Hello, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with planning this once in a lifetime trip. I’ll be in a group of middle aged adults and pretty fit elderly parents. We typically get up around 0600-0700, and if anything are worried about trying to cram too many things in this trip. We have a track record of doing that.
Feedback is greatly appreciated of any logistics we might not be thinking about, feasibility, and any items you would recommend removing/adding that really made or broke your trip. This subreddit is amazing! We are planning on going the beginning of July 2024. We are fairly big food people and are generally big on architecture/museums/natural monuments. We will get the 14 day JP pass most likely (hence the split time in Tokyo) or if we adjust the trip to get it down to 7 days that would be even better (but not sure what to cut!) and local passes for transportation as needed. Thank you in advance!
Day 1-3: Tokyo
Day 4: Hakone
Day 5-8: Kyoto
Day 9: Nara
Day 10-11: Osaka
Day 12-17: Tokyo
* Day 1 (Shinjuku):
* Arrive at Narita Airport
* explore Shinjuku near hotel
* Day 2 (Shinjuku):
* Ghibli Museum
* Shop in Shinjuku
* Day 3 (Tokyo): Disney Sea (Will make sure this isn’t on the weekend)
* Day 4 Hakone
*
Train to Hakone
* Check in to Ryokan
* Ropeway
* Private Ryokan Onsen
* Day 5 (Kyoto)
* Travel to Kyoto
* Check in to Kyoto Hotel
* Higashi Hongan-ji Temple
* Nishiki Market
* Day 6 (Kyoto):
* Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
* Arashiyama Monkey Park
* Togetsukyo Bridge
* Tenryu-ji
* Okochi Sanso Garden
* Day 7 (Kyoto):
* Travel to Kyoto
* Check in to Kyoto Hotel
* Higashi Hongan-ji Temple
* Nishiki Market
* Day 8 (Kyoto)
* Kyoto Imperial Palace
* Nijo Castle
* Day 9 Okochi Sanso GardenDay (Nara)
* Day trip to Nara
* Nara Park
* Higashimuki Shopping Street
* Todai-ji
* Kofuku-ji
* Day 10 (Osaka)
* Travel to Osaka
* Osaka Castle (general consensus is just look on the outside, no need to go in)
* Abeno Harukas
* teamLab Botanical Garden
* Day 11 (Osaka)
* Kuromon Market
* America-mura
* Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street
* Umeda Chair
* Umeda Sky Building
* HEP Five Ferris Wheel
* Day 12 (Akihabara)
* Travel back to Tokyo
* Meji Shrine
* Super Potato
* Bic Camera
* Gigo Akihabara
* Day 13 (Harajuku + Shibuya)
* Tokyo Plaza Omotesando
* Nintendo Store
* Mega Don Quijote
* Parco
* Scramble Crossing
* Hachiko Statue
* Takeshita street
* Day 14 (Tsukiji + Ginza):
* Tsukiji Outer Market
* teamLab Planets
* Uniqlo
* Ginza Six
* Day 15 (Shinjuku)
* teamLab Borderless
* Tokyo Tower
* Pokémon store Shibuya
* Harajuku Kokyo or Hamarikyu Garden
* Day 16 (Shinjuku): July 24
* Tokyo Joypolis?
* Senso-Ji
* Skytree
* Day 17: Leave from Narita