My mother and I are going on our first trip to Japan together. We’re looking forward mainly to sightseeing and history, so a lot of the activities are around trying to see the most iconic places possible.
Another thing to note is that my mom is **highly allergic** to seafood, mushrooms, and mayonnaise. That’s why for the most part, we will be eating meals at hotels or preparing our own (outside of snacking). Though if anyone can provide food recommendations in any of the places for Lunch or Dinner, you would be a life savior!
**3/8 – Tokyo (Arrive at 5:40pm)**
* Forward Luggage to Kawaguchiko hotel
* Pickup JR Pass, get Suicia, convert currency
* Check-in at capsule hotel (mom wanted to experience it)
* **Activities:**
* See Shibuya Crossing
* Find food (probably curry)
**3/9 – Tokyo → Fujigoko (Leave at 9:00am)**
* **Activities:**
* Get car rental
* Iyashi no Sato
* Explore Ice Caves
* Check-in at hotel & eat dinner
**3/10 – Tokyo → Kyoto (Leave at 2:00pm)**
* Forward luggage to Machiya & check-out
* **Activities**
* Panoramic Ropeway (reserve slot online)
* Itchiku Kubota Art Museum
* Do lake tour
* Buy souvenirs
* Return rental
* Head to Kyoto then Check-in at Machiya
* **Activities:**
* Explore Gion (Near Machiya)
* Find dinner
* Buy groceries to cook breakfast & dinner
**3/11 – Kyoto**
* Wake up @ 5:00am
* **Activities:**
* Head to Fushimi Inari (early)
* Return to Machiya & cook breakfast
* Takase River (Near Machiya)
* Explore Ninenzaka
* Kiyomizu-dera
* Tea Ceremony *Any recommendations where?*
* Return to Machiya & cook dinner
**3/12 – Kyoto ↔ Wazuka (Leave at 5:00am)**
* Make breakfast
* Forward luggage to Kyoto Hotel
* Head to Wazuka
* **Activities:**
* d:matcha tour @ 9:30
* Return to Kyoto at 2:00pm
* **Activities:**
* Kyoto Botanical Gardens
* Nanzen-ji
* Philosopher’s Path
* Ginkaku-ji
* Check-in to Hotel
* Explore if time permits, if not, eat at hotel
**3/13 – Kyoto ↔ Nara (Leave at 11:00am)**
* Sleep in & eat breakfast at Hotel
* Head to Nara
* **Activities:**
* Kōfuku-ji
* Naramachi Koshinoie
* Ukimido
* Nara Park
* Mt. Wakakusa
* Tōdai-ji (Attend Omizutori @ 7:00pm)
* Return to Hotel
* Explore if time permits, if not, eat at hotel
**3/14 – Kyoto → Kinosaki (Leave at 1:00pm)**
* Wake up @ 8:00am, eat breakfast at hotel, check-out
* Forward luggage to Ryokan
* **Activities:**
* Ryōan-ji
* Kinkaku-ji
* Head to Kinosaki, then Check-in to Ryokan
* **Activities:**
* Explore Onsens (Ichino-Yu, Goshono-Yu)
* Roam around
* Eat dinner at Ryokan (allergy accommodated)
**3/15 – Kinosaki → Osaka (Leave at 2:30pm)**
* Eat breakfast & Check-out
* **Activities:**
* Ropeway
* Straw Craft Box workshop
* Souvenir Shopping
* Head to Osaka, then check-in at Airbnb
* **Activities**
* Buy groceries nearby Airbnb, then store them.
* Go to Dotonbori & explore
* Use Osaka Amazing Pass for Ferris Wheel & River Cruise
* Go to Osaka Aquarium w/ same pass
**3/16 – Osaka ↔ Kobe (Leave at 7:00pm)**
* Wake up @ 8:00am & make breakfast
* **Activities:**
* Osaka Castle (Boat tour)
* Tsutenkaku Tower (Amazing Pass)
* Keitakuen Garden
* Namba Yasaka Shrine
* Go to Kobe for dinner *Any recommendations on where to make a reservation?*
*Return to Airbnb
**3/17 – Osaka → Hiroshima (Leave at 12:00pm)**
* Wake up @ 8:00am, eat breakfast at hotel, check-out
* Coin locker at station
* **Activities**
* Anything we missed or decided last minute
* Head to Hiroshima
* Stop by at Himeji Castle & roam around
* **Activities:**
* Peace Memorial Park
* The Atomic Bomb Dome
**3/18 – Hiroshima ↔ Miyajima (Leave at 1:00pm)**
* Wake up @ 8:00am & eat breakfast at hotel
* **Activities:**
* Shukkeien
* Hiroshima Castle
* Head over to Miyajima
* **Activities:**
* Itsukushima Shrine
* Hike & roam around
* Head back & get Okonomiyaki near hotel
**3/19 – Hiroshima → Tokyo (Flight TBD)**
* Wake up @ 8:00am, eat breakfast at hotel, check-out
* **Activities:**
* Anything we missed or decided last minute
* Head to Osaka Airport & Fly to Tokyo
* Check-in to Hotel
* **Activities:**
* Pokemon Cafe
* TeamLab Planets (near our hotel)
* Tokyo Tower
* Return to Hotel & eat dinner there
**3/20 – Tokyo**
* Wake up @ 7:00am & eat breakfast at hotel
* **Activities:**
* Sensō-ji (Roam around & buy souvenirs)
* Stop-by hotel and then go to DisneyLand (Mom wants to go for Winnie the Pooh stuff, lol)
* Leave early evening and find dinner around hotel
**3/21 – Tokyo → Home (Leave at 7:55)**
* Wake up @ 7:00am & eat breakfast at hotel
* **Activities:**
* Meiji Shrine
* Explore Cat Street
* Head to Shinjuku for shopping (maybe Akihabara) *Any major department stores or souvenir places you recommend? Snacks encouraged!*
* Head to hotel, check-out, then airport around 5:00pm (hotel has a direct line)
* Eat dinner at airport, then say goodbye to Japan
2 comments
Tea Ceremony rec: Tea Ceremony Camillia Garden in Ukyo Ward Kyoto.
Omg I cannot say how amazing this was. My husband and I got kimono rentals for the day (comes with a tea package), the town is BEAUTIFUL to walk in, there’s the Kiyomizu-dera temple just up the steps. So many cute shops. It’s just AMAZING. We had lunch at “Ninenzaka Sweetness Coffee Shop” and it was so delicious. I can send pictures if you DM! We went just this past December to early Jan. Let me know if you want any other Kyoto or Yokohama recs!
Forward luggage to Osaka, it is usually not shipped same day unless you do it in the morning and it is nearby. Just bring a bag with one charge of clothe for Kinosaki.
There is an airport in Hiroshima, it just does not make much sense to do half the distance by train and the other by plane. Or just go all the way by train, will be cheaper to if you use a 14 days jr pass