We are a family with two kids, age 15 and 12. I'm trying to balance culture, food, shopping, shrines, and experiences for everyone. We love exploring and we've done other travels where we clock over 25,000 steps a day so we're okay with leisurely walking between sites.
Any feedback on our itinerary? Anything that we're missing that teens would love? Are any days too ambitious? Are any restaurants near our planned sites that would be great for yakitori, ramen, soba, tempura, and anything that we can't miss?
I also really tried to fit an onsen/ryokan in, but 1) it's too expensive to find one with private family baths over this winter break time period and 2) the kids didn't feel comfortable going to a public onsen. Any hot springs options in the cities that we're going to? Seems like anything would be pretty touristy and not private. Maybe this will just have to be an experience with my husband and me if we return to Japan without the kids later!
We're traveling from Dec. 22 to Jan. 5 and I've tried to plan around locations that I know are closed over New Year's Day. The days are roughly broken out between morning, afternoon, and evening.
Day 1 – Arrival:
- Land at Narita 4pm, go through customs, get SIM cards and Suica cards (if we can't do ahead of time on phones), forward luggage to Osaka via Yamato
- Take the bus to Tokyo, dinner and hotel in Tokyo and only carry backpacks
- I think I want to find a hotel near Tokyo Station since we'll be tired and getting in late, but I haven't found one that's affordable for one quick night. Should we stay near Tokyo Station or would another station be just as easily accessible to our Day 2 travels?
Day 2 – Load up with travel to help with our jet lag:
- Take advantage of jet lag and depart early from Tokyo Station to Izu
- See the capybara onsen at Izu Shaboten Zoo, pet the capybaras (This is something my daughter really wants to do in lieu of trying to get into the capybara cafe in Tokyo. I stalked the capybara cafe calendar for weeks and it seems almost impossible to get a time – plus not sure I like the idea of the animal cafes so hopefully this zoo is a good alternative.)
- Arrive Osaka, dinner in Dotonbori
- Staying near Dotonbori
Day 3 – Osaka:
- Osaka Castle, Kuromon Ichiba market
- Nipponbashi Denden Town, Namba Yasaka Shrine
- Shinsekai for dinner and exploration
Day 4 – Hiroshima and Miyajima:
- Peace Museum, Peace Park, Okonomiyaki Mura
- Ferry to Miyajima Island, see Itsukashima Shrine, walk along Omotesando St. Maybe see Momiji Bridge, take the ropeway up Mount Misen if we have time/energy
- Dinner in Osaka but not sure where
Day 5 – Nara to Kyoto:
- Travel to Nara on our way to Kyoto; Nara Park, Todaiji Temple, Nandaimon Gate, Daibutsuden Hall
- Lunch in Kintetsu shopping area
- Travel on to Kyoto
- Staying in Gion
Day 6 – Kyoto Gion area:
- Start at Kiyomizu-dera Temple, walk down Sannenzaka Rd, Ninenzaka Rd, head towards Yasaka Shrine
- Explore along Hanamikoji St and Shirakawa Lane
- Nishiki market
Day 7 – Kyoto Arashiyama area:
- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Tenryuji Temple
- Arashiyama Monkey Park, then travel to Kinkaku-ji Pavillion
- Pontocho Alley in the evening
Day 8 – Kyoto Fushimi Inari area:
- Fushimi Inari shrine hike
- Nintendo Museum (if we get tickets)
- Nakamura Tokichi Honten matcha
Day 9 – Kyoto
- Open time
Day 10 – Yokohama to Tokyo
- CupNoodle Museum and Chinatown
- Arrive in Daikanyama/Nakameguro area by evening
- Staying in Daikanyama
Day 11 – Tokyo (Shinjuku, Harajuku)
- Start at Omotesando Street, walk down to Yoyogi Park and meander thru Takeshita Street
- Meiji Shrine, Cosme, Shinjuku National Gardens
- Omoide Yokocho
Day 12 – Tokyo (Shibuya)
- Hachiko Statue, Shibuya Crossing, Shibuya Loft, Shibuya Parco, Pokemon Center (Is this too much shopping with Loft and Parco?)
- Miyashita Park, Tower Records, Nonbei Yokocho
- Maybe Ippudo Ramen here?
Day 13 – Tokyo (Ginza)
- Tsukiji Market
- TeamLabs Planets
- Wander around Ginza
Day 14 – Tokyo
- Open time
Day 15 – Tokyo
- Open time in the morning
- Get to Narita by 3pm
Thank you for any feedback and advice!
by Capable_Turnip_7883
