How to Spend 14 Days in JAPAN 🇯🇵 Ultimate Travel Itinerary

Summary

Join us on a thrilling 14-day journey across Japan, exploring its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes. From the bustling streets of Tokyo to the serene temples of Kyoto, we uncover the best experiences this fascinating country has to offer. Traverse ancient towns like Kamakura and Nikko, indulge in local cuisines, and stay in traditional accommodations. Discover why now is the perfect time to visit, with the yen at its weakest in decades and Skyscanner's help in finding the cheapest flights. This adventure is a testament to Japan's timeless allure, blending past, present, and future into an unforgettable experience.

Takeaways

• 🇯🇵 Visiting Japan for the first time can be exhilarating, fascinating, and confusing due to the abundance of choices for travel destinations, activities, and accommodations.
• 🗺️ The video offers a 14-day journey across Japan, providing insights into experiencing the country's rich history, culture, and cuisine within a short time frame.
• 🌆 Tokyo is the starting and ending point of the journey, with recommendations to stay in Shinjuku or Asakusa for their entertainment and traditional values.
• 🏯 Kamakura is highlighted as an ancient city with significant historical landmarks, including the Great Buddha statue and Hase-dera Temple's bamboo forest.
• 🍞 The city of Kamakura is also known for its unique food offerings, such as Curry pan, a popular local delicacy.
• 🚅 The video mentions the convenience of using the shinkansen (bullet train) to travel to different cities, like Kanazawa, from Tokyo.
• 🏰 Kanazawa is celebrated for its arts, crafts, and food, with a rich history as a merchant town, and is known for its gold leaf production.
• 🍵 In Kyoto, traditional experiences like staying in a machiya (traditional townhouse) and visiting temples and shrines are emphasized.
• 🎨 Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Shrine, with its iconic red torii gates, and the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove are highlighted as must-visit locations.
• 🍢 Osaka is known as the 'kitchen of Japan,' famous for street foods like takoyaki and okonomiyaki, and for its vibrant nightlife.
• ♨ Hakone is a popular destination for experiencing traditional Japanese ryokans (inns) and enjoying the region's hot springs and scenic beauty.

Q & A

What is the focus of the video about Japan?

The video focuses on a 14-day journey across Japan, exploring various locations, cultural experiences, local cuisine, and providing travel tips for first-time visitors.

Why is the Japanese yen particularly appealing to travelers at the time of the video?

The Japanese yen is the cheapest it's been in over 30 years, meaning travelers can get more value for their money during their trip to Japan.

How does the video suggest finding cheap flights to Tokyo?

The video recommends using Skyscanner, an app that searches the web for the cheapest flights by scanning across 80 billion prices daily and has partnerships across flights, accommodations, and car hire.

What are the recommended areas to stay in Tokyo for a first-time visitor?

The video suggests staying in either Shinjuku, known for its chaotic or inspiring entertainment district, or Asakusa, in the east of the city, which is slightly more laidback and near traditional areas like Senso-ji temple.

What is the significance of Kamakura in Japan's history?

Kamakura was the first capital of Japan along with Nara and Kyoto. It is known for its many shrines and temples, and it was the location where the first shogun, Minamoto no Yoritomo, set up his military government in the 12th century, starting the Kamakura period.

What is special about the Kamakura Daibutsu and why is it a must-see?

The Kamakura Daibutsu is a 43-foot tall, 103-ton bronze statue of Buddha that has been overlooking visitors for over 500 years. It is a significant cultural and historical site and a major attraction in Kamakura.

What is the appeal of the Hase-dera Temple and its hidden bamboo forest in Kamakura?

The Hase-dera Temple is an important Shinto shrine, and its hidden bamboo forest provides a quiet, enchanting escape from the crowds. It's a place where visitors can sit, relax, and enjoy matcha green tea while surrounded by nature.

What is the significance of the Cup Noodle Museum in Yokohama and what can visitors do there?

The Cup Noodle Museum is dedicated to the invention of instant noodles, considered one of Japan's greatest inventions. Visitors can learn about the history of cup noodles, and even create and customize their own cup of noodles.

Why is Kanazawa known as 'Little Kyoto' and what are some of its notable features?

Kanazawa is known as 'Little Kyoto' because, during the Edo era, it was ruled by Japan's second-richest clan, the Maeda Clan, who invested their wealth in cultural and artistic pursuits, inspired by Kyoto. Notable features include the Suzumon gate, Omicho market, and Higashi Chaya district.

What is the appeal of staying in a traditional Japanese townhouse (machiya) in Kyoto?

Staying in a machiya allows travelers to experience traditional Japanese architecture and design, with natural materials like tatami mats and shoji paper doors. It offers a peaceful retreat amidst the bustling city and a sense of being immersed in Japanese culture.

What are some of the unique experiences offered in Takayama's old town?

Takayama's old town offers a variety of unique experiences, such as exploring preserved old buildings, enjoying street foods like Hida beef on a stick, and visiting the Takayama Sakae-kan Museum, which celebrates the Showa era with detailed recreations of shops and districts.

What is the significance of Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto and what can visitors expect to see?

Fushimi Inari Shrine is an ancient shrine dating back to the 8th century, dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice, agriculture, and fertility. Visitors can expect to see the famous pathway of thousands of red torii gates snaking through the forested mountain.

What is the cultural significance of Nara Park and its Great Buddha (Daibutsu)?

Nara Park is home to many of Nara's cultural treasures, including the Great Buddha at Todai-ji Temple, one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in Japan. The park and its attractions are significant for their historical and religious importance in Japan.

What is the appeal of staying in a ryokan in Hakone and what activities can be enjoyed there?

Staying in a ryokan in Hakone offers a traditional Japanese experience with hot springs (onsen), kaiseki dinners, and private baths. Visitors can also enjoy the scenic views of Mount Fuji, visit the Great Boiling Valley, and take a Hakone pirate ship cruise on Lake Ashinoko.

What are some of the unique experiences and attractions in Osaka?

Osaka offers unique experiences like staying at a robot-staffed hotel, exploring the vibrant Shinsekai district, visiting Osaka Castle, and sampling local street food like takoyaki and okonomiyaki.

What are some of the must-do activities in Tokyo according to the video?

Some must-do activities in Tokyo include staying in a capsule hotel, visiting a game center, going souvenir shopping in Ginza, strolling through Tokyo's parks, shopping for retro goods in Akihabara, and eating at a local ramen shop.