A few questions remain, as I near the end of my Japan vacation planning deep dive. Biggest question is our final 2 day / 1 night stay at the end of our 14-day adventure.
We are currently booked for an overnight in Nara at a beautiful (we hope) ryokan in the Nara forrest. Because we will experience a night in Koyasan with possibly some similar Ghibli forrest vibes earlier in the trip, is there somewhere else to experience that would be really cool before we head back to Tokyo to depart?
We are a family of 4. Our kiddos are ages 10 and 12. Any tips on family travel and things kids will enjoy, appreciated.
I have been to Japan once, over a decade ago. My husband has been numerous times, as a young adult and for business, so we’re not totally unfamiliar.
I have been looking at availability in Hakone as an option for the end of our trip – any onsen suggestions, OR a coastal moment before we hightail it back to Tokyo for our departure? FYI – I gave up Miyajima after Hiroshima (instead or Osaka) because we decided that would be way too much travel to get to Koyasan from Miyajima to just turn around and leave the next day. Also wondering at this point if Miyajima is a better bet, rather than the Osaka/ Koyasan combo. Gah! My brain.
Here’s the scoop –
We arrive in the afternooon and hope to stay up long enough to make it to a somewhat normal, albiet very early, bedtime. This is our itinerary to follow. Thank you! 🙂
**TOKYO Day 1-4**
Stay in Minato District / Shiodome subway station
Unscheduled TO DO’S that have caught my eye. I will slide these in where logistics align.
* See Senso-ji temple at night
* Lucky Cat Temple
* Character St. for kids shopping
* Ameyoko Shopping District Market
* Yayoi Kasuma Museum
Day 1 (aggressive scheule, I know)
* 5am Tsukiji Market Tuna Lottery (will see if we can handle this insanely early wake up)
* 10:30am Asakusa Rickshaw 70 minute tour. Suggestions on places to not miss on this tour? I believe we can kind of ask to see whatever we want.
Check out Food Hall Asakusa. Any other cool spots?
* 1pm Sumo Lunch Hot Pot 5min walk from Toei Shinjuku line Kikukawa station
* Back to hotel to chill for a bit
Any suggestions on fun spot for easy dinner with kids in Shabuya? I cancelled a fish-for-your-meal restaurant deciding it was not for us. Am I wrong?
* Shubuya Sky 6:40 – 7pm Entry time for Sunset arrive early to que
Might try to visit while in Shibuya –
* Rooftop of Miyashita Park
* Hachiko Statue
* Meiji-jingu Shrine 15 walk from Shibuya Sky
Also in Shibuya FOR KIDS!
* Pepper Robot Cafe 5th Floor of Tokyo Plaza
* Avatar cafe
Day 2
* 9am TeamLabs Borderless
Explore surrounding area \*Azabudai Hills
Would LOVE an excellent lunch recomendation around here, maybe Ramen?
* Try to visit anime neighborhood or Takeshita Street in Harajuku
* Early Afternoon Tea Hama-rikyu Gardens Park near Hotel (?)
Need to decide Shinjuku @ Night No Kids – OR – with Kids TBD
Things To Do & See in Shinkjuku, we wn’t do all of these but have them for reference.
* Batting center
* Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku Excellent View
* Godzilla Head Chome-19-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo
* 2-D Cafe Tokyo-to, Shinjuku-ku, Hyakunin-cho 1-7-5
* Food Mall & Karaoke Shinjuku –
Day 3
* 9:30am – 1pm West Tokyo Bike Tour with lunch
* 3:30pm Ghibli Museum
* 6pm Giants Baseball Game – we don’t pla to stay for the entire game.
Day 4 Departure Day
* Morning visit Hie Shrine Festival San Matsuri Festival
* 12 noon Lunch with local friends (who chose) Harmony Restaurant atop a hotel
**Day 4-5 HIROSHIMA Peace Memorial Visit**
**Day 5-6 Osaka**
Arrive in the afternoon and check out Dotonbori for dinner
**Day 6-7 Koyasan**
* Temple stay and Cemetery Night Tour BOOKED
**Day 7-11 Kyoto**
Day 7 Arrival 1-night stay Ace Hotel Kyoto
Dinner Kikyo Sushi Restaurant
Day 8 We have the morning to explore around Ace Hotel area.
* 1pm Samurai Class
* 3pm Check in Machiya house where we will stay the rest of our time in Kyoto
* 6pm Dinner Mouriya Gion
Day 9
* 9am- 12noon Popular e-bike tour
* 2:30pm Ami Kyoto Tea Ceremony 1 hour
* 7pm Play Gear Theater
Day 10
* Nara Day Trip instead of overnight on Day 10
Day 11 Check out Machiya House in Kyoto. We have 2 days and 1 night to either go to Nara as planned for an overnight, OR plan a different end of trip adventure, thinking about a beautiful onsen in Hakone or the like, or a coastal moment becasue – OYSTERS!
Day 12 return to Tokyo for a 1 night stay departing the following afternoon!
by TheElle_Mc