14 Days in Japan: The Ultimate Travel Itinerary 🇯🇵 Patreon Exclusive
Added 2023-07-18 13:55:19 +0000 UTC
At long last, the hotly anticipated 14 Days in Japan Travel Plan is here!
Now as much as I'd love to film this right now, it's barely possible to step outside for longer than 10 minutes without being roasted to a flaming crisp. But we will absolutely be shooting it beyond the summer so fear not.
In the meantime guys, I know many of you are planning on coming to Japan in the coming months and I really hope you'll find this useful for ideas on where to go and what to do in Tokyo, Osaka, Nara and Takayama.
I believe this to be the perfect well-rounded trip, for first-time travellers coming to Japan.
We'll be following it up soon for 21 Days in Japan as well, for the lucky folks able to visit a little longer, or those heading here for the second time.
You can find the itinerary pamphlet attached to this post!
And in case you can't read the PDF right now, I'll enclose below, the opening page of the trip plan, explaining how and why I chose this route and the locations within.
Let me know in the comments below what you AGREE or DISAGREE with in this itinerary! Would be keen to hear your thoughts on where you'd skip and WHERE you'd endorse?
Share with us below!
Chris
-----------
14 DAYS IN JAPAN: THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL PLAN
Whether you're traversing the neon-lit labyrinth of Tokyo, or losing yourself in ancient Kyoto's narrow alleys, breathing in the sweet scent of incense sticks, or stuffing your face with fresh sushi and succulent Wagyu beef, while consuming the ever formidable Strong Zero.
The Japanese travel experience is a heady cocktail of culture shock, exhilaration, language barriers, and despair. For many there'll be many situations you've never found yourself in; immersed in a tranquil hot springs - naked - or spread out on a soft tatami straw mat, sleeping on fluffy futon.
The sad truth is, for many, a visit to Japan is a once-in-a-lifetime event, due to the wallet busting expense and the considerable distance travelled to reach this far-flung corner of the globe.
My mission has always been to share Japan with the world and uncover the unique locations, that have gone under the radar for too long, often avoided by the guidebooks and honestly, crafting travel itineraries for Japan is always a ton of fun. Especially for second time visitors, or those here for longer than 14 days, who can get a bit experimental and go off the beaten track.
But the first 14 days in Japan are the most important; these destinations have earned their reputation and represent the essence of what makes Japan great and I hope, after experiencing these locations, travellers to Japan will be keen to return and explore the rest of the country, from frozen Hokkaido to sub-tropical Okinawa.
This 14-day itinerary spans the eclectic corners of Tokyo, the serene mountain town of Takayama, the vibrant Osaka nightlife, the cheeky bowing deer of Nara, and the poignant Memorial Peace Park in Hiroshima.
While it's difficult to put a figure on this itinerary, $2,000 per person seems a reasonable estimate (excluding flights), though for budget-conscious travellers, I recommend bypassing Shinkansen and hotels in favour of buses, hostels and capsule hotels.
It also helps that the Yen is essentially worthless right now - there's never been a better time to visit from overseas!
While we'll be transforming this itinerary in an action-packed Youtube episode soon, I hope this itinerary sheds some light on where to go and what to do on your own journey through Japan, and if you really can't wait, fear not! We've already visited 90% of these locations on previous Abroad in Japan episodes in Tokyo, Osaka, Takayama and Hiroshima. (No Nara and Kanazawa just yet).
Enjoy the itinerary!
I must go now.
My fried chicken needs me.
Chris
Comments
I'm planning a trip to Japan in 2025 and intend to try to replicate your "14 Days in Japan" video. But Dethkake says this isn't the same? So same question as what they asked - it that itinerary available?
Norma Vela
2024-06-09 17:23:53 +0000 UTCThis isn't the itinerary from your "How to spend 14 days in Japan" video. Can I get the itinerary for that?
