How Many Days Do I Need to Visit Japan? 7 Days, 10 Days, and 14 Days Japan Tour Plan

The length of time for a Japan tour is best decided by the destinations you want to see and where you want to go. Shorter trips mean you can only get to a few places to visit in Japan, whereas longer trips mean you can travel around more and see more of the country.

How many days to spend in Cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka

If you are traveling to Japan to visit major cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, you should really make sure you can spend at least 2-3 days in each location to make the most of the sightseeing opportunities. Japan is not a destination where you can rush from one attraction to the next and make the most of each. It is a destination where you can take the time to best enjoy the attractions these awesome locations have to offer.

Japan is a country of ancient culture and outstanding beauty, and it is not something you want to rush around as fast as possible. You need to take the time to soak in this amazing culture and enjoy the splendid architecture, the unique customs, and the special culture that is Japan.

So, if you are planning a trip of less than a week in Japan, it is probably best to stick to just one or two cities, so that you can make the most of your trip.

Planning a Japan Tour in 7 Days

For a seven-day trip to Japan, the best tour to take is the classic itinerary to include both Tokyo and Osaka, incorporating Kyoto, Nara, and Kamakura along the way.

Starting in Tokyo, you can spend a couple of days exploring the Japanese capital city and its awesome attractions, such as Takeshita Street in Harajuku, the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, the Shinto Shrines of Meiji Jingu and Togo, or the lake-filled Yoyogi public park.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is most popular in spring when the park cherry trees are in bloom.

Then you can take a day trip to Kamakura, the de-facto capital of Japan from 1185 to 1333, when it was the seat of the Kamakura Shogunate, the rulers of Japan in that period. The city that now lies there is home to a wealth of historical monuments and ancient shrines, including the Daibutsu, or Great Buddha, in the Kotokuin Temple.

After Kamakura, you can travel by bullet train to Kyoto, and explore this ancient former capital of Japan, where you can explore the Toji temple, Kinkaku-ji temple, Maruyama Park, and Nijojocho Park in a short walking tour of this culture-rich city.

Then head for Nara, just an hour from Kyoto, another former capital of Japan from 710 to 794 before it was moved to Kyoto. The city is home to eight ancient Buddhist temples, as well as the famous Heijo Palace and Kasugayama Primeval Forest, both of which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After Nara, head to Osaka, the traditional economic hub of ancient Japan, and brief Imperial capital. Tour the city for a couple of days and explore the unique Osaka Castle, the delights of the Osaka Aquarium, the Sumiyoshi Taisha head shrine, the amazing Museum of History, and the ancient Shitennoji Temple, among others.

Planning a Japan Tour in 10 Days

If you are planning a longer ten-day trip to Japan, then it means you can travel further than just Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, and explore more of Honshu Island and more amazing destinations.

Just outside Tokyo, at the foot of Mount Fuji, lies Hakone, famous for its hot springs (onsen), the beauty of Lake Ashinoko, and the stunning views of the famed Mount Fuji. Hakone is one of the most popular destinations close to Tokyo and includes a stunning feudal castle, several Shinto Temples, and some of Japan’s most outstanding ropeway cable car lines.

The stunning Lake of Ashinoko, and the amazing views of the famed Mount Fuji.

Further west to Osaka lies Himeji, a small city with the largest and most popular castle in Japan, so well worth visiting. This architectural wonder is considered to be Japan’s most beautiful remaining feudal castle, and was built in the early 14th century, and added to for the next 400 years.

Close to the western end of Honshu Island lies Hiroshima, another must-see destination and one of the most famous Japanese cities. Renowned for being the location of the first city to be targeted by an atomic weapon in war, Hiroshima is home to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, the Peace Memorial Park, and the Atomic Bomb Dome. And if you are not that interested in the bomb attractions, you can always visit the Hiroshima Castle, the Mitaki-dera Temple, the historic Japanese garden of Shukkei-en, the Japanese Shinto Shrine of Gokoku Jinja, or travel around the shopping districts of Kamiyacho and Hatchobori.

Planning a Japan Tour in 14 Days

The longer you tour, the more you can see. And with 14 days to spend in Japan, it means you can go further afield and explore more areas of Honshu.

Nikko, to the north of Tokyo, is the entrance to the Nikko National Park, famous for the most lavishly-decorated Toshogu shrine, and the ancient tomb of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The center of Shinto and Buddhist mountain worship in Japan, this outstanding National Park has stunning mountain landscapes, hot springs, lakes and waterfalls, numerous hiking trails, and lots of wild monkeys.

A small island located off Japan’s westernmost tip, Itsukushima, or “Miyajima” as it is more commonly known, is famed as the “Shrine Island” and is the location of the Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As well as being famed for its shrines and temples, the hillsides of this beautiful island are also popular in spring for the Sakura blossoms and autumn for the Maple leaf foliage.

Itsukushima Shrine is a Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima, best known for its "floating" torii gate.

Up along the northern coast of Honshu lies Kanazawa, a former feudal clan territory that became a place of such great cultural achievements as to rival Kyoto and Tokyo. As well as being a place of historical significance, Kanazawa is also the location of the Kenrokuen, one of the top three landscape gardens in Japan, often considered to be the most beautiful of them all.

High in the mountains known as the Japanese Alps lie Shirakawago and Takayama, two centers of mountainous adventure and traditional mountain farmhouses. Areas of outstanding natural beauty, these two towns are surrounded by scenic alpine countryside and stupendous mountains.

What to do in Japan in More than 2 Weeks

If you have more than 14 days to spend in Japan, then you have two options for further adventure. If you love the cities of Honshu, you can relax and take it slower, enjoying these beautiful destinations to the full and exploring more of their amazing attractions.

Or, if you prefer to get out and explore further, you can head off to other regions for more Japanese Adventures. Further northeast you can head up into the mountain regions of Hokkaido, Japan’s second-largest island, the summer holiday capital for Japanese tourists, and a great place to go skiing in winter. Try a trip to the islands of Okinawa, a small island group that lies within the subtropical zone and is excellent for tropical beaches and relaxing getaways. Or how about the culinary capital of Japan, Fukuoka, renowned for its blessedly mild weather and the thriving “yatai” or food-cart culture?

Conclusion

Whether you are traveling for a couple of days or several weeks, there is more than enough to keep you busy and excited in Japan. From a short trip covering the most famous cities to the longest vacations traveling from end to end of this astounding country, there is a perfect Japan tour waiting just for you.