Please Comment on My Japan Itinerary (Nov 2016)

John on 05/04/2016 - 15:58
Last edited 08/04/2016 - 19:03

** 08/04/16 UPDATED ITINERARY **
** Updated after tremendous amount of useful feedback. Thank you! (arigatou!) **

Hi all,

Need some useful feedbacks for my itinerary in Japan in mid Nov 2016.

A bit of background.. we are travelling effectively for 14 full days. A group of 2 adults and a 3 year old. First time in Japan. Arriving in Tokyo departing from Osaka. Tickets have been booked so can't modify dates or departure/arrival point.

So far I've planned the main places to visit at Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka and have 2.5 days to spare. I hope I haven't made it too packed for my family especially with a 3 year old.

Would love to hear some suggestion.. was thinking adding a night in Kyoto and a night in Tokyo. Or any better idea?

Also, would love to hear if JR Rail Pass is worth buying for my itinerary (if so, 7 days or 14 days)

Thanks in advance! :)

Day 0 - ARRIVE IN TOKYO
* Arrive in Tokyo - Haneda at 9pm
* Go to hotel, check in and sleep

Day 1 - TOKYO (Harajuku & Shibuya)
* Walk around Harajuku and Shibuya until dinner

Day 2 - TOKYO (Odaiba & Ginza)
* Visit Tsukiji Market (relocated to Toyosu)
* Visit Gundam Statue & Ramen Theme Park nearby in Odaiba
* Explore Ginza and if its too boring go to Harajuku/Shinjuku

Day 3 - TOKYO (Disneysea)
* Visit Disneysea

Day 4 - TOKYO (Fuji-Q Highland)
* Mainly visiting Thomasland (not aiming for Roller Coasters unless I'm lucky and queue is short)
* Go to Harajuku for dinner

Day 5 - TOKYO (Ghibli, Akihabara)
* Visit Ghibli Museum
* Explore Akihabara
* Go to Shinjuku for dinner

Day 6 - TOKYO (Free Day)
* Free day at Tokyo
* Option: visit Ueno Natural History Museum

Day 7 - KYOTO (Higashiyama)
* Leave Tokyo, activate 7 days JR Rail Pass
* Arrive in Kyoto and put baggage in lockers
* Take bus to Kiyomizudera Temple
* Explore Higashiyama and Gion area
* Return to Kyoto, grab baggage, check in and dinner nearby

Day 8 - KYOTO (Aarashiyama)
* Go to Bamboo Groves
* Then Okochi Sanso garden
* Lunch at Otsuka
* return to Kyoto for dinner

Day 9 - KYOTO (Nara)
* Stop by Fushimi-Inari
* Continue to Nara and relax at Nara Park
* Return to Kyoto for dinner

Day 10 - OSAKA (via Hiroshima)
* Leave Osaka to Hiroshima, leave baggage in lockers
* Visit Atomic Bomb Dome and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
* Try Okonomiyaki at Okonimura
* Return to Osaka, check in then dinner nearby

Day 11 - OSAKA (Himeji & Aquarium)
* Explore ground at Himeji Castle (not going in)
* Return to Osaka and visit Osaka aquarium
* Spend the night at Dotonburi for dinner

Day 12 - OSAKA (Universal Studio)
* Queuing

Day 13 - OSAKA (Free Day)
* Free Day at Osaka for last day shopping and eating

Day 14 - DEPART FROM OSAKA
* Relax in Osaka/breakfast or lunch at Kuromon Ichiba
* Depart at 6pm back home

Travel

Comments

        • John on 08/04/2016 - 15:55

          @tensai: Thanks! I'm adding extra days in Osaka. I'm not sure if its worth doing a day trip to Hiroshima. Seems like a long travel for a day. Did stay overnight there?

        • tensai on 09/04/2016 - 23:01

          @John: we didn't go to Hiroshima.. don't wanna add too many destination and take it easy as we are travelling with a 3 year old!!! there will be a day or two where you want just relax and take it easy.
          there is always next time… you will always want to go back to japan again

      • jaybo on 11/04/2016 - 09:57

        Dotonburi was good fun, a lot of smaller shops and good places to eat & drink, Osaka itself can be a little boring as a city but then again i found the same true for Kyoto (Kyoto's a very pretty, very old city with lots of temples/shrines etc - Osaka is more of a business centre if that makes sense) - so to answer your question regarding excitement… Kyoto's not that 'exciting' as such :)

        we did a day trip to Hiroshima, stayed in a small studio apartment just near shin-osaka station for 4 nights with 1 day in hiroshima and one day in kyoto - we found this easier than relocating hotels/rooms every day/night, it's nice to spend a whole day out adventuring but still have a place already "set up" to come home to. the shinkansen return to hiroshima is like $200aud so it can be an expensive trip if you're buying tickets specifically, but if you get a rail pass like we did it's totally worth doing it :) (otherwise if you're paying specifically it may be worth staying overnight if you're not fussed about checking in/out of hotels)

        Hiroshima is beautiful, such an amazing city, very different to anything you'll ever see too on the basis that the entire city is only ~60 years old in terms of it's construction, but it still carries a rich, deep history. the atomic dome, park, and the castle will easily account for a day of wandering around.

        there's room to put suitcases on the bullet trains - there's some specific little luggage holes near the bathrooms, but also easy enough to put them behind the last row of seats in the carraige, however i'd try to keep things into one case - ie you don't really want to be carrying 2 cases each if you're doing lots of travelling - it's awkward and a pain trying to get on escalators and stuff. we had some trouble finding spots for our ski bags on the train but got there in the end OK. if you're travelling with specific equipment (like skis, bikes, surfboards etc) where you want them for part of your trip but not all of them, look up the courier service (TA-Q-BIN) - it's bloody cheap and super reliable, we posted our ski bags back to tokyo for like $20 (2x full size ski roller bags full of stuff) so we didnt have to lug them around afterwards.

        ps if you're ever after an extreme sport, try getting 2x 2m long ski roller bags through tokyo station at 8:30am on a weekday after you've just stepped off an overnight flight. it's good fun! ;)

  • belongsinforums on 07/04/2016 - 18:45

    Add in a visit to an onsen somewhere. It'll be cold!