Dethkake
2024-01-09 00:44:46 +0000 UTCA second Haiku, in kind with the mention of fried chicken... Something fried awaits. A savory place I go. Crunchy joy, beckons... Damn it, now I want fried chicken but it's 9pm and 3°C in England. Nevermind 🥶
Eric
2023-12-05 21:17:33 +0000 UTCI just came across this, and speaking of fried chicken it reminded me of a poem I wrote specifically for Chris, quite a while back when he was doing those fried food reviews, I think it was winter as well. 寒い冬に 揚げた鶏肉を食べ 温かな心 The English version is probably the best part... In a cold winter Eating fried chicken Warm heart. Not a haiku, but that's fine 😅 I then had the exceptionally crazy idea to make a full game about Chris (or some 'British character') exploring parts of Japan to find the best fried chicken (with secret tourist hints), and the final ultimate/ golden fried chicken, along with boss fights and magic. Kind of like GTA, but for foodies. Of course it was going to be an Unreal engine and very cinematic with music, lighting effects, like Godrays and falling sakura petals. Anyway that never happened, plus I was worried it would just be seen as offensive, but also didn't have time, even if it was just 2D. But now that Chris has got more important things in his life than fried chicken... Maybe it's time to dust off my game script/ screenplay. (well, it's in Google Docs so, 'double click'?) 😅
Eric
2023-12-05 21:08:32 +0000 UTCAnyone know if the 21 Itinerary was released and where to find it? We are planning to hopefully go a full month next year, so I'm curious to the 21 day suggestions.
MarisArmoury
2023-11-26 12:40:07 +0000 UTCIn Kansai, I really liked riding the Rokko-Arima teleferique, and the Kobe Maritime Museum and the seaside promenade near the museum; the river rides in Kanazawa; and in Kyoto, the restaurants perched over the river, and the restaurants along the canal.
Enoch Keoki
2023-11-19 04:45:11 +0000 UTCGoing in October, looking forward to visiting some of these! Now I just need to find a family friendly hotel in Ueno since that’s the first stop.
AJ
2023-09-18 02:51:09 +0000 UTCWill be following this itinerary in Sept this year. I've found this incredibly valuable.
Gustavo
2023-08-14 23:59:01 +0000 UTCI've been planning a vacation to Japan since before COVID started. This is more helpful than you could fathom. Thanks a ton, Chris.
Kent C. Strait
2023-08-10 18:54:12 +0000 UTCThis is amazing!
Fluffyspark7
2023-08-05 19:16:45 +0000 UTCThis is SO useful to have while planning our trip to Japan, so thank you for taking the time to make it. We'll look forward to the video and the 21 day itinerary too, as that is how long we plan to visit for 😊
Sarah and Jae
2023-08-02 04:01:09 +0000 UTCI did Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Yokohama during my first trip in 2018. Documented on my Swedish travel blog http://skogcoast2.alexanderskogberg.com.
Alexander Skogberg
2023-08-01 13:29:23 +0000 UTCWe plan to visit Japan in november this year, so the timing of this travel itinerary couldn't be any better. Dankjewel! :)
Marenka
2023-08-01 09:45:45 +0000 UTCAMAZING!! Definitely excited for the 21 day itinerary because that is luckily how long my first trip will be!!
Jackson Kachur
2023-07-30 14:18:18 +0000 UTCHi Chris, how easy is it to rent e-bikes in Japan (and do the sizes fit average to tall Europeans)? We went to do the Shiminami Kaido but I'm a bit scared of the difficulty to get bikes. Many thanks.
Marie-Laure Deprez
2023-07-26 13:01:27 +0000 UTCToo much Tokyo for me personally but understandable for a first time visitor. Love that you included the Kanazawa area and Takayama. I would also include Fukuoka(Chris’ favorite). Travel is so personalized but lots of great advice here. After enjoying Sakura season earlier this year, I can’t wait for my third trip in 2025. Thanks Chris!
