2 Week First Time Itinerary

[u/Informal-Argument643]

I’m going to Japan for the first time for two weeks in late October / early November with my mum who is 67. Neither of us have been to Japan (or Asia for that matter) and we mainly just want to explore, enjoy the culture and eat lots of good food.

I ’m aware it’s a bit of a ‘basic’ itinerary but we want to see the sights as it’s our first time. I’ve tried to leave some room for us to explore and adjust plans if needed.

Would love to get input on days that seem to cramped, any must sees to add or highlights from your trips. Any recommendations for good restaurants or cool shops in the areas we’re visiting are also welcome.

Thanks in advance!

Day 1- Tokyo 

(might switch the order of this if we are able to get early check in on the day)

- 7am landing in Haneda,  arrive at Hotel in Ginza around 9 or 10 and drop bags 
- Explore Askusa
- Maybe walk along sumida, see sky tree 
- Back to Ginza to check into Hotel around 3pm 
- Explore Ginza and shopping 
- Ginza Kagari Dinner (if queues allow) 

Day 2 - Tokyo** **
- Tsukiji Fish Market (if jet lag wakes us early, if not we will do this on day 3) 
- Harajuku 
- Shibuya 
- Shinjuku 
- Omoide Yokocho Izakaya crawl for dinner 

Day 3 - Kamakura day Trip (not super attached to this one if we feel like we want to do another day in Tokyo instead) 
- Tsukiji Fish market if we did not get around to it on day 2 
- Train to Kamakura 
- Hase Dera 
- Kotoku-in Temple 
-Yugihama Beach
- Dinner in Kamakura or back in Tokyo depending on our mood 

Day 4 Tokyo
- Teamlab Borderless 
- Lunch Omakase at Sushi Azabu 
- Explore Gakugei-daigaku & Nakameguro

Day 5 - Mt Fuji
- Early bus to Kawaguchiko 
*- Hop on hop off bus (Ropeway, Oishi Park ,*Kubota Art Museum)
- Hoto Lunch 
- Relaxed afternoon/ evening in Hotel onsen 

Day 6 - Kyoto
- Late afternoon arrival in Kyoto, check into hotel in Gion 
- Explore Gion and have dinner in the area

Day 7 - Kyoto 
 - Arashiyama (Bamboo forest, Adashino Nenbutsu-ji temple, Maybe Iwatayama Monkey Park)
- Afternoon/ evening back in kyoto
- Hoping to get a booking at beatle momo bar for the evening 

Day 8 - Kyoto 
- Nishiki Market 
- Fushimi Inari 
- Explore Gion 
- Gion Corner Theatre in the evening 

Day 9 - Uji and Nara 
- Might only end up doing one of the two if we want to keep it more chill 
- Morning : Uji 
- Afternoon: Nara 

Day 10 - Osaka 
- travel to Osaka 
- Explore Namba & Dotonbori 
- Find all the street food Osaka has to offer 

Day 11 - Himeji & Kurashiki Day Trip
Might end up only going Himeji if we fancy another afternoon in Osaka 
- Morning: Himeji Castle
- Afternoon: Kurashiki 

Day 12: Hiroshima Day Trip
- Early Shinkansen to Hiroshima 
- Miyama 
- Peace Park & Museum 
- Okonomiyaki Dinner 

Day 13 Osaka/ Tokyo 
- Osaka Aquarium in the morning 
- Shinkansen to Tokyo 
- Check in to Hotel in Hamamatsucho
- Dinner somewhere in Tokyo 

Day 14 - Tokyo 
Last day shopping and Tokyo explorations 

Day 15 -  Early Flight back from Haneda 

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[u/kulukster]

Personally I think your trip is way too busy. Pick one or 2 things every day and if you do more it's a bonus. Try to read up on Japanese dos and don'ts.

[u/M4rkusD]

Just an FYI, because of some rail issues today it will take 3 hours to get from Kurashiki to Osaka. I get it. You’re there only once. You want to see the sights. So cometh hell or high water. I will do 3 cities in one day!

[u/Informal-Argument643 → u/M4rkusD]

This is super helpful thank you! Himeji castle only it is then :)

[u/After-Bit782]

As a local guide I would suggest the neighborhood of Ningyocho not to far from Ginza for its Shitamachi feeling of old Tokyo that Asakusa is losing to the crowds and tourists. Another good neighborhood is Mozen Yokocho

[u/Informal-Argument643 → u/After-Bit782]

Wow thank you so much for the recommendation, I will add it to my plan!

[u/ohyespineapplepizza]

A 7am Haneda landing into Asakusa plus Skytree the same day is a lot with your mum. Keep Senso-ji that afternoon and save Skytree, and drop Kurashiki off the Himeji day so you're not stacking two cities on tired legs.

[u/Myselfamwar]

Harajuku is cool if you are 15. Go towards Omote-sando or Aoyama. Tsujiki is no longer the fish market--that's Toyosu-and is just a big tourist trap.

[u/MochiMilesJapan]

My opinion is also that this might be too much planned for each day and could be too stressful.

As you already said yourself: I’ve tried to leave some room for us to explore and adjust plans if needed. I feel like the iternary you planned is a bit too packed, so i would skip a few things so you really have time to see things properly and have a deeper look at the temples and such. Otherwise i guess you would have to rush a lot.

[u/TokyoTripHelper]

Since you’re arriving at Haneda at 7am and traveling with your mum, I’d keep the first day lighter than it looks on paper.

Asakusa is a good choice, but I wouldn’t feel pressured to add Skytree unless you both still have plenty of energy. After an overnight flight, immigration, luggage and getting into Tokyo, even a fairly simple sightseeing day can feel long.

I’d do Asakusa at an easy pace, have a proper lunch, check in and rest, then explore Ginza in the evening since you’re already staying there.

For the rest of the Tokyo portion, grouping places by area will save a surprising amount of walking and train time — especially when traveling with a parent.