The Higashi Chaya district is the largest and more famous geisha district, dating back to the 1820s, and is filled with beautiful houses, teahouses, and gold leaf galleries and shops. Be sure to look around at Ochaya Shima, an old geisha house preserved as a museum and very attractive to walk around.
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![Kanazawa Higashi Chaya District](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/12/Kanazawa-Higashi-Chaya-District.jpg)
If the crowds at Higashi Chaya are too much for you, spend some time around the nearby Nishi Chaya and Kazue-machi districts, which are less crowded. The Nagamachi Bukeyashiki district was where middle-class samurai families once lived and is now home to the canals, cobblestone streets and mud walls that surround the old samurai houses.
![kanazawa travel blog](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/13/kanazawa-travel-blog.jpg)
![Nagamachi Samurai District,kanazawa travel blog (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/13/Nagamachi-Samurai-Districtkanazawa-travel-blog-2.jpg)
![kanazawa travel blog](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/12/kanazawa-travel-blog.jpg)
Spend the afternoon lounging along Kanazawa’s river as a way to fill your time in the city.
Day 9: Go back in time in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture
Takayama, located in the Japanese Alps, is a relaxed mountain town with beautiful traditional buildings, famous sake and delicious Hida beef.
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/15/takayama.jpg)
Spend your morning exploring the old wooden houses and hillside temples, while be sure to prioritize checking out one of the town’s cozy cafes for a soothing cup of green tea. In the afternoon, head to the Hida Folk Village – an open-air museum showcasing 30 traditional farmhouses in the architectural style of the Hida region. If you’re feeling particularly drawn, you can try to squeeze in a half-day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shirakawa-go, where you’ll find a secluded village filled with traditional gassho-style houses with steep thatched roofs amid the snow during the colder months. Be sure to sample some sake and beef specialty during your evening in town.
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/12/hida-beef-takayama-7.jpg)
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/24/shirakawago-travel-blog.jpg)
While Takayama is small and easy to explore, there’s plenty to do in the surrounding area, so you could easily swap your itinerary around to spend two nights here and one night in Kanazawa.
Where to Stay in Takayama?
In Takayama, we stayed in a small, locally run guesthouse in the center of town. It is good enough, although nothing stands out as great, other than the price. The staff were very helpful, the bathroom shared and the bed was a rug.
![1winter Takayama honshu japan.1](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/25/Takayama-honshu-japan.1.jpg)
Day 10: Visit the highlights of Northern Kyoto and visit the ancient capital of Kyoto
![L2F-Sep-16-pic-Japan-Kyoto-Kiyomizu-dera-temple-cherry-blossoms-thipjang-shutterstock_403209976](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/26/L2F-Sep-16-pic-Japan-Kyoto-Kiyomizu-dera-temple-cherry-blossoms-thipjang-shutterstock_403209976.jpg)
![Kiyomizu dera kyoto](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/27/Kiyomizu-dera-kyoto.jpg)
![kiyomizu-dera temple](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Cherry-blossom-Japan.jpg)
Kyoto is likely to be one of the highlights of your trip to Japan – as long as you’re mentally prepared for the sheer number of tourists.
The busiest time to travel is the first week of April when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. In mid-November, the fall foliage reaches its peak and it will be almost inundated with people. In general, summer and winter are the least touristy months in Kyoto, although between August and the first few weeks of New Year’s Day are very popular with local tourists.
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/10/Higashiyama-District-Ninenzaka-Sannenzaka-machiya-Kyoto-shopping-Japan4.jpeg)
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/23/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-Kyoto-Japan.webp)
Try to spend your first day in the city exploring the highlights of Arashiyama, in Northern Kyoto. Make Bamboo Grove your first stop. Unless you can get there as soon as the sun rises, you can cover the whole place. Still, it’s a beautiful place, whether it’s overrun with tourists or not.
