I need some help. I am taking my parents in their late 60s and my 7yo to Japan in Oct for 10 days. Initially I was thinking staying in Tokyo for the whole time but then my parents mentioned that they actually want to see other parts of Japan. How would you organise your trip if it’s you? I am planning to get a 7 day JR pass.So I am thinking maybe 4 days in Tokyo, 2 days in Kyoto (maybe stop by Nara on the way), one day in Hiroshima, and then I am stuck! I am not sure whether to go to Osaka or not because I don’t believe there’re some must see there. We have to return to Tokyo to fly back to Sydney ( can’t change ticket). Is there anywhere between Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima that’s worth going? Or is this too brave with elderly and a child? Help!!
10 days in Japan itinerary help
Comments
- They are quite mobile but doesn't want to stretch too much. The won't need rest days I would say. However I do want to keep it relax and easy.
- I think the typical tourist stuff is ok. I prioritise my parents for this trip, so more historical, must sees would be good.
- Already got Disneyland booked for a day for the 7yo and that's her biggest salvage for the trip and then rest she just tags along.
Sounds pretty busy. Nara is not on the way from Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen. Seeing as you are doing Kyoto, I would skip Nara, and do Himeji instead. It's a short trip from Kyoto, and is actually on the way to Hiroshima. You could do it in half a day. Himeji Castle is one of the top 5 things to see in Japan in my opinion. The town (city) is pretty nice too, and from the train station, you walk in a straight line along the main street to the castle. The castle is visible from nearly everywhere, making the city quite different from most Japanese cities. Unfortunately there is often a 2nd rainy season in October, so it's hard to recommend outdoor activities.
Thank you for your suggestion. Himeji sounds like a great place, I will look into it. Have you been to Hiroshima? Do you think it's worth going? I am not sure whether that's too dark.
We did Hiroshima (and Himeji) as day trips from Kyoto - definitely worth doing.
is day trip manageable? No need to stay over night in either cities? If that's the case, it would be a lot easier to just base ourselves in Kyoto and leave luggages behind.
@easoweno: These were our trains in 2018. The four Hiroshima sightseeing bus routes are included in your JR pass.
9:46/11:34 Kyoto/Hiroshima (via Shin-Kobe) SHINKANSEN HIKARI 461
19:22/21:20 Hiroshima/Kyoto (via Shin-Osaka) SHINKANSEN SAKURA 566
OP, first of all, go read https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/best-places-to-visit-in-ja… or something similar
Then list things you and your family would like to visit.My parents in their late 60s
Are they 60y with a stamina of 7yo or 3yo ? Based on that adjust your travel.
Flights + 7-day JR pass are $$$, Maybe extend your trip to get more money for value rather than rush into things. JR pass is worthwhile if you use it daily.
Use a spreadsheet or Google map and plan out your trip.
My parents are priority for this trip, so the 7yo will just have to tag along and do what we would plan for her (she's going to Disneyland for one day)
I wish I can extend but really can't…. got back to back appointments each side of the dates….. (Sigh)
You know more than us about your parents and their mobility, some of the places require at least a day of walking. Do a bit more reading and plan accordingly. Sometimes you can use tours as a guide.
Just take them to Tokyo Disneyland
At a max I would keep it to tokyo/kyoto. There is more than enough to do there
Note the country wide JR passes will have a significant cost increase on Oct 1. So use one of the online calculators to work out if it will actually save you money or not at the current price.
I'm not sure the time period allowed between receiving the exchange voucher and 'exchanging' it for the actual pass in Japan? But if it will save you money make sure you order it before the end of the month.
Thank you, it's definitely worth buying the JR pass before the increase! The price hike is insane!!
Depending on your final itinerary I don't think Tokyo-Kyoto return covers the cost of the JR pass (at the current price), it certainly won't at the increased price.
Something else to consider - booking the JR pass through the official web site lets you reserve seats for trains via the web. You then collect your reserve seat tickets from a machine at major stations. They are multi-language and easy to use. This is a massive time saver compared to queuing at JR offices. However, the cost to purchase the pass is slightly higher than compared to buying it from a reseller. The convenience is worth the extra cost IMO. Note you have to buy the pass through the official JR site, you cannot get this feature with a reseller.
