Hi all!
First of all, I’d like to say it is very heartwarming to see how you guys help people out with their Japan trips without looking for something in return. It is commendable, and I can’t wait to be back from my trip to be able to put my grain of sand.
My family and I are planning to go to Japan for a couple of months. This includes my sisters who are 42 and 45, my mom who is 65, and me, 26. We want to do this trip because my mom is retiring soon. She’s still in good shape, so we think it’s a great time to have a special family trip. We’re doing this now because she’s getting older and it might be harder in the future. Also, we’re from Spain, in case that matters.
I’ve been lurking in the forum (and in many other places!) and I’ve created an itinerary of my own based on what I read. **I’d love to hear your thoughts** , most specifically:
* **Do you have any concerns about time/physical effort?** We are not athletes, but we are ready to walk 20-25k steps a day.
* **Do you have any recommendations for when we visit any of these spots?**
* **Is there anything that is just not worth it?**
However, feel free to give any sort of feedback. Thanks in advance 🙂
# Day 1 – Tokyo
This day we will be getting to Tokyo, and the idea is to pick the luggage and feel free to explore the area surrounding the hotel (Shinjuku) and taking in the excitement of the first day.
**Schedule**
* We get to Narita
* We pick our luggage and Japan Rail Pass
* Narita Express to Shinjuku (Our hotel is there)
* As we’ll be tired, probably exploring Shinjuku.
* Piss Alley
# Day 2 – Tokyo
We will go to Harajuku early in the morning and the idea is to do some light shopping, explore the culture more deeply, and eat.
**Schedule**
* Meiji Sanctuary
* Sake and wine barrels
* Camphor Trees
* Kiyomasa’s Well
* Yoyogi Park
* Takeshita Street
* Hedgehog café (maybe)
* Omotseando
* Shibuya
* Here we’ll see the crossing, hachicko, maybe Shibuya Sky.
* Some shopping and eating spots I’ve been recommended: Sneakersnstuff, Pokemon Center, Tokyu Hands, Loft.
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# Day 3 – Tokyo
The idea is to explore Asakusa, get to Skytree for a good view of the city (I’ve seen mixed reviews), go down to Hama Rikyu, and then explore Odaiba. I’m unsure if the museum will be a little bit too much.
**Schedule**
* Kaminarimon Gate
* Nakamise Dori Street
* Templo Sensoji
* Skytree
* We take water bus down to Hama-Rikyu Garden
* Hama-Rikyu Garden
* Miraikan Science museum
* I’ve been told we can do this in around 2-3hrs. Is that true?
* TeamLab Planets
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# Day 4 – Kamakura
A full day trip to Kamakura, exploring the most important areas and doing some more cultural sightseeing. I’ve had issues finding good eating recommendations (Maybe in Komachidori?), so I’d love to hear if you got any.
**Schedule**
* Hasedera temple
* Kamakura Buddha
* Daibatsu Hiking Course
* Takes us to Genjiyama.
* Zeniarai Benten
* Genjiyama Park
* Sanctuary Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
* Komachidori
* Komokuji Bamboo forest *(optional)*
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# Day 5 – Tokyo
This is a free day to reexplore areas that we liked, do open exploration, or just decide a spot where we want to go and say “We’ll go here today!”
**Schedule**
* Open Exploration
* Akihabara post 5PM
# Day 6 – Takayama half day
We’ll be traveling for Takayama around half the day, and the idea is to explore all the “must see” spots, and in case we miss any because of time or lack of energy, to be able to do them the next morning.
**Schedule**
* We’ll get to Takayama around noon.
* Takayama Jinya
* Samachi Suji
* I was recommended to find Harada Sake Brewery, a souvenir shop where they sell handmade fabric animals, and “Kuratsubo Antiques”.
* Kasukabe Folk Museum
* We’ll just do light sightseeing here, we won’t go in.
* Hachimangu Sanctuary
* Higashiyama Walking Course
* I’ve read it’s easy to get lost.
# Day 7 – Takayama half day and Kyoto half day
Anything we missed the previous day in Takayama we’ll do during the morning, and we’ll just take our time to relax and do light exploring. We’ll then travel to Kyoto, and we’ll maybe explore 1 or 2 spots close to our hotel.
**Schedule**
* We’ll keep exploring Takayama during the morning, open exploration.