Teree Campbell
2023-07-25 11:45:33 +0000 UTCWe visited in April and did a mixture of both depending on how far away the hotel was to the station after check out/before check in. The lockers are reasonably priced and we always felt safe leaving them in there. The hotels were also really good about holding our luggage. When we visited Itsukshima Island we dropped our bags off around 9am and didn't return for check in until gone 7pm (having hiked up and down the mountain).
Becky Jay Sharp
2023-07-25 10:27:03 +0000 UTCI did a 21 day trip with my girlfriend in 2019 and we went to all of these places except for hiroshima (we decided maybe in next trip) and we were really happy of having included Kanazawa Toyama and Takayama which are not part of the "normal" itinerary. We even were able to stay at the Takayama Matsuri (early October) where there's an amazing display of floats! With the extra time we snuck an extra day trip to Hakone/Gora I would recommend that if you follow this 14 day itinerary you check out the JR Pass that would allow you to cover shinkansen to all the mentioned cities and transport in/out the airport. One of the biggest benefits of the JR Pass is that you don't need to "understand" the payment system of train lines, you just show the pass and get in the train.
Cirano Eusebi
2023-07-23 02:00:41 +0000 UTCI'd recommend Matsuyama! My favorite part of my 14 day vacation in japan! :)
garrett1433
2023-07-20 11:39:52 +0000 UTCSmall thing to keep in mind is that the gundam statue will be removed on the 31st of march next year (unless they extend it again)
Thomas M
2023-07-20 06:45:37 +0000 UTCThis is a great help! I'm planning a trip for 4 people. Thanks alot!
Antonia Kampa
2023-07-19 14:22:42 +0000 UTCTakayama is one of my favourite cities! It was the first city we visited outside of Tokyo and it has left me with many wonderful memories. We had many great meals there and enjoyed the quaint wooden town houses. There was a great market there too, along the river. Matsumoto, Aomori and Hiroshima would be my other favourites too.
Lisa Pond
2023-07-19 03:17:12 +0000 UTCThank you! This works perfect for my next trip.
Jeremy Ferrao
2023-07-19 02:10:24 +0000 UTCConsider using takkyuubin delivery services. With them you can send your luggage from hotel to hotel for about 3000 yen. Just ask the hotel staff and they will organise it for you. It takes a day though, so you won't have your luggage for one night.
Naryoril
2023-07-18 23:37:16 +0000 UTCDefinitely recommend for Takayama booking somewhere restaurant wise in advance - we had massive issues trying to find somewhere to eat dinner. Ended up at maccas haha :'). Super cute town tho!!
JodyC
2023-07-18 22:43:57 +0000 UTCWhat is the best thing to do with your luggage each day. I travel usually with just a backpack but on days when you're in cities part of a day or doing things before catching a late train eg Osaka I would need a place to stash the bag. Do you use train station lockers or ask the hotel you're checking out of to hold it?
Brent Whitlock
2023-07-18 22:37:32 +0000 UTCWhat months of the year do you recommend for visiting Japan? Taking into account some of us might be fare skinned Brits not best equipped for dealing with the bright thing in the sky I've heard other countries get....
Razza12003
2023-07-18 22:01:03 +0000 UTCIt's got some great ideas in it. :) My partner and I are heading there in February. I've been 5 times but it's their first time in Japan. We are planning to start in Sapporo for the snow festival and visit many places in between. Will be looking forward to the 21 day itinerary. Getting ideas for how long to stay in the places I've been to before is going to be good too.
Suzannah Cooper
2023-07-18 21:51:50 +0000 UTCLove the itinerary but wish Fukuoka would have been on it. The food, due to the proximity to mainland Asia, is top notch.
Keith Maxon
2023-07-18 21:32:55 +0000 UTCThis is so brilliant! Cant WAIT for the 21 days pamphlet as well :D Thank you so so much!
