Civilization · World Cultures
🇯🇵
Japan Family Trip
April 11 – 19 · Kyoto · Nara · Arashiyama · Tokyo · Nikko
9Days
5Destinations
2Hotels
🌸Cherry blossom season
Hotels
Kyoto
Minn Kiyomizu Gojo
Apr 11–15 (4 nights)
Near Kiyomizu-Gojo Station (Keihan Line)
Walking distance to Kiyomizu-dera
Central for Gion, Nara & Arashiyama trips
Tokyo
MONday Apart Premium Asakusabashi
Apr 15–19 (4 nights)
Next to Asakusabashi Station (JR Sobu Line)
5 min to Asakusa & Sensō-ji
Easy Narita Express access from Tokyo Station
Trip overview
| Day | Date | Focus | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 11 | Arrival — fly in, train to Kyoto | Kyoto |
| 2 | Apr 12 | Eastern Kyoto — Kiyomizu-dera, Gion | Kyoto |
| 3 | Apr 13 | Day trip — Nara deer park & temples | Nara |
| 4 | Apr 14 | Arashiyama bamboo, monkey park | Kyoto |
| 5 | Apr 15 | Shinkansen → Tokyo, Sensō-ji & Asakusa | Tokyo |
| 6 | Apr 16 | Day trip — Nikko shrines & waterfalls | Nikko |
| 7 | Apr 17 | Ueno Park, National Museum, Skytree | Tokyo |
| 8 | Apr 18 | Meiji Shrine, Shibuya, teamLab Planets | Tokyo |
| 9 | Apr 19 | Departure — 9:45 AM flight | Narita |
Narita → Tokyo Station (N'EX)~60 min
Tokyo → Kyoto (Shinkansen)~2 hr 15 min
Kyoto → Nara (Keihan + JR)~50 min
Kyoto → Arashiyama~45 min
Kyoto → Tokyo (Shinkansen)~2 hr 15 min
Asakusa → Nikko (Tobu Ltd. Express)~2 hr
Day by day
1
Arrival → Kyoto
Friday, Apr 11 · Narita → Kyoto
›
1Narita Express — Narita → Tokyo Station · ~60 min
2Tōkaidō Shinkansen — Tokyo → Kyoto · ~2 hr 15 min
Land 1:30 PM · allow 1 hr immigration · arrive Kyoto ~7:30 PM
Evening
- Taxi from Kyoto Station → Minn Kiyomizu Gojo (~10 min)
- Settle in — long travel day, early rest
Dinner nearby
- Naritaya Halal Ramen Kyoto halal
- Mumokuteki Cafe veg
2
Eastern Kyoto
Saturday, Apr 12 · All walkable from hotel
›
Your hotel sits right in the middle of this route — no trains needed today.
Morning
- Kiyomizu-dera — stunning hillside temple
- Sannen-zaka & Ninen-zaka — historic stone lanes
Afternoon
- Yasaka Shrine
- Maruyama Park
- Gion District — geisha quarter
Lunch
- Shigetsu — Buddhist temple cuisine veg
Dinner
- Halal Ramen Gion Naritaya halal
- Vegans Cafe and Restaurant veg
3
Nara day trip
Sunday, Apr 13 · Deer park & Great Buddha
›
1Keihan Line from Kiyomizu-Gojo → Tofukuji
2JR Nara Line → Nara · ~50 min total
Activities
- Nara Park — feed the deer
- Tōdai-ji — Great Buddha statue
- Kasuga Taisha — beautiful lantern shrine
Food in Nara
- Nakatanidou — famous mochi (snack)
- Kinatei Nara veg-friendly
Dinner (back in Kyoto)
- Mumokuteki Cafe veg
4
Arashiyama nature day
Monday, Apr 14 · Bamboo & monkeys
›
1Keihan from Kiyomizu-Gojo → JR connection → Arashiyama · ~45 min
Go early — bamboo grove gets crowded by mid-morning
Activities
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — go first thing
- Togetsukyo Bridge — scenic walk
- Iwatayama Monkey Park — kids love it
- Tenryu-ji (optional — beautiful Zen garden)
Lunch
- Arashiyama Yoshimura — river views
- Shigetsu (Tenryu-ji) Buddhist veg
Dinner (Kyoto)
- Kyoto Engine Ramen
5
Kyoto → Tokyo + Asakusa
Tuesday, Apr 15 · Shinkansen day
›
1Taxi → Kyoto Station
2Tōkaidō Shinkansen → Tokyo Station · ~2 hr 15 min
3JR Sobu Line → Asakusabashi Station → hotel (walk)
Afternoon — 5 min from hotel
- Sensō-ji — Tokyo's oldest temple
- Nakamise Street — shopping & snacks
Dinner in Asakusa
- Naritaya Halal Ramen Asakusa halal
- T's Tantan Ueno vegan
6
Nikko day trip
Wednesday, Apr 16 · Shrines & waterfalls
›
1Walk to Asakusa Station
2Tobu Limited Express → Nikko · ~2 hr
Buy Nikko Pass at Asakusa Station
Activities
- Nikko Tōshōgū — ornate UNESCO shrine
- Shinkyo Bridge — sacred red bridge
- Kegon Falls — one of Japan's great waterfalls
Food
- Nikko Yuba cuisine (local specialty)
- Nikko restaurants near Shinkyo Bridge
Dinner (back in Tokyo)
- Gyumon Halal Yakiniku halal
7
Museums + Skytree
Thursday, Apr 17 · Ueno & cultural Tokyo
›
JR Sobu Line or walk · Asakusabashi → Ueno · ~10 min
Activities
- Ueno Park — cherry blossom stroll
- Tokyo National Museum — samurai armor, Buddhist art
- Tokyo Skytree — panoramic city views
Food
- T's Tantan Ueno vegan ramen
- Halal Wagyu Yakiniku Panga halal
8
Modern Tokyo
Friday, Apr 18 · Meiji · Shibuya · teamLab
›
Morning
- Meiji Shrine — peaceful forested shrine
- Harajuku / Takeshita Street — kids will love it
Midday
- Shibuya Crossing — world's busiest intersection
Afternoon — allow 2–3 hr
- teamLab Planets — immersive digital art, kids & teens love it
Dinner — last night
- Gyumon Halal Yakiniku halal
- Ain Soph Ginza veg
Pack tonight — early departure tomorrow. Leave bags organized for quick checkout.
9
Departure
Saturday, Apr 19 · 9:45 AM flight
›
1Leave hotel 6:15 AM
2JR Sobu Line → Tokyo Station
3Narita Express (N'EX) → Narita · ~60 min · arrive ~7:30 AM
Timing
- 6:15 AM — leave hotel
- ~7:30 AM — arrive Narita International Airport
- 9:45 AM — flight departs
Apps to install before you go
Google Maps (offline)
Suica / IC card
HappyCow — halal & veg finder
GO — taxi app Japan