2 Week Japan Itinerary: Beyond Tokyo and Kyoto

Japan was the first country I ever visited and the one that made me fall in love with traveling. Before this trip, I’d been four times, always on the same well-trodden path: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto. This time, I wanted to go somewhere that would make the country feel new again.

I came up with a route that leaves the classic circuit behind and spent two weeks discovering Fukuoka’s street food scene, the hot spring towns of Yufuin and Beppu, the historic city of Kanazawa, the UNESCO village of Shirakawa-go, Hida beef country in Takayama, and the spectacular Japanese Alps. This 2 week Japan itinerary flows by public transit; no rental car needed.

If you’ve already done the classic Japan route and want to see a different side of the country, this guide breaks down exactly how to do it.

Who Is This 2 Week Japan Itinerary For?

This route is ideal for those who…

• Have already visited Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka and want to see a different side of Japan
• Are comfortable navigating Japan by train and bus
• Want a mix of food culture, onsen towns, UNESCO heritage sites, and alpine scenery
• Don’t mind a moderate pace (1-3 days per stop) with occasional transit days
• Are willing to splurge occasionally on regional specialties like Hida beef and ryokan stays

This route is not ideal for those who…

• First-time travelers to Japan expecting the classic Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka circuit
• Prefer longer stays in one base city
• Are nervous about navigating smaller towns with limited English signage

Overview of the 2 Week Route

This 2 week Japan itinerary begins in Fukuoka, located on the shore of Kyushu Island. The route runs northeast, ending in Tokyo.

In Kyushu, you’ll stop at Fukuoka, Yufuin, and Beppu (points A, B, C on the map). You’ll then fly to Kanazawa (D) and make your way to Shirakawa-go, Takayama, and Hirayu Onsen (E, F, G) before ending in Tokyo (H).

Days	Region	Stops	Highlights
1–3	Kyushu	Fukuoka	Hakata ramen, yatai open air stalls, Itoshima day trip, coastal scenery
4–5	Kyushu	Yufuin, Beppu	Scenic train rides, ryokan onsens, Hells of Beppu
6–8	Hokuriku	Kanazawa	Omicho Market, Kenrokuen Garden, Noto beef, Higashi Chaya geisha district
9–11	Gifu	Shirakawa-go, Takayama, Hirayu Onsen	UNESCO thatched village, historic towns, Hida beef, ryokan onsens
12	Japanese Alps	Kamikochi	Panoramic alpine views, Kappabashi Bridge
13–14	Honshu	Tokyo	Big city energy

Days 1–3: Fukuoka

Fukuoka is a strong starting point for a Japan trip, especially if you’re arriving jet-lagged. The city is compact and easy to navigate, easing you into the two weeks.

Fukuoka also has one of the country’s most distinctive food scenes. The city is best known for Hakata ramen (pork bone broth, ultra-thin noodles), mentaiko (spiced cod roe), and yatai: open-air riverside stalls that run along the Nakasu waterfront at night. Expect yakitori, oden, cold beer, and shoulder-to-shoulder seating. Even if the food isn’t life-changing, the atmosphere alone makes it worth a visit.

Fukuoka strikes a balance between modern and traditional. The Canal City shopping mall and Kushida Shrine sit within minutes of each other: one a sprawling retail complex, the other a 1,800-year-old shrine. For a break from the city, the Itoshima coast is an easy day trip, featuring a shoreline shrine with torii gates in the water. The vibe is relaxed and offers a nice contrast Fukuoka’s bustling atmosphere. Ohori Park is another good option if you want somewhere to slow down without leaving Fukuoka.

Check out my Fukuoka guide out soon.

Days 4–5: Yufuin + Beppu

These two onsen towns sit about 45 minutes apart by train and work well back-to-back. Yufuin is best reached via the Yufuin no Mori, a scenic limited express from Hakata Station that winds through lush green valleys and is one of the scenic train rides I’ve ever experienced in Japan. The town itself is small. Yunohira Road, the main street, has plenty of artisan shops, snacks, and custard pudding stalls to check out. Kinrin Lake is the other easy stop: go early before tour buses arrive, and the misty morning atmosphere is beautiful.

Yufuin rewards doing less. Soak in the onsen, enjoy a kaiseki meal, and stroll around town. This sleepy town is the perfect follow-up to Fukuoka. It gives you a reason to stop moving, which is a much-needed break after the previous few days exploring a bustling metropolis.

Beppu is Yufuin’s louder, stranger sibling. It’s famous for its “hells” (Jigoku), geothermally active pools in vivid colors. There are eight hells in total, spread across two main areas, toured on foot and by bus. Umi Jigoku is the standout; the water is a striking cobalt blue that looks almost artificial. I expected it to be underwhelming in person, but it captured my attention. In Beppu, you can enjoy steam-cooked food using actual volcanic vents, which is a cooking method unique to the region. The food itself is more of a novelty than anything, but it’s still interesting to see how the food is prepared. 

