Hi everyone. I’m planning a first time trip to Japan with my husband and kids in October. We have 10 days and are planning to hit Tokyo and Kyoto, and spend 1 full day in Nara. Unfortunately, it was much cheaper to fly in and out of Tokyo; hence, we have a Tokyo bookend. We are staying near Shinjuku on the front end and near the Tokyo Skytree at the tail end. In Kyoto, we are staying near Nijo Castle. I’m eager to get any feedback at all. Things to add. Things to cut. We’re hoping to find a good mix of things modern and traditional.
Day 1. Land in Tokyo. Travel to hotel and explore nearby neighborhood.
Day 2 (Sunday). Meiji Jingu Garden /
Takeshita Street/Harajuku /
Yoyogi Park (around 1:30 to see Rockabilly performers) /
Shibuya Scramble/Hachiko Memorial /
Rainbow Karaoke
Day 3. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden /
teamLab Borderless /
Tokyo Joypolis
Day 4. Bullet train to Kyoto /
Nishiki Market /
Nijo Castle /
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Day 5. Higashijama Jisho-ji /
Philosopher’s Path /
Eikando Temple /
Kaiseki lunch somewhere /
Ninensaka /
Kiyomizu-dera
Day 6.
Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple /
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (guided tour) /
Kinkaku-ji /
Hyatt for dinner to see maiko show?
Day 7. Train to Nara /
Kofuku-ji /
Nakatanidou /
Nara Park /
Todai-ji Daibutsuden /
Kasuga Taisha /
Stay overnight at ryokan
Day 8. Train back to Kyoto /
Samurai Ninja Museum /
Pontocho /
Gion
Day 9. Bullet train to Tokyo /
National Museum of Nature and Science/
Yadorigi Cafe /
Tokyo Skytree
Day 10.
Watch sumo at Arashio-beya stable /
Depart for home
Thanks in advance!
by SaidSomeoneOnce