I had been wanting to visit Japan for…forever. Besides its unique shrines and temples, I love Japan’s beautiful wooden houses, delicious food, and mix of traditional and modern culture. With my husband being a die-hard anime fan, our son into Pokémon, Japan was top on our bucket list. This Japan kid friendly itinerary is not just a travel guide, it’s also our story of surviving exhaustion and disappointment while reaping the rewards of getting out there and experiencing the world.
Different from our Bahamas vacation, in which we basically showed up and enjoyed ourselves the whole time, visiting Japan was a lot more involved. We did a lot of research and spent days planning the itinerary. Still, we ran into unexpected situations, including our son having a complete meltdown in the most crowded temple in Kyoto.
So here is a look at how we prepared for our trip to Japan, a detailed 7-day itinerary that covers 3 Japan cities—Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka and tips for traveling with kids.
Table of Contents
- 3 reasons Japan is a great family trip destination
- Let the fun begin! Visiting 3 Japan cities in 7 days
- Japan Trip Day 1 – Shibuya at Tokyo
- Japan Trip Day 2 – Sen-so Ji, Skytree and Akihabara
- Japan Trip Day 3 – Tsukiji Fish Market, teamLab Planets, life-sized UNICORN GUNDAM Statue
- Japan Trip Day 4 – Bullet Train to Kyoto, Higashiyama District, Kamogawa River
- Japan Trip Day 5 – Fushimi Inari Shrine and Bamboo Forest
- Japan Trip Day 6 – Universal Studios
- Japan Trip Day 7 – Bullet Train back to Tokyo, shopping and more wandering around
- Japan kid friendly itinerary – accommodation, transit card, internet, money, reservation, and packing
- Tips for traveling in Japan with kids (Japan kid friendly itinerary)
- Wrap up
3 reasons Japan is a great family trip destination
Japan has a wide variety of sights, activities, and culture that make it fun to explore for the whole family. We love it for many reasons, and here are our top 3.
- From Onigiri (Japanese rice balls), to shaved ice, to delicate cuisines such as Sushi, Soba, Ramen, Okonomiyaki (cabbage pancake), Yakitori (meat skewer)…food in Japan was amazing. We loved everything we tried there. In terms of pricing, most meals we had were in the $10-$20 per person range. Tipping was not necessary. With the USD : Yen exchange rate reaching 1:160 in the week we were in Japan, we felt like we were living in a foodie’s paradise!
- Although there was sometimes a language barrier, almost everyone we encountered during the trip was courteous and made us feel welcomed. In the train station, we saw Tokyo commuters ubiquitously wearing black, navy or white, quietly reading on their way to work. Little kids in school uniform riding the subway by themselves. When my husband said our destination in (broken) Japanese, the elderly taxi driver started a conversation on road closures and kindly gave us a discount for the ride. The locals made our trip all the more pleasant.
- There is no shortage of fun activities for the kids. There are theme parks, museums, arcade games, animal cafes, and pedestrian shopping streets. In Japan, we were walking probably 20,000 steps every day. But the kids kept up (most of the time), because they always found exciting things to see or yummy food to eat during the exploration. And Universal Studios Japan is definitely a favorite for both kids.
Of course, there is the culture aspect. It’s fascinating how rich and multifaceted Japanese culture is. You’ve got to visit it to experience it yourself.
Let the fun begin! Visiting 3 Japan cities in 7 days
We landed at Haneda airport at 1pm after a 12-hour flight. To help adjust to the new time zone, we checked in to the rental apartment and made our way to the iconic Shibuya Scramble Crossing.
Access our Tokyo 3-Day Trip on Google Maps. This allows you to check transportation time, navigation info and reviews.
In our three day visit at Tokyo, we toured three different areas of the mega city–Shibuya for the neon-sign filled, hustle bustle cityscapes; Senso-ji Temple and the Asakusa district for its old world charm and vibrant pedestrian streets; and the futuristic Koto city to experience the most incredible interactive art, a busy fish market and modern shorelines.
Japan Trip Day 1 – Shibuya at Tokyo
Shibuya scramble crossing
Shibuya scramble crossing is one of these must-see tourist spots of a Japan trip. When we first came out of the subway station, we were greeted by the sight of hundreds of people crossing the streets from different directions all at once. It was quite dizzying.
