Please help with the details for Tokyo and Kyoto!
 

I have all my itinerary planned with a lot of input from Fodorites (I am adding my entire plan at the end of the post).I have bought the JR passes (14 days), so now is the time to plan the details. And I need your help again.

Tokyo (here we are mostly interested to see 'new' Japan - futuristic buildings, pop-culture, food, etc):

1. Arrive on Saturday - the remaining part of the day walk around Ginza (we are staying in Shiodome area, so this should be relatively close).

2. Sunday - morning Akihabara (my son is interested) - then to Harajuku and Shibuya. Any other suggestions?

3. Monday - Fish market in the morning (how early would you suggest? It looks like we can not see the tuna action anyway) - then I am not sure - Hama Rikyu Garden? I would like to see Shinjuku area - east and west. Is east better at night? Or maybe Odaiba instead? What are your thoughts?

3. Tuesday - day trip to Nikko using JR pass.

Not sure if I have any room to fit Roppongi Hills.

After Tokyo, we go to Takayama, and then to Kyoto.

Kyoto.

1. Arrive on Friday (around noon) - staying in hotel Karasuma. - see Ninjo-jo if there is enough time, otherwise walk around Nishiki Market (unusual food is a big point of interest for my son), walk around Gion, Pontoncho (sp?)
2. Saturday - Eastern Kyoto - follow one of the walks from JNTO from Kiyomizudera to Heian Shrine, and then possibly from Nanzenji temple to Ginkakuji temple. Not sure how long this takes, and if should cover parts of it by taxi. Any thoughts?

2. Sunday - see Ninjo-jo if did not see on Friday, see Kinkakuji Temple and Ryoanji, and then to Arashyama. Not sure if this is doable. How to adjust it, so I see Arashyama? I really want to see the bamboo grove and the monkey park.

3. Monday - day trip to Nara and Fushimi-Inary. Actually, I am not sure if it is better to go to a day trip to Nara on Sunday, and spend Monday in Kyoto. Or maybe spend more time in Kyoto and not go to Nara?

Tuesday we go to Koya-san.

Also, any food places recommendations? For Kaiseki? Or any places for unusual Japanese food (this is for my son)?

As always, thank you in advance for your invaluable help!

Here is my entire plan:

March,27 to Tokyo, to April, 12 back home from Osaka)
Day 1,2,3 – Tokyo (this includes the arrival day) - Villa Fountain Hotel
Day 4 – Day Trip Nikko
Day 5 – Train to Takayama (overnight Takayama)
Day 6 – Takayama and day trip to Shirakawa-Go (Overnight Takayama or Shirakawa-Go not sure)
Day 7 – Morning travel Train to Kyoto - Hotel Karasuma
Day 8,9 – Kyoto
Day, 10 – day trip to Nara (overnight Kyoto)
Day, 11 – to Koyasan overnight - Shojoshin-in temple
Day 12 - to Osaka - day trip to Himeji - overnight Osaka
Day 13 - Day trip to Kurashiki/Okayama(garden) or trip to Arima onsen or back to Kyoto for more time there - Overnight Osaka
Day, 14 To Miyajima island overnight (leave most of the luggage in Osaka hotel)- ryokan Jukeiso
Day 15 Osaka (want to try the SPA world)
Day 16 Departure from Osaka

Kyoto in April? Then go see the Miyako Odori:
http://www.miyako-odori.jp/miyakoodori/english.html

I don't have much to add, other than keep an eye out for the family from Chicago with 16 y/o daughter :)

We are flying to Tokyo the same day as you, arriving on Saturday and spending our first four nights in Tokyo. Unfortunately, we have less time for our trip, so we're going on to Kyoto for five nights, departing out of KIX on the 6th. We have many of the same things on our agenda.

Have a great trip!

Mrwunrfl, do you know if the Second class tickets are OK, or I should buy first?

Ms_go, wow! What airline are you flying? We are on AA on 11:05 am flight.

Looks like your plan has come together nicely.

I would plan some cherry blossom viewing somewhere in your itinerary if you will be lucky enough to experience it in Japan. Even if you have no interest in the event it will be the main happening while you are there for everyone else so be prepared. Maybe a visit to Ueno Park in Tokyo then over to the Ameyoko Market for some souvenirs and tasty treats.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3019.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3012.html

Shinjuku Gyoen is another nice place to view the blossoms.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3034_001.html

I would see east Shinjuku at night and west Shinjuku with its many office buildings in the day time

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3011.html

Have fun!

Aloha!

We'll be about two hours behind you, on the 1pm United flight. We are staying at the Keio Plaza in Shinjuku and the Granvia in Kyoto.

