Hi, I am travelling to Japan in January with a 2 year old. Based on the itineraries I saw on the group I came up with the following one for myself. It’s my first time travelling to Japan so mostly doing popular places. I love the Japanese culture and I am a huge fan of anime as well.
However, I am a vegetarian so it will be tough to find food options. But I am looking forward to trying all the cute coffees and desserts there are. I am planning to use HappyCow for that. I also want to have a relaxing trip and tried to not clutter every day with too many attractions.
I like to wrap up all my travel by 5-6 pm in the evening and then relax at the hotel lobby or the room and get my energy back for the next day.Can you please help and critique my itinerary? Please let me know if I should still filter it down or if I am not doing enough activities , or if I should move things around.
**Day 1:**
1. Land in tokyo in the morning
2. Get suica card, pocket wifi (Not getting a JR pass) and head to hotel in Ginza
3. Visit Imperial Palace, Nijubashi bridge
4. Explore Ginza
5. Optional (If time permits) : View tokyo tower
6. Food : T’s tantan
**Day 2 :**
1. Sensoji Temple
2. Namikase Dori street
3. Miyashita park, shibuya crossing, starbucks at shibuya crossing
4. Shibuya sky
5. Food : Izakaya Masaka
**Day 3**
1. Take bullet train from Tokyo to Hakone-Yumoto Station
2. Take the bus to Lake ashi and explore hakone shrine
3. Take lake ashi cruise to togendai-ko
4. Take cable car to owakudani and explore sulphus springs
5. Take the Hakone Tozan Cablecar to Chokoku-no-mori StationÂ
6. Head to nearby hotel for stay .
**Day 4**
1. Enjoy the hotel onsen and have breakfast.
2. Catch bullet train to Kyoto.
3. Check in to the hotel in Kyoto.
4. Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine
5. Visit hokanji/Nijo Castle
**Day 5**
1. Visit kiyomizudera shrine
2. Visit Ninenzaka (starbucks) and sanenzaka
3. Visit Yasaka Shrine
4. Explore Gion (if time permits, can move this to other day as well)
**Day 6:**
1. Arashiyama Bamboo forest
2. Sagano Romantic train
3. Kinkakuji temple
**Day 7:**
1. Take shinkansen to Tokyo
2. Free Day, nothing planned yet, could do Team Labs/ Ghibli Meuseum if I am able to get tickets
**Day 8:**
1. Explore Ginza
2. Team Labs/Ghibli Meuseum
3. Free Afternoon , nothing planned yet
4. Fly out of Japan in the evening
**Some extra questions:**
1. Is team labs worth visiting with a 2 year old?
2. Is the romancecar worth it or should I take other bullet train or bus as they are faster?
3. Do you think the hakone pass would be worth it?
4. Should I do Tokyo for three days straight instead of two? In that case I will travel from kyoto to Japan on Day 8 and fly out on the same day which will be very tiring with a toddler.
4 comments
Day 1: You might be burnt out from flying and might have too much on the first day.
Day 2: If you are a slower walker like me, it might be a lot in one day. Sensoji and namikase dori are far from Shibuya, and both areas can easily be a day trip on its own.
Day 3: Hakone was very tourist heavy when I visited in October. Granted January might be better but be warned of the lines to take photos at lake ashi and tourist areas. The busses are also the only place in Japan I found to not be on time because of the traffic and tourism.
Day 6: visit arashimaya very early otherwise its packed with tourists.
Questions
2: I found the romance car to be the fastest but bullet train/bus combo was cheaper from my own calculation. Do your own calc and make decision based on your preference.
4. I personally like waking up in Tokyo before I fly out because it lets me have any last minute shopping or food places I want to try. Also much less anxiety. Then again Im a single guy.
Day 1: It’ll be too much with a two year old. Just look around Ginza a bit. As for Tokyo Tower, you’ll be able to see it from many places in Tokyo.
Day 2: It’s also too much for being with a child. Sensoji and Nakamise are on the opposite side of the city from Shibuya, and they’re both about equidistant from Ginza timewise. The Starbucks at Shibuya crossing closed on 31 October 2023. It may or may not reopen, but if it does it’ll be in late 2024 at the earliest. Also, be aware that Sensoji is very crowded these days (think shoulder-to-shoulder) and you might have trouble maneuvering there if you have a stroller.
Day 3: I understand there’s an hour wait for the cable car at times.
Day 7: If your child likes Ghibli movies, the Ghibli Museum might be worthwhile. There’s a large park next to it with rowboats, a small zoo and aquarium, play areas, paved walking paths and the like. Our child enjoyed it at 2 years old, and we still enjoy it.
The Romance car is not all that much faster than a regular express train along the same Odakyu Line.
Here now (Tokyo, currently in Hakone, off to Kyoto and Osaka the rest of the week)
Best tip I got so far: Get your Suica in your Apple Wallet – someone else on Reddit said to do this and it’s so helpful. Go to your wallet, hit the (+) symbol at the top, go to Transit, and select Suica. You can add money to it via Apple Pay and just tap your phone at all stations/Suica accepted machines.
Where are you going to put your luggage for day 3? Shipping it? That’s what I’d recommend. I think Team Labs could be fun for your two year old if they don’t have many sensory issues (lots of lights and textures). There’s also a room with knee high water where you may have to carry them.