Itinerary Check: 14 days in Tokyo, Takayama, Seki, Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto/Uji, Sapporo & Hakadote

Taking a father (early 60s) & son (mid 30s) trip in October. My 3rd trip to Japan, but my father’s first, so I am focusing heavily on his interests. A bit worried since many trains/buses within the country can only be reserved a month before and concerned about securing my father a seat on longer train rides. Trying to book all the transport I can ahead of time so we have an easier time there. I noticed that there are reduced hours/service for some transportation or businesses.

My father enjoys food, cooking and gardening. I’m on the hunt while there for a gardening tool called a Tapener Tying Tool? Trying to visit some home improvement/garden stores like Tokyu Hands/Keiyo D2/Super Viva Home any suggestions where to find this locally are greatly appreciated.

I travel solo most times so this will be a bit of a different dynamic. While in cities we plan to walk as much as we can and avoid subways to see more of the city. Had hoped to add Hiroshima and Hakone, but don’t think there is enough time on this trip.

Oct 4 (Tokyo)

•Land in Haneda at 430AM, drop bags near Tokyo Station hotel and head to Kappabashi Kitchen Street after a quick breakfast (Nakau/Lawson’s) with breaks at Sensoji and for food nearby, back to the kitchen street (assume we will be at the kitchen street for a few hours)

•Shake Shack to try the Sesame Shake

•Tatsunoya Ramen

•Meiji Jingu

•LOFT

•Shibuya Crossing

•Uobei Bullet Train sushi

•Ginza Uniqlo, Akiba Yodobashi & Itoya Stationary

•Tokyo Station shopping scouting for quick pickups at the end of our trip & Ramen Alley

•Tokyu Kabuchicko Tower

Oct 5 (Tokyo)

•Toyosu Fish Market (trying to get lottery tickets to the tuna auction)

•Gundam Statue in Odaiba

•Tsukiji Fish Market

•Pokémon Center Skytree/Shibuya/Nihonbashi DX to look for some limited items or cards

•Daiso Ikebukuro

•Tokyo Midtown Yaesu try some Kakigori

•Isetan food floor

•Ichiran/Mercedes Me Tokyo Roppongi for the Yakisoba

•Japan Sake and Shochū Information Center (tip I got from another post here – excited for this one)

Oct 6 (Takayama)

•Plan to book a Willer Express night bus that arrives in Toyama in the morning (540AM), then take the Hida Limited Express Wide View (7:28AM). Sort of worried about luggage for the Limited Express portion as we will be traveling with medium/large size luggage and not simply carry ons

•Hida Beef items like nigiri, ramen at Le MIDI etc.

•Sake Brewery

•Side trip to Hida Furukawa to enjoy Ayu sweet fish that’s supposed to be in season?

Oct 7 (Seki)

•Mainly here for the annual cutlery festival so my father can get 1 or 2 knives, but some recommended local businesses and food spots would be nice to try time permitting

•Try an Unagi restaurant

Oct 8 (Seki)

•Seki Cutlery Festival continued to make sure we can see all 50+ vendors and related businesses

Oct 9 (Nagoya/Osaka)

•Explore Nagoya Osu Shopping Street a bit then take the Kintetsu Limited Express Hinotori around 200PM

•Any good spots to eat Unagi Eel ?

•Kuromon Market

•Dotonbori

•Don Quixote

•Shinsekai (the area we are staying)

•Try some Izakaya’s

Oct 10 (Kyoto/Uji)

•Yodobashi & Isetan to check out some Pokémon items and the food floor

•Nishiki Market and maybe Fushimi Inari/Kiyiomizudera

•Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka

•Fushimi Sake Village to try some breweries, shopping, Amazake

•Manten

Oct 11 (Osaka/Wakayama)

•Mizuno Okonomoyaki in Dotonbori (Michelin rated)

•If we are finished exploring Osaka, may do a day trip to check out the Katsuura Port and Kuroshio Market to check out tuna related attractions

Oct 12 (Sapporo)

•Relax and explore without much pressure or plan since we fly into Sapporo by 120PM

•Might explore Sushikino?

•Ganso Yokocho RamenStreet

•Tanukikoje Shopping Street

Oct 13 (Sapporo/Otaru/Yoichi)

•Nijo Seafood Market & Curb/Crab Market

•Otaru Mazasushi

•Kitachi Glass

•Nikka Whiskey Tour – apparently this can only be booked 2 weeks out from the date of visit? Does anyone know if you need to go on the tour to visit the gift shop and tasting room areas? It says only guided Japanese tours are available and no entry without?

•Dry scallops for taking home as souvenirs and personal use (my father is really interested in this so a starting point suggestion would be nice) many mentioned the seafood market, airport or even supermarkets? Also some ways to try fresh Hokkaido scallops while there would be great.

Oct 14 (Hakadote)

•JR there in the morning and stay overnight till the next evening. Thinking about getting the JR Hokkaido pass for this but worried since the costs go up almost 70% in October? This was already expensive at current prices for a day trip.

•Only know the area is known for fresh squid and always hear about the area but don’t know what else is good to do while there and if worth the time/cost of if worth it to go? Kushiro was on my list too but is very far and expensive only for a few days in Hokkaido. I want to take my father to try Robotoyaki but have not tried myself so am a bit lost on how to get the best experience here without going all the way to Kushiro where I hear this type of dining is popular.

Oct 15 (Hakadote/Sapporo)

Oct 16 (Tokyo)

•Flight arrives at 135PM in Haneda

•Last minute shopping and doing all the things we weren’t able to see at the start of our trip

•Yakitori Golden Gai Piss Alley/Omoide Yokocho

•REALLY want to check out Taito Station Fuchu Kururu since I LooooooVE crane games, but not sure if worth the trip

Oct 17 (Tokyo)

•1055PM flight out of Haneda, plan to leave the city about 500PM and just enjoy some time at the airport eating and shopping