  • belongsinforums on 07/04/2016 - 18:49

    This itinerary is possible for a young, energetic couple, or a solo traveller. Good luck doing this all with a 3 year old! Take warm clothes for Tokyo. And yea, Osaka is boring apart from the castle there. Have fun!

    • John on 08/04/2016 - 10:59

      How boring is Osaka? I heard its a better shopping (in terms of value) there compared to Tokyo or Kyoto.

      I mentioned somewhere here.. I'm a bit worried bringing an onsen with my 3 year old. Seems more like a hassle than a relaxing experience haha. Especially due to gender area, its gonna be me responsible for him without help from my wife.

      • belongsinforums on 08/04/2016 - 11:28

        Hmm I only know that Tokyo has cheap clothes in Shinjuku.

        I've seen kids in onsens heaps, both boys and girls. But I suppose that Japanese kids are used to onsens so they don't play up so much. Might be hard for you to find an onsen where you're going anyway.

        If you enjoy beer, try and locate black Yebisu.delicious!

        • John on 08/04/2016 - 12:51

          I love Japanese beers!! Thanks for that tip, I'll whack it in my Japan notes!!!

  • figarow on 07/04/2016 - 19:57
    -1

    Don't forget to pack one of these

    • John on 07/04/2016 - 21:19

      What's that?! Step down transformer or Ghostbuster Ghost Trap?

  • Knightelf on 07/04/2016 - 20:15

    Remember to book Ghibli well in advance, at least 2-3 months. The earlier the better!

    Assuming you enjoy a good meal, when at Arashiyama (Tenryuji/Bamboo area), I recommend having lunch at Shoraian, one of the best tofu restaurants in Kyoto and possibly Japan. The food & service are amazing and price is very reasonable (around $30-$40 for the cheaper set, or $60ish for the extended set, per person). You can order one of each set to try everything.

    • John on 08/04/2016 - 12:51

      Thanks for the Ghibli tips! I didn't realise it was that far in advanced!!

      • Kelberos on 09/04/2016 - 09:28

        Its not nearly as bad these days. I got in about a week or so in advance whilst in tokyo in the middle of the sakura season. The problem is more to do with where you can buy these damn tickets from. We had to get it in japan from one of the crazy machines inside lawson - i wouldnt recommend doing this. Try asking JTB or HIS or whatever Japanese travel agency that can do this for you. Failing that https://www.govoyagin.com/activities/japan-tokyo-get-tickets… But definitely try to get it as early as possible and i would recommend not getting the latest entry slots because you'd want to take your time as Mitaka is quite a ways from tokyo…. and there is a small cafe there that you can get food from as well.

  • frinik on 08/04/2016 - 00:13
    +1

    Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku…i could spend a month walking around and not have explored everything at these places …sucks you don't have more time there

    • John on 08/04/2016 - 10:52

      I'll definitely add more days for this since there's a lot of people telling me now that there's more to it than a day trip! I am still flexible with the schedule at this stage. Probably start locking them in by end of the month so I can book hotel and tickets well in advance.

  • Tech5 on 08/04/2016 - 00:52
    +3

    1. You NEED to go to Robot Restaraunt for dinner. You won't get the experience anywhere else and you won't regret it.

    2. You also NEED to go to Kurama Onsen in Kyoto. About 40min ride on a very old train/line to a countryside village. Open air onsen with full view of the mountain that is literally right in front of you. No sounds of traffic, fresh air, amazing.

    3. Will you be having kobe beef? If so, Kobe Ishidaya is very good: https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restaurant_Review-g298562-d32…

    4. I doubt one day is enough for Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku. Don't go crazy with the shopping! Stuff in Japan is usually more expensive unless you are looking at Audia/Visual equipment.

    5. Trains in Tokyo will confuse you. Recommend getting an app: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/tokyo-rail-map-lite/id503098… Saves my life every time. Make sure you know the difference between EXP, EXP LMTD trains etc. Alot of different types, purely designed to confuse the (profanity) out of you :)

    6. Pick up some octopus balls at Dotonbori in Osaka. Famous for it.

    7. If you want to have some fun, try the UFO claw machines in Japan. Difference is there, you can actually win from skill.

    8. Check out Akihabara in Tokyo if you have time. Just as famous as the other three shopping places you are going to. You will see nothing like it anywhere else.

    9. Be sure to try out the Hot Sweet Sake in Asakusa. Also, If you plan on buying Senbei, buy the fresh made ones, not the packeted ones.

    10. Find green vegetables where you can, or be prepared to not shit for two weeks.

    Will add more if I think of any :) Spent 3 months in Japan towards the end of last year.
    If you have any questions about the culture, things to do/not do, feel free to message me or reply here.

    • kolorijo on 08/04/2016 - 08:41

      Lol at #10. Very true indeed. It was ramen ramen ramen all the way for me for 10 days. Loved it.

      • John on 08/04/2016 - 11:06

        Yep. Looks like I'll be having ramens every morning/night too! Care to recommend some must-try spots???

        • kolorijo on 08/04/2016 - 11:19

          Generally all ramen shops are very good (I managed to drink the broth and emptied the bowl at several random places, it is that good) , you almost can't go wrong with it. However, if you are into tsukemen, one of the best place would be Tokyo Ramen Street (Rokurinsha) at Tokyo Station http://www.yelp.com.au/biz/%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E3%83%A9%E3%83….
          My friend who just got back from Tokyo last week is highly recommending Ichiran.

          Argh, all this talk about ramen makes me very hungry now with nowhere to go :(

        • John on 08/04/2016 - 12:52

          @kolorijo: Sorry mate. Gotta resolve with pack of indomie hahaha.. seeing your username I can gather where you're from :P

        • bargainy on 08/04/2016 - 17:26
          +1

          Anywhere with a queue. 😀

        • kolorijo on 08/04/2016 - 17:51
          +2

          @garglebutt: I lined up when I saw a queue and asked my missus to check the restaurant only to find it was a Thai restaurant :D

        • kolorijo on 08/04/2016 - 17:52

          @John: lol. My friend is on the way back as we speak from Tokyo and I got Ramen cup noodles in his luggage.. Yay.. Can avoid indomie for one or two days. My username is too damn obvious and too kinky lol.

