First time to Japan with husband and two kids (almost 6 and 9) in April 2025. We'll be with a few other family members and will meet up with them here and there.
Caveat: We're not super into temples & shrines but the kids are really into nature and animals. I've omitted mentioning of meals with a few exceptions.
Day 1 (4/6 Sun)
Arrive at HND in the afternoon, a 14-hour flight
Check in at a hotel in Shibuya or near Tokyo Station (was told by a friend that Shinjiku would suck up too much time navigating the station)
Eat, rest
Day 2 (4/7 Mon)
– Ueno Park, or or Ghibli Museum if we can get tickets
Harajuku and Takashite streets
Shibuya Crossing + Shibuya Sky
Day 3 (4/8 Tues)
– Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden for cherry blossom if in season
Lunch at the Ninja experience restaurant near Tokyo Station
Character Street
Ginza shopping
Back to the hotel to put the kids down (a family member can watch them)
Adults – Omoide Yokocho and Gold Gai
Day 4 (4/9 Wed)
Hanayashiki amusement Park
Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Shopping Street
Optional: Asakusa Rickshaw Tour, 30 minutes
Back to hotel, drop off kids
Adults-only Michelin dinner TBD
Day 5 (4/10 Thurs)
(Mario) Street Kart Racing, adults only
Odaiba / Diver City for TeamLab Borderless Planets, Tokyo Joypolis, etc.
Day 6 (4/11 Fri) Day Trip to Izu
Izu Shaboten Zoo for capybara onsen and feeding
Mount Omuro
Komuroyama Ridge Walk Misora & Komuroyama chairlift
Izu Granpal Park – Granillumi Illumination in the evening
Day 7 (4/12 Sat): Travel from Tokyo to Hakone
Ship main luggages from Tokyo to Kyoto and bring a smaller luggage to Hakone?
Afternoon arrival and check in at ryoken w/ osen
Hakone Kowaki-en Yunessun hot springs
Day 8 (4/13 Sun):
Hakone Shrine
Lake Ashi Cruise and Ropeway to Owakudani
Continue to Sounzan and take the cable car down to Gora and back to the hotel
Relax at ryokan
Day 9 (4/14 Mon): Head for Kyoto
Open Air Museum in the morning
Train to Kyoto with afternoon arrival, check in at hotel near station
Pontocho Alley & river walk w/ dinner
Day 10 (4/15 Tues)
Optional: Nishiki Market in the morning
Hanamikoji, Ninenzaka, Sannenzaka & Higashiyama streets (note: Starbucks)
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
– Optional: Yasaka Shrine: Visit Yasaka Shrine
Minipig Cafe
Fushimi Inari Shrine at 5ish? We're not morning people
Day 11 (4/16 Wed) – Universal Studios or a day trip to Miyama??? We would only consider USJ if we land express passes that gets us into Nintendo. If Miyama, we’d try the 3-hour experience with a local family
Day 12 (4/17 Thurs):
Train in to Osaka
View the Osaka Castle from the outside
Optional: Kema Sakuranomiya Park if it's still cherry blossom season
Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori
Hozenji Yokocho
Shinsekai in the evening
Train back to Kyoto
Day 13 (4/18 Fri)
Monkey Park Iwatayama
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
– Optional: Visit Tenryu-ji Temple.
Otagi Nenbutsuji -> Adashino Nenbutsuji -> Saga Torimoto street.
Back to hotel to rest
Animal cafe i.e. Cat Cafe Utanekodo
Day 14 (4/19 Sat)
Train to Tokyo
Flight out at ~6pm
by Fastformula