Recommendations Wanted! 21 Days based in Osaka with young children

Hi travelers!

My husband and I honeymooned in Japan in April 2018, we went Tokyo>Kanazawa>Kyoto>Osaka >Philippines. We had an amazing time and will be returning this December for 21 days. So WINTER!!! And Christmas/New Year before we fly back home to NYC. This time we’re doing the trip in reverse (sort of) and we’re bringing our twin toddlers who will be just about to turn 4 at by then. We only spent one day in Osaka last time and felt like we really would have liked more time to do some day trips and exploring there. Since we have more time, we’re open to adding a further city or two to our plans but haven’t narrowed them down yet.

Current plan:

Philippines (family)> Osaka homebase- Nara daytrip- Kyoto daytrip- possibly Kobe daytrip? Hiroshima?

I love a packed itinerary but my husband (and kids) like a much slower pace to enjoy themselves. So I’m trying to give us plenty of chill time to just enjoy each other’s company, some beautiful sites, and good food. Max one big activity per day- but hopefully we’re there long enough that we can do bunch at an easy pace.

Here’s a list of activities we’ve already pinned:

* Aquarium
* Tennoji Zoo/Park
* Kids Plaza Osaka
* Osaka Castle
* Nara Park
* Sweden Trimpark
* Dotombori Street Food
* Grand Front Osaka (lots of food options)
* Christmas Illumination!
* Fried Chicken Christmas
* New Year Shrine visit and fukubukuro
* Crab crab crab crab

Any activities that you just love? Big or small, ideally kid friendly.

Is there a city we overlooked that’s magical in the winter? (We don’t ski and we won’t be carrying heavy duty winter gear, but we do like snow.)

Also we have an Airbnb booked in the Shinsekai district. (And it has a kontatsu which sounds lovely.) We didn’t spend any time in this area last time but I liked that there are restaurants, supermarkets, and trains nearby. If anyone has any intel about the area pro or con that would be helpful!

Thanks everyone!