Japan Trip: Tokyo + Hakone + Kyoto | May 24 – June 6 Looking for any feedback, suggestions, or things we might be missing! Will be visiting with my wife and 10-year old son (very outgoing and doesn't complain)
Accommodations
Tokyo (Days 1–4): Bellustar Tokyo, Shinjuku
Hakone (Days 5–6): Takumino Yado Yoshimatsu (Ryokan, room with open-air bath + Mt. Fuji view)
Kyoto (Days 7–11): Gion Shirakawa Kouki (Machiya townhouse)
Tokyo (Days 12–13): Aman Tokyo
Day 1 (May 24) – 5:00am Arrival + Tsukiji + Sumo Land at Haneda, drop bags at hotel, head straight to Tsukiji Outer Market for a seafood crawl. Afternoon nap to reset, then off to watch live Sumo at Ryogoku Kokugikan. End the night with a chanko nabe (sumo hot pot) dinner and a nightcap at the Bellustar rooftop bar.
Day 2 (May 25) – Asakusa + Shibuya Morning in Asakusa: Senso-ji, Nakamise Street, a 60-min rickshaw tour, and a walk along the Sumida River. Afternoon in Shibuya: lunch at Tonkatsu Maisen (a converted 1920s bathhouse), Hachiko, Nintendo Tokyo, Pokemon Center, and Miyashita Park. Sunset at Shibuya Sky, followed by an omakase dinner.
Day 3 (May 26) – Shinjuku Gyoen + Shinjuku Nightlife Picnic lunch at Shinjuku Gyoen (picking up supplies from the Isetan depachika on the way). Afternoon exploring Shinjuku's shops, arcades, and the 3D Calico Cat display. Evening walk: Kabukicho gate, Godzilla head, Omoide Yokocho, Golden Gai. Dinner at Ramen Hayashida, drinks at Bar Centifolia.
Day 4 (May 27) – Meiji Shrine + Harajuku + Go-Karts Morning at Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park. Lunch near Harajuku, then Takeshita Dori and Omotesando window shopping. Evening: Mario Kart-style street go-karts through Asakusa.
Day 5 (May 28) – Mt. Fuji + Hakone Check-In Private car day trip hitting Mt. Fuji 5th Station, Lake Kawaguchiko (Kachi Kachi Ropeway), Lake Ashi, Chureito Pagoda, and a few other scenic stops. Drop off at the ryokan for kaiseki dinner and a private onsen soak.
Day 6 (May 29) – Full Hakone Day Morning soak, balcony tea with lake views. Mid-morning visit to Hakone Shrine and its famous floating torii gate. Lakeside walk and lunch in Moto-Hakone. Afternoon at Hakone Open-Air Museum (sculptures, Picasso pavilion, foot bath). Back to ryokan for another onsen + kaiseki dinner.
Day 7 (May 30) – Shinkansen to Kyoto + Gion Evening Bento on the bullet train (right-side seats for Mt. Fuji views). Arrive Kyoto, quick lunch at the legendary Honke Daiichi Asahi ramen. TeamLab Biovortex in the afternoon. Check into the machiya, then an evening walk through Gion Shinbashi, Tatsumi Bridge, Hanamikoji Street, and Yasaka Shrine as the lanterns come on. Dinner in Pontocho Alley.
Day 8 (May 31) – Fushimi Inari + Nishiki + Ninja Early start at Fushimi Inari (before the crowds), breakfast at Vermillion Café. Zen meditation at Tofuku-ji. Grazing lunch through Nishiki Market and the Teramachi arcade. Evening: private 1-hour ninja lesson, casual dinner in Kawaramachi.
Day 9 (June 1) – Kimono, Tea Ceremony, Geisha Performance Full Gion day in kimono: private tea ceremony with photography in the morning, then a self-guided stroll through Gion Shinbashi, Tatsumi Bridge, Hanamikoji, and Shirakawa Canal. Evening geisha performance at the same venue. Dinner in Gion Shinbashi.
Day 10 (June 2) – Kiyomizu-dera + Arashiyama Early morning at Kiyomizu-dera, then wandering downhill through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka for snacks and matcha. Afternoon taxi out to Otagi Nenbutsu-ji (1,200 moss-covered stone statues), followed by a slow walk down through Saga-Toriimoto, Adashino Nenbutsu-ji, and the back entrance of the Sagano Bamboo Grove. End the night at Randen Station's Kimono Forest with an outdoor foot onsen.
Day 11 (June 3) – Samurai Experience Morning: Uzumasa Kyoto Village (Edo-period samurai experience). Rest of the day TBD / flexible.
Day 12 (June 4) – Back to Tokyo + Aman Shinkansen back to Tokyo. Check into Aman Tokyo, relax and use the pool. Dinner at Ninja Tokyo restaurant.
Day 13 (June 5) – Ginza + Akihabara Morning walk through the Imperial Palace grounds. Into Ginza for shopping and lunch. Split afternoon: Akihabara for retro games and electronics, Ginza for boutiques. Reunite for teppanyaki dinner at Teppanyaki 10 in Ginza SIX. Optional nightcap under the Yurakucho train tracks.
Day 14 (June 6) – Departure Day Tokyo Character Street and Pokemon Café at Tokyo Station. Final pool time at Aman. Depart for Haneda.
by crease1234