Going beginning of July. Know its going to be hot but this is the only time our family of 4 (with 17 and 19 year old) can go. Haven’t booked airfare yet. Coming from 1 week in Vietnam so time difference is only 2 hours.
Day 1- Not sure which airport flying into. Will take price fix taxi? or shuttle bus from airport. Relax, get settled. Plan to stay in Shinjuku area hotel
Day 2-
· Train from Shinjuku to arrive in [Harajuku](https://trulytokyo.com/harajuku-and-aoyama/) and walk west across the bridge and into the lovely forest surrounding [Meiji-jingu Shrine](https://trulytokyo.com/meiji-jingu-shrine/) and Yogi Park. Explore the shrine. Visit Takeshita street across from station tons stores, crepes, candy) then walk/train to Shibuya Crossing
· Eat late lunch/early dinner somewhere in Shibuya.
· Train to Tochomae station (Oedo Line) to Metropolitan Govt Bldg in Shinjuku area. See Mt Fuji and all city views throughout Tokyo (if cloudy, skip Metro)
· Walk Shinjuku, eat dinner VR Zone, SEGA, etc
Day 3-
· Head up to [Asakusa](https://trulytokyo.com/asakusa/). Visit [Senso-ji Temple](https://trulytokyo.com/senso-ji-temple/) and nearby [Asakusa-jinja Shrine](https://trulytokyo.com/asakusa-jinja-shrine/)
Take train to Akihabara- Anime
* Take the JR Yamanote Line south to Tokyo Station. Eat lunch in or around Tokyo Station. See the [Tokyo Station Area](https://trulytokyo.com/tokyo-station-and-marunouchi/) Places to Eat. Book train for 6/11 to Takayama??
* Walk over to [Ginza](https://trulytokyo.com/ginza/), Toyosu market(Sushi) and Togoshi Ginza and do some late afternoon shopping.
Day 4- Disney Sea
Day 5-
JR Rail Pass to Takayama
Take early am time shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagoya and change to a Hida Wide View express train to Takayama. The total journey takes 4 hours, 20 minutes.
Walk one block north from the station to Kokubunji-dori Street and walk straight east, across the Miya-gawa River, for about 20 or 30 minutes to reach the [Sanmachi-suji District.](https://www.insidekyoto.com/things-to-do-in-takayama)
Walk north from the Sanmachi-suji District for a few minutes to reach two incredible heritage houses that showcase the incredible carpentry traditions of the area: the [Yoshijima Heritage House](https://www.insidekyoto.com/things-to-do-in-takayama)
Day 6-
Check out hotel, store luggage at hotel or Takayama station?
Head back to station and catch a bus, or flag a nearby cab to visit [Hida no Sato](https://www.insidekyoto.com/things-to-do-in-takayama), a great collection of thatch-roof houses in a pleasant park area about 2km west of Takayama Station.
Short trip to Hida Folk Village by bus. The bus rides takes about 20 mins from the Takayama Nohi Bus station and there are several bus trips in a day. Spend about 2 hours there, then take the bus back to station. Take train to Kyoto via Nagoya (3 1/2 hours) Check into Hotel
Day 7-
##### Southern Higashiyama, Downtown and Fushimi-Inari
Take bus/taxi to the Gojo-Kawaramachi intersection. Walk up Gojo-zaka, which is the main street that leads east, up the hill, to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Visit the Tainai-Meguri.
After exploring Kiyomizu-dera, visit preserved district of Sannen-zaka Hill and Ninnen-zaka, another preserved district. Visit Chion-in Temple. Climb the steep steps and enter the wide courtyard of Chion-in.
You’ll soon pass the enormous camphor trees in front of Shoren-in Temple. Visit temple and garden
Travel to Downtown Kyoto= Tons of lunch options at Nishiki Market to eat
After eating lunch, make your way to the east end of Nishiki Market (where it joins the [Teramachi Shopping Arcade](https://www.insidekyoto.com/teramachi-shinkyogoku-shopping-arcades-kyoto)).
Take the Keihan Line to Fushimi-Inari Station- We don’t suggest doing the whole route on this day, but going up as far as Shin-ike Pond is a good idea. UP to how we feel on how far to walk. Return to hotel to rest and go out for dinner.
