Hi fellow redditor! My parents (in the 60s) and I (20+M) will be travelling to Japan from late March to early April. This is the first time for my parents are visiting Japan and second time for me (only Osaka and Tokyo in the previous trip).
I am planning for a slower trip as it will be challenging for my parents to walk long distances everyday.
We are not planning to rent a car so we will only be travelling via public transport. Not planning to get JR Pass.
Hoping to get ideas from fellow redditors on recommendations, whether each day is overpacked/underutilized and how to optimize the routine if possible. Especially on Awaji Island, Kyoto and Kawaguchiko days as I have not been to these places before.
**Note:** Accommodation were already booked so it will be very challenging to add/remove days for each city.
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**Day 1 – Osaka**
\- Arrival at Kansai Airport at 10:30am
\- Haruka to Tennoji, deposit luggage at train station and lunch around the area
\- Tennoji Park and Shitennoji
\- Abeno Harukas and Observatory in the evening
\- Dinner at Shinsekai
\- Check in hotel in Namba
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**Day 2 – Awaji Island & Umeda**
\- Have to reach Awaji Island by 11am. Travelling via Namba Station > Umeda Station > Osaka Station > Akashi Station > Ferry at Akashi Port > Iwaya Port
\- Lunch at Hello Kitty Show Box, then visit Hello Kitty Apple House and Hello Kitty Smile
\- Return to Umeda by 6pm for dinner
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**Day 3 – Osaka Castle & Dotonbori**
\- Breakfast/Early lunch at Kuromon Market
\- Osaka Castle (only the exterior) and Nishinomaru Garden
\- Shinsaibashisuji (maybe Pokemon Cafe for afternoon tea if able to make reservation)
\- Dotonbori area and Kani Doraku for dinner
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**Day 4 – Nara & Kyoto**
\- Check out hotel in Namba, luggage delivery to hotel in Kyoto
\- Day trip to Nara
\- Lunch around Higashimuki Shopping Street and Mochi at Nakatanidou
\- Kofukuji, Nara Park, Todaiji, Manyo Garden and Kasuga Taisha
\- Dinner around Higashimuki Shopping Street
\- Train to Kyoto and check in hotel in Shijo
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**Day 5 – Kyoto**
\- Pokemon Center, Nishiki Market for lunch
\- Kyoto Imperial Place and National Garden
\- Nijo Castle and Ninomaru Goten Palace
\- Dinner at Daimaru Kyoto
​
**Day 6 – Kyoto**
\- Fushimi Inari in the morning (should be taking earliest train), hoping to reach the peak if possible
\- Need suggestion for lunch
\- Higashi Hongan-ji Temple
\- Kyoto Tower and dinner around the area
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**Day 7 – Kyoto**
\- Kimono Rental, Yasaka Shrine and Maruyama Park
\- Kodaiji Temple
\- Lunch around Sannenzaka Path
\- Kiyomizudera
\- Return Kimono and dinner around Gion-Shijo station
​
**Day 8 – Kawaguchiko**
\- Check out hotel in Shijo, luggage delivery to hotel in Tokyo
\- Shinkansen to Mishima station and lunch nearby
\- Limited Express bus to Kawaguchiko Station
\- Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum and early dinner nearby as last bus around the area is around 6pm
\- Check in to accommodation near Oishi Park
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**Day 9 – Kawaguchiko, Shimoyoshida & Tokyo**
\- Oishi Park (and maybe Nagasaki Park) in the morning
\- Rest and check out accommodation
\- Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
\- Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine and lunch nearby
\- Arakurayama Sengen Park and Chureito Pagoda
\- Train to Tokyo and check in to hotel in Shinjuku
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**Day 10 – Ikebukuro & Shinjuku**
\- Breakfast/Early Lunch at Sunshine City Sanrio Cafe
\- Shinjuku Gyoen
\- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and Shinjuku Chuo Park
\- Dinner at Kabukicho
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**Day 11 – Harajuku & Shibuya**
\- Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park in the morning
\- Lunch at Shibuya
\- Shibuya Parco, 109, Scramble Crossing, MEGA Don Quijote Shibuya Main Store
\- Shibuya Scramble Square and Shibuya Sky in the evening
\- Omotesando and dinner around the area; otherwise staying at Shibuya for dinner
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**Day 12 – Ueno, Asakusa & Skytree**
\- Breakfast at Ameyoko-cho
\- Ueno Park and Sanrio characters garden cafe
\- Kaminarimon, Nakamise-dori and Sensoji
\- Sumida Park
\- Tokyo Solamachi and Skytree (unconfirmed if going up since already went to Shibuya Sky and Tokyo Metropolitan Building)
\- Dinner around the area, maybe Kura Sushi
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**Day 13 – Ginza, Tokyo Station, Akihabara**
\- Tsukiji Market in the morning (or maybe skipping if we decide to sleep in)
\- Lunch at Ginza
\- Uniqlo, Sanrio World, Muji
\- Tokyo Station and Character Street
\- Akihabara and dinner around the area
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**Day 14 – Yokohama**
\- Check out hotel in Shinjuku, luggage delivery to Haneda airport
\- Shopping around Minatomirai, Landmark Tower and Observatory
\- (Maybe) Cup Noodle Museum
\- Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
\- Yamashita Park
\- Yokohama Chinatown and dinner around the area
\- Back to Yokoyama station and shopping around the area
\- Make way to Haneda airport to catch our midnight flight
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**Questions:**
\- Is the day trip to Awaji Island with dinner at Umeda possible? Since we are only going to the Hello Kitty related attractions, I think it is doable with spare time in between to prevent unnecessary rush, but I might be underestimating it.
\- Do you think Kyoto Imperial Place and National Garden, Nijo Castle and Ninomaru Goten Palace are more worth it compared to Arashiyama area and Tenryuji? I am still a bit lost on planning for Kyoto since I reckon we will be quite tired from Fushimi Inari and may be stretching too much if I move Yasaka Shrine, Maruyama Park and Kiyomizudera after Fushimi Inari.
\- Are the days at Kawaguchiko doable? The main concern is public transport ends around 6pm and I am worried if we can’t get a taxi, since the accommodation is an hour walk from Kawaguchiko station.
\- Any transport during the trip which I have to get a ticket/not payable using IC card? As far as I know:
* Shinkansen from Kyoto station to Mishima station
* Bus from Mishima station to Kawaguchiko station
* Train from Otuski station to Shinjuku station (Fujikyuko Line from Shimoyoshida station to Otsuki station can be paid via IC card)
\- On the same topic, can I pay with IC card for my trips between Osaka station and Akashi station? Will be taking Tokaido-Sanyo Line.
\- Any affordable places to shower near Yokohama station or at Haneda airport? (Private bath/shower preferred; aware of onsen at Haneda Airport Garden but it’s quite pricey)
\- Feel free to recommend food options (especially vegetarian options as my mum is a vegetarian) and places to visit if they are doable based on the itinerary 🙂
by DarkIcarusX