Hi all! My wife and I are planning a trip for November. We will be bringing our daughter who will be 1.5 years old. This will be my wife’s first time in Japan. I’ve been once before to Osaka/Kyoto/Tokyo so I will be somewhat familiar with the areas we plan to visit. Obviously with the baby we will be limited in how much we can do but we plan to take it slow and day by day, and I’ve tried not to pack too much into any one day. So far the only thing we have booked are flights. Would love to hear any feedback or recommendations for our itinerary! We both love food, I mostly just enjoy seeing cool things and places, and my wife loves anything stationery related (pens, notebooks, stickers, stamps, etc.)
Overall the plan is to fly into Osaka, plan to spend about half the trip in Osaka/Kyoto area, bullet train to Tokyo, spend the remainder of the trip there and fly out from Tokyo. We plan to use Osaka/Kyoto/Tokyo as our main hubs to stay but are open to spending a night or two elsewhere if it makes sense to do so, and is not too far out of the way or difficult to get to with the baby.
**Day 1**
* In flight all day
**Day 2**
* Land in Osaka late afternoon
* Check into accommodation and hang around the area (any recommendations for best place to stay in Osaka? I was thinking around the Namba area.)
**Day 3**
* Osaka Castle
* Shinsaibaishi
* Dotonbori
**Day 4**
* Nara daytrip
**Day 5**
* Free day in Osaka
* Maybe Osaka Aquarium or USJ, but we’re not chomping at the bit to go there
**Day 6**
* We were thinking of trying to find an onsen or ryokan to stay at for one night around the area. Preferably one with a private open air bath within the room (I know those are rare and pricey in this area). Any recommendations? My research has led me to Sansuikan just outside Osaka or Sumiya in Kyoto. When we were planning this trip before the baby was in the picture I wanted to go to Kinosaki, but I’m not sure if it would be worth it with the baby in tow. Thoughts?
**Day 7**
* Kinkakuji
* Ryoanji
* Arashiyama, bamboo forest
* Any recommendations on where to stay in Kyoto? Was thinking close to Kyoto Station.
**Day 8**
* Fushimi Inari
* Nishiki Market
* Gion
**Day 9**
* Kiyomizudera
* Free day in Kyoto
**Day 10**
* Shinkansen to Tokyo
* Recommendations for where to stay? I know it doesn’t matter all too much since the city is well connected with the metro.
* Check in accommodation and settle in
**Day 11**
* Ikebukuro/Sunshine City
* Shinjuku
**Day 12**
* Asakusa
* Akihabara
**Day 13**
* Odaiba/Tsukiji (would like to do omakase if possible, any recommendations here?)
* Maybe teamlab planets?
* Ginza
**Day 14**
* Day trip to Yokohama, Kamakura
* Ramen museum
* Chinatown
**Day 15**
* Meiji Shrine
* Shibuya
**Day 16**
* Maybe Ghibli museum if possible? My wife is a big fan. I’ve heard mixed reviews of the place.
* Other than that no plans, free day in Tokyo
**Day 17**
* Free day in Tokyo
**Day 18**
* Flight home
Thanks everyone for your time and feedback!
1 comment
I don’t have partner or kids so adjust accordingly. Where you want to stay in Tokyo depends on your interests. I stayed in Tsukiji because I love sushi.
Ginza is next to Tsukiji. Don’t visit teamlab planets then double back.
In the same spirit, you will pass Yokohama from Kyoto to Tokyo. Consider doing a night there instead of double back on day trip?
Free days in Osaka is almost always better spent elsewhere. I would add it to Kyoto.