Japan 15 day itinerary — How to spend 15 days in Japan on a budget pefectly?

Japan is really too big and has too many places to go. Each place has different of cultural features, region characteristics and beautiful scenery. With a 15-day trip (Japan 15 day itinerary, Japan 15 day itinerary, Japan travel itinerary 15 days), which can be called long because of the visa expiration, I visited almost all the famous cities, destinations, and also discovered many other interesting points. So, what to do in Japan for 15 days? Let’s check out my 15 days in Japan itinerary on how to spend 15 days in Japan on a budget (15 days in japan budget) to find out the answer!

Normally, air tickets from Vietnam to Osaka are still slightly cheaper than Tokyo. The ticket I booked after obtaining a visa to avoid the risk of failure. My first stop in Osaka was in Central of Japan, then traveling to nearby destinations such as: Kobe, Kyoto, then going to the north to Tokyo, Mount Fuji and back to Osaka.

Japan 15 day itinerary — Day 0: Hanoi – Osaka

Fly from Hanoi to Osaka, departing from Hanoi at midnight and arriving in Osaka early next morning.

This trip was mostly scheduled, and only hotel rooms were reserved. Moving has no specific plan. The public transport system in Japan is extremely developed, compared to South Korea or Taiwan is somewhat more. So with only a 2 week JR Pass, I confidently to go anywhere in Japan.

15 days in Japan — Day 1: Osaka – Kobe

• 07:50 AM: Arrive at the airport, change Exchange order to JR Pass and use the Japanese 4G Sim that bought in Vietnam.
• 09:30 AM: Take the train to Osaka to check in and send my luggage at Hostel First Cabin Hanshin Nishi Umeda from $25/night. (Agoda.com or Booking.com)
• 11:00 AM: Getting to Kobe, enjoy Kobe beef here and walking around Kobe streets. Visiting spots in Kobe such as European old town, Kobe port, ..
• 18:00 AM: Return to Osaka. Eat and drink in the area near Umeda Station, there are many pubs here.

15 days in Japan budget — Day 2: Kobe – Kyoto

• 07:00 AM: Have breakfast, check out, take the train to go to Kyoto
• 09:00 AM: Arrive in Kyoto, check in and send my luggage at Hostel. Lunch in the underground area under the central Kyoto station.
• 12:00 AM: Take the train from Kyoto Central Station to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. It will take an almost day to visit the bamboo forest.
• 15:00 PM: Take a bus from bamboo forest to Kinkaku-ji Temple, also known as Golden Pavilion Temple.
• 17:00 PM: Visit Nishiki Market (錦 市場, Nishiki Ichiba) also known as the Kitchen of Japan, Traditional Food Market In the Heart of Kyoto
• 8:00 PM: Dinner at Pontocho Alley (先 斗 町) right on the banks of the Kamogawa River

15 days in Japan itinerary — Day 3: Kyoto

• 08:00 AM: Have breakfast and take a rest then go to Fushimi Inari Taisha, also known as the 1000 Torii Gates Shrine.
• 12:00 AM: Go to Yasaka temple and Kiyomizu-dera: Famous temple, a must visit temple in Kyoto. Then spend the whole afternoon wandering around the alleys and slopes in Gion District (祇 園) to watch the Geisha & Traditional Japanese Arts begin at work when night falls.
• 08:00 PM: Continue dining at Pontocho eating alley (先 斗 町).

Japan 15 day itinerary — Day 4: Kyoto – Takayama

• 07:00 AM: Check out hostel and go to Kyoto Station at 7:45AM; 8:05 AM take the Shinkansen to Nagoya and change line to Takayama.
• 11:00 AM: Arrive in Takayama, check in hotel, lunch with ramen noodles and stewed beef rice.
• 13:00 AM: Wandering in Takayama old town, Nakabashi red painted bridge.
• 19:00 AM: Back to the hotel to rest, have dinner.

Japan 15 day itinerary — Day 5: Takayama – Shirakawago – Kanazawa

08:00 AM: Have breakfast, check out the hostel, take the bus to Shirakawa-go (asked the hotel in Takayama to book tickets in advance). It takes 1 hour to reach Shirakawago, send luggage for 500 yen, walk up to the observatory for a panoramic view and then wander in the village of Shirakawago.
3:00 PM: Take a bus from Shirakawago to Kanazawa
16:30 PM: Arrive at Kanazawa station, walk 10 minutes to check-in airbnb location. Then have to walk 20 minutes to the guesthouse.
18:00 PM: Wander the nearby Geisha street, quite deserted, dine at the shop in the old town.

Japan travel itinerary 15 days — Day 6: Kanazawa

• 09:00 AM: Go back to Geisha street right next to the guesthouse to wandering in the morning
• 11:00 AM: Visit Kenroku–en Garden, one of the largest royal gardens in Japan – Admission fee 300 yen
• 12:00 AM: Visit Kanazawa Castle right next to Kenroku–en garden.
• 13:00 PM: Lunch at Omicho Market
• 3:00 PM: Visit Samurai District and 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Ninja Temple.
• 7:00 PM: Visit the Nagamachi Neighborhood – The most vibrant amusement venue in Kanazawa with lots of crowded bars and restaurants.

Read more: Kanazawa travel blog — The fullest Kanazawa travel guide for a great trip for the first-timers.

Japan travel itinerary 15 days — Day 7: Kanazawa – Tokyo – 3 day itinerary Tokyo

• 08:00 AM: Have breakfast, check out hostel, take the Shinkansen to Tokyo
• 11:00 AM: Arrive at Tokyo, check in hostel Nine Hours Takebashi from $17/night (Agoda.com or Booking.com), buy a Subway Day ticket to visit Tokyo.
• 12:00 AM: Go to Ginza, the most modern and bustling neighborhood in Tokyo, no less than Shinjuku or Shibuya. Stroll and experience the high floor cafe in Ginza.
• 2:00 PM: Visit Tsukiji Market – the famous morning fish market but now closed and move to new Toyosu market. At noon, you can still come here to enjoy seafood at the shops outside.
• 4:00 PM: Go to Senso–ji Temple and Skytree Tower. I didn’t want to go to the observatory of the tower, so I just stood by the river and watched the tower lights up at night.
• 7:00 PM: Back to Ginza for dinner and walking around.

15 days in Japan budget — Day 8: Tokyo

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