Planning a trip to Japan on your own isn’t the easiest task, but it’s definitely far from impossible. I’m speaking from personal experience here. For me, the hardest part was choosing which attractions to include and figuring out the most efficient routes between cities, so we wouldn’t waste time on the road. As you can imagine, Japan is packed with tourist sights, cultural experiences and unique things to do, making the planning stage a bit overwhelming.
Two weeks in Japan may sound like a lot, but once you start building your itinerary, you quickly realize it’s just enough — long enough to see the essentials, but short enough to make you want to return. With a well-organized plan, 14 days were perfect for us to experience everything we hoped to see. Sure, you can visit Japan in a week, but I personally recommend keeping this destination for a time when you can stay at least two weeks. The journey is long, and once you arrive, you’ll probably regret leaving too soon.
Because I want to make planning easier for anyone preparing a DIY trip to Japan, here is the full breakdown of the itinerary we followed. And if you have a few extra days to spare, you can even extend the trip with a short escape to South Korea — just like we did. The flight between the two countries is only about 1–1.5 hours, so it’s a very convenient add-on.
We spent:
- 7 nights in Tokyo
- 3 nights in Kyoto
- 4 nights in Osaka
Then we continued our travels with
- 6 nights in South Korea:
- 3 nights in Busan
- 3 nights in Seoul
Tokyo – What We Did in 7 Days
Day 1 – Tokyo: Ueno & Shibuya
When planning our Tokyo itinerary, the most important thing was grouping attractions by location. Distances can be long, transfers can take time, and the city is huge — so organizing everything by district made a big difference.
On our first day, still feeling a bit jet-lagged, we rested for a few hours and then started exploring. We focused on the Ueno area during the day, visiting the main attractions, and ended the evening in the vibrant district of Shibuya.
Ueno District:
– Ueno Park – famous for cherry blossoms in spring
– Ueno Zoo
– Tokyo National Museum
– Ameya-Yokochō – street food, small shops, stalls and restaurants
– Yanaka Ginza – a charming old street with a traditional atmosphere
Shibuya District:
– Shibuya Crossing (best view from Tsutaya + Starbucks)
– Hachikō Statue
– Center Gai – the main pedestrian street behind the crossing
– Shibuya 109 – iconic shopping building
– Nonbei Yokocho – narrow retro alleys filled with small izakaya
Day 2 – Tokyo: Ginza & Shinjuku
With more energy on our second day, we decided to walk as much as possible. I genuinely believe this is the best way to experience Tokyo exactly as it is. Make sure you visit Kabukichō and Golden Gai both during the day and at night — the difference in atmosphere is incredible.
Ginza:
– Chuo-dori Street – luxury shopping street, pedestrian-only on weekends
– Yurakucho & Ginza Corridor Street – restaurants and izakaya under the train tracks
– Wako Building
– Tsukiji Outer Market
Shinjuku:
– Government Building Observatories – two free observation decks
– Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden – stunning, especially during cherry blossom season
– Golden Gai – narrow nightlife alleys filled with tiny bars
– Kabukichō – the lively “Red District”, famous for the Godzilla Head
– Omoide Yokocho – tiny traditional restaurants serving yakitori, ramen and more
– Cross Shinjuku Vision – the famous 3D cat billboard
Day 3 – Tokyo: Harajuku & Akihabara
We started the day in colorful Harajuku, the birthplace of one of Japan’s most eccentric fashion subcultures. Think vibrant colors, layered outfits, kawaii accessories and playful designs. After a quick shopping session around Omotesando, we ended the day in Akihabara — heaven for anime, gaming and gadget lovers.
What we visited:
– Takeshita Street – the heart of Harajuku, filled with themed shops and animal cafés
– Cat Street – bohemian alley with boutiques and trendy cafés
– Omotesandō-dori – Tokyo’s “Champs-Élysées”
– Yoyogi Park
– Meiji Jingu Shrine and its surrounding forest
– Akihabara – where we also tried a Maid Café experience (super kawaii!)
Day 4 – Mount Fuji & Lake Kawaguchiko
Just outside Tokyo, there are several places that offer stunning views of Mount Fuji — and Lake Kawaguchiko is one of the best. After lots of research, we chose it as our Fuji viewing spot, and it exceeded every expectation. The scenery was breathtaking — probably the most beautiful place we saw during the entire trip.
Important tip: the weather is crucial. If it’s not clear, Fuji will be completely hidden behind clouds. Try to plan this day trip last-minute (1–2 days before), depending on the forecast.
