2 weeks in Japan rewards a 3-destination structure. The framework below covers two working combinations.
The two working combinations
Combination 1: Tokyo + Kyoto + Hakone
Days 1-5: Tokyo (Aman Tokyo or Mandarin Oriental Tokyo) Days 6-10: Kyoto (Hoshinoya Kyoto or Ritz-Carlton Kyoto) Days 11-14: Hakone (Gora Kadan or Hakone Yutowa)
Best for: city + cultural + onsen.
Combination 2: Tokyo + Kyoto + Hokkaido
Days 1-5: Tokyo Days 6-9: Kyoto Days 10-14: Hokkaido (Zaborin)
Best for: city + cultural + nature/winter.
Practical advice
Three Japan-specific points:
JR Pass
Buy a JR Pass before arrival for unlimited bullet train travel. Essential for multi-city Japan.
Restaurant reservations
Pre-book major sushi (Sukiyabashi Jiro), kaiseki, ryokan dinners 4-6 weeks ahead.
Cash
Cash matters more in Japan than other Asian countries. Withdraw $500-1,000 in cash.
Five rules
- 2 weeks supports 3 destinations comfortably
- Tokyo + Kyoto is the canonical combination
- JR Pass is essential
- Cherry blossom (late March-early April) and autumn (October-November) are peak seasons
- Ryokan stays are different experiences from hotel stays — include at least one
For more, see the multi-destination pillar.
