I posted a very rough draft a few months ago and I’ve finally got more planning done and things are booked. I’d like any suggestions on things I should changed or move around since the New Years is a very weird time of year to visit.
**Some background things**:
\-We are a family of 3: Me (33), my husband (32), and our toddler (2).
\-Toddler will nap in stroller during the day most likely unless we’re pooped and need to head back to the hotel in the middle of the day.
\-We are based in the US, however we will be flying from the Philippines after visiting family so jet lag shouldn’t be a problem at this point.
\-My husbands birthday is Dec. 31st. Does any know of any special/fun things that you’ve done that you’d recommend?
\-We’re okay with just walking around and exploring if things end up being closed during New Years times.
\-Things with this symbol ✅ have already been purchased/booked.
**Tuesday December 26**
* Arrive at 8pm ✅
* Hotel in Asakusa ✅
* Sensoji at night (depending on our energy)
**Wednesday December 27**
* Tokyo Disney✅
**Thursday December 28**
* Teamlab Planets ✅
* Diver City
* Decks
**Friday December 29**
* Tsukiji Market
* Pokemon Cafe
* Ginza
\-Uniqlo
\-Happy Pancake
\-Art Aquarium Museum
* Teamlab Borderless (I saw on their website they’re supposed to be opening on Nov. 24. We’ll see if we can get a ticket.)
**Saturday December 30**
* Ueno
\-Zoo or Nature and Science Museum (weather depending)
* Akihabara
\-Arcades
\-Gachapon
**Sunday December 31**
* Skytree (maybe go up but want to go to Solamachi)
* \- Nakamise Dori and Sensoji (try food booths)
* Check in Asakusa Ryokan ✅
\-Find soba for dinner
* Midnight Hatsumode (maybe; energy dependent)
**Monday January 1**
* Hanayashiki Amusement Park while we wait to check in to our hotel
* Hotel in Asakusa ✅
* Rest day
**Tuesday January 2**
* Harry Potter Studio ✅
* Shinjuku
\-Pasela Karaoke
**Wednesday January 3**
* Shibuya Crossing/Hachiko Statue (do a salute to my old boy in doggy heaven)
* Lucky Bag shopping
\-Shibuya Magnet
* Harajuku
* Meiji Jingu (maybe depending on energy)
**Thursday January 4**
* Souvenir shopping
* Depart at 7:40pm
What do you think?
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4 comments
Hanayashiki opens late (at 1 PM) on New Year’s Day.
I am afraid I live in Tokyo and would not go *near* Asakusa on 31 December, especially with a two-year-old. Expect shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. We took our youngster to a shrine maybe 1/3 as popular as Sensoji once and ended up having to tag team the child, with one parent taking the child away for 15 minutes or so and the other waiting in line, then switching. I’d at least look in to a backup plan.
Teamlab Borderless seems to be opening some time in the spring.
Meiji Jingu and the paths leading to it are mostly graveled, so you’ll have trouble moving a stroller, perhaps. I am not sure how long the waits to get into Meiji Jingu will be on 3 January, but don’t be surprised to have to wait an hour or longer. (If you enter Meiji Jingu from the northwest entrance, rather than the main southeast entrance, you can get in and out relatively quickly. Use the Odakyu Line’s Sangubashi Station for that route.)
Happy birthday to your husband.
I’d skip happy pancake. It wasn’t worth going imo.
Get a reservation for Happy Pancake when you can. When I tried to go in Ginza it had a 2 hour wait, but you can make a reservation online.
Any thoughts on napping strategy? Our son will be 2 when we arrive in February. I am going to try and plan returns to Homebase in Ueno but ideally we’ll be able to stay out some days to nap in the stroller, which he is usually able to do. I’m just a little worried about how cold it might be? Any concerns there?