This is my first post, my family incl teen kids are planning to visit Japan (6-night Tokyo, and 7-night Osaka) for the first time. Appreciate any feedback on the itinerary (built from list of things family wants to do), specifically looking if I should change order. For transportation — I think Suica card for Tokyo, Shinkansen 1-way from Tokyo to Osaka, and Icoca card for Kansai region works well. Please let me know if I there are better transportation alternatives I should think about. Thank you so much in advance!!!
DAY 1
Arrive Early Morning
Iconic 3D cat billboard & Tokyo Metro govt building
Walk along Sumida River, Sumida Park to Tokyo skytree.
Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya Sky
DAY 2
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Teamlab borderless
Senso-ji Tempel and Nakamise Street. Viewing deck over senso-ji from Asakusa toursim centre
stationery and kitchen street
DAY 3
Grand Sumo tournament
Akhibara Anime things (cafes, video game stores) in Tokyo
Stroll along Omote-sando and dinner around Tokyu Plaza Harajuku Harakado
DAY 4
Tokyo Disney Sea
DAY 5
Studio Ghibli
Costco
DAY 6
Hakone Loop (Tozan train, cable car, ropeway and Lake Ashi Cruise). Check to add Kamakura
DAY 7
HOTEL TRANSIT from Tokyo to Osaka
Dotonbori canal walk and Namba backstreets for dinner
DAY 8
Hiroshima day trip
DAY 9
Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka – Yasaka Pagoda – Kiyomizu-dera – Gion (Hanami-kōji & Shirakawa) – Kennin-ji – Nishiki Market – (Optional) Fushimi Inari at blue hour (8-11 KM walk)
Kyoto Imperial Palace
DAY 10
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove or Adashino Nenbutsu-ji – Tenryū-ji – Saga Toriimoto – Kinkaku-ji – Daitoku-ji – (Optional) Philosopher’s Path (9-12 KM walk)
Kuromon Market tasting (seafood); walk Shinsaibashi-suji arcade
DAY 11
Universal Studios/Nintendo World
DAY 12
Nara – short train ride from Osaka and deer friendly park
DAY 13
Shinsekai District and Tsutenkaku Tower
Tennoji Park and Zoo
Osaka Castle. Coffee by the river at Tenmabashi (consider swapping castle with Umeda sky building – good for sunset)
Amerikamura District [Optional time permitting]
DAY 14
Flight back home
by FuddyDuddie