Beginning of April I (40,female) am going to spend 13 days with my 12 years old niece who as many tweens is quite the weeabo. It’s a long promised gift to her so I’m tailoring the trip to her interests and focusing mainly on cultural experiences.
This is the “initial check list” I made with her feedback:
-Tokyo (6 days): Shibuya (our hotel is there), Sanrio Puroland, Ghibli Museum, Skycircus, sumo training
-Kyoto: Geishas dancing, trip to Nara to feed the deer
-Hosaka: Bunraku show and riding the Hello Kitty shinkasen, maybe as a day trip form Kyoto
-Beppu: hell circuit for the onsen experience
-Koyasan to spend a night at a temple
I’d really appreciate your opinions on whether this is reasonable and any suggestions of alternative places are much welcome.
Edit: thank you so much, I’m so happy I was told to ask here, you people are amazing.
7 comments
Akihabara, Ikebukuro, and the Nakano Broadway in Tokyo and Den Den Town in Osaka have a ton of anime merchandise and arcades, great for someone of that fandom.
My personal recommendation is to make sure that you are there to escort her in those areas. While these areas have a great deal of Anime merch and events, there’s also lots of things that cater to that demographic, like pornography shops (less so in Ikebukuro) and maid cafes (less so in Nakano), that you will want to steer her away from.
Beppu is too far from your other cities. Consider Hakone as a possible day trip from Tokyo for the onsens.
Nakano Broadway in Tokyo has lots of shoujo anime merch. You can also check exhibitions at Tokyo Anime Center.
Honestlty, the list sounds like tailored to your interest, because I doubt *bunraku* theatre, *shukubo* stay or seeing maiko performance are activities that are high on any teen’s priority lists.
Note that actual geisha (rather than maiko) performance would be restricted to adults over 20 (since it involves dinner with alcohol available).
When 6 of 13 days are spent in Tokyo – I would not put Beppu anywhere near the top of travel list due to the actual travel time involved – Arima Onsen or maybe Kinosaki Onsen would make more sense). Nor would I really make kid stay in *shukubo* accommodation.
Visits to Toei Uzumasa Eigamura (Toei Kyoto Studio Park), Hikone (rather than Himeji or Osaka) castle or teamLab Osaka Botanical Gardens might make a lot of sense.
Whether to enable your daughter to visit otaku/anime hotspots (Akihbara, Nakano Broadway, Ikebukuro) depends a lot on her maturity level, as in many places boundaries between PG-13 and NC-17 spaces blend in and *doujinshi* are sold in very much public areas.
Also note that in Osaka there is a curfew on underaged (under 16) kids in entertainment spaces after 6pm, so that’s something to take into consideration as well.
If your going to Nara maybe not focus your time there on feeding the deer mainly because there will be many many many chances to do so while you are there
If she’s into the kawaii (cute) then you’ll find lots of souvenirs everywhere. Collect photos of Pokelids or cool manhole covers, Goshuin at shrines and temples (paid), and get the her a small, blank notebook to collect train station/tourist site stamps.
– [Pokelids in Japan](https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainment/sightseeing/poke-lids-the-beauty-of-pokemon-manhole-covers-in-japan/)
– [Japan’s Trendy Manhole Art](https://livejapan.com/en/in-hokkaido/in-pref-hokkaido/in-sapporo_chitose/article-a0001529/)
– [Eki Stamp Your Way Through Japan](https://www.kulturekween.com/eki-stamp-japan-train/)
– [Guide to Goshuin](https://livejapan.com/en/in-tokyo/in-pref-tokyo/in-tokyo_train_station/article-a0002402/)
– She also might like checking out some of the gapachon (capsule toy) arcades. Tip: If you super glue a magnet to the back of them you can use them on your fridge or magnetic bulletin board.
– [Tokyo Shop With Most Gapachon in the World](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/this-new-tokyo-shop-has-the-most-capsule-toy-machines-in-the-world-022521)
Beppu is pretty far out if the way. I’d suggest stopping for an overnight in [Hakone](https://www.hakonenavi.jp/international/en/) on the way to Kyoto. Or, instead of Hakone, spend 1 or 2 nights in [Kinosaki Onsen](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/sna5au/kansai_side_trip_tattoo_friendly_kinosaki_onsen/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf). It’s easy to get to from Kyoto or Osaka. You also don’t need to go further than [Osaka for Bunraku Theater.](https://www.ntj.jac.go.jp/en/theatre/bunraku/) There’s also [Gion Corner in Kyoto.](http://www.kyoto-gioncorner.com/global/en.html) It’s closed now but set to reopen sometime in spring.
In Kyoto, I’d suggest a day trip to Arashiyama to [ride the scenic train and take the riverboat cruise.](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/mibm8t/kyoto_sagano_scenic_train_hozugawa_riverboat/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf) If departing from Osaka, and if you time it right, you can [ride the Hello Kitty Shinkansen](https://japancheapo.com/travel/hello-kitty-shinkansen/) to Himeiji to see the castle. It’s one of the few original construction castles remaining in Japan.
