Japan has been my top destination and I finally found a good deal. Going 3/31 to 4/13. My mom will also be joining me but will fly in 4/5 in the afternoon so we plan on meeting in Tokyo. We’ve planned an itinerary together but I’m looking for recommendations between **3/31 and 4/5**. Mostly going for culture, food, and Sakura season. Not particularly interested in Disney, Universal Studios, aquariums etc. Before she arrives, I’ve been debating whether I should stay in Tokyo or maybe do some day trips. One place not on my itinerary but I see highly recommended is Mount Yoshino. I don’t know if that is something I could fit in before she arrives or would have to take place around our visit to Osaka.
Fri 3/31 – Tokyo
* Arrive at Narita at 2PM.
* Probably will stay somewhere in Taito or Bunkyo City
Sat 4/1 – Tokyo
* Akihabara
* Ueno Park
* Ginza?
Sun 4/2 – Tokyo
* Sunshine City
* Ikebukuro
* Nakano Broadway
Mon 4/3 – Tokyo? Need suggestions!
* Tsukiji Outer Market?
* Yokohama?
Tue 4/4 – Potential day trip to Utsunomiya/Nikko or another day in Tokyo?
* Nikko Tosho gu
* Kegon Falls
* Visit family shrine
Wed 4/5 – Tokyo
* Check in at hotel and meet up with mom – Shibuya
* Shibuya Sky
* Hachiko
* Shibuya Crossing
Thu 4/6 – Tokyo
* Meiji Jingu
* Shinjuku Gyoen
* Meguro River/Meguro City
Fri 4/7 – Tokyo to Osaka
* Check out of hotel
* Senso-ji
* Akihabara
* Team Labs Planets
* Shinkansen to Osaka
* Check in at hotel – Nanba
* Dotonbori
Sat 4/8 – Osaka/Nara
* Day trip to Nara
* Todai-ji
* Kasuga-taisha – maybe
* Kofuku-ji
* Osaka Castle
* Explore Osaka – Wagyu for dinner?
Sun 4/9 – Osaka to Kyoto
* Check out of hotel
* Take train to Kyoto early
* Nishiki Market
* Yasaka Shrine
* Heian Shrine (maybe)
* Keage Incline
* Philosopher’s Path
* Ginkaku-ji (maybe)
* Check in at hotel near Fushimi Inari
Mon 4/10 – Kyoto
* Check out of hotel
* Go to Fushimi Inari early
* Kiyomizu-dera
* Hokan-ji
* Higashiyama
* Check in at ryokan near Kinkaku-ji
Tue 4/11 – Kyoto to Kawaguchiko
* Kinkaku-ji early
* Ryoan-ji (maybe)
* Arashiyama
* Tenryu-ji
* Shinkansen + public transportation to Kawaguchiko and check in at accommodation
Wed 4/12 – Kawaguchiko
* Momiji Corridor
* Kawaguchi Asama Shrine
* Oishi Park
* Chureito Pagoda depending on weather
Thu 4/13 – Kawaguchiko to Tokyo
* Check out and go to Chureito Pagado early if we didn’t go yesterday
* Travel back to Narita airport and flyout at 2:40pm
I’m most concerned about the 4/11 and getting to Kawaguchiko. Also on 4/13 I hope we can get to Narita at a reasonable hour and not miss our flight. Also a lot of our travel will rely on luggage storage either at hotels or with lockers. I haven’t fully explored luggage forwarding yet. We plan on traveling light (one carry on bag) so I hope it is easy enough.