Hi everyone! I have been following the sub for a while and actually used some of the advice on other posts to build my own itinerary, now here I am sharing it with you cause I'd love your comments and any other important things I might be missing.
First some relevant context, I am traveling with my wife and my 8 year old son, this is my son's first big international trip (we live in Mexico), he's been to the US several times but we only stay for a few days, and normally the biggest activity we have is visit some park like Disney or Universal. Therefore, this will be the first time he will spend so much time away, on a trip that requires a lot of walking and a lot of energy every day, so I had to take this into account when building the plan.
Other important note is, since my kid is going, the only time we can go because of his school is during July, I know and have read a lot here that July and August is the worst time to visit Japan but what can you do ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, we've prepared ourselves with a list of important things to consider to avoid the worst moments of heat, plus will stay hydrated (lot's of Pocari and water) and we will spend time indoors when we feel too much heat.
All that being said, here's the plan:
Day 1 – Tokyo
On this day we'll be dead from traveling, so planning to rest as much as possible, we are also thinking about buying some Airism tshirts at Uniqlo as I've read they're good for the heat and humidity, but would love your thoughts.
- Arrive in Narita around 2PM after a 10 hour flight from LAX
- Go to the hotel (Staying near Tokyo Station)
- Eat some Ramen (would love recommendations in the area!) and go to sleep
Day 2 – Tokyo
Asakusa, Ueno Park and Akihabara
- Start the day in Nakamise-dori (I read most things open around 9 to 10 AM, so was not planning on arriving too early but would love to hear your recommendations).
- Sensō-ji
- Visit Donki in Asakusa for random stuff shopping
- Go to Ueno Park and just wander around
- Around 7PM go to Akihabara Electric Town
- Dinner (sushi recommendations are welcome!) and return to hotel
Day 3 – Tokyo
TeamLab Planets, Takeshita-dori, Yoyogi. The idea on this day is take it easy, just wander and visit cool and beautiful places, would love your recommendations of places in the areas we'll be at.
- Start the day at TeamLab Planets (we have tickets for 9.30AM)
- Go to Takeshita-dori and just wander (Please share recommendations for where to eat!)
- Yoyogi Park, Meiji Jingu, random wandering
- Return to Hotel, want to return early-ish because next day is Disney and we know we have to arrive early
Day 4 – Tokyo
- DisneySea (already have tickets)
Day 5 – Tokyo
Mainly Shibuya, this and Akihabara are what have me the most excited, I'm a big Nintendo and Anime fan so would love any neat recommendations for cool stuff!
- Start the day in Akasaka (the wife and I are big HP fans) we have a reservation at 10AM at the Harry Potter Cafe
- Shibuya (Scramble crossing, Nintendo Store, Pokemon Center, Mugiwara Store) any recommendations of cool places are welcome
- We have a reservation at Shibuya Sky at 8.30PM, spend some time there and go to sleep
Day 6 – Kyoto
We leave for Kyoto in the 9AM Shinkansen, already have tickets, since we're only spending 2 days in Kyoto I though dividing the visit in West/East would make sense, what are your thoughts?
- Arrive in Hotel around 11.30AM to 12PM (we'll be staying 4 blocks away from Nishiki Market)
- Rush to Arashiyama Monkey Park (I know it closes at 4PM and might be a stretch because of the hike, but my kid is sort of looking forward to this cause he loves animals, what do you guys think?)
- Depending on what happens with the Monkey adventure, I wanted to go to Kinkaku-ji but I know it closes at 5PM so might not have enough time if we do the Monkeys thing
- As this day is sort of open, wanted to hear your thoughts and recommendations on what cool things we could do on this day or even where to eat
Day 7 – Kyoto
Eastern Kyoto
- Start the day early (6AM) at Fushimi Inari, I want to go all the way up but will also depend on the kid's mood
- Wander around Gion, Sannenzaka, Ninzaka
- Nishiki Market (I've read many things close at 4PM so maybe would do this before Gion)
- We don't have anything planned for the next morning cause we're leaving for Osaka at noon, so we're open to staying out late so would love your recommendations on what to do late in Kyoto (kid friendly please!)
