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14 days in Japan, two routes
The first five days of the 10-day trip, then a detour of your choice: Hiroshima and Miyajima, or the Japanese Alps.
Route A · Hiroshima and Miyajima
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Route B · The Japanese Alps
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PlanJapanItineraries · 14 daysBoth routes, day by day
Route A · Hiroshima
D1–4As in the 10-day trip: Asakusa, Shibuya, Shinjuku. On the morning of day 4, your suitcase leaves for Kyoto.
D5Romancecar, the Hakone loop, a night in a ryokan.
D6Hikari from Odawara; Gion in the evening.
D7Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, Higashiyama.
D8Nara as a day trip.
D9Arashiyama or the Golden Pavilion; Nishiki, Pontocho.
D10Shinkansen, ≈ 1 hr 40; the Peace Memorial Park and Museum.
D11Miyajima: JR train and ferry, timed with the tide.
D12Shinkansen, ≈ 1 hr 25; the castle, Dotonbori at night.
D13Kuromon, Shinsekai or Universal Studios.
D14Departure: train to Kansai Airport.
Route B · The Alps
D1–4As in the 10-day trip. On the morning of day 4, the big suitcase leaves for your Kyoto hotel.
D5Romancecar, the Hakone loop, a night in a ryokan.
D6Hikari to Nagoya, then the Hida train: ≈ 4 hr.
D7The morning market along the Miya River, the old town.
D8Bus to Shirakawa-go, 3 hr in the village, then a bus to Kanazawa.
D9Kenroku-en, Higashi Chaya, Omicho Market.
D10Change at Tsuruga, 1 hr 43 to 2 hr 07; Fushimi Inari.
D11Kiyomizu-dera, Higashiyama and Gion.
D12Nara as a day trip.
D13Arashiyama in the morning, then Osaka; Dotonbori.
D14Departure: train to Kansai Airport.
Reach Shin-Osaka on a JR rapid train: the pass doesn't cover the Shinkansen between Kyoto and Shin-Osaka. At Miyajima, a 100 ¥ visitor tax when you board the ferry.
Buses sometimes run 2 hours late or more, with little room for big suitcases. The Thunderbird is reserved seats only; at Odawara, one Hikari to Nagoya every two hours.
PlanJapanItineraries · 14 daysTickets, passes and buses
Both routes start with the Romancecar (8,300 ¥ with the Hakone Freepass) and end with the Rapi:t to the airport (1,670 ¥). Adult fares, unreserved seats, checked in October 2026.
What to book, and when
- One month ahead, at 10 a.m. Japan time: the Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass online, then your seats, included.
- Peace Memorial Museum: the 7:30 a.m. slot or the last hour, online.
- Miyajima Ropeway: booking required on busy days, including November weekends.
- The day before: the tide times at Miyajima, on the tourist office website.
- As soon as your dates are set: the Takayama hotels, fully booked during its festivals (April 14–15, October 9–10).
- One month ahead, same date: the buses to Shirakawa-go and Kanazawa. From Shirakawa-go to Kanazawa, all require a reservation.
- Before you leave: the HOKURIKU One-way Ticket, 6,500 ¥, sold by agencies abroad; ask them to confirm it's valid from Kanazawa to Kyoto.
PlanJapanItineraries · 14 daysBook this trip, stop by stop
Our picks from the city chapters. Range: $ budget, $$ mid-range, $$$ comfort.
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PlanJapanItineraries · 14 days