Hey everyone, been lurking on here for a few weeks reviewing and looking at other itineraries, from which I pulled some stuff for mine. Now I woud love to get input on our plan. Any input appreciated!
Background: Family of 4, me, my wife, 13 year old boy, 15 year old girl. First time going to Japan (not counting the 2 days I was I Osaka for work and spent 3 hours in Dotonbori) Going end of December 2024. We LOOOVE food. Kids have no issue eating everything. Want to see "cool" things, learn about the culture and history, and especially, eat!
Hotels can easily changed if recommended.
12/20/24 Day 1: Tokyo
- Arrive Haneda airport (1730), take train to Shinjuku
- Check in: Hotel Gracery Shinjuku (alternate Royal Park Hotel Iconic Shiodome)
- Walk around and find something to eat close to hotel, and go to sleep.
Day 2: Tokyo – Visit west side of Tokyo.
- Harajuku
- Maiji-Jingu shrine
- Omotesando
- Shibuya
- shibuya sky
- Hachiko
- Roppongi Hills
Day 3: Tokyo – East side of Tokyo
- Asakusa
- Senso-Ji temple
- Asakusa Jinja shrine,
- Akihabara
- Tokyo skytree,
- Tobu rail museum
- Kappabashi
Day 4: Tokyo
- Teamlabs planets
- imperial palace
- possibly tokyo tower
Day 5: Shinkansen to Kyoto in morning
Check in hotel options, would love help selecting, open to other options as well!:
- Onyado Nono kyoto (seems great, but not great location)
- Cross Hotel Kyoto (inexpensive close to Gion)
- Noku Kyoto (seems like a central area, inexpensive)
- Royal Park Hotel Iconic Kyoto (central area, luxury)
- Hotel Traveltine Kyoto (inexpensive but seems exceptionally rated on a hotel booking site, barely central Kyoto)
- Hotel Granvia Kyoto (seems nice but also far like Onyado)
- Nishiki market
- Nineizaka
- Kyoto Railway museum
- Nijo Castle
- Imperial Palace
Day 6: Kyoto
- Arashiyama bamboo forrest (alternate Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple)
- Tenryu-ji temple
- Okochi Sanso (if it’s worth visiting in winter)
- Monkey Park
- Sagano railway (if it’s operation, Dec 26 2024)
Day 7: Kyoto
- Fushimi Inari
- Toji temple
- philisopher’s path
- Ishibei-koji Lane
Day 8: transfer to Osaka via Aoniyoshi morning
Check in Hiyori Hotel Osaka Namba Station
- Osaka castle area
- kuromon market
- Possibly teamlab Botanical gardens
Day 9: Osaka
- Minami district tour
- Shinsaibashi area (tokyo hands store)
- Dotombori
Day 10: Day trip to Nara
- Visit Todaiji temple
- Kasuga-Taisha Shrine
- Visit Nara park
Day 11: Transfer back to tokyo
Check into MONday Apart Hamamatsucho Daimon or Hotel Mystays Premier Hamamatsucho
- Tokyo sky tower
Day 12: Tokyo
- Random day in tokyo. Plans shopping etc.
- Loft store ginza
- depart from Haneda airport. (8pm flight)
by cured_meats