Hi all, I’ve been reading this sub for a while now and I have already picked up some really helpful tips, so thank you!!
As the title suggests, I (30M) am going to Japan for the first time with my parents, both of whom turn 60 this year (Mum turns 60 whilst we are in Tokyo).
We have 15 days in total and will be landing in Tokyo on 13th April before heading over to Kyoto and Osaka.
We are vegetarian (no meat or fish) and so have done some pre-reading about places to go for food, but open to suggestions of other good places to go!
Our rough itinerary is below. Any tips to make the trip go smoother would be appreciated! A couple of specific Qs I had:
1) How easy is it to travel with luggage on the bullet trains? We will be travelling with 2 medium sized suitcases (<60kg and H+D+W of <160cm). Should I reserve seats in the oversized luggage section anyway? Should I use a luggage forwarding service? (N.B. I’m not planning to get a JR Rail pass as I calculated its not worth it for the journey’s we’re taking)
2) How easy is it to transfer the Welcome Suica cards onto iphone after purchase? Is it easy to top them up on iPhone? I’ve heard there are issues with using the Suica app…
**Itinerary**
Day 1: Arrive Haneda airport, pick up Welcome Suica cards and pocket wifi before heading to our hotel in Ginza. Spending the day trying to get over the jet lag
Day 2: Day tip to Fuji five lakes to visit Chureita Pagoda and the Kawaguchiko sakura festival – Planning to get there via JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku and then the Fujikyu line to Kawaguchiko
Day 3: **AM** \- Gotokuji temple **PM** \- Ueno park and Nezu shrine
Day 4: **AM** \- Wonder around Asakusa, try Melon bread, visit Sensoji shrine, Kappabashi street etc. **PM** \- Akhibara (chose a Sunday as read they close the road to traffic so its easier to walk around?). Head to Dawn Avatar Robot cafe (thought the concept sounded cool!)
Day 5: **AM** \- No plans yet (open to suggestions!) **PM** \- Tokyo Metropolitan Building, Golden Gai then Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden for the night sakura festival ([https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/naked-sakura-night-garden-at-shinjuku-gyoen](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/naked-sakura-night-garden-at-shinjuku-gyoen))
Day 6: **AM** \- Yoyogi Park and Meiji Jingu shrine **PM** \- Hang out around Shibuya crossing and planning to book the Sky tickets for around sunset
Day 7: Mum’s birthday so open to suggestions to make this a special day to remember, but so far: **AM** \- TeamLab planets booked for the morning and then lunch at their Vegan Ramen Uzu **PM** \- Harajuku and Omotesandu Hills
Day 8: **AM** \- Buller train to Kyoto **PM**: Kiyomizu Dera and then walk down through Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, planning to stop at that Starbucks with Tatami then over to Pagoda Yasaka Ishebei -koji lane & Nene-no-michi
Day 9: **AM** \- Kinkaku Ji – Planning to get there for opening (9am) **PM** \- Ginkakuji, philospher’s path and nanzenji temple
Day 10: **AM** \- Fushimi inari taisha (as early as possible \~7am, as read it gets crowded 9am onwards) then Rengeoin Sanjusangendo **PM**: Wonder around Gion
Day 11: **AM -** Iwatayama Monkey Park, Kimono Forest, Bamboo Grove **PM** \- Otagi Nenbutsu-Ji temple then catch a bullet train to Osaka
Day 12: **AM -** Osaka Castle, Shitennoji temple **PM** \- Abeno Harukas around sunset then head to Namba Parks, Dotonburi and Shinsaibasi
Day 13: **AM** \- Sumiyoshi Taisha **PM** \-TeamLab Nagai Botanical Garden
Day 14: Nara day trip
Day 15: Last day, hang out around Dotonburi, do some shopping, early dinner then head to the airport