[Itinerary Check] Looking for some advice for 24 days in April, family oriented (couple and 2 school-aged children)

4 comments

1. > Sakura season

   With an April 7 start you are going quite late in the season. “New normal” seems to be the last week of March for Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto, although the definition of “normal” does not seem to have been updated, so years are described as “early” more often than not. This means you need to be VERY flexible and focus specifically on the places with late blooming cherry blossoms. Likely choosing between sites with sakura and the most famous sites which likely do not have meaningful sakura anymore.

   For example (using dates from n-kishou website): this past year Philosophers Path peaked on 3/26, which means that on 4/10 (15 days later) leaves have sprouted, petals have fallen, and it’s not great viewing anymore. Ditto Osaka castle (3/28), etc.

2. If your kids like dinosaurs at all, there’s a really cool museum in Fukui that’s an easy day trip out of Kanazawa. It’s worth the detour. They have a tour there that will bus you out to the actual dig site, which is why there’s a dinosaur museum out there.

   It also includes digging for fossils (read: break apart rocks that were probably from their discard pile), so expect to carry small rocks with you for the rest of the trip, because if your kids don’t find fossils (they will), they will *find fossils for you.* Basically each person can take home one fossil smaller than a size of a fist provided that it’s not something significant. Most people found leaves and snails. I was just there to see the dig site, so I was aimlessly breaking a large rock open, just to see if I could. To my chagrin, it actually had leaf fossils inside, but I ended up bringing home the one the staff found for me. (I had a nice chat with them when they were worried I wasn’t finding any fossils- all the other guests at that time slot were families with small children.)

   The ninja temple in Kanazawa didn’t speak any English when I went, but the binder they handed me seemed pretty close to the script of the tour. (I speak enough to get the gist of what they were saying, which was good because they did not stop at places until he same order as the book.). I ended up making the reservations myself, but I got my hotel to dial for me. It is by tour only, so make sure to book one. I was able to get a slot on the morning of.

   Kenrokuen was pretty. The 21st century museum of modern art is nearby and you can see some of the pieces outside- they’re pretty great photo ops. (I’m actually stopping by Kanazawa on an upcoming trip just to go there again- it’s a pretty cool museum if you’re into modern art.)

   There is no way that you’ll make it to Nagashima spa land and anywhere else in the same day. I liked it and the lines for everything except the largest coasters were pretty short. I’ve heard good things about he science museum, but I had a cold the day I planned to see it, so I ended up hanging out in my hotel room watching tv. (It was on separate trips, each time I only had one day in Nagoya.)

3. Hi!

   I hope this is OK to say.

   I think USJ as a part day visit, Fuji Q Highland as a part day visit and Nagashima Spa Land as a part day visit are choices, but are really odd choices.

   For USJ, generally you want to go as early as possible unless you have specifically bought express passes with late times for everything cause the later it gets in the day the longer the lines get

   For Nagashima Spa Land. The park has shorter hours than you would think and it’s located a good hour south of Nagoya. I believe the Outlet Center and I know Yuami shima (the onsen part of Nagashima Spa Land) have longer hours, but I’m not sure if that is your goal? Nabana no Sato is great and its light up should still be going on in April, but it’s a good 15-20 minutes by bus from Nagashima Spa Land. ‘The newish Ghibli Park is also like an hour from Nagoya but not in the same direction as Nagashima Spa Land, so you will find yourself having to go back to Nagoya for transfers.

   Unless you can teleport, you still have to get from Nagoya to Kawaguchiko, and then you want to see Lake Kawaguchiko and Fuji Q? I think that will be hard.

   Also please be aware, both Fuji Q and Nagashima have age limits on top of height limits on many of the coasters. There are upper boundaries, so no 60 year olds and lower, and I want to say 10 is the cut off, so make sure you are prepared that your 7 year old can’t go on say Steel Dragon 2000 because they are 7.

   I like Kiyomizudera, but you have it on April 10th and April 12th. I don’t think it needs 2 days.

   Ginkakuji makes sense to try to do when you do the Philosopher’s Path.

   Ginkakuji, Kinkakuji, Fushimi Inari AND Nara all on one day sounds exhausting and not a lot of fun. I hope you are planning to use some cabs.

   Book your Takayama hotels early, cause they do fill up. Look up train times from Toyama to Takayama if you plan to take the train.

   Kamikochi usually opens in mid April, it just will be really cold.

4. Hi! Just my 2 cents, we (2 adults 2 8yos)are heading to kansai region end of Nov. I am finalizing my plan and here are some comments:

   1. USJ. My kids are super excited about this (particularly SNW) which inspire the whole Japan trip. We will be there for a Full day with express pass. Hence, half a day there seems to beat the purpose unless you are not going for the rides? It all depends on the interest level of your kids though 🙂

   2. Kyoto Nara day
   I have one day planned for Fushimi inari in the morning and kiyomizudera (and the streets) in the afternoon. Probably tiring enough? I see that you have kiyomizu for both 10th and 12th though. Maybe Fushimi + Nara or Fushimi + pavilions?
   At the moment, we are skipping the pavilions.
   I have Nara for half day for another day with leisure pace.

   Enjoy your trip!