Family trip to japan

[Climbles]

We are planning a trip to Japan for 14 days in October. My DH, DD (12) and DS (9).
We are flying in and out of Tokyo. Any recommendations for places to go, hotels to stay at etc?

Definitely go to a maid cafe (but be careful it's a cute one)
Ghibli museum is fantastic (watch a few movies first such as Totoro)
Kyoto on the bullet train
Gundam museaum & life sized Gundam at Diver City

@BookwormButNoTime - did you try any Habushu?

Tokyo. Book the digital Art Museum It's absolutely stunning and interactive. Book before you go though. Tickets sell fast

It used to be possible to buy a Japanese Railways pass in the UK (can't buy in Japan). It paid for itself in one trip from Osaka to Nagasaki. I bought it for a week and used it to do Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Nara, Himeiji. Also twice on the ferry to Awaji and to another island off Hiroshima (Miyajima, I think). Saved megabucks.

Tokyo's best attractions are Shibuya Crossing, Meiji Shrine, Tsukiji Fish Market, Akihabara, Tokyo Disneyland/DisneySea, and more ideas gowithguide.com/japan/tokyo. Consider staying in popular neighborhoods like Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Ginza, which offer convenient access to transportation, shopping, and dining options.

also don't miss the rockabilly's at yoyogi park (Harijuku end) on a Sunday afternoon - one of the best things we saw during our visit

The wholesale market of Tsukiji Market, which was also known as the "inner market" and was famous for its tuna auctions, closed on October 6, 2018 and moved to a new site in Toyosu where it reopened as Toyosu Market. Tsukiji's outer market with its many shops and restaurants did not close and remains in business.

Toyosu Fish Market: Full Guide Including the Tuna Auction | Tokyo Cheapo

I'm planning a trip to Japan but debating on whether to do it around Sept/Oct this year or March/Apr next year.

I would like to see the cherry blossoms in bloom hence why considering spring but it's not the end of the world if not.

Anyone able to advise on these dates? Thanks.

Anyone able to advise on these dates?

Sept/Oct can definitely see the colour change in the mountains. March/Apr cannot guarantee the cherry blossoms, because it only lasts for few days. But it really depends on where you are going, and climate change making it impossible to predict.

We are going in March-April next year. If you look online, they publish the date which the peak of the blossom season occurred - this year was 22/3 in Tokyo and 29/3 in Kyoto.

Is Japan a no-go in summer then due to weather?

I don’t do well in the heat and humidity so would consider Japan a no-go in the height of summer.

I went in early June once, which was a bit rainy and grey and warm but manageable but I wouldn’t want to be there in August.

If you’re ok with very hot and very humid then you’ll probably find a lot of things less crowded at that time of year as it’s generally not tourist season.

Thank you so much @Takoneko . I don’t do well at all with heat or humidity but as the kids are doing exams and then their proms, we can’t go till late-ish July. It’s probably also last chance for a family holiday like this with one going off to Uni in September.

Is there any way to minimise the impact of the heat, such as doing a cruise around Japan with day trips? Or visiting any cooler/windier places? Probably wishful thinking on my part: I just know they’re going to want to go anyway and I’ll be the one dying of heat not wanting to go outside 😥

I was considering going with a tour group as a bit bewildered as to how to start under my own steam. If we plan it ourselves, would someone be kind enough to give some guidance for an idiot? I am not keen on Hiroshima or spending much time in Tokyo. I would rather see rural Japan and stay in some traditional houses as well. Obviously some town and city thrown in.
where to stay, what sort of itinerary etc.

If this is your one time to go then I’d just go for it. I’ve not been to Japan at that time of year but did go to Taipei in August once, which is very hot and humid at that time of year. It was uncomfortably hot and I was a hot, sweaty mess for the whole trip but I still had enormous fun and it remains one of my favourite ever holidays. I know I spent a lot of time complaining about the heat at the time but what I remember now is the brilliant things I saw and did while I was there. You have to break up your day in air conditioned buildings and try to keep outdoors things to the mornings and later evenings but I wouldn’t say it ruined the trip entirely.

If August is the only time you can go then I’d still do it. If I had a choice, I’d avoid it, but if it was the only time I could go (which was the case with Taipei) then I’d say Japan is awesome enough to make it worth the uncomfortable weather. Most buildings and public transport are air conditioned, so it’s just the outdoors bits that are a problem.

