I have booked a nine day trip in Sept for me and my 8 year old son. Hoping to get some feedback on my itinerary and I have some questions at the bottom if anyone is able to offer advice. I’m trying to plan things that will interest my son and not have to move luggage too many times. I know we will need a bit of down time so can cut things out if they are too much. Onsens are kind of not likely to be an option since we’d have to be gender separated.
Day 0 – arrive late evening. Straight to hotel (Shinjuku – booked)
Day 1 – Explore Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, dinner around Shinjuku probably. Would love to see a hedgehog at a hedgehog cafe.
Day 2 – DisneySea (booked)
Day 3 – Ninja Trick House (40 min – not booked. At around midday, collect luggage and train to Kyoto (Accom booked)
Day 4 & 5 (weekend) – Kyoto. Explore locally. Especially want to see Gion, Arashiyama, a decent temple.
Day 6 – Day trip to Nara to see deer (or could swap this with Day 4/5)
Day 7 – Return to Tokyo. Advice for accommodation? See question below.
Day 8 – Akhibara, Ginza (Pokemon stuff mostly), Art Aquarium, Small Worlds, (maybe TeamLab Planets? Lego?). Maybe Sky Tree if clear day. Overflow into day 9.
Day 9 – choose from whatever we didn’t get done in day 8. Then collect luggage and make way to Narita airport for evening flight.
Questions…
1. Given the second stay in Tokyo, things to do are mostly east side, should we stay in Ginza area, Akhibara or Asakusa?
2. Would day 3 be viable? It’s the only day we could do the Ninja thing and 11am is the earliest session available. It would mean leaving Tokyo after midday. Intend to get JR green pass.
3. Which would be the best of the temples for Kyoto?
4. How about day 4-5-6? Should I swap the order given weekend might be busy/crowded?
5. For Harajuku, is it enough to go there on the subway and just wander around the streets a little bit? Is there a particular street for people watching?
6. Are there any street food markets we should hit up (Tokyo or Kyoto)? My son is not at all adventurous when it comes to food and I’m going to have to choose restaurants that have something he will eat, so markets might be a chance for me to try some things.
Edit: formatting
2 comments
Hi!
1. Since you didn’t mention an airport, if you’re using Haneda, I would do Asakusa, cause it is easier to get from Asakusa to Haneda. If you are going to Narita I might do Akihbara.
2. I mean it depends on when you want to get to Kyoto? Since you don’t have anything listed on Day 3 outside the Ninja Trick House and going to Kyoto, I am not sure why it wouldn’t be viable? You might not be able to leave around noon, but there are 2 Hikari an hour you can take from Tokyo to Kyoto until around 8:00 pm, so…
3. I mean best is such a subjective term. If you’re going to Arashiyama, Tenryuji is right there. I really like Kiyomizudera. I think that while the view of the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) is super famous, as places to visit go, it’s a fast visit and not as interesting. It’s one of the few temples that really does only feel like it’s good for a few photographs and then you’re ready to move on.
4. Yeah, you might be better off swapping things around.
5. It’s not people watching per se, but I find the Starbucks at the Tokyu Plaza on the 6th floor is a nice place to just hang out. I think you can sit in the outside area without buying anything from Starbucks and that is the best part. There might be views to the street below.
Edit: I like the Ginza area. I like walking around expensive stores and cute cafes. I tend to really like to stay in the Marounochi area and I’ve stayed a few times near Shiodome.
1. Ginza, high end store and office. Akihabara, anime/manga and electronic. Asakusa, more quiet, with temple/shrine and also easy access to both airports. Asakusa would probably be my choice.
2. Should be ok, but there is not hat much advantage for the green pass and even getting the pass, you have to get it before the increase and will save little to nothing, so really not essential.
3. There is a lot, you want just temple or mix or shrines too ? Let’s say that the Higashiyama would have good options like Yasaka shrine, Kiyomizu-dera, Kodai-ji.
4. Kyoto is always crowded…
5. Would go by train and not by subway from Shinjuku. Takeshita street is the is the best known street in Harajuku.
6. Nishiki market in Kyoto? I’ve seen a relatively negative review lately, so maybe check Google reviews on individual places to spot the good places.