Was the queue very long at the offices? We will probably do HIroshima and Himeji as day trips so will probably need a pass.
@easoweno: It can be, it will depend a lot on time of day, the station you're at, peak/non peak season, amount of JR office staff, etc. There are times where I've just walked straight in, and other times the queue is so long I didn't bother. I would expect Kyoto station to be one of the busier ones though.
Himeji is probably an easy half day trip, Hiroshima as a day trip from Kyoto is probably doable but if you include Miyajima in that, it's going to be a long day.
@nandystam: Can you clarify - I just need to exchange the pass once at the JR office and then I just need to show the pass at the gate for the next 7 days, and no need to visit the office again unless I want to reserve seats, is that right?
I found that you can also reserve seats on one of the JR machines if you buy from the re-sellers.
Seat reservations are required before you board the train. There are 2 ways for you to reserve train tickets. 1) Just visit the ticket office in the stations and show you Japan rail pass to the staff to get your reserved seat JR trains tickets. 2) You may also visit a reserved seat ticket machine in JR line stations to book and issue a reserved seat ticket without waiting in line at the ticket office.
@easoweno: As of June 2020 pass holders can use the automatic ticket gates to enter railway stations. No need to pass through the JR staffed gates. Also, Japan features in Klook's 9th Birthday celebration on 17-Sep. A discount on transportation is possible but uncertain at this point.
Agree with poster above in sticking to Tokyo and Kyoto with 10 days. So much to see and do in both cities + day trips. I think you can do Mount Fuji as day trip from Tokyo, really there's so much to choose from. So many temples in Kyoto, all quite different and very beautiful. Not sure the rail pass is worth it Tokyo Kyoto return. You can fly OW with Jetstar for around $50.
Not $50 for October, I wish…..
My suggestion
Tokyo 3 days
Kyoto 3 days
Hiroshima 2 days
Kanazawa 1 day
TokyoHowever you can absolutely just go to Tokyo and Kyoto. Kyoto requires a lot of walking
I used the buses in Kyoto.
is there a pass you can buy or just tap the IC card each time?
If you havent already found it, pretty much every question you will have is answered at https://www.japan-guide.com/. It also has some good (but busy) suggested city itineraries
Use your IC card for the buses. There used to be a one day card that was good value but its being discontinued https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2363.html#ticket
Buses can be pretty slow and at times very crowded in the central areas of Kyoto. Further out they are fine, but the main tourist buses can be painful. Depending on when you are there of course. I will usually catch the train and then walk as much as possible around the central area.
as a former resident of Tokyo I'd recommend staying in tokyo and just doing a few days trips out - mt Fuji, kamakura, Kawagoe.
and the rest of the time stay in Tokyo as there is so much to do.
get one of the Hato(pigeon) buses (tourist hop on /hop off bus) and see the sights.
check out ginza, tokyo station, hibiya and the royal palace (all very close).when I ever take my kids back to Japan we have no set plan. we just sort of walk around aimlessly and discover the uniqueness of every day Tokyo - walking through residential streets , checking out random restaurants and shops, stopping at random convenience stores, etc is part of the fun and enjoyment of discovering Tokyo/Japan.
I lived there for 4 years and know that you can go anywhere and discover cool stuff, and still not see 99% of everything else. - it's such a large place (on a small scale) that makes it unique.
for 10 days - don't kill yourself trying to complete a checklist of places to see. certainly I recommend changing your accommodation at least once so you experience a different neighbourhood (I always use airbnb and try to get a house).
enjoy
While traveling with both your elderly parents and a young child can indeed be challenging, with the right itinerary, you can make sure that everyone has an enjoyable experience. Here is a potential itinerary for you:
Day 1-4: Tokyo
Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo and settle into your accommodation. Depending on your arrival time, you might want to explore the nearby areas or just rest.
Day 2: Visit Asakusa to see Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo's oldest temple, and Nakamise shopping street for traditional Japanese goods. This could be followed by a relaxed afternoon in Ueno Park which has a zoo that your 7-year-old might enjoy.
Day 3: Spend a day in Odaiba, a futuristic entertainment hub with attractions for all age groups including teamLab Borderless, a unique digital art museum that's very immersive and enjoyable for both adults and kids.
Day 4: Free day to explore more of Tokyo or perhaps take a day trip to Nikko, a city filled with world heritage sites and beautiful natural scenery.
