This subreddit has been so helpful for planning, thank you to all who post and share their insights!
Here is our one last hurrah trip to Japan with a toddler (1.5 years old) before baby #2. February 2024. This is our third Japan Trip, we have been to Tokyo and and Kyoto twice before. Went to Hakone and Mount Koa as well previously. Would love to hear any opinions or suggestions! Any food places you think we should hit up would love to hear it! We love Japanese food. We appreciate well designed spaces, visiting creative coffee cafes, fruit parlors, ryokans, and just the overall aesthetics of Japan. We aren’t huge anime fans anymore but we do love Studio Ghibli. Have already visited the museum and do not have plans for the park on this trip. We have no interest in Disney or the Nintendo theme park. Partner loves vintage stuff especially watches (hence Nakano Broadway). I just want a vintage Sailor Moon alarm clock for nostalgic purposes.
Day 1 – Arrival
Flying in and arriving at 4pm. Check into hotel located in Conrad Tokyo. Sleep, or entertain toddler, or take turns doing both. We booked a late checkout option so we have the option of sleeping in late.
Day 2 – Izu Peninsula
Take the train to Atami. Rent car to drive to Ryokan Sagasawakan in Izu. Rest, bathe, and eat. Check out surrounding Izu area if have energy.
Day 3- Izu Peninsula
Check out of ryokan (only had one day availability unfortunately…) and leave luggage at next ryokan Shirakabe. Go to Amagi Tunnel. Drive to check out Kawazu cherry blossoms (hopefully they will be blooming…). Seven waterfalls hike (read online it is easy potentially for little ones).
Day 4 – Izu Peninsula
Drive to check out Capybara onsen at Izu Shaboten Zoo, Jogasaki Coast, drive back to atom to take bullet train to Kyoto. Check into Cross Hotel.
Day 5 – Kyoto
Kyoto Train Museum + Aquarium. Consider going to a restaurant at Umekoji Potel or the Nasukamo hot pot buffet for lunch (both near museum) but open to other suggestions!
Day 6 – Kyoto
Check out of Cross Hotel. Check out Kitano Tenmengu Plum Blossoms. I think this is the day of the festival which we are not planning on attending but I am hoping the temple would still be open to the public. Check into Shiraume.
Day 7 – Kyoto
Check out of ryokan. Explore maybe one more temple in Kyoto that is toddler friendly or walk around Gion district. Take Shinkansen in the late afternoon. Check into Conrad Tokyo.
Day 8 – Tokyo
Ginza day – Itoya, Muji, Wako Tea Salon. Hopefully eat at Ginza Hachigo. Reservations at Mantensushi (babysitters arranged).
Day 9 – Tokyo
Go to Hanegi park to view plum blossoms. Try to get a seat at Kaiten Sushi Ginza Onodera. Walk around the surrounding area. Tokyo Toy Musuem. If extra time —> Walk around Shinjuku Gardens or walk around Shibuya or Harajuku. Dinner at Den, babysitters arranged.
Day 10 – Tokyo
Check out of Conrad Tokyo, check into Sakura Edo No Mai in Asakusa. Check out Gotokuji Temple, Senso ji, in the morning. Koffee Mameya. Hat coffee stand for latte. Afternoon: Tokyo Sky Tree. Dinner at Imahan Ginza.
Day 11 – Kamakura
Day trip. Zenirai Temple, Shopping Street, Big Buddha. I am assuming this is probably all we will have time for with a toddler. Would love to check out enoshima if there is time (shrine, bell, cave etc). Was thinking about possibly converting this into a one night stay in Kamakura.
Day 12 – Tokyo
Daikenyama / Ebisu / Meguro neighborhood. We loved this area last we were here but did not get enough time. Walk around, Eat. Yellow Company Curry for lunch?
Day 13 – Tokyo
Teamlabs Borderless in the morning.
Lunch in Azabu nearby, I was thinking Bistrochick only because I love uni pasta.
Nakano Broadway afternoon.
Day 14 – Tokyo / Leaving
Check out Darumas in Daruma Festival. Leave for flight in afternoon.