Hi everyone, finally finished up the planning for the first couple of weeks into a dream trip we've been talking about for years now. Will be travelling with a larger family group for the first 12 days then the rest will just be my family of 3, teenaged child. Before tweaks or advice my sister family has 2 children, aged 8 and 12 so we've already discussed the fact that splitting time and or cutting days short for them is a likely reality. But for us we're travel ready and good to do full days.
Day 1 – Land Narita 4:30 PM, do the airport things, probably a couple hours to get out. Keisei to Ueno, check in to first stay and grab a quick bite to eat from the konibini.
Day 2 – Shibuya & Shinjuku
– Meiji Jingu
– Harajuku
– Shibuya Crossing
– Shopping (Parco)
– Shibuya Sky for sunset, will try for reservation
– Shinjuku for evening
Day 3 – Tokyo Disney
Day 4 – Ueno/Akihabara/Ginza
– Ueno Park and National Museum
– Akihabara Exploration
– Ginza late afternoon/evening for shopping/dinner
Day 5 – Tokyo DisneySea
Day 6 – Shinkansen to Osaka
– Morning departure
– Check in Osaka and explore area around accommodation
Day 7 – Nara
– Nara Park
– Todai-ji
– Kasugataisha Shrine
– Naramachi Toy Museum
Day 8 – Osaka
– These days don't have direct itineraries, just walking around areas in Osaka with no real destination. Dotonbori/Namba
Day 9 – Kyoto
– Very early morning departure to start at Kiyomizu-dera
– Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka
– Chopstick making Gion
– Maruyama Park
– Fushimi Inari for sunset
Day 10 – Kyoto
– Arashiyama (If too busy already we're skipping)
– Tenryu-ji
– Kinkaku-ji
– Nishiki Market
– Samurai Ninja Museum
– Pontocho Alley
Day 11 – Osaka
– Later morning start at the Aquarium
– Check out Umeda area for the afternoon evening
Day 12 – Last day with whole family
– Suggested USJ but unsure
Day 13 – Hiroshima
– Travel to hotel in morning
– Afternoon at peace park and museum
Day 14 – Hiroshima
– Miyajimacho in the morning
This is where I've left off. My wife wants to go to Hakone for a couple of nights on the way back to Tokyo which I think we'll do, I kind of want to fit Kamakura in there too but I think we'll get a hotel in Tokyo again for the last 4 nights and just do a day trip if we feel up to it. Feels like some back tracking but I'm not interested in getting hotels for one night other than Hiroshima. If anyone has suggestions tweaks or even travel changes please feel free to give me anything. Thank you in advance!
by AlbertaSparky