I’ll be visiting Japan in July for the first time, with my wife and teenage kids. We have a number of things we’d like to do, and we’re planning to split our time between Tokyo and Kyoto. Is this a realistic schedule? I have grouped items together by proximity but the days themselves are not in any particular order; they can be reordered as needed.
1. ***Arrive in Tokyo, get checked into hotel, get our bearings***
2. Explore Ikebukuro, Sunshine City (Pokemon Center, Pokemon Cafe)
3. Explore Akihabara, go to Kirby Cafe, maybe Tokyo Skytree
4. Sanrio Puroland
5. Studio Ghibli Museum (may need to buy a tour package that includes visiting some other sights, so this will probably take a full day)
6. Toyosu Fish Market, TeamLAB Planets
7. Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi Park, explore Shibuya/Shinjuku
8. ***Travel to Kyoto, get checked into hotel***
9. Visit shrines (Fushimi Inari Shrine for sure, maybe Kinnini-ji temple and/or golden pavilion)
10. Samurai & Ninja Museum, tea ceremony
11. Short trip to Nara Deer Village, then shop for a kimono (not a formal kimono, but not a yukata either)
12. Toei Kyoto Studio Park (I’m not 100% sold on this, but it might be fun for the kids)
13. ***Travel to Hakone, stay at hot springs ryokan***
14. ***Check out and travel back to Tokyo, fly out in the late afternoon.***
by GypsySage