Japan broke its tourism record in 2025 with 38 million visitors — including 350,000 French. The yen slump (¥145/€) makes the country 25% cheaper than in 2019. Here's our tested 14-day itinerary with real numbers.
D1-4: Tokyo (Shibuya, Asakusa, Shinjuku, day-trip Kamakura or Nikko) D5: Hakone (onsen, Mt Fuji view if clear) D6-9: Kyoto (Kinkaku-ji, Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, day-trip Nara) D10: Hiroshima + Miyajima (A-Bomb Dome, floating torii) D11-12: Osaka (Dotonbori, Castle, Shinsekai) D13-14: back to Tokyo (Ginza, Harajuku, teamLab)
Covers the 3 major poles stress-free. Add 3 days for Hokkaido in winter or Okinawa in summer.
- Flight Paris-Tokyo return: €750 (ANA/JAL non-stop, often cheaper via Turkish/Emirates) - 14-day JR Pass: ¥80,000 (~€550) — 70% increase since Oct 2023 - Hotels/ryokans (3* average): €90/night × 13 = €1,170 (double room) - Meals: €30/day × 14 = €420 (ramen €8, kaiseki €40, konbini €6) - Metro Tokyo/Osaka + entries: €250
Total: ~€2,400/person as a couple. Solo travellers: €2,800.
Since October 2023, the 14-day JR Pass costs ¥80,000 (~€550) vs ¥47,250 before. Only worth it if you do: - Tokyo → Kyoto (¥13,320) - Kyoto → Hiroshima return (¥22,300) - Kyoto → Osaka (¥1,420) - Return Osaka/Kyoto → Tokyo (¥14,170)
~¥51,000 in single tickets. Pass becomes worthwhile if you add a Nikko, Hakone or Sendai side-trip. Buy the voucher in your home country before departure.
Mar-Apr: sakura (cherry blossom). Magical but crowded, hotel prices +40%. May: ideal. Dry, 20–25°C, moderate prices. Jun-mid Jul: rainy season (tsuyu). Avoid. Late Jul-Aug: hot and humid (35°C Tokyo), fireworks everywhere. Low prices. Sep-Oct: typhoons possible early September, then perfect until mid-November. Nov: koyo (red leaves). Splendid, less crowded than sakura. Dec-Feb: Hokkaido for snow, Tokyo cold and dry, lowest prices.
No tourist visa for <90 days for EU citizens. Passport valid the whole trip.
At Narita or Haneda, grab a Suica card (¥500 deposit + top-up). It works for all urban transport, konbini, vending machines. Since 2024, also on Apple Wallet — activation in 30 seconds.
About €2,400/person as a couple (flight + JR Pass + 3* hotels + meals + activities). €2,800 solo.
No. Since Oct 2023 hike, only worth it with an itinerary covering 3+ big cities. Calculate on navitime.com.
Late March to mid-April. Kyoto peaks around April 1, Tokyo a week before, Hokkaido early May.