Traveling with parents in Nov. Itinerary check and suggestions please

For anyone who wants to avoid the mini novel below, Wanderlog itinerary is [here](https://wanderlog.com/view/yipdgjvcij/trip-to-japan-for-reddit/shared). Travel route will be 14 days Tokyo – Kanazawa – Kyoto – Tokyo with day trips in-between.

​

I (31F) will be heading to Japan with my parents (60+) on Nov. 8 for 14 days. We are all decently active with my parents being very physically fit however they do have some health concerns. So while physically demanding trips shouldn’t be an issue, I would like to limit them as much as possible to be on the safe side.

I have previously attended a homestay program for 2 months in Japan back in high school. 1 month was spent in Tokyo, 1 month a combination of Tokushima and Kyoto. This will be my parents first time visiting Japan. I have some basic Japanese knowledge but my parents have none and there is a good chance that we may occasionally split up. Will they be ok traveling around with just Google translate or should I try to limit our split time?

Our itinerary is on the lighter side to allow flexibility and honestly to avoid time crunch stress. My mom has said that she’s not too interested in seeing basic city things so we don’t currently have any plans to really explore hubs like Shinjuku or Shibuya.

​

Main goals and suggestions needed for:

* **Food!** We’re all adventurous eaters and can and will eat almost anything. Would prefer recommendations for Japan unique cuisines and experiences that can’t be found in the SF Bay Area. Also looking for recommendations for a Sukiyaki or Shabu Shabu restaurant and a Kaiseki restaurant that won’t RIP my wallet.
* **Goshuin!** I recently found out about them, fell in love, and now need to collect as many as reasonably possible. I would love recommendations to help find the more unique and “pretty” ones.
* **Cultural experiences.** Myself and my mom have already done tea ceremonies so not too interested this time around. However I would love any other recommendations that preferably don’t have too much of a language barrier for my parents.
* **Sake tasting.** My mom really wants to do some sake tasting but would like to go somewhere that can talk to her about the differences. I think she may be looking for something similar to the experience you can get at specialty wineries and wine bars. Suggestions would be suuuuuuper appreciated.
* **Autumn foliage viewing.** While it looks like we were unfortunate enough to miss most of the peaks this year, any suggestions for some nice koyo viewing locations would be great!
* **Tea**. I already plan on stopping by Ippodo in Kyoto for some more matcha but would be open to other suggestions! I drink all kinds of tea regularly including sencha, matcha, hojicha, mugicha, etc. Smokey teas are ❤️

Would like to avoid places like Disney, Universal Studios, Animal cafes, etc. A good rule of thumb is if we can do something similar in California we’re more than likely not interested.

​

For those who don’t want to use the [Wanderlog link](https://wanderlog.com/view/yipdgjvcij/trip-to-japan-for-reddit/shared), here is the WIP itinerary:

# Day 1 – Arrive in Tokyo

* Pick up JR pass, Welcome Suica, pocket Wifis, grab some ¥ from an ATM then head to the hotel in Kodenmacho.
* Flight comes in at 5pm so will probably stay at the hotel depending on how we feel

# Day 2 – Tokyo

**Mostly free day. If jetlagged and up early in the morning then:**

* Tsukiji Market for breakfast
* Glitch Coffee Ginza. (Any other specialty coffee suggestions would be great!)
* Karasumori Shrine for the goshuincho and goshuin
* Possibly check out the Imperial Palace
* Tsukishima Monja Street for lunch or dinner

# Day 3 – Kawagoe

**Day trip to Kawagoe**

* Ootori or Hanazono Shrine for Tori no Ichi
* Head to Kawagoe for the day
* Possibly go to a Yokocho for drinks on the way back.

Opinions on Omoide vs Golden Gai vs Yurakucho Sanchoku Inshokugai? Also open to other options!

>note: Not sure when would be the best time to visit the shrines for Tori no Ichi. I really want to get a rake but would like to avoid as much of the crowds as possible.