Arevya
2023-07-18 19:56:14 +0000 UTCSounds good, look forward to the eventual video too. I've been and done the main tourist places - Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Osaka, Nara and an onsen in Takaragawa. I'd be interested to know a few places fairly easy to get to from a major city, especially with the JR pass increasing in price. Hope to visit again next Autumn for some momijigari
Luke Beaman
2023-07-18 18:52:59 +0000 UTCIt is fine, had to have my priorities straight. Been following Chris for 2 years now. great content and learned a lot from it.❤️ I will be ready😁
Lorenzo Koet
2023-07-18 18:19:48 +0000 UTCComing to Japan for the first time in October, can't wait to watch the video version!
Silver Fox
2023-07-18 18:19:12 +0000 UTCThat's rough. My trip was bumped from 2022 to 2023. Just keep watching Chris so you will know what to do when it's your turn.
Susan Ray
2023-07-18 18:14:16 +0000 UTCI'm so excited! Got my flight confirmations for my Oct trip. I'm going to all the places on your list except Hiroshima and Toyama. I am going to Hakone for a lake trip and hopefully photos of Mt Fuji.
Susan Ray
2023-07-18 18:10:57 +0000 UTCExcellent. Cheers, Chris. I arrive in Tokyo on the 14th of August and this is really useful :)
Etienne Sharp
2023-07-18 17:13:59 +0000 UTCI only made it as far north as Gero on my visit but I added Onomichi/Imabari/Matsuyama after your epic esapades. Me and my wife did this the two weeks following golden week and it was awesome. Highly recommended. ETA: One critical note, don't do Gero with no Japanese fresh off the plane from the States... If you do, Google Translate will become your best friend really quick. :)
Michael Heuss
2023-07-18 17:07:06 +0000 UTCAs an avid Osaka hater (:P) I'd say you can skip Osaka castle. The area around it is nice to walk around in but the castle itself is kind of boring inside. Also, something my mother and I did when she visited me in Japan was taking an early train to Nara, explore the "Deer" park including Todaiji and then Kasuga Taisha before taking the Nara line back and stopping at Fushimi Inari in the afternoon/evening before sunset preferably. I've found that Fushimi Inari is somewhat busy even in the morning, unless you go REALLY early (as in 5-6am) whereas around 5-6pm, it's kind of pleasant. A lot of people do not go further up the steps once they past that famous Instagram spot with the two smaller Torii tunnels for some reason.
VanillaCoke1956 .
2023-07-18 16:20:20 +0000 UTCHi Chris and team! I'm loving this! I will fly to Japan in less than 3 weeks and I'm finishing my own itinerary so this is very useful! I will start in Yokohama with the Pokémon Worlds event! I've been seeing some pictures on Twitter showing some Pokémon decorations in Yokohama and I'm so excited! Thank you for making something special for your Patreons!
Marina Ribeiro
2023-07-18 16:20:09 +0000 UTCThank you very much for this! My flight to Japan leaves in 10 days so I would really appreciate it if you uploaded the "21 Days in Japan" ASAP; I might be able to make some last-minute changes. Thanks again!
Saud
2023-07-18 15:43:33 +0000 UTCThis itinerary is amazing Chris! Such detail and I love the layout! Thank you for taking the time to make this, super appreciate it! Now only if we can add this to an auto replay when people ask for a Japan travel itinerary on the podcast 😂. Thank you again Chris, you make us Patreons feel extra special!
Tim
2023-07-18 15:25:35 +0000 UTCHaving looked only at your map, my only gripe with it is, one day is not enough for Kanazawa! I spent only one day exploring there before I fell ill and by the time I got better we had to travel on - I definitely want to spend more time there. Bit of course, in a 14-day itinerary that would take time away from other places! I'm curious what you'll say about Toyama (I only saw the train station en route to Ainokura), and I've never been to Nara or Hiroshima in my two trips to Japan, so I have definitely missed out there too! I do think a first trip to Japan is not complete without experiencing some of the countryside, so I hope you've worked that in somewhere. Off to read the PDF now!
