Family trip to Japan this summer

Hi there,

We’re traveling to Japan as a family with two kids (10 and 8 years old) next summer, and we’ll have 16 days there.

I’d love to share our itinerary with you to check if it makes sense and also ask a few practical questions.

Day 1: Arrival, settling in, and exploring Tokyo Day 2: Tokyo Day 3: Tokyo Day 4: Tokyo or a day trip to Nikko? Day 5: Tokyo Day 6: Tokyo Day 7: Matsumoto Day 8: Kamikochi or Takayama Day 9: Takayama Day 10: Takayama-Shirakawago-Kanazawa Day 11: Kanazawa Day 12: Kyoto Day 13: Himeji (is a full day needed?) Day 14: Kyoto (Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari—doable in one day?) Day 15: Kyoto Day 16: Osaka Day 17: Departure from Osaka

What would be the ideal neighborhood in Tokyo to stay in? (Good location, kid-friendly, etc.) For getting around, is a pocket Wi-Fi the only/best option? Is the Suica card suitable and sufficient for getting around all of Tokyo? Would the JR Pass be a good option for us? Are the Japanese Alps a good compromise for us if we want to see some of the Japanese countryside and maybe take a breather after the intensity of Tokyo?

Thanks so much in advance for your replies

To get around, is pocket WiFi the only and best solution?

Hi,

No, you just need to download the maps.me app and the appropriate maps to your smartphone in advance. Maps.me works offline, so it costs zero euros, zero yen, before and during. The maps.me cartography isn’t as good as Google Maps, but in my experience, it does the job well enough.

Hi there,

First off, it’s hot and humid in the summer, so don’t plan too many visits in a single day—you won’t manage it, especially with kids that age.

Next, only decide on the days for visiting places like Nikko, Arashiyama, or Himeji once you’re there, depending on the weather and how you’re feeling.

Finally, unless your flight is *really* early in the morning, spend your last night in Kyoto. There are plenty of trains and buses to Kansai Airport from the station, so you’ll avoid the hassle of changing hotels with all the packing and unpacking.

J7: Matsumoto J8: Kamikochi or Takayama J9: Takayama J10: Takayama-Shirakawago-Kanazawa J11: Kanazawa

That’s a bit too packed, in my opinion. Factor in the time you’ll spend on transport, checking out, and checking in at hotels, etc.

Himeji (plan for a full day?)

Yes, with travel time included.

Kyoto (Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari—doable in one day?)

Not if you want to enjoy each place properly… and your kids will *hate* you if they can’t enjoy the riverside (boating), the monkey park, etc. at Arashiyama ;) Plus, look at a map—those two spots are on opposite sides of the city, which isn’t small.

What’s the ideal Tokyo neighborhood to stay in? (Good location, kid-friendly…)

Ueno or Asakusa. Both are well-connected to the rest of the city by subway, bus, and even boats, with plenty to see and do, parks, etc., and they’re quiet at night. Shibuya and Shinjuku can wait until you’re traveling solo—when your kids won’t want the embarrassment of family vacations anymore… 😎

Is pocket Wi-Fi the only/best way to get around?

Not necessarily. There’s Wi-Fi pretty much everywhere these days—on the street, in cafés, train stations, etc.

Is the Suica card enough for getting around all of Tokyo?

Yes, and it works in Kyoto and Osaka too, among other places.

Would the JR Pass be a good option for us?

I think so, but run a simulation on www.hyperdia.com (uncheck "Nozomi…" and "private railways").

Are the Japanese Alps a good compromise for us, wanting to see some countryside and maybe relax after Tokyo’s intensity?

Yes, especially since it fits well with your itinerary.

Hi,

Day 4: Tokyo or Nikko day trip?

Depending on the weather... But 4 hours of transport in a single day—something to consider...

Day 7: Matsumoto Day 8: Kamikochi or Takayama Day 9: Takayama Day 10: Takayama-Shirakawago-Kanazawa Day 11: Kanazawa

Personally, I’d reverse it: start with Kanazawa on Day 7 to make the Tokyo-Kanazawa-Kyoto route more logical. Personally, between Day 8 and Day 11, I’d base myself in Takayama and explore by bus depending on the weather and fatigue. In summer, it’s hot and sticky...😛

Other VF members have already given you (very good) advice on your various questions—I can only agree!

Best regards,

Thanks to everyone for your replies.

I think I’ll skip Nikko and focus on the many neighborhoods in Tokyo instead.

The Japanese Alps—maybe skip Kamikochi too, but I’m still unsure about the best route: start in Matsumoto or Kanazawa?

How can I figure out if the JR Pass is worth it or unnecessary for my route on Hyperdia?

I’ll probably be back with more questions before my departure.

Thanks again

Hi,

The Japanese Alps—maybe also skip Kamikochi—but I’m hesitating about the direction. Start with Matsumoto or Kanazawa..?

