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Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo
Narita Airport to Asakusa (90 minutes, 50 km)
Sensory-overload Tokyo
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Day 2: Tokyo
Shibuya to Shinjuku (20 minutes, 5 km)
Culturally-rich Asakusa
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Day 3: Yokohama and Kamakura
Yokohama to Kamakura (30 minutes, 20 km)
Seaside bliss, history
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Day 4: Explore Tokyo
Ueno to Tokyo Tower (35 minutes, 10 km)
A city of contrasts
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Day 5: Nikko National Park
Tokyo to Nikko (2 hours, 150 km)
Nature's charm
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Day 6: Matsumoto and the Japanese Alps
Nikko to Matsumoto (4 hours, 340 km)
Scenic drives, history
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Day 7: Takayama and Shirakawa-go
Matsumoto to Takayama (2 hours, 90 km)
Picturesque countryside
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Day 8: Kyoto
Takayama to Kyoto (4 hours, 290 km)
Ancient capital magic
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Day 9: Explore Kyoto
Arashiyama to Kiyomizudera (30 minutes, 5 km)
Historic architecture, spirituality
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Day 10: Nara
Kyoto to Nara (1 hour, 40 km)
Buddhist influences, deer
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Day 11: Osaka
Namba to Osaka Castle (25 minutes, 10 km)
Foodie heaven, nightlife
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Day 12: Hiroshima and Miyajima Island
Osaka to Miyajima via Hiroshima (3.5 hours, 300 km)
Peaceful memorials, holiness
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Day 13: Hakone and Mount Fuji
Hiroshima to Hakone (5.5 hours, 500 km)
Natural beauty, onsen
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Day 14: Tokyo and Departure
Hakone to Narita Airport (2 hours, 120 km)
Catching flights, memories
If you have more time, explore the beaches of Okinawa, visit the snow monkeys in Nagano, or take a tour of Sapporo's breweries. If you have less time, spend fewer days in Tokyo or skip the sidetrips to Yokohama and Hakone to make more time for exploring Kyoto and Nara.