Hello! I'm planning a trip in with my family and was considering doing a trip to Japan during the 7-8 days we have off in late November. This would be our first time in Japan and we want to accomplish a lot and see a couple cities. I do recognize that we could probably spend a full week in Tokyo alone but we want to see a lot and don't mind having to spend time on trains traveling to new destinations. If we were to do this, our overall goal is to get a taste of the highlights during these couple days. I got an itinerary from a friend who spent 2-3 weeks in Japan and have picked attractions and sites that I feel match what we would be interested in seeing. So I'm mainly looking for help in seeing if some of these days are feasible or if I should cut down some stuff. I feel like by the end of my planning, I was lumping in a lot of places so another pair of eyes would be really helpful!
I don't have a lot of food and hotel stuff figured out just yet. So this is excluding all of that.
Itinerary:
Day 1: (Arrival and Kyoto)
- Arrive at KIX at 10am and Travel to Kyoto station by 1pm.
- Check in to hotel/drop bags off and head to togetsukyo bridge.
- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
- Kinkaku-Ji
- Ryoan-Ji
- Samurai Ninja Museum
Day 2: (Kyoto)
- Sanjusangendo
- Gion
- Yasaka Shrine
- Heian Shrine
- Higashiyama Jisho-ji
- Philosopher's Path
- Nanzen-ji Temple
- Starbucks Coffee – Kyoto Nineizaka Yasaka Chaya
- Kiyomizu-dera (For Sunset)
- Tea Ceremony Camellia FLOWER (Optional)
Day 3: (Kyoto/Hiroshima)
- Fushimi Inari Taisha (early morning hike)
- Tōfuku-ji Temple (if we have time)
- Toji Gojunoto (Five Story Pagoda) (if we have time)
- Check out of hotel and head to Kyoto station. Board shinkansen to Hiroshima.
- Mazda Factory tour in Hiroshima (2-4pm)
- Shukkeien Garden
- Hiroshima Castle
- Dinner and shopping at Hondori Shopping Street
Day 4: (Hiroshima/Miyajima Island)
- Peace Memorial Park and Museum in the morning
- Travel to Miyajima Island
- Mount Misen Ropeway
- Itsukushima Jinja
- In the evening, have dinner and then travel to Okayama to board Sunrise Express to Tokyo
Day 5: (Tokyo)
- Arrive at 7am
- Imperial Palace/The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
- Meiji Jingu
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
- Nezu Museum/Have lunch
- Shibuya Scramble Crossing/Hachikō Memorial Statue
- Shibuya Sky
- Tokyu Plaza Ginza (if we have time)
Day 6: (Tokyo) (Feel like this day needs the most tweaking)
- The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
- teamLab Planets
- Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
- Nezu Shrine
- Rikugien Gardens
- Ueno Park
- Tokyo National Museum
- Sensō-ji
- Ushijima Shrine
- Tokyo Skytree (Don't know if this is necessary if doing Shibuya Sky)
- Sumida River
Day 7: Day Trip out of Tokyo (Considering the following options)
- 1 of 3 options: Lake Kawaguchi, Kamakura, Hakone
- Come back to Tokyo and do teamLab Borderless in the evening
Day 8: Fly out of NRT at 2pm
Let me know if I am overestimating our ability to visit these places during our trip. Also if you have any suggestions to do other places or cut items, please let me know! Any help is truly appreciated!
by 1033149