I’m (32f) going with my kiddos (will be ages 11 and 13) around October.
We don’t like mega crowds so are okay with skipping some main attractions if we can see something similar elsewhere. We don’t have any must-eat at places just food we’d like to have (takoyaki, ramen etc)
I like:
Stationery
Books
Anime/manga
Games
Food
My daughter likes
Cute stuff
Clothes fashion (she wants a yukata
Anime/manga
Games
My son likes:
Anime/manga
Games
Food
Sports (basketball)
Day 1- Tokyo
Arrive
Eat, sleep
Day 2- Osaka
Early train to Osaka
Osaka Aquarium
Himeji Castle (half day)
Dotonbori later in the day
Day 3
Day trip to Kyoto
Gion
Pokémon center
Day 4
Day trip to Nara
See temple and deer
Day 5
Stationery shop
Leave for Takeyama
==Maybe==
Pokémon center in Osaka
Sky building
Day 6- Takeyama or Hida
Relax
Onsen
Day 7
Relax
Ropeway
Day 8
Relax
Leave for Yokohama
==maybe==
Shirakawago
Day 9- Yokohama
Fluffy pancakes breakfast
Chinatown lunch
Cup noodle museum
Leave for Aomori
Day 10- Aomori
Hakoda ropeway
A-factory
Nebutta museum
Day 11
Day trip to Hakodate
Mt. Hakodate
Goryōkaku tower
Day 12
I don’t know
Leave for Tokyo
==maybe==
Mt. Osore
Day 13- Tokyo
Harajuku
Meiji
Daiso
Animal Cafe
Stationery shop
Day 14
Day trip Kamakura
Kōtoku-in
Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū
Hokokuji Bamboo Forest
Beach
==maybe==
Enoshima
Day 15
Tattoo
Asakusa
Akihabara
Bookstore
Day 16
Pokémon center/shop
Arcade
Day 17
Leave
==maybe==
Tokyo tower
A zoo
Gardens
Ikebukuro
3 comments
If you decide on a Zoo, Ueno Zoo is cheap and well worth your time.
Unless you are renting a car or doing a day tour trying to get to Osorezan from nearly anywhere is a public transit nightmare. From Aomori it involves I believe 2 train lines and a bus. Heck, I am looking to go this Summer and trying to figure out the best location to cut down on the round trip car trip and I am still getting it taking 2+ hours one way.
Since you are mentioning getting a tattoo, if you already have one, that is really going to limit the onsen in the Okuhida/Takayama region that will allow you entry unless you are using a private bath. Also unless an adult male is going with you, your son is going to have to go to the onsen alone unless again you have a private in room onsen or a rental onsen for the family.
If you’re looking for something to do on the way back from Hakodate think about Matsushima.
Sometime in October is when they close the ropeway in Hakodate for maintenance. I was there that day. Hakodate was really pretty boring. I did enjoy Onuma Park though.
Yokohama, for traveling purposes, is Tokyo in all but name. So I’d say group it at the end or the start.
Day 2 might be a little tough. Himeji is a bit outside Osaka.
Day 5 – you mean Takayama in Gifu prefecture( and maybe Shirakawa-go) I suppose? Careful there Takeyama is a different place.
Is Aoyama and Hakodate a must for you? It’s a pretty far journey from the usual places. You could instead do more time in Gifu or around Tokyo. E.g. Chiba or make stop around Hakone/Atami/Near Mt. Fuji