I’m looking for some feedback on my itinerary for 12 nights total between Tokyo and Kyoto during sakura season this year. We’ve been to Tokyo a handful of times and the last time we were in Tokyo was in 2017. This will be our first time to the Kansai region.
I’d like to know if we’re missing any must-sees while we’re in Japan this time. I feel like some of our dates could be filled out so we’re open to suggestions about what to do.
We’re not super into temples so visiting 1-2 is satisfactory for us. On this trip, we would like to see cherry blossoms, try unique foods, cycle somewhere scenic and quiet (thinking in Kyoto), and do a little bit of shopping as well.
We have a 18month-old in tow and will have a compact foldable stroller with us.
TIA!
Day 1 – Mon (rain)
* land at NRT mid-afternoon
* transit to hotel (Minato-ku)
* rest / eat dinner
Day 2 – Tue (cloudy)
* sakura viewing at Ueno Park
* Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
* shop at Kappanbashi
* lunch somewhere
* not really sure what to do after…shop around Ginza ?? (Uniqlo, MUJI, Itoya, Tokyo Hands)
* teamLab Borderless Planets
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Day 3 – Wed (sunny)
* boat rowing & sakura viewing at Chidorifugachi
* sakura viewing at Shinjuku gyoen
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Day 4 – Thu (sunny)
* Shibuya – Miyashita Park
* sakura viewing at Yoyogi Park
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Day 5 – Fri (cloudy)
* Disney Sea
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Day 6 – Sat (rain)
\[OPEN DAY\] We have an open day/night here. We need to be in Kyoto the following day so we’re okay to transit this day or on Day 7. We’re open to any suggestions for an overnight trip somewhere between or close to Tokyo/Kyoto.
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Day 7 – Sun (rain)
* transit to Kyoto (if not already done on Day 6)
* check into Kyoto hotel \[near Kyoto Station\]
* Kyoto Railway Museum
* Nijo Castle
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Day 8 – Mon
* day trip Osaka (Please help suggest an order that makes sense)
* Cup Noodle Museum Osaka Ikeda
* Dotonbori
* eat takoyaki (Wanaka Sennichimae) & okonomiyaki (Tengu / Mizuno ?)
* view sakura at Kema Sakuranomiya park
* teamLab Botanical at Nagai Botanical Garden
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Day 9 – Tue
* day trip Nara / Mount Yoshino
* mochi at Nakatanidou
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Day 10 – Wed
* Philosopher’s Path
* Nishiki Market
* Kyoto Botanical Garden
* cycling ?
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Day 11 – Thu
* change hotel in Kyoto \[near Gion\]
* explore Gion – Shimbashi dori
* Kiyomizu-dera
* sakura viewing at Mayuyama Park
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Day 12 – Fri
* Arashiyama (bamboo forest)
* Sagano Romatic Train (is the rich train worth it?)
* river boat ride back
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Day 13 – Sat
* go home 🙁 (Open to suggestions for early breakfast)
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