- Return to hotel
Day 8 – Osaka
We leave for Osaka in the 12PM Shinkansen, already have tickets, I know this was a stretch for a 13 minute ride but YOLO :V
- Arrive in Hotel around 12.30PM to 1PM (We're staying in Namba)
- I want to take my kid to Round One Stadium near Dotonbori, heard it's pretty cool
- Dotonbori
- I need to know where is the best Takoyaki man can get on this area
- Return to hotel
Day 9 – Osaka
Nara
- Todai-ji
- Nara Deer Park
- Mostly wander around, no big ideas here so would also love your comments on what else we could do to fill the day, however we want to return early-ish to the hotel cause next day we're going to USJ
Day 10 – Osaka
- USJ (already have tickets)
Day 11 – Day 16 – South Korea
Day 17 – Narita
We're returning to Japan one day before our return flight, I wanted to stay near the airport just for my own peace of mind so nothing planned here, any recommendations are welcome
- Arrive in Narita around 1PM
- Go to hotel and check-in around 2 to 3PM (We're staying at the International Garden Hotel Narita)
- Just exist, so any recommendations in the area are welcome. What good food can you get around here?
Day 18 – Return home
So that's it, I'm looking for great local places to eat, I know Tabelog can be a great guide but would love to hear from you, we're in for all types of food, not allergic to anything, also if there is a good Wagyu place for reasonable price we can visit in any of the areas in the plan I'd appreciate your recommendations. Thanks a lot if you read all the way through here!
by gerave32
4 comments
Day 2 try to go to Akihabara a bit earlier, as some shops start packing to close by 20. Yodobashi closes later (as well as other shops) so you can stay after 20.
Day 6 go to hotel by taxi and then to Arashiyama by taxi and you might be able to do everything. Don’t feel too bad if you miss on something though. Better to have an enjoyable time and leaving something for another time than rushing around.
Day 17 go to Narita and Shinjo-ji temple, there’s also a shopping street with some restaurants nearby.
Day 1, Tokyo station has a Ramen Street. Many to choose from. Rokurinsha is popular for tsukemen, line moves pretty fast. But walk around and find what looks and smells good.
Day 2, there’s a donki in Akihabara and you won’t have to lug what you buy for the rest of the day. Never been during the summer but Ueno Park in the middle afternoon seems like a bad idea.
I’d swap day 6/7. Since your hotel is close to all the things on day 7, and you aren’t getting in until the afternoon on day 6. You can do Arashiyama and the monkey park in the morning of 7 and then return to what you missed from 6. Fushimi could be morning of day 8.
Day 8, Shinkansen is a big fat no here. You’ll take it to shin-Osaka and then have to transfer. There are direct trains to Namba from Kyoto either local or express.
Honestly the least crowded and maybe better takoyaki , especially for choice, is the not often mentioned Osaka Takoyaki Market located near hep5 in Umeda. There are five stalls here (four highly rated on Google, if that matters)
Since you mentioned you’re a big nintendo fan, we liked the Kyoto store the best. It’s got a nice area above it with decorations that you can take pics on, plus it’s bigger. It’s a shame you’re only in Kyoto for 2 days or I’d strongly recommend getting to it.
Do your best on first day to keep everyone awak as late as you can. Otherwise you will all just wake up at 3am. DO NOT TAKE A NAP AT 5PM. Fortunately Tokyo is filled with stimuli. If you do get up super early on day 2, head over to the fish market. Not sure if you guys have flown to asia before, but yes its super long and tiring flight, but you need to stay up as late as you can on that first day and same with each day and it will get better. I usually find day 3 rough. Kyoto taking cabs to maximize efficiency is a great idea. The pre bought shinkansen ticket on day 8 is just silly – there are multiple better options probably every few minutes. Dotonbori is filled with food – dont worry about the best. Just keep eating wherever looks interesting with not too long a queue. Also family restaurants on top floors of malls and department stores are good and have ac if you need to wait and more spacious so good for resting. There is food in all directions (including above and below) so dont overthink.
Ueno park go to a museum – like the museum of science one. The park isnt very nature-ly / lots of concrete with some trees. I think of the park as just something to walk through to get to the various (wonderful) museums. Could be a small festival in the park with some food stands and little tents selling this and that.
Osaka aquarium is impressive with a whale shark.