Hi everyone,
In early May, I will be taking my mom and little sister on our first trip abroad to Japan for 7 days before flying to Vietnam. It will be our first time in Japan and I would like to get some opinions on the proposed itinerary. For reference, we don’t mind a lot of walking, nor a jam-packed day, however, please do let me know if the days are TOO packed to the point of impossible. We are also hoping to hit all or majority of tourist attractions on this trip so that’s why its a bit packed. In addition, I am aware we are coming into Japan at the end of the Golden Week, so things might be more hectic, but we are unable to change dates. Thank you!
P.S. Hakone is a major spot we want to visit so we cannot remove that to fill in more days in Tokyo or Kyoto.
May 4:
\[land in Tokyo around 4 pm, check-in to hotel around 6\]
Find something to eat and explore Shinjuku
May 5:
Tsukiji Market
Hamarikyu Garden ($3)
Water bus toward Asakusa; 5 min walk from Hamarikyu Oteman Gate ($8)
Senso-ji Temple
Akihabara (?)
May 6:
Takeshita Street, Harajuku
Animal cafe, Mipig cafe ($20)
Meiji Shrine
Shibuya via Cat Street
Shibuya Sky ($21)
May 7:
\[Travel to Hakone early morning\]
Hakone Loop (included in Free Pass)
Lake Ashi
Hakone Shrine
Pirate Ship across Lake Ashi
Hakone Ropeway
Owakundani
\[overnight in hotel near the Hakone Ropeway station\]
May 8:
\[take shinkansen to Kyoto; arrive ideally before 2-3 pm\]
Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka Streets
Kiyomizu-dera (closes at 4 pm)
Jinshu-jinja Shrine
Yasaka-Koshin-do
Kennin-ji
Kodai–ji
Yasaka Shrine
Shirakawaminami-dori
Kamo River
Pontocho
May 9:
Otagi Nenbutsuji
Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple
Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street (walk to Arashiyama)
Gio-ji Temple and Moss Garden (?)
Arashiyama –
Tenryu-ji (?)
Monkey Park (?)
Kinkaku-ji temple
May 10:
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Tofuku-ji
Daigo-ji
Nanzen-ji
Ginkaku-ji
May 11:
Fly to Vietnam