I am traveling on June 23-July 2 this year with my mom, my aunt, my cousin, and my 83 year old grandfather. I’d like to ask for your opinion about the itinerary I made especially that we are going to travel with a senior citizen.
My grandfather can walk slowly but he climbs the stairs well (we were also shocked) when we traveled locally. He climbed 200+ steps without even resting. (I know this is nothing compared to what we will be doing in Japan). We are also planning to rent a wheelchair and bring a cane for him.
June 23 (Sunday):
-Arrive at the Narita Airport at 8pm then travel to Tokyo
June 24 (Day 1 – Monday):
-Meiji Jingu Shrine
-Yoyogi Park
-Takeshita Street Square
-Shibuya (Shibuya Sky and Shibuya Crossing)
June 25 (Day 2 – Tuesday):
-Senso-ji Temple
-Nakamise-dori Street
-Sumida River
-Tokyo Skytree
-Imperial Palace
-Ueno Park
-Travel to Osaka (check-in and rest at night)
June 26 (Day 3 – Wednesday)
-Universal Studios (whole day)
June 27 (Day 4 – Thursday)
-Osaka Castle
-Tennoji Zoo
-Minoh Park
-Umeda Sky Building
-Dotonbori
June 28 (Day 5 – Friday)
Daytrip to Kyoto
-Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
-Monkey Park
-Kinkaku-ji
-Nijo Castle
-Fushimi Inari Shrine at night
June 29 (Day 6 – Saturday)
Kyoto-Nara
-Kiyomizu-Dera
-Ninnenzaka-Sannenzaka
-Hokan-ji Temple
-Gion District (optional)
-Nara Park
-Travel back to Tokyo
June 30(Day 7 – Sunday)
-Mt. Fuji private tour (whole day)
July 1 (Day 8 – Monday)
-DisneySea whole day
July 2 (Day 9 – Tuesday)
-Toyosu Fish Market
-Tsukiti Outer Market
-Teamlab Planets
-Last minute shopping at Ginza and Akihavara
-Travel to Narita Airport
Is this doable?
Other questions:
-How well can my grandfather handle the tour?
-We are planning to get the JR Pass since we will be traveling Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Nara. Is this worth it? We are also planning to get a private tour (hiring a driver). Aside from Mt. Fuji, what day in our itinerary is necessary to hire a driver (or is it even necessary if we will be getting the JR Pass already)?
-What area should we book our hotel in Tokyo based on our itinerary? (so that my grandfather can go back to the hotel if he gets tired)
-Should we book a hotel in Kyoto instead of Osaka since we will be visiting kyoto early in the morning (like 6-7am)
-I know that weekends can be busy. Do you have other suggestions what part of our itinerary can we put in the weekends instead?
Thank you!
4 comments
The days are jam-packed. Doesn’t seem to be any consideration for someone who may become tired more easily. However, if you do hire a driver and/or guide, then it would be ok. At least for 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. Especially 4, I mean how are you going to fit Minoh Park without a driver, and 5, the places are all over Kyoto. The approach to Kiyomizu-Dera and Ninnenzaka/Sannenzaka are the most crowded areas in Kyoto. Go early, late, with a tour or guide, or on another day, or brace yourself.
Don’t get JR pass. It’s a *big* waste of money for your itinerary. Get a welcome Suica/pasmo for everyone and load it with 2000 yen to start (more if you’re not actually hiring a driver)
I do feel your itinerary might be a bit packed for a 80+yo senior but if like you said you’ll hire a driver anyway then I think it’s fine. Hard to recommend hotels as Tokyo is big, so anywhere you stay would require taking a train to return to hotel anyway……
You’re probably going to want to hire a car any day you want to use the wheelchair. You can take trains and buses with it but you have to let the station staff know ahead of time to bring a foldaway ramp to the train carriage at the stop you need. It will be extremely difficult to get on during rush hours, and also for some crowded paths like bamboo forest, takeshita st, etc. Some castles and shrines have gravel or rocky paths. Elevators are available but not at every exit and sometimes hard to find from outside the station.
Most of your days have a lot of walking for anyone, much less someone who needs consideration. You’re easily looking at 15k steps/day most days. Shrines, zoos, castles, 2 full theme park days, mountains (Arashiyama monkey Park & Fushimi Inari in one day?) Unsolicited advice: slow it down and enjoy your time with your grandpa. Japan will be here next time too.
Drink lots of water and duck into air conditioned places. It is hot and humid during this time.
Plan on cutting a lot of the days. They’re way too jampacked under normal conditions. Add a senior and the weather and this gets overwhelming.