Nynke de Haas
2023-07-18 15:19:15 +0000 UTCBlimey, you'd be exhausted after all that I reckon, but it's a helluva tour! I did Tokyo (4 nights), day trip to Matsumoto then Kanazawa (2 nights), Kyoto (3 nights), Osaka including Nara and Himeji (4 nights) and then a final day in Tokyo before staying ovrr at Narita. It felt like we were regularly on the move, but in places just long enough to get the feel for them.
Lewis
2023-07-18 14:49:32 +0000 UTCVery useful, similar to a itinerary I planned before I had to cancel due to Covid (and unfortunately after exchanging lots of pounds into yen... I'm actually hoping the yen recovers a little). I preferred going to Tsumago over Toyama, and Nikko over Hiroshima though. Also a day trip to Iga. From what I read Hiroshima didn't have much beyond being a pretty city and the peace park, and it's so far away from the rest. It's a lot of work, but making a custom Google map is so useful. Here's mine: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1sFOptPi0204ixSnsL9x3OD2kO5eiB5k&usp=sharing
Jamie Tuckett
2023-07-18 14:45:28 +0000 UTCThis is my exact plans for Kanazawa! 😆
Kimnyan
2023-07-18 14:41:42 +0000 UTCExcellent! Thank you sir! Wife and I are on it!
Adam Armour-Florence
2023-07-18 14:32:26 +0000 UTCThe map says "Day 5 Toyama", but in the text day 5 (and 6) is in Takayama
Naryoril
2023-07-18 14:30:19 +0000 UTCThis is so helpful!
Shreya Prem
2023-07-18 14:27:44 +0000 UTC🤩 this is an perfect starting plan. Unfortunately my plans to go are delayed to 2025 at least😪
Lorenzo Koet
2023-07-18 14:11:03 +0000 UTCAmazing! Also went to Sumo today which was brilliant (i am already a fan though) 😀
Chris Douglas
2023-07-18 14:09:42 +0000 UTCAmazing! :) Just a few thing adding my two cents to Chris words of wisdom: If you’re going to Japan sometimes the important thing is not where to go but when to go. Try to not come in summer unless you don’t mind the heat and or you’re set to watch the different summer festivals. Important as well is to not go on typhoon season because things can get complicated real fast and you can find yourself stuck somewhere (personal experience) and in the rain season prepare yourself because when it rains IT RAINS!!! In Takayama go for the Hida beef; it’s simply amazing and not as expensive as other types of wagyu. Aside from that try to start your days early (specially in Kyoto) to avoid crowds. The sun rise early so try to do so as well to enjoy the full day. Personally I can’t wait to go back to Japan and if you’re about to go I hope that your trip is as memorable as mine (typhoon notwithstanding)!
Luciano Arrieta Martins
2023-07-18 14:08:35 +0000 UTCHaha, hope you’ve had a great time in Japan! You’re a brave man travelling in this heat.
Abroad in Japan
2023-07-18 14:06:42 +0000 UTCFrom my views, I thought Nara was fantastic, and even though i have been before, Hiroshima is without doubt the most impactful place i've ever been to.
Chris Douglas
2023-07-18 14:05:51 +0000 UTCThank you, this is remarkably good timing as am about to head back to Tokyo for the end of Japan holiday so can make sure we haven't missed anything. The weather is somewhat oppressive! But i'm ginger and can handle it, so sure you can 😀
Chris Douglas
2023-07-18 14:01:49 +0000 UTCThanks so much for this. I have been watching your videos and trying to create my own list but there's so much stuff I just don't know where to start. Now I finally have something definitive to follow :D
Caleb Chai
2023-07-18 13:59:44 +0000 UTCAwesome!! Will help me plan for October. Cheers 😄
Amy W - UK
2023-07-18 13:58:04 +0000 UTC
