I hear it's popular...
Folks, I need to build an itinerary. We're going to take two, maybe three weeks in Japan (on our way to Germany), sometime in late May.
We'll of course have our two young kids with us, one of whom has ADHD (as do I), while the other is six years into being a threenager. So we want to see the sights, but also minimise stress.
Impossible mission? Probably.
I'm certainly welcoming all suggestions for destinations, tricks for getting around, and ways to stay online while we're there!
Personally, I'd love to rent a camper for the entire trip, but my wife wants to just use a travel agent to book the whole thing including accommodation. Thoughts? Maybe we can do both...
Alyssa Padgett
As for destinations, there's just too many places to visit and things to see! β
Obviously my inner child and my kids want to visit Disneyland and Super Mario World at a bear minimum, and of course the Ghibli museum.
Then there's the cities... Tokyo of course, Kobe, Nara, Fuji-San! π»
I don't think we'll be there in time for the πΈ cherry blossoms, which is a massive letdown, but unfortunately that's just how the timing goes.
What resources are available? Japan-Guide.com looks to be a major one, with some pretty varied and in-depth itinerary suggestions like this one: a 30-day Great Traverse of Japan. 30 days! I'm not sure we can budget for that... but damn it looks fun.
There's a good 14-day itinerary too, although it doesn't look like it takes in any of the theme parks.
I have a feeling...
...that apart from my dream of using a camper for at least some of the trip, we might end up following a lot of this excellent itinerary. π
Melissa Delaware
I asked some well-traveled friends, here's what they suggest
Driving there is fun and interesting so definitely try to get some in. No idea what Tokyo is like to drive in, though β we didn't deal with the car from there. Picked it up from Nagano instead. Also not sure about campers or camping over there. Can't help but feel it's a bit more niche but could ver very wrong.
We haven't done Japan with the little one yet, so it's hard to say, but normally we do a lot of walking β so it's unlikely that would work with the kiddos. Trains are obviously super handy, so definitely use them in big cities.
Tokyo Disneyland is good. Osaka aquarium and Universal Studios (also Osaka) are all amazing. Definitely worth it, and the kids will love it. Fairly sure Universal has Mario World now?
As for staying online... assuming the rules haven't changed, you can only get a data-only sim over there unless you're a resident, so get a sim or travel e-sim (I've never used one but hear they are good for most countries).
Now that's some in-depth advice.
Campers are seemingly a good way to go, as there are many places you're allowed to park overnight for free. And yep, Super Nintendo World is now open!
I had to look up Golden Week...
The internet says it's a series of four holidays observed at the end of April and beginning of May in Japan. The four holidays are ShΕwa Day (April 29, for the birthday of Emperor ShΕwa (Hirohito)), Constitution Day (May 3), Greenery Day (May 4), and Children's Day (May 5).
Thanks fellas.
Shutterbug εηζε₯½θ
Obviously one of my goals is to get some nice photos, and Japan is easily one of the most photogenic lands in the world.
I'm packing my Ricoh GRIIIx and my Sony A7RV with the excellent Tamron 35-150mm and my beloved Sigma 85mm Art. Maybe I should grab a 35 or 50mm prime before we go...
Well, that's about all my brain can handle for now.
It's 7am here in Melbourne, so... time to get the kids ready for school!
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