14 days of incredible food, thoughtful design, mountain escapes, ancient temples and more convenience-store snacks than we’d care to admit.
Japan is one of those places that somehow feels exactly as you imagined it and completely surprising at the same time.
We traveled in late August and early September, splitting two weeks between the energy of Tokyo, the mountains of Hakone and the slower pace of Kyoto, with a day trip to Nara along the way. Yes, it was hot. Very hot. But we found it to be a surprisingly great time to visit, with crowds that felt more manageable than during Japan’s peak travel seasons.
This guide is built around what we actually did and loved, from the places worth planning an entire afternoon around to the tiny discoveries we stumbled upon in between.
Planning your own trip? We’ve also saved all of our favorite hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, sights and more to our Google Maps guides at the end.
DAYS 1–5 · TOKYO
Tokyo is sensory overload in the best possible way. One minute you’re crossing Shibuya with thousands of people, the next you’re sitting quietly inside a shrine or drinking matcha on a tiny side street.
Our advice? Don’t try to conquer it. Pick a neighborhood or two each day, leave room to wander and expect some of your favorite moments to happen between whatever you actually planned. Plus, bring luggage with extra room for all the cute finds you’ll want to take home along the way.
Stay
K5 Tokyo
Design-forward, intimate and full of character, K5 made a great home base for our first few days in Tokyo.
Also on our list:
Hoshinoya Tokyo — Japanese tradition meets modern design.
MUJI Hotel Ginza — minimalism, perfected.
Day 1 · Arrive + Settle In
Keep the first day easy.
Check in, explore the neighborhood, take a walk and make your inaugural trip to a Japanese convenience store. After a long flight, this is not the night for an ambitious itinerary.
And seriously: don’t sleep on 7-Eleven. Egg sandos, fresh—yes fresh!—onigiri and Choco Monaka became recurring characters in this trip.
Day 2 · Meiji Jingu, Harajuku + Shibuya
Start with one of Tokyo’s most peaceful contrasts: Meiji Jingu, tucked inside the forested grounds of Yoyogi Park.
From there, head toward Harajuku and Takeshita Street. It’s loud, colorful and unapologetically chaotic, which is part of the fun.
If you’re an animal person, stop at Harajuku Mame-Shiba Café. Then continue toward Shibuya to see the Hachiko statue and experience the famous Shibuya Crossing for yourself.
Spend the rest of the afternoon wandering. BEAMS, Fancypods and Cas:pace are worth a look, and Mega Don Quijote is its own form of entertainment.
For dinner, this is a good night to make one of your reservations in advance. We’d especially recommend using one of your Tokyo nights for omakase. Manten was an approachable option we loved.
Day 3 · Old Tokyo
Head east for Sensō-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, and give yourself time to wander the surrounding streets rather than treating the temple as a quick photo stop.
From there, explore Kappabashi Street, particularly if you love cooking, ceramics or Japanese kitchenware.
Try Hikiniku to Come for one of the best wagyu patties of your life, Ginza Sand for egg and katsu sandos, or wander through Tsukiji Fish Market for ultra-fresh seafood. Earlier is better at Tsukiji.
Save room for something sweet. Ginza Tsuboyaki-imo does traditional roasted sweet potatoes, Age.3 specializes in fried cream sandwiches, and I’m donut? is worth the hype.
Day 4 · Azabudai Hills
Make this your art and design day.
Start with teamLab Borderless, an immersive digital-art experience that deserves more time than you might expect.
From there, explore Azabudai Hills for architecture, public art, shopping and one of our unexpected favorites: Azabudai Hills Market, which made us question why every grocery store isn’t like this.
For more art, head to Mori Art Museum for contemporary exhibitions and incredible city views. Other favorites include the Yayoi Kusama Museum and Ozeki Tokyo Gallery, particularly if you love Noguchi lighting.
Day 5 · Nature + Shimokitazawa
Slow things down with Shinjuku Gyoen, one of the best places in the city to find a little breathing room. We particularly loved the Japanese and Rose Gardens.
Then head to Shimokitazawa for vintage shopping, smaller stores and a completely different side of Tokyo.
That evening, have a cocktail with a view at Sky Bar, see the design at the Tokyo Edition, ask the bartenders at Orchard Ginza to create something for you, or disappear into the tiny bars of Shinjuku Golden-Gai.
For music lovers, Record Bar Analog is especially fun: pick a record and let the DJ take it from there.
DAYS 6–7 · HAKONE
After Tokyo, Hakone feels like an exhale.
Mountains replace skyscrapers, hot baths replace crowded crossings and suddenly doing very little feels like exactly the point.
Stay
Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora
This was one of those hotels that made us reconsider our plans to leave the property.
If you can, book a room with a private onsen. Between the water, mountain setting and slower rhythm, Hakone became our reset point in the middle of the trip.
If you want to explore further, the classic Hakone loop includes the ropeway, Ōwakudani volcanic valley, Lake Ashi and its sightseeing boats.
But you also have permission to do less.
That may be the best part.
DAYS 8–12 · KYOTO
Tokyo wakes you up. Kyoto slows you down.
The beauty here isn't limited to the temples on your itinerary. It’s in the quiet alleys you walk through to reach them, the restaurants hidden along the river, the gardens, the tea rooms and the moments when you realize you've been walking for an hour without caring where you're going.
Stay
GOOD NATURE HOTEL KYOTO
An eco-minded stay with almost everything you could want under one roof: restaurants, a grocery market, wellness offerings and a spa.
