Will be travelling with my (26) mother (59 – in good health) for her bday end of November to Japan. I’ve been twice before but tis her first time. I didnt want us to move around too much so chose 1 week in Kyoto and 1 week in Tokyo as main bases with some day trips.
The first part of the trip will be 7 full days based in Kyoto mostly focused on nature, tenples, shrines, etc. The second part of the trip will be 7 full days based in Tokyo (Shinjuku) focused on the city, food and some museums.
**Day 1**
* Land 15.40pm at Haneda
* Shinkansen to Kyoto
* check-in hotel + dinner
**Day 2**
* Toji temple market
* Lunch
* Explore south Higashiyama
* Night temple illuminations – Kiyomizu-dera + Kodai-ji temples
* Dinner
**Day 3**
* \~6.30am wakeup (to avoid crowds)
* Train to Fushimi Inari Shrine + hike up
* Train to hotel/get changed + chill a bit
* Tea Ceremony (Maikoya company?)
* 6pm Geisha tour
**Day 4**
* Train to Saga-Arashiyama
* Tenryuji temple
* Arashiyama bamboo forest
* Jōjakkō-ji Temple (Optional)
* Kameyama Park + observation deck
* Lunch
* Cross Togetsu-kyo bridge
* Arashiyama Monkey Park
* Train to hotel
**Day 5**
* Day trip to Nara
**Day 6**
* Bus/taxi to Higashiyama Jisho-ji “Ginkakuji”
* Walk the Philosopher’s path
* Coffee/lunch stop on philosophers path
* Walk to Zenrin-ji Temple (optional)
* Walk to Nanzen-ji Temple
* Keage incline (optional)
* Chion-in shrine (day-optional)
* Tenjin-san market?
* Chill + hotel + dinner
**Day 7**
This day I am not sure if going to Kifune is a good idea for this time of the year? This day may be replaces with just relaxing around the area instead.
* Train to Kifune
* Walk to Kifune-jinja Shrine (20min)
* Walk to Kibune Okunomiya (optional)
* Lunch
* Hike to Head Kurama Dera (1h)
* Hike down to Kurama station (30min)
* Walk to Kurama Onsen? (15min)
* Kurama Onsen? (2h)
* Train back to hotel + dinner
**Day 8**
* Bus/taxi to Kinkakuji
* Train to Nijo Castle
* Lunch at Nishiki market
* Hotel/Free time
* Show? theater? Illuminations?
**Day 9**
* Check-out
* Take train to Tokyo
* Explore Shinjuku + dinner
**Day 10**
* Walk to Meiji Shrine (From Shinjuku)
* Yoyogi park
* Explore Harajuku
* Lunch
* Walk via Omotesando
* Walk to Nezu Museum (alternative to day 13 if no time/closed)
* Walk to Shibuya
* Dinner in Shibuya
**Day 11**
* Train to Senso-ji temple
* Walk to Ueno Park
* See Shinobazu pond
* Street food in Ameyoko market
* Explore Akihabara
* Buy Souvenirs Don Quijote Akihabara?
* Train to hotel + dinner
**Day 12**
Day trip to Nikko
**Day 13**
* Walk to Shinjuku Gyoen Park
* Visit the greenhouse
* Walk to Jingu gaien ginkgo Avenue
* Walk to Nezu Museum via Aoyama Cemetery (alternative to day 10)
* Lunch
* Walk to Roppongi Hills
* Mori Art Centre
* Sky Deck
* Dinner at Roppongi/ Xmas market
**Day 14**
* Day trip to Kawaguchi Lake for mt. Fuji views
* Chureito Pagoda
* Return 6pm ish
* Dinner
**Day 15**
* Imperial Palace East Gardens (Optional)
* Train to Teamlab Planets
* Joypolis? VR Experience?
* Statue of Liberty/Rainbow bridge viewpoint
* **Birthday dinner (Fishbank?)**
**Day 16**
* Free morning?
* Walk to park? Souvenirs?
* Pack
* Flight that night 00.50am
​
My questions:
**Day 7**: Is Kifune a good idea for End of November? Will they have the lunches on the river open? Last I checked Kurama Onsen is also closed. If its not worth it we can cancel and have a chill day maybe?
**Day 11:** We were meant to visit Edo museum but I see its temporarily closed. Any alternatives or museum generally showing Japan’s history/culture/clothing/lifestyle?
**Day 12**: Do you recommend we go to Nikko on our own or do a guided tour?
**Day 14:** Same q as for Nikko, on our own or day tour?
**Day 15:** It will be my mother’s bithday (big 60!) hence the trip. I found a nice restaurant that has a good menu and fair priced (Fishbank). Any other recommendations? Budget of max around 250$ with a drink or 2
**General Q1:** What do you think of the itinerary? too packed? too empty? any places or activites you recommend we do? Would love suggestions for a cooking class or so as well.
**General Q2:** Anyone have experience in getting the visa with EU passport? Flights and hotel are booked but havent started the ERFS + visa yet. Looking into it. Is timing good to apply now for arriving on the 3 week of November?
Thank you!
2 comments
Day 7: You will not get *somen* experience in November, but there are still some decent restaurants near Kifune Shrine. I think that it’s still worth visiting as the area contains some of the prettiest autumn foliage, though, with onsen closed, I would do Kurama to Kibune route instead and try to visit Tofuku-ji in the afternoon for ‘essential autumn foliage’ experience. Alternatives could include Mt. Hiei (Kyoto), Minoo Park (Osaka), or one of the mountain hikes over Kobe (Mt. Rokko, Mt. Maya, or Shin-Kobe Ropeway area).
Day 11: Fukagawa Edo Museum in Tokyo.
Days 12/14: Guided day trips in Japan tend to be quiet rushed. I feel there could probably more value in a guided tour in Nikko, where certain historically significant places can be missed (or you may miss the context).
Good luck getting a Visa.
Some of the days are a bit busy. Especially in Kyoto as it’s not as easy to get around as Tokyo.
I can’t remember if it’s Team labs that is closed now.
Coming from Europe you’ll probably have jet lag.
Go to Nikko on your own.
Lake Kawaguchi I would recommend staying overnight.
I don’t know anything about Kifune.
>Buy Souvenirs Don Quijote Akihabara?
You can find Don Quijote everywhere.
The Statue of Liberty isn’t very exciting. Personally there isn’t much reason to go to Odaiba at all.