Hello! Wondering if I could get some input on the itinerary I put together for an upcoming family trip in December. My mother is not in the best shape so I’m a bit nervous about all the walking we will be doing in Japan. I tried to pick central locations in Kyoto (near downtown/Nishiki Market) and Tokyo (near Shibuya station).
Any recommendations for food/must do in certain districts in Tokyo in December would be nice. Would like to check out some illuminations but not sure best locations. I’m worried about being mostly in Tokyo on the weekend b/c of crowds. Also nervous about traveling on a Friday from Kyoto back to Tokyo and taking a short trip to Hamamatsu, but my dad really wants to make a quick stop at the Yamaha museum.
Does the agenda look realistic? Any insight would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance 🙂
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Day 1: Land at Narita airport by 230PM, pick up luggage, passes, etc > power through 4hrs to Kyoto
Day 2: Kyoto – any thoughts on either option?
– Option 1: Round trip on Scenic Sagano Railway + explore Arashiyama
– Option 2: Scenic Sagano Railway > skip Arashiyama, transfer to boat tour
– Explore downtown Kyoto in evening (Gion/Pontocho Alley vs Nishiki Market vs Termachi shopping area)
Day 3: Kyoto
– Booked guided tour of eastern parts of Kyoto 9-5PM > Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyomizu-dera Temple, etc
– Explore downtown Kyoto in evening
Day 4: Osaka day trip
– Stop at Umeda Sky Building then unsure if worth visiting Osaka Castle vs Shinsekai? Can we do both?
– Explore Dontobori & Amerikamura in evening
Day 5: Hiroshima day trip
Day 6: Kyoto > Hamamatsu > Tokyo
– Plan to leave Kyoto by 9AM then head to Hamamatsu, drop off luggage, grab lunch, visit Yamaha museum, then book it to Shibuya.
– Will be easy to drop off luggage at a coin locker in Hamamatsu? Worth taking taxi from station to museum to save time?
– Hoping we get to Tokyo in time to walk around Shibuya in the evening
Day 7: Tokyo
– Asakusa in the AM – booked a 1 hour rickshaw tour for my parents
– Akihabara in the afternoon
– Shinjuku in the evening
Day 8: Tokyo
– Explore Harajuku and Shibuya districts
– Ginza in evening for dinner
Day 9: Tokyo
– Team Lab – any recs for food nearby?
– Tokyo Solomachi/Skytree for shopping/views – recs for food?
– Unsure what to do for rest of the day, perhaps circle back to a certain district
Day 10: Shibuya > Narita airport