first time japan 12 day itinerary advice


Hii

Me and my parents (in their 50s) are going to visit Japan for the first time this December for 12 days. After doing some research I came up with the following itinerary: Please leave any suggestions or advice you would have on my itinerary (switch some things around, add/drop certain spots) as this is our first time visiting anything will help, thank you!

 day 1

  • Arrival in Tokyo (recommended to stay near Akasaka area)
  • transport
  • check into hotel and rest (go out and eat if not tired)

Day 2

  • Visit MEIJI JINGU (morning)
  • Grab lunch
  • Visit Shinjuku Gyoen (afternoon)
  • Then explore the shinjuku or shibuya area at night

Day 3 

  • Explore Asakusa (Nakamise dori, senso-ji)
  • Grab lunch
  • Tokyo national museum 
  • Explore Akihabara 

Day 4

  • DAY TRIP TO HAKONE (most stuff close before 5 so need to go early, will need to ride the train for about 2 hours.)aim to get there by 9am. Take Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone

https://www.hakonenavi.jp/international/en/course/244#:~:text=Ride%20the%20Romancecar%20to%20travel,enjoying%20the%20scenery%20(*1)).

  • Visit the hakone shrine and lake ashi
  • Visit open air museum 
  • Have lunch 
  • End the day at Hot spring at Hakone (need to reserve) weekdays close at 8pm, weekends at 9pm https://www.hakoneyuryo.jp/english/spa/hotspring/#hanare

Day 5

  • *FREE TIME NOTHING PLANNED*
  • Ginza shopping center 
  • Train to kyoto (two hours) 
  • After getting to kyoto, explore the area and rest 

Day 6 

  • Explore Arashiyama (bamboo forest (go EARLY), Tenryuji, monkey park)
  • Lunch 
  • Explore kyoto streets: Gion, Potoncho, Kawaramachi

Day 7 

  • Fushi Inari red gates (morning)
  • Ninenzaka!!, Sannenzaka, Hokanji Temple 
  • Winter illuminations (not sure which one yet,late afternoon or night) 

Day 8 

  • \FREE DAY NOTHING PLANNED** 

OPEN TO IDEAS

Day 9

  • Check out and head to Osaka (very fast), check into hotel 
  • Osaka Castle 
  • Kuromon ichiba market
  • Explore Dontonburi

Day 10

  • Nara/kobe day trip

Day 11

(Potentially go visit the Hiroshima war museum?) as a day trip?  

Day 12

  • Rest and get ready for flight back

by Little-Jellyfish-418

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