Japan itineraries: 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks

Pick the length first, then the route. Each line below is a workable plan with nights per stop; add or drop a city rather than compressing the nights. Fly open-jaw (into Tokyo, out of Osaka KIX) where fares allow, and forward big bags between regions so you travel light on the train.

Three nights in Tokyo gives you two full days: one for a west-side cluster (Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku) and one for the east (Asakusa, Ueno, Ginza), plus an evening in whichever district you liked. If you want a day trip, Kamakura or Nikkō fits, but it costs you a Tokyo day.

Then Shinkansen to Kyoto for three nights: two full days covers a Higashiyama temple walk, Fushimi Inari early, and Arashiyama or a half day in Nara. Finish with one night in Osaka for Dōtonbori and the flight home from KIX, about 50 minutes away by train.

This is the plan for a first trip with limited leave. It is tight but not rushed if you keep the sightseeing list short and accept that you will skip things.

Ten days buys one ryokan night and a slower pace. Tokyo 3 nights, then Hakone for 1 night: onsen, the ropeway and Lake Ashi, with Fuji views on clear days (best Oct–Feb). Forward your large bag from Tokyo to your Kyoto hotel and carry an overnight bag to Hakone.

Kyoto gets 4 nights, which allows Nara as a proper half day and one slower morning. Osaka 2 nights at the end covers Dōtonbori, Kuromon market and a possible Kōbe or Nara day trip, with an easy KIX departure.

This is the classic first trip and the one most travellers should copy. The extra three days over the 7-day plan go into Hakone and Kyoto, not into a new region.

Two weeks lets you cross the country once without feeling rushed. Tokyo 4 nights (three full days), then Kanazawa 2 nights via the Hokuriku route: Kenroku-en garden, the samurai and teahouse districts and the seafood market. Kanazawa is the stop most first-timers skip and later regret.

Kyoto 4 nights next, then Hiroshima 2 nights: Peace Park and museum on arrival day, Miyajima the next morning. Finish with Osaka 2 nights and fly out of KIX.

The order matters: Tokyo → Kanazawa → Kyoto → Hiroshima → Osaka is one direction with no backtracking. Point-to-point tickets on this route usually beat a nationwide JR Pass; check current fares before buying either.

Three weeks is where you choose a second region rather than adding more cities to the same line. From Hiroshima, continue west into Kyushu: Fukuoka 2 nights for yatai stalls and tonkotsu ramen, then Nagasaki 2 nights, and fly home from Fukuoka or return to Osaka.

The alternative is a northern leg. Fly Tokyo → Sapporo for 3 nights in Hokkaido (Snow Festival in Jan–Feb, flowers and cool air in Jul–Aug), or take the Shinkansen north to Tohoku for Sendai, Aomori and the summer festivals. Inland, Takayama and Shirakawa-gō need 2 nights and pair with Kanazawa on the 14-day route.

Do not try to combine Kyushu and Hokkaido in three weeks. Each is a separate trip, and internal flights plus transfers eat two days.

Book accommodation early for late March to mid-April (cherry blossom) and October to November (autumn colour); Kyoto and Tokyo fill months ahead and prices jump. Avoid Golden Week (late April to early May), Obon (mid-August) and the June rainy season if you can move your dates.

Rail: buy point-to-point Shinkansen tickets or a regional pass that matches your route. A nationwide JR Pass only pays off on long, fast, multi-stop travel; on the routes above it usually does not. Reserve seats on holiday weekends and forward luggage between cities rather than hauling it.

Money and rules: Japan is still largely cash-friendly in smaller places, though cards work in cities; tipping is not practised. Check your passport and visa status before booking, and check the current entry rules close to departure.