Hi all experts , I am going to Japan with my family ( wife & 2 teenage daughters) for the first time. We are from SEA country and should not experiencing any jetlag (only 2 hour difference). It’s late June and it’s gonna be hot but I can’t change the date because kids having school holiday on those date. We won’t visiting Japan again in foreseeable future , so I packed my itenary. I checked the JR Hokuriku Arch Pass gonna have a price hike this March ( sadly our schedule start at late June so I can’t buy it before the increase due to 90 days activation limit) and considering only the Kansai Thru Pass. So I am wondering if this trip is too packed or doable.
**DAY 1 FRIDAY**
* Morning Arrival at Kansai International Airport. Buying all the essential cards, cash, internet , Osaka Metro Pass ( any recommendation for a good wifi / eSim card ?) . Buying breakfast at nearest konbini.
* At noon visit Osaka Castle and having lunch around there.
* Go to Shinsaibashi station and sightseeing / shopping / walking to Dottonburi, having dinner there
* Go to airBnb near Daikokucho Station.
**DAY 2 SATURDAY**
* 8AM Using Osaka Kyoto Sightseeing Pass, go to Yodobashi station to Kyoto ( what time should I go to avoid rush hour? )
* Go to Kiyomizu dera from Kiyomizu Gojo station using taxi ( with 4 people travelling , looks like the cost almost the same with bus. Still need to look for how to hail taxi or using Uber like app). Renting Kimono there, go to Sannenzaka Ninenzaka. Buying my first goshuincho ( or should I buy them elsewhere first? Can they run out?)
* Go back to station and then go to Nishiki Market for lunch.
* Walking to Hanamikoji Street Gion and then back to nearest station at around 4pm
* Arrive at Inari Station to go to Fushimi Inari maybe spend 2 hour here
* Back to Osaka ( Better look for dinner in Kyoto or Osaka?) and go to bed
**DAY 3 SUNDAY**
* I am a little torn here between going to Arashiyama ( Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-ji Temple) or take it easy in Osaka.
* Go to Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street for some kitchenware ( maybe a good knife?) because wife love cooking and baking.
* Taking daughter to Den Den Town because they love anime ( especially Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw man)
* Do you guys have any suggestion what to do in this day?
**DAY 4 MONDAY**
* Entire day dedicated for Universal Studio Japan
**Day 5 TUEDSDAY**
* Check out in the morning and go to station ( still searching for a good deal for going Hokuriku) and forwarding luggage ( 2 big suitcase) to our hotel at Asakusa Tokyo.
* Buy lunch near station ( maybe buy some ekiben?)
* Board Thunderbird to Kanazawa
* Still haven’t decided what to do in Kanazawa for half day. Any recommendation for lunch and activity near station? or should i go to castle?
* Board train to Toyama Station
* Dinner at Toyama.
* Check in at hotel in front station
**DAY 6 WEDNESDAY**
* 8 AM Check out hotel, go to station ( I hope it is a good time or should I start earlier)
* Board train to Tateyama.
* Buy ticket ( do they still sell Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route Option Ticket, can’t find it on the website)
* Follow the Alpine route ( should I buy lunch up there or take some onigiri for the road)
* Descend to Ogizawa, take bus to Nagano ( 2 hour).
* Check in hotel near station Nagano
**DAY 7 THURSDAY**
* 9 AM go to Zenko-ji Temple
* Lunch
* Board train at Nagano station to Tokyo
* Buy Tokyo Metro Pass for 6 days. (Or should I buy 3 days and use it tomorrow?)
* Check in hotel in Asakusa ( maybe around 4pm )
* Strolling around Asakusa Yokocho looking for dinner ( too touristy?)
* Check out Senso-ji at night
**DAY 8 FRIDAY**
* 10 AM Teamlabs Borderless
* around noon go to Harajuku ( want to avoid crowd at weekend ) Omotesando Hills,
Meiji Jingu shrine, Cat Street.
* and maybe go to Shibuya if we still have time (Shibuya Sky, Shibuya Crossing, Center Gai, Don Quijote, Shibuya 109)
**DAY 9 SATURDAY**
* Still haven’t decided going to Toyosu / Tsukiji Market at weekend because too crowded.
* Go to Ginza for shopping and lunch
* Go to Akibahara at around 4pm and have dinner there
**DAY 10 SUNDAY**
* 9 AM Go to Nakano Broadway
* Go to Shinjuku ( Golden Gai, Omoide Yokocho, Marui Honkan, Kabukicho) and buying art supplies for my daughter at Sekaido.
* Finish whatever we can’t do in Shibuya last Friday
* Should we switch Shibuya at noon and Shinjuku at evening? I mean the ambience on Shinjuku after sunset is better? Is it safe for kids to go to Kabukicho area at night?
**DAY 11 MONDAY**
* Entire day for DisneySea
**DAY 12 TUESDAY**
* We are saving exploring Asakusa area for the last day because our plane goes 10PM and we hope to put our luggage in our hotel for the time being. Still haven’t checked on the transport to Haneda Airport. Should I bring my luggage or forward it to airport.
* Going to Senso-ji Temple
* strolling around Kappabashi
* Going to Haneda
Sorry for the wall text and many suggestion/ recommendation request. Thanks in advance.
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by anc1ent