Hey! We’re planning a trip to Japan between May 07th and May 17th 2023, by we I mean me (25), my dad (66) and my mom (64). This would be our first international trip and also as well my parents wedding anniversary would fall in between those dates, so hoping everything goes to plan :).
Anyway I’ve put together an itinerary, and would love you guys input and suggestions so as to make it perfect.
**Plan**: Kyoto – Osaka – Mt Fuji – Tokyo
**Day 01 (07th May, 2023 Sunday) (JR Pass day 01):**
* 02:55 AM (IST) Depart from Bengaluru, India.
* 02:10 PM (JST) Narita International Airport.
* Take the JR Narita Express to Tokyo Station.
* Stay at Hotel Mystays Premier, Hamamatsucho.
* As we’re arriving in the afternoon, didn’t want to take the risk of arriving late in the night at Osaka due to any delays because of flight or customs and also the currency exchange, buying JR passes and pocket WiFi etc. Also will be forwarding extra luggage using luggage delivery service to Osaka. Jet lag won’t be a concern as IST to JST difference is +03:30*.*
**Day 02 (08th May, 2023 Monday) (JR Pass day 02) :**
* Early morning (06 or 06:30 AM) Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kyoto.
* Arashiyama Bamboo Forest at around 09:30 AM.
* Tenryu-Ji Temple or Arashiyama Monkey Park.
* Nishiki Market and lunch.
* Fushimi Inari Taisha (maybe go till Yotsu-Tsuji intersection).
* Kiyomizu-dera, Otowa Waterfall and Jishu Shrine.
* Sunset at Butai.
* Exploring a bit of Higashiyama District, Ninenzaka and Yasaka-Dori.
* Get to Osaka by around 08:00 PM.
* Dinner near Dotonbori.
* Stay at Holiday Inn, Namba.
**Day 03 (09th May, 2023 Tuesday) (JR Pass day 03):**
* Hozen-Ji Temple at around 07:00 AM.
* Shitennoji Temple.
* Tsutenkaku Tower and lunch.
* Umeda Sky Building.
* Shinsaibashi shopping street.
* Dinner near Dotonbori.
* Tombori River Cruise at around 08:00 PM.
**Day 04 (10th May, 2023 Wednesday) (JR Pass day 04):**
* Osaka Castle at around 09:00 AM.
* Osaka-Jo Gozabune Boat.
* Osaka Aquarium and lunch.
* Cruise Ship Santa Maria.
* Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel at 06:00 PM.
* Dinner near Dotonbori.
**Day 05 (11th May, 2023 Thursday) (JR Pass day 05):**
* Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Tokyo Station at around 10:00 AM.
* Check in at Tobu Hotel Levant, Sumida.
* Exploring Akihabara (Going here solo).
**Day 06 (12th May, 2023 Friday) (JR Pass day 06):**
* Kotoku-in Temple at around 08:00 AM.
* Totti Candy Factory.
* Lunch at Harajuku Gyozaro.
* Dinner at Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku.
**Day 07 (13th May, 2023 Saturday) (JR Pass last day 07):**
* Sensoji Temple at around 09:00 AM.
* Lunch reservation, any recommendations? (as it is parents wedding anniversary today).
* Tokyo Skytree at 07:00 PM.
**Day 08 (14th May, 2023 Sunday):**
* Day trip to Mt Fuji (Going here solo).
* Planning to take this trip which I found on Klook [Mt Fuji Classic Route Day Tour from Tokyo](https://www.klook.com/activity/2675-mount-fuji-classic-route-day-tour-tokyo/?aid=4594&aff_adid=626192&aff_label1=mount_fuji_classic_route&aff_label2=&aff_label3=&aff_pid=&aff_sid=&utm_medium=affiliate-alwayson&utm_source=non-network&utm_campaign=4594&utm_term=&utm_content=&aff_klick_id=27436899230-4594-626192-38d483f). Let me know if it’s good, or if there is anything better hopefully at a similar price :).
**Day 09 (15th May, 2023 Sunday):**
* Meiji Jingu Shrine at around 08:00 AM.
* Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
* Shibuya Crossing and Hachiko Memorial Statue.
* Lunch at Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka.
* Roppongi Hills.
**Day 10 (16th May, 2023 Monday):**
* Imperial Palace at around 09:00 AM.
* Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street (Going here solo).
* Tokyo Tower.
**Day 11 (17th May, 2023 Tuesday):**
* Don’t have anything planned, the flight departs at 06:30 PM from Narita International Airport.
* 01:30 AM (IST) arrival at Bengaluru, India.
I’ll be buying the following things: 1) 7 day JR Pass (I ran it through [Japan Rail Pass Calculator](https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/) and as of now it says it is a close call, which I am assuming would payoff if I take a couple of JR trains within the city, which I didn’t include while calculating). 2) JR Pocket WiFi. 3) Osaka Amazing Pass for two days.
Places of stay:
* Hotel Mystays Premier, Hamamatsucho, Tokyo (01 Night).
* Holiday Inn, Namba, Osaka (03 Nights).
* Tobu Hotel Levant, Sumida, Tokyo (06 Nights).
Are these places good?
Let me know how this itinerary looks and if it is doable. As both my parents are above 60, are any of the days too cramped or hectic? And if it is any suggestions on how I can move things.
1 comment
Have you considered staying in a location along/near the [Yamanote line](https://m.jrpass.com/blog/jr-yamanote-line-tokyo) your last 6 nights in Tokyo? Since you want to optimize your JR pass, you’ll need to take advantage if JR lines and the Yamanote line is super convenient to get to most of the locations you want to visit in Tokyo.
In terms of hotel chains, I really like Daiwa Roynet, Mitsui Garden, Hotel MyStays and Candeo hotel chains. The rooms are a bit larger and usually have nice, large tubs to relax in after a long day of sightseeing. You’ll find these chains all over Japan. You can search a site like Booking for Central Tokyo or a station name and then filter results for these hotel chains. They have them in Osaka too.
On Day 2, you might consider just going directly to Osaka and doing your sightseeing there. That way, if anyone does get tired after two long travel days, you can head to your hotel after 3 pm (when checkin normally is) for a rest and refresh before dinner. Then wake up early and do Kyoto the next day.
Kyoto is also quite large so you won’t be able to get to all of those sites in just one day. 1 day really is too short for Kyoto, 3 -5 days is best. The number 1 tip for any visit to Kyoto or Tokyo is to lump sightseeing together by district. These are *huge* and very spread out cities. Number 2 tip is to get your one to two must-see/do’s done as early each day as possible. Then, anything else you do that day, is gravy.
– [Tokyo Districts](https://trulytokyo.com/tokyo-districts/)
– [Kyoto Districts](https://www.insidekyoto.com/kyoto-districts)
– [Osaka Districts](https://insideosaka.com/osaka-districts/)
– [Save the places you want to visit in Google maps.](https://www.theunconventionalroute.com/google-maps-saved-places/)
– Then, zoom out and see where those places are lumped together. Do *that* specific district/area in the morning and shift to another district/area in the afternoon. This way you don’t lose time/money criss-crossing the city.
– See how long it will take to travel via public transit (or walking if within the same area) between your sites. You need to account for travel time and add in an extra 15- 20 minutes from what Google Maps says as you may get turned around looking for your entrance/exit or platform in the subway/train stations.
– Be sure you check opening hours/days in Google maps too. You don’t want to show up at 8 am to Akihabara only to find all the shops closed or to a museum on a Monday as that is often (but not always) a closed day.
Happy Planning!