Japan itineraries for 1, 2 and 3 weeks

One week fits Tokyo and Kyoto. Two weeks add Nagano and Osaka, and three weeks add a Hokkaido block between Nagano and Kyoto. Each route flies into Tokyo and out of Kansai Airport. The longer routes pass back through Tokyo on the way to Kyoto, because the route data covers Shinkansen and flight times from Tokyo, not between the other stops.

Dollar figures use about ¥155 to US$1 and are rounded; you pay in yen, so check the rate.

One week: Tokyo and Kyoto

Spend three days in Tokyo, three in Kyoto and the seventh day on the way out. A week gives two cities and one day trip from each.

What fills the days:

• Tokyo. Senso-ji and the Skytree, then Marunouchi’s lights after dark (free, 12 November 2026 to 14 February 2027). Meiji Jingu closes about 16:00 in December and 16:20 in January, so visit it before Shibuya Sky at sunset.
• Kamakura. The Great Buddha grounds are open 08:00 to 17:00 from October to March, and the interior closes at 16:30. Entry is $2 (¥300), or $2 (¥350) with the interior.
• Kyoto. Fushimi Inari is free, per reports, and Kiyomizu-dera opens at 06:00. Kinkaku-ji opens at 09:00.
• Nara. Todai-ji’s hall opens at 08:00 from November to March, and entry is $5 (¥800).

Hakone or Nikko can replace Kamakura. Hakone is 80 to 107 minutes by Romancecar from Shinjuku, and Nikko is about 2 hours by Tobu limited express from Asakusa. Toshogu at Nikko closes at 16:00 from November to March, so go in the morning. Part of the Hakone ropeway is reported shut for stretches in December 2026 and from 12 January to 26 February 2027, per search summaries of an Odakyu notice, so check Hakone Navi before you plan. The pages to read are Tokyo and Kanto, Kansai and Airport transfers in Japan.

The two long legs cost about $115 (¥17,790): the reserved Nozomi at about $92 (¥14,200) and the reserved Haruka at $23 (¥3,590). A Nara return adds $15 (¥2,320) and a Kamakura return $12 (¥1,840). The Tokyo airport train is left out because its fare is unresolved.

Two weeks: add Nagano and Osaka

Nagano adds the snow monkeys and a temple town in two days. Osaka adds food and day trips to Himeji, Koyasan and Arima.

Day 7 is mostly travel: Nagano to Tokyo, then Tokyo to Kyoto. The Kagayaki is the fastest Nagano train at about 80 minutes, with reserved seats only.

What fills the new days:

• Nagano. Zenkoji’s main hall closes at 16:00 in winter. The Jigokudani monkey park is about 40 to 45 minutes by bus from Nagano city, then a 30-minute trail. It closes at 16:00 and asks you to arrive 30 minutes before, so start the trail by 15:00.
• Kyoto. Four days leave room for Nara and for Arashiyama, about 15 minutes from the city. From January, add a Winter Special Opening.
• Osaka. Himeji is about an hour by JR, and the castle is closed 29 and 30 December. Koyasan is about 100 minutes from Namba, with a temple night. Arima is 50 minutes by Hankyu bus from Shin-Osaka. Guides report the Osaka Castle keep closed from 28 December to 1 January, and Osaka’s tourism board says Universal Studios Japan is quietest on weekdays in late January and early February.

Read Nagano, the snow monkeys at Jigokudani and Kansai. The long legs cost about $210 (¥32,370): the Nagano return at $54 (¥8,340) each way reserved, the Nozomi at $92 (¥14,200) and the Rapi:t at about $10 (¥1,490). The Kyoto to Osaka fare was not found, so it is left out.

Three weeks: add Hokkaido

Hokkaido fits between Nagano and Kyoto by air. Fly from Tokyo to Sapporo in about 1.5 hours, then fly back to Tokyo for the Nozomi.

Days 7 and 12 are mostly travel. Two Hokkaido plans fit the five days:

• Onsen loop. Sapporo, Otaru and Noboribetsu. Otaru is about 30 minutes from Sapporo, and Noboribetsu about 70 minutes by limited express, then a 15-minute bus to the onsen town. A 4-day Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Pass is $65 (¥10,000) and covers the airport trains, Otaru and Noboribetsu.
• Ride and soak. Niseko and Sapporo. The Resort Liner from New Chitose to Niseko takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours and needs a booking, and its 2026-27 schedule and fare are not yet published. From Niseko, the train to Sapporo via Kutchan and Otaru takes about 3 hours.

