Anyone there?

Looks like you have done your homework.

Days 2 and 3 look like killers to me. Walking the moat at the Imperial Palace and seeing the East Garden although pretty not exceptional to me anyway. If I were going to the Palace in sakura season, I would head to the opposite side to Chidorigafuchi adjacent to Kitanomaru gyoen. Rent a boat and relax and take a few pictures. See here for map if you haven't already.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3018.html

Shinjuku-gyoen is one of my favorite venues and a fantastic place for hanami but you could spend the whole day just there and many people do. If you hit the peak here, be ready for hoards of people, probably like you've never seen before......patience....Japan will teach you patience. That night in the skyscraper district if you happen upon a little Japanese/French bistro called "Le Coup Chou" be sure to stop by for a light dinner. Sugitasan, the mgr/owner, will happily greet you and in his broken English and electronic translator help you decipher his Japanese/French menu. Prices are reasonable, food is good and the atmosphere is all local. Tell him hawaiiantraveler or Peter from Hawaii sent you and he will take care of you.

Trying to fit in the Meiji jingu and Yoyogi Park on that same day would be formidable even to a local no less the first time visitor.

Day 3, keep in mind most venues in Nikko, and going anywhere in Nikko for that matter after arriving at the train station is all uphill. Take your time, especially with the little one as there are lots and I mean lots of steps in this charming little town not to mention the commute to and from Tokyo. Not the greatest place to be during cherry blossoms because if they are blooming here then they won't be blossoming in Tokyo and vice versa. If you just want the sights, then its ok.

Day 5 looks great as I love Sanjusangendo but that walk uphill to Kiyo will be a chore for the little one and taxis are no help at that time of the year because of the hoards you will encounter. There are so many cars that the traffic will be halfway down the hill so much better and faster to walk up. Again, patience, just take your time. no need to rush.

As I take another look, it would be better to remove one venue from each day except the day in Nara to better enjoy what you will see and not be just rushing through. You are not traveling at a time when being in a hurry is to your advantage. That's my two cents. I hope I didn't come off too harsh. Enjoy your trip!!!

Aloha!

A good itinerary that hits a lot of the "must see" places.
I agree with HT that eliminating one venue on some of those long days might make your trip more relaxing. It always seems to take a little longer to get through a station or find ones bearings in a crowded city.
In particular looking at day nine I would consider perhaps a trip on the Yurikamome line to Odaiba to check out the Miraikan Science Museum, Gundam statue and the Trick Art Museum.The train itself is above ground and fun and the sights in Odaiba might be more entertaining for a seven year old, rather than the Hama Rikyu Garden and Akihabara walks which might be a bit of a stretch.

Anyone there???

Hawaiiantraveler, I'm here!

You're to blame for our going to Japan next year. I hope you feel duly ashamed of yourself, posting all those wonderful threads about Japan and making us want to go.

I have a general question that might help the OP as well:

How to avoid feeling 'templed out'? If we need a break in Kyoto from temples, what is your suggestion for the first time visitor?

I'm no expert, but I agree that you have developed a plan that highlights some of the best of the best. I also think that it is ambitious, particularly with a child, but much of it is potentially do-able - at least if you are willing to get an early start each day and adjust your plans on the fly if you find that you want to linger a bit longer than you expected.

BTW, I'm pleased to see that you plan to visit Kofukuji Temple's Treasure House - I thought its statues exquisite, but rarely see it mentioned on this board. I hope those statues - or other treasures of similar merit - are on display when you stop there!

> Day 3
- Nikko (1 day)

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to most of the places you list in Nikko, but I wonder if you considered visiting Kegon-no-taki (and Lake Chuzenji)? I ask because they might provide a nice contrast to shrines and temples. As I recall, it is possible to visit the overlook, take the elevator to the base of the falls and back up, take a brief glimpse over the lake, and then take the next bus back to Nikko in about 1/2 day, so if you pare your list of destinations in Nikko, you might be able to fit this side trip in. But I could be wrong about do-ability (I wasn't there during cherry blossom season, and I had spent the preceding night in Nikko). Just presenting a thought for your consideration....

