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Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone, Hiroshima, Naoshima 14-day culture luxe itinerary
- 14 days
- Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone, Hiroshima, Naoshima · JP
- Luxury
14-day luxe itinerary in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone, Hiroshima, Naoshima. Concierge timings, culture, luxe highlights, verified addresses by MyConciergeHotel.
This 14-day journey through Japan unfolds across six stops, with a measured balance between major cities, restorative pauses, and serious cultural time. Aman Tokyo and Hakone Ginyu set the tone with precision rather than display. The pace suits travellers who want access, then quiet, without wasting hours in transit. Expect 22,000 to 34,000 EUR TTC for two, excluding international flights in peak periods. The easiest seasons are March to May and October to November. The main constraint is not distance, but timing. Several key moments depend on advance handling, especially Michelin dining, museum slots, and ferry connections. One operational detail changes the stay in Tokyo. At Aman Tokyo, reserve the spa slot from 6:30 to 8:00 at check-in. The 30-metre pool is often empty before 7:00. Apply the same discipline to Kikunoi Honten, Michelin 3 stars, and to Chichu Museum tickets through Benesse Art Site, ideally secured from France before departure.
What is the best 14-day itinerary for Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone, Hiroshima, Naoshima?
14-day Japan luxury circuit for Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyajima, and Naoshima. Tokyo: Senso-ji, Ginza, TeamLab Planets. Hakone: Mount Fuji views, Hakone Open-Air Museum, Lake Ashi. Kyoto: Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama bamboo grove, Kinkaku-ji. Hiroshima and Miyajima: Peace Memorial, Itsukushima torii. Naoshima: Chichu Museum, Yayoi Kusama pumpkins, Benesse House. Stay at Aman Tokyo. Best in late March to April. Updated May 2026.
The itinerary, step by step
Each step combines an exceptional hotel, a tested timing and our on-site recommendations.
- Day 1
Days 1-3: Tokyo — Megacity between tradition and avant-garde
- Tokyo
- Stay duration: 3 days
Tokyo is best handled at daybreak, when Asakusa, Otemachi, and the bay are still breathing at their own pace. Check in at Aman Tokyo in Otemachi, then head to Senso-ji before 8:00. Nakamise-dori is still easy then, and the temple can be visited without waiting. After that, return toward Hamarikyu for an opening-time entry, or ask the concierge to arrange an escorted visit around 7:00 so you can use the paths before the crowds. Keep Ginza for the afternoon, between galleries, department stores, and tea counters, then close with TeamLab Planets Toyosu in the last session. It is quieter and easier to read than daytime slots. Expect EUR 25 per adult for TeamLab, with timed tickets to be booked before departure. Hotel note: at Aman Tokyo, ask at check-in for the 6:30-8:00 spa slot. The 30-meter pool, facing the Skytree, is then usable without sharing it with other residents. For dinner, the concierge can try Sushi Saito, a Michelin three-star table in Tokyo in the years it is selected. Booking runs only through the hotel network, and confirmation usually comes late. Concierge secret: request an east-facing room on a high floor. Morning light makes a 6:30 departure for Asakusa easier, before groups and traffic build.
Things to see / do
- Senso-ji Asakusa
- Ginza
- TeamLab Planets
- Hamarikyu
- Day 2
Days 4-5: Hakone — Mount Fuji, onsen and open-air art
- Hakone
- Stay duration: 2 days
Hakone runs on a different rhythm, with onsen steam, ridgelines, and shifting views of Fuji. From Tokyo, reach Hakone-Yumoto in the morning, then send your bags ahead to Hakone Ginyu. This ryokan lets you travel light to the Hakone Open-Air Museum, a reference point for outdoor art, with Rodin and large-scale installations. Then plan Owakudani according to the day’s volcanic activity, followed by a cruise on Lake Ashi at sunrise or late in the day. The first crossing, in the mist, is still the most reliable for seeing Mount Fuji. Timetables change by season, so the concierge should reconfirm them the day before. Hotel note: at Hakone Ginyu, ask for a suite with a private bath facing the valley, and an early dinner so you can keep the outdoor bath after 21:00, when silence returns. For dinner, book the ryokan’s kaiseki, focused on seasonal produce and local wagyu. If you want a simpler lunch, have a short slot reserved near the lake to avoid excursion queues. Concierge secret: ask for the Ashi cruise before 8:30, then the museum after it. Reversing the order concentrates group arrivals and reduces the clarity of the works.
