Japan in 14 Days: What to Book, and Which Pass Fits (2026)
Two weeks lets you add a second region to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. This page plans two options: Hiroshima and Miyajima in the west, or the mountain towns of Takayama and Kanazawa in the middle. Both work well by train and bus.
Don't buy a 14-day JR Pass by default. At ¥80,000 it only pays off if you make several long trips across the country. For both routes below, single Shinkansen tickets plus one 5-day regional pass cost less.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. We say when the official site is cheaper, as it is for the JR Pass.
Which two-week route should I choose?
Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima
The classic line plus Mt Fuji views in Hakone and a day at Hiroshima and Miyajima. All on the main Shinkansen line, so it is the easiest to plan.
Tokyo, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Osaka
Old mountain towns and the thatched farmhouses of Shirakawa-go. More buses and more bookings.
Not sure? If this is your first trip and you travel with big suitcases, choose A. If you have been to Kyoto before or like the countryside, choose B.
Route A day by day: Tokyo to Hiroshima
- Days 1–4Tokyo. One day can be a day trip. Tokyo guide →
- Day 5Hakone: ropeway, lake cruise, a night at a ryokan. You leave towards Kyoto, not back to Shinjuku, so the Freepass from Odawara (2 days ¥6,000) is the one to buy. Hakone →
- Day 6Shinkansen from Odawara to Kyoto on a single ticket; look up the fare when you book.
- Days 6–8Kyoto, with Nara as a half day (JR ¥720 each way). Kyoto →
- Days 9–11Osaka, with Universal Studios or Kobe and Himeji. Start the 5-day Kansai-Hiroshima pass on day 10, not day 9, so it still covers the ride back and HARUKA on day 14.
- Days 12–13Hiroshima and Miyajima (Nozomi from Shin-Osaka, about 1 h 25 min). Hiroshima →
- Day 14Back to Osaka and fly home from Kansai Airport (HARUKA is in the pass).
Route B day by day: through the Japanese Alps
- Days 1–4Tokyo.
- Day 5Shinkansen to Nagoya (¥11,300 for a Nozomi reserved seat; ¥11,880 for tickets bought from July 1, 2027), then the limited express Hida to Takayama, about 2 h 30 min. Start the 5-day Takayama-Hokuriku pass. Takayama →
- Day 6Morning market, then the bus to Shirakawa-go (about 50 min) and on to Kanazawa.
- Day 7Kanazawa. Kanazawa →
- Day 8Hokuriku Shinkansen to Tsuruga and the Thunderbird to Kyoto, both in the pass.
- Days 8–10Kyoto and Nara.
- Days 11–14Osaka, then Kansai Airport. The pass covers Osaka–Kansai Airport only if it is still valid; otherwise buy a HARUKA ticket.
What should I book, and when?
The Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka tickets are the same as on a one-week trip: see the 7-day booking order. Two weeks adds these:
Is a 14-day JR Pass worth it?
Not for these two routes. The 14-day pass is ¥80,000 on the official site and ¥84,000 from agencies. Even a long loop Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka → Hiroshima → Tokyo costs about ¥45,460 in single tickets, and Nozomi still needs an extra ticket with the pass. Fares on this page are for tickets bought before July 1, 2027; Nozomi reserved seats cost more after that (Tokyo–Hiroshima ¥20,620).
Singles + Kansai-Hiroshima pass
Tokyo → Kyoto ¥14,170, then the 5-day pass ¥17,000 for Kansai, Hiroshima and the airport. Add Hakone and the Odawara leg and you are still far under ¥80,000.
Single to Nagoya + Takayama-Hokuriku pass
One Shinkansen ticket to Nagoya, then ¥19,800 for 5 days covers Takayama, both Shirakawa-go buses, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Osaka.
Several long trips
Only if your single tickets add up to more than ¥80,000, for example several long return trips from Tokyo. Put your exact trips in the calculator.
The official site is ¥4,000 cheaper for 14 days. Affiliate links on the second and third buttons.
Which regional passes fit two weeks?
Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass
¥17,000. Shinkansen Shin-Osaka–Hiroshima, Kansai JR lines, HARUKA and the JR Miyajima ferry.
Affiliate linkTakayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass
¥19,800. Nagoya–Takayama, the Shirakawa-go buses, Hokuriku Shinkansen Toyama–Tsuruga, Kyoto, Osaka and Kansai Airport.
Affiliate linkHakone Freepass
From Odawara 2 days ¥6,000; from Shinjuku (with the Odakyu return) 2 days ¥7,100. Covers the trains, buses, ropeway and boat in Hakone.
Affiliate linkNot sure which pass? Which pass do I need →
How do I handle luggage on a two-week trip?
What if…?
…I have to fly home from Tokyo?
End Route A in Hiroshima and take the Nozomi back (about 4 hours, ¥19,760), or drop Hiroshima and finish with a night in Tokyo.
…my trip falls in Golden Week, Obon or New Year?
Every Nozomi is reserved-only then. Book at 10:00 one month before. Peak seasons → · New Year in Japan →
…the Shirakawa-go reserved bus is full?
Try a non-reserved departure at the counter, or a day tour from Takayama or Kanazawa.
Shirakawa-go tours on Klook ↗What we checked
Japan Rail Pass official site: 14 days ¥80,000 online, ¥84,000 from agencies; the Nozomi ticket rule.
JR West: Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass ¥17,000. touristpass.jp: Takayama-Hokuriku pass ¥19,800 and its coverage. Hakone Navi: Freepass prices.
JR Central / JR West releases: Shinkansen fares used in the sums, including Tokyo–Nagoya. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Miyajima ferries and Itsukushima Shrine, Nohi Bus and the Hida Takayama Tourist Association.
We could not read the Odawara–Kyoto fare on an official page, so the page does not give one. The day plans are suggestions, not a timed run.
Ready to plan the details?
Pick a route, check your trips in the calculator, then book the first Shinkansen one month out.
Affiliate link