Hi,
Me and my family of 4 are flying to Japan later this month. We have the current plan as this. Anyone have any suggestions. Budget is not a problem, so feel free to recommend anything.
Tuesday, 12/26 Day 1:
Arrive 5:30
Land at Tokyo Haneda International Airport
Eat dinner:
Ramen/noodle shop
\*Stay awake until as late as possible.
Wednesday, 12/27 Day 2:
9am-3pm Walking Tour
\- Imperial Palace
\- Asakusa, Senso-ji Temple
\- Meiji Jingu Shrine
\- Tsukiji Fish Market
3-5 Rest
5-8 Dinner and explore
NI-Tele Really Big Clock, DSM
Thursday, 12/28 Day 3:
Check out hotel
\- town car / private driver to Shibuya:
\- Shibuya Crossing
\- Hands Store
\- Takeshita Street
same person brings us to Shinjuku Station
Train – Kamakura (1.5 hours)
Yokosuka Line (900Y)
Train station to Buddha: 20 min.
Buddha to house: 23 min.
(Kokotu-in Temple/Shrine) quick visit – not much else to see (open 8am-5pm)
Breakfast: buffet at hotel local cafe
Lunch:
Shibuya: (Shibuya Parko)
\- Delifucious, Jakasei Mensho
\- Ichiran Ramen (Shibuya)
Shinjuku: Gyopao Gyoza
Dinner Kamakura:
Komachi Street
Barchi’s Spare Ribs
Wander Kitchen
Ichikanjin- Ramen
Kamakura
2 Chome-6-2 Yuigahama, Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan
See about timing if there is time for sightseeing
Friday, 12/29 Day 4:
AM Explore Kamakura
\- Hokokuji Shrine
\- Tsurugaoka Shrines
\- Kokotu-in Shrine (Buddha)
(if not on 12/28)
Garden- Hokokuji 35 min
Hokokuji – Tsurugaoka 20 min
Tsurugaoka – Kamakura Train Station 10 min
Kamakura to Hakone-Yumoto Station 1.5 hours
Breakfast:
Lunch:
Dinner Hakone
Sleep
Saturday, 12/30 Day 5:
1 Day Tour (10 hours)
Mt Fuji Lake Kawaguchiko English Speaking Driver Guide
Pick up 9am with a Helicopter ride (maybe for kids)
Breakfast: Coffee Camp (4 min walk)
Lunch
Dinner Hakone:
Guide recommendation
Sunday, 12/31 Day 6:
Do
Hakone Open-Air Museum
(hours: 9-5)
Travel back to Tokyo (3 hours)
(aim to leave Hakone at 11/12ish)
Breakfast: Coffee Camp (4 min walk)
Lunch:
Woody (Toy Story Theme/quirky)
Cafe Douse
Chokoku-no-mori Dining (in museum)
Dinner Tokyo:
NYE reservation – kids babysitter
Monday, 1/1 Day 7:
Walk around until class
(22 cab/hour train to class)
Cooking class
11:00-1:30
Shinjuku Gyoen National Park
(30 min cab/ 50 min train from cooking class)
Breakfast:
Lunch: Oman’s home
Dinner Tokyo:
Orca Teppanyaki (close to gardens)
Tuesday, 1/2 Day 8:
Day trip via bullet train to Nagoya
(2 hour train ride each way – bullet) right side of train to see Fuji
\- Ngoya Castle
\- Capsule House Osu (shop)
\- Osu Shopping District
\- Osu Kannon
Lunch: Nagoya
Dinner Tokyo:
Wednesday, 1/3 Day 7:
Do
Team Lab Planets 10am
(tickets bought)
24 cab/1 hour train from house
Akihabara afternoon
(17 car/30 train from museum)
To palace
(20 car/30 train)
Breakfast:
Lunch:
Toyosu Market
Akihabara
Dinner Tokyo:
Yakitoriya Sumire Higashinakanoten
6:30 Reservation
Sleep
Thursday 1/4 Day 8:
Do
Asakusa
Depart for home at 6:30pm
Breakfast: find
Lunch: Find
Dinner: Plane
(ask jet to have kids games + the xbox)
4 comments
Given that the weather in Japan is highly changeable and often wet, make sure that you have back up plans for wet weather given that you’re seeking to schedule your holiday to various times.
The quality of food in Japan is very high, so there’s generally no need to go out of your way or line up for a good meal.
I feel like your days are way too packed but also missing out on a lot + you’re moving around to much. It also seems like you’re wasting a lot of money on a private car hire within the city?
You have 8 days. Realistically only 6.
Trying to fit Tokyo, Kamakura, Hakone, Lake Kawaguchiko, and Nagoya all in that short of a trip is way overkill. It would be way better to just take a 1 or 2 day overnight trip to either Kawaguchiko, Kamakura/Enoshima, or Hakone. Not all 3. Excluding day 1 and 8… 4 days in Tokyo plus 2 nights elsewhere on a mini trip is a nice balance. Especially with kids.
If you have the money (which you clearly do) Make it a 14 day trip MINIMUM for this kind of trip plan.
I don’t even understand why Nagoya. Nothing you picked to do there that you can’t do in the immediate Tokyo area….
I wouldn’t wish this trip on my enemy.
Thanks. My wife and I love to have a feeling of too much to do, we can just cancel reservations and other stuff if we want to do more. Is Nagoya not worth it at all? And the car is just for getting to and from places
I’m tired just from reading this schedule. I think you will be burnt your by this schedule by day 3. This is waaaay too much stuff. Like Wed 12/27 from 9-3. Pick 2 of those things. All 4 plus lunch is just racing around and thinking about the next event. Take some time and enjoy things. I think Meiji Jingu is a nice walk- not so interesting but there was a beautiful ikebana display when we were there as well as a holiday called Shochu-go-San (7,5,3) where children were dressed in beautiful kimonos and go to the temples. We enjoyed seeing the kids all dressed up and their proud parents, so we ended up spending a few hours there. If you’re always rushing around to get to the next place , you will miss a lot. Tokyo can be sensory overload- so balance time and activities to reflect that. Choose one or two things a day you really want to do. Tokyo has so much to do, just wandering around is fun!