> Day 6

I seriously doubt that you will have the time and energy, but just in case.... On the way back to Kyoto from Nara, one option might be to stop at the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Visiting that shrine can take hours, but I thought a brief (even 1/2 hour) visit to some of the torii-packed lower paths would be enjoyable. I think it's a bit different than the other shrines on your itinerary, and might be appealing to a youngster. Again, just an option to consider.... (Or you might re-order your plans for day 5: visit Nijo-jo first, "end" with Kiyomizudera, and then go to Fushimi Inari, which I believe is open 24/7.)


> Kinkakuji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion) & then a 20min walk to
- Ryoanji Temple (visit early morning) (2-3 hrs)

I could easily be mistaken, but I think it took a bit more than 20 minutes for the walk - I seem to remember thinking that the usually impeccable time estimates had failed me on a particularly warm and humid day. So once you make it to and through Kinkakuji (and the crowds who will probably be there), and then make it to and through the line for admission to Ryoanji, it might not be "early" morning!

> Sumida River Boat to Asakusa (cherry blossom viewing ferry; not pleasure boat)
- Walk through Hama Rikyu Garden
- Walk through Nakamise Dori

Maybe you mean to walk through Hama Rikyu before taking the Sumida River boat?


I hope this helps. You're going to have some wonderfully memorable experiences - enjoy!

Sue,
The Gion area is a classic. We also love to walk, shop and eat along the Shijo Dori and adjacent streets and depending on what time of year Arashiyama is also one of our favorite places to visit. Osaka is just a hop skip and a jump away with lots of venues including Osaka-jo. What time of the year will you be there?

Aloha!

Since you are planning in advance, while you are in Kyoto I would try and reserve some tickets to the Katsura Rikyu gardens.

What's nice is that admission is limited so you really can experience the beauty of the gardens without tons of people around.

Here is some info on the gardens and admission.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3914.html

Also, while in Kyoto, I might also take the child to Arashiyama to see all the monkeys! So fun....

For a non temple family adventure in the city this looks interesting.
http://japantourist.jp/view/gear-concert-in-kyoto

Also kja's Nikko suggestion is what we did with our 10 yo daughter . We took a bus from Nikko to Chuzen-Ji and then worked our way back along the trail some of which was elevated boardwalk through wetlands. Not too far past waterfalls and some wildlife. Caught the bus back to the Kanaya Hotel. One tip: Make sure you know what side of the road the bus back stops, I remember being a little embarrassed to have to cross over, and re wait in Japan they drive opposite, also important to remeber when crossing the street!

hawaiian

Thanks for getting back to me, and thanks for all of your wonderful and informative posts.

Like the OP, we're headed off in early April, even though this means prices will be high. We're also prepared for the possibility that despite the best laid plans of mice and travelers, Mother Nature may conspire against us. (I seem to recall you ran into a similar episode once when you arrived somewhere and found no trees in bloom as hoped.)

I am coming round to the idea that doing lots of activity things is the key to really enjoying the surroundings. You mention how much you enjoy walking. I do too - I'm also thinking of maybe renting a rowboat in Arashiyama, for example - and yes, that area does sound fascinating. The home of period film actor Okochi also sounds like a possibility in Arashiyama.

I apologize OP for sneaking in on your thread, but hope that mention of activities may be helpful to you as well, since you are traveling with a child. My guess is that temples and shrines will be like cathedrals in Europe: lovely, but one has to space them out to really enjoy them.

baseball, anyone?

Disney?

Day 6 - feed the deer

> The home of period film actor Okochi also sounds like a possibility in Arashiyama.

Indeed! The walk to Okochi Sanso is through a small bamboo forest and the visit includes a delicious cup of green tea in a room with lovely views.