Grand tour of Japan · 14 nights
15 days, 14 nights: Tokyo (3N), Kanazawa (2N), Takayama (2N), Kyoto (3N), Hiroshima (2N), Osaka (2N) + Nikko, Nara day trip. Best time to go: Best Apr–May and Oct–Nov.
Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo
Tokyo
- Shibuya Crossing & Shibuya Sky · 2 h. Sunset Shibuya Sky slots sell out — book online a few weeks ahead.
- teamLab Planets / Borderless digital art · 2 h. Timed tickets sell out on weekends; at Planets you wade through water, so wear shorts or roll-up trousers.
Local tip: Sunset Shibuya Sky slots sell out — book online a few weeks ahead.
Day 2: Explore Tokyo
Tokyo
- Senso-ji & Asakusa old town · 2 h. Arrive before 9am; Nakamise snack stalls open around 10am. Lit up at night with no crowds.
- Tokyo Skytree observation decks · 1.5 h. Clear winter mornings show Mt Fuji; pair with Asakusa, one stop away.
- Meiji Jingu & Harajuku · 3 h. Shrine forest is calm early; Takeshita Street is packed on weekend afternoons.
Local tip: Arrive before 9am; Nakamise snack stalls open around 10am. Lit up at night with no crowds.
Day 3: Nikko shrines day trip (Toshogu & Rinno-ji)
Tokyo
- Nikko shrines day trip (Toshogu & Rinno-ji) · 9 h. Take an early Tobu train from Asakusa; the shrine area closes around 4–5pm.
Local tip: Take an early Tobu train from Asakusa; the shrine area closes around 4–5pm.
Day 4: Tokyo → Kanazawa
Kanazawa · Tokyo to Kanazawa, Hokuriku Shinkansen ~2.5–3h
- Kenroku-en garden · 2 h. Opens 7am (8am in winter); go early. Snow ropes on the pines from November.
- Higashi Chaya teahouse district · 2 h. Gold-leaf soft serve is the local snack; quietest in early evening.
Local tip: Opens 7am (8am in winter); go early. Snow ropes on the pines from November.
Day 5: Explore Kanazawa
Kanazawa
- 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art · 2 h. The Swimming Pool installation needs a timed ticket; closed Mondays.
- Omicho market seafood breakfast · 1.5 h. Kaisendon bowls are seafood-only; vegetarians have fruit, pickles and onigiri stalls.
- Nagamachi samurai district · 1.5 h
- Kanazawa Castle Park · 1 h
- D.T. Suzuki Museum · 1 h
- Myoryu-ji (Ninja Temple) guided tour · 1 h. Reservation required; children under school age are not admitted.
Local tip: The Swimming Pool installation needs a timed ticket; closed Mondays.
Day 6: Kanazawa → Takayama
Takayama · Kanazawa to Takayama, Nohi highway bus ~2–2.25h
- Sanmachi Suji old town walk · 2 h. Shops close by 5pm; walk it again after dark when it empties.
- Miyagawa & Jinya-mae morning markets · 1.5 h. Roughly 7am–noon daily; pickles, miso and fruit.
- Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall · 1 h
Local tip: Shops close by 5pm; walk it again after dark when it empties.
Day 7: Shirakawa-go gassho village day trip
Takayama
- Shirakawa-go gassho village day trip · 6 h. Reserve Nohi buses ahead in peak seasons; climb to the Shiroyama viewpoint. Can be a stop on the Kanazawa–Takayama bus.
Local tip: Reserve Nohi buses ahead in peak seasons; climb to the Shiroyama viewpoint. Can be a stop on the Kanazawa–Takayama bus.
Day 8: Takayama → Kyoto
Kyoto · Takayama to Kyoto, Shinkansen to Nagoya + Limited Express Hida ~4h
- Fushimi Inari shrine & torii trail · 2.5 h. Go before 8am; crowds thin out past the Yotsutsuji viewpoint. Open 24 hours, free.
