Hi all! My family of 4 (2 adults, 15yo son, 13yo daughter) are planning a trip to Japan in early November (from Western Canada) for 15 days. It is our first time and we are not super fast-paced travellers, so we are accepting that we can’t see it all 🙂 Kids aren’t into anime/manga/etc. but we will be including at least a few kid-centric activities. Museums and galleries are okay in small doses of the most notable, but preference is given to architecture / nature / active pursuits. We definitely want to go to Universal Studios, stay in a Ryokan (with onsen), see some great fall foliage, and try our best to see Mt. Fuji. Otherwise, things are pretty flexible.
After a lot of reading, I have a first draft outline that I would appreciate some thoughts on – suggestions are very welcome! Is this TOO slow-paced? Some omissions that I am wondering if we can squeeze in are Kanazawa, Takayama, Hakone, and / or Hiroshima. Thanks in advance!
Day 1 – arrive in Tokyo
* Late afternoon arrival after a 15 hour flight – check in to lodgings, eat, sleep!
Day 2 – Tokyo
* Yoyogi Park
* Harajuku
* Omotesando
Day 3 – Tokyo
* Shimokitazawa
* Shibuya
Day 4 – travel to Osaka
* Osaka Castle
* Dotombori
* Hozenji Yokocho
* Dogoyasuji
Day 5 – Osaka
* Universal Studios Japan
Day 6 – Daytrip to Himeji (from Osaka)
Day 7 – Travel to Kyoto
* Southern Higashiyama
* Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine / Hike
Day 8 – Kyoto
* Arashiyama
* Kokedera
Day 9 – Daytrip to Nara (from Kyoto)
Day 10 – Travel to Kawaguchiko
* Spend night in ryokan
* Onsens
Day 11 – Kawaguchiko
* 5th station (hiking)
* Chureito Pagoda
Day 12 – Travel back to Tokyo
* Tsujiki
* TeamLab Planets
Day 13 – Daytrip to Nikko (from Tokyo)
Day 14 – Tokyo
* Asakusa
* Ryogoku
Day 15 – Leaving Tokyo at 6:30pm
* Imperial Palace
by 8gent