Day 5 – Tokyo: Asakusa District & TeamLab
We started the day with a panoramic view of Nakamise Shopping Street from the Asakusa Culture and Tourist Information Center — the viewpoint is free, and absolutely worth it. Asakusa can get very crowded, so go early if you can.
Asakusa:
– Asakusa Culture and Tourism Center
– Nakamise Shopping Street
– Kaminarimon Gate
– Sensō-ji Temple
– Tokyo Skytree
– Kappabashi Street
– Hoppy Street – known for izakaya and the “hoppy” drink
– Sumida River & Hamarikyu Gardens
Later that day we visited TeamLab Planets, an immersive digital art museum that requires advance tickets.
Day 6 – Tokyo: Imperial Palace & Tokyo Tower
This day was more relaxed. We visited Tokyo Tower and the Imperial Palace, then spent the rest of the day shopping. We walked for hours and ended up buying so many things that we had to purchase an extra suitcase before leaving — which is why I highly recommend traveling to Japan with as much empty luggage space as possible.
Best shopping areas in Tokyo:
– Ginza – luxury brands
– Harajuku, Shibuya, Cat Street – streetwear and unique designer pieces
– Omotesando – mainstream brands
– Ameyoko / Ueno – souvenirs and street food
– Shimokitazawa – vintage & thrift
– Jinbōchō – books and cultural items
Day 7 – Tokyo DisneySea
We dedicated our final day in Tokyo to one of the most unique theme parks in the world: Tokyo DisneySea. There’s no other Disney park with this concept, which is why it can get extremely crowded. What impressed me the most was the attention to detail — each port has its own atmosphere, music and incredibly immersive décor.
Kyoto – What We Did in 3 Days
Day 8 – Kyoto
We started in Gion, Kyoto’s most famous district, known as the “geisha district.” Many travelers come here in the evening hoping to spot geiko or maiko heading to their traditional performances. We continued with temples in the area and ended the day with a stroll through Nishiki Market.
What we visited:
– Hanamikoji-dori
– Yasaka Shrine
– Maruyama Park
– Kodaiji Temple
– Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka
– Kiyomizu-dera
(Optional: Heian Jingu Shrine and Nijō Castle)
Day 9 – Kyoto
No visit to Kyoto is complete without wearing a kimono — so we started the morning by renting traditional outfits and exploring temples dressed appropriately for the experience.
What we visited:
– Fushimi Inari Taisha
– Tofuku-ji Temple
– To-ji Temple
– Ginkaku-ji
– Philosopher’s Path
Day 10 – Kyoto
On our last day, we visited two of Kyoto’s most iconic sights.
What we visited:
– Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
– Okochi Sanso Garden
– Kyoto Gyoen National Garden & Kyoto Imperial Palace
– Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
– Arashiyama Monkey Park
Osaka – What We Did in 4 Days
We reserved only two full days to explore Osaka because we wanted to dedicate time to day trips to Kobe, Nara and Hiroshima. Two days were enough to cover Osaka’s main attractions.
Day 11 – Osaka
What we visited:
– Osaka Castle
– America-mura
– Dotonbori
– Namba Yasaka Jinja
– Kuromon Market
– Tsutenkaku Tower
Day 12 – Kobe & Nara
We started our day in Kobe, a charming port city with a completely different vibe from the other places we visited in Japan. Our first stop was Seaworld, where we watched dolphin and orca shows, then continued to the colorful Chinatown. Before leaving Kobe, we made a quick stop at the iconic Kobe Port Tower.
After lunch we headed to Nara, where we met the friendly deer that roam freely around Nara Park. We walked around the park, fed the deer, and visited two important temples: Kasuga Taisha and Tōdai-ji.
Day 13 – Hiroshima
Our day in Hiroshima began with a trip to Miyajima Island, famous for its “floating” torii gate and serene atmosphere. We explored the traditional streets and enjoyed the stunning scenery.
Later we returned to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Park — an essential stop in Japan, in my opinion. The Peace Museum presents the story of the bombing in a powerful and emotional way, and it’s an experience that stays with you long after you leave.
Day 14 – Osaka
On our final day, we visited Umeda Sky Building, Osaka’s iconic observatory, and Tenjibashi Shopping Street, one of the longest shopping arcades in Japan. It was a slower, more relaxing day — a perfect break before heading to South Korea.
These were our two weeks in Japan — a mix of iconic attractions and unforgettable experiences. The itinerary can be adjusted and customized, but it’s a great starting point if you’re not sure where to begin.
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Happy travels! 🥰