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/12/kyoto-2-days.1.jpg)
![Boat riding on Hozu-gawa river, Kyoto.](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/08/boat-riding-on-Arashiyama-kyoto-23.jpg)
Tenryu-ji Zen Temple (Address: Japan, 〒616-8385 Kyoto, Ukyo Ward, Sagatenryuji Susukinobabacho, 68/Hours: 8:30 AM–5 PM), at the entrance to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is well worth seeing and entering, taking a break from the urban noise, and it is one of the favorite forest in Japan.
![tenryuji-temple-123](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/27/tenryuji-temple-123.jpg)
![tenryuji-temple-121](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/27/tenryuji-temple-121.jpg)
After lunch in Arashiyama, head to Kinkaku-ji Temple (Address: 1 Kinkakujicho, Kita Ward, Kyoto, 603-8361, Japan/Hours: 9 AM–5 PM)- one of Japan’s most iconic temples. Also known as the Golden Pavilion, it’s a must-visit when you’re in Kyoto and I can’t stop taking pictures of its sparkling reflection in the pond. This might be the most crowded place you visit in the country, but it’s easy to take pictures without other people seeing.
![golden pavilion kinkaku ji](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/10/golden-pavilion-kinkaku-ji.jpg)
![kinkakuji temple garden kyoto (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/01/kinkakuji-temple-garden-kyoto-3.jpg)
Finding a place to stay in Kyoto, plz check out Gionkoh (Agoda, Booking)
Day 11: A day trip to Nara (# 14 days in japan blog)
Nara was Japan’s first capital city, so there are plenty of temples and historical activities to explore while you’re there.
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/15/nara-japan.webp)
You can spend the day playing with the wild deers that have made Nara their home. With over 1,000 deer inhabitant in the city, you’ll find them everywhere. In parks, outside temples, shrines, wandering into shops, queuing for buses – these deer are considered sacred by locals and are protected as national treasures. You can buy snacks from vendors around the city and feed them if you like – it’s fun!
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/01/nara-park4.jpeg)
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/01/cong-vien-nara-park.jpeg)
Day 12: Geishas and temples in Kyoto (# japan trip itinerary 14 days)
Spend your last day in Kyoto, plan to spend time hunting for geishas, wandering through the historic district, and walking through the thousands of torii gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine.
![geisha in kyoto](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/01/geisha-in-kyoto.jpg)
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/27/gion-district-geisha-kyoto-5.jpg)
Start your day in the historic Higashiyama district, one of the best preserved areas in Kyoto. Stroll through the narrow lanes, photograph old wooden buildings and stop at traditional shops for souvenirs.
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/10/Higashiyama-District-Ninenzaka-Sannenzaka-machiya-Kyoto-shopping.jpeg)
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/10/Higashiyama-District-Ninenzaka-Sannenzaka-machiya-Kyoto-shopping-Japanee4.jpeg)
About an hour before sunset, head to Fushimi Inari Taisha to exercise. Walking the entire four kilometers up the mountain will be a very enjoyable experience. Sure, you’ll see a lot of people visiting the temple in the first few minutes, but the further you go, the fewer people you’ll meet. When you reach the top and are climbing down again, you will see the famous red bright torii gates. By going for a walk during sunrise or sunset, you will find some peace within yourself.
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/06/fushimi-inari-shrine.jpg)
![Hatsumode](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/25/Praying-on-Hatsumode-First-Visit-of-the-New-Year-at-Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-in-Kyoto.jpg)
![fushimi-inari-taisha-shrine-kyoto-japan](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/12/fushimi-inari-taisha-shrine-kyoto-japan.jpg)
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/19/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-One-of-the-most-famous-shrine-in-Japan-20.jpg)
Next in the itinerary to visit Kyoto is the Gion district. It is the birthplace of geisha culture and as such, many tourists go there in search of a glimpse of a maiko or geisha in their daily activities. But if that’s something you want to see, make sure you get there in the evening after passing through the torii gate.
