Hi, I’m bringing my parents around Tokyo and Osaka. I’m feeling abit nervous, and overwhelmed as I’m planning this trip all on my own, with some inputs from my friends who have went before. We will be flying from SG/MY, only and hour difference in timezone.
Any tips/feedback will be appreciated. Thank you so much in advance!
Also, my mom’s birthday will be in the middle of the trip and she’d like to find a cafe to eat, chill, and celebrate there (preferably with dessert that can include “happy birthday” on the plate or something similar. i’ve requested with the hotel i stayed and they said they don’t do simple celebrations so i’m kinda at a loss rn).
I intend to get suica cards as well by the time I arrive at the airport. Is that possible? How much is estimated to be loaded into the card? And can it be used in Osaka + Tokyo?
16 Feb / Day 1 – Tokyo: Shibuya/Harajuku/Shinjuku
* Plane lands at Narita @ 06.15am then take skyliner to Ueno.
* Hotel is 15mins away from Shinjuku/Shibuya.
* 1st stop: Shinjuku (Godzilla Photospot / 3D Cross Space / Tokyo Govt Building during sunset)
* 2nd: Harajuku (Takeshita Street)
* 3rd: Shibuya (Shibuya Sky / Shibuya Scramble Crossing / Nintendo Tokyo)
Day 2 – Tokyo: Asakusa / Akihabara
* 1st: Asakusa (Kimono Yukata Experience / Sensoji / Asakusa Shrine / Hozomon Gate)
* 2nd: Akihabara (Electric Town / Animate / Collabo Cafe Honpo / K-BOOKS / etc)
Day 3 – Tokyo: Mount Fuji Day Trip
* Mount Fuji 5th Station / Lake Kawaguchi / Oshino Hakkai / Gotemba Premium Outlets
Day 4 – Shinkansen to Osaka
* Arrive Osaka by 12pm est. Staying in Namba.
* Dotonbori / Rikuro Namba Branch / Animate / Nipponbashi / Shinsaibashi PARCO / Shinsekai Market
* Viral foods to try?
Day 5 – Osaka
* Universal Studios Japan
* How does time-entry ticket work for Super Nintendo World? Does it apply to Wizarding World of Harry Potter as well?
Day 6 – Osaka + Shinkansen to Tokyo
* Arrive Tokyo by 12pm est. Staying near Daimon Stn.
* Birthday – need recommendations as stated in the above paragraph, pls help 🙁
* Joypolis (tbc?) / Unicorn Gundam Statue / Rainbow Bridge / Tokyo Tower
Day 7 – Tokyo
* Tokyo Disneyland
* I heard the parade ends at 8.30pm? What time do people usually leave?
Day 8 – Tokyo: Yokohama / Ginza (iykyk lol)
* Fastest way to Yokohama?
* Yokohama: Yamashita Park / Yokohama Chinatown / Red Brick Warehouse / Motomachi Park and Shopping district / Port Opening Memorial hall / Yokohama Stadium / Museum of Yokohama Urban History / France Yama Park
* Ginza: Bar Lupin / Ginza SIX
Day 9 – Tokyo: All around for last minute shopping?
* Ikebukuro / Akihabara / idk pls help
25 Feb / Day 10 – Tokyo: Departure
* Flight back home in the morning.
by No-Inspector-1666
4 comments
Hi, in Japan now and can’t give too much feedback on anything specific since I’m just kinda exploring without a plan and loving it 🙂
* Transport: Suica isn’t currently available for foreigners, Pasmo Passport is the suitable alternative and it works everywhere on trains and even at convenience stores. You can get it at the airport or wait until your first day to get one at a station, since you’ll need to buy a reserved ticket for the Keisei Skyliner anyway. Allow some time at the airport on arrival and time to get used to the trains – different companies on different levels and parts of the station etc, can be confusing but Google Maps is good and you’ll get the hang quickly, Pasmo makes local trips easy, and you can ask for help for tickets on long distance trains.
* Birthday: There’s heaps of bakeries around you can find on the fly or find on Maps. You’ll be surprised with how much interesting good food you can find just walking around. Sort it out when you get here!
* Shopping: I noticed some shopping stuff on your list, don’t miss going for a late night shopping trip to Don Quixote! And Daiso also is fun. Honestly good shopping everywhere in cities.
* Itinerary: Looks reasonable enough but quite busy (especially the first day, with the 6am arrival and all). Everyone is different but I ended up doing less than planned each day but still enjoying myself a lot. I have a 2hr rest most afternoons so I can enjoy a day and also have energy at night. See how it goes, prioritise what you really love and adjust as you go is my advice!
For the birthday plate, a lot of restaurants do this with advanced notice/reservations. Maybe check restaurants in hotels as they’ll be the easiest to contact and more likely than average to offer this.
That Fuji day trip is a typical tour bus itinerary. You’re good if you’re taking a tour bus. If you aren’t, I’d recommend choosing an itinerary that’s designed for public transit, because this one isn’t public transit friendly.
People usually leave Disney just after the fireworks as the park closes shortly after.
Use Google Maps to get to Yokohama. There are a few different JR lines that go there, but basically it’s easy to get there.
Enjoy your trip!
Birthday celebration are recommended in Osaka. The restaurants in Osaka are more reasonable, the quality is better and the people are kindly than Tokyo. IMO
Day8 Yokohama schedule looks too packed.
In general, a half-day trip is sufficient. museums that interest you, Chinatown, and quick hike harbor.
But if you like some manga… you should go to ALL of them. After taking photos and enjoying the atmosphere, you can go to bars in Ginza at night. It’s possible. You can also choose to temporarily separate from your family because of the many hills.
You’re planning a lot of visits to anime shops with your parents?
Do they enjoy that or will they be waiting for you? If not, Maybe you should plan something they’d enjoy while you do something you enjoy for an afternoon/night or two.
I don’t know your ages or interests but that stuck out to me.