Can't miss sights

I am curious. Which part of the Chinese wall do you want to visit? Badaling is very crowded but there are also virtually deserted parts of the Great Wall. I like the Lama temple in Beijing very much and it is not that far from the Forbidden City. I am not that fond of the Summer Palace but many others like it very much. It is very big and you don't have much time. Don't skip the Northern parts (the garden part) of the Forbidden City. That part is less formal than the rest. The Park to the North of the Forbidden City has a hill and offers good views on Beijing as long as the sky is not too polluted. It is very nice to see the people dancing and singing in the parks. Bargain hard when you buy clothes or souvenirs.

I like the Kawai Kanjiro house in Kyoto very much, it is a traditional Japanese house with two kilns for making ceramics. And cycling, Nara and West Kyoto (Arashiyama) are well suited for cycling. You can cycle from Arashiyama to the famous Kinkaku and Ryoan temples.

A $1000 dollar room, that sounds very nice, like an experience in itself.

I don't remember which part of the Wall we are visiting, but it was not the most crowded. I'll add the Kawai Kanjiro house to our Kyoto list. Thanks!!

Well those are some interesting choices of places to go and things to see so far.

You dont have a lot of time.

1 day in Beijnig, where you will be jetlagged and tired and you want to see the Forbidden city. Certainly doable, but then you have to choose between the old Hutong Neighborhoods, the Summer Palace, the Confucian temple/Lama Temple, and the Temple of Heaven. Depending on how much of the Forbidden City you actually end up seeing, you have time for 0 or 1 additional sight.

What is a more detailed itinerary of your transport, and what neighborhoods are you staying in. We dont know when or how you are traveling from Beijnig China to Tokyo Japan, at the end of day 2 or the begining of day 3 but you say 'experience Japan's rail system' but I assume there is a flight somewhere in there.

Then you are in Tokyo for 3 days, which isnt a lot of time particularly if you want to head out to Hakone.

When are you traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto. Day 7 evening or day 8 morning(I would definitely choose day 7 evening)
Then Day 8-12 in Kyoto, but with a day trip to Nara and Kobe(Kobe is definitely not MUST SEE Japan, perhaps head to Himeji and then stop in Kobe on the way back?)

SO overall you have 2 days in Tokyo, 2 days in Kyoto, and 1 day in Beijing. That is half what I would normally recommend for someone trying to take in the highlights. It is not a question of what "Must Sees" there are that you can pack in. It's more a question of what major sights or "Must Sees" are you planning on skipping in the interest of time.

You're right, we will be rushed in much of the trip. Our hotel in Beijing is near the Temple of Heaven, and we fly mid-morning to Tokyo (into Narita). We don't have specific train reservations to Kyoto so we can leave later in the day certainly.

You're right, we will be rushed in much of the trip. Our hotel in Beijing is near the Temple of Heaven, and we fly mid-morning to Tokyo (into Narita). We don't have specific train reservations to Kyoto so we can leave later in the day certainly.

The only time I would reccomend the Temple of Heaven is EARLY in the morning, so you might want to stop by before you fly out.

Where are you staying in Tokyo?

How about Kyoto?

Taking the train in the later afternoon/early evening is your best bet. Things open early and close early in Japan. Best to watch sunset from the train and travel at bit into the night.

In Tokyo we are staying at the Hilton in Shinjuku. In Kyoto at the Crowne Plaza

What exactly are you interested in seeing or doing? I think you will overdose on temples and shrines, plus many people don't really suggest Osaka as a touristy place.

I do worry about Temple overload, but I think we will be ok. In Tokyo, we are more looking for modern sorts of things: museums, cultural attractions, the fish market, etc... Kyoto will be focused on the temples and shrines

I wouldn't leave out the Royal Palace with its moat, just in case you hadn't thought of it.

Half an hour from Nara in Iga-Ueno is the home of the poet Basho, plus a modest ninja castle (and nearby is a demonstration house for ninja tactics and a museum).

As for Tsukiji Fish Market, I have not kept up on the story, but I know the shopkeepers there were upset for a while. Too many tourists were disrespecting the business by ignoring signs which prohibited flash photography (interfering with the hand signals used in the sales process), and people were actually hugging fish as they took pictures (a health hazard). At one point tourists were completely prohibited, I think. Just be aware that it's a place of business and treat it that way.

Have fun.