Help me with my Japan itinerary

[Anonymous]

The only things non-negotiable are the month of travel (August - yes I know, very hot) and amount of days spent there.

We are a family of five so moving from hotel to hotel is a pain too frequently will be a pain. We have 3 teen/tween boys who have never been to Asia. I really want to visit a traditional Ryokan with Onsen. I thought about going to Hakone for a Ryokan on our way to Kyoto but I am worried that is just too many moves for the five of us, but if someone tells me that the experience will be much better we could do that. Otherwise we are pretty open - I have one aquarium/zoo lover, one who is really into sports. We are not super into shopping - maybe this is a day too long in Tokyo?

We are looking at hiring a guide to take us to some places since we do not speak Japanese and we want to make sure to have a good experience.

Here is what I am thinking:

Day 1: arrival mid-day, go to Tokyo and go to bed!

Day 2: Explore Tokyo

Day 3: Explore Tokyo

Day 4: Explore Tokyo

Day 5: Go to Disney Sea (somewhat non-negotiable, the kids love Disney and this is our nod to our typical Disney vacation...should we stay overnight there or just stay in our Tokyo hotel TBD?)

Day 6: Bullet Train to Kyoto. Explore Kyoto in the afternoon and stay at a Ryokan

Day 7: Kyoto sightseeing, overnight at Ryokan again

Day 8: Day trip to Nara, overnight in Osaka

Day 9: Explore Osaka, to the aquarium, take late evening flight - we are meeting extended family at a resort so will have several days of R&R to recuperate from our Japan adventure!

As you can see I don't have specifics laid out as what to do in Tokyo or Kyoto, but I am interested if Japan experts think this is an overall good amount of time to spend in these places, if I should rethink our movements, spend less time in Tokyo?

Thank you for any input!

[Anonymous]

I've never been but in light of how difficult it is to get there, I would suggest at least 2 weeks.

[Anonymous]

How old are you kids? I love Yokohama - it's very tech-y with high rise architecture and video games. It may be fun for them to spend a day there. And, it's so easy to travel in Japan. You can just hop a train from Tokyo.

[Anonymous]

For ryokan recommendations/reservations, I suggest https://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/

Personally, I like the ones in the mountains best but I understand your reservations about switching hotels too many times. If your Osaka hotel is not committed, you could go to an onsen ryokan there; some very nice options.

Tokyo Zoo is nice as is Yokohama Sea Paradise (http://www.seaparadise.co.jp/en/access/) if you want more aquariums than Disney Sea. Depending on where you’re staying in Tokyo, this can either be a day or half day trip.

Other Tokyo things I like: Edo Tokyo Museum, Miyazaki Museum (go on a weekday or you won’t be able to get tickets), Asakusa Temple, Meiji Jingu.

[Anonymous]

I have done a similar trip before having kids. We did Tokyo, an overnight in Hakone and then ended our trip in Kyoto.

We are going to Japan for spring break with my 3 kids but my kids are younger.

I personally think your itinerary seems like a lot of moving with luggage for a short trip. JMO.

We are doing Tokyo and Osaka/Awaji Island. We are also Disney fans but we will likely do Universal and/or Sanrio Puroland. I have not gotten that far to planning yet.

[Anonymous]

Agree with you to skip Hakone, since you will be staying in a ryokan in Kyoto. Tokyo is fun and you will find things to do. My husband loves Akihabara. Your kids may enjoy video game arcades. See if you can catch a summer firework festival. For things to do in Tokyo, some suggestions are visiting Asakusa, Shibuya, Tokyo tower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never been but in light of how difficult it is to get there, I would suggest at least 2 weeks.

I know. But my very first sentence said the amount of time is non-negotiable. It's what our schedule allows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old are you kids? I love Yokohama - it's very tech-y with high rise architecture and video games. It may be fun for them to spend a day there. And, it's so easy to travel in Japan. You can just hop a train from Tokyo.

Kids will be 12, 14, 19.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For ryokan recommendations/reservations, I suggest https://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/

Personally, I like the ones in the mountains best but I understand your reservations about switching hotels too many times. If your Osaka hotel is not committed, you could go to an onsen ryokan there; some very nice options.

Tokyo Zoo is nice as is Yokohama Sea Paradise (http://www.seaparadise.co.jp/en/access/) if you want more aquariums than Disney Sea. Depending on where you’re staying in Tokyo, this can either be a day or half day trip.