**After Dinner:** Gion Shimbashi- Shimbashi District (also known as Shirakawa), which is the most beautiful street in Kyoto.
Day 8- Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji and Daitoku-ji
First, Tenryu-ji Temple, then Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.Visit Monkey Park Iwatayama.
Take a taxi over to Kinkaku-ji Temple, the famed “Golden Pavilion” in Northwest Kyoto. Head back to hotel. Rest then have dinner. After dinner take an evening stroll along [Pontocho Alley](https://www.insidekyoto.com/pontocho-alley-kyoto) Pontocho Alley,
Day 9 Nara Half-Day Itinerary
· Start from Kintetsu Nara Station and walk up Nobori-oji Street. You’ll start to encounter Nara’s famous sacred deer as you go. [Isui-en Garden](https://www.insidekyoto.com/things-to-do-in-nara#isui-en-garden).
· Walk from Isui-en along the backstreets to [Todai-ji Temple](https://www.insidekyoto.com/things-to-do-in-nara#todai-ji-temple). N[igatsu-do Hall](https://www.insidekyoto.com/things-to-do-in-nara#nigatsu-do-hall).
· Follow the narrow pathways through the forest to [Kasuga-Taisha Shrine](https://www.insidekyoto.com/things-to-do-in-nara#kasuga-taisha-shrine). [Kofuku-ji Temple](https://www.insidekyoto.com/things-to-do-in-nara#kofuku-ji-temple).
Train back to Kyoto, back to hotel for last dinner in city
Day 10- Train to Osaka 15 min. Store luggage at train station
· 9am sharp: Start at [Osaka Castle](https://insideosaka.com/osaka-castle/). Can just walk around.
· Go to Shinsekai tons of eateries, walk around
Explore [Dotombori](https://insideosaka.com/minami-area/). Dotombori Canal is the most iconic sight in all of Osaka. This street is line with restaurants. Go back to get luggage at Osaka train station and then take train to airport Flight leaves at 8:45pm ( maybe?) need to figure out airfare back to California.
the best way between KIX and Osaka is the JR Haruka airport express train to Tennoji, 35 minutes I think?
Thank you for any advice you have.
2 comments
Day 1- taxi is expensive, if you land in Narita, just forget it. I always took the train from the airport, but yes, there is also the limousine bus that can be nice is it stop at/close to your hotel.
Day 2- if you stay in Shinjuku, you can consider walking to the north entrance of Meiji-jingu, should be less than 1.5km. Or you can just stop at Yoyogi station that is closer to the north gate. Yoyogi park is just a park, but it’s a nice place for people watching during the weekend. Otherwise, go to a nicer garden. Instead of going to the Metropolitan government building, just go to Shibuya Sky, yes, you will have to pay, but great point of view and you can go outside. View on Mount Fuji is also really not sure, you would need a really clear day and as far as I know, june is not the clearest.
…. Did you copy that text from a tour from a travel agent, sentences with stuff like “make your way” and “We don’t suggest”… that seems unnatural when writing your own itinerary.
Day 10 – Train from Kyoto to Osaka is not 15 minutes. Yes, the shinkansen from Kyoto station to Shin-Osaka station is… but I would not recommend it. First, it’s much more expensive if you do not have a JR Pass. Second, you are unlikely going to Shin-Osaka station, so in reality you will need to take other trains to reach what you want to see and even if you save minutes, it will be a more complicated route.
Yeah, from Osaka station, the Haruka would be the best, but what will require a bunch of moving around Osaka. I would even consider spending the last day in Kyoto (do Osaka as a day trip before) and focus on an area that have easy access to Kyoto station and just take the Haruka from Kyoto station, and that plan to do a lot on the day of the departure is conditional to the fact that the plane leave in afternoon (or late afternoon).
>· Train to Tochomae station (Oedo Line) to Metropolitan Govt Bldg in Shinjuku area. See Mt Fuji and all city views throughout Tokyo (if cloudy, skip Metro)
Just take the Yamanote line to Shinjuku and walk, it’s only 10-15 minutes.
>Day 3
Asakusa, Akihabara, Tokyo Station *and* Ginza? Maybe a bit too much; I would only do the first two and see how you feel in the evening. As long as you’re in the Asakusa area you can also check out Sky Tree and maybe even the Kappabashi kitchen district if you’re keen.