        • blongle on 08/04/2016 - 22:46

          Definitely go to Ippudo in Kyoto. Probably my favourite out of all ramen I had there. https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restaurant_Review-g298564-d34…

    • John on 08/04/2016 - 10:50

      Hahahahaha.. this is a terrific tips! Thanks so much. The only thing I'm not sure is how can I bring a 3 year old into an Onsen. My song is highly cautious, he never even wanted to get into the water at the beach, I'm not sure its going to fare any better with an onsen. Doesn't sound like a relaxing trip for me at all! haha..

      I've been suggested by someone here to try the restaurant near Bamboo Groves for the Marusama Beef, which is said to be the 'legendary beef'. I wonder if I will need to try Kobe beef once I've tried this. Have tried it? Do you think its really necessary to try both beef?

      I can add more days at Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku. I am planning to keep the Hakone Day Trip open. So if we feel like exploring more of Tokyo, we'll just skip Hakone trip.

      But my other question is.. should I keep the shopping until I'm at Dotonburi or Osaka area? It seems like many people hinted that those are where the shopping gets more affordable compared to Tokyo

      I'll keep that green vegetables tip handy!!!

      • tensai on 08/04/2016 - 11:44

        nope, when you travel, always do your shopping as you go, do not hold up. You are not going to travel back to buy if the later destination does not have what you want to shop……

        • John on 08/04/2016 - 12:52

          Good point!

      • Tech5 on 08/04/2016 - 17:54

        Marusama beef is basically the next grade down from kobe. If your there, you might as well have the best. But do expect the entire course to be around 100-130 per person. It does taste amazing to me

        Dotonburi is more of the cultural kind of shopping- Tea, dolls, fans, ceramics that kind of stuff. There is also a big shopping street just like that in the CBD of Kyoto, near where you are having your dinner/lunch. For everything else, anywhere is fine. Stuff like clothes is not cheaper anywhere.

        Go to akihabara!

      • cosmic on 10/04/2016 - 10:52

        Assuming you mean Matsusaka beef and not "Marusama," it is definitely NOT "the next grade down from Kobe." Genuine Matsusaka is considered on par if not superior to Kobe. But obviously these things ultimately come down to individual taste.

        • John on 11/04/2016 - 00:42

          Gosh.. I got confused. Its actually Murasawa Beef. Know anything about it?

        • cosmic on 11/04/2016 - 10:11

          @John: No I didn't… I did some digging around and the restaurant in question is Otsuka, which is apparently one of the best-rated restaurants in all of Japan for foreign tourists according to tripadvisor. Now, the "mythical" beef tag is little more than marketing-speak: they simply don't produce that many cows per year so you can only eat it in select restaurants. There is at least another producer that have had their beef called mythical. But yes, Murasawa has won several awards, and I'm sure it's great.

          It's sometimes difficult to recommend a specific restaurant in Japan because there are literally thousands of great establishments, possibly one right along your itinerary. Tripadvisor has never really worked for me for food, for Japan I've always used http://tabelog.com/en/

        • John on 11/04/2016 - 11:30

          @cosmic: Yeah I did some reading last night and looks like its even more special than Kobe beef. It must be good to earn the word 'legendary' haha

    • belongsinforums on 08/04/2016 - 11:31

      Vegetable juice is cheap from convenience stores. Restaurants always have vegetable dishes too. The best is the plain lettuce they serve.they call it sarada

    • Blackpuddytat on 08/04/2016 - 19:49
      +1

      Definitely go to Robot. The food is meh, I'd say have drinks or drinks and snacks. The show….THE SHOW!!!!

      • John on 10/04/2016 - 01:23

        Was it really that good??? Would a 3 year old be ok to see it??

        • Blackpuddytat on 10/04/2016 - 11:06

          It's spectacle and it's a unique one at that. If your child is averse to loud noises and bright flashing lights, then it's probably not advised.

          You can get a feel of what it's like by visiting Robot Restaurant's website: http://www.shinjuku-robot.com/pc/index.php?lng=en

        • cosmic on 10/04/2016 - 11:18

          Look it up on google images and their website to see if it's your kind of thing. A cabaret show in the red light district with mediocre girls featuring flashing neon and laser lights and a wacky robot theme, perpetuating "only in Japan" eccentricities to tourists. Very few locals go unless they're entertaining guests. Quite pricey considering how cheap concert tickets can be in Japan.
          edit: I should add that it was probably more popular with locals back when it was 3000 yen a ticket instead of the 7000+ now.

        • John on 11/04/2016 - 11:59

          @cosmic: Good point. I'm not sure my son will be thrilled with the idea (maybe terrified even) and plus for 7000 yen I think I'm not going to find it worthwhile haha..

  • cDNA on 08/04/2016 - 08:58
    -4

    wow lots of weaboos here. Good to know

  • humdingaling on 08/04/2016 - 10:07

    i see a lot of temples in there

    remember to keep some coins with hole in them

    http://blog.hinomaple.com/2012/02/07/temples-shrines-how-to/

    • John on 08/04/2016 - 10:53

      Thanks! Thinking of cutting out some temples and getting more of the city experience. We're not big fan of it so I suppose 2 or 3 would be more than enough. Thanks for blog link!

      • humdingaling on 09/04/2016 - 11:54

        unless you are really into temple thing then yes you should probably cut it down a bit

        certain ones are more worthwhile then others

        i did the 7 temple in kyoto tour and i found Kiyomizu-dera was the scenic of the lot
        this said it is also the most popular ..ie crowded with tourist
        so kind of kills the "tranquil" feel

        ps experience from almost 10 years ago now…so i really dont know how much it has changed

  • rover on 08/04/2016 - 10:56

    Consider a Kansai area pass for Osaka-Kyoto-Nara-Kobe travel:
    http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/kansai/

    Combine this with a one fare from Tokyo. You can save more by getting an overnight coach, but probably best getting the bullet train.

