I need itinerary advice. I managed to snag two JAL F class award seats from ORD - NRT next March for my 8 year old son’s spring break. We plan to visit Tokyo and Kyoto over 6 days. After reading through all the threads and doing much research, here’s the itinerary we’ve cobbled together from all of the awesome threads here. Your comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. I would especially appreciate input on how this all flows together based on location of sites we’ll see, hotels we’ll stay in, and transportation we’ll be using. I’m trying to make it efficient and reasonably fast – paced.

We depart ORD on March 21st at 11:55am with arrival on the 22nd at 3:10pm into Narita. Before departing ORD we plan to buy JR passes for $225.45 for an adult and $116.70 for a child and activate at Narita airport upon arrival. We’ll then take the NE’X train, (covered by JR pass) to Shinagawa station or Shinjuku station (or whatever station is closest to the hotel chosen) and then take the hotel shuttle to hotel (if available). Do you suggest the train or the airport limo with an year old child and only carry on bags coming into Tokyo at 5pm?

We haven’t yet settled on our hotel but I am considering the Andaz at 25K points/night for 2 nights or Park Hyatt Tokyo at 30K points/night or Hyatt Reg. at only 12K points/night. All have points availability. HR has a subway under the hotel so perhaps this is the most convenient location with an 8 year old and to do our western Tokyo itinerary shown below? I like the idea of the shuttle bus to the Shinjuku station from HR or from the PH. Convenience is more important than opulence for us.

Here’s our schedule:

Arrival Day, March 22nd - Settle in at hotel and plan for dinner at Ninja Askasaka (http://www.ninjaakasaka.com/#_=_). I’ve watched the YouTube video and it looks fine for an 8 year old. Has anyone been? How’s the food?


Tokyo, Day 1 - March 23
5am Tsukiji Fish Market
Sushi Dai or Sushi Zanmai, Narisawa, Takazawa for breakfast
Ueno Park or Hamarikyu Garden or Shinjuku Gyoen for Sakura.
Sumida River Boat Cruise to
Asakusa / Nakamise Dori
Sensoji Temple
Tokyo National Museum or Edo-Tokyo Museum
Akihabara at night – any suggestions of a great themed spot for dinner with an 8 year old?

Kyoto, Day 2 March 24th
Depart for Kyoto late morning on Hikari train line for a 2.5 hour ride – lunch on train (Bento box) arrive in Kyoto 1pmish. I’ve read there is no need for Green seats on JL train. 7 day pass and regular seats are fine. With just carry on for luggagge is this accurate? Stay at Hyatt Regency Kyoto – 20K points per night and plan for the one-time taxi ride from Kyoto station in advance. Can anyone comment on how this gets setup?
Nijo castle
Gion district in evening for a walk and dinner

Kyoto, Day 3 March 25
Ginkaku-ji
Philosopher's Path
Nanzen-ji
Keage Incline
Heian Shrine
Yasaka Shrine
Kodai-ji
Higashiyama Streets
Kiyomizudera & Kiyomizudera Temple
Eat dinner at SEN MON TEN – finding it: Find Man on the Moon pub, which is on many maps and sports a big sign written in English, and then look across the street. That little hole-in-the-wall restaurant at the top of the steps that you would never, ever look at twice? Has anyone eaten here?

Kyoto, Day 4 March 26th
Arashiyama & Monkey Park Iwatayama
Togetsukyo Bridge
Tenryu-ji
Bamboo Groves
Jojakko-ji Temple
Gio-ji Temple
Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street
Otagi Nenbutsu-ji
Daikaku-ji

Depart Kyoto early 27th for Tokyo on Shinkasen arrive back in Tokyo before lunch. Stay at Conrad Hilton with the use of my free night certificate.

Tokyo, Day 5 March 27th (Sunday)
Edo-Tokyo Museum
Harajuku to see Cosplay
Lunch
Oriental Bazaar
Meiji Jingu Shrine
New York Grill (or can someone make an excellent recommendation) for dinner with a view. This option came from another FTer’s itinerary so I borrowed it 

Or should I plan to go to the Ginza district for dinner?

March 28th (Monday) Depart Tokyo for Chicago - Our flights depart at 11:10am from Narita so we’ll need to plan to depart at 8:30am on the NE’X train to airport. This is rush hour on a Monday. Will we be able to board with our carryone in tow?

Here are my specific questions in addition to what is in the body of the message above:

1. where is the best place to fit in Odaiba? I want to include the science museum in our itineray but am not sure what to cut out.
2. Based on our itinerary are there any must try restaurants for dinner you would highly recommend? Low or medium priced only.
3. Should I purchase a prepaid Suica transit card at Narita for our travel around Tokyo or will my JR pass suffice for what I have planned? We don’t mind walking as we live downtown Chicago and walk everywhere now.
4. Does anyone have an opinion on which park would be best to view the Sakura - Ueno Park or Hamarikyu Garden or Shinjuku Gyoen?
5. Any must try restaurant suggestions in the Gion district of Kyoto?

Thanks for everything!