Hello! I’m so glad this sub exists. Thank you in advance and I appreciate any help/support/comment. My mom (50+) and I (20+) are traveling to Japan during our Lunar New Year holiday. I have been tasked with planning the itinerary so here I am, hoping to plan the perfect mother-daughter holiday.
Some relevant background info: we will be in Japan from **Feb 10 to Feb 20, 2024**. We are visiting **Osaka, Kyoto,** and **Tokyo**. I hate to say this but I am concerned with experiencing feelings of **fatigue** as I am medicated, however we are both quite physically active otherwise. We both have an interest in Japanese art, history and culture. My mom likes nature and I am an animanga and live theatre nerd. We really want to explore Japan as much as we can this time, and perhaps do something that only can be done in Japan.
**Feb 10, Osaka**
* arrive in Osaka at noon
* check in hotel near Shinsaibashi
* get Osaka Amazing Pass for 2 days
* get Japan Rail Pass for 7 days
*Afternoon*
* take the Tombori River Cruise
* explore Shinsaibashi
**Feb 11, Osaka**
*Morning*
* visit Osaka Castle Park
* tour the museum
* take the Osaka Castle Gozabune boat ride
*Afternoon*
* Shitenno-Ji
* Tsutenkaku/Shinsekai
*Night*
* Den Den Town
**Feb 12, Osaka to Kyoto**
*Morning*
* check out hotel in Osaka
* take JR Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Kyoto Station
* check in Kyoto hotel
A*fternoon*
* check out Kamo River
* explore the Gion distrct (Hanamikoji?)
*Night*
* visit Yasaka Jinja
**Feb 13, one-day trip in Nara**
*Morning*
* take the train to JR Nara Station
* visit Kofuku-Ji
*Afternoon*
* explore Nara Park
* visit Nara National Museum
*night*
* **Question:** possible dinner in Nara? or return to Kyoto for dinner? recs?
* return to Kyoto
**Feb 14, Kyoto**
*morning*
* Fushimi-Inari Hike
*afternoon*
* **Question**: is Kyoto National Museum worth visiting?
* Kiyomizu-dera
*night*
* Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka
**Feb 15, Kyoto to Tokyo**
*morning*
* check out at hotel in Kyoto
* take the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo
* check in at hotel in Tokyo (near Akihabara)
* buy Suica card
*afternoon*
* explore Minato City & Roppongi **(Question**: we love thrifting and vintage shopping, as well as quirky stores/cafes in general. any recs?)
*night*
* Shibuya (including Nintendo Store, Capcom Store, Hachiko Memorial, the crossing, etc)
**Feb 16, Tokyo**
*morning*
* visit Sensoji
*afternoon*
* Ueno Park
* Tokyo National Museum
*night*
* Akihabara (**Question**: any other interesting stores/cafes/places to visit in Akihabara aside from Animate?)
* drag my mom to watch the Haikyuu movie with me because I’m a weeb
**Feb 17**
*morning*
* brunch (**question**: any recs? lol)
* Meiji Shrine
*afternoon*
* Studio Ghibli Museum
*night*
* visit Kabukicho & enjoy nightlife in Shinjuku
**Feb 18, Tokyo**
*morning*
* Yasukuni Shrine (yea this one might be controversial as we are Chinese but we are curious how that particular history is told on the other side ig)
*afternoon*
* Imperial Palace and the East Garden
*night*
* see a Kabuki performance
**Feb 19, Tokyo**
*morning*
* brunch (**question**: any recs?)
* visit Tokyo Tower and surrounding touristy area
*afternoon*
* visit Ikebukuro for anime stuff OR re-visit Shibuya OR see a Shiki musical (JCS or Lion King…)
*night*
* packing
**Feb 20, going back home**
*morning*
* check out
* brunch (again open to suggestions)
*afternoon*
* fly back home 🙂
As you can see I don’t have any restaurants/cafes planned.. Open to suggestions and recommendations! THANKS A LOT!!!
