Japan 15-Day Tours & Itineraries

Explore 10 trips designed by local kimkim specialists to get ideas for your trip to Japan.

Japan offers everything from metropolitan cities to charming villages and city escapes, which you can easily explore in 15 days. Japan's Golden Route is a great choice if you're interested in exploring Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka and experiencing food tours, art exhibits, sumo wrestling, shrines and castles, geisha, and even Japanese sword-making. The ultimate Japan excursion is also an immersive experience that takes you through Tokyo, where you can witness exciting neighborhoods, Hiroshima, where you can learn about the history of World War II and the quaint streets of Takayama and Kanazawa for an authentic cultural experience. You could also opt for experiencing the highlights of Japan that start in Tokyo, followed by a ride on a bullet train, ending up in Izumo, exploring temples in Kyoto, and visiting remote islands known for caves and beautiful beaches.

See our itineraries below or read our guide to the best 15-day trips in Japan.

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Japan's Golden Route: Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka - 15 Days

Travel along Japan's "Golden Route," starting in Tokyo. Soak up the city as you enjoy food tours, art exhibits, a calligraphy workshop, and watching a sumo wrestling practice. Then head to Kyoto to visit shrines and castles, meet geisha, and savor a traditional multicourse meal. Spot deer in Nara, then move on to Osaka for a food tour and river cruise and explore Hiroshima and Miyajima. Back in Tokyo, learn about Japanese sword-making, see the city's high-tech attractions, and visit Kamakura.

Springtime cherry blossoms in Japan fram Kanei-ji pagoda in Tokyo's Ueno Park

Ultimate Japan Tour: Tokyo to Hiroshima & Kanazawa - 15 Days

Cover the highlights of Japan as you travel in a wide loop across the country's south. Explore Tokyo's most exciting neighborhoods, learn about the important World War II history of Hiroshima, experience tradition with a tea ceremony and geisha photoshoot in Kyoto, and wander the quaint streets of Takayama and Kanazawa. Visit the UNESCO-listed village of Shirakawa-go and take a dip in Hakone's hot springs, then return to Tokyo for more sightseeing.

Explore Japan's Fukuoka, and sample Hakata tonkotsu ramen, the region's specialty

Highlights of Japan - 15 Days

This is the ultimate tour for first-time visitors in Japan and includes a mix of classic activities and lesser-known surprises. Kick off the adventure with several days in Tokyo, and then make your way south by bullet train—using your Japan Rail Pass. You'll stay a night with a small-town family in Izumo, explore UNESCO-listed temples in Kyoto, and ferry to remote islands known for caves and beautiful beaches. Fly back to Tokyo for one more night in the exciting capital to end the tour.

Natural splendor at the Shinkyo Bridge in Nikko

Off-the-Beaten-Path Japan: Tokyo, Nikko & Tohoku - 15 Days

Get away from the crowds and experience a glimpse of traditional Japanese life on this 15-day tour that starts in Tokyo and heads north. After a couple of days exploring the capital, take the train up to UNESCO-listed Nikko and focus on the Tohoku region, the northernmost prefectures of Japan's main Honshu Island. Continue to several towns and cities that many travelers overlook—including Sendai, Hiraizumi, Aomori, and Yamagata—for a taste of unhurried, back-to-basics Japan.

A woman wearing a kimono in the Higashi Chaya district of Kanazawa

Art, Culture & Cuisine: An Immersive Japan Experience - 15 Days

On this well-planned 15-day tour, you'll visit some of Japan's finest art museums, sample some of its most delicious food (and have a go making some yourself), and participate in exciting cultural experiences. From dinner with a trainee geisha in Kyoto to visiting the art islands in the Seto Inland Sea, dressing in a kimono in Kanazawa to making traditional crafts, you'll learn lots about Japanese culture and history while having plenty of fun along the way.

Travel off the beaten path during this 15-day journey through Japan

Iconic Sites & Hidden Gems of Japan - 15 Days

Discover Japan's best-kept secrets and favorite attractions on this 15-day tour for travelers who seek an immersive and varied adventure. From historic castles and street food in Osaka to Tokyo's imperial palace gardens and temple, in between, you'll also explore the shrine-filled waters of Miyajima island, row a boat up to waterfalls in the Takachiho Gorge, soak in Shikoku island's hot springs, cross vine bridges in the Iya Valley, don a kimono for a Kyoto tea ceremony, and learn to make sushi in Tokyo.

Hike trails to discover beautiful temples during this 15-day tour of Japan

Active Japan Tour with Mount Fuji & Kumano Kodo Trail - 15 Days

Go hiking, cycling, and kayaking on this thrilling 15-day Japan adventure that's ideal for active explorers. In Tokyo, learn the secrets of Japanese cuisine and kayak along the winding rivers. Spend two days hiking to the top of Mount Fuji and catch the sunrise from the summit, then soak your tired muscles in Fujikawaguchiko's geothermal springs. Cycle through a bamboo forest near Kyoto, dig your own open-air onsen (hot springs) on the Otogawa River and discover shrines along the Kumano Kodo Trail.

Delve deep into Japan's culture, history and modern achievements on this 15-day family tour

Family Getaway in Japan: Culture, Nature & Technology - 15 Days

This family-friendly 15-day tour combines culture, technology, and natural wonders. Ideal for families with kids aged seven and over, you'll start in Tokyo with lessons in sushi making and ninja training before heading into nature at Kamakura and Mount Fuji. Hike nature trails, visit temples, and ride a rickshaw before traveling to the tech capital, Nagoya, to explore the interactive museums. Then, have dinner with a geisha in ancient Kyoto and end in Osaka at a noodle museum and the world's largest aquarium.

Cycle past the spectacular rural and coastal landscapes of the Noto peninsula during this 15-day tour

Cultural & Cycling Tour in Japan - 15 Days

Bookend a week of cycling through Japan's glorious countryside with cultural and historic city experiences on this 15-day trip. Discover temples and bamboo groves in Kyoto, immerse yourself in traditional craft workshops in Kanazawa, and then begin your biking adventure along the scenic coast of the Noto peninsula. Cycle along beach roads, past endless rice terraces, and through quaint fishing villages, overnighting in spa towns to soak in hot springs before ending in the bright lights of Tokyo.

Delve deep into Japan's long history during this 15-day tour

Japan Culture & History Tour with Temple Stay - 15 Days

This 15-day, immersive tour of Japan's culture and history begins in Osaka, with beautiful castles and neon-lit streets. Switch gears with a temple stay on sacred Mount Koya, then head to Kyoto to lose yourself in the ancient alleys and markets. With lots of day trips and hands-on experiences, you'll also learn local crafts like silk dyeing in Kanazawa, see the historic thatched houses of Shirakawa-go, cycle through the streets of Takayama, watch the sunset over Mount Fuji, and learn to make sushi in Tokyo.

Other durations: 5 days · 6 days · 7 days · 8 days · 9 days · 10 days · 11 days · 12 days · 13 days · 14 days · 15 days · 16 days

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