There are different ways to explore Shibuya. Our favorites were the Pokemon Center, Loft (a 7-story department store for home goods and stationary) and just wandering around to take in all the cityscapes. We felt we were transported to a completely different world, a sharp contrast to the quiet Minneapolis suburb we were in just 13 hours ago.
Where to get the best views of Shibuya crossing
The buildings surrounding Shibuya crossing provide good vintage points to see the intersections from high above. Some of these, such as the Shibuya Sky needs reservation and can be crowded. We stumbled across the Pokémon Card Lounge on the 5th floor of the Shibuya Tsutaya building. For Pokémon fans, it’s a great way to escape the summer heat and play a few Pokémon games. If you’re not into Pokémon, the Share Lounge on 3rd floor is another option to chill and relax. On the weekday we went, it wasn’t too busy. We were able to get a window seat to take some Instagram -worthy pictures.
Dinner was at the popular Ichiran Ramen. Some say it’s overrated, but in my 20 years of making ramen noodle, it’s probably the best I’ve ever hard.
Ichiran Ramen is a small 22-booth restaurant. We loved the private seating with a bamboo curtain that gave us a glimpse of the kitchen. The rich, pork broth was so good, nothing like the packaged ramen noodle I cook at home.
If time permits, check out the Meiji Shrine (it has the famous sake barrels walkway), Takeshita Street and animal cafes in this area. Imagine hanging out with micro pigs, bunnies, hedgehogs, and even owls. Cuteness overload!
We were all pretty tired around 6pm on our first day in Japan, so we headed back early. Our son basically collapsed on the subway train and had to be piggybacked to the hotel. We had to carry him a few times during this trip. But we’d rather do that than messing up our new sleep-wake cycle. It can get really hard if you don’t adapt quickly to the new time zone.
Japan Trip Day 2 – Sen-so Ji, Skytree and Akihabara
We were up before dawn the next day and were ready to hit the ground running. One benefit of having jet lag was we could do fun activities bright and early to avoid crowds. Our main destinations for this day were Sen-so Ji–an ancient Buddhist temple in the northeast of Tokyo, Tokyo Skytree (the tallest building in Japan) and Akibahara (the anime hub).
Tip: we bought pastries and yogurt from a large grocery store near the exit of the Edogawabashi station. It’s a convenient way to get yummy breakfast at a super affordable price.
Sen-so Ji
Very few people were at the temple when we arrived. We tried “Omikuji” – fortune telling, “purified” ourselves with water, and entered the main hall to pray (the proper way to pray: bow twice, clap twice, bow once). This historic site had unique Buddhist statues and beautiful landscaping. It felt peaceful strolling around when few people were around early in the morning.
Best places to get Japanese sweets and souvenirs
What makes Sen-so Ji interesting, besides the traditional architecture, were the fun-filled pedestrian streets. The Nakamise-dori Street leading up to the Senso Ji temple was a quaint shopping street full of handmade arts and crafts, souvenirs, and confectionery. The Shin-Nakamise Street, perpendicular to the Nakamise-dori Street, was more contemporary, and had a ton of shops and high-rating restaurants. Finding treats was as simple as taking a stroll down the street.
The kids loved this kind of pedestrian streets. There was so much to see and always yummy sweets right around the corner. We tried a few local foods and loved them:
- Kakigori Shaved Ice at Saika Hanare
- Matcha Ice Cream at Yanagi Chaya
- Taiyaki, a fish-shape dessert with various fillings (red bean, matcha, chocolate, custard, etc.)
- Japanese style pancakes Okonomiyaki at Okonomiyaki Teppanyaki Asakusa Tsurujiro
A few other things to do in the Asakusa district:
- Kimono rental (we saw many people dressed in traditional Japanese garment)
- Rickshaw tour (ride on this man-powered vehicle to tour the area leisurely)
- Treasure hunt on the kitchen tools street Kappabashi (there were ceramic bowls, wood spoons/utensils, chef’s knives, and cookware)
- Shop popular OTC medicine and skin care products at Sugi Drug Asakusa
Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo Skytree is a 20-minute walk from Senso Ji. Pass the Taito city Sumida Park (a popular spot for watching cherry blossoms in spring), cross one of the bridges on Sumida River (don’t forget to take a picture of the Asahi Building, also referred to as the Golden Turd), go through rows of residential buildings, you will arrive at the footstep of the tower. Don’t take this route, I repeat, don’t attempt this, if you’re not used to walking long distances. Take the subway instead. We ended up with two grumpy campers after making it to the Skytree. They complained the entire way to the tower.
