Hello everyone, I am trying to plan my first international trip for myself and my mother (her first trip in 30+ years). We plan to stay 18 days from March 29, 2024 to April 15, 2024. We are flying in to Osaka from Taipei so we hope the jet lag won’t be an issue when we arrive.
I have a moderate interest in anime and photography, also trying to buy a good camera/lens while in Japan if I can. My mom loves shopping for basically anything from discount stores to luxury shopping. She is Chinese and in her 60s, so any activity/restaurant recommendations you can give are appreciated.
The only thing set in stone in this itinerary are the days we arrive and leave. Am happy to move days around to fit more in one city than another. I have also been reading that by the time we arrive, we will be missing the cherry blossoms?
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***Fri Mar 29***
Arrive 5:55pm to KIX – Kansai International Airport
Hotel Arrival \~8-9pm
Dinner somewhere
***Sat Mar 30***
Osaka Castle
Osaka-jo Gozabune Boat (inside Osaka Castle)
The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living OR Yodobashi Camera
Umeda Sky Building
***Sun Mar 31***
Tsūtenkaku/Shinsekai Neighborhood
Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street
Dotonbori Exploration and Tombori/Wonder Cruise
***Mon Apr 1***
Leave 7am for Himeji Castle
Explore Koko-en
Lunch in Himeji
Go to Kobe (1hr), Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens
Motomachi Shopping Street
dinner at Kobe Beef Steak Ishida Main-Shop
***Tue Apr 2***
Check out to Kyoto/lunch in Osaka
Kyoto Station
Hotel Check in
Potocho/Nishiki Market Exploration
Kichi Kichi Omurice
***Wed Apr 3***
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
% ARABICA Kyoto Arashiyama
Arashiyama Monkey Park
Arashiyama Yoshimura
Kinkakuji
Gion District
Tendan Gion Honten
***Thu Apr 4***
Early start
Fushimi Inari
Day trip to Nara
Nara Deer park
Lunch
Kofuku-ji
Nakatanidou
Nijo Castle area (Cotoha, Lader)/Dinner
(still debating whether to spend 1 or 2 nights in Hakone)
***Fri Apr 5***
Leave for Hakone
Find a Onsen/Sento
Find a Hotel/Ryokan
***Sat Apr 6***
Hakone Ropeway
Open-air Museum
***Sun Apr 7***
Leave for Tokyo
Need stuff here
Look around Shinjuku station/Dinner
***Mon Apr 8***
Asakusa/Sensō-ji
Tokyo National Museum
Nakamise-dori Street
***Tue Apr 9***
Tsukiji Fish market
teamLab Planets
Ginza Shopping District
Tokyo Station exploration
***Wed Apr 10***
Day trip to Yokohama
Chinatown
Red brick warehouse
***Thu Apr 11***
Akihabara exploration
Yodobashi Akiba?
Animate Akihabara
(More stuff needed here)
***Fri Apr 12***
Explore Ikebukuro
Explore Shinjuku
Golden Gai
***Sat Apr 13***
Harajuku exploration
Shibuya exploration
Starbucks Reserve Roastery
Don Quijote
Shibuya Sky
***Sun Apr 14***
“Free Day”
(More needed stuff here)
***Mon Apr 15***
Check out/lunch somewhere
Arrive Narita \~17:00?
Flight Departs Narita 21:35
