In my last post, The Essentials for Your Japan Trip, I shared key tips for making the most of your first trip to Japan. After spending months researching, planning, and booking, I hope this guide helps streamline your own planning process.

How to spend 14 days in Japan? The first thing to consider is which month of the year you plan to visit. Japan has become a very popular destination, attracting visitors from all over the world, and it can get especially crowded during holiday seasons. Be particularly mindful of Golden Week, which usually falls between late April and early May. If you’re visiting in the spring, this is also the peak time to catch the cherry blossoms, making it one of the most popular seasons to travel.

Decide on which cities you’d like to visit

Depending on your interests and activities, the first step is to determine how many cities you can reasonably explore during a 14 day trip. I decided on three cities, which happened to be the top destinations on my bucket list: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. We flew in and out of Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, so we returned to Tokyo for the final leg of our journey (Day 10-14).

Tokyo

Day 1

We arrived at Tokyo Disneyland Hotel, but since our flight landed late at night, we missed the last Airport Limousine Bus, which would have been the most convenient and affordable transportation option, it would take us directly to the hotel. The last bus departed at 9:00 PM Japan Time, and we arrived just after that.

This shuttle service covers all Disneyland Hotels, including affiliated ones like Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel First Resort, Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel, Hilton Tokyo Bay, Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay Maihama, and Hotel Okura Tokyo Bay. According to Tokyo Disney Resort, the fare is ¥1,300 for adults and ¥650 for children, with approximately 50 minutes of travel time. Instead, we took a taxi, which cost us around $97 AUD.

This bus service also covers various destinations to and from the airport. For a complete list of routes and schedules, please visit: Limousine Bus Timetable. To make your trip easier, you can also book in advance through Klook, selecting from a range of departure locations and drop-off points. Multiple currency options are available, allowing you to pay in your preferred currency based on your location.

When we finally arrived at Tokyo Disneyland Hotel, we were immediately captivated by its grandeur and luxurious atmosphere. The majestic structure and stunning entrance left us in awe.

We chose the Alice in Wonderland themed room and were thrilled with how impeccable the details were. Checking in was a breeze, and we spent the rest of the evening admiring the room before heading to bed. The amenities were excellent, with slippers, toiletries, and pyjamas all provided. Everything except the pyjamas was free to take home. For more information on how to make reservations, please visit Tokyo Disneyland Hotel Reservation.

Day 2

We took the Disney shuttle to Tokyo DisneySea. Although it drizzled throughout the day, the sun was often out. Be sure to bring a raincoat, these are available at convenience stores outside or in Disneyland shops. Since we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, we received a priority pass. Although there were long lines, they moved quickly. The park opened around 8:30 AM, but opening times can vary, so it’s best to arrive between 8:00 and 8:30 AM. For a detailed look at our DisneySea adventure, be sure to check out this post!

Day 3 and 4

Who wouldn’t be excited to visit the happiest place on Earth! We spent day 3 and 4 at Tokyo Disneyland and made excellent use of the priority pass. We only had to wait in line until the park opened, after which the lines moved swiftly, making it a breeze. I won’t go into all the details here, but you can find everything you need to know by checking out this post!

We also used the hotel’s luggage delivery service, which was incredibly convenient. We simply dropped our luggage at the reception, and they handled the paperwork and sent it to our next stay at the Ryokan (Japanese Traditional Inn).

Kyoto

Day 5

We took the bullet train (Shinkansen) to Kyoto, and the journey took less than 3 hours. I covered details about the Shinkansen ride in my previous post here.

After researching various Ryokans, we chose Kyoto Machiya. I was captivated by the stunning, drop-dead gorgeous atmosphere of the place, and I was specifically looking for a Ryokan with a private built-in onsen. This place fits the criteria perfectly.

Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by our lovely host and even served matcha. We decided to spend the day relaxing at the Ryokan, enjoying a Kaiseki dinner (traditional multi-course Japanese dinner) delivered to our room, which we had ordered in advance. We also explored the surrounding streets and were delighted to find a nearby laundromat. I appreciated the functionality of the laundromat, which featured a pre-sanitisation cycle from the previous wash and a combined washer-dryer machine, making it very convenient to return to clean, dry clothes.

Kyoto offered a distinct contrast to the bustling, modern atmosphere of Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea. We were in awe of the town’s vintage and classic charm, which provided a refreshing change of pace.

Day 6

We began our day with a Kimono rental in Arashiyama. Although it drizzled at times, making it a bit challenging to walk in Geta (traditional Japanese footwear), we managed to complete our photography session smoothly. We had a one-hour photo session, after which we explored the shops in Arashiyama. It’s a great spot for souvenirs, with many shops offering high-quality items. If you’re interested in something, it’s best to buy it on the spot, as time is limited and you might not have a chance to return.

After spending about half the day in Arashiyama, we headed to Nishiki Market. This market offers a wide variety of Japanese-style foods. I couldn’t resist trying Uni (sea urchin) rice when I saw it, after browsing a few stalls. It was a delightful experience to sample different items as we walked. There were also many shops encouraging you to shop more, so be sure to have some extra luggage space before you travel.

Day 7

We spent the day at Fushimi Inari Taisha, arriving between 9:00 and 10:00 AM, when it was already quite crowded. To avoid the crowds, it’s best to arrive earlier. Afterward, we headed to Gion Alleyways for lunch. Although there were many eateries, most shops were unfortunately closed during our visit.