Tokyo Skytree had a 360 degree observation deck and a Pokémon exhibit titled “Pokémon and the Blue Sky Skytree ~ Shining Memories of You and Pokémon~”, which brought our son back to life. LOL. We had been to Seattle’s Space Needle and Chicago’s Willis Tower. Tokyo’s cityview wasn’t all that much different. But our son had lots of fun checking out the Pokémon displays and taking pictures in front of the photo props. Our Japan trip has really allowed him to geek out over Pokémon stuff.
Akihabara
In the afternoon, we headed to Akihabara, the center of amine, manga and electronics. This is another busy commercial area with lots of specialty stores and tall buildings, similar to Shibuya. Here you can browse countless figurines, toys and collectibles. I am not exaggerating when I said countless. Literally every building is covered by billboards and signs of anime characters. The stores, big and small, all sell an impressive amount of items, most of which I can’t name or recognize.
We spent some time at Don Quijote browsing a dazzling array of (more!) items and cooled off in the @Home maid cafe, a unique Japanese cosplay culture. Many tourists go to Akihabara just for its maid cafes.
It was my first time being served by female staff dressed up as maids. The kids played along and said they liked the soft drinks. Though I think it’s a somewhat awkward experience, so probably won’t try a second time.
Street food and roast beef
For the kids, the best part about Akihabara was discovering the most delicious candy coated strawberries (Tanghulu). It’s sweet on the outside, juicy and cool on the inside. An absolute delight on a hot summer day.
We also tried roast beef at Roast Beef Ohno Akihabara. The meat was thinly sliced and very tender. Paired with egg yolk, rice and some beer, it was absolutely divine.
Although lots of tourist guides say this is the most geeky, exciting neighborhood in Tokyo, if you’re not a huge anime fan, I’d say skip Akihabara. It is good for shopping anime merch and discounted electronics, but there are other parts of Tokyo worth exploring more in my opinion. Places such as Ghibli Museum, Imperial Palace, Meiji Temple.
So make this an optional spot, if you have limited time in Tokyo.
Japan Trip Day 3 – Tsukiji Fish Market, teamLab Planets, life-sized UNICORN GUNDAM Statue
Tsukiji Fish Market
On day 3, we woke up before 6am again and started our day early. While most stores and restaurants in Tokyo open late in the day like 10am or 11am (keep this in mind when planning your trip), the merchants in the famous Tsukiji Fish Market are in business even before dawn.
Strolling around the fish market and checking out its wide variety of food options was a fun experience. We tried marinated octopus, freshly squeezed lemonade, more shaved ice (mango flavor this time), more Matcha ice cream (you can probably tell it was HOT in Japan), oyster, and sashimi bowl.
At 8am there were already a lot of tourists. Almost everyone was either waiting in line to buy food, or was holding something delicious in their hands. It’s a great place to have a brunch before heading to other places for the day.
Note that the price in the market was higher than in other places. So pick wisely.
teamLab Planets
After an hour at the fish market, we had very full tummies and it was time to ride the Yurikamome elevated train to get to another highlight of our Japan trip–teamLab Planets. As we get closer to the museum, our train was high in the air passing some futuristic-looking buildings. Quite a change of scenery from the older part of Tokyo.
The teamLab exhibit was definitely one of my favorites of this trip. Every exhibit in the museum used one medium to communicate an abstract concept, be it light, water, reflection, flowers, AI generated images, etc. As we walked into each room, it was as if we were transported to some fantasy land and submerged by large scale arts. It challenged our senses.
Normally art exhibits are hard for kids to grasp. This one was so much fun, they were completely taken aback by the visual displays and wanted to stay as long as they could.
The kids loved touching everything and getting lost in each room.
Make sure to experience the arts with your own eyes. This is a rather unique experience.
