Hi everyone!! It will be my mom (50's) + brother's (30) first time going to Japan! I (27) was thinking of showing them the usual popular areas, since they enjoy taking pictures. They are used to walking a bunch and are pretty fit. I also asked them what they wanted to do or see and they're pretty chill about it. They pretty much left it up to me, so I want to make sure they have fun with a balance of sightseeing/shopping etc!
We also understand that we won't be able to see everything, but we'll enjoy walking around, and eating at good restaurants wherever we can 😀
Feel free to give my suggestions!! Also, if this is very ambitious or very messy, please let me know so that I can trim it down!
Trip duration: Oct 26-Nov 5
Day 1: Oct 26 Saturday (Arrival in Tokyo, Haneda)
7 PM: Land at Haneda Airport
- Get luggage, clear customs, probably take an airport limo to reduce the stress of travelling with luggage
- Head to our hotel (Still looking for hotels! Maybe Shinjuku/Shibuya area, somewhere not too crazy though. Using Agoda to find hotels)
- Relax and have dinner somewhere near by!
Day 2: Oct 27 Sunday (Explore Tokyo – Shibuya, Harajuku, Shimokitazawa)
- Check out Shibuya Crossing/Shibuya Sky(?)/Hachiko statue
- Harajuku (Takeshita Street, Meiji Shrine(?))
- Shimokitazawa (To thrift)
- Dinner in Shibuya or Harajuku
Day 3: Oct 28 Monday (Explore Tokyo – Asakusa, Ueno, Akihabara)
- Asakusa (Check out Senso-ji Temple, mom wants to rent a kimono)
- Possibly visit Yanaka
- Walk through Ueno Park/visit Ueno
- Akihabara (Check out the Square Enix cafe/buy some toys?/Arcades!)
- Dinner in Akihabara
Day 4: Oct 29 Tuesday (Explore Tokyo – Shinjuku)
- Pokemon Center/Sumikko Gurashi store
- Shin-Okubo Koreatown
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden OR Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
- Fishing restaurant Zauo Shinjuku for dinner (mom wants to go fishing)
- Explore Kabukicho (Brother is a Yakuza game series fan)
Day 5: Oct 30 Wednesday (Head to Osaka)
- Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka
- Check into hotel (Still looking for a hotel)
- Explore Dotonbori, enjoy some street food!
- Celebrate my moms birthday! Maybe I can get a cake somewhere or find a dessert place!
Day 6: Oct 31 Thursday (Explore Osaka)
- Visit Umeda Sky Building OR Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan OR Osaka Castle (I'll let them decide haha)
- Shinsaibashi/Namba – thrift shopping
- Shinsekai area
- Hit up a Round1 to end the night after dinner for Halloween!
Day 7: Nov 1 Friday (Day trip to Kyoto)
- Take the train to Kyoto
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
- Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Head back to Osaka
Day 8: Nov 2 Saturday (Free day)
- Not sure what to do on this day. Day trip to Nara?/back to Kyoto?/Explore Osaka more?
- Possibly Nara, seeing the deer would be a cool experience for my mom + brother
- Will try to head to Kyoto 🙂
Day 9: Nov 3 Sunday (Head back to Tokyo)
- Shinkansen from Osaka to Tokyo
- Check into hotel (Thinking of getting a hotel around Ueno/Ginza)
- Explore Ueno or Ginza? (Depending on where the hotel is)
Day 10: Nov 4 Monday (Explore Tokyo, Tsukiji Fish Market)
- Tsukiji Fish Market
- Roppongi, Odaiba, teamLab (?)
- Go wherever, or check out the Ramen Museum in Yokohama
Day 11: Nov 5 Tuesday (Explore Tokyo)
- Last minute shopping!!
- Explore leisurely/revisit favourite spots
- Make sure to get to the airport around 5/6pm
10 PM: Fly out from Haneda Airport
If you managed to get this far, thank you for checking my itinerary! Please leave me some feedback!!!
by Jaeyun