Hi everyone!
I'm happy to be posting in this thread again after a couple years and am so excited to lead my parents through Japan! This subreddit was tremendously helpful for when my partner and I planned and visited. I will be back to post my first passes at itineraries in Fukuoka and Tokyo, but in the meantime I more or less have a first draft of our Kyoto itinerary ready for review!
For context, we will be in Japan in the late spring but dodged Golden Week/other holidays. My parents are way more fit/physically active than average seniors (and extremely Type A when it comes to everything, travel/fun included), but I do want to be mindful of their comfort over the course of our trip. My parents aren't foodies, so incorporating places to eat in our itinerary will feel a little restrictive to them. Additionally, my mother hasn't been to Japan in over 40 years, and my father has never been. We will be staying in Gion. Suggestions and insights welcomed and appreciated!
Sunday
- Land in Tokyo, bullet train to Kyoto
- purposefully leaving this day open in case we are too wiped out — if we feel spontaneous, we can wander around Gion for a bit.
Monday
- We are early risers, so hit Arashiyama Bamboo forest before the crowds
- Walk my parents to Otagi Nenbutsu-ji. I've already been and will visit Adashino Nenbutsu-ji instead
- potential stops along Saga-toriimoto
- Parents will go to Gioji temple, I will visit Jojakkoji Temple
- UNLESS I can get a reservation at Saihoji, then scrap Gioji/Jojakkoji
- Lunch @ Arashiyama Yoshimura
- Ryoan-ji
- Parents go to Kinkakuji, while I go to Genko-an
- Dinner in Pontocho alley
Tuesday
- Kiyomizu-dera
- Sannenzaka/Ninnenzaka
- Sanjusangendo Temple
- Parents at Tofuku-ji while I'm at Komyo-in
- Kyoto Ceramics Center
Wednesday
- Fushimi Inari Taisha (EARLY)
- Train to Nara
- Nara Deer Park
- Kasuga Taisha
- Todai-ji
- any other recommendations welcome for Nara
- Considering reserving a tour of a tea plantation in Uji
- if we go this route, other small recs in Uji welcome
Thursday
- Shimogamo Shrine – I'm scrapping this one if there aren't any other recommendations in this area of Kyoto
- or incorporate Kamishichiken? Potential Geiko/Maiko tour?
- Nishijin Textile Center
- Kennin-ji
- Nishiki Market
- Parents go to Nijo Castle while I'm @ Ikebana class at Ikenobo HQ (if I can confirm a seat)
Friday
Hopefully this will be a golf day for Dad with earliest tee time and shopping day for Mom & I, during which we'll do the below:
- Tenju-an
- Kyoto Museum of Crafts & Design
- Shijo-dori shopping
- Kazurasei, Yojiya, other shops
Reconvene in the afternoon/evening for potential Geiko/Maiko booking (in lieu of potential Kamishichiken booking on Thursday).
by davidlynchhair