1 week japan itinerary

Hi, we (2 adults and a 2 year old) are going to Japan for 7 days in early July. We arrive NRT on a Tuesday afternoon, depart the following Tuesday afternoon from NRT.

Our thought is to spend about 3-4 days in each of Kyoto and Tokyo. We are most interested in historical sights, food/eating/cuisine, and wandering atmospheric neighborhoods. I don%26#39;t think our 2 year old will put up with anything too high brow like theater, dance, or music - maybe a sumo match? We%26#39;re on an average budget.

Anyway, a couple questions:

1. Does it make more sense to go from NRT into Tokyo on Day 1, then turn around and head to Kyoto on Day 2, then back to Tokyo on Day 5, then home on Day 8?

2. Or from NRT almost directly to Kyoto for 3-4 days, then back to central Tokyo for the second half of the trip? Or would it be hard to coordinate intercity transportation with an international flight?

3. Or, from NRT into Tokyo, there for ~2 days, then to Kyoto for 3-4 days, then back to Tokyo for the last 2 days?

Also, would you recommend a train between the 2 cities? Is the station in central Tokyo or is it hard to get to? Ditto in Kyoto.

We are planning to stay at the Westin Tokyo for an idea of our location there, have not picked a place in kyoto.

I appreciate any help!

1 week japan itinerary

Any of your options are possible, but #2 only requires unpacking twice, the others 3 times. #2 would be dictated by what time you arrive in NRT - if it%26#39;s 2300hrs, you would find it slow getting to Kyoto!! Train is the only way to travel in Japan - especially if you haven%26#39;t previously been on a bullet train. Spend a day in Nara whilst you are in the Kyoto area - 2yo can feed the deers, the carp, etc.. We recently stayed at Aranvert Hotel, Kyoto and found it reasonably priced, good facilities, helpful staff and reasonably close (walking distance) to Kyoto Railway Station (which is amazing - and a good place to get cheap eats!) We booked Aranvert Hotel via Japanhotel.net - but check out reviews of hotels on TA first. If you wanted to see something other than several cities, you could break your journey at Hakone and do the big tourist loop there (railway, arial ropeway, pirate ship, bus, and cablecar )- you might even be lucky a get a glimpse of Mt Fuji!

1 week japan itinerary

If you are on a long international flight from America, you%26#39;d most likely arrive in the afternoon. After queuing for immigration and getting your bags, it could easily be 4pm. If you choose to go to Kyoto on this day, you get it over with but it could easily be 9pm by the time you get to your Kyoto hotel.

Instead, I suggest you spend the first night in Tokyo just to take a break either at Shinagawa or Tokyo. These two stations are on the Shinkansen bullet train line to Kyoto. You can also use the NEX-Suica package to save money. At Shinagawa, there are some good hotels very near the station so it%26#39;s ideal.

www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/index.html

On your second day, activate your JR Pass and you can then take the train to Kyoto, spend 3 days there with perhaps a daytrip to Nara and one evening at Osaka. Get back onto Shinkansen and back to Tokyo for the rest of your stay at Westin. You can use your JR Pass on NEX all the way back to the airport.

Alternatively, spend all your time at Tokyo in the beginning, and use your last day to travel from Kyoto back to Narita to fly out.

There are various train stations at Tokyo. Any station along Yamanote Line (Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shinagawa, Ikebukuro, Shibuya, etc) gives you good access to just about everywhere to Tokyo. At Kyoto, while the station area itself doesn%26#39;t have tourist attractions, it is a transport hub for buses and subway to see the sites.

JR Pass information:

http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en003.html

2YO might be tired, right? Consider staying near the airport and take the first train out in the morning. We did that when our son was about that age and it worked out well. An early rise in Tokyo (5-6AM) is like noon on the west coast.

checking our flights, we arrive NRT at 4:40 pm on Tuesday. So you are right, going to Kyoto that day won%26#39;t work - too tired.

I like the idea of staying either near the airport or near a station where we would catch the train to Kyoto, and passing up on a lot of sightseeing on the day of arrival. Then to Kyoto first thing in the morning, and back to Tokyo for the second part of our trip.

I%26#39;m not familiar with the geography/layout; is there a logical part of the city to stay that is going to make for a nice 1 night stay, yet not involve going completely into the city from NRT (I understand that this can take 2+ hours by bus/train); and still give us access to the bullet train the next morning?

Appreciate all the feedback so far!

I suggest you stay near Tokyo Station then. After clearing immigration and customs, it%26#39;d probably be almost 6pm. The ride on Narita Express is 63 minutes to Tokyo Station and it runs every half hour so you can still get into the city at a reasonable time, probably no later than 7pm or 7:30 latest. There are several hotels within the immediate area of Tokyo. The next morning, just go back to Tokyo Station to catch the direct bullet train to Kyoto.

By the way, I%26#39;d avoid the limobus during the late afternoon to early evening hours. Tokyo traffic is a nightmare around that time so it could take 2 hours to get into the city.

ok, so it sounds like you recommend the Narita Express to Tokyo station, perhaps walking to a nearby hotel, then straight to Kyoto in the morning...

taking a half step back, does the mix of Kyoto + Tokyo seem right for a first time traveler to Japan, with a child in tow, with our interests? So much to see, but any more than 2 cities and it seems we%26#39;d be traveling the whole time.

thanks

You might want to consider staying in Tokyo and going on a few day trips to Nikko and/or Kamakura, where you can see a more traditional side of Japan. This may ease the stress of doing a lot of traveling with a small child, plus jet lag.

ah, and that advice from someone who lists Kyoto as one of their top 5 favorite locations! We have considered what you proposed - would those cities be satisfactory, or would we really be missing out by not seeing Kyoto? We are a little worried about being overwhelmed by all that Tokyo has and is, yet having a hard time %26#39;feeling%26#39; the people and culture. Images from %26#39;Lost in Translation%26#39; spring to mind... Yet of course not unpacking more than necessary is very attractive.

Given that you have an entire week, I think it%26#39;s reasonable to go to both Tokyo and Kyoto. Shinkansen trains are comfortable enough. Bring a few things to keep your child occupied. Stay at hotels near stations so you can to minimize transfers. For example, at Kyoto, there are many hotels around Kyoto Station. Hotel Granvia at the station is highly recommended.

Kamakura is a very nice and relaxing day trip but it does not offer the spectacular sights Kyoto does.