We ended our day with a visit to Kiyomizu-dera temple. On the way up to the temple, we found several shops where we could take a snack break and buy even more souvenirs. If you enjoy shopping, you’ll be thrilled by the variety of cute items available in Japan.

Nara and Osaka

Day 8

On our way to Osaka, we took the train and stopped by Nara to visit the famous deer park. We used Yamato luggage delivery service, conveniently located near our Kyoto Machiya accommodation, so we didn’t have to carry too much as we traveled to Osaka. Along the way to the park, there were many shops, and if you’re lucky, you might catch the mochi pounding demonstration. We missed it but enjoyed tasting some mochi from a nearby stall.

Before sunset, we continued our journey to Osaka, where we stayed at Fraser Residence Nankai Osaka. The luggage transfer was seamless, with our bags arriving at the hotel before we did. Osaka had a vibrant and different vibe compared to Kyoto. The hotel was well-located, surrounded by food stalls, restaurants, and even McDonald’s. There were also large malls connected to one another, and we wished we had more time to explore. Don Quijote, a popular store known for its variety of items, was also nearby. We visited a Don Quijote branch in Kyoto as well and found it to be a must-see for its wide range of products.

Day 9

We woke up early to catch the 7:00 AM bus to Universal Studios. It’s highly recommended to arrive early if you want to access Super Mario World without using express passes. Although I had purchased a day ticket with a 3:00 PM time entry for Super Mario World, we arrived early enough that we were able to enter without using our designated time.

If you’re planning a visit to Osaka, I suggest allocating more time for Universal Studios, as you’ll need at least one full day to explore the park thoroughly. You can find more details about our trip in this post.

Day 10

I deliberately chose a later afternoon departure for the Shinkansen back to Tokyo to give us more time to explore Osaka. In the morning, we headed to the famous Glico Sign in Dotonburi Market. We wandered through the shops, overwhelmed by the delicious food and snacks available. After a few hours of exploring, we moved on to Kuromon Market for lunch, we also had the sweetest Japanese strawberries we’ve ever tasted.

We then embarked on our journey back to Tokyo via Shinkansen.

In Tokyo, we arrived in the evening and didn’t do much on our first day. We stayed at the Century Southern Tower Hotel in Shinjuku. It was a well located hotel in a high-rise building, with a clean and professional interior. There was a mini mart and a money changer machine downstairs, and we were pleasantly surprised to find a Shake Shack in the same building, something we hadn’t seen since our visits to the branches in New York and Silicon Valley. We decided to try it, but not on the first day.

Feeling quite exhausted, we explored the Shinjuku area and had dinner at Ichiran Ramen, which was conveniently close to the hotel. There was a long wait of over an hour due to the limited seating. We were also excited to discover a Don Quijote store nearby.

Day 11

On our first morning in Tokyo, we visited the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. We met our tour guide at the nearest train station and walked to the museum. Photography was restricted inside, so we could only take pictures of the building’s exterior. Inside, we enjoyed the charming Ghibli displays, a short film screening with an intriguing story, and a café offering drinks and snacks.

After spending a few hours at the museum, we headed to Shibuya to see the famous Shibuya Crossing (The Scramble). We stationed ourselves at the Starbucks, which had just reopened after renovations, such a perfect timing. As many other posts have mentioned, it’s the perfect spot for capturing the crossing.

Next, we visited the Hachiko Statue in Harajuku and explored the quirky shops on Takeshita-dori.

Day 12

On the day we visited teamLab Planets in Tokyo, we were left speechless by the stunning displays. The experience was interactive, fun, and visually breathtaking, truly unlike anything we had experienced before. You can purchase ticket in advance here.

For lunch, we went to Toyosu Fish Market. We skipped Tsukiji Fish Market on this trip due to time constraints, but Toyosu Market was conveniently close to teamLab Planets, making it a perfect spot for a meal.

With limited time, we also squeezed in a visit to the Pokémon Center. The centre had a lot of cute Pokémon merchandise displays. There was also Pokemon Cafe in the building, but unfortunately, we couldn’t get a reservation for the Cafe or find any cancellations that day. Hopefully, we’ll have better luck next time.

We then continued our journey to Ginza. Given the packed schedule, it would have been ideal to spread these activities over several days. However, we made sure to take breaks to recharge our energy, as there was a lot of walking involved. Good sneakers are definitely a worthwhile investment for such trips. Don’t miss visiting the world’s largest Uniqlo store in Ginza, which has 12 stories and a café inside. The prices were also lower compared to branches in Australia. If you have time to shop, it’s a great place to do so.

Day 13

On our 13th day, we visited Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. The weather was perfect for exploring the garden, which offered stunning views and a beautifully maintained, picturesque Japanese style landscape. Throughout the garden, there were food stalls and sit down eateries, allowing visitors to enjoy snacks or meals without having to rush outside to find food.

After spending a few hours at the garden, we ventured to other parts of Shinjuku, including Omoide Yokocho (Shinjuku’s Memory Lane) and various shops in the area.

Day 14

Feeling a bit gloomy on our last day in Japan, we decided to make the most of it before heading home to Sydney. We visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, which offers free admission and has stunning views. Although there was a long line when we arrived first thing in the morning, it moved quickly.

After enjoying the view, we explored a bit more for lunch and snacks before returning to our hotel to pack. We extended our hotel stay until 6 PM (checkout was usually at 11 AM) to have some extra time to recharge before heading to the airport. It was definitely worth it.

I hope this post helps you plan your journey. Happy traveling!

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