Can someone tell me about holidays in Japan

[Bunnybigears]

Big birthday coming up and I want to go to Japan. It would be me, DH, DS15 and DS12. I want to go to Tokyo but are there places in Tokyo to get away from all the busyness a bit. We lived retreating to Central Park in New York for a bit of a rest before heading back out to see the sights etc. Is there something similar in Tokyo? Also is there anywhere close enough to Tokyo to visit in a day where we can see traditional temples and forests and mountains etc or are we best doing a twin centre holiday?

We visited Japan this summer, staying in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka; we also visit Nara.

We visited Ueno Park which was very calm and quiet. Some information here: www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/tokyo-parks

There are both Shinto and Buddhist temples and shrines in Tokyo city itself. We visited Meiji-jingu Shrine in Harajuku, the Senso-ji Temple and Asakusa-jinja Shrine both in Asakusa. Some more details are here: trulytokyo.com/tokyos-best-shrines-and-temples/

We didn't visit any mountains and forests around Tokyo.

If you did do more than one place I can definitely recommend Kyoto with a side trip to Nara.

The Lovely Planet travel guide was very useful, as was the Truly Tokyo website, especially when putting together daily walking itineraries.

It does hike up the cost if you go to Kyoto and imo, it isn’t that worth it. Very touristy and not anything there really that you can’t see elsewhere. My DS and I were somewhat baffled as to why everyone raves about it. Nice day trips from Tokyo are Hakone, you can go to an Onsen and lots of nature, lake etc. Mount Takao, there’s a fun chairlift, a little monkey park, shrines etc. Kamakura, a coastal town with a giant Buddha and temples. Kawagoe is an old style town and there’s a good little hop on/hop off type bus that takes you to various shrines etc around there. There’s tons to do in Tokyo and lots of nice parks etc.