* Train to Kyoto
* Open exploration around Kyoto, as we’ll probably be tired. Would love to hear your recommendations! I’ve heard great things about Nishiki Market and Sanjo-Kai Shotengai, and we’ll be staying around Gojo station.
# Day 8 – Kyoto
This is the “Kyoto day”, where we’ll explore what I’ve read are the must sees (without taking into account Saga-Arashiyama). I’m a bit scared that I just selected tourist traps, so please let me know if you’d change anything.
**Schedule**
* Breakfast at “Ask me! Cafe”
* Ginkakuji
* Philosopher’s path
* I’ve read it’s cool to wander around the backstreets along the path.
* Nanzenji
* Keage Incline
* Is this worth visiting if the Sakuras haven’t bloomed? I have a gut feeling this is not worth even stopping due to overcrowding.
* Heian Shrine
* Yasaka Shrine
* Kodaiji Temple
* Higashiyama Streets
* Kiyomizudera
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# Day 9 – Kyoto
The day fro Saga-Arashiyama. We’ll explore the monkey park, the spots leading to Arashiyama, and then we’ll take a taxi to Otagi and walk down checking the rest of temples.
**Schedule**
* Monkey Park
* Togetsukyo
* Tenryruji
* Arashiyama
* After this, we’ll take a taxi up to Otagi Nenbutsuji. Initially, I was planning to rent some bikes, but 1) the bike spots close very early and I don’t want to feel rushed, and2) I’ve been told it’s quite an effort to go up. So instead, we’ll just take a taxi up, and then calmly go down and focus on sightseeing.
* Otagi Nenbutsuji
* Saga-Toriimoto
* Gioji
* Jojakkoji
# Day 10 – Nara full Day
Nara day trip! I’m a *bit* scared it will be too much. Is it? Anything I should remove?
**Schedule**
* Watch Mochi pounding at Kintetsu as soon as we arrive
* Kofukuji
* Eastern Golden Hall
* National Treasure Museum or Nara National Museum
* Any recommendation between the two? I’ve read the National Treasure Museum is better.
* Nandaimon
* Daibutsuden Hall
* Todai-ji Buddha
* Nigatsudo
* Kasuga Taisha
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# Day 11 – Mount Koya half day
We’ll be traveling for most part of the morning, and once we get to Koyasan we will settle in, explore Okunoin temple, and then take some time to relax and have dinner at Ekoin temple where we’ll be staying until our Cemetery Night tour.
**Schedule**
* Train to Osaka Station, where we’ll leave our luggage in lockers.
* Osaka Station to Kyosan (train + cable car)
* We’ll probably check-in at Ekoin Temple at around 14.00
* Okunoin temple
* Back at Ekoin Temple
* Meditate
* Relax
* Maybe Sutra Copying?
* Cemetery Night tour (so excited for this!)
# Day 12 – Koya and Osaka half day
We’ll wake up early to do the Religious Service at Ekoin, we’ll walk around the area, and we’ll do the Woman Pilgrims Route. Then we’ll take the train to Osaka, and we’ll explore the must sees until we get to our hotel.
**Schedule**
* We’ll do the Religious Service and Goma Taki ritual offered by Ekoin Temple
* Quick exploration to Kongobuji Temple, Garan, and Daim-on Gate.
* Woman Pilgrims Route
* Has anyone done this, is it intense?
* Train to Osaka
* Shinsekai
* Nipponbashi Den Den Town
* Kuromon Market
* Doguyashi Shotengai
* Dotonbori, where our hotel is.
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# Day 13 – Hiroshima and Miyajima
We’ll explore Hiroshima, and then Miyajima. I’m afraid that we’ll be too late to go up to Mount Misen, but I’d love to hear your thoughts. Any recommendations to eat in Miyajima? Do you know how we can handle our luggage here?
**Schedule**
* Hiroshima peace memorial park
* Peace Museum
* Atomic Bomb Dome
* Hiroshima Castle
* Shukkeien Garden
* Ship from Hiroshima to Miyajima
* Omotseando Arcade
* Itsukushima Sanctuary
* Daisho-in temple
* Cable car to mount misen
* Is going up Mount Misen worth it?
* Momijidani
* Senjokaku
* Back to the Hotel
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# Day 14 – Back to Tokyo
Full day back to Tokyo. We’ll probably be destroyed and we’ll want to rest a little bit as we’ll get there during the afternoon and we fly the next day.
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