Other Tokyo things I like: Edo Tokyo Museum, Miyazaki Museum (go on a weekday or you won’t be able to get tickets), Asakusa Temple, Meiji Jingu.

Should I stay in a Ryokan in Kyoto or Osaka, then? For some reason I felt like Kyoto was the way to go but do you suggest staying in Osaka and just taking a trip up to see sights in Kyoto? thanks!

[Anonymous]

We started in a Ryokan pre-kids and one night is enough for the experience. We paid $400 per night 10 years ago so it wasn’t shabby. It was interesting in that they give you some traditional ropes (sorry don't know the name) but the food was just ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only things non-negotiable are the month of travel (August - yes I know, very hot) and amount of days spent there.

We are a family of five so moving from hotel to hotel is a pain too frequently will be a pain. We have 3 teen/tween boys who have never been to Asia. I really want to visit a traditional Ryokan with Onsen. I thought about going to Hakone for a Ryokan on our way to Kyoto but I am worried that is just too many moves for the five of us, but if someone tells me that the experience will be much better we could do that. Otherwise we are pretty open - I have one aquarium/zoo lover, one who is really into sports. We are not super into shopping - maybe this is a day too long in Tokyo?

We are looking at hiring a guide to take us to some places since we do not speak Japanese and we want to make sure to have a good experience.

Here is what I am thinking:

Day 1: arrival mid-day, go to Tokyo and go to bed!

Day 2: Explore Tokyo

Day 3: Explore Tokyo

Day 4: Explore Tokyo

Day 5: Go to Disney Sea (somewhat non-negotiable, the kids love Disney and this is our nod to our typical Disney vacation...should we stay overnight there or just stay in our Tokyo hotel TBD?)

Day 6: Bullet Train to Kyoto. Explore Kyoto in the afternoon and stay at a Ryokan

Day 7: Kyoto sightseeing, overnight at Ryokan again

Day 8: Day trip to Nara, overnight in Osaka

Day 9: Explore Osaka, to the aquarium, take late evening flight - we are meeting extended family at a resort so will have several days of R&R to recuperate from our Japan adventure!

As you can see I don't have specifics laid out as what to do in Tokyo or Kyoto, but I am interested if Japan experts think this is an overall good amount of time to spend in these places, if I should rethink our movements, spend less time in Tokyo?

Thank you for any input!

Lived in Japan for a couple years - Kyoto, Tokyo, Yokohama - and traveled a lot. This is pretty good trip for a first-timer although I would consider allotting an extra day to Kyoto and subtracting one from Tokyo. Depends how much you like temples - there are a LOT in Kyoto, all beautiful, and you cannot see more than two in a day and give them proper attention. And there are other lovely traditional areas too. Nijo Castle, Nishiki market, Pont-o-cho and the geisha area.

Nara is terrific. Osaka is fun for the teens.

Hakone is beautiful and is a wonderful experience but at least when I was there, it was really just hiking and onsen. If you're not prepared to spend your whole day doing that, it might not be the best for the first trip, with potentially restless teens.

Don't go to bed as soon as you arrive though. Force yourself to stay awake, have an early dinner at like 5-ish - anywhere is fine, find a katsu place or something, casual and delicious - and then go to bed. That will help you adjust.

[Anonymous]

I posted about this recently on another Japan thread so excuse the similar info but Japan was our last big trip before lockdown. Kids were maybe 10 at the time?

We flew into Tokyo and took a shuttle directly to Disney. Stayed at the Hilton there which was nice to get on the monorail. It works differently there than in Orlando (you pay for it) but it’s very convenient.

From there we spent 5 nights in Tokyo, using the subway to get around which was very convenient. Then we got a rail pass for a week and went to Kyoto (4 nights), Hiroshima (2 nights), and the last day of our rail pass we went to Osaka and departed from there.

Honestly it didn’t feel like too much moving around to us but others may feel differently of course. We had a blast and can’t wait to go back. We travel a lot and Japan is the place my son talks about going back to the most.

[Anonymous]

You need more time in Kyoto. I’d subtract a day in Tokyo (which is a great city to live in but not so much to tour) and stay put in Kyoto and just do a day trip to Osaka if you want.

[Anonymous]

Anyone have a specific Ryokan recommendation in Kyoto? Looking for onsen, great food, beautiful setting.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the posters saying to spend more time in Kyoto and less in Tokyo. Kyoto is a lot more interesting and beautiful, in my opinion, with more unique things to see and do.