Help me with my Japan itinerary

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting this, OP. Once you solidify your itinerary, can you post it? We would love to go to Japan for spring break 2024.

[Anonymous]

About the only place, I want to visit in Japan in August is Hokkaido! You said hot but add in that humidity and Japan can be just miserable. With the cost of a JR pass and so many low cost carriers, look into flying between cities and not the bullet train.

Unless you are a die hard Disney fan, I would skip Disney all together. Disney Sea just isn’t at all appealing to me personally so your mileage may vary.

I would add in Hiroshima.

I would save exploring Tokyo for last so you have your jet lag solved. Flying into Haneda is far more preferable.

Check out the Abroad in Japan YouTube channel, a British expat living in Japan who has made several videos.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting this, OP. Once you solidify your itinerary, can you post it? We would love to go to Japan for spring break 2024.

same here. my kids are 11, 13 and really want to go to japan. they are also huge Miyazaki fans....I've only been once on business to tokyo years ago--before I had smartphone and gps--and it was a little tough to sightsee on my own. We've gone to latin america and europe with them but japan would be fun. let us know how it goes.

[Anonymous]

Lots of good suggestions. If I could add

1. electric bikes in Tokyo to see more of the city. We were able to cover a lot of territory. Our DS was 12 at the time and was able to navigate city streets.
2. We loved the Iwatayama sanctuary with wild monkeys in Kyoto. Nice hike, scenic view from the top. And monkeys that will eat from your hands
3. Check out https://bestlivingjapan.com/ The mom who founded it is American, living in Tokyo. She also has boys your kids ages. You can find her email address on the website. And she also has an Airbnb in Tokyo. She was so generous with tips and suggestions that made our trip extra special.

[Anonymous]

One vote here for DisneySea, as it's unlike any other Disney park.

If you can splurge, stay in Hotel MiraCosta, which is inside the park. You'll save a lot of transit time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:About the only place, I want to visit in Japan in August is Hokkaido! You said hot but add in that humidity and Japan can be just miserable. With the cost of a JR pass and so many low cost carriers, look into flying between cities and not the bullet train.

Unless you are a die hard Disney fan, I would skip Disney all together. Disney Sea just isn’t at all appealing to me personally so your mileage may vary.

I would add in Hiroshima.

I would save exploring Tokyo for last so you have your jet lag solved. Flying into Haneda is far more preferable.

Check out the Abroad in Japan YouTube channel, a British expat living in Japan who has made several videos.

The British guys is just okay. I would pull larger samples from youtube.
Focus on Kyoto and Toyko. They are must see destinations. Skip Hiroshima. I'd put it in nice to see category, but it's too far out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!

I would suggest staying in the same hotel for Kyoto/Nara and maybe Osaka and staying just one night at Arima Onsen (near Kobe). Or going into Osaka from Arima. Reasoning is that you really only need one night for the onsen/ryokan experience (plan to eat dinner and breakfast there) but my favorite ryokan experiences are the ones with onsen and not in the city. I love being able to enjoy outdoor baths while looking at the scenery, and really ryokan are best for chilling and just bring for a bit but not very comfortable as a base for tourism if that makes sense? You could also spend three nights in the same Kyoto hotel for setting Kansai and take one of the Tokyo days to go to Hakone or Ise for a ryokan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

I would suggest staying in the same hotel for Kyoto/Nara and maybe Osaka and staying just one night at Arima Onsen (near Kobe). Or going into Osaka from Arima. Reasoning is that you really only need one night for the onsen/ryokan experience (plan to eat dinner and breakfast there) but my favorite ryokan experiences are the ones with onsen and not in the city. I love being able to enjoy outdoor baths while looking at the scenery, and really ryokan are best for chilling and just bring for a bit but not very comfortable as a base for tourism if that makes sense? You could also spend three nights in the same Kyoto hotel for setting Kansai and take one of the Tokyo days to go to Hakone or Ise for a ryokan.

This is a good tip. (OP here). So what if we went from Tokyo to Hakone for one night in a Ryokan, then to Osaka/Kyoto? If I did that, where would you recommend we stay in Osaka/Kyoto? Not a specific hotel - unless you have one - but in which city?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

I would suggest staying in the same hotel for Kyoto/Nara and maybe Osaka and staying just one night at Arima Onsen (near Kobe). Or going into Osaka from Arima. Reasoning is that you really only need one night for the onsen/ryokan experience (plan to eat dinner and breakfast there) but my favorite ryokan experiences are the ones with onsen and not in the city. I love being able to enjoy outdoor baths while looking at the scenery, and really ryokan are best for chilling and just being for a bit but not very comfortable as a base for tourism if that makes sense? You could also spend three nights in the same Kyoto hotel for seeing Kansai and take one of the Tokyo days to go to Hakone or Ise for a ryokan.

This is a good tip. (OP here). So what if we went from Tokyo to Hakone for one night in a Ryokan, then to Osaka/Kyoto? If I did that, where would you recommend we stay in Osaka/Kyoto? Not a specific hotel - unless you have one - but in which city?

Not hotel recs sorry — I used to live in Tokyo and mostly stayed with friends or in youth hostels or capsule hotels when I travelled to Kansai. As for Osaka vs Kyoto, I would look into what you want to see in the region, tourism-wise, and choose a hotel that’s most convenient for most of that. Nara is one of my favorite temples and there’s a folk craft museum in Kyoto that I adore but it really depends on what your family likes to do. There are several excellent castles in the area the area that I would love to visit but have not because they were under construction last time I was in the area.

[Anonymous]

Be wary of the bowing deer in Nara. They have become downright ravenous since Covid.

[Anonymous]

Honestly I’d skip the ryokan. It’s not going to be fun for the kids. They aren’t going to want to do onsen, are they?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly I’d skip the ryokan. It’s not going to be fun for the kids. They aren’t going to want to do onsen, are they?

I've never been, and if you have, then you would probably know better than me, but it seems like such a unique experience, great and interesting food, and kind of a fun adventure. They love hot tubs and hot springs when we've been in the past....so I thought they would.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly I’d skip the ryokan. It’s not going to be fun for the kids. They aren’t going to want to do onsen, are they?

I've never been, and if you have, then you would probably know better than me, but it seems like such a unique experience, great and interesting food, and kind of a fun adventure. They love hot tubs and hot springs when we've been in the past....so I thought they would.

Are they comfortable bathing without any clothes on around other people?

[Anonymous]

Such a wonderful trip idea with your family. Your kids are going to love Japan!
Given your time limitation, I would personally stick with JUST Tokyo and Kyoto. You can't beat those cities and, IMO, given your itinerary, I can't imagine leaving Kyoto for day trips to Osaka or Nara (not worth it unless your staying in Japan for 14+ days!) If you must do Disney for the kids, I would do this Day 2. Leave precious time-adjusted days for pure Tokyo. This will be a wonderful introduction for your kids!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly I’d skip the ryokan. It’s not going to be fun for the kids. They aren’t going to want to do onsen, are they?

I've never been, and if you have, then you would probably know better than me, but it seems like such a unique experience, great and interesting food, and kind of a fun adventure. They love hot tubs and hot springs when we've been in the past....so I thought they would.

Are they comfortable bathing without any clothes on around other people?

I'm looking at ones that have private onsen in the guest rooms, or onsen you can reserve for your family.