Things to see / do
- Mont Fuji vue
- Musée en Plein Air Hakone
- Lac Ashi
- Onsen Owakudani
- Day 3
Days 6-9: Kyoto — Imperial capital, temples and kaiseki
- Kyoto
- Stay duration: 4 days
Kyoto needs precise timing, because its major sites read far better before the city fully moves. From Hakone, arrive late morning and settle into Aman Kyoto, where the 8,000-square-meter garden sets the tone. The next day, go to Fushimi Inari at 6:00. The first torii are then easy to walk through, and the climb to the middle sections remains fluid. Reserve Arashiyama for the following day before 8:30, then Kinkaku-ji at opening. Kiyomizu-dera, listed by UNESCO with the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, is best seen late afternoon, once school groups have left. Keep Gion between 17:00 and 19:00. That is the right window to cross paths with geiko and maiko without lingering unnecessarily. Hotel note: at Aman Kyoto, ask for a private car to link Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, and the return to the hotel without breaking the rhythm. For dinner, Kikunoi Honten, a Michelin three-star restaurant, remains the kaiseki reference and should ideally be booked a month ahead. The concierge can also request a counter seat or a quieter room, depending on your Japanese. Concierge secret: have coffee prepared in your room at 5:30 for Fushimi Inari. Gaining thirty minutes really changes the flow on the first stairs.
Things to see / do
- Fushimi Inari
- Arashiyama bambouseraie
- Kinkaku-ji
- Gion district
- Kiyomizu-dera
- Day 4
Days 10-11: Hiroshima & Miyajima — Memory and floating torii
- Hiroshima & Miyajima
- Stay duration: 2 days
Hiroshima and Miyajima should be treated as a dense pause, between contemporary memory and island ritual. From Kyoto, the shinkansen reaches Hiroshima in about 1 hour 45 minutes, not 45 minutes. Leave early to enter the Peace Memorial Museum at 8:30, at opening, before school groups. The Peace Memorial Park and museum need a full morning if you want to read the rooms without rushing. Have lunch near the station or the port, then continue to Miyajimaguchi for the ferry, about 10 minutes across depending on the operator, not 30. On arrival, walk to Itsukushima-jinja and check the tide schedule the day before. The floating torii reads differently at high tide and low tide, when you can approach it on foot. Hotel note: if you keep Park Hyatt Kyoto as your base, ask the concierge to prepare train tickets, right-side seats on the return, and a direct station-to-hotel transfer. For dinner, either return to Kyoto for a light hotel table, or book an okonomiyaki counter in Hiroshima to avoid evening waits. Concierge secret: schedule Momijidani for late afternoon, after the day-trippers have thinned out. The path becomes easier to read, and the last ferry is still simple to catch.
Things to see / do
- Mémorial de la Paix Hiroshima
- Île Miyajima
- Torii flottant Itsukushima
- Momijidani
- Day 5
Days 12-13: Naoshima — Contemporary art island
- Naoshima
- Stay duration: 2 days
Naoshima works best as a tightly timed circuit, where ferry and museum schedules matter as much as the works themselves. From Kyoto, leave early for Okayama and then Uno, before the ferry to Naoshima, about 20 minutes. On site, make the first day about Benesse House Museum and Yayoi Kusama’s pumpkins, while keeping the late-afternoon light on the shoreline in mind. The next morning should be reserved for the Chichu Museum by Tadao Ando. The Monet room depends on natural light, which changes the experience by hour, but next-day tickets often sell out by 10:00. They should therefore be bought online from France, on the Benesse Art Site website, before departure. If you add Inujima, keep it only as an extension if the connections are clean; otherwise, the day becomes too fragmented. Hotel note: if you keep Aman Kyoto as your base before and after the excursion, ask for a light bag for 48 hours and rail tickets prepared through to Uno. For lunch, book Benesse House Restaurant; the 13:00 slot helps avoid the post-museum rush. Concierge secret: ask for a taxi to be reserved when you arrive by ferry. On Naoshima, these vehicles are limited and save real time between Miyanoura, Chichu, and Benesse.
Things to see / do
- Musée Chichu (Tadao Ando)
- Yayoi Kusama citrouilles
- Benesse House
- Inujima
- Day 6
Day 14: Tokyo — Last shinkansen and departure
- Tokyo — Départ
- Stay duration: 1 day
The return to Tokyo should stay simple, with one useful last afternoon before the long-haul flight. From Naoshima, go back via Uno and Okayama to take the shinkansen to Tokyo. Book Green Car seats if you want to work or have lunch without interruption, and ask for a short but realistic connection in Okayama. On arrival, Aman Tokyo remains the most practical base for a final night or day-use, depending on your flight time. If you have a few hours, choose one district only. Ginza works well for last-minute shopping and centralized tax refunds. Omotesando suits you better if you want fashion, design, and sharper Japanese houses. Akihabara or Odaiba only make sense if your interest is already specific; otherwise, transfer time eats the afternoon. Hotel note: at Aman Tokyo, ask for a late courtesy shower, express pressing, and a transfer arranged for your airport. Haneda and Narita are handled differently, especially after 18:00. For dinner, stay in Otemachi or Ginza with a fixed-time reservation, so the meal is not cut short by departure. Concierge secret: have quick-pickup shopping prepared in Ginza before you arrive. Two targeted addresses are better than a long walk, especially if your flight leaves NRT in the evening.