Odaiba Island and Rainbow Bridge
In the afternoon, visit the popular entertainment and shopping district– Odaiba. It’s a man-made island in Tokyo Bay and is famous for its theme parks, a life-size Gundam statue, the Rainbow Bridge, and shorelines (you can see the downtown of Tokyo from across Tokyo Bay).
The kids enjoyed checking out the different merchandise stores, and saw the Gundam statue changed color at dusk.
If time permits, the theme parks are fun for the little ones: Tokyo Joypolis, Legoland Discovery Center. They even have a theme park on ramen.
After sunset, you can take amazing pictures of Tokyo skyline at night. Don’t forget to check out the Statue of Liberty in front of the Rainbow Bridge. (Did you know Japan has a replica of the Status of Liberty? I didn’t.) There are also lots of restaurants you can choose from to get a delicious dinner.
Japan Trip Day 4 – Bullet Train to Kyoto, Higashiyama District, Kamogawa River
Bullet Train to Kyoto
Tokyo was full of modern vibes and shops. On the 4th day of our Japan trip, we packed our belongings and transport to the quintessential, ancient capital of Japan – Kyoto.
Our shinkansen bullet train left at 11am. The two-hour train ride was a relaxing journey with great food (tip: buy bento boxes at the station ahead of time) and nice scenic views of the countryside.
Tip: the best place to see Mount Fuji is the window seat on the right hand side of the train, about 40 minutes after leaving the Tokyo station.
Right after we checked in to our hotel, we went straight to Higashiyama. It is a pedestrian-only shopping street with traditional Japanese wooden buildings and cobble stones. One of the most frequently visited parts of Kyoto.
Traditional Japanese Tea House
It was HOT. So our first stop was Kagizen Yoshifusa Honten, a Japanese tea house established in the Edo period almost 300 years ago. The menu was really simple with a few seasonal items. We ordered Kuzukiri (cold, jelly-like noodle) with brown sugar syrup, and iced matcha green tea. So refreshing and tasty.
The best part of this tea house was the serene atmosphere. It was so peaceful and charming that the kids immediately lowered their voice upon entering the front yard. The interior design also had this simple, elegant feel that calmed all of us down.
Higashiyama District
Walking in Higashiyama was a totally different vibe. The streets were crowded and full of tourists. Lots of shops lining up along both sides of the street.
Compared to the Nakamise-dori Street by Senso Ji though, the buildings here are more distinct. Some with stone sculptures in front, lanterns hanging, others with a full courtyard with bamboo trees. They’re wooden townhouses that functioned as both a residence and place of business.
Yasaka Koshin-do Temple
Kyoto is renown for its many shrines and temples (there are thousands!). In the Higashiyama District, you will most likely walk pass the Yasaka Koshin-do Temple. A small, obscured temple with thousands of wishes written on colorful cloth balls (pom-poms).
We saw the vibrant colors and walked inside to take a peek. It did not disappoint.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
On a busy day, walking up the steep hill to reach the Kiyomizu-dera Temple can be a workout. My tips are to make as many stops as the kids need and reward them with an ice cream or their choice of treats. There are lots to choose from–dango (colorful rice balls), Matcha cake, even chocolates shaped like snoopy…
When you finally reach the top of the hill and look down on the path, you will be amazed at the windy road in front of you and the townscape in bird’s eye view. If you’re brave enough, you can even climb to the top level of the main hall, on the cliff of Mt. Otowa. We didn’t make it all the way to the top, but I heard it’s quite spectacular.
Shops in this area close pretty early (around 5pm). So if you stay after most tourists have left, you can take twilight pictures of the machiya (merchant) houses with Yasaka Pagoda as backdrop. Just like on the postcards! You get to appreciate the charm of these traditional architecture and decorations without all the crowds and noise.
Pontocho and the Kamogawa River
In the evening, we took a taxi to Pontocho by the Kamogawa River.
Tip: although subway was a popular in Tokyo, bus was the main transportation in Kyoto. With the 4 of us traveling, it cost about the same paying bus fair vs. getting a taxi. And it was much faster.
Pontocho is a narrow ally west of the Kamogawa River, lined with restaurants. It’s a foodie’s paradise.
We put our name down for Sushi Tetsu Pontocho and went explore the ally. Some musicians were playing guitar in the nearby park. It was a chill and relaxing vibe.