    Check Hyperdia for fares for comparison. I did the fly in to Tokyo and out of Osaka and eschewed the rail pass. On my next trip I got a rail pass for most of the trip and used day tickets in Tokyo: http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/travel/practical/tonai_tic…

    Get your Ghibli tickets at the rather infated price from JTB well before you leave. Whike they are only about 1000yen locally but you want to get them here to avoid disappointment.

    As mentioned, get a data SIM card, you can get these here but cheaper over there.

    • John on 08/04/2016 - 12:53

      Thanks rover for the tips. Any recommendation for SIM card brand? Or generally all of them are the same? .. and do I get it at the airport or I can get it from here?

      • tensai on 08/04/2016 - 14:31

        have a look at this one
        http://www.bmobile.ne.jp/english/

        can be ordered and delivered to your hotel, or pickup at airport

        • John on 08/04/2016 - 15:57

          Thanks!

      • rover on 08/04/2016 - 20:02
        +1

        Lots to chose from. I picked up a Docomo 200MB per day from the big electronics store in Ikebukoro (but available all over the place), but if you use lots of data that might not be the best option. The staff helped set it for me as well. Hotel delivery is convienient, I though about the airport but you probably want to get your luggage and transfer out. At extra cost you organiose one in Australia before leaving.

        A SIM card is really really helpful, used it for navigation as a lot of devices/apps can't get maps of Japan. Great for picking up ideas for extra things to see when you get extra time, translation and Hyperdia (you need Hyperdia).

        And as others have said get your Ghibli tickets from JTB as soon as you can, JTB only get so many andd they sell out. I let it slip last time, but managed to use a "last minute ticket" concierge service to pick them up and send them to my hotel.

  • zeppeybabey on 08/04/2016 - 12:57

    Hi mate

    Your schedule is very much similar to the one we had.

    We were in Japan over Xmas/NY just gone and we travelled with anchors (a 2.5 year old toddler).

    Japan is a wonderful country, every part of it has something fascinating, here's my 2 cents regarding my experience with a toddler.

    Mid November will start to become cold. We were there in the middle of winter and the process of wrapping the toddler up and keeping her warm was tiring. And then when you get inside a metro or a shopping centre or a restaurant, the temperature is like 40 degrees (Japs really crank up the indoor temps). So, take on, take off, take on, take off… you get it.

    Tokyo:
    Shibuya/Harajuku/Shinjuku – all highly recommended. The walk from Shibuya to Harajuku is extremely pleasant (you walk through a lovely park and some temples), easy and nice. You are going to need a pram for your toddler though. Otherwise you can jump on the train (which is first rate).
    Tsukiji Markets – will be tough with a toddler, as you will have to wake up very early to get there.
    Disneysea/Disneyland – yep 100% you must go here. I would suggest you try stay a night onsite at the Disney resort. It will be a long day of fun. We travelled from Shibuya (where we stayed) to Disneyland via the train, but we dearly wish we had booked accommodation onsite.
    Mt Fuji – worth it, but will be a very long day with the toddler (2hr one way trip from Shibuya to Mt Fuji).
    Highly recommended which you did not mention: Tokyo Skytree

    Kyoto:
    All the temples are amazing. Gion is amazing. Try and explore Kyoto station too – it’s better than most international airports!

    Nara:
    Deer Park – if you’re going to that big wooden temple, you will walk past the deer park from Nara station. IMO, the deer park is a must do. Stop and let your toddler run around and feed the deers. Nara was one of our favourite days in Japan.

    Osaka:
    If we ever go back to Japan, we would spend more time in Osaka. Great food! And even more importantly for your cause, the streets are more baby friendly than say Kyoto or Tokyo in general. The aquarium is great (bit of a hike from town, but well worth it).

    • John on 08/04/2016 - 13:04

      Oh wow… this is gold!

      We will definitely take your tips on the clothing to have something easily taken off for drastic temp change.

      Tsukiji Market will be relocated by the time I get there. I'm not sure how different it will be. But are they closed after morning? I thought people only go in the morning to see the auctions? I should be able to still have early lunch if I arrive at say 10am right?

      I almost scrap the Nara Park as I thought I'd be seeing enough deers on the way to the temple.. but now that I think about it, it seems like a great way to wind down for a family! Thanks for pointing that out. Was the temple itself worth visiting?

      I almost drop the time spent in Osaka. Would you then say its better to spend time for walkaround (shop and eat) at Osaka than it is in Kyoto?

      • bargainy on 08/04/2016 - 17:31
        +1

        The old Kyoto city is an awesome place to walk around. We spent a week in Kyoto and used public transport for day trips to Himeji, Nara etc.

        Here are some examples of walking around Kyoto http://www.insidekyoto.com/kyoto-walking-tours

        • John on 08/04/2016 - 19:09

          Was there a lot to see in Kyoto in terms of shops, places to eat? Or mainly for temples, gardens etc? I've updated the itinerary but feels like Kyoto isn't getting much love.

        • bargainy on 08/04/2016 - 22:16

          @John: I never found a part of Japan that wasn't loaded with restaurants. 😀 Try this http://www.insidekyoto.com/best-restaurants-in-kyoto

          We spent a day just wandering around Higashiyama. That is part of Kyoto btw whereas Nara isn't.

  • blitz on 08/04/2016 - 13:18
    +2

    Day 1 (Mon) - TOKYO
    * Walk around Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku
    * Mainly for eating and enjoying the city of Tokyo

    You will not be able to do this in one day. I would take Yamanote to Harajuku and walk around there first, including the Meiji shrine. Then walk down through to Shibuya via Omotesando. I do not think you will have time to do Shinjuku also.

    • Spend the rest of the day at Ginza

    Ginza is absolutely dull and, in my opinion, a waste of time. You should instead spend that time at Akihabara Electricy City.

    • Hakone Day Trip (possibly)

    Hakone is nice, but it would be a shame to miss the Yasukuni Shrine and museum, and the natural history museum at Ueno - your 3 year old will love it.

    I'm so jealous of you.

    • John on 08/04/2016 - 16:01

      That Natural History Museum looks so good! Even I will love it!! I'm putting on my list as an option to visit.

      I've placed Ginza as next stop from Odaiba (since its quite close and I think my wife will like the branded shops). But we can always leave and go elsewhere afterwards.

