The best way to spend two weeks in Japan

WE'RE TWO 60-YEAR-OLDS, LOVE FOOD, SAKE, GARDENS, HISTORY AND THE OCCASIONAL MUSEUM. DON'T LIKE SUMO WRESTLING, SLEEPING ON CONCRETE, OR SITTING ON THE FLOOR TO EAT. ONE HATES FISH, THE OTHER NOISE. THOUGHTS FOR A TWO-WEEK TOUR OF JAPAN, STARTING FROM TOKYO IN MAY? D. HUNTER, NORTH SYDNEY NSW

Spend at least four nights in Tokyo, the city is packed with fascination whether your thing is small bars, food or weird fashion. Look for either a hotel or an Airbnb close to the Yamanote Line, which lassoes central Tokyo in a giant circle. Best way to get around is with a one-day Open Ticket, which costs just ¥600 and allows unlimited rides on Tokyo Metro for 24 hours.

I like the Ebisu area, one stop south of Shibuya Station, which is served by the N'EX train from Narita Airport. It's medium bustly for Japan and classy, with lots of dining options and convenience stores.

You might take a half-day walking tour with Urban Adventures urbanadventures.com, they'll show you a side of the city you can't easily discover on your own.

Kyoto is another must-see, plan at least three nights.

Nikko is a World Heritage site and a national treasure, a centre of Shinto and Buddhist mountain worship for centuries. The nearby Nikko National Park offers mountain landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs and hiking trails. You can get there easily in a day tour from Tokyo with Viator viator.com.

I like Takayama in the Japan Alps, a small city with a lovely riverside market. The Higashiyama Walking Trail wanders through a dozen neighbouring Buddhist temples constructed by the lords of Takayama, each a work of art, old but immaculate.
Kanazawa is also worth a one-day stop, known for its well-preserved samurai district.

If you're interested in walking, the Kumano Kodo is a 1000-year-old pilgrimage trail that links the three Grand Shrines of Kumano on the Kii Peninsula, south of Osaka, famous as the home of Shugendo, a fusion of animism and Shinto tempered by Buddhism.

The Traveller website traveller.com.au has a trove of inspiring ideas to help you plan your trip.