For tweens/teens here’s some other ideas:
– [10 Real Life Anime Locations in Tokyo](https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2022/03/anime-locations-in-tokyo/)
– [10 Anime with Real Life Locations in Japan](https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2022/03/anime-locations-in-tokyo/)
– [Who Needs Akihabara When You’ve Got Nakano Broadway](https://tokyocheapo.com/shopping-2/nakano-broadway-akihabara/)
– [Ghibli Lovers Guide to Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/studio-ghibli-guide-to-tokyo)
– [Cute Tokyo: Best Kawaii Things to See and Eat](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/cute-tokyo-best-kawaii-things-to-eat-and-do-in-the-city)
– [Tokyo Character Street](https://trulytokyo.com/tokyo-character-street/)
– [Sunshine City in Ikebukuro, Tokyo](https://livejapan.com/en/in-tokyo/in-pref-tokyo/in-ikebukuro/article-a0003596/)
– [Odaiba is a great area for tweens/teens. Shopping and Team Lab Planets.](https://tokyocheapo.com/locations/central-tokyo/odaiba/)
– [Tokyo Robots and Where to Find Them](https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2022/08/tokyo-robots/)
– [Tokyo Godzilla Statues](https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainment/museums-and-exhibitions/tokyo-godzilla-statues/)
– [Tokyo Teen Checklist](https://bestlivingjapan.com/tokyo-teen-checklist-see-do-eat/)
– [Indoor Activities in Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/best-indoor-activities-in-tokyo)
– [Restaurant Ninja Akasaka in Tokyo](https://ninjaakasaka.com/en/experience/)
– [Asakusa Food Hall Inspired by Japan Festivals in Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/asakusa-is-getting-a-new-matsuri-themed-yokocho-food-hall-060822)
– [New Yokocho Food Hall in Shinjuku, Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/shinjuku-has-a-new-yokocho-food-hall-with-17-eateries-110122)
– [8 Other Food Halls in Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/restaurants/best-restaurant-food-halls-in-tokyo)
In Osaka:
– [Senkoji: Heaven and Hell Temple](https://soranews24.com/2021/12/16/senkoji-the-japanese-temple-thats-more-like-a-theme-park-to-heaven-and-hell/)
– [Save Cat Rescue Cafe (good for cold/rainy day)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/DCCLbRcT47JP2tcw9?g_st=ic)
– [Silver Ball Planet (Pinball Arcade)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/sbTkovgEMmhUi7mM9?g_st=ic)
– [If you go earlier in the afternoon maybe PC and Retro Bar Space Station](https://maps.app.goo.gl/c2kSRGF8YaGoPrPB8?g_st=ic)
– [Pink Kawaii Cafe in Osaka](https://htpps://maps.app.goo.gl/xFizmcJbGw1y7j8U9?g_st=ic)
Department stores or the lower shopping levels of train stations are also your friend. You’ll find heaps of restaurant choices in stations or on the top floors of department stores. Great when you aren’t sure what you want to eat as you can walk around and look at the window displays indoors away from the cold/heat to decide what to try. The basement floors have awesome takeaway food halls so if you want to get a picnic lunch yo eat in a park or take back to your hotel room if everyone is overtired they can be a nice option a few steps up from convenience store fare. Department stores also have nice bathrooms.
– [Ultimate Guide to Department Stores in Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/shopping/your-ultimate-guide-to-tokyos-department-stores)
– [Tokyo Department Stores are the Ultimate Food Destination](https://www.eater.com/2017/2/21/14651856/tokyo-department-store-food-depachika)
– [8 Best Depachika Food Halls in Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/shopping/best-depachika-food-halls-in-tokyo)
Even though your daughter (sorry, I meant niece) is older, try to remember to go with the flow. Get your #1 thing done each morning when everyone is geared up for the day and consider anything else you do gravy. Maybe give your daughter a choice between 2 or 3 things to do each afternoon. If teens/tweens feel they had a choice/role in the planning they’ll be less likely to grumble. Also, let her use this as an opportunity to get familiar using Google maps and be the primary person to ‘lead the way’ to a site/restaurant. You may get turned around or lost a bit but she’ll have fun telling her friends about their subway/navigating adventures in Japan.
Happy Planning!
Want the full anime experience? You’re missing Hiroshima for the Grave of the Firefiles feels.
Srsly though; given the age of your niece, I’d recommend
* Ghibli Park in Nagoya
* Hikone for the original castle and cute town mascot
* Gundam statue in Odaiba (assuming it’s still around)
* Kamakura for all the culture and the Slam Dunk references
* Kawagoe or Takayama* for old town feels
Please don’t make your niece sit through a bunraku performance – it’s long, definitely not subbed, and very boring if the viewer has no command of the language and can’t stitch together the story via context clues (and the audience is quiet – you’d ruin everyone else’s experience by just whispering to ask and answer questions). The shukubo experience is a hit-or-miss; can she appreciate the solemnity of the prayers, or even wake up early enough for the ceremonies? Don’t bother with Beppu, it’s too far, there are closer onsens.
*depends on the season; Takayama has an appeal whatever the season, but it hits different during winter and spring. Shirakawa-go is cheat mode – the only times it looks good (as opposed to ‘WTF did they let Bob Ross loose here’ good) are those couple of awkward weeks between autumn and full winter, and winter and full spring.
Edo wonderland is a fun place we found, feels like it’s right out of an old Japanese movie. Can easily be done in a day trip from Tokyo but if we did it again would probably stay overnight at one of the mountain side hotels nearby as some are beautiful.