Hi folks, we’ve been to Japan before (1 month in 2016), and finally managing to go back with our kiddos (will be 5 and 3) from April 29-May 18
Both kids are chill and good travelers/sleepers/eaters and champing at the bit to ride the “fast trains” and see lots of animals, so I am obliging, lol. Husband and I are on separate flights, due to award travel points.
Looking mostly for more cool kid friendly stuff to have on the list (not a to do list but a “are we nearby/can we check it out possibility list”). We’re hitting the tail end of Golden week and know it’s going to be kinda nuts. We have a long list of restaurants already made/pinned on google maps, so we’ll just hit whatever we are close to/isn’t crazy busy, and convenience stores. Kiddos will eat the basics that Japanese restaurants offer (rice, udon, ramen, karaage, teriyaki beef and shrimp tempura), so we are at least set on that front and they also like fruit, so we’ll see we can track down/afford that’s in season.
We’re also trying to figure out our best Train tickets/pass options. there’s about a $340 difference between the cost of all our shinkansen trips and the cost of a 14 day JR pass, and there’s a mix of regional passes we \*could\* use. Also, can get the 3 day subway tickets from Keisei for Tokyo. Decisions, decisions.
Husband and I are one-baggers, so travelling with 1 40L backpack each, collapsible stroller (GB pockit, 50 lb weight limit w carry tote bag), child carrier ( Beco Mesh, 60lbs weight limit (fits in stroller basket/stroller tote bag too) (so, in the event both kids are exhausted, one kid can be in stroller and the other can be in beco carrier) plus mini backpacks for kiddos/collapsible tote bags for day stuff. I’m planning on bringing our beach picnic blanket, in anticipation of frequent park stops and japan’s lack of benches.
If both kids are tired, I push one in stroller and hubby carries the other in the beco, and 3 year old naps in stroller without issue. Sadly can’t recommend the gbpockit if you’re a tall parent (hubby is 6′), the handles are kinda low and you have to hunch down. I walk 10-15K steps for my day job. Currently going on 3x weekly long walks with kiddos to “train” them up and will try to do more once the weather improves.
**Day 1** (April 29)
Arrive in Narita with both kids late afternoon, take Keisei skyliner into the station just before Ueno, schlep 10 minutes to hotel on edge of Ueno Park (Landabout Tokyo). Probably collapse and sleep. Or raid a convenience store for snacks, then collapse and sleep.
**Day 2** (April 30)
Chill day in Ueno park – zoo & one of the museums. Hubby flies into Narita, arrives mid-afternoon. May or may not hit up nearby bathhouse/sento.
**Day 3** (May 1)
Shinkansen to Osaka. Husband transfers trains and takes kids to Anpanman museum in Kobe while I go to Itami airport to pick up Rental car (only affordable booking we could find). Drive from Itami to Anpanman museum (about 1hr). Pick up husband and kiddos, drive to friend’s place on Awaji Island (Fukara). Maybe might stop at Parchez on the way down, IDK. Will have international permit for both of us.
**Day 4-5** (May 2-3)
Awaji island….. Not totally set on which dates to do what, but am planning to drive over the bridge and walk to the observation point on the bridge to watch Naruto whirlpools, go to Akashi-Kaikyo Government Park (and all the playgrounds & botanical gardens), Parchez House Of Scents, Awaji Farm Park/English Hill, plus tooling around the big park near our host’s house.
**Day 7 (May 4)**
drive to Imabari (2hrs), return rental car, lightly explore imabari/chill in a park or on a beach somewhere. Probably the beach in front of Sunrise. Stay one night in sunrise hostel (still waiting to nail down booking/have a backup booking already).
**Day 8** (May 5)
Forward luggage to hotel on Ikuchiijima. Rent bicycles from Imabari terminal. 2 adult bikes (1 with child seat) and child bike, or see if they will rent us a mamachari that’ll fit both kids (I’ve heard anecdotes that they will, but cannot find actual listings). Slowly explore Oshima & pirate playground. Stay in hostel on Hakatajima.
**Day 9** (May 6)
Explore Omishima & take ferry to Rabbit Island. Stay in nicer Hotel on Ikuchijima. Swap out fresh clothes from luggage if needed.
**Day 10** (May 7)
Forward luggage to hotel in Osaka. See how far we can get from Ikuchijima hotel to Onomichi. If 5 year old is too tired or biked out, will take the bus and return bikes early. 3 year old LOVES being in bike seat (we bike commute daily at home), so don’t see him getting tired of it.
Bus to Shin-Onomichi, take Shinkansen to Osaka hotel. Or ferry to Mihara, then shinkansen to osaka. If she makes it all the way, great, but if not, we have several “bail” options in terms of ferry crossings and buses compared to going in the other direction. Still deciding on which JR pass to buy, as this sort of flexibility will make the price worth it. Any recommendations? Thinking Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass. Or might just buy the tickets straight and get a 3 day Kansai pass. IDK.
**Day 11** (May 8)
Kaiyukan Aquarium / environs.
**Day 12** (May 9) (want to note that we did 13 days in Kyoto on our last trip, with several day trips).
Arashiyama – Monkey park, bamboo forest, etc.
**Day 13** (May 10)
Nara or something else in Osaka.
**Day 14-16** (May 11-13)
Shinkansen to Nagoya. One day at Ghibli Park, One day visiting different friends outside of Nagoya. or they might decide to come to Ghibli Park with us. Nagoya is kinda up in the air. It sounds like the Toyota plant tours are suspended, so I’m mildly bummed about that. Dunno if they’d be toddler friendly anyways.
**Day 17** (May 13) Tokyo is flexible, this might get rearranged depending on when I can get Ghibli museum tickets. We weren’t able to go to Ghibli musuem on the last trip due to it being closed for renos.
Train to Tokyo. Stay in same hotel (Landabout). Chill in Ueno park or wander around eating.
**Day 18** (May 14)
Playground Deep Cut in Ota and Shinagawa Cities – Start with Haginaka park, then Peace Forest Athletic Park (hell, I’m excited about this one), then maybe shinagawa children’s adventure park or aquarium, depending on energy levels.
**Day 19** (May 15)
Ghibli Museum . Inokashira Park, Shirohige’s cream puffs.
**Day 20** (May 16)
Odaiba – Teamlab Planets, then Small Worlds or Kidzania.
**Day 21** (May 17)
Sunshine City, possibly Shibuya crossing in the afternoon to crowd watch.
**Day 22** (May 18)
Fly Narita – YVR.
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