After an hour wait, our table was ready. We got a private space with a great view of the river (felt super lucky with this arrangement). The kids were fascinated by the recessed floor (horigotatsu) and how they’re sitting in a hole on the ground. What was even more fascinating about our dinner was the food. My husband ordered sake, and I had plum wine, both went well with the delicious sushi we had. The price was also very reasonable compared to what we’re used to in the U.S.
After dinner, we took a stroll along the Kamogawa River in the breeze. Life was good…
Japan Trip Day 5 – Fushimi Inari Shrine and Bamboo Forest
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷大社) is my ABSOLUTE favorite in this Japan trip. The shrine was built to worship the Shinto god of rice. There are thousands of red torri gates lining up the path to the top of Mount Inari.
The shrine attracts international and local tourists. We even saw groups of Japanese students while we were there. It definitely gets VERY crowded during the day.
Thankfully, the higher we walked, the fewer people there were. After hiking for 30 minutes or so, there were barely any tourists and it felt magical passing the torii gates, watching the sun shining down, completely surrounded by nature. It was an enchanting feeling.
Tip: hiking up the steep stairs can be hard for the little ones. There is a mid-hill stop with a dessert place, where you can buy water, juice and shaved ice. Use it as a checkpoint to replenish and recharge.
It was all peaceful and calm until we walked back to the main entrance. That’s when my son realized he had left his beloved Pokemon toy Mew in the taxi. He just got it two days ago from the Pokemon center and he was heartbroken that Mew was all alone in a stranger’s car and he wouldn’t be seeing Mew again. He sobbed for 10 minutes, and finally calmed down after I asked him if he wanted to write a letter to Mew.
This was the second time this little guy had a major meltdown during the trip. The first time he was declined access to the animal café because he was not yet 7-year-old. This time, he lost his new best friend.
It was a rough time. Heat, fatigue, heartbreak…
An Alternative to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Our original plan was to spend the afternoon at the Arashiyama bamboo forest. It was on the other side of town, and we were exhausted from the extreme heat and humidity that day (it was over 95 F in Kyoto and the subway was blasting excessive heat warning in live TV). We didn’t want to risk getting heat stroke, and decided to check out a different bamboo forest near Ninenzaka.
This bamboo forest is a hidden gem behind the Ryōzen Kannon Temple. A rather small footprint. And a lot quieter than Ninenzaka. We snapped a few pictures without any other tourists in it.
This turned out to be a happy accident. Because I’ve heard the Arashiyama bamboo grove can get insanely crowded and hard to take good pictures.
After this stop, we were literally melting away under the sun. Grabbed a simple lunch and headed back to the one area with indoor air conditioning–downtown Kyoto with loads of shopping malls and department stores. Here we played claw machines, checked out electronics and gadgets, and most importantly, cooled off.
Tip: we waited till day 5 to buy sun umbrellas, man, it made a HUGE difference. If you’re going to visit Japan in the summer, gear up with cooling stuff–handheld fans, neck coolers, and UV-protection umbrellas.
That evening we went back to the hotel half dead and crawled into our beds. The next day, there was an important stop of our trip. We’d got to rest up before the big day.
Japan Trip Day 6 – Universal Studios
A Japan kid friendly itinerary can’t go without a day spent in an amusement park. Japan has so many to choose from. But the one we most looked forward to was Universal Studios Japan (USJ)
It is located in Osaka, only a 30-minute train ride from Kyoto. We left the hotel at 7am, during rush hour. The amount of commuters and tourists heading in the same direction as us was quite a scene. It extended all the way from the platform to the entrance of USJ. Here is a wide angle picture.
We arrived at the gate 8:50am. The entrance was already jam-packed.
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
Immediately after passing the gate, we beelined to Despicable Me Minion Mayhem. This ride is motion-simulated (the training pod moved up and down to mimic the real feeling of moving in the air) and has 4D effects. Even though it’s kids friendly, I got a bit motion sickness and the ride was heavily narrated. I’d rate this 3 star.
Flying Dinosaur
Next, Jurassic Park. The Flying Dinosaur is one of the highly rated rides in USJ. It gives you the experience of soaring through the sky. The biggest drop was 124 feet towards the ground, definitely not for the faint of heart. I’m not a thrill seeker, but my daughter and husband loved it. So this one gets a 4 star.
