I've been very grateful for all the help this and the tips sub has given. Now, I just want a some last eyes over in case I missed something. Two grandparents, two parents, two in twenties, one sixteen. Land 21st September.
Day 1:
- Parents and Teens arrive : Arrival in Tokyo (Narita) (5pm landing)
- Staying in Ginza – check-in to hotel
- Evening: Wander around, experience nightlife, and have dinner
Day 2:
- Day Trip to Nikko
- We need to fill a day with something the grandparents can live without seeing
- Nikko's attractions
- Toshogu Shrine
- Kegon Falls
- Lake Chuzenji
- ?
- Return back to Ginza for Dinner.
Day 3:
- Tokyo Exploration
- TBC – but things the grandparents don't care about
- Pokemon Center
- Maid Cafe
- Not sure….
- Grandparents arrive land 5pm – check in to hotel/dinner
- TBC – but things the grandparents don't care about
Day 4:
- Tokyo – East Side
- Explore the eastern side of Tokyo
- Tsukiji Market
- Hamarikyu Gardens
- Edo-Tokyo Museum
- Ueno Park
- Evening in Akihabara
- Explore the eastern side of Tokyo
Day 5:
- Tokyo – West Side
- Explore the western side of Tokyo (Shinjuku, Shibuya)
- Ghibli muesum
- Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya Scramble Square
- Hachiko Statue and Shibuya Center-Gai
- Meiji Shrine
- Shibuya Sky observation
- Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai
Day 6:
- Day Trip to Hakone
- Visit Hakone's attractions (Lake Ashi, Hakone Shrine, view of Mt. Fuji)
- Return to Tokyo by evening
Day 7:
- Tokyo – Shopping and Exploration
- Shopping, thrift stores, and exploring various districts
- Tokyo Tower
Day 8:
- Tokyo – South Side
- Visit TeamLab Planets
- Unicorn Gundam
- Miraikan
- Night time Car Tour to Daikoku PA
Day 9:
- Travel to Kawaguchiko
- Bus to Kawaguchiko and check in to hotel.
- Thinking of hiring a car – anyone have opinions?
- Explore Kawaguchiko area:
- Lake
- Mt Fuji Ropeway
- Kawaguchi Asama Shrine
Day 10:
- Fuji-Q Highland
- Visit the theme park for the day
Day 11:
- Travel to Kyoto
- Morning: Check out and explore the Kawaguchiko area and drop off car
- Afternoon: Travel by train/bus to Kyoto
- Evening: Check-in and explore Kyoto
Day 12:
- Kyoto Exploration
- Visit historical and cultural sites in Kyoto
- Fushimi Inari
- Gion District
- Explore temples and shrines
- Visit historical and cultural sites in Kyoto
Day 13:
- Kyoto
- Continue exploring Kyoto
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
- Kinkaku-ji
- Nijo Castle
- Continue exploring Kyoto
Day 14:
- Kyoto
- More time in Kyoto – need to plan more
- Cooking expereince
Day 15:
- Travel to Hiroshima and Miyajima
- Travel to Miyajima
- Ferry to island
- Check into a Ryokan
- Explore Miyajima island
- Travel to Miyajima
Day 16:
- Hiroshima
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park Museum
- A Bomb Dome
- Travel to Osaka
- Stop at Himeji Castle
- Onwards to Osaka – check in to hotel
- Dinner around Dotombori Area
Day 17:
- Universal Studios Japan
- Spend the day at Universal Studios Japan
Day 18:
- Half Day to Nara Deer Park & Great Buddha
- Then back to Osaka Castle
Day 19:
- Check out of Hotel – morning shops before flying out of KIX to Taiwan.
Day 20 -24:
- Taiwan
by mxlmxl
4 comments
A few points:
* Your day 5 is very crowded
* The Edo-Tokyo Museum is closed until 2025
* Osaka Castle is a concrete reconstruction and much less interesting than Himeji Castle, which is one of the few remaining original castles. Nara needs a full day, so stay there rather than see Osaka Castle
* Make sure that you have back up plans for the inevitable wet weather days
Hi! I agree with a few points of u/Appropriate_Volume, but I think your itinerary is great!
Just a few tips about Nikko, since I was there last October!
You absolutely can do Nikko as a day trip from Tokyo – I recommend taking Tobu Railway from the Asakusa Tobu station, since you’re staying in Ginza, it was very easy! But it will take about 2 hrs to get there, and that’s just to the Nikko train station. Given that, for sightseeing I really only recommend doing activities in **Nikko** **proper**, not Oku-Nikko, which is an additional often-busy bus ride up into the mountains that can be time-intensive. There’s plenty to see in Nikko itself, though – Toshogu Shrine, Taiyuin, Rinnoji, Futarasan Shrine, Shinkyo Bridge, Kanmangafuchi Abyss… all lovely historic sightseeing! There are also some great pass deals from Tobu that include both the Tokyo <> Nikko train trip as well as free one or two day bus passes for the public transit around Nikko, which is very easy to hop-on hop-off starting at the Nikko train station. [This video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgQyHOJhZAU) was really helpful in planning our time in Nikko 🙂
I visited Nara recently from Osaka taking public transportation. I recommend you spend your time in Osaka. It’s 2 hours plus just to get there and back. The temples in Kyoto are more beautiful. The Nara deer can be aggressive and some stink. I certainly wasn’t feeding them. I wish now I had seen some more things in Osaka.