Day 5-7: Kyoto (with a short stop in Nara)
Day 5: Travel to Kyoto early in the morning and visit the iconic Fushimi Inari Shrine in the afternoon.
Day 6: Explore Arashiyama, visiting the Bamboo Grove and Iwatayama Monkey Park (it’s a bit of a hike so please consider the fitness level of your parents).
Day 7: On your way to Hiroshima, stop by Nara for a half-day trip. Visit Todai-ji Temple and Nara Park to see the friendly deer.
Day 8: Hiroshima (and possibly Miyajima)
Day 8: Spend your day in Hiroshima visiting the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. If time permits, take a short ferry ride to Miyajima Island to see the iconic Itsukushima Shrine.
Day 9: Return to Tokyo (with a possible stop in Osaka or Himeji)
Day 9: Start your journey back to Tokyo. You could have a brief stop in Osaka to explore Dotonbori, known for its vibrant nightlife and street food. Alternatively, you could stop in Himeji to visit the beautiful Himeji Castle, which is both kid-friendly and accessible for elderly people. After the stopover, continue your journey back to Tokyo.
Day 10: Tokyo
Day 10: Your last day can be spent buying souvenirs, exploring any places you missed during your initial Tokyo stay, or simply relaxing. In the evening, head over to a nice restaurant to have a special farewell dinner in Japan.
General Tips:
Accommodations: Ensure that your accommodations are elderly-friendly and child-friendly. Opt for places that are close to train stations to minimize walking.
Pace: Maintain a relaxed pace throughout your trip to ensure it is comfortable for both your child and your parents.
Transport: Make the most of your JR Pass, and plan your train journeys well to reduce transit times.
Remember to be flexible and adjust your plans based on how everyone is feeling each day. It’s more important to have a relaxed and enjoyable holiday than to rush to see everything. Hope you have a wonderful trip!Thank you soooo much for this, this is exactly what I need and I can work around it! Two more questions if you don't mind, it sounds like you know a lot about Japan!
- If I do a stop in Himeji on my way back to Tokyo, what do I do with my luggage? Is there anywhere I can leave them safely around the station? Are there any lockers?
- Can you recommend any SIM card that we can use for 10 days?
Once again thank you! I really appreciate this.
I'd suggest you extract some more value from your JR Pass and do Himeji (and perhaps Osaka) as a day trip from Kyoto, 43min on the Shinkansen.
Luggage Storage in Himeji
At Himeji Station and many other major stations in Japan, you'll find coin lockers and luggage storage services where you can securely leave your belongings. Here's what you need to know:Coin Lockers: These are found in most large train stations and can accommodate different luggage sizes. The price ranges from 300 to 800 JPY per day depending on the size of the locker. Lockers can be a bit hard to find available during peak times, so try to arrive early to secure a locker for your luggage.
Luggage Storage Services: Aside from coin lockers, some stations offer luggage storage services where you can leave your bags for a fee. The service is generally slightly more expensive than using a coin locker but can accommodate larger items. The price ranges vary but generally start from 600 JPY per item.
Hands-Free Travel Services: Services like Sagawa offer hands-free travel services where they can transfer your luggage from one accommodation to another, or hold onto them for the day.
SIM Cards
For SIM cards, here are a few popular options you can consider:Japan Welcome SIM & Wi-Fi by NTT Docomo: They offer various plans suitable for different data usages and durations. You can buy these SIM cards at airports, online, or at various electronics stores in Japan.
IIJmio Tourist SIM: It's a popular choice for travelers, offering 1GB of data valid for one month. These are also available at airports and electronics retailers.
SoftBank Prepaid SIM: They have offers for tourists with options ranging from short-term to long-term use. You can find them at SoftBank stores and at the airport.
Pocket Wi-Fi: As an alternative to a SIM card, you might consider renting a pocket Wi-Fi device. It allows multiple devices to connect to it, which might be handy if you are traveling with family.
Look up 'takyubin' services and think about using them at times.
A few questions:
I know what I would do, but it might not suit you and your preferences. For example, some people could spend the whole 10 days in Tokyo. I personally could do (and have done) a month long trip avoiding Tokyo entirely.
It all depends on what your circumstances are and what you want from your trip.