About Akihabara on Sunday.
It will be very crowded with shoppers, many coming from far by train and car to stock up on cheap electronics and computer parts. Also stores don't open till at least 10, some not till 11. Harajuku and Shibuya will also be packed, but to see lots of young people having fun is, well, fun! Have a stroll in Meiji shrine, and see wel-dressed families attending ceremonies and maybe weddings.

I recommend that you get the best ticket you can afford.

I read somewhere that the public is now permitted to see the tuna auction.

I don't know what kind of tickets we had. emd got them for her, her daughter, and me. I think she got them thru the concierge at the hotel she was staying at (in advance of traveling to Japan). It included a tea ceremony before the performance. We missed the tea ceremony.

After adjusting your schedule to deal with weekend tourist destination issues, you might want to make short-term adjustment to deal with weather and the cherry blossom opportunities.

I don't know where you are coming from, but the spring rain in Japan can be a downpour. Since places like Akihabara or Nishiki can be visited on a rainy day, you might want to take advantage of non-rainy days as well as cherry blossom destinations when available. What I do is to organize destinations into fair weather and foul weather types. This way, I reduce using foul weather destinations on a nice day and going to weather dependent destinations on foul days.

Helen

On your question of what class of train ticket to buy. The ordinary(coach) class JAL ticket is more than fine. Just have returned from extensive train travel in Japan, the ordinary class is nicer (especially on the shikansen bullet train) than mostly all North America trains.

Thank you so much everyone for your suggestions!

Ms_go, we are family of 3 too - with 24 years old son. I am afraid, we will loose our son in Akihabara, and become the family of two :) I am sure, we will see you somewhere, even though we are staying in different areas. I was trying to get a reservation at Granvia Kyoto, but they did not have rooms.

Any additional suggestions for Japanese food? Where would a good kaiseki experience?

Hi, helen -

Your trip sounds wonderful! Here are a few thoughts:

> Saturday - Eastern Kyoto - follow one of the walks from JNTO from Kiyomizudera to Heian Shrine, and then possibly from Nanzenji temple to Ginkakuji temple. Not sure how long this takes, and if should cover parts of it by taxi. Any thoughts?

The stretch from Kiyomizudera to Heian Shrine took me WELL over a day - and I skipped some places AND I only took one break! I would encourage you to either plan on more time for this part of Kyoto or to made decisions beforehand about which places you most want to see. BTW, I believe Kiyomizudera is open much later than most of the other temples and shrines in eastern Kyoto, so it might make sense to walk south rather than north. Also, I believe that Fushimi Inari is open 24/7, so depending on when night falls, you might be able to stop there (its a short ride) after visiting Kiyomizudera. It is quite amazing at sunset!

> see Ninjo-jo if did not see on Friday, see Kinkakuji Temple and Ryoanji, and then to Arashyama. Not sure if this is doable. How to adjust it, so I see Arashyama? I really want to see the bamboo grove and the monkey park.

I think seeing all of these places on one day could be possible, but I think it would be a very full day unless the only things you see in Arashyama are the bamboo grove and monkey park. Again, I would urge you to think ahead about which destinations are your highest priorities.

> Or maybe spend more time in Kyoto and not go to Nara?

I loved Nara, and I also loved everything I saw in Kyoto, so the good news is that you will see some wonderful things which ever you choose! If you would like to see some remarkable and very old scuptures, the Nara National Museum and Kofukuji Treasure House would be worth visiting.

> any food places recommendations? For Kaiseki?

I had a fabulous (splurge) meal of French-Kaiseki at Misogigawa:

http://www.misogui.jp/eng/misogigawa/index.html

Hope this information helps!

Kja, thank you so much for your recommendations! I think we will start walking from Ginkakuji going south. I've heard that Kiyomizudera will be lit up that week, so I will plan to be there around evening.

The restaurant looks fabulous, but expensive !!! Well, I spend money much easier on vacations :)

Hi again, helen -

> I've heard that Kiyomizudera will be lit up that week, so I will plan to be there around evening

I'm not sure when you are going, but Kiyomizudera normally closes at 6 p.m.

And yes, Misogigawa was expensive - a real splurge for me, but well worth it - one of the most memorable meals and dining experiences of my life!

BTW, when you are in Koyasan, be sure to visit Okunoin, if possible at dawn or dusk (and perhaps during the day as well). It is just outside of Shojoshinin (which I hope you enjoy as much as I did).

kja, we have already made plans for Okunoin.

We will be in Kyoto first week of the April. So, I thought I visit Kiyomizudera before 6:00 pm, but then stay around that area and Maruyama park. I was told there will be some spot lights on sakura trees, food vendors, etc...

Thank you so much again!