Things to see / do
- Shinkansen Naoshima-Tokyo
- Akihabara
- Odaiba
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Japan?
For a first high-end trip, target mid-March to mid-May, then mid-October to late November. You get better light, stable temperatures, and smoother logistics. Cherry blossom season drives up rates and tightens availability, especially in Kyoto. Summer is humid unless you focus on the Japanese Alps or Hokkaido. Winter works well for Tokyo and Kyoto, with lighter crowds. At Aman Tokyo, book the spa slot from 6:30 to 8:00 a.m. at check-in.
How many days do you need for Japan?
Fourteen days is a strong balance for Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone, Hiroshima, and Naoshima without rushing. A practical split is 4 nights in Tokyo, 4 in Kyoto, 1 in Hakone, 2 around Hiroshima and Miyajima, 1 on Naoshima, plus 1 to 2 transit nights depending on flights. Below 10 days, Naoshima becomes harder to justify. Beyond 16 days, add Kanazawa or Koyasan rather than a third night in Hakone.
Do you need a Japan Rail Pass for a two-week itinerary?
Not necessarily. Since the 2023 price increase, the national Japan Rail Pass is often poor value on a Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Naoshima route. Compare it against separate shinkansen tickets booked in advance. Tokyo to Kyoto and Kyoto to Hiroshima are the biggest rail costs, but Hakone and Naoshima include non-JR segments. For a luxury trip, I usually favor Green Car on long legs and private arrivals, which is easier with luggage.
What budget should you plan for a 14-day luxury trip to Japan?
For 14 days at a luxury level, plan on EUR 18,000 to EUR 30,000 total for two, excluding long-haul flights. With hotels such as Aman Tokyo, Park Hyatt Kyoto, or Aman Kyoto, the upper end comes quickly. Room rates often sit between EUR 900 and EUR 2,500 per night including taxes, depending on season. Add EUR 250 to EUR 500 per day for dining, Green Car rail, transfers, and private visits. A Michelin three-star kaiseki dinner can exceed EUR 350 per person before drinks.
How do you visit Naoshima from Kyoto or Tokyo?
From Kyoto, the smoothest route is shinkansen to Okayama, then a local train to Uno and the ferry to Miyanoura. Allow roughly 3.5 to 4.5 hours depending on connections. From Tokyo, add about 2.5 hours. Travel light. Roads on the island are slow and taxis are limited. For Chichu Museum, buy tickets before departure on the Benesse Art Site website. The Monet room often sells out by 10:00 a.m. for the following day.
Which Kyoto temples should you visit away from the crowds?
Move beyond Kiyomizu-dera and Fushimi Inari at peak hours. Aim for Nanzen-ji at opening, around 8:30 a.m., then Honen-in and Eikan-do on a weekday. Daitoku-ji gives a more nuanced introduction to Zen, with sub-temples that are often quieter. Kennin-ji also works well early in the morning. If you stay at Park Hyatt Kyoto, walk Higashiyama before 8:00 a.m. The lanes are still empty, and Kodaiji is easier right at opening.
Which kaiseki restaurants should you book in Kyoto?
In Kyoto, book early for Kikunoi Honten, Michelin three stars, and Hyotei, also Michelin three stars, both benchmark houses. Gion Sasaki is another hard reservation. For a quieter format, look for counter-style kaiseki with only 8 to 10 seats. The concierge teams at Aman Kyoto and Park Hyatt Kyoto can sometimes secure better lunch timings. Aim for lunch service. You will often pay 20 to 30 percent less than dinner for a very similar level of cooking.
Is Japan easy to navigate for French-speaking travelers?
Yes, without major difficulty, even if you do not speak Japanese. In luxury hotels, English is standard. Major stations use clear signage in Latin characters. Translation apps are enough for taxis, menus, and small shops. French, however, remains uncommon outside private guides. Lock in key bookings before departure. For serious restaurants, ask your concierge to call directly. That helps avoid refusals linked to allergies, timing, or strict no-show policies.
Should you combine Hiroshima and Miyajima on a Japan trip?
Yes, if you have at least two nights in the region. Hiroshima gives you the Peace Memorial Park and museum, both essential for historical context. Miyajima adds Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO-listed Shinto site, and a slower rhythm. Do Hiroshima first, then stay overnight on Miyajima if possible. The island becomes much quieter in late afternoon. From Kyoto, the direct shinkansen to Hiroshima takes roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on service.
When is cherry blossom season in Japan?
The most common window is late March to early April for Tokyo and Kyoto, but it shifts every year. In the south, blooms start earlier. Further north, they move into April, and even May in Hokkaido. For a precise trip, watch the forecasts released 6 to 8 weeks ahead. Book hotels very early. In Kyoto, the best addresses tighten up well before the official peak bloom announcements are published.