My family, partner, and I (64M, 64F, 33F, 31M, 28M, 27F) are traveling to Japan late January to early February 2024 (I know, this is super in advance). Our main itinerary is Osaka > Kyoto > Tokyo > Sapporo > Tokyo and we are a family that loves food/eating/drinking/cooking. I don’t want to feel stressed getting around from place to place. None of us are keen on must-see things like sky buildings, Universal Studios, etc and prefer temples, walking around interesting neighborhoods, cafes and book stores. We have no dietary or spice restrictions and we’ll be trying our best to eat our meals a little bit off from peak hours.
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My main concerns/questions are: (thank you for your insights!)
1. Is this itinerary feasible from a time and travel perspective? Is it too packed? Will we be spending too much time traveling in between places during the day?
2. Are there any destinations, activities, or places to eat/drink that you would recommend? Looking for unique, quality, and intimate/down to earth experiences good for a family that likes all things food and drink. Family also has interests in pottery, woodworking, photography/cameras, games and books if that helps to spark any ideas.
3. Of the options listed for meals below, do you have a favorite, any notes or reviews of the places I researched, or would you recommend a different place? Considerations are: a) we are a group of 6, b) tasty is important, c) budget friendly is good but doesn’t need to be as long as it’s worth it and not scammy.
4. In the markets mentioned below, what foods must we try? What foods should we avoid/be warned of?
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Here is our detailed itinerary:
**Osaka – Day 1** (half day starting in afternoon)
* Cheese tarts from Pablo, pick up an additional street food snack if hungry
* Yakiniku @ (A) 焼肉ごりちゃん in Doyamacho, (B) Yakiniku M Hozenjiyokocho, (C) Matsusakagyu Yakiniku M Hozenji Hanare, or (D) Tsurugyu
* Walk around Doguyasuji street and go to Taito Station Namba
* Lodging @ (A) Sotetsu Grand Fresa Osaka Namba, or (B) KAMON hotel
**Osaka – Day 2**
* Early morning, train to Endo Sushi for breakfast
* Taxi to Osaka Castle
* Walk+train to Kuromon Market, lunch at the market (Tako tamago, soy milk & soy milk donuts, kuromon roll. What else?)
* Walk back to Lodging, rest
* Walk to and around Dotonburi and Hozenji Yokocho and eat/graze (Takoyaki, qyoza, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu. What else?)
**Kyoto, N/NW – Day 3**
* McDonalds for an early breakfast
* Train from Osaka to Kyoto
* Luggage drop off at Lodging
* Train or taxi to Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Temple
* Lunch @ (A) Yudofu, or (B) Shoraian
* Train to Kinkaku-ji Temple
* Taxi to Ichimonjiya Wasuke for yakimochi
* Dinner @ TBD (Any suggestions near Kinkaku-ji or near Suntory?)
* Train to Suntory Yamazaki Distillery
* Train+bus to Lodging @ Guesthouse Soi
**Kyoto, S/SE – Day 4**
* Breakfast at guesthouse
* Bus+train to Fushimi Inari for early morning walk
* Train to Gion area for late breakfast/early lunch, walk around Gion (Any food recommendations in this area?)
* Visit Ippodo Tea store
* Walk around Nishiki Market areas and eat/graze for early dinner (Seafood, gyoza @ chao chao, yuba, hamo, what else?)
* Taxi to Nineizaka. Walk around Nineizaka and Sanneizaka with a view of Kiyomizu-dera at sunset.
* Any late dinner recommendations near or between Nineizaka/Sanneizaka and Kamo River? Or is it better to go back up to Pontocho area for late dinner?
* Walk back to Lodging
**Tokyo, Shinjuku – Day 5**
* Early breakfast at Shunsai Imari for Obanzai cuisine or at guesthouse
* Train from Kyoto to Tokyo
* Drop off luggage at Lodging in Shinjuku
* Walk to Lunch @ TBD (Any recommendations in Shinjuku area?)
