1

Depends on your interests. I suggest you get a guidebook and start reading.
Here's a simple list of places
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e623a.html

Recommending places also may depend on what time of year you travel. In general I recommend either spring for cherry blossoms or autumn for colours, but it can also be very crowded during those times.


If you are on a budget you can also consider overnight buses or flying with a low cost carrier, depending on where you go.
http://willerexpress.com/en/

Alternatively, the JR Pass offers good value and if you plan wisely you could use a 7-day JR Pass for your major inter-city travel on a two week trip. You do not need an active rail pass for every single day you are in Japan.
http://www.japanrailpass.net/


There are numerous budget hotels in Japan which should suit. Alternatively, you can find private rooms in hostels/guesthouses.


Sumo tournament schedule is here:-
http://www.sumo.or.jp/eng/

Food:-
http://www.bento.com/

A rough itinerary might be a few days in Tokyo, then head west to Kyoto, see surrounding places like Nara, Hikone Castle. Then either see Hiroshima, or come back to Tokyo via Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Takayama. Of course there are hundreds of other options depending on your interests and when you travel.

You may save some money if you fly into Tokyo and out of Osaka or vice versa.

2

Time of year is paramount here. Look at the calendar of events for the period you plan to come, and see what festivals and concerts and other things are going on.

Plan the skeleton of a route around those dates and locations.

Ask us questions to fill in the gaps.

You're not going to see everything in just 14 days. I've lived here 14 years and haven't seen it all. With that short timeline, figure on one city every 2 days max, just to allow for travel time between cities. Poster acc has given good advice if you just want to hit the larger more touristy cities.

3

Hi and thanks for your suggestions - I forgot to write down when I am going - late march early april.
I am planning Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima but not sure of anywhere else worth making the trip for. I will grab myself a guidebook.
Thank you

4

Cherry Blossom average timing:-
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011_when.html

Read some of the past blog reports to get some ideas of places to see if you wish to see the cherry blossoms
http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/sakura12/


That's a reasonable start. Book Kyoto well in advance as that is peak time in Kyoto and it is not uncommon for it to become completely booked. Some places may have minimum night stays too. If you can't find anything in your budget then you can consider staying in Osaka and commuting in each day (roughly 30 min 500 yen each way). You have enough time to plan now though so Kyoto should be possible.

Some booking sites to get you started:-
http://www.jalan.net
http://www.rakuten.co.jp
http://www.expedia.com
http://www.agoda.com
http://www.japanican.com
http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com
http://www.hostelworld.com

I'd probably use Kyoto as a base to see Osaka and possibly Nara and Hikone Castle. You could split your nights up between the two if that suits you better.

You may also wish to investigate Koyasan and a stay in a temple there.

When you visit Hiroshima you may also wish to visit Miyajima.

Heaps of other options of course depending on what you prefer including heading into the alps.

5

Thank you acc will check out those links! :)

6

If you're going to Hiroshima, why not take a boat trip across the beautiful Seto Inland Sea to Matsuyama for a taste of life on Shikoku Island, Japan's 'slow-life island'? Most first-time visitors miss Shikoku entirely--to their cost. If you like a bit of exercise, the Shimanami Kaido cycling route is a great way to get back to the main island. In Matsuyama, Sen Guesthouse is a nice place to stay.