      I have also split my Harajuku, Shibuya and Shinjuku trip to more than 1 day - based from all the recommendations. I'm so glad to have ask for opinions here!

  • [Deactivated] on 08/04/2016 - 13:55

    If you like video games, you can walk or ride around the Gran Turismo Akasaka Route 246 circuit for free. It's real public streets.

    If you like Lost in Translation, I found just about everything there is in Tokyo, I snuck into the hospital, found street locations that had changed based on manholes, the pachinko parlour has been demolished. Plenty of iconic scenes close to Shinjuku.
    The shrine is an easy one to visit. Maybe have an overpriced cocktail at the Park Hyatt. Personally I would just watch the movie and take some photos in the same streets as the ending.

    One thing on my todo list is to locate Mr Octopus from Ninja Warrior fame. There is a little bit of info on the net, but it's a bit of an adventure.

    • John on 08/04/2016 - 16:02

      I love Lost in Translation! I wish I could stay in the Park Hyatt haha. At one stage I've had the view from one of its room as my desktop wallpaper :P

  • bargainy on 08/04/2016 - 17:25

    Gosh that itinerary looks a lot more realistic and interesting than when I last commented! Good to see Himeji Castle there. 😀

  • [Deactivated] on 08/04/2016 - 17:31

    No interest in seeing kinkakuji (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinkaku-ji)?

    You are packing in a lot in some of those days. You will be very tired!

  • John on 08/04/2016 - 19:07

    Thanks for everyone's amazing suggestions! I have revised it again to have more free days at Osaka and Tokyo for shopping and eating. Taken out some of the temples (we're not big with temples anyway). We love big cities and the main goal is to explore that side of Japan (more than the temples/mountains/lakes). So that's why I've planned it this way.

    My only concern is.. should I spend more days in Kyoto? I have already allowed a 1.5 free day in Osaka but hardly much in Kyoto as it seems to be geared more for temples. If so, I might take out Hiroshima trip as it seems to be time consuming with 3-4 hours return trip. My wife and son would probably not find the museum worth a visit for the amount of travel we do. I guess it's different if we stay overnight there, but looks like it will be too packed to spend the night there.

    Anyone have more suggestions? Haha.. Again, I am very grateful to hear everyone's feedback. Without this, I would've realized how hard it would be to keep up with my itinerary during the trip!

  • tinchac on 08/04/2016 - 19:49
    +1

    Based on your comments so far I guess you're probably new to Japan, so if it's OK with you I'll give you some general tips that I wish I knew before I went, [like 3 weeks ago].

    Transport:
    The JR rail pass is great and all, but only cost efficient if you travel a lot or use bullet trains. We personally did not travel much, but got our cost efficiency for the seven days that included our bullet train trip. There are some fare calculator sites out there so if you're looking to get maximum cost efficiency I'd use those. If you're not using the rail pass, use either Suica or Icoca. They're similar to Australia's Opal system, Suica for Tokyo and Icoca for Osaka. Most of the major train stations have a machine to redeem one of these and it's all in english which is great. They also work for all purchases in 7/11, in taxis, vending machines and claw machines, so they're easy to get their money's worth.

    Mobile plans and data:
    Also 100% dependant on what you're happy to spend. IMO the best thing to do is get a vodafone plan and activate roaming, then cancel after one month. I got 10gb for 50 bucks and it cost me around 90 dollars all up. This meant I could call, text or use 10gb of data whenever I wanted, which was super helpful. Other things you can do are like get a sim from sachi tours or pick up something whilst you're there, but whilst they're cheaper it was super nice to have so much data and to be able to call instead of use IM when communicating back home.

    7/11:
    Gets its own section because it's incredibly useful for travellers. They have international ATM's inside so that you can withdraw cash any time [Japan uses cash for almost everything, prepare for a lot of junk change]. They also allow Suica payments which is great for using the last money on the card. Finally, they offer tonnes of cheap meals that they'll heat up for you if you don't have a microwave and if you either don't have the money or the motivation to eat out.

    Misc:
    Other than that, I liked using AirBnB for my trip, hosts were all super nice and polite, even though I didn't meet them and communication was fast. Trash disposal in Japan is super confusing.

    Hope this helps, enjoy the trip :)

    • John on 10/04/2016 - 01:09

      Thanks! Yes… I am very new to Japan. haha.. but I'm a lot more educated now than I was 2 weeks ago thanks to this forum!

  • KupoHo on 08/04/2016 - 20:19

    Sorry to piggy back your thread John! Some useful tips that I'll sure be using for our trip with our 3 year old when we travel to Japan for the first time from 20/5 - 3/6. Was just wondering if anyone could tell me what kind of clothes I should be packing for those dates. I've read up that the weather is around 22 high and 12 lows….but is it quite windy or sunny? And would I need to pack bigger winter jackets/rain jackets? Last time we went to Korea thinking Spring would be lovely weather and we went during the week where it was FREEZING! lol I just want to pack as minimal as possible but don't want to forget the essentials. tia :)

    Such a Japan amateur that I booked flights in and out of Narita instead of Haneda or fly out of Osaka instead..DOH! There is going to be ALOT of travelling for us….

    Has anyone been to Rabbit Island??!?!? Any tips for a trip there??

    Will definitely report back after our trip John, as our itinerary is quite similar :)

    I'll be using Airbnb and can let you know how they go as well if you were open to using them instead of hotels.

    • Kelberos on 09/04/2016 - 10:04

      The weather should be calm and cool. I left at around the beginning of may and it was already quite comfortable… you might need a light jacket or maybe rain jackets for some parts of the trip depending on where you're going (ie it would still be slightly chilly in Hokkaido or Nagano?)

      I have been to the rabbit island (Okunoshima). My tips would be to

      bring your own food/bentou from convenience stores
      bring your own rabbit food, i saw people carrying a whole head of cabbage and a couple of sticks of carrots as they are cheaper than food pellets. so a trip to the markets the day before or in the morning would be wise.
      bring a camera along and with a good walking shoes.
      take note of the ferry times!! They only go back and fro every so often so if you missed the one you're after you might have to wait for an hour or more.

      You will need to take a local train to get to it though… i think its the Kure line or something from Hiroshima or Mihara to Tadaoumi? And then head to the docks for the Ferry ride. If i remember correctly… the docks are within walking distance.