* Walk around Shinjuku Gyoen
* Walk to Dinner @ Soba House Konjiki-Hototogisu
* Walk to Kurand Sake Market and drink
* Walk to and around Memory Lane Alley/Omoide Yokochō and eat/drink
* Walk to Lodging in Shinjuku – likely AirBnb
**Tokyo, Ginza – Day 6**
* Train to Tsukiji Market, breakfast at the market and walk around (Is general public allowed at the market before 9 am? The website says “business purchase hours” are 6 am to 9 am)
* Walk to Lunch @ Chukasoba Ginza Hachigou
* Bus to teamLab Planets
* Bus to tea & confectionery @ (A) Tsuruya Yoshinobu, or (B) Fugetsudo Ginza (Which is better to see the sweets being made in front of us?)
* Walk or train to Dinner @ (A)Sushi no Midori, or (B) Kyūbey
* Train back to Shinjuku area, rest at Lodging
* Walk to Golden Gai to bar hop
**Sapporo – Day 7**
* Early breakfast @ TBD (Any recommendations in Shinjuku area or at airport?)
* Flight from Tokyo to Sapporo (I’m waiting to book these flights about 2-3 months before the trip for best price. Any notes or tips on this? Or are flights to Sapporo in Feb always pricey regardless?)
* Drop off luggage at Lodging
* Walk to treats @ Kitakaro Sapporo Honkan
* Walk to Lunch @ (A) Nijo Market, or (B) Kani Honke (Is Kane Honke really good and worth it?)
* Walk back to Lodging and rest
* Walk to Dinner @ Ramen Shingen
* Walk around
* Walk to Gotsubo Oyster Bar
* Walk to dessert or bar (Any recommendations in walking distance between Gotsubo and La’gent?)
* Walk back to Lodging @ La’gent Stay Sapporo Odori Hokkaido
**Sapporo – Day 8 & 9**
A few of us will be taking the free Rusutsu-Go bus from Sapporo to Rusutsu for the day to ski. (Anyone with experience with this bus route? What do you usually do for lunch on the mountain – pack something to eat?)
While a few of us are skiing, the rest of the family’s itinerary:
* Activities: Odori Underground Gallery Walkway, Tanukikoji Shopping Street, Hokkaido Jingu Shrine, Hill of the Buddha
* Eats: Nijo or Curb Market, soup curry @ Suage or Garaku, bakery and pastry shops
We will be meeting back up together for dinners:
* ACYE jingisukan and AYCD @ Sapporo Beer Garden
* Ramen @ Ebisoba
After dinner, walk around Sapporo Snow Festival, Odori Park site (hopefully the snow festival is up and running on Feb 2 or 3, 2024)
**Sapporo/Tokyo – Day 10**
* Early flight from Sapporo to Tokyo
* Drop off luggage at Lodging in Shibuya
* Hang out around Daikanyama area, book stores, and coffee shops
* Train to Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory
* Taxi to Kappabashi street, walk around
* Lunch @ (A) Asakusa Menchi, or (B) Asakusa Gyukatsu
* Taxi to Kappabashi street, walk around
* Dinner @ Inshotei
* Train back to Lodging in Shibuya
2 comments
I am not a foodie, so I can’t help with food
Day 2: for kuromon, don’t go too late, like before 12 should be good, many shops will close after 12
Day 3: that will be very expensive, but without taxi, it might not be doable
Day 6: the fish market is not in tsukiji anymore. So tsukiji is basically just market for tourists. Come early around 7, by 9 it will be overcrowded with people and people lining up for food everywhere
Not sure about sapporo as I’ve never been to sapporo.
Not going to comment much.
For Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera 清水寺 is a must go.
For Osaka, I think Endo Sushi is a walking distance to Osaka castle.
You can also visit Shinsekai, the atmosphere is good ( retro feeling ), also there are many kushikatsu stores there too.
If anyone ever try to recommend you Ichiran Ramen, avoid it. It’s tourist trap with overly priced ramen, average taste. There are literally hundreds of Ramen stores that are better than Ichiran IMO in term of both price and taste.