Snoopy’s Backlot Cafe
The park was getting busier as it got closer to 11am. We decided to grab a bite at the Snoopy’s Backlot Cafe, right across from the Flying Snoopy ride (warning: this ride is not a good use of time, we waited for more than half an hour and didn’t get very far because the Express Pass holders kept joining). The food, like everything we’ve tried in Japan, tasted AMAZING. Although it was the regular burgers and sandwiches, the packaging was the most adorable thing I had ever seen. I so very much wanted to bring the whole Snoopy house box back to the US.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
The highlight for the day was the The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter. After passing rows of pine trees, we entered the Hogsmeade village. Here we took pictures in front of the spectacular Hogwarts Castle, tasted butterbeer (yum!), cast our own spells, and rode the most thrilling 3D roller coaster ride (my absolute favorite).
Note: the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride has a minimum height requirement of 122cm (48 inches). And the sensory loaded ride is scary for young kids, so plan accordingly.
The walk inside the castle through Dumbledore’s office, the dungeon, the library, and seeing the talking statues and pictures was a cool experience in itself. I give this ride a 5/5.
Definitely try and get the express pass if you can, so you can experience the thrill of this ride.
Super Nintendo World
The biggest surprise of our theme park visit was the Super Nintendo World. After walking through a dark warp pipe, which really built up our anticipation, we entered a colorful, real-life rendition of the Mushroom Kingdom. It’s the most magical but also realistic re-creation of this imaginary world. Looking at the bright-colored mushrooms, gold coins, mystery blocks against the blue sky, I felt like I stepped inside a cartoon!
Note: download the USJ app and book a timed slot to enter the Super Nintendo World after you pass the gate.
You can also get the Power-Up wristband to collect coins and give yourself the full Super Mario experience.
Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge
The most popular region in USJ was Super Nintendo World, and the most popular attraction in Super Nintendo World was Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge. This ride had an estimated wait time of 2 hours. Unfortunately, express pass was sold out two months ago (crazy right?). So we had to brace the heat and a LOOOONG line to try this ultra popular ride.
There were some cool scenes to explore inside Bowser’s Castle, as we moved slowly in the never-ending winding queue. The displays and AC helped a bit, but still it would have been nice to have express pass.
The ride was interactive, much like playing a Mario Kart game. We put on an augmented reality (AR) lens attached to a bright red Super Mario helmet. It allowed us to see the 3D flying objects during the ride. Our task was to collect item blocks and throw shells at the bad guys. I was terrible at this game, as everything happened in lightning speed (it’s part of the fun). But if you’re a Super Mario fan, you will love it.
Detective Conan: The Escape
After dinner, we were taxed and decided to take shelter inside a theater and watch Detective Conan: The Escape. This is an escape room type performance. Although I didn’t understand Japanese, the crew did a good job acting out the scenes. And the immersive experience of solving a mystery was pretty cool. There was a big suspension (and thrill) as the floor collapsed right under our seat!
If we had the energy, we would probably stay till 9pm and explore more of USJ, such as riding Hollywood Dream and JAWS. But it was another hot day in Japan, we were ready to head back at 7pm. And yes, our son refused to walk on our way back and had to be carried again. I let him sleep on the chairs at the train station, while I scrolled through Instagram for a good 30-minute.
Japan Trip Day 7 – Bullet Train back to Tokyo, shopping and more wandering around
Do whatever you want day
On our last day in Japan, we returned to Tokyo and spent the afternoon hitting a few more spots.
Use this last chance before departure to check a few things off your Japan bucket list–having a tatami-style dining experience, visiting unique boutique shops, exploring the Imperial Palace on a paddle boat, or just wandering around and people watch. I spent the afternoon browsing kitchenware in Kappabashi Street, while my husband took the kids to check out more shops for branded merchandise.
A few options to consider for this free day:
- Spend the morning sampling yummy food at the Nishiki Market in Kyoto
- Try Ninjas training in Kyoto
- Take a family friendly cooking class
- If it’s not too hot, have a picnic in one of parks
Shopping in Japan
Japan is a shopping paradise. Besides the numerous merchandise of popular characters such as Hello Kitty, Miffy, Totoro…Japan has many options for skincare, cosmetics, electronics, gadgets, toys and many more.
