Hey everyone, first I want to say major thanks to everyone on this sub!! Everyone has been so helpful and gracious. Young couple finally traveling to Japan. I am chef and major fashion/art/Buddhism need so I’m finally making it to the place of my dreams haha. We already trying to learn the language as much as we can. Our flight arrives mid day so we hope too utilize what time we have in Tokyo before we travel to Osaka. My younger sister will be joining us the second week hence when the backtrack to Tokyo. Any advice for a teenager in Japan? Overall from this trip we want to see beauty eat amazing food and having a true cultural experience less of the tourist stuff l. We are open to suggestions and I have an idea of what hotels we are staying at as of now. JR pass or no?
Updated and edited with feedback from below
Tokyo/mt Fuji(kawaguchiko)-> 2 days (16-18)
Shibuya Scramble, Senso-ji temple,
Osaka 2/3 days (18-20) Dotonbori, Ichiran Ramen, Namba Yaska Shrine, Amerikamura, Umeda Sky Building, Aquarium, Hemiji Castle
Nara->1 day(21-22) really want to go here for yoshino, Feed Deer, Todai Ji
Back to Tokyo for a day to meet with someone who is joining our trip
Tokyo-> 1 day (23)
Kyoto-> 3 day(24-26)
fushi Inari
Kiyomizu-Zaka
Pontocho Alley
Kamogawa
Kaege Incline
Iwateyama Macaque Park
Kinkaku-ji
Tokyo-> 3 days(26-30)
Matsushima
Kawaguchi-ko
Open/Explore
Akihibrah
3 comments
Also we are realize we may not be able to experience everything on this but it’s hard to realistically know times between places when you never been to the country. Thank you everyone for time!
The geography of this trip is very confusing, you are moving back and forth between Tokyo and Kyoto/Nara multiple times. Is it just to accommodate the person joining in the middle and there are specific activities you must do together?
Also, Nara is not on the Shinkansen so Tokyo-Nara and Nara-Kanazawa will both require transfers.
The route which completely avoids backtracking is Tokyo – Kanazawa – Nara/Kyoto – Tokyo. If the person joining must be accompanied at all times, I would do Tokyo (3 days) -> Kanazawa -> Tokyo [person joins trip], Kyoto and Nara, then back to Tokyo. At least cut out the trip to Nara and back at the beginning, yes the deer are cute but it’s not worth the 3-4 hours each way just for a day, speaking as someone with a high tolerance for long travel for day trips.
JR Pass, yes 7 days pass from 18 to 24 would save you money because of going to Kyoto twice from Tokyo.
Would probably make sense to get 14 days and 7 for your sister if you include Matsushima…. but actually with only 4 days in Tokyo, a day trip to Matsushima is a bit expensive in both time and money and not sure if really worth the trouble.