How many places/cities can I realistically fit in on a 2 week holiday to Japan?

Question

I'm thinking 1 week in Tokyo and 1 week in Osaka. Only got 2 weeks so i don't want to cram too much in.
Thoughts/suggestions?

Answer 1

Osaka is a big city but it doesnt really have anything that is memorable or worth seeing. Maybe Osaka castle and go up Harukas Abeno which is the tallest skyscraper in Japan, some 660 meters. Kyoto and Nara are only a short train ride away and Kobe is worth visiting too.　You could spend a week in Kyoto　and　still　not　see　everything.　Its　tiny　but　jam　packed　with　temples　and　shrines　and　has　architecture dating back CENTURIES. Same with Nara which has a 1300 year history. Todaiji Temple is over 800 years old for example.

Answer 2

Minimum would be 1, and maximum suggestion would be 4. If you want 4, I would choose 2 cities that you want to see but aren't crazy about and spend 2 days in each of them. And then spend 5 days each in the other two cities that you really do want to see. That's what I ended up doing in Europe. 2 days in Edinburgh, 5 in Inverness, 2 in London, and 5 in Paris. But if you're okay with just seeing Tokyo and Osaka, then go for 1 week in each! Although personally, I would go to Tokyo and Kyoto.

Answer 3

You could see a lot of places if you really want to. I went to Sendai, Tokyo, Hitachi, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima during seven days in 2014. If you have a Rail Pass you can maintain a furious pace because you don't even have to slow down to buy tickets.



However, if you want to take it slower-you can really see a lot from Osaka. Shin-Osaka to Kyoto on the Shinkansen is 15 minutes. It's really up to you. Some people are going to want to go to Gunkajima, or some other off the wall attraction. Some people want to go shopping.

Answer 4

In truth, nobody can really answer your first question - do you want to pick a few of the best sights in a lot of places, or thoroughly see what an area has to offer?

If you are already seeing Tokyo, you can largely skip Osaka during the day. After the temples of Kyoto close down around 5 PM, you can zip over to Osaka for the evening. At night the city comes alive and has some great places to see, such as Dotonbori, plus the night views from the Umeda Sky Bldg and Abeno Harukas Bldg are wonderful.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7LcPcmoSg-jkgQdiQlK2bcKCzr2pJQh2

Kyoto and Nara are the crown jewels of traditional Japanese culture, and well worth a lot of your attention. You could reap maximum savings by going down to Hiroshima or further and back within a week on a 7 day JR Pass. Or if you only want to go down to Osaka/Kyoto/Nara, then a 7 day Japanican discount ticket would be far cheaper for you.

http://www.japanican.com/en/tour/detail/VJOPENTO1/

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7LcPcmoSg-jHC27aeRwEHaP7Pw_G277w

Nara is one place you should not skip either - the Todaiji Temple in one of the finest in Japan.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7LcPcmoSg-jGyApXWSTIKwkioxuAKwt5

Himeji and Hikone Castles are both excellent and originals - not fake reconstructions. An overnight at Koyasan would be an unforgettable spiritual experience for you too.

I suggest you spend a week in the Tokyo area (Kanto) and after 3-4 days of seeing Tokyo, go on some day trips to some very good nearby places like Nikko, Kamamura/Enoshima, Hakone, or Karuizawa. A Tokyo Wide Pass can save you a ton of money over its 3 day validity. A Tokyo 3 day subway pass can save you some money too.

http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/travel/index.html#anc03

The rest of your time can be used for the Kansai area and Hiroshima if you like.

Answer 5

To me, Tokyo was like a Japanese New York City! I LOVED KYOTO, AND NARA, and being nearer ....ugh! I've forgotten that marvelous mountain near-by! (Suribachi???) I'm 86 now and my memory is fading! I had the opportunity of living in Fukuoka, Japan, for a year in 1955, when my husband was in the Army and was stationed there. I'd urge you to SLOW DOWN and get some QUALITY IN...if you go for QUANTITY, IT WILL ALL BE A BLUR TO YOU WHEN YOU GET BACK!

Answer 6

If you are going to Osaka, I'd change the plan to this: four days Tokyo, four days Osaka and six days in Kyoto -- Kyoto is only 30 minutes away from Osaka, and has so many important cultural spots to see. Tokyo and Osaka are modern cities that are somewhat lacking. Unless, of course, your main purpose in going to Japan is to shop. In which case, Tokyo/Osaka will provide plenty of stores for two weeks.



It would be a real pity to miss Kyoto, though. Please consider setting aside at least one or two days to go over there -- you can easily make it a day trip from Osaka.