Japan is one of those rare destinations that exceeds every expectation. Whether you're drawn by the food, the culture, the landscapes, or the sheer efficiency of it all, two weeks gives you just enough time to fall completely in love — and start planning your return.

Land at Narita or Haneda and head straight to your hotel in Shinjuku or Shibuya. Give yourself the first afternoon to recover from the flight and absorb the city's energy.

Day 2 is for neighbourhoods. Start in Yanaka, one of Tokyo's last old-town districts, where wooden shopfronts and temple cats set the tone. Move through Ueno for the National Museum, then finish the evening in Akihabara for a sensory overload of electronics and pop culture.

Day 3 belongs to Harajuku and Omotesando — the former for Takeshita Street's street fashion, the latter for architecture and high-end boutiques. End the day with dinner in Shibuya and linger at the famous crossing after dark.

An easy two-hour train ride north, Nikko is home to the lavishly decorated Toshogu Shrine and some of Japan's most dramatic mountain scenery. The cedar-lined approach to the shrine complex is worth the journey alone.

Head southwest to Hakone for two nights. On a clear day, Mt Fuji dominates the horizon from Lake Ashi. Take the ropeway over volcanic Owakudani, soak in an onsen ryokan, and slow down completely.

Kyoto rewards slow travel. Three days is the minimum; a week wouldn't be enough.

• Fushimi Inari: Arrive before 7am to walk the thousands of torii gates in near-solitude
• Arashiyama: The bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji garden, and a boat ride on the Oi River
• Gion: Wander the stone-paved lanes of Hanamikoji in the late afternoon for the best chance of spotting a geiko

Book a kaiseki dinner on at least one evening — Kyoto's multi-course cuisine is an art form.

An hour from Kyoto, Nara is home to over 1,000 free-roaming deer and the colossal Todai-ji Temple, housing Japan's largest bronze Buddha. Half a day is enough; combine it with an afternoon back in Kyoto or an early arrival in Osaka.

Osaka is Japan's kitchen and its most unguarded city. Eat your way through Dotonbori, explore the covered arcades of Shinsaibashi, and take a morning to visit Osaka Castle.

Don't miss a day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima — the Peace Memorial Museum is one of the most important sites in the world, and the floating torii gate at Miyajima is among Japan's most iconic images.

Most international flights depart from Osaka's Kansai Airport or Tokyo's Narita. If you have time before your flight, the teamLab digital art installations in either city make for a memorable final morning.

Getting around: The JR Pass pays for itself on a two-week itinerary. Buy it before you leave Australia.

Accommodation: Mix ryokan stays (Hakone, Kyoto) with well-located city hotels (Tokyo, Osaka) for the full range of experiences.

Best time to visit: March–April for cherry blossom; October–November for autumn foliage. Both periods book out months in advance.

Budget: Expect AUD $350–500 per person per day for mid-range travel including accommodation, food, transport, and activities.

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