I’ve heard some travelers buy a new large-size luggage in Japan just for their newly acquired goodies. Yes, you heard that right. Buy a luggage while you travel, so you can haul back all these the affordable and amazing local products.
Although I don’t shop often, I couldn’t resist splurging on a few things:
- Moisturizing face masks
- OTC medicine (roll-on shoulder pain reliever, insect bite anti-itch bottle, oral ulcer patch, etc.)
- Monthly planners + stamps and kawaii stationery
- Tenugui hand towels
- Nagatani-en (長谷園のかまどさん) clay pot for cooking rice
- TOJIRO chef’s knife
- Cookies and snacks (the Tokyo Haneda airport had full stock on many popular cookie brands)
Most of these were either not available in the US or were a lot cheaper purchasing from Japan. I also claimed duty free on some of the products and saved on tax.
Japan kid friendly itinerary – accommodation, transit card, internet, money, reservation, and packing
Why we splurge on a direct flight
My TOP tip for finding cheap international flights is to check Google Flights Date grid and Price graph for the best deals. I also recommend signing up for FareDrop. It’s a newsletter service you can subscribe to to get CHEAP flight info and travel hacks daily.
For us, we decided against the $850 Air Canada round trip ticket, which had a 50-minute layover time, and splurged on a direct flight to Tokyo. It saved us quite a bit of time and the 1pm arrival time made adjusting jet lag easier.
Accommodation
As to housing, we chose a two-bedroom apartment in Shinjuku, Tokyo based on online reviews and the price point (less than $150 per night when we booked). Hotels in Tokyo are notoriously small. Search “capsule hotel”, and you will see what I mean. The apartment we booked had two separate rooms (one with a bunk bed, another a full size bed), a laundry room/entryway, in a quiet neighborhood, and only a short 5 minutes walk from subway. It checked all the boxes for a family of four.
For Kyoto, we booked 3 nights at Kyoto Itoya (in the Shimogyo-ku district, near downtown) using points. It’s not as spacious as our Tokyo stay. But I liked how clean and convenient it was.
Besides the important questions of how to get there and where to stay, don’t skimp on the other aspects of the trip.
Here is a comprehensive list of Things You Should Do Before Heading to Japan painstakingly prepared by yours truly.
- Get passport and visa ready
- Set up a virtual Suica card on an Apple Wallet (this feature is not available on Android phone)
- Figure out internet access overseas
- Apply for credit card without foreign transaction fee
- Buy tickets for popular attractions
- Make restaurant reservations
- Have an itinerary for each day including destination, transportation and meal
- Pack light so you can travel with ease
Note: U.S. citizens do not need a visa to visit Japan for up to 90 days. Applying for a visa as a U.S. green card holder is also a straightforward process. Check here for details.
How to get around in Japan?
Subway is the best way to get around Tokyo. Although you can buy paper tickets at the station, it’s more efficient to get a Suica card (or a Welcome Suica) ahead of time. A Suica card is a prepaid transit card that works on trains, subway, and for purchases at stores in Japan. A Welcome Suica has the same functions but with a shorter 28-day usage period.
Due to global chip shortage, it was challenging to get ahold of a Suica IC card when we traveled. But there is a hack to get it to work right at our fingertips.
Follow these steps to set up a virtual card on Apple Wallet:
- Download the Suica card app
- Add Suica card to Apple Wallet
- Recharge within the app
If you don’t have an iPhone, make sure to buy one at the airport. You want one card for each traveler, including the little ones. This way, you can all get through the ticket gate at the same time without stopping by the vending machine. There was a LOOONG line to buy a Suica card at the airport, but that’s the only place we saw throughout the entire trip. Definitely plan ahead.
How to get internet access in Japan?
There are different ways to access the internet in Japan. What worked for us the best is to buy eSIM card from MobiMatter. It covered data plan for Google Map and all the other cellphone apps we needed for the trip.
How to pay for things in Japan?
While paying with cash is convenient, most stores in the cities accept credit cards. If you like to pay with your smartphone like I did, make sure the credit card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fee. The 3% surcharge can add up really quickly.
