Japan 16-Day Tours & Itineraries

Explore 6 trips designed by local kimkim specialists to get ideas for your trip to Japan.

Embark on a 16-day journey across Japan, visiting major cities and enjoying traditional and modern experiences. If your dream trip includes visiting significant cities, hot springs, and UNESCO-listed villages, consider a trip like this highlights of Japan itinerary, which takes you to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Food enthusiasts will love a trip similar to this culinary discovery of Japan itinerary, where you can customize your own cup noodles, enjoy guided food walks in Kyoto and Osaka, and learn about Hiroshima's history while sampling the country's finest dishes. Adventure seekers might prefer a trip like this active adventure in Japan, filled with hikes through beautiful landscapes, cycling in the countryside, and relaxing dips in Kawayu Onsen's hot springs.

See our itineraries below or read our guide to the best 16-day trips in Japan.

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Explore some of Japan's most iconic landmarks, including the UNESCO-listed Shirakawa-go
Map of Highlights of Japan: Tokyo, Hakone, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto & Osaka — 16 Days
Highlights of Japan: Tokyo, Hakone, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto & Osaka — 16 Days

Perfect for first-timers, this 16-day itinerary takes you on a journey through some of Japan's most iconic destinations. Start in Tokyo, where you can dive into Japanese culture by watching a sumo wrestling session and see famous landmarks like Senso-ji, the oldest temple in the city. Explore Hakone and Takayama at your own pace, then learn how to make traditional crafts in Kanazawa. Ride a rickshaw around Kyoto before ending in Osaka with a day trip to Hiroshima, the site of the world's first atomic bomb.

A biker enjoying mountain views
Map of Road Less Traveled Japan: Tokyo, Izu Islands, Osaka, Koyasan, Hiroshima, Takachiho, Kumamoto - 16 Days
Road Less Traveled Japan: Tokyo, Izu Islands, Osaka, Koyasan, Hiroshima, Takachiho, Kumamoto - 16 Days

This 16-day adventure is planned with nature lovers in mind, who also want a touch of Japan's urban highlights. You'll traverse the well-worn paths of the mountain monks, breathe in the history of temples which have endured for centuries, take a boat ride down Takachiho Gorge and test your endurance as you hike Mount Misen, off the coast of Hiroshima. This tour offers a nice balance of remote destinations rarely seen by tourists, combined with museum visits and culinary experiences in Tokyo, Osaka, and Hiroshima.

Follow an ancient stone path along the Kumano Kodo trail to see the Nachi Waterfall
Map of Active Adventure in Japan: Hiking Trails, Hot Springs & Iconic Landmarks - 16 Days
Active Adventure in Japan: Hiking Trails, Hot Springs & Iconic Landmarks - 16 Days

Pack your best hiking shoes and get ready for an active adventure across some of Japan's most iconic natural landscapes. Start with a city break in Tokyo and then begin a series of hikes around the Fuji Fike Lakes, Mount Ashigara in Hakone, and Mount Inari in Kyoto. From here, spend a day in Osaka before following the pilgrimage routes of Koyasan Choishi Michi and Kumano Kodo over five days. End the trip back in Osaka with a free day to sample top-notch street food to close out this whirlwind tour.

Experience the day-to-day life of a monk at your shukubo in Mount Koya
Map of Japan Cultural Discovery Tour: Tokyo, Kyoto, Mount Koya & Osaka - 16 Days
Japan Cultural Discovery Tour: Tokyo, Kyoto, Mount Koya & Osaka - 16 Days

Set off on a 16-day cultural discovery across Japan's vibrant cities and natural landscapes. Begin the adventure in Tokyo, where you'll explore the city's oldest temple and delve into bonsai culture at a nearby museum. Then, take a train to Takayama to admire ornate festival floats and learn how to make traditional crafts. From here, visit Shirakawa-go to see traditional farmhouses, watch a geisha performance in Kyoto, and stay in an active temple on Mount Koya before ending this whirlwind trip in Osaka.

Pick between charming izakayas in Kyoto's Pontocho district
Map of Culinary Discovery of Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima & Osaka - 16 Days
Culinary Discovery of Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima & Osaka - 16 Days

Delve into Japan's rich cuisine on this 16-day tour across Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Osaka. Start with a food tour in bustling Shinjuku before sampling whisky at the foot of Mount Fuji and watching a tuna auction at Toyosu Fish Market. Then, take a train to Kyoto to partake in a tea ceremony and sample matcha-flavored treats in nearby Uji. Break up all the eating with a history lesson in Hiroshima, and finish in Osaka, where you can learn how to make—and taste—sake, ramen, and gyoza.

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