The sustainability shows up in the small details, too. Instead of single-use plastic water bottles, rooms come with refillable metal water canisters, and the room key activates your lights to help conserve energy while you’re out exploring.
Our room even had its own sauna and cold plunge, which made returning to the hotel after a long day of walking particularly appealing.
THE BLOSSOM KYOTO
Calm, contemporary design with a beautiful Japanese bathhouse that makes it very easy to slow down at the end of the day. The interiors blend modern minimalism with distinctly Japanese details, creating a quiet retreat from Kyoto’s busier streets. It’s the kind of place that feels restorative the second you walk back through the doors.
Day 8 · Kyoto + Kamo River
Settle in, then let Kyoto introduce itself at a slower pace. Wander toward the Kamo River through the charming little alleys and restaurant-lined streets nearby, then grab dinner and eat along the water. If you still have room, make a matcha or sweet stop before calling it a night.
Day 9 · Temples, Markets + Old Kyoto
Spend the day exploring Kyoto’s temples and older streets. Kinkaku-ji, Kennin-ji and Kiyomizu-dera are all worth your time, but the walks between them are part of the experience too. Leave room for Nishiki Market, shrine-side food stalls and whatever dango, takoyaki, karaage or shaved ice catches your eye.
For a slower break, stop for traditional sweets at Saryo Housen or work in a matcha stop at GOKAGO or Ryurei Tea Room “SABI.” End the day with Kyoto Engine Ramen or handmade gyoza at Gyoza Restaurant Kazu.
Day 10 · Fushimi Inari + Nara
Start early at Fushimi Inari Taisha and walk beyond the busiest stretch of vermilion torii gates, where the experience gets noticeably quieter. Wear comfortable shoes and save room for the food stalls and streets surrounding the shrine.
Then take the train to Nara. Wander Nara Park, buy the special deer crackers and prepare to make several hundred new friends. Stop at Nakatanidou for its famous fresh mochi and, if your timing is right, catch the lightning-fast mochi pounding. Finish with an excellent, semi-private teppanyaki meal at NAGOMI before heading back to Kyoto.
Day 11 · Kifune + A Mountain Escape
Trade the city for dense green mountains and rushing water with a trip north to Kifune. The journey itself is part of the experience. In warmer months, restaurants build kawadoko platforms directly over the river, making this one of the most memorable places to slow down and eat.
Stop at Hyoue Café for tea and something sweet over the water, explore the village and give yourself more time than you think you need. Kifune is less about checking things off and more about being there.
Day 12 · Move, Shop + One Last Kyoto Day
Keep the final Kyoto day flexible. Start with a run or bike ride along the Kamo River, or check the schedule at IGNITE KYOTO at House of EN for yoga. Then use the rest of the day for anything you missed: Nishiki Market, Takashimaya S.C., Shinkyogoku Shopping Street, Sanrio Gallery Kyoto or one last bakery, gelato or matcha stop.
Walder is a viral Kyoto bakery worth stopping into, Premarché Gelateria does creative artisanal gelato, and Good Good Not Bad makes an easy coffee stop. Then head back, pack up and leave a little extra room for whatever followed you home.
DAYS 13–14 · TOKYO, PART II
Finish where you started, with a little more Tokyo and a lot less pressure to see everything. These last two days are for the neighborhoods, meals and experiences you missed the first time around.
Day 13 · Back to Tokyo + The Ones You Missed
Check back in and pick one part of Tokyo you still want more of. Revisit a favorite neighborhood or use the afternoon for the Imperial Palace area, a gallery or museum you missed, coffee and a little more shopping. This is also a good night for a reservation you planned ahead for, whether that means omakase, yakitori or one last great Tokyo dinner.
Day 14 · One Last Tokyo Day
Keep the final day intentionally loose. Take a morning walk or run, fit in one last convenience-store haul, sweet stop or design find, and return to whichever neighborhood you’re not quite ready to leave. Then give yourself enough time to pack everything you somehow acquired along the way and head home.
A FEW THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE JAPAN
Carry a small trash bag. Public trash cans can be surprisingly difficult to find, and you'll often carry your trash until you return to your hotel.
Don't tip. Tipping isn't customary in Japan.
Carry some cash. Japan is increasingly card-friendly, but you'll still encounter smaller businesses and situations where cash is useful.
Get a Suica card. It makes navigating trains and other public transportation remarkably easy.
Use the trains. They're efficient, comfortable and part of the experience.
Learn a few Japanese phrases. You don't need to be fluent. A little effort goes a long way.
Avoid eating while walking or out in public.
Be prepared to remove your shoes. And wear shoes comfortable enough to walk in all day.
Make reservations early. Particularly for smaller restaurants and sought-after dining experiences.
And be on time. Japan runs on punctuality.
One more thing: eat in the train stations and department stores. Seriously. Some of the best food halls, bakeries, sweets and quick meals we found were hiding exactly where we'd normally expect commuter food.
LEAVE ROOM
Our final piece of advice might be the most Solgaard-specific: leave room in your suitcase.
Japan is a dangerous place for anyone who likes ceramics, Japanese beauty products, stationery, vintage clothing, snacks or exceptionally well-designed everyday objects.
We brought an extra empty bag specifically for shopping and souvenirs. We used it.
The beauty of Japan is how much can coexist in a single trip: futuristic cities and centuries-old rituals, Michelin-level meals and 7-Eleven egg sandwiches, sensory overload and complete stillness.
Go curious. Leave room for detours. And don't worry about seeing everything.
You’ll want a reason to come back anyway.
Explore our complete Japan Google Maps guide:
