We are traveling to Japan for the first time from the U.S. in a few weeks. I am 31F and will be taking my dad who is 70 – we are very active. We love to walk and to stay busy on trips and will be adjusted to the time zone upon arrival – any advice on the following is very much appreciated. I suspect it might be too crammed (SO excited!!!), so would appreciate any suggestions on what to cut out or how to restructure our time:
Trip Length – 11 Nights
5 nights in Tokyo – Hotel will be near Shinjuku Station
Day 1 – Tokyo (Settle in)
- Arrive and check-in to hotel, grab quick dinner
- Stop at 7/11 to check it out and stock up on snacks for the room and withdraw cash
Day 2 Tokyo (Ginza / Tokyo Station)
- Get to Tsukiji Fish Market early
- Explore Ginza (shopping district)
- Chuo-dori Avenue / Ginza Mitsukoshi department store
- Head to Tokyo Station area for lunch
- Short walk to Imperial Gardens
- Dinner in Shinjuku
Day 3 Tokyo (Ueno / Asakusa)
- Head to Ueno Park area
- Explore Ueno Park and Zoological Gardens
- Explore towards Asakusa Station for Lunch
- Nakamise Shopping Street
- Senso-Ji Temple (Buddhist shrine)
- Asakusa Shrine (Shinto shrine)
- Walk along the River near Asakusa
- Back to Shinjuku (Hotel)
- Shibuya Crossing – Reserve Shibuya Sky at Sunset
- Dinner in Shibuya
Day 4 Tokyo (Bonus Day – leave this open for anything we want to do)
- No set plans – options:
- Shinjuku Gyeon National Garden
- Meiji Jingu Shrine
- Harajuku – Takeshita Street
Day 5 Tokyo (Day Trip to Hakone)
- Booked Day Trip to Hakone
- Meet at Shinjuku Station at 7:50 AM / Finish at Tokyo Station about 6:10 PM
- Dinner near Tokyo Station
- Ship luggage to Kyoto
Day 6 – Mt. Fuji
- Travel day from Tokyo to Mt Fuji
- Lunch near Fujikawaguchiko Station
- Check In / Settle In – La Vista Fujikawaguchiko Hotel
- Walk around Lake near the Hotel
- Lake Kawaguchi Maple Corridor
- Nagasaki Park
- Oishi Park
Day 7 – Mt. Fuji
- Go early to Mt Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
- Visit Arakurayaka Sengen Park
- Chuerito Pagoda
- Rent Bikes near Kawaguchiko Station around Lake Kawaguchi
- Head back early to enjoy Onsen at Hotel
Day 8 – Kyoto
- Travel day from Mt. Fuji to Kyoto
- Check into Hotel: Onyado Nono Kyoto Shichijo Natural Hot Spring
- Walk along the river to the Gion District
- Dinner in Pontocho Alley (close to Nishiki Market)
Day 9 – Kyoto – East Side Day
- Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha (Shinto Shrine) as early as possible (beat the crowds)
- Lunch in Southern Higashiyama
- Head to explore Northern Higashiyama Kiyomizu-dera (#1 UNESCO Buddhist temple)
- Sannenzaka (scenic street)
- Ninenzaka (scenic street)
Day 10 – Kyoto – West Side Day
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove as early as possible (beat the crowds)
- Lunch in Arashiyama
- Visit Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) – UNESCO Heritage Site (time permitting)
- Booked Food Tour in Osaka
- Meet in Osaka at 6:00 PM / Finish at 9:00 PM
Day 11 Kyoto – Day Trip to Nara
- Arrive by 11:30 AM
- Nakatanidou (fresh mochi)
- Nara Park + Deer
- Sarusawa Pond
- Todaiji Temple
- Kasuga Taisha Shrine
- Head back to town – Hiashimuki / Naramachi
- Matcha (Tea House), Shopping for Souvenirs
- Did not book train back, so we can take our time getting back to Kyoto
Day 12 – Fly Home
- Breakfast at the Hotel
- Limousine Bus from Kyoto to ITM (Osaka Airport)
by BackOutrageous553