16 days in Japan.15 Feb – 1 March
We’re a family of four from Europe, children 8 and 4, plus their grandparents tagging along. A total of 6. My wife and I went to Japan 15 years ago when we were young and poor. This is our 2nd trip to Japan. I hate queuing, so I’m skipping all the big amusement parks.
My wife and I are both anime fans. Children I have no idea, I suppose toy stores. For both young and old I don’t think we can walk very much. I booked the flight 3 weeks ago and have been researching constantly since then. I have composed the itinerary alone with minimum feedback from my wife. Her main focus is to eat good food.
Thanks in advance for any pointers.
Day 1 – 15 Feb Thu
Arrival to Haneda in afternoon, head to hotel in Akasaka. Check out the area.
Day 2
we are probably super jet lagged and I don’t expect anyone to get up before 15. I have though since yesterday told my family to get up 30 min ahead each day. Today was a success, we all went up 15 min earlier than usual – Teamlab borderless booked at 17:30. Check out Tokyo tower if kids want to (already been there last time). Any random place, maybe Shibuya. Probably ramen and gyoza.
Day 3, Sat: North
Asakusa Sensoji, Kappabashi, Akihabara. Kura sushi global flagship store. Sky tree if party is not tired. Check out kirby cafe. 8 year old is a fan.
Day 4, Sun: Northwest
Ikebukuro – eat in Chinatown, maybe earthquake school, maybe Sunshine city. Shinjuku – Tokyo Metro gov, maybe firefighter museum, maybe toy museum.
Day 5, Mon:
Odaiba, trick art museum, Lego, takoyaki museum, little planet, gundam base. Toyosu market.
Day 6 Tue: Shibuya
Day 7: Imperial Palace garden? Tokyo station, character street. Asobono?
Day 8 Thu: Train to Kyoto. Check out hotel area in downtown near Nishiki Market. Gion. Kyoto beef
Day 9 Fri
Emperor’s birthday, which is a day when you can enter some of the private areas in the Imperial palace garden in Tokyo and congratulate him waving a japanese flag. We already did this during new years in our last trip with the previous emperor we are skipping this, because I don’t think any of the other party members care. Also, all hotels were super expensive this day, so I dont want to be ruined by being in Tokyo
Not sure what to do. Nijio? Gyoen? Kinkaku? Fushimi Inari? We’re definitely not walking up to the top. Kiyomizu dera? I have no idea.
Day 10 Sat:
Planned arashiyama and Ginkaku. Having second thoughts because nobody cares about bamboo and monkeys are quite a hike as I understand.
Day 11/12 Sun-Mon: One or two of Nara, Osaka Castle + running man and Miyajima
Day 13: Back to Tokyo – Shinegawa area. Evening unplanned
Day 14: Sanrio puroland. Souvenir shopping somewhere.
Day 15: original plan was gundam factory, but having second thoughts because it’s all just a big statue and all the limited editions are in the shop are already sold out. Check out Chinatown. Cup Ramen museum.
Day 16: morning flight home.
by FishLoud