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/12/gion-district.jpg)
![kyoto-gion-district-timelapse-view_vy3htyp5__F0000 (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/27/kyoto-gion-district-timelapse-view_vy3htyp5__F0000-1.jpg)
![gion district geisha kyoto (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/27/gion-district-geisha-kyoto-2.jpg)
Day 13: Visiting Hiroshima and Miyajima Island
Hiroshima is an important destination to visit, its atmosphere will give you insight into the horrors that happened here as well as demonstrate to you incredible strength and resilience. of the city.
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/15/hiroshima-japan.webp)
Start by giving yourself a few hours to wander the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. It’s undeniably a mentally challenging place to visit, but you need to go to fully understand what was going on in this city.
![Hiroshima Peace Memorial Cenotaph,hiroshima travel blog (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/10/Hiroshima-Peace-Memorial-Cenotaphhiroshima-travel-blog-6.jpg)
After a quick lunch in Hiroshima, hit the rails and take the train or ferry to nearby Miyajima Island. It’s a place to rest after a heavy morning of sightseeing, and while you’re there, you can swoon at the wild deer roaming the island, snacking on street food, and snapping selfies before the famous the Great Torii of Itsukushima Shrine – you may have seen this in Japanese guidebooks. You’ll love the laid-back vibe of Miyajima and even though it’s tiny, you’ll definitely want to spend more time here in the future.
![Itsukushima-Shrine-on-Miyajima-at-high-tide-e1546745362319](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/10/Itsukushima-Shrine-on-Miyajima-at-high-tide-e1546745362319.jpg)
![Miyajima Island & Itsukushima Shrine,hiroshima travel blog (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/10/Miyajima-Island-Itsukushima-Shrinehiroshima-travel-blog-7.jpg)
Return to Hiroshima for dinner and add to a plate of delicious okonomiyaki. This version of Japanese pancakes is filled with yakisoba noodles and is the ultimate treat. Definitely try this while you’re in town so you can compare it to the Osaka version on your next stop.
![Okonomiyaki hiroshima travel blog (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/10/Okonomiyaki-hiroshima-travel-blog-4.jpg)
![Okonomiyaki hiroshima travel blog (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/10/Okonomiyaki-hiroshima-travel-blog-3.jpg)
Day 14: Start eating everything in Osaka
Wake up early and morning on the 14th and spend a few hours wandering through Hiroshima before leaving your hotel and heading to Osaka. You should use this time to stroll through Shukkei-en Garden, visit the Children’s Peace Monument and finally stop by the Peace Memorial Park.
![Shukkeien Garden hiroshima travel blog,hiroshima travel guide (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/10/Shukkeien-Garden-hiroshima-travel-bloghiroshima-travel-guide-6.jpg)
![Shukkeien Garden hiroshima travel blog,hiroshima travel guide (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/10/Shukkeien-Garden-hiroshima-travel-bloghiroshima-travel-guide-10.jpg)
The final route to Osaka, the most beloved and most popular city in Japan, is famous mainly because it is a place where there is a lot of delicious food. You will be overwhelmed by the richness of cuisine, the huge amount of food and the variety of ways to prepare dishes.
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/15/osaka-city.webp)
![Must eat osaka](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/06/Must-eat-osaka-72.jpg)
![| dotonbori blog](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/29/Best-restaurants-in-Osaka_Japanese-street-food-neighborhoods.jpg)
![City-guides_Osaka-food_grilled-scallop_Japan_street-food](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/29/City-guides_Osaka-food_grilled-scallop_Japan_street-food.jpg)
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/22/mizuno-osaka-19.jpeg)
After lunch, head straight to the city’s most famous attraction: Osaka Castle. If you want to save cash, you don’t have to pay to go inside, but it doesn’t offer great views over the city from the top floor. One of the most famous and beautiful castles in Japan, it would be great if you sit outside and took pictures of the golden flecks glistening in the sunlight.
