As with any early plans I’m completely open to suggestions, tips, advice for my trip.
Background – trip is late July to mid August. Primary reason of going to Japan is to spend a week on holiday in Okinawa with a family member living in Japan.
Travellers: Myself (28) and my parents (61,70). I am very fit and active but ‘rents are less so.
Apart from Okinawa the trip will be the usual places: Tokyo then Kyoto and finally Osaka. Would like to do a day trip or two, Hiroshima as first preference. We are all into nature, outdoors/hiking, unique sights, and have Disneysea and USJ as must do attractions. We enjoy off the beaten path and hidden gems so anything less touristy is a bonus (most of my spots are just from google etc). Regarding shopping I am an avid gamer and do like retro/toy/tech shops, and the day we arrive we are all going to the camera stores (I am grabbing a lens, rents are getting a p1000). I am also on the hunt for very small (think xxxs) men’s clothes while in Japan.
I have had a quick look and cannot see any festivals for the days we are in each area so unfortunately looks like we won’t see any. We are a bit limited on time and since this is looking like a Shrine oriented itinerary, I’m happy to drop places that aren’t worth going to in favour of nature spots, museums, cultural activites or some things I’ve missed which you think we’d enjoy. Mum and I are mostly plant based eaters but if it comes down to it we may eat ovo/lacto vegetarian in a pinch – absolutely no meat/fish!
​
\*\*Asterisk denotes undecided places
​
**Here we go**
​
**Friday 28th** \- Arrive in Tokyo (NRT), morning. Pick up Suica, Pocket Wifi(?), exchange Keisei pass and get subway tickets.
Travel by Keisei Limited Express to Oshiage -Skytree, store luggage at Coin Locker or Konbini. Have a look at Skytree\*
Explore or shop at Akihabara, Ginza, Shinjuku
* Yodobashi Akiba, Super Potato\*
* Nihonbashi Nagasakikan, Pokemon Centre DX, Itoya
* Fujiya Camera\*
* Lemon Shinjuku, Camera no Kitamura, Map Camera Buying Centre
*Check in Keisei Richmond Hotel*
​
**Saturday 29th**
*Keisei Richmond Hotel check out*
\~ Store luggage (undecided where), morning free but likely only until around 1pm
Free morning:
* Imperial Palace, Edo Castle Ruins\*
* Shinjuku Gyoen National Gardens\*
* Meiji Jingu\*
* Kiddyland\*
or simply explore Shibuya
**Meet up with family at some point**
Travel to Narita via Keisei around 1ish, fly out to Okinawa.
​
**Sunday 30th-Friday 4th Okinawa (itinerary planned)**
​
**Saturday 5th**
*Okinawa hotel check out*
Fly back to Tokyo (NRT)
Kill some time in the afternoon
*Check in Hotel Emion*
​
**Sunday 6th**
Disneysea!
​
**Monday 7th**
*Hotel Emion check out*
* Kiyosumi Gardens
* Rikugien Gardens
* Ueno Park, Senso-ji, Asakusa Shrine
*Check in Minn Kappabashi*
​
**Tuesday 8th**
\~ Forward luggage to Kyoto
Day trip to any of the following: Yokohama, Kamakura, Mount Takao, Kanagawa, Mount Fuji
​
***++Places left in Kyoto that are not in itinerary – Fujiya Camera, Ghibli Museum, Institute for Nature Study, Pokemon Mega Centre Tokyo, Shunkaen Bonsai Museum, Tokyo Joypolis***
​
**Wednesday 9th**
*Minn Kappabashi check out*
Travel to Kyoto via Tokyo Station Shinkansen (2-3hrs)
* Kosho-ji
* Rengeo-in\*
* Toyokuni-Jinja Shrine
*Check in Rihga Royal Kyoto*
​
**Thursday 10th**
Choices of either of the following:
* Kyoto Gyoen National Garden & Imperial Palace, Daitoku-ji & Koto-in Temple, Kinkaku-ji & Ryoan-ji
OR
* Daikaku-ji, Jojakku-ji, Tenryu-ji, Saiho-ji (Koke-dera), Katsura Imperial Villa
​
**Friday 11th**
* Day trip to either Hiroshima, Nagoya, Nara(?), Maibara, Mt Hiei
​
**Saturday 12th**
Choices of either of the following:
* Kiyomizu-dera, Kennin-ji Temple, Kodai-ji Temple, Yasaki-Jinja
OR
* Nazen-ji, Eikan-do temple, Daimonjiyama
Can also swap out with some shopping, museums, or traditional activities which are unplanned at this stage
​
***++Places left in Kyoto that are not in itinerary – Byodo-in, Fukuda Art Museum, Fushimi Inari, Higashiyama Jisho-ji, Kibune River, Kurama-dera, Muko-jinja, Nijo Castle, Nagaoka Tenmangu, Tenryu-ji, Tofuku-ji Temple, Yokoku-ji***
​
**Sunday 13th**
*Rihga Royal check out*
*Travel to Osaka via special rapid JR Kyoto line*
* Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum
* Denden Town
* Tennoji Park
* Osaka Castle
*Check in Hotel Abitare Namba*
​
**Monday 14th**
USJ!
