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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Family trip to japan

161 replies

Climbles · 29/01/2023 18:05

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?

OP posts:
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5
Takoneko · 13/06/2023 20:19

@jynnerso I’m also looking for just shy of 2 weeks next March-April. We’re planning to use Osaka and Tokyo as our bases. I know most people choose Kyoto as their base in Kansai but Osaka is more my vibe and I know Kyoto will be heaving as we’ll be there for the cherry blossom season. I also didn’t want to be changing hotels every couple of nights so decided to go for two main bases rather than trying to fit in too many places.

At the moment, I think that it’s looking like the rough budget will be as follows.

I was expecting flights to be £800-1200pp but think it may actually end up slightly more than the top end of that. I’m budgeting up to £1500pp now. We want to fly into Tokyo and out of Osaka rather than travelling back and forth during the trip.

I think Tokyo accommodation will be up to £650pp, Osaka accommodation roughly £350pp .

I’m then expecting about another £1200pp for expenses (travel, food, entrance fees and activities), although we could probably bring that down a bit if we wanted to go for cheaper activities, but I have some pricier things that I want to do. We plan on visiting USJ in Osaka and Disneyland and Disneysea in Tokyo, which are all around £55 entrance each. We also plan on doing a couple of coach day tours whilst we are there (Kyoto and Nara from Osaka and Mt Fuji from Tokyo.) They will be about £100 each. I know there are cheaper ways to see those things but I’m keen to have some days with less walking so that we can rest our feet a bit and just be taken to the places we want to see.

So, all in, I think the holiday will be in the region of £3500-£4000pp depending on what happens to the exchange rate and flight prices between now and next year.

WhichSpoon · 14/06/2023 21:28

Peachy2005 · 11/06/2023 13:05

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 😥

We're in the same boat, we had planned our trip for Easter time a couple of years ago but it was cancelled due to covid. Now I have one doing A'levels, another GCSEs, and one in year 7. So we're heading this August instead. I am worried about the heat and humidity, but we might never get an opportunity again for such a big family holiday, so decided to hope for the best!

Peachy2005 · 15/06/2023 17:05

@WhichSpoon That’s great that you are finally getting to go. Did you put the trip together yourselves or use an agency at all?

WhichSpoon · 15/06/2023 17:39

@Peachy2005 we used an agency, Holiday Architects, it is costing a fortune but we didn't really know where to start ourselves, I don't know if it would have been cheaper to organise independently or not, probably, but far less stressful this way. They've organised all accommodation, flights, transfers and train journeys, plus some tours and activities.

swedex · 15/06/2023 18:03

Gosh I just want to go! My daughter and husband love all things Japanese so a trip is definitely on the cards within the next few years.
What is it like over Xmas and new year, we get three weeks off then so wondering whether that would be a good time to go?

FeltCarrot · 16/06/2023 09:04

We are planning to go next March with our adult DC. We used some travel websites to get an idea of what would be doable in 2 weeks. So we are planning to fly in to Tokyo, bullet train to Hiroshima then to Osaka/Kyoto.

girlswillbegirls · 16/06/2023 12:53

I am keeping an eye to see if anyone responds you @swedex. Xmas is also a consideration for the same reason you pointed out. I wonder if it would be a good season.
Enjoy @FeltCarrot! March is supposed to be fantastic. Would love to hear all about your experience on the bullet train to Hiroshima.

Nofixedabodewell · 17/06/2023 07:08

Inside Japan is a very good agency for organising trips or group tours. They get excellent reviews.

gettingolderbutcooler · 17/06/2023 07:43

Following!

NeverendingCircus · 17/06/2023 09:59

Nofixedabodewell · 17/06/2023 07:08

Inside Japan is a very good agency for organising trips or group tours. They get excellent reviews.

I totally second this. They are brilliant. Fairly priced, unbelievably knowledgable and unlike any other tour company - they just sort out what you want to do, whether with a guide or as solo travellers.

LondonMummer · 17/06/2023 15:57

Great to hear about Inside Japan. I'm about to get them to help plan a family trip next April (we already have flights).

I'm a relentless researcher/travel blogger and always plan trips myself but having someone advise us on how to get the best of Japan in a fortnight and booking things like Studio Ghibli for us feels like it would be worth it.

Any tips for the best of what they planned/organised for any of you?

jynnerso · 17/06/2023 22:09

Thanks Takoneko - all good benchmark info for my preliminary planning.

TokyoBouncyBall · 18/06/2023 16:14

@LondonMummer We booked with Inside Japan a few years ago. They were brilliant, and send you over with tailor made guides including how to get to your hotel and so on. Cannot recommend them too highly.

The best thing they did for us was get us a guide on almost the first day who was a lovely Japanese lady who showed us the basics like how to use the subway and how to behave in a temple. But also make sure they book you into an amazing ryokan at some point too. And yes, they got us tickets for both the Ghibli Museum and Universal Studios too. But they really listen and work out what is best for you. For example we were away for 3 weeks, so wanted self catering in the middle so that we could do our washing!

The one thing I will say is that they do try to pack a lot in to the point of over-scheduling you - so we cut one suggested destination out of our trip, and left a few days clear to choose what we wanted to do. Because some of the most fun we had wasn't in destinations as such but odd Japanese pound shops and food markets.

LondonMummer · 18/06/2023 16:15

TokyoBouncyBall · 18/06/2023 16:14

@LondonMummer We booked with Inside Japan a few years ago. They were brilliant, and send you over with tailor made guides including how to get to your hotel and so on. Cannot recommend them too highly.

The best thing they did for us was get us a guide on almost the first day who was a lovely Japanese lady who showed us the basics like how to use the subway and how to behave in a temple. But also make sure they book you into an amazing ryokan at some point too. And yes, they got us tickets for both the Ghibli Museum and Universal Studios too. But they really listen and work out what is best for you. For example we were away for 3 weeks, so wanted self catering in the middle so that we could do our washing!

The one thing I will say is that they do try to pack a lot in to the point of over-scheduling you - so we cut one suggested destination out of our trip, and left a few days clear to choose what we wanted to do. Because some of the most fun we had wasn't in destinations as such but odd Japanese pound shops and food markets.

Amazing advice. And you sound like us. Thank you so much. Exactly what I needed to know x

Backstreets · 18/06/2023 16:23

I recommend the YouTuber lemonaulait, she does cute vlogs about her life in Tokyo and her tastes veers towards the childish so lots of videos from amusement parks and the like.
I think she’s half the reason I booked my own upcoming trip there…

Peachy2005 · 29/06/2023 01:24

Has anyone used affordableluxurytravel.co.uk when booking? DH is now planning in earnest for August but even just the flights seem so complicated that he is tempted by a completely all-in package… thx for any advice.

Holidayqueen1 · 06/07/2023 11:42

Hi everyone

can anyone give advice on trains now that Japan Rail have put their passes up so much. Do you have to/ can you book trips in advance?
do you have to