Japan in 2 Weeks

Land at Narita or Haneda and take the Narita Express or Keikyu Line to central Tokyo. Get a Suica or Pasmo IC card at the airport for seamless train and convenience store payments. Check into a hotel in Shinjuku or Asakusa, visit Senso-ji Temple at dusk, then head to Shibuya to see the famous scramble crossing at night.

Morning at Meiji Jingu shrine in its forested grounds (free), then walk Harajuku's Takeshita Street for crepe and alternative fashion. Stroll the Omotesando boutique boulevard and Ura-Harajuku alleyways. Evening: explore Shinjuku's neon-lit Kabukicho district and drink in a tiny Golden Gai bar (cover charge around 500 yen).

Book teamLab Planets in Toyosu — an immersive digital art walk through mirrored rooms and flower universes. Afternoon: browse the electronics stores and anime shops of Akihabara. For dinner, head to Tsukiji Outer Market for the freshest sushi set at Daiwa Sushi or Sushi Dai (expect a 30-60 minute queue).

Wander Yanaka, one of Tokyo's last pre-war neighborhoods — cobblestone lanes, old temples, and local shotengai shopping streets untouched by modernity. Visit the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park. Optional evening: take the Yurikamome monorail to Odaiba for the giant Gundam statue and waterfront skyline views.

Take the Romancecar express from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto (85 minutes). Use the Hakone Free Pass to ride the ropeway over volcanic Owakudani and cruise Lake Ashi — on clear days Mt. Fuji's snow-capped cone dominates the horizon. Soak in an onsen at Tenzan Tohji-kyo before returning to Tokyo.

Take the Shinkansen Nozomi or Hikari from Tokyo to Kyoto (2 hours 15 minutes — free with a JR Pass). Check in near Gion or Kyoto Station. Head immediately to Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine: the thousands of vermilion torii gates are most atmospheric in the late afternoon light, and the upper trails are nearly deserted after 4 PM.

Catch the Sagano Scenic Railway to Arashiyama early morning and walk the bamboo grove before 8 AM to avoid crowds. Tour Tenryu-ji's Zen garden, then cross Togetsukyo Bridge to Iwatayama Monkey Park for views over the valley. Afternoon: riverside stroll and lunch at a kaiseki restaurant overlooking the Oi River.

Visit Nijo Castle — the shogun's Kyoto residence with squeaky 'nightingale floors' designed to detect intruders. Take bus 101 to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) — especially stunning if there's morning mist on the pond. In the evening, stroll Hanamikoji Street in Gion after 6 PM for a chance to spot maiko or geiko heading to okiya engagements.

Walk the Philosopher's Path from Nanzen-ji to Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) along the canal — in cherry blossom season this is one of the world's most beautiful walks. Browse Nishiki Market ('Kyoto's Kitchen') on Nishiki-koji for tofu doughnuts and skewered octopus balls. Evening: guided sake tasting at Fushimi sake district (10-minute Kintetsu train ride).

Take the Shinkansen or Hankyu Line from Kyoto to Osaka (15-30 minutes). Check into a guesthouse in Namba or Shinsaibashi. Head straight to Dotonbori canal — the neon-lit street food strip is iconic at night, with the giant mechanical crab outside Kani Doraku. Eat your way through takoyaki (octopus balls), kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers), and okonomiyaki.

Visit Osaka Castle — the exterior is magnificent, and the museum inside covers the Tokugawa period wars. Stop by Kuromon Ichiba Market ('the Osaka Kitchen') for raw tuna, wagyu, and fresh strawberries. Afternoon: walk the retro Shinsekai district, eat tsutenkaku chicken, and see the vintage Tsutenkaku Tower.

Take the Shinkansen from Osaka to Hiroshima (45 minutes, free with JR Pass). The Peace Memorial Museum is one of the most important and humbling museums in the world — allow 2 hours minimum. Walk to the A-Bomb Dome (Genbaku Dome), the only building left standing at the bomb's hypocenter, preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Take the JR ferry to Miyajima Island (10 minutes, free with JR Pass). Itsukushima Shrine's floating torii gate at high tide is one of Japan's Three Views. Hike through the maple forests to Mt. Misen (535 m) for sweeping inland sea views, or take the ropeway. Try fresh oysters grilled on the street and momiji manju (maple leaf cakes) on the way back.

Take the Shinkansen back to Tokyo (4 hours). Use your remaining time for last-minute gift shopping at Don Quijote Shinjuku (open 24 hours) — KitKat flavors, matcha sweets, and cosmetics are the top buys. Head to Haneda or Narita for your international departure flight.