I recommend Apple Card. Among all the perks, its ease to apply/get approved, zero foreign transaction fee or annual membership, and the 3% daily cash are my favorites.
Tip: You will also need cash in a lot of mom and pop shops. Use a coin purse to hold all the loose coins in one place.
What attractions to book in Japan?
Because of how popular Japan is as a tourist destination, many popular attractions are sold out fast. Research on things you want to do and secure tickets in advance. Most tourist spots in Tokyo are about 30 minutes away from each other by subway, so don’t worry about having to travel back and forth a bit between two different activities.
Japan attractions worth looking into:
- teamLab Planets, teamLab Borderless
- Ghibli Museum
- Shibuya Sky, Tokyo Tower, or Tokyo Skytree
- Theme park admission, such as Tokyo Disneyland, Disney Sea, Universal Studios Japan
- Animal Cafe
- Tea Ceremony
- Guided Tour
- Shows, events or baseball game, sumo tournaments
As to food and dining, it is not uncommon having to wait in line outside a popular restaurant. Some restaurants are by reservation only. We were turned away from a Kaiseki (a traditional Japanese multi-course meal) restaurant in Kyoto. If we had checked its website before hand, we could have avoided this mistake (not fun, after dragging the whole family to the restaurant at the end of a long day).
Also, some activities have an age limit of 7-year-old and above. Before booking, make sure to check if there are any restrictions. We learned the hard way that refund was not possible if we cancel on the same day.
How to pack for a Japan trip?
There are two main reasons to pack light when traveling to Japan. One, Japanese hotels are so compact they usually don’t have any space for luggage. We could barely fit our larger-size luggage upright. Let alone when we needed to open it. It pretty much took up the entire landing zone we had in the hotel room.
The second reason is Japanese train stations do not always have escalators. When we took the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto, we had to reserve a spot specifically for our large luggage. We also didn’t realize we had to carry the heavy luggage up/down long stairs multiple times. It was quite the workout!
Japan has a luggage-forwarding service. But it requires a day or two for delivery. So it’s no good for our use, unfortunately.
Backpacks + carry-on-size rolling suitcase is the best combination for navigating Japan. If you need ideas for packing light, use packing cubes, they’re super handy. Also check out this video tutorial.
Tips for traveling in Japan with kids (Japan kid friendly itinerary)
Although there were lots of things to consider and plan, it was worth it to fly across the pacific ocean and immerse ourselves in a different culture.
Tips:
- Jet leg is especially hard for the little ones. Plan exciting activities upon arrival, so everyone can stay awake till it’s close to local bed time. Fresh air, food and the excitement of arriving at a new country all help alleviate the fatigue from jet leg.
- Be prepared to walk long distances. A little pick-me-up like “There is a very nice shaved ice place down the road!” or a reward of the kids’ choice (Gashapon, time for claw machine/arcade game) works well. It also helps to introduce the itinerary the day before and build up the excitement a bit.
- If you have to travel in the summer like us because of school schedules, stock up on water, take breaks, bring a sun umbrella + hat + handheld fan, and plan indoors activities for the afternoon.
- Teach the kids Japanese culture. Let the kids know local customs. Watch Studio Ghibli movies (my favorite is Ponyo). Learn a few words like “Arigatou” (Thank you very much) and “Sumimasen” (Excuse me). This way, they can get more out of the trip.
- Instead of rushing to see all the famous landmarks, be flexible and soak in each moment. Experience local culture at your own pace. Japan is a fascinating country, you will find hidden gems by simply slowing down.
Wrap up
We barely scratched the surface in this 7-day trip. The more we look back at these pictures and experiences, the more we are eager to go back. There is simply so much to explore in this amazing country.
I hope this post has been helpful. As always, feel free to leave your questions or comments below. I’d love to hear from you!
By the way, a few resources you may find useful:
- Video Family Adventures in Japan: Best Activities With Kids [Tips and Advice!]
- Video How to Spend 14 Days in Japan – A Japan Travel Itinerary by Allan Su
- Blog Japan With Kids: Don’t Plan a Family Trip Without Reading This! by Two Wandering Souls
- Blog 56 Best Things to Do in Japan for an Unforgettable Trip (2024) by Never Ending Voyage
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