Hi everyone,
**The Group**
My family is taking our elderly mother to Japan for her first visit. She is 73 years old and last year she had a significant spinal cord decompression surgery. I guess you could say this is like a last hurrah – trying to take her to see things before its too late. She grew up in SE Asia but fled to the US in the early 80s. She can walk, but not walk that much.
Also coming on this trip:
Myself – visited Japan 6 times now since 2016. I’m mainly coming to help out.
Sister – first time in Japan. Wants to eat, shop, go to Disney.
Sister’s Husband – first time in Japan. Wants the same thing as Sister.
Sister’s two kids (6 and 9 yo) – into Pokemon. Easy to feed – loves Japanese food.
**Uh oh – Summer time**
Because of the kids school schedule, and my sisters schedule the only time we could book was mid July – early August. I personally have never traveled to Japan during this time. My sister’s family and mom is from south Texas though, so I am hoping they’ll be more acclimated to the heat.
I plan on only being there for the first part of the trip and heading home.
I would love input from everyone as to what you guys think is feasible and what areas might be worth optimizing to ensure all the first timers enjoy their visit to Japan. I plan on renting a car in Tokyo to reduce my moms need to walk long distances – esp in quick train transfer situations. I am unsure when or how long i’ll rent a car for. I rented a car my last trip to Japan (Apr 2024) and was pretty fine using mapcodes and driving on the opposite side of the road etc.
We will most likely bring a wheelchair for my mom or rent one while in Japan. TBD. Some of these destinations have free wheelchair rental as well.
**Current Itinerary**
7/19
* 3pm – Land at NRT
* Get Suicas – buy skyliner tickets
* 6pm – Arrive at AirBNB next to Shin-Okubo Station
* \~7pm – Eat nearby – early night
7/20
* 9am – Depart for Asakusa
* 11am – Sensoji Temple & Nakamise Street
* 12pm – food around Asakusa
* 2pm – Arrive at Skytree
* 5pm – conclude whenever – head back to AirBNB or find food that family fancies
7/21
* 9am – Depart for Ikebukuro
* 10am – Sunshine 60 Observatory
* 11am – Visit Sunshine Aquarium
* 1pm – Pokemon Center Nihonbashi
* 3pm – Pokemon Cafe (Nihonbashi branch for dine in?)
* 5-7pm – Sunshine City – shopping wandering around
7/22
* 9am – Depart for Odaiba
* 10am – Small World Museum
* 1pm – DECKS Tokyo
* 3pm – Trick Art Museum
* 4pm – Shopping / Walking around checking out Aqua City, Odaiba, Rainbow Bridge etc
7/23
* 10am – Depart for Ueno
* 10:30am – Tokyo National Museum
* 2:30pm – National Museum of Science
* 5pm – Shopping + food
7/24
* 9am – Depart for ???
* 10am – Team Lab Planets or Borderless for Sisters family
* 10am – TBD where I take my mom – depends on which teamlabs Planets is likely more convenient though
* 3pm – water bus sightseeing tour
* 6pm – Shopping at Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai
7/25
* 7am – Sister departs for DisneySea
* 7am – I take my mom by car to Nikko
* 10am – Kegon Falls
* 11:30am – Lake Chuzenji
* 3pm – Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa
I’ve heard there are more festivals during summer – and perhaps fireworks – anyone know anything happening during those times?
I want to be prepared for my moms ailments so – likely renting a car for a good chunk or maybe most of the duration I’m there. We will think about bringing her wheelchair as well. If not, renting one when we get to Japan.
The family continues on to Kyoto after I leave on 7/26. I plan on setting them up with Yamato Transport so they can get their luggage sent to Kyoto on 7/25 and so they should be transporting just my mom + maybe 1-2 carry on luggage cases.
They will have 4 days in Kyoto – a day trip to Nara then 2 days in Osaka before flying home from KIX.
by FFRedshirt