      Also went to the Yamato Museum on the way back… also fun (for people like me) :) http://www.yamato-museum.com/en/

    • John on 10/04/2016 - 01:12

      Feel free to piggy back! And do report about your trip there. I also got a flight to Narita as that's the only one available via Cathay. But the reason I planned for a flight out of Osaka is mainly to try minimize the need of a 14 days JR Pass (if I decide need to travel interstate much). But looking at the bright side, you get to spend the last night at the best downtown city in Japan!!

      • KupoHo on 10/04/2016 - 03:02

        haha! Thanks for making me feel a little bit better…I've decided to book a hotel near Narita for our last night as we have an early morning flight and I can not fathom having to get up extra early and taking an hr train ride to the airport!

        Also I noticed you said you are going to be using Airbnb…most places on Airbnb offer free portable wifi with unlimited usage (the only one with limit that I saw was 1gig/day lol) so you might not need a sim if you are only using data?

        I'm not sure if Universal Studios in Japan is different to the one in Singapore but we took our son when he was around 2.5yo and he was too small for even the kiddy rides….we mainly spent our time queuing up for pictures with characters and watching shows. This was still nice but a bit disappointing as he wanted to go on a Sesame St ride and they wouldn't let him!!

        I'm still undecided whether I want to do both Disney Sea and Disneyland as 2 days in a row of theme parks with a 3yo may just kill me lol

        Getting super excited abt our trip from reading through everything here so thanks for starting up this post! :)

        • John on 10/04/2016 - 09:15

          Actually, I got lucky and my flight arrived in Haneda. Haha.. I kept thinking it was Narita. But that was a good idea overnight near the airport. I'm lucky that my flight is in the afternoon but I got a red eye flight to Perth. I hope my son can sleep ok in the flight

          The Universal Studios are different. Japan has the classic ride like Jaws. And plus many more that are not in Singapore. But the biggest difference is the Harry Potter world! The theme park is similar to the one in Orlando but definitely different to the one in Singapore :)

          You might also want to consider Osaka Aquarium. I'm a big aquarium fan (and I love seeing my son running around looking at fishes). And the one in Osaka has 7 floors (if I'm not mistaken) and housed the Whale Shark!

          Yeah I also thought 2 theme parks in a row is too much to do. Plus your son can't get in the rides anyway so he won't be able to enjoy it. Maybe one day when they're a teenager hahaha.. out if the two i picked Disneysea as that's the one unique to Japan.

          Let me know how your trip goes!

  • blongle on 08/04/2016 - 23:23

    I both, love and hate, this post!!! Just envious a little and very happy for you at the same time! Went to Japan just last November, so you'll definitely love it there at that time, the autumn season is so beautiful. I noticed you were going to Fuji-Q, I didn't go there, but Lake Kawaguchiko was amazing, the view of Mt. Fuji - best anywhere! It was a nice contrast coming from Tokyo and a welcomed change. I spent a total of 4 days in Tokyo, out of 11 in Japan, and that was enough. Kyoto was by far my favourite, people are so nice there and the atmosphere is totally different.

    Not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet, but it's a good idea to set up a Citibank bank account in Australia before you leave and you'll be able to withdraw money at any 7-Eleven with no conversion or withdrawal fees. The conversion rate was better than any other bank when I checked. This was extremely handy when I was there, carried no cash on me, and withdrew money anytime I needed it. Let Citibank know you'll be travelling beforehand though, and download their app and off-line way of verifying it's you accessing it if you want to check how much money you have left or whatever. All pretty easy.

    I also recommend you check out japanican.com. I bought the shinkansen tickets from there, and the Robot Restaurant Show with some good discounts. You might find something else of use there.

    Definitely eat some Tuna Toro at Tsukiji Market, yumm!!!!!!!!

    Also, the more organised you'll be before going, the better. I made a Google Map with all the landmarks I wanted to see in each city, plus some places that I found online that were great to eat at for different reasons - at least you'll probably manage to eat all of the Japanese staple dishes that way.

    I used a travel SIM from guys that advertise on ozbargain periodically, travelsimsdirect? and had no issues.

    Rome2Rio website http://www.rome2rio.com/ is good for travel planning.
    7-Eleven had some delicious 100yen chips, haha,and go to some 100yen shops - they're actually good unlike here.
    Utilise day bus/train passes.
    Buy alcohol before departing at Don Quijote.
    I used https://www.homeaway.com.au/ for accommodation, if you're open to that instead of hotels, which are tiny.

    Look for Night time Illuminations at temples in Kyoto, they all start at different times of the month, but really beautiful. I'd also squeeze in Kinkakuji, did it before Arashiyama on one day.

    I used a bus for Narita to Tokyo, 1000yen, was the cheapest option, very easy and comfortable. http://accessnarita.jp/en/home/?_ga=1.78026388.1874547842.14…

    • John on 10/04/2016 - 01:17

      Thanks! Yeah someone mentioned about the Citibank account and I forgotten about it! Thanks for reminding me again :)

      I hope the new Tsukiji Market will be as good as the old one

      I completely understand your love-hate comment. I am pretty sure, by the time I returned from Japan. I would see this kind of post and I will feel the exact same thing you do. Haha.. Post-holiday feeling is the worst feeling of all!

  • bpdoz on 09/04/2016 - 09:40

    I think I will copy & paste your itinerary.
    Thanks John. :)

    • John on 09/04/2016 - 16:17

      Feel free! I wish I could copy paste other people's itinerary. But i just cant find one suitable for me!

  • Kelberos on 09/04/2016 - 09:50

    BTW If you arrived in Haneda at night - its not a bad idea to sleep it off at First Cabin. Its a pseudo-capsule hotel in Haneda and its probably a bit better than trying to check into your hotel at night after a so-many-hours journey.

    I would also recommend pinning the dates in… or at least try to simulate the days of the week in your itinerary. Try to avoid public holidays and weekends and even fridays if youre planning on visiting the theme parks.