The pages to read are Hokkaido, Sapporo Snow Festival 2027 and Can I ski Hokkaido without a car?

Kyoto and Osaka follow the two-week route with two more Osaka days, and the fifth Osaka day suits Arima: both baths on the two-bath ticket cost $8 (¥1,200), and the guide says to avoid the 2nd and 4th Tuesday. The rail legs add up to the same $210 (¥32,370) as the two-week route. The two Sapporo flights are the swing: $97 to $290 (¥15,000 to ¥45,000) one way, unconfirmed, so a return adds about $195 to $580 (¥30,000 to ¥90,000).

What changes in winter 2026-27?

Three dated items change the plan from December to February:

• New Year. Many sights, shops and restaurants close on some days between 29 December and 4 January, and several JR trains are all-reserved from 25 December 2026 to 5 January 2027. Kyoto’s 2026-27 closure list was not found.
• Kyoto openings. The 2026 Winter Special Openings ran 9 January to 18 March at $4 to $8 (¥600 to ¥1,200) a site. The 2027 dates were not found.
• Festivals. The Sapporo Snow Festival runs 4 to 11 February 2027, and Otaru’s lights run 6 to 13 February 2027. Book the Sapporo bed first.

Before you book Check closures against your dates, and reserve beds and long-distance seats first for 29 December to 4 January and for Golden Week 2027, around 29 April to 5 May. Japan New Year closures 2026-27 lists what shuts.

What do you book first?

Book the legs that have a release date, then the beds. Three have one:

• Shinkansen seats. Reserved seats go on sale about a month ahead, per the Tokyo and Kanto guide. That matters most around Golden Week 2027, which has seven straight days off if you take Friday 30 April.
• Rapi:t. Nankai sells tickets one month ahead, and seats can be reserved in the Nankai app. A ticket bought on board costs $2 (¥300) more.
• Haruka. Reserved seats are booked on JR West’s WEST QR site 30 days ahead, per a fare lookup site. JR West’s own page did not load, so confirm it.

What about luggage on these routes?

The Tokyo to Kyoto leg runs on JR Central’s Tokaido Shinkansen. A bag up to 160 cm total (length plus width plus height) needs no reservation. A bag from 161 to 250 cm needs a seat with the oversized-baggage area, reserved at booking at the same price, or a $6 (¥1,000) fee without a reservation. Over 250 cm is not allowed. The Nagano line belongs to JR East, and its luggage rule is unconfirmed.

Ski and board bags can go ahead by courier. A 2026 guide puts the cost at $10 to $16 (¥1,500 to ¥2,500) and adds a day. The rules are in the Shinkansen and JR Pass guide.

How do you swap a block?

Route any swap through Tokyo and replace one block. Times are from Tokyo.

Fukuoka and Beppu is an onsen weekend: the Sonic from Hakata to Beppu takes about 2 h 05. Hiroshima pairs with Miyajima, and Naha works without a car. The guides are Kyushu, Chugoku and Okinawa.

What does each route leave out?

Each length skips whole regions, and the block swaps above cover some of them.

• One week. Osaka, Nagano and every region beyond Tokyo and Kyoto.
• Two weeks. Hokkaido, Hiroshima, Kyushu and Okinawa.
• Three weeks. Tohoku, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa.

Does a JR Pass pay on these routes?

Two sourced sums stay under a 7-day pass. A Tokyo to Kyoto return on the reserved Nozomi plus one Haruka ride is about $205 (¥32,000), less than a 7-day pass at either price. A Tokyo to Nagano return is about $110 (¥16,680) reserved.

A pass pays only if you add several more long rides. Whether it covers the Nozomi, or only with a supplement, is unconfirmed: check the official pass site. The test is in the Shinkansen and JR Pass guide, and Can I use a JR Pass for Tokyo, Hakuba and Kyoto? covers one route.

To verify Times and fares are about-figures from operator pages and secondary fare sites quoted in the region guides. Check the operator on the day you book.

Where next?

Set the dates in When to visit Japan, then price the route in How much a trip to Japan costs and add the tax from Hotel taxes and where to stay. The whole order of steps is in How to plan a trip to Japan. Regions and islands are in the Destinations hub, and every planning page is in the Plan hub.