Hello,
I’m traveling to Japan with family (4 adults) and would appreciate tips and feedback to our itinerary. It’ll be our first time in Japan. This is what I got after extensive research (yt, reddit, japan guide etc.)
**Day 1**
* 1:50 pm Arrival at Haneda – usual staff (IC card, pocket wifi, hotel check-in – staying near Ueno)
* Yanaka ginza/Ueno park/Ameyoko – depending on how tired we are
**Day 2**
* Asakusa and Kapabashi in the morning
* Tokio station, Imperial Palace and then Koishikawa Korakuen/Gyoen (depending on mood, weather)
* Shibuya in the evening
**Day 3**
* Tsukiji Market early morning (may skip this one)
* Meiji Jingu, Harajuku
* Shin-okobo
* Shinjuku (government building, omoide yokocho…)
**Day 4** *- 23th February Emperor Birthday*
* Ueno park, Ameyoko/yanaka ginza (if not first day)
* Yushima Tenjin shrine (plum festival)
* Akihabara
* Ginza
**Day 5**
* either hakone or Atami (plum garden and festival) on the way to kyoto
or tokyo (if we missed something previous days) and then train to kyoto in the evening (advices?)
* check in (staying in Higashiyama)
**Day 6** \- 25th february
* Nijo Castle
* Kitano Tenmangu – plum festival and flea market
* Nishiki Market in the evening
**Day 7**
* Arashiyama (bamboo grove, tenryuji, okochi sanso, other temples)
* Ninnaji and Kinkakuji
* Pontocho in the evening
**Day 8**
* Ginkakuji, then shrines and temples as we move toward Gion
* Gion
**Day 9**
* Kyomizudera, Kodaiji
* Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka
* Kyoto Imperial Palace, Sento
**Day 10**
* Fushimi Inari
* Nara day trip
* train to Osaka, check in hotel (near Daikokucho station)
**Day 11**
* Himeji trip
* Kobe/Osaka (not sure what to do in Kobe, tips?)
**Day 12**
* Dotonbori, Shinsekai, Osaka Castle, Kuromon Market
**Day 13**
* Flight back from Osaka airport
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My main concern is 23th february, since it’s national holiday – does that mean that most of the shops/attractions will be closed? Do you think it’s worth visiting Imperial palace on that day? (we don’t like crowds very much)
Also are sneakers enough or should we pack warmer shoes? Something must-visit we missed? (besides teamlab, disney and universal studio) Thanks:)
by RadioactiveCardistry