    And just as a suggestion… the Fuji Q theme park is quite a trip outside of Tokyo. You will spend a couple of hours transferring in and out of trains for what will be a sub-par theme park experience considering you will be going to the Disneysea, Ghibli, Universal Studio, and Akihabara (whole place is a theme park to me). Can i be blunt and just say you should try and find something better to do? Unless your kid is really into Thomasland then sail on ahead!

    On another note - i found that there are more options for food in Osaka than Kyoto. So on day 9 or inari/nara visit - if you feel that you might not know where to go in Kyoto for dinner… just go to Osaka first and wander around Umeda or Namba.

    I suggest going to Kuromon ichiba every day :P and theres also the Nishiki market in Kyoto just close to the Shijo station and Yasaka shrine. Similar to the kuromon market and also a good place to visit for food.

    • John on 10/04/2016 - 01:21

      Yeah we have planned it to the days. And have figured out which days was public holiday. Although I think I'm stuck with Universal Studio on Friday. I will have to roll with it and buy an express pass.

      Considering skipping Thomasland now. He surely won't look for it anyway!

      Thanks for the suggestions re Kuromon Ichiba and Nishiki Market. I will try find accommodation in relatively close distance to it! Hahahaha.. I love sneaking out of my room in the morning while wife/son asleep to sneak some private breakfast :P I did this a lot in Hongkong. We are missing some really hearty breakfast here in Australia.

  • MJ101 on 09/04/2016 - 22:57

    I have never been to Japan but I am going in August to stay in Tokyo for 7 days. From my research there is a place called KidZania where kids get to role-play as Adults at more than 90 jobs and activities using real-world tools and equipment.

    It's suitable for 3 year old.

    I am not sure if anyone have been there as I am planning to take my 2 and half year old son there and tell them he is 3 year old so he can play. Will they be checking kids passports for age?

    • John on 10/04/2016 - 01:22

      Ah yeah Kidzania. They have it in my home country so probably not gonna visit that as its not unique to Japan. I doubt they will be checking passport though!

    • [Deactivated] on 10/04/2016 - 10:27

      August can be very hot in Tokyo, so be ready. 33c in Tokyo feels like 40c+ in Australia due to low winds, concrete metropolis and air quality. I handle heat pretty well, but the thought of queuing at busy Disneyland, say, at 35c makes me a bit faint.

      • MJ101 on 10/04/2016 - 21:56

        Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully I can handle the heat.

  • John on 10/04/2016 - 01:51

    Just found out there will be Fuji Kawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival during our visit. Anyone been there?

  • Freakycat on 10/04/2016 - 08:59
    +1

    If you go to Ginza for dinner, you may find it hard to find a family restaurant. I went there with my kids last Nov. At first wanted to find a nice restaurant, but find that they are either small shop for the working class (only a few seats) or too expansive.
    For Ghibli Museum, you need to book tickets in advanced or buy from travel agent. It is a very popular attraction for Asian tourists. We went to Lawson in Japan to buy tickets but they all booked out. Some ppl said you need to book at least 3 months in advanced.
    BTW, I think you should visit Asakusa and go to Nakamise for their snacks, it's fun. They have ferry between Asakusa and Odaiba.

    • John on 10/04/2016 - 09:23

      Thanks for the tips! We love snacking so that's sounds perfect haha.. And riding a ferry will be a fun experience for my son

      I'm definitely not going to look for dinner in Ginza then. I think I'll just walk past to have a look then move on for dinner.

      • Freakycat on 14/04/2016 - 12:27

        BTW, if you go to Odaiba with your son, don't miss the Gundam statue.(http://en.japantravel.com/tokyo/gundam-statue-gundam-front-t…) Just next to the Gundam statue, it is the food court of Diver City shopping centre. They have very delicious Japanese pan-fried noodles. They have a Gundam museum on Level 7, there were over 500 gundam model on display. What a surprise for my husband. I think your son may like it.

        • John on 14/04/2016 - 14:49

          My son may like it. I WILL definitely like it. Haha seems like I'm gonna be a bit occupied in Odaiba with all these :P

  • cosmic on 10/04/2016 - 12:04
    +1

    Day 10 - OSAKA (via Hiroshima)
    * Leave Osaka to Hiroshima, leave baggage in lockers
    * Visit Atomic Bomb Dome and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
    […]
    Day 11 - OSAKA (Himeji & Aquarium)
    * Explore ground at Himeji Castle (not going in)

    As mentioned by others already, it'd be a waste to go all the way out to Hiroshima without going to Miyajima. Miyajima would be the main focus for most people. If it's at all possible I would do Himeji Castle on the same day as well, since you'll pass it by in both directions. Otherwise it's another 3 hours round-trip wasted on the trains depending on where in Osaka you're staying. All three locations can be quite time-consuming however so would probably require careful planning and an early start to pull off. Staying overnight in Hiroshima is an option since you haven't checked in to Osaka yet.

    • John on 11/04/2016 - 01:02

      Yeah I am liking the idea of staying overnight at Hiroshima and passing Miyajima. I actually wanted to see the gate in Miyajima. And I heard the night life in Hiroshima is pretty good too. So yeah, I'm actually adding this in my itinerary! I thought day trip seems like a lot of travelling on the train in a day and not enough of sightseeing/exploring the town.

      • cosmic on 11/04/2016 - 09:42

        Yes that's definitely preferable. Most people want to see Miyajima at high tide so staying overnight in Hiroshima gives you ample opportunity. You can google the tide tables for the dates you're there, and even plan according to sunset/sunrise if you're so inclined.

  • nightfever on 10/04/2016 - 16:36

    JR Pass: get it if you are going from Tokyo > Osaka > Hiroshima, then it's worth getting the JR Pass. Travelling in Kansai Area, it's cheaper to buy other passes, e.g. Kansai Area Passs, Kansai Area Pass, they also have train/buss day pass for very cheap. However if you are planning to go to Hiroshima and Miyajima (This can be done within a day), then get the JR Pass. (JR Pass is only worthy the price if you are going onto the Shinkansen for more than two times long distance trip per person, JR train isn't really that pricey to take per trip)

    Make sure you try some Oysters when you are in Miyajima, they are big and delicious!

