Plan your Japan trip without
the overwhelm
How to plan a 15 to 20 day itinerary in Japan without burning out
Planning a two or three week trip to Japan feels exciting at first, then quickly overwhelming. Too many cities, too many options, and not enough time. I see this all the time. In this guide, I show you how to build a 15 to 20 day Japan itinerary that feels balanced, realistic, and enjoyable, without rushing or burning out.
Start strong with Tokyo and Kyoto
Tokyo 5 to 7 days
Tokyo is often the best starting point, especially for a first trip to Japan. It allows a smooth introduction to the country.
Explore Shibuya and Shinjuku for the city energy. Spend time in Akihabara if you like pop culture and tech. Slow down at Meiji Shrine or Asakusa to experience a more traditional side of Japan.
Tokyo works well over several days because each neighborhood feels different. You can mix sightseeing, walking, and rest without pressure.
Kyoto 3 to 4 days
After Tokyo, Kyoto naturally slows the pace.
Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha, walk through Arashiyama, and see Kinkaku ji. Kyoto is a city where early mornings and quiet walks matter.
It is ideal if you enjoy temples, nature, and cultural atmospheres.
Add a meaningful stop in Hiroshima and Miyajima
Hiroshima 1 day
Hiroshima leaves a strong impression. The Peace Memorial Park and Museum add depth and context to your trip.
Miyajima 1 day
From Hiroshima, Miyajima is an easy stop. The floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine is beautiful at high tide. Evenings are calmer and pleasant to explore. This stop is optional, but it adds a strong contrast to the rest of the journey.
See Mount Fuji without overcomplicating your route
If seeing Mount Fuji is important to you, Hakone is an easy option to include. Cable cars, Lake Ashi, onsen, and views of Mount Fuji when the weather allows. Other alternatives include Fujikawaguchiko or Shizuoka depending on your route.
The key is keeping this stop short and simple
Balance the trip with Osaka 2 to 3 days
Osaka brings a different energy to the itinerary.
Street food, Dotonbori, Shinsekai, and a relaxed vibe make it a good contrast to Kyoto. It works well after a calmer phase of the trip.
Transport and accommodation tips
Transport
For long distance travel, a Japan Rail Pass can make sense depending on your route. A JR Pass calculator helps you decide.
For cities, Suica or Pasmo cards are enough. They work in most urban transport systems and save time.
Where to stay
Mixing modern hotels and traditional ryokan works well. Choose based on budget, comfort, and location.
Staying near major stations simplifies everything.
Leave room for the unexpected
A good itinerary should not fill every minute.
Leave space to walk aimlessly, enter a cafƩ, explore a neighborhood, or find a small shrine by chance.
Those moments often become the most memorable.
š Sample Itinerary: 15 to 20 Days
Days 1 to 7: Tokyo (with day trip to Hakone or Mount Fuji)
Days 8 to 9: Osaka
Days 10 to 12: Kyoto
Day 13: Nara (easy day trip from Kyoto)
Days 14 to 15: Hiroshima and Miyajima
Extra time? Add Kobe, Kamakura, or Nikko for something different.
Plan Your Japan Trip More Easily
If you're going to Jpaan you're probably facing :
Too much information
How to organize
Donāt know where to go
Train system feels confusing
Afraid of missing places
Planning a trip to Japan usually breaks at the same point: you save a lot of places, but donāt know how to turn them into a realistic route. Cities are large, distances are not intuitive, and itās hard to know what actually fits in one day.
This guide was created to solve that. It helps you understand how places connect, how many days make sense per area, and how to build an itinerary that flows.
With the interactive map, you can explore curated spots across Japan, follow ready-made itineraries and day trips, mix my routes with your own, and adapt everything to your pac
I created my Japan Travel Guide to help you organize your trip in a clear, realistic way.
Details on what you'll have
Best of both world : touristy & off the beaten path places
+ 1000 things to do, filterable by category & tags
Lifetime access to my itinerary and all future updates.
10 to 30 days curated itineraries, fully customizable
Kanto (Tokyo & surroundings) Day by Day customizable Itinerary (10 to 15 days)
Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara...) Day by day Itinerary customizable (13 to 15 days)
Tokyo Guide by Neighborhood (23 special ward)
15+ additional day trips detailed for exploring nearby destinations from Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto.
Interactive map with all key spots marked & filterable by category & tags
Benefit from in-depth practical advice (navigation, accomodation, restaurants, cultural experiences)
PDF & Excel sheets (with less updates than online version)
What it looks like on the app :
If you prefer something fully tailored, I also offer a 100% custom travel planning service.
I design a day-by-day itinerary based on your dates, interests, budget, travel pace, and priorities. You simply follow the plan and enjoy your trip.
And if you like flexible, editable itineraries, you can also find my ready-made itineraries on Holicay.
Theyāre ideal if you want a solid base you can customize with your travel companions.
Marie creator behind @Tabimawari
Hi, Iām Marie, the creator behind @tabimawari.
I lived in Kyoto, learned Japanese, and keep returning to explore Japan beyond the obvious.
Planning a trip to Japan usually breaks at the same point: you save a lot of places, but donāt know how to turn them into a realistic route. Cities are large, distances are not intuitive, and itās hard to know what actually fits in one day.
This guide was created to solve that. It helps you understand how places connect, how many days make sense per area, and how to build an itinerary that flows.
With the interactive map, you can explore curated spots across Japan, follow ready-made itineraries and day trips, mix my routes with your own, and adapt everything to your pace.
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Marie creator behind @Tabimawari
Hi, Iām Marie.
French islander from Reunion island, Japan lover, and travel planner behind Tabimawari.
I spent a year living in Kyoto, learning Japanese and falling in love with the culture. Since then, Iāve kept going back, exploring every corner from Tokyo to the tiniest hidden towns.
I created these guides after spending months planning, testing, and fine-tuning every detail so you donāt have to. Inside, youāll find:
ā
Interactive maps
ā
Step-by-step directions
ā
Local spots + travel tips
ā
Offline use
Each guide is made with care, based on real-life travel, not generic blog advice.
This is what I wish I had on my first trip to Japan and now itās yours.
MY SOCIALS
MY NEWSLETTER
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