Day 6: Tokyo Day 7: Kanazawa Day 8: Kanazawa to Takayama in the late afternoon Day 9: Takayama to Shirakawago Day 10: Matsumoto during the day Day 11: Takayama to Kyoto

How can I calculate whether the JR Pass is necessary or not for my route on Hyperdia?

You go to Hyperdia and add up all your train trips within the period. You also need to uncheck the NOZOMI/... and private railway boxes.

Cheers,

Okay,

So even for getting around Tokyo or Kyoto on foot, will Maps.me be enough?

Other questions: Are onsens accessible with kids? Are bike rides or jogging doable in some quieter neighborhoods that might be more suitable?

Thanks again

Hi,

So even for getting around Tokyo or Kyoto on foot, is maps.me enough?

Personally, I use it on every trip and it’s always worked for me.

Cheers,

Are onsens accessible with kids?

This topic was recently discussed—you can find it using the search...

But for their age, no problem at all.

So even for getting around Tokyo or Kyoto on foot, Maps.me will be enough?

Hi there,

I’ve found that Google Maps has better mapping, but Maps.me was enough for me in Kyoto, and I don’t see why it’d be any different in Tokyo.

Fushimi Inari is almost a suburb of Kyoto... very easily accessible by commuter train. If you're heading to Japan in July, I think there's a major festival at this temple around July 20th. We went there in the evening around 6 PM... definitely worth seeing!

Re everyone

Still debating the JR Pass...

Our train routes will be: - Tokyo-Matsumoto - Kanazawa-Kyoto - Kyoto-Osaka And the airport transfers

Do you think it’d be worth it for us or not?

Thanks

First off, to cover both airport trips, you’d need a 21-day JR Pass, which obviously isn’t cost-effective.

As mentioned earlier, check Hyperdia to calculate the cost of those trips and compare it to the price of a 7-day JR Pass (28k¥).

For reference, Osaka-Kyoto is 560 ¥ and takes 30 minutes on a regular train—twice as fast on the shinkansen, but six times more expensive...

Hi everyone,

Still thinking about the JRPass...

Our train routes will be: - Tokyo-Matsumoto - Kanazawa-Kyoto - Kyoto-Osaka And the airport transfers.

Do you think it would be useful for us or not?

Thanks

Hello,

I think instead of just thinking about it, you should do your homework: save the contributors' availability for questions you can't find the answer to yourself. CalamityGin, Krikwik, and Masterpo already advised you to use Hyperdia. That makes four of us.

Thanks so much to the four of you for replying! 😊

On the other hand,

Do we need to book our tickets in advance without a JR Pass, or is it enough to get them on the spot?

On the other hand,

Do we need to book our tickets in advance without a JR Pass, or is it enough to get them on the spot?

It's impossible to do so outside the country, and not essential—except maybe for trips on Friday evenings, Saturday mornings, and Sunday evenings.

Hi everyone,

Quick question about the Japanese Alps section:

Is it better to spend 2 days in Takayama and 2 other days traveling to Shirakawago, finishing with an evening and a full day in Kanazawa? Or rather, just 1 day in Takayama, the 2nd day traveling via Shirakawa to Kanazawa, and 2 full days in Kanazawa?

Thanks for your replies

And a quick follow-up question: which neighborhood in Kyoto would you recommend for a family with two kids that’s also well-located?

Thanks again

And a quick follow-up question: which neighborhood would you recommend for a stay with 2 kids that's well-located in Kyoto?

Thanks again

Within a 1.5 km radius of the station. You’ll have access to all transportation—urban and suburban—a good number of attractions, and a plethora of affordable yet excellent restaurants offering all kinds of cuisines (Porta in the station’s basement, the eateries between the 9th and 11th floors, etc.)

Hi,

I’ve decided to go with the Pocket WiFi after all. But where should I have it delivered? My hotel is fine with it, but of course, they won’t take responsibility for any loss—or should I have it sent directly to Haneda Airport? Isn’t it a bit complicated to find the office where I’d pick it up?

Thanks

Thanks to everyone for your invaluable help with our trip. It was wonderful, fascinating, intriguing—basically, we loved it.

Special shout-outs to Tokyo: the Asakusa district (where we stayed) as well as Akihabara and Shibuya for various reasons. Our day in Takayama and the evening festival with the locals was amazing. Kyoto was truly fantastic, with the Gion and Higashiyama districts, the mix of kimono colors, and Fushimi Inari... Not to mention all the food: yakitori, ramen, sushi, takoyaki—our whole family loved it.

All we want is to go back someday to discover even more of this beautiful country and its incredibly respectful people (it’s so refreshing).

Could you tell us how your trip to the Japanese Alps went? And what did you prioritize? Thanks in advance!!