I'll be traveling to Japan with family for seven days. My parents want to visit Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, and Tokyo in that time span. I know that'll be very rushed, but I can't do anything to change their minds and they've already booked the hotels. Now I'm just trying to figure out how to make the most of our trip. I've made a basic itinerary. Since it's my first time planning a trip abroad, I'd prefer not to allocate a specific time for each place we visit. We'll just go with the flow and miss a few places if that means we won't be rushed. Any thoughts?
Day 1: Saturday (Travel to Kyoto)
Land at Haneda at 3:20 PM
Transfer to Tokaido Shinkansen and ride to Kyoto Station
Transfer to Karasuma Line, ride to Marutamachi Station and check in at hotel
Get dinner somewhere nearby, maybe walk around a bit
Day 2: Sunday (Osaka)
Take train to Osaka
Osaka Castle/Park
Tennoji Park
Shinsekai
Dotonbori
Eat Okonomiyaki, Takoyaki, and/or Kushikatsu somewhere along the way
Day 3: Monday (Fushimi Inari Shrine and Nara)
Fushimi Inari Shrine (we'll try to visit first thing in the morning)
Take train to Nara
Nara Park
Kasuga Taisha
Isuien Garden
Kofukuji Temple
Todaiji Temple
Day 4: Tuesday (Rest of Kyoto)
Check out hotel before 4 PM, but ask them to hold luggage for most of the day
Bamboo Grove
Togetsukyo Bridge
Monkey Park
Tenryuji Temple
Kiyomizudera Temple
Wander Gion neighborhood
Eat at Pontocho Alley
Get luggage and take Tokaido Shinkansen and ride to Tokyo Station, transferring and riding to Shinjuku Station
Check in at hotel
Day 5: Wednesday (Chiyoda and Asakusa)
Imperial Palace East Gardens
National Diet Tour
Sensoji Temple
Ueno Park
Sumida River
Tokyo Skytree
Kappabashi Street Shopping
Shop at Uniqlo Asakusa
Day 6: Thursday (Shibuya and Akihabara)
Meiji Shrine
Shibuya Crossing
Shibuya Sky
Hachiko Statue
Nintendo Tokyo Store
Akihabara for me, Tokyo National Museum for everyone else
Day 7: Friday (Departure)
Check out of hotel
Take monorail back to Haneda and catch departing flight
by NinSoap