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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/outandabout91 on 2025-01-22 20:25:29+00:00.
This sub has been so helpful in planning this trip. I initially had a whole different itinerary set and now have a more concrete itinerary. It will be my husband and I traveling with our 2 year old from May 4-May19.
*I need advice for Day 5. In hindsight, we should have gone straight from Tokyo to Kyoto and have an extra day at the end to go to Miyajima Island instead however, the prices of the hotels I booked are way too high now for me to cancel and rebook.
Day 0: Arrive in Narita at 4:30pm. Estimating we will reach our hotel around 8pm. Have dinner and crash.
Day 1-4: Tokyo, Hotel-Banrai Hotel Asakusa
Day 1: Senso-Ji, Asakusa shrine, Nakamise Dori Street
Day 2: Shinjuku
Day 3: Shibuya & Harajuku
Day 4: Tokyo Tower area and Teamlab borderless*
**Note: Not planning too much and will just explore Tokyo without a definite plan. Will focus on 1 or 2 neighborhoods a day. Anything specific you think we must do? We don't want to do anything that requires a reservation as we have no idea how our toddler will be and I don't want to be restricted by adhering to certain times. The only exception to this is teamlab borderless but haven't decided on that yet.*
Day 5: This is the day I need some advice on. I was initially planning on staying overnight in Kawaguchi and visit the Mt Fuji Shibazakura festival, but then I saw that in May there's only like a 40% chance of seeing Mt Fuji and I am not sure if it will be worth staying one night there.
The other options are Kamakura, Hakone, Nagoya and I have points for all of them but just not sure which one to go with.
Kamakura: Love the layed back vibe of the coastal town and to visit the Great Buddha. However I feel Kamakura will feel similar to places we will visit during the rest of the trip.
Hakone: Lots to do even if Mt. Fuji is not visible. The open air museum, ropeway are some pros.
Nagoya: My husband loves Toyota and its not a requirement for the trip but he would love it if we visited the Toyota technology museum and the railway museum. My 2 year old is also currently obsessed with cars, trucks, trains. Also Nagoya is very different than the rest of the places we will be visiting and it is on the JR line so getting to Kyoto will be easier.
Day 6-9: Kyoto, Hotel-West Japan Kyoto Kiyamizu
One of these days if we can wake up before sunrise the plan is to do Kiyamezu Dera first thing in the morning and then walk down Sanenzaka and Nanenzaka. The other days we plan to do more of the non touristy temples and just relax and shop around. One day, if we are up for it we might do a day trip to Amanohashidate, rent a car and go to Ine. OR do a day trip to Miyajima Island
Day 10-11: Nara/Wakayama/Mie. Hotel-Hotel Nagisaya
also booked a room at Kamenoi Hotel with an open air private onsen in the room but might cancel this one as its's a bit out of our budget for 2 nights.
This is also the roadtrip part of our trip. We will be renting a car from Kyoto Station and Returning it in Osaka. The cost to return the car in Osaka will be about $50CAD.
Day 10:
Morning-Nara Kasaga-Taisha, Todai-Ji.
Afternoon-Lunch at Hatinashi Village in Totsukawa.
Drive to Hotel in NachiKatsura and relax in the onsen in the evening
Day 11:
Morning-Kumano Nachi Taisha, Seiganto-ji, Nachi Falls.
Afternoon-Yunomine Onsen, Hongu
Sunset: Maruyama Senmaida Rice fields
Day 12-13: Osaka, Airbnb near Namba Station
Day 12: Morning - Hashiguiiwa Rocks, then drive back to Osaka
Afternoon & Evening in Osaka
Day 13: Shopping day in Osaka
Day 14: Tokyo, Hotel-Almont Hotel Nippori (Right next to Nippori Station where the Skyliner goes straight to Narita)
Day 15: Fly out from Narita at 6:30pm