I have family in Japan so I've been many times. I'm planning a trip next Spring with my husband's family, 8 people total, for most of them it will be their first time in Japan.
Current Proposed Itinerary
- Flying from New York to Haneda
- 6 nights in Tokyo (almost all of Golden Week falls under this)
- 2 nights in Kanazawa
- 4 nights in Kyoto
- 1 night at Mt Fuji
- 1 night in Tokyo
- Flying from Haneda to New York
Unfortunately, we have to go during Golden Week. It's the only time all 8 of us can go with our busy schedules. The specific dates are 4/28-5/12 and I read that Golden Week is 4/29-5/5, so we'd be arriving in Tokyo on the first day of Golden Week. I heard that Tokyo "empties out" during the holiday (similar to how NYC empties during Thanksgiving), so I'm planning on coinciding our time in Tokyo with Golden Week in hopes of avoiding huge crowds.
- Are the crowds really terrible during Golden Week, or is it an exaggeration? Is it a good idea to spend all of our time in Tokyo during this time? I think it's a good idea to avoid Kyoto, but starting in Kanazawa could be another option. We do plan on going to main touristy areas like Meiji Shrine, Takeshita-dori/Omotesando, Asakusa, Imperial Palace (possibly with a bus tour), popular restaurants and such, but not things like Disney.
- Would you recommend changing the number of nights in Tokyo/Kyoto? Possibly move 1 night from Tokyo to Kyoto?
- Is it worth it to spend a night at a Ryokan next to Mount Fuji? I thought it'd be cool as a quintessential Japanese experience for the family, was thinking of Wakakusa no Yado Maruei, Shuhoukaku Kogetsu, or Fuji Kawaguchiko Onsen Hotel Konansou. But we could skip it and add that night to our Kyoto itinerary instead.
Any tips/suggestions appreciated. Thanks!
by newgirlie