I’ve been to Japan twice before with people my own age and usually move around quite a bit and have a packed schedule.
I’m returning in a bit over a week but this time with my parents in their early-mid 70s. They’re still mobile but probably need a slower pace than I would be used to. I’ve already been to a lot of the major tourist attractions in Tokyo and Kyoto but will revisit some as it’s my parents first time. Really the only thing I haven’t done before from the below itinerary is Hakone.
The lodging is already set and booked but the day to day itinerary is still flexible.
So far the rough plan is
Day 1:Arrive at KIX in the afternoon from Seoul (will be there for a few days before Japan). Transit over to lodging in Kyoto, Higashiyama area. Settle in, walk around a bit.
Day 2: Walk along to Kiyomizudera from lodging. Then take transit or taxi to Fushimi Inari
Day 3: Day trip to Nara
Day 4: Arashiyama, Monkeys and Bamboo Forest. Maybe Kinkakuji if there’s time but I’m not sure my parents will really care too much for this.
Day 5: Transit to Hakone. Spend the day doing Hakone stuff (any suggestions would be great I need to look deeper into it). Enjoy the private Onsen at our ryokan in Hakone, stay overnight.
Day 6: Transit to Tokyo. Settle into lodging in Komagome area. Yoyogi Park/Meiji Jingu. Spend some time around Shinjuku, view from Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Day 7: Asakusa, Senso-Ji. Maybe walk through Ueno and Akihabara? Drop my parents off at the Tokyo National Museum?
Day 8: Flex. Maybe Teamlabs borderless? Open to any ideas. I plan to do some shopping on my own so would like to find something for my parents to do this day
Day 9: Fly home
Any recommendations for things that would be easy for my parents (only English speaking, first time in Asia) to navigate on their own would be nice as well, particularly in Tokyo as I plan to peel off on my own for shopping. They’re not too interested in shopping themselves.
Beyond itinerary any recommendations for food would be great! I will note my parents and even I don’t care for noodle dishes so will probably skip ramen, udon, soba etc although may go on one day. Things I want my parents to try for sure are okanomiyaki (preferably Hiroshima style), Katsu, curry, yakitori, and sushi of course. Also any good places to have matcha. They don’t care for anything too high end but I’d love to hear about any favourites you have.
Thank you!
by fivetwentyeight