Check out my Yufuin and Beppu guide out soon.

Days 6–8: Kanazawa

Kanazawa is one of Japan’s most underrated cities. If you want Kyoto vibes without the crowds, go here. It’s known for its preserved samurai and geisha districts as well as Kenrokuen Garden, considered one of the top three landscape gardens in Japan.

For food, Omicho Market is definitely worth a stop. Eat at one of the small counters inside for crab, sea urchin, or fresh fish at affordable prices. Go for the kaisendon (sashimi bowl). You also have to try Noto beef, the local wagyu of Kanazawa. Kanazawa is also one of the best cities in Japan for a tea ceremony; the ura-senke tradition is strong here, and the historic tea houses offer proper experiences. For sake, the old town shops along Sanmachi Suji run tastings where staff walk you through the different brewing styles. 

Check out my Kanazawa guide out soon.

Days 9–11: Shirakawa-go, Takayama, and Hirayu Onsen

This stretch was my favorite part of the entire trip. Shirakawa-go is a UNESCO World Heritage village in the mountains, famous for its gassho-zukuri farmhouses, enormous thatched-roof buildings designed to withstand heavy snowfall. Gassho-zukuri translates to “constructed like hands in prayer” because the shape resembles praying hands. The village sits conveniently between Kanazawa and Takayama, making it a natural stop rather than a dedicated detour. Don’t miss the Shiroyama viewpoint: a small hill above the village with a full panoramic view of the rooftops against the surrounding mountains. The village feels genuinely distinct from anything else in Japan, and two to three hours is enough to cover it well.

Takayama is the food hub of this route. The Miyagawa Morning Market runs along the river until noon. Here, local farmers and artisans line the road selling miso paste, sansho pepper, pickles, and fresh produce. The local specialty is Hida beef, a regional wagyu that’s served up in a variety of ways. I had nigiri-style (topped on rice), in a stew, grilled on a dried magnolia (hoba) lea with miso paste, and in aburasoba (dry noodles tossed with oil).

From Takayama, Hirayu Onsen is a natural overnight stop to rest your legs before tomorrow’s big hike.

Check out my Shirakawa-go and Takayama guide out soon.

Day 12: Kamikochi (Japanese Alps)

Kamikochi is a protected alpine valley accessible only by bus (private cars are banned) which keeps the environment pristine and the crowds manageable. If you’re only walking the valley and not hiking, the flat path from Kappabashi to Myojin Pond is beautiful.

For a real challenge, do the day hike up Mount Yakedake. The trail starts gradual, then hits a tall metal ladder section before a long push across snow fields and loose rock to the top. The summit offers a full panoramic view of the surrounding Alps.

Check out my Kamikochi guide out soon.

Day 13-14: Tokyo

No Japan trip is complete without spending at least a couple of days in Tokyo. If you’re following this itinerary, I assume it’s not your first time here, so I’ll leave you to your own devices. For this trip, I ate and shopped to my heart’s content. I also visited my host family from when I studied abroad in Tokyo 10 years ago.

How Much Does This 2 Week Japan Itinerary Cost?

I spent a total of $3,343. I traveled this route solo in May 2026, which is shoulder season after the cherry blossom and Golden Week crowds but before the summer rush. These prices reflect mid-range travel: private rooms and eating out every meal. The cost breakdown is as follows.

Flights: My round-trip flight from Honolulu (HNL) on Hawaiian Airlines cost $812. From the continental US, expect to pay roughly $800–$1,400 round-trip in economy, depending on departure city and season. West Coast cities (LA, Seattle, San Francisco) are cheapest, while East Coast departures typically run several hundred more.

Accommodation: I stayed in hotels. See the Where to Stay for the exact places as well as a detailed cost breakdown.

Transportation: This entire route was done using public transportation. Trains and buses were the main modes of transport. I also took a flight from Fukuoka to Komatsu, the closest airport to Kanazawa.

Activities: This category includes entry fees, a tea ceremony in Kanazawa, sake tasting in Takayama, and a spa day. This Japan itinerary is light on paid activities; most of what makes the route worth doing is free.

Food: My meals usually ran between $10–20, with lunch closer to $10 and dinner closer to $20. I also splurged on the occasional meal, such as a Hida beef aburasoba dinner costing $50.

Incidentals: Souvenirs and one-off purchases.

