Hi,
Planning a family holiday from to Japan from the 1st to 16th of November this year. Me, my husband, son (15) and daughter (13). Son loves all things anime, Samuari. Daughter loves all things kawaii. All of us love all types of Japanese cuisine. We want to eat, experience, immerse in all that Japan has to offer.
Hoping to get some feedback on my itinerary. We arrive and depart from Narita airport so that's why I thought we could do a few days in Tokyo again on the way out. So that it's not a mad rush the last day from Osaka to Narita (flight departs 11am). But I'm open to ideas if you can suggest a better option.
Here's what I have so far:
Day 1-6: Tokyo, Shinjuku.
Not really sure how to spread these out but we want to go to
Shibuya: Station (Hachi), Shibuya crossing, Pompompurin Cafe,
Harajuku: (can we spend an entire day there?), Happy Pancake souffle pancakes,
Tsukiju fish Market
Ginza: Uniqlo (son loves Uniqlo and this is 12 storeys)
Akihabara, Capybara cafe, Meiji Jingu shrine,
Studio Ghibli Museum
Sanrioland (if theres other things to do nearby as well, i know my daughter will love it but not sure my son will appreciate it haha).
Restaurant we want to try are Ninja Tokyo.
Misc: Rainbow Karaoke, shibuya.
Any day trips at you can recommend while we are based in tokyo?
Day 6-9: Osaka
Universal studios, Animeal cafe, Cinnamaroll Cafe.
Day trip to Nara
Sumo restaurant – https://www.ochiizumi.com/ja
also want to find pop-up anime cafe's – Jujutsu kaisen, spy x family, my hero academia, demon slayer – anything to do with them my kids love it.
Any day trips at you can recommend while we are based in Osaka?
Day 9-12: Kyoto
looking at booking this South Kyoto tour 7-8hr Biking Tour of Kyoto but not sure if 7-8 hrs is too long? I'd imagine not since there would be so much to see and learn. Alternatively, we do this 3-4hr biking tour of Kyoto and go by ourselves to Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, which is a must on the list.
going to book my husband and son to sword forge workshop https://morinokyoto.jp/masahiro\_en/
thinking my daughter and I could do the kimono hire and photoshoot (but not sure which one). Although my daughter would probably prefer a anime/cosplay photoshoot (have only found one online, needs more research)
Kyoto tower observation deck and slide
Day 12-14: Tokyo, Tokyo Bay – Disneyland, Teamlab Planets. Thinking of staying at a hotel close to Disneyland because I'm going to want to be there from when they open until they close and would like a short trip back to the hotel to pass out 🙂
Day 14-16: Tokyo somewhere? – Not sure what to do here but thinking ending the trip a bit closer to Narita airport so when we depart at 11am on the 16th, its easier with waking packing and getting to the airport. My son also wants to buy a katana so I'm thinking maybe if he gets it on our last days he doesn't have to lug it around all holiday?
Oh and the only thing I don't have yet that I would love to include is an onsen, perhaps a private onsen so that we can have our whole family together. Also both my husband and I have tattoos so I know that's a factor as well.
Really appreciate if anyone can provide some input to let me know if i'm on the right track or if my itinerary makes no sense as i also have no sense of direction. so me planning a trip in a country I know nothing about is pretty scary!
by 4ngi3