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 3Â
- Explore Asakusa (Nakamise dori, senso-ji)
- Grab lunch
- Tokyo national museumÂ
- Explore AkihabaraÂ
Day 4
- DAY TRIP TOÂ HAKONEÂ (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
- Visit the hakone shrine and lake ashi
- Visit open air museumÂ
- Have lunchÂ
- 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 centerÂ
- Train to kyoto (two hours)Â
- After getting to kyoto, explore the area and restÂ
Day 6Â
- Explore Arashiyama (bamboo forest (go EARLY), Tenryuji, monkey park)
- LunchÂ
- Explore kyoto streets:Â Gion, Potoncho, Kawaramachi
Day 7Â
- Fushi Inari red gates (morning)
- Ninenzaka!!, Sannenzaka, Hokanji TempleÂ
- Winter illuminations (not sure which one yet,late afternoon or night)Â
Day 8Â
- \FREE DAY NOTHING PLANNED**Â
OPEN TO IDEAS
Day 9
- Check out and head to Osaka (very fast), check into hotelÂ
- Osaka CastleÂ
- Kuromon ichiba market
- Explore Dontonburi
Day 10
- Nara/kobe day trip
Day 11
(Potentially go visit the Hiroshima war museum?) as a day trip? Â
Day 12
- Rest and get ready for flight back
by Little-Jellyfish-418