Itinerary Check March 17 to 27 (Kyoto, Osaka, Hakone, Tokyo)

I will be going to Japan in March with 3 adults (age 70, 42, 38) and 2 kids (9, 19 months). My mother-in-law who is 70 is active and should have no issues walking. We are planning to bring both a umbrella stroller that can recline and a carrier for my 19 month old. My 9 y.o. is interested in pokemon and cute things and hands on activities. My mother-in-law, and wife are interested in shopping. I’m interested in anime, food, and Japanese culture. I’ve come up with a general plan but will adapt as needed since we do have a 19 month old. We have no problems just exploring or taking breaks as needed. I also know that there will be certain food places that we won’t be able to go due to my toddler and we are all fine with that. We also plan to use luggage forwarding services as needed depending on how much we end up bringing in terms of luggage.

**March 17 (Friday)**

* Arrive at KIX at 6:50 pm; I will be using my carrier’s international plan and will get a pocket wifi sent to the hotel for everyone else’s use
* Get Icoco + Haruka card for 3 adults and normal Icoco card for kid. It looks like getting the kid Kansai Area Pass for my 9 year old will be cheaper since it will work for the Haruka train (1,200 yen for a child)
* Go to Kyoto, look for a quick dinner (maybe a conbini) and go to Kyoto hotel near Kyoto station

**March 18 (Saturday)**

* Get pocket wifi sent to hotel
* Kiyomizu-dera
* Nishiki market
* Gion
* Pokemon store (optional)
* Okazaki Shrine (optional)

We will probably be jet lagged. If some of the group are tired will probably go back to hotel and the rest can explore.

**March 19 (Sunday)**

* Fushimi Inari Taisha, as early as possible
* Go to Osaka before or after lunch
* Pokemon store (optional)
* Osaka Castle
* Checkin at hotel on Dotonbori
* Dotonbori street food and probably shopping if there is time

**March 20 (Monday)**

* Universal Studios Osaka, opens at 8:30 am, try to arrive by 7:30 am. Go straight to Harry Potter World. Super Nintendo World timed entry 10:30 am
* Pokemon Cafe @ 5:35 pm; need to leave USJ at 4:30 pm

**March 21 (Tuesday)**

* Will book and reserve seats for Hikari Shinkansen for Shin-Osaka to Odawara (10:18 am departure and arrival 12:38) then use Hakone Tozan line to Hakone Yumoto station
* Go to Ryokan with private onsen and Kaiseki dinner
* Maybe do Hakone loop if not too tired

I know this is a holiday in Japan so I wanted to reserve seats for the bullet train and the one above seems to be the best route and timing wise won’t be too early for us. Also, I would need to get left sided seats to possibly see Mt. Fuji, is that right?

**March 22 (Wednesday)**

* Go to Tokyo after breakfast
* Yokohama Gundam Factory
* Tokyo Tower (optional)
* Checkin at hotel near Tokyo Station, maybe do Tokyo Station and/or Pokemon DX store near Tokyo Station

If I can book the pokemon cafe in Tokyo for dinner on this day, will probably cancel the one in Osaka to spend more time at USJ.

Is the Gundam robot visible from the outside pier? If we do go to Tokyo tower, it seems like it would be on the way from Yokohama to our hotel, right?

**March 23 (Thursday)**

* Meiji Jingu
* Yoyogi Park (optional)
* Shinjuku Gyoen
* Harajuku, Takeshita street
* Shibuya (shibuya parco, shibuya crossing, hachiko statue, shopping, shibuya sky at sunset at 5:20 pm)

I plan to go to Meiji Jingu as early as we can since it is opened early. Then go to Shinjuku Gyoen when it opens. Harajuku maybe for an early lunch.

**March 24 (Friday)**

* Team Lab Planets 9:00 am
* Tsukiji outer market (before or after Team Lab Planets depending on what time we wake up)
* Haramikyu Gardens (optional)
* Yurikamome line from Shiodome station to Odaiba (optional)
* Odaiba (unicorn gundam, diver city mall, statue of liberty)
* Boat ride to Asakusa (optional)

I only plan to go to Haramikyu and Yurikamome line if we go to Tsukiji market after Team Lab. If we go to Tsukiji before Team Lab we probably won’t backtrack to thos two areas and just go straight to Odaiba.

**March 25 (Saturday)**

* Ueno Park
* Asakusa (Senso-ji, Nakamise Street, Sumida Park)
* Tokyo Skytree
* Kirby Store
* Kura Sushi Oshiage station
* Galleon or Ami-Tatsu boat ride for cherry blossoms (optional)

Plan to go to Ueno park early. I didn’t want to go to Senso-ji to early since most of the stores on Nakamise street might still be closed.

Has anyone used the Kura sushi app to reserve a time slot? Is it an easy process?

**March 26 (Sunday)**

* Ikebukuro (Shunshine City, Pokemon Mega Store, Gashapon Ikebukuro Main Store)
* Souvenir shopping depending on where the family wants to go
* Akihabara

After Ikebukuro, we might split up if my wife and mother-in-law are comfortable going on their own with the kids so I can go to Akihabara on my own while they do shopping.

**March 27 (Monday)**

* Meguro Starbucks Roastery (optional) or some last minute shopping
* Go to Haneda after lunch
* Flight out of Haneda at 5:00 pm

What time should we arrive at Haneda? 2:00 pm? I’m assuming to get to Haneda we just have to plan to go to Hamamatsuchō Station and take the monorail from there to the airport.

Some food places that I plan to go to if there is one nearby when we get hungry include: Gyukatsu Motomura, Yoshinoya, Kura Sushi, Ichiran Ramen, Happy Pancake, Reissue Cafe, Monja street, Katsukara (Tonkatsu), Fugetsi (Okonomiyaki), Cow Cow Kitchen, Oreryu Ramen, Mutekiya Ramen, family restaurants. It seems these places are able to accommodate kids. Will also check department stores and try 7-11, Lawsons, and Family Mart. Any recommendations are appreciated.’

I’m open to any comments about things that I should change or maybe add to my itinerary. Also, which Don Quijote locations would be convenient based on my itinerary? Thanks in advance.