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/25/Osaka-Castle.jpg)
![Osaka-Castle-Sunset](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/04/Osaka-Castle-Sunset.jpg)
![Display-inside-Osaka-Castle](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/04/Display-inside-Osaka-Castle.jpg)
Spend the first evening exploring Dotonbori at night. The bustling, bustling neighborhood and flashing lights at night are exactly what you would imagine Japan to be before you arrive. Head to Hanamaruken Namba Houzenji for a bowl of pork rib ramen for dinner as it could be one of the best meals of your life. Definitely a must try!
![dotonbori night market street,dotonbori blog (7)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/29/dotonbori-night-market-streetdotonbori-blog-7.jpg)
![shinsaibashi shopping street,dotonbori blog (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/29/shinsaibashi-shopping-streetdotonbori-blog-5.jpg)
![Kanidouraku restaurant,dotonbori blog](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/28/Kanidouraku-restaurantdotonbori-blog2.jpg)
Day 15: Discover more about Osaka
Another day just to eat, eat and eat!
Spend your morning in the north of Osaka, exploring the area around Umeda Sky Building. Including the two 40-story skyscrapers connected at the top by the world’s tallest escalator, it offers stunning views of the city and is one of Osaka’s most recognizable landmarks. Spend most of the rest of your morning marveling at and getting lost in the giant Yodobashi Umeda electronics store. Definitely a must-see if you’re a tech lover, or simply looking for a unique gadget to take home from your trip to Japan. Japan is always famous for its quirky and creative products, you know that.
![umeda-sky-building](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/05/umeda-sky-building.jpg)
![umeda-sky-building1](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/05/umeda-sky-building1.jpg)
![Umeda Umeda Sky Building glass escalator in Osaka, Japan](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/19/Umeda-Umeda-Sky-Building-glass-escalator-in-Osaka-Japan.jpg)
In the afternoon, head to nearby Nakazakicho, which is Osaka’s hipster district. There’s plenty to keep you busy here, from vintage clothing stores, cute cafes to craft beer or homemade organic granola.
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/15/Nakazakicho_Osaka_07-.webp)
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/15/Nakazakicho_Osaka_07-1024x682-1.jpeg)
So that’s it for two weeks of amazing in Japan! You can follow this list, or add the places you want to visit on your journey. As long as you balance the time and spending wisely. What are you waiting for, pack your bags and head to Japan now!
Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Tokyo you can refer to
- Private Narita International Airport Transfers (NRT) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
- Private Haneda International Airport Transfers (HND) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
- Airport Limousine Bus Transfers from/to Narita and Haneda International Airport (Free Wifi Onboard)
- Tokyo Amazing Sightseeing Bus Day Tour
- Tokyo Highlights Private Day Tour
- Nikko Day Tour from Tokyo
- Mt Fuji & Hakone Day Tour: Lake Ashi & Ropeway Day Trip from Tokyo
- Nikko Cultural Day Tour from Tokyo
- Tokyo Subway Ticket (24, 48, or 72 Hours)
- Tokyo Skyliner and Tokyo Subway Ticket
- Shuttle Bus Transfers (One Way/Round Trip) from Shinjuku/Ikebukuro to Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea
- Tokyo Disney Resort Park Ticket
- Klook Pass Greater Tokyo
- SHIBUYA SKY Ticket
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter Ticket
- Skyliner Narita Airport Express Ticket
- TeamLab Planets Ticket
- TOKYO SKYTREE® Ticket
- Limousine Bus Narita or Haneda Airport to Tokyo
- Skyliner Narita Airport Express With Tokyo Subway Ticket
- JR Tokyo Wide Pass
- Sky Hop-on and Hop-off Bus Pass
- 4G Prepaid Sim Card (JP Airports Pick Up) for Japan
- 4G WiFi (BKK and DMK Airport Pick Up) for Japan (Unlimited Data)
- JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20/Omoide-Yokocho-e1493671671671-1170x660.jpg)
Are you finding more top things to do in Japan: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here.