​
**Tuesday 15th**
* Light rest day at Minoh Park
​
**Wednesday 16th**
* Day trip to either Hiroshima, Himeji, Hyogo, Kobe, Nara, Wakayama/Kumanu-Kodo
​
**Thursday 17th**
* Osaka Museum of Natural History
* Last minute exploring (ideas?)
​
***++Places left in Osaka that are not in itinerary – Dotonbori, Cup Noodle Museum, Fujita Museum***
​
**Friday 18th**
*Hotel Abitare Namba check out*
* Leave Japan from KIX in am (BOOOO)
4 comments
On August 5th, there is a firework festival in Tokyo, so check it out.
Rest of the itinerary looks fine, daytrip from Kyoto could be Nara, visiting deer park, golden palace and that Mochi place.
Do you mind sharing your Okinawa itinerary? Will be there from 26-31th July, still looking for some inspiration
Teramachi is a killer mall? Shopping area with a little bit of everything all in one small district. I took a cab there from the Kyoto Shinkansen station and it was only 1600 yen and that was with a 500 yen pick up fee. Or you can take the bus but the cab was an experience that I had wanted to have.
Sure, let’s spice up your Okinawa itinerary with some wild karaoke battles and beach bumming! 🎤🏖️
For Thursday 10th I have a few suggestions:
*Kyoto Gyoen National Garden & Imperial Palace, Daitoku-ji & Koto-in Temple, Kinkaku-ji & Ryoan-ji*
Sounds good except for: Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji. Simply because these places will be crowded to the brim. Kinkaku more than Ryoan-Ji. Instead, do this:
**Shosei-en Garden** this garden is really beautiful and is my go to whenever I rented a Kimono in Kyoto to take some pictures. It´s very nice to stroll into, it´s not so big as the one at the palace, but its very beautiful with a pond and bridges etc.
**Kyoto Imperial Palace** with the garden (see schedule for a free english guided tour – might need to reserve)
**Ninna-Ji** (Garden and Palace – my absolute favorite place on earth is the Palace with its garden, where you can sit on the terrasse and enjoy the view. Absolutly serene with not many foreign tourists)
**Daitoku-Ji & Imamiya-Shrine** Why Imamiya? Because there is Kazariya, which is a very old and traditional Aburi Mochi house. They sell these special Aburi Mochi since the 17th centrury. The mochi is sweet and sticky. Loved it!!!
**Koto-in Temple** never been there, or not as far as I know, since Kyoto is so packed with temples and shrines, you will always happen to find something intresting.
Or you do your back up plan:
*Daikaku-ji, Jojakku-ji, Tenryu-ji, Saiho-ji (Koke-dera), Katsura Imperial Villa*
The only concern I have is, that Arashiyama Area can be very packed, even if you plan to do other things than everyone else (which will be the bamboo forest.) I was there a month ago and Arashiyama, and I would avoid it the next time. I´m not sure how it will be at the shrines and temples you mentioned, since I haven´t been there, but just a heads up 🙂 the streets there got so clogged, that the bus had like 10 – 15 minutes delay, bc it couldn´t get through the masses.