# Day 4 – Mt. Takao

**Day trip to Mt Takao**

* Go to the monkey park before hiking to the summit.
* Check out the surrounding area
* Depending on how we feel after stop by Harmonica Yokocho for drinks or Shibuya Mark City for the Tokyu Food Show

# Day 5 – Travel to Kanazawa

* Activate JR Pass and head to Kanazawa
* Check in to hotel
* Stop by the Omicho Market for lunch
* Explore the Higashi Chaya District and surrounding area
* Maybe go to the teamLab Kanazawa Castle at night

# Day 6 – Kanazawa

* Visit Kanazawa Castle
* Move through to Kenrokuen
* Stop by Seisonkaku
* Possibly eat lunch or dinner in Kakinokibatake
* Explore Nagamachi
* Check out Nomurake Samurai Residence
* Maybe go to the teamLab Kanazawa Castle at night if missed the day before

>note: not too interested in the Contemporary Art Museum

# Day 7 – Travel to Kyoto

**Travel to Kyoto and check into hotel near Kyoto station**

* Maybe stop by the Nishiki Market depending on time/how we feel
* Head to Arashiyama
* Walk through Bamboo Grove
* Stop by the Okochi Sanso Garden
* Maybe walk around the Arashiyama Park?
* Maybe make a trip to Jojakkoji depending on time/mood?
* Possibly book a restaurant for dinner
* Head to the Hogon-in for the night viewing

# Day 8 – Nara

**Day trip to Nara**

* Head to Fushimi Inari Taisha sometime before 9am
* Head down to Nara
* If we can get bookings have lunch at Awa Naramachi.
* Go to Nara Park and feed the deer!
* Check out the temples, shrines and gardens in the park area
* Stop by the Fushimi Sake Village for dinner and drinks on the way back

# Day 9 – Osaka

**Day trip to Osaka**

* Hit up some shrines with interesting goshuins
* Maybe check out Osaka Castle? Is it worth it?
* Explore Dotonbori area and try different street food
* By suggestion visit Kuromon Market and look for fugu!
* Stop by Tsutenkaku at dusk?
* teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka

>note: Not much planned outside of goshuin, Dotonbori and teamLab. Any suggestions would be great!

# Day 10 – Kyoto

* Bishamondo Temple either at the beginning or end of the loop
* Nishiki Market at the beginning or end of the loop if we haven’t visited yet
* Start at Hanamikoji Street and work our way through Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka
* Kiyomizudera preferably later at night for the night viewing. Maybe go once in the day and go back at night?
* Visit other surrounding temples and shrines depending on time/mood
* Maybe go to Pontocho for dinner and drinks?

>note: Kiyomizudera and the surrounding area is a must but I would love to see the Bishamondo Temple if possible. Is this itinerary viable or will it put us on too much of a time crunch?When is the best time to visit Nishiki Market? I’ve seen 9 – 10am in the past but more recently I feel like I’ve seen 5pm as a recommended time.

# Day 11 – Travel to Tokyo

**Travel to Tokyo and check into hotel near Asakusa**

* Head to Meiji Jingu Gaien. Festival was originally November 18 & 19 but it may have been canceled? Need to confirm
* Head to Meiji Jingu
* Maybe check out other temples/shrines in the nearby area
* Depending on time/mood maybe explore Harajuku
* Go to Hoppy Street for dinner and drinks

>note: I would love to know if anyone has heard about the status of the Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival and if it’s canceled this year or not.

# Day 12 – Tokyo

* Free day. Nothing planned!

# Day 13 – Tokyo

* Head to the Ono Terusaki Shrine for the goshuin
* Explore Asakusa starting at the Kaminarimon
* Head up to Senso-ji and explore surrounding area
* Possibly stop by Akihabara for some last minute shopping at Amiami and Mandarake

>note: I doubt Asakusa will take more than a day so we may use the time to check out other area that might have been skipped such as Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku etc. Suggestion appreciated!

# Day 14 – Fly out of Narita

* 5pm flight so may make a quick stop by Akihabara or the Ginza Pokemon center for some last minute shopping if missed earlier in the trip.

​

*^(Post edited for better readability)*