2 Weeks in Japan: Tokyo, Kanazawa, Takayama, Kyoto & Hiroshima

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Two weeks let you leave the Tokyo–Kyoto line for the Japanese Alps: Kanazawa's gardens and geisha streets, the thatched farmhouses of Shirakawa-go and the old town of Takayama, before Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka.

Shirakawa-go in the Japanese Alps
  • Length14 days, 13 nights
  • RouteTokyo → Kanazawa → Shirakawa-go → Takayama → Kyoto → Hiroshima → Osaka
  • Best forTravellers who want cities, mountains and history
  • When to goApril–May and October–November
  • Rail passA 14-day JR Pass is borderline: the Takayama bus and some legs are not JR. Compare with single tickets.

Make it yours: open this route in the trip planner, add your dates and get travel times, seasonal alerts and links to flights and hotels.

Open in the trip planner →

The route at a glance

  1. Day 1 · Tokyo: Arrival
  2. Day 2 · Tokyo: Classic Tokyo
  3. Day 3 · Kamakura: Day trip to Kamakura
  4. Day 4 · Kanazawa: Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa
  5. Day 5 · Kanazawa: Kenroku-en and the samurai quarter
  6. Day 6 · Shirakawa-go: Shirakawa-go on the way to Takayama
  7. Day 7 · Takayama: Takayama old town
  8. Day 8 · Kyoto: To Kyoto
  9. Day 9 · Kyoto: Eastern Kyoto
  10. Day 10 · Kyoto: Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama
  11. Day 11 · Nara: Day trip to Nara
  12. Day 12 · Hiroshima: Hiroshima and Miyajima
  13. Day 13 · Osaka: Osaka
  14. Day 14 · Osaka: Departure

Day 1 · Tokyo

Arrival

Check in and have a first ramen or izakaya dinner nearby.

Tokyo at night
  • Shinjuku

Day 2 · Tokyo

Classic Tokyo

Senso-ji in Asakusa, the Sumida River, Ueno Park and the lights of Akihabara.

Senso-ji
  • Senso-ji
  • Ueno
  • Akihabara

Day 3 · Kamakura

Day trip to Kamakura

An hour south of Tokyo: the Great Buddha, the hillside temple of Hasedera and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, then sunset on the beach or at Enoshima.

The Great Buddha of Kamakura
  • Kotoku-in Great Buddha
  • Hasedera
  • Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
  • Enoshima

Day 4 · Kanazawa

Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa

About 2 hours 30 minutes from Tokyo. In the afternoon, walk the Higashi Chaya geisha district and try a gold-leaf ice cream.

Higashi Chaya, Kanazawa
  • Higashi Chaya district
  • Kazuemachi

Day 5 · Kanazawa

Kenroku-en and the samurai quarter

Kenroku-en, one of Japan's three great gardens, Kanazawa Castle, the Nagamachi samurai district and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. Seafood at Omicho Market for lunch.

Kenroku-en garden
  • Kenroku-en
  • Kanazawa Castle
  • Nagamachi
  • 21st Century Museum

Tip: The 21st Century Museum is closed on Mondays.

Day 6 · Shirakawa-go

Shirakawa-go on the way to Takayama

Take the bus to Shirakawa-go (about 75 minutes), explore the gassho-zukuri farmhouses and the viewpoint above the village, then continue to Takayama (about 50 minutes).

Gassho houses, Shirakawa-go
  • Ogimachi village
  • Shiroyama viewpoint
  • Wada House

Tip: Reserve the Nohi or Hokutetsu bus seats in advance, and send big luggage ahead.

Day 7 · Takayama

Takayama old town

The morning market by the river, the Edo-period streets of Sanmachi, sake breweries and Hida beef for lunch. Visit Takayama Jinya, the old government house.

Sanmachi, Takayama
  • Miyagawa morning market
  • Sanmachi Suji
  • Takayama Jinya
  • Hida beef

Day 8 · Kyoto

To Kyoto

The Hida limited express to Nagoya, then the Shinkansen: about 3 hours 30 minutes. Evening walk in Gion.

Gion, Kyoto
  • Gion

Day 9 · Kyoto

Eastern Kyoto

Kiyomizu-dera, Sannenzaka, Kodai-ji and the Philosopher's Path to Ginkaku-ji.

The Philosopher's Path
  • Kiyomizu-dera
  • Kodai-ji
  • Philosopher's Path
  • Ginkaku-ji

Day 10 · Kyoto

Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama

Sunrise at Fushimi Inari, then Arashiyama's bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji, and Kinkaku-ji on the way back.

Fushimi Inari
  • Fushimi Inari
  • Arashiyama
  • Kinkaku-ji

Day 11 · Nara

Day trip to Nara

Todai-ji, the deer park and Kasuga Taisha.

Todai-ji
  • Todai-ji
  • Kasuga Taisha

Day 12 · Hiroshima

Hiroshima and Miyajima

Shinkansen to Hiroshima (1 hour 40 minutes), the Peace Memorial Park, then the ferry to Miyajima for the floating torii in the late afternoon.

Miyajima
  • Peace Memorial Park
  • Itsukushima Shrine

Day 13 · Osaka

Osaka

Back east to Osaka: the castle in the afternoon, Dotonbori street food at night.

Dotonbori
  • Osaka Castle
  • Dotonbori

Day 14 · Osaka

Departure

Train to Kansai Airport.

Kansai Airport

Getting around

Hokuriku Shinkansen Tokyo–Kanazawa; highway buses Kanazawa–Shirakawa-go–Takayama; Hida express and Shinkansen to Kyoto; Shinkansen Kyoto–Hiroshima–Osaka.

When to go

April–May and October–November. Add your dates in the trip planner to see cherry blossom and autumn leaf timing, the rainy season, typhoons and holidays for this route.

Where to stay

  • Tokyo (3 nights): Shinjuku or Ueno.
  • Kanazawa (2 nights): near Kanazawa Station.
  • Takayama (2 nights): a ryokan near the old town.
  • Kyoto (4 nights): near Kyoto Station.
  • Hiroshima (1 night): near the station.
  • Osaka (1 night): Namba.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sleep in Shirakawa-go?

Yes, in a few gassho farmhouse inns, but rooms are very limited: book months ahead. Otherwise visit it between Kanazawa and Takayama.

When is the best time for this route?

April–May and October–November. In winter Shirakawa-go is magical under snow, but buses can be delayed.

Do I need to rent a car?

No: trains and highway buses cover the whole route.

Prefecture guides for this trip

Want a different pace or more stops? The planner rebuilds the itinerary around your dates and choices.

Customise this itinerary →

Last updated: 19 October 2026 · Japan47.org, by Francesco Consalvo. Travel times are approximate; check timetables and opening days before you go. Photos: Wikimedia Commons.

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