Local tip: Go before 8am; crowds thin out past the Yotsutsuji viewpoint. Open 24 hours, free.
Day 9: Explore Kyoto
Kyoto
- Kiyomizu-dera & Sannenzaka lanes · 2.5 h. Seasonal night illuminations in spring and autumn; the lanes are steep and crowded by 10am.
- Gion evening walk & Pontocho · 2 h. Some private Gion lanes ban photography; never stop or photograph geiko and maiko.
- Nishiki market tasting · 1.5 h. No eating while walking — eat at the stall. Pickles, tofu doughnuts and soy-milk treats suit vegetarians.
- Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) · 1.5 h. Opens at 9am; it is a short loop, so pair with Ryoan-ji nearby.
Local tip: Seasonal night illuminations in spring and autumn; the lanes are steep and crowded by 10am.
Day 10: Nara deer park & Todai-ji day trip
Kyoto
- Nara deer park & Todai-ji day trip · 6 h. Deer bow for crackers but nip and headbutt — keep food out of sight with small kids. Todai-ji opens at 7:30am.
Local tip: Deer bow for crackers but nip and headbutt — keep food out of sight with small kids. Todai-ji opens at 7:30am.
Day 11: Kyoto → Hiroshima
Hiroshima · Kyoto to Hiroshima, Shinkansen ~1h45
- Peace Memorial Park & Museum · 3 h. The museum is graphic in parts — preview before taking young kids. Arrive at opening to avoid school groups.
- Hiroshima okonomiyaki at Okonomimura · 1 h. Layered with noodles and cabbage; many counters will make it without meat, ask for no dashi powder.
Local tip: The museum is graphic in parts — preview before taking young kids. Arrive at opening to avoid school groups.
Day 12: Miyajima & Itsukushima Shrine floating torii
Hiroshima
- Miyajima & Itsukushima Shrine floating torii · 5 h. Check tide tables: the torii 'floats' at high tide and you can walk to it at low tide. A small visitor tax is charged on the ferry.
Local tip: Check tide tables: the torii 'floats' at high tide and you can walk to it at low tide. A small visitor tax is charged on the ferry.
Day 13: Hiroshima → Osaka
Osaka · Hiroshima to Osaka, Shinkansen Shin-Osaka–Hiroshima ~1.5h
- Dotonbori street food evening · 2.5 h. Takoyaki and okonomiyaki contain octopus/dashi; look for marked vegetarian okonomiyaki shops.
- Osaka Castle & park · 2 h. The park is a major cherry blossom spot; the tower interior is a modern museum.
Local tip: Takoyaki and okonomiyaki contain octopus/dashi; look for marked vegetarian okonomiyaki shops.
Day 14: Explore Osaka
Osaka
- Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden · 1.5 h. Sunset is the best slot; open-air rooftop deck.
- Kuromon market · 1.5 h. Seafood-heavy and tourist-priced; go before noon.
- Shinsaibashi & Amerikamura shopping · 2 h
- Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan · 2.5 h. Whale sharks in the central tank; buy timed tickets online on weekends.
Local tip: Sunset is the best slot; open-air rooftop deck.
Day 15: Depart from Osaka
Osaka
- Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine · 1.5 h
Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.
Where to stay
- Tokyo (3 nights): Shinjuku. Biggest rail hub: Romancecar to Hakone, buses to Kawaguchiko, late-night dining.
- Kanazawa (2 nights): Korinbo / Katamachi. Between Kenroku-en and Omicho; restaurants and bars around Katamachi.
- Takayama (2 nights): Sanmachi old town edge. Walk to the morning markets and merchant streets.
- Kyoto (3 nights): Kyoto Station area. Larger rooms for families with luggage; easy day trips to Nara and Osaka.
- Hiroshima (2 nights): Peace Park / Hondori. Walk to the Peace Memorial and okonomiyaki counters.
- Osaka (2 nights): Umeda (Osaka Station). Direct trains to Kyoto and Kobe; Shin-Osaka Shinkansen one stop away.