    If you are planning to go FujiKyu Highland, you can buy a bus/entrace combo ticket - it's called a Toku-Q Pack. You can ask the Hotel reception people to help you book it. It works out cheaper and less hassle, you just make your way to this bus stop near Shinjuku station West Exit (from memory; there's also other pick up spot), the bus will take you all the way there, and also drive you back at your chosen pick up time. It's also less confusing, considering you are travelling with a young child, getting lost is the least thing you want. If you actually don't want to line up but do want to go on the roller-coaster, buy the speed pack.

    Same thing goes to Universal Studio in Osaka. If you don't want to queue up, buy the speed pack + the entrance tickets. Mid Nov is actually peak season for Koyo (Autumn maple leaves), so be prepared to line up everywhere.

    Also if you decided not to go to Hiroshima, you can actually travel to Osaka via domestic airline, cost roughly around $100 per head for adult.

    You should go visit Tokyo Tower, Sky Tree and Asakusa while you are in Tokyo. Personally, I found Akihabara very big, scary and confusing, rent a pocket wifi if you can. GPS is going to help a lot.

    • John on 11/04/2016 - 01:00

      Thanks! Especially for the oysters tips. I love oysters to death :P

      I will have a look at Toku-Q pack. I saw one similar to it (or maybe its the same) but it includes the full entrance ticket. I was only planning to get entrance only ticket as now I am thinking to just see a bit of Thomasland (not planning to get queue for rides), then proceeds to Lake Kawaguchiko to look around and see the autumn festival there. Unfortunately, looks like the speed pack is something you have to buy first thing in the morning before it runs out. I doubt we'll be there early enough to score one. Good thing is the Universal Studios offers a speed pack to purchase before visiting, so I'll definitely rely on that.

      I am flying out of Osaka. But I'd rather ride the train haha.. getting on a plane with a 3 year old.. not exactly an easy task lol

      Will look at those places in Tokyo. I might just drop by Akihabara just to see it. At least I know I've seen it! Thanks again :)

      • nightfever on 11/04/2016 - 09:41

        Go and try Kaki-ya (http://visithiroshima.net/dining/oyster/kaki-ya.html) it's in Miyajima. There is a strip of street near that shrine that sell oysters. I am sure they are all good, but I've only tried this place and can confirm it's delicious.

        The queues at those extreme rides are pretty ridiculous at Fujikyu, but if you are only going there just for Thomasland, I think you should be fine. :) Your 3yo is going to love that!

        Universal Studio - I've heard people line up for 4 hours for a ride (at Harry Potter), so yeh, rather than wasting time queuing, probably best to get the speed pack.

        Hahaha, I don't have a child, so not sure what it's like getting them onto the plane. Since you are getting the JR Pass 7 days (don't need 14 days, since you are not doing a lot of long distance travels), try book the Air b'n'b closer to a JR station. Since your JR pass will only allow you to take JR lines. (They have many different subway companies, and your pass will only allow you to take any JR lines, if you take other lines, you will have to pay extra for it, not a lot, but obviously, the amounts do add up).

        • John on 11/04/2016 - 11:53

          Thanks! I saw that Kakiya shop. Haha I think I will make a stop there :P

          Yeah most likely getting a JR Pass and will have to find places near the station.

        • nightfever on 11/04/2016 - 12:12

          @John: Good luck! :)

          Make sure you get the JR pass 3 months within travelling - it's too early to get them now. I think you may be able to reserve the tickets in advance from Flight Center, they do price matching and you can chose to pick up from their office.

          Else try HIS Travel (http://www.traveljapan.com.au/) OR JTB (http://www.jtbtravel.com.au/jr-passes/japan-rail-pass/), if you have them nearby, you can just go pick the tickets up, the Pass tickets are currently $347 per adult on both sites, child is half of that. These are Japanese Travel Agencies, you might be able to also pick up nice tips/brochures from them too (if their office is nearby).

          Amusement park wise, I would get the tickets in Japan, not from the agents here.. cheaper to get them in Japan (in case any agent tries to get you to buy tickets from them).

        • John on 14/04/2016 - 14:49

          @nightfever: Thanks for the tips! I will keep that in mind :)

        • rover on 14/04/2016 - 14:58

          @nightfever: "Amusement park wise, I would get the tickets in Japan, not from the agents here"

          But get Ghibli tickets here or risk missing out.

  • yasui on 11/04/2016 - 22:19

    If you go to Fuji-Q on Day 6 instead of Day4, then you can start using JR pass on Day 6. You will save about 5000yen for that trip. An OzBargainer should maximize the use of JR pass.

    • John on 12/04/2016 - 20:19

      That's a very good suggestion! Didn't even think of it :O Thanks!!

  • warteva on 30/07/2016 - 10:34

    Hi John, Thanks for starting this thread. I have to admit I am feeling overwhelmed with all these info. I havent been to japan and its hard to grasps all the info and put them together.As I found that the places you wanted to visit are the same as the ones I will be too but I will be starting from Osaka first then tokyo last. I was wondering if you dont mind sharing your most updated itinerary? Would you mind providing how you arrange the accommodation too? With all the other passes like Universal studio, ghibli…etc (apart from JR pass) isit recommended to buy them ahead?

    Any info provided would be much appreciated. Thanks

    • John on 30/07/2016 - 12:00

      Hmm so my latest itinerary is similar still except after Tokyo, I will be in Osaka for two nights only to visit Fushimi Inari, Bamboo Groves, Kiyomizudera and the Nishiki Market. Then overnight in Hiroshima (leaving baggage in Osaka station) - stop by Miyajima before check in Hiroshima, next morning visit the memorial ground before leaving back to Osaka. Then on our way back stop by Himeji Castle, pickup baggage in Osaka station then settle in Osaka. We will visit Nara during our stay in Osaka. Since Kyoto is only 30 mins from Osaka, we can always return there if we wish to.

      Accommodation is all through AirBnB although I heard there are a bit of concern as some places are being cracked down (its illegal there but not really enforced yet). Fingers crossed!!! I'm now thinking of finding a hotel than I can cancel at last minute that does not require advance payment, just in case my AirBnB accommodation is compromised.

      I heard Ghibli is about 1-2 months in advance? Not sure.. But I'm planning to revisit those sometime in September.

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