu Line between the departure station and Odawara. On this itinerary, you continue west to Kyoto rather than return to Shinjuku, so compare that pass with a one-way journey to Hakone plus the Odawara-area pass or individual tickets.

The Romancecar charge is extra, and travel outside the designated area requires an additional fare. See Hakone Navi’s Freepass details for coverage and purchase options.

Miyajima: ferry, shrine and visitor tax

The JAPAN RAIL PASS covers the JR West Miyajima Ferry, but not every ferry operator. The ¥100 Miyajima visitor tax is separate from the pass.

Hatsukaichi City’s visitor-tax notice says the tax can be paid at a ticket machine, service window or automatic gate when boarding; preschool children are exempt. Ask the ferry operator about the payment method at your terminal.

The Miyajima Tourist Association lists admission to the Itsukushima Shrine buildings as ¥300 for adults, ¥200 for high-school students and ¥100 for elementary and junior-high students. Closing time varies by season. Read JNTO’s Itsukushima Shrine guide for its history.

7. Slower and family-friendly versions

For fewer hotel changes, stay four nights in Tokyo, five in Kyoto and four in Osaka. That still covers 13 nights but reduces the trip to two hotel changes.

• Tokyo: Explore the city and choose either Kamakura or Yokohama as a day trip.
• Kyoto: Give yourself more time for temples and gardens, with Nara as a day trip.
• Osaka: Explore the city and consider Himeji as a day trip before departure.

This version leaves out the Hakone overnight, Kurashiki and Hiroshima. If Hiroshima or Miyajima is essential, keep the two Hiroshima nights from the main plan and remove another base instead.

For families or travellers with heavy luggage, another compromise is to remove Kurashiki or Himeji and add that night to Kyoto or Osaka. Keep sightseeing on transfer days light, and choose hotels where leaving luggage before check-in is convenient.

8. Mistakes first-time visitors can avoid

Assuming the rail pass covers every shinkansen. The pass alone does not cover Nozomi or Mizuho. Buy the designated special ticket before boarding or choose an eligible alternative.

Treating the Hakone Freepass as a Romancecar ticket. The limited-express charge is separate. Compare the pass with individual tickets, particularly when travelling onwards to Kyoto instead of returning to Shinjuku.

Leaving oversized luggage arrangements until boarding. Measure your bag and reserve a suitable seat when required. If you want the space behind an oversized-baggage seat for a smaller item, reserve that seat too.

Ignoring immigration documentation. If you plan to use a JAPAN RAIL PASS, follow the official eligibility instructions for your entry status and passport documentation.

Planning from one timetable and never checking again. Recheck train stops, seasonal services and ferry departures close to your travel date, especially before a tight connection.

9. FAQ

Is 14 days enough for Japan?

Fourteen days is enough for a varied first route through Tokyo, central Japan and western Honshu. The full plan includes cities, an onsen stay, historic districts and Hiroshima, but requires seven hotel changes. Choose the slower version if you prefer more time in each base.

Should I buy a 14-day JAPAN RAIL PASS?

Compare it with individual tickets and a seven-day pass. The official online 14-day Ordinary pass is listed at ¥80,000 for an adult. Your result depends on the journeys, dates and services you choose.

How long is the shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto?

JR Central illustrates a fast Tokyo–Kyoto journey of around 130 minutes. Check your specific train: services stop at different stations, and the journey in this itinerary begins at Odawara after the Hakone stay.

Can I visit Miyajima from Hiroshima in one day?

Yes. Allow around 30 minutes for the JR train to Miyajimaguchi, a walk to the terminal and about 10 minutes for the ferry, plus waiting and time on the island. Staying a second night in Hiroshima makes the return straightforward.

Which airport should I use to leave Osaka?

Use the airport that matches your flight. Kansai International Airport is one option; check the connection from your final hotel and allow enough time for airport procedures.

Do I pay the Miyajima visitor tax with a rail pass?

Yes, unless an exemption applies. The ¥100 tax is separate from the pass; preschool children are exempt. Pay using the ferry operator’s available method.

Explore more

Browse JGO! guides for more Japan planning ideas, or explore saved posts about this itinerary.