We went in November and Kagoshima in the South was t shirt weather while it was snowing in Hakodate in the north. Kagoshima has a big aquarium which the kids might enjoy. I thought Hiroshima was also very child friendly, with lots of children and school groups visiting the Peace Park and plenty of origami cranes being made. We spent a lot of time practicing our poor Japanese on a sweet toddler there. Because of the islands, there are lots of ferry crossings; have a look at Solo Travel Japan on YT if you think the family might enjoy it. Also don't underestimate the attraction of loos with warm seats playing music and a vast selection of amusement arcades and vending machines.

We went in August, it was hot but not unbearable at all.

I’m so jealous my children are desperate to go to Japan to visit the ‘Mario’ theme park, it looks great fun! Hope you have a fantastic time 😊

We did similar - October too
We hired a car and drove from Tokyo to Mt Fuji area
V easy! And people you tell will think you're brave / crazy!!

We're hoping to go for 3 weeks, next Easter hols. We've been talking about going to Japan for (literally) years, and now we've decided next year will be it - coincides with our 20th anniversary and DTDs' 15th birthday.

I think we'll be looking for a specialist travel agent to help us with an itinerary. We love big cities and will definitely be spending plenty of time in Tokyo, but most of all are interested in the history, traditional culture, gardens and nature. And food most of all!

PPs have already said the obvious ones. Tokyo for modern Japan, Kyoto for old Buddhist/Shinto Japan.

For children, try Miyajima. Tame deer roam the little village streets and wander in and out of shops - they are seen as sacred and treated like friends and children by the locals. Totally tame and awesome for children.

Also, Hiroshima, I think is important to bear witness to. An educational experience and testament to the horrors of war and the powers of peace. An important education experience for everyne especially the young.

I am following this thread for a while as going to Japan is my dream trip and we are saving as a family for a while now.
I suffer from back pain and knowing that the trip is about 16 to 20h long from Europe I need to really look into this problem. I'm looking for the most comfortable plane seats we an afford. Did anyone travel in economy premium? Is it worth it? How much to can the seats recline?

I love the thread...so informative and exciting. Thanks for posting!

Amazing thread.
My DS is just finishing his GCSE in Japanese and we'd love to take a holiday there, considering next March/April.
Can anyone give me a rough idea of how much there trip cost?
We'd be looking to go for 2-3 weeks I think.
I can see flights alone are going to be pricey but we're considering it as a bit of a family trip of a lifetime kind of thing.

Go to Arashiyama! You get to climb a mountain and stand inside a big cage where they sell peanuts in shells and apple slices, so that wild monkeys including baby monkeys come to you and you feed them. Letting the monkeys roam free and putting the humans who feed them into the cage is inspired. If your DC love animals - I highly recommend it. There's also a very beautiful pirate ship you can sail across the lake there. and on the way back to the station you can buy chocolate filled Picacchu shaped donuts.

Kyoto is gorgeous - the Golden Pavilion and Fushimi Inari where the kids get to ring temple bells and gongs to make wishes, burn incense and write their wishes on tiny wooden fox faces which you tie to the trees to make them come true. and Nara is nearby where you get to feed rice cakes to deer. (You might be able to tell my DC loved the animal feeding experiences.)

The cable car over the sulphur springs is cool. You get off and see all these yellow bubbling soupy springs (it stinks!) and buy black boiled eggs (which taste quite nice) cooked in the sulphur.

Studio Ghibli Museum in Tokyo is lovely if they like Ghibli films. And the area down by the docks with the tiny statue of liberty and enormous robot figure.

We were in Tokyo for 6 days in April. My daughter (13) loved TeamLab, DisneySea, and wandering around Harajuku & Shibuya. And the Pokémon store. Ichiren Ramen was a big hit, as was a conveyor belt sushi restaurant.

I enjoyed a Cooking Sun Tokyo sushi course, and the temples. We didn't do pet cafés (I find them a bit unethical) or any of the very themed cafés. I'm sure the Pokémon cafe would have been a hit but I couldn't get a booking. I second the recommendation for the Japan Travel Reddit above, I spent a lot of time there!

We also spent 3-4 months learning Japanese on Duolingo before we left... I really recommend that, being able to recognise hiragana and kanji was really helpful, as was being able to say a few phrases in Japanese (sumimasen was probably used most often!)