First trip to Japan, family of four. Looking for review for trip flow.
Hello friends! We’re a family of four, two children aged 7 and 8. Visiting Japan for our first time (from Los Angeles).
Trying to blend experiences, culturally/historically significant sites, natural beauty, a bit of shopping, and of course delicious food.
Hoping for honest opinions on whether or not this itinerary is too “busy” or ambitious. We’ve visited several large cities and different countries and our kids are good with hikes, lots of walking, busy days.
Also, are we messing up terribly by skipping Hakone? We would love to see Fujisan, but Hakone seemed like it would be better for an adults only trip. Also wanted to avoid adding another hotel check-in/check-out. Is seeing Mt. Fuji from the train sufficient or will I kick myself later? :)
Thank you in advance for taking a look and for any advice.
6/27: LA to Narita @ 5:50 pm Explore, Stay @ Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel
- 7/11 snack party
- Ikspiari for dinner if feeling up for it
6/28: Check in to Fantasy Springs, Morning: Rest Afternoon: Resort Day?
6/29: Tokyo Disneyland Day, stay at Fantasy Springs
6/30: TokyoSea Day, taxi to hotel, stay at Minn Asakusa
7/1: Tokyo: Minn Asakusa Morning: TeamLabs: Planets @ 8:30 am (Booked)
- Odaiba district for arcades/food in morning
- Afternoon: Don Quijote in Asakusa
- Evening: Dinner and rest/pack for long day tomorrow
- Optional: Senso-ji at night
7/2: Tokyo: Minn Asakusa
- Kamakura/Enoshima Day trip
- Walk to Hokokuji Temple and Bamboo Forest
- Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
- Hase-dera Temple, Caves
- Great Buddha
- Komachi Street
- Rest and assess: Head back if energy is low, Enoshima if kids are going strong
- Enoshima Island
- Enoshima Shrine, Sea Candle Lighthouse, Iwaya Caves
- Enoden train ride
7/3: Tokyo: Minn Asakusa
- Early Morning: Senso-ji Temple
- Late Morning: Ueno Park/National Museum of Nature and Science
- Afternoon: Akihabara
- Pokemon Shopping, Gachapon
- Swallows Game at Meiji Jingu stadium 6:00 pm (Booked)
7/4: Tokyo: Minn Asakusa Early Morning: KidZania (Booked) Late Morning: Shibuya Afternoon: Meiji Shrine Harajuku, Takeshita Street Evening: Shinjuku
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildng (free observation deck)
- Forward luggage to Kyoto
7/5: Tokyo: Check out of Minn Asakusa, Stay at Onyado Nono Hot Springs
- Shinkansen: Tokyo to Kyoto
- Late morning: Philosophers Trail/Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion)
- Late afternoon/Early evening:Gion wandering
- Experience? (Kids’ Choice)
- Optional: Nanzen-ji
7/6: Kyoto - Onyado Nono
- Early morning: Nara
- Todai-ji, Deer park
- Optional/Highly desired: Uji in the afternoon/evening
- Byodo-In
7/7: Kyoto- Onyado Nono
- Early Morning: Fushimi-Inari
- Afternoon: Class or experience, kids’ choice
- Evening: Nishiki Market
7/8: Kyoto - Onyado Nono
- Kurama/Kibune
7/9: Kyoto - Onyado Nono
- Early Morning: Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
- Afternoon: Kiyomizu Dera for sunset
- Explore Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka streets below
- Forward luggage to Centara Grand Hotel
7/10: Check out of Onyado Nono, head to Osaka- Stay at Centara Grand Hotel - Early morning train from Kyoto to Himeji Castle for the morning and Kobe for late afternoon dinner
- Check in to Centara
- Dotonbori walk
7/11: Osaka - Centara Hotel
- Rest day, sleep in
- Kuroman Ichiba Market
- Optional: Aquarium visit in midday to avoid the heat
- Optional: Shinsekai for dinner, Tower observation deck
7/12: Osaka - Centara Hotel
- Hiroshima Day Trip
- Optional: Miyajima…seems like too much to tackle in one day?
- Nozomi train or Sakura Shinkansen?
7/13: Check out of Centara, Osaka train to Tokyo, Stay in Narita area
- Naritasan Temple
- Omotesando Street
- Or Narita Dream Dairy Farm (Kids’ Choice)
- Optional: Plane spotting if kids’ feel up to it…Sakuranoyama Park
7/14: Head home @ 6:45 pm
- Sleep in
- Optional: Last minute souvenir shopping at AEON Mall