Where to Stay in Kyushu, Hokuriku, and Gifu

I stayed 14 nights in Japan, totaling $1161. Accommodation was easily the biggest expense category. To reduce costs, consider staying in budget accommodation, traveling with others, or using hotel points. For this trip, I used points for one night in Fukuoka and one night in Kanazawa. I also used the Amex Platinum hotel credit, reducing the cost of my Kanazawa stay by $300.

Nights	Location	Where I Stayed	Total Cost
1–3	Fukuoka	Four Points Flex Hakata	$138
4	Yufuin	Lamp no Yado	$140
5	Beppu	Super Hotel Beppu Ekimae	$61
6–8	Kanazawa	Hyatt Centric Kanazawa	$201
9–10	Takayama	Takayama Ouan	$275
11–12	Hirayu Onsen	Hirayukan	$205
13–14	Tokyo	Via Inn Higashi Ginza	$141

Overall, I thought the pacing was good. The only thing I would change is to spend two rather than three nights in Kanazawa because you can hit all the main attractions in one full day. I would allocate this extra day to Beppu (if you want more time exploring the hells) or to Tokyo (if you want more time in the city).

How to Get Around Kyushu, Hokuriku, and Gifu

This 2-week itinerary relies entirely on public transport (trains, buses, and a short plane ride). No self-driving is required.

Detailed routes

Route	Mode of Transport	Travel Time	How to Book
Fukuoka → Yufuin	🚆 Train	2 hours	Klook
Yufuin → Beppu	🚌 Bus	1 hour	Pay on bus
Beppu → Fukuoka	🚆 Train	2 hour 15 minutes	Klook
Fukuoka → Komatsu	✈️ Flight	1 hour 30 minutes	Google Flights
Komatsu → Kanazawa	🚌 Airport Bus	1 hour	Ticket kiosk
Kanazawa → Shirakawa-go	🚌 Bus	1 hour 15 minutes	Japan Bus Online
Shirakawa-go → Takayama	🚌 Bus	1 hour	Japan Bus Online
Takayama → Hirayu Onsen	🚌 Bus	1 hour	At bus station
Hirayu Onsen → Kamikochi	🚌 Bus	30 minutes	At bus station
Hirayu Onsen → Tokyo	🚌 Bus	6 hours	Highway Bus

Why Should You Follow This Japan Itinerary?

These regions complement each other in scenery and activities, so no two stops feel the same. They’re also connected by some of the most scenic train and bus rides in Japan.

This route shows a side of Japan most visitors miss

Kyushu, the Hokuriku coast, and the Japanese Alps don’t appear on most first-timer itineraries, and that’s exactly what makes them worth visiting. The crowds are also a fraction of what you’ll find in Tokyo and Kyoto. Most importantly, you get variety.

• Fukuoka is urban: towering skylines, busy streets, bustling riverside food stalls
• Yufuin and Beppu are volcanic: misty lakes, geothermal pools, steam rising off the ground
• Kanazawa is historic: intact samurai districts and geisha quarters preserved for centuries
• Shirakawa-go is rural mountain: thatched rooftops and rice fields
• Kamikochi is pure alpine: glacial rivers, jagged peaks, lakes and ponds reflecting the mountains

This route balances sightseeing, nature, and rest

Most itineraries pack in as much as possible and leave you more exhausted at the end than when you started. This route builds in rest deliberately. Fukuoka, Kanazawa, and Takayama are the active sightseeing legs: new city, food, things to see and do. Following Fukuoka, the onsen towns of Yufuin and Beppu give you time to relax and recover. The same pattern repeats after Kanazawa and Takayama, with Hirayu Onsen allowing for a quiet night in the mountains before Kamikochi. Finally, the day in the Japanese Alps is the big payoff that the trip builds toward.

This route is efficient by design

The route moves logically in one direction, starting from Kyushu in the south and ending in Tokyo in the north, giving you easy access to outbound flights. The itinerary is also designed to make the most out of travel days. For example, most Shirakawa-go itineraries suggest visiting this town as a day trip from Kanazama or Takayama. Here, it sits as a convenient stop on your transit day between these two cities.

What Is the Best Time of Year for This Japan Itinerary?

Shoulder season: May/September–October (recommended)

• May (what I did): warm, green, fewer crowds than cherry blossom season or Golden Week
• September–October: autumn foliage begins in the Alps and Shirakawa-go; comfortable temperatures throughout
• Both seasons offer better accommodation availability and lower prices than peak periods

Peak season: Late March–April

• Iconic cherry blossom scenery that Japan is known for
• Crowds and prices spike significantly; book lodging and transport in advance

Winter: December–February

• Shirakawa-go is spectacular under snow; one of the most photographed scenes in Japan
• Kamikochi closes from mid-November to late April; replace it with another stop
• Onsen season at its best; ryokan stays in Yufuin feel especially nice in the cold

Frequently Asked Questions