I am usually a master trip planner but I have to say planning this Japan trip was a bit intimidating/overwhelming. For background, this will be our first family trip to Japan (traveling from Los Angeles), my daughter is seven, she is very comfortable walking 20k steps a day and is also a pretty good eater.
We love hiking and also watching shows that help us learn more about the culture so if there are any recommendations for that, would love that as well! Other questions are weaved in through the proposed itinerary. Travel dates are from March 17th to March 29th, we plan to focus this trip on Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka.
Day 0:
Land in Narita airport at 5:30 pm (rookie move, didn’t realize there was another airport haneda in the city before I booked)! Landing at Narita airport @ 5:30 pm and taking Narita express to the city. We are planning to stay in Shinjuku or Shibuya, does this sound reasonable, any hotel recommendations?
Get to hotel, rest and recover from flight.
Day 1:
AM – Shibuya crossing, Hachiko shrine, cat street
PM – explore Shinjuku
Day 2:
Disneyland – on the fence with this, since we live in LA we have been to local Disneyland multiple times. Is the Tokyo Disneyland really that different that it’s worth a visit. If it’s more of the same typical Disneyland would prefer to save this day for something else.
Day 3:
AM: Visit Tokyo skytree (Hancock tower) for views
PM: Explore Asakusa, including Senso-ji temple
Day 4:
AM: Ueno park. Museums and zoo.
PM: Ameya-Yokocho market for shopping
Day 5:
AM: Travel to Kyoto
PM: Walk around Gion district
Any recommendations for a good ryokan in Kyoto? Would also like to include a family friendly hot springs trip one of the Kyoto days.
Day 6:
AM: Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavillion)
PM: Manga museum
Day 7:
AM: Fushimi Inari shrine and its torii gates
PM: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Monkey Park
Day 8:
Day trip to Nara
AM: Todai-ji temple and deer
PM: Return to Kyoto
Day 9:
Day trip to Osaka
AM: Osaka castle, Dotonburi
PM: Return to Kyoto
Day 10:
AM: Travel to Tokyo
PM: Explore Ginza
Day 11:
AM: Explore Harajaku and Takeshita Street
PM: Visit Meiji shrine
Day 12:
AM: Last minute shopping
PM: Head to Narita airport
Anyway to get around $700 per person for JR pass. Planning to buy pocket WiFi when we land at Narita.
Any help, advice, edits to itinarary, recommendations for hotel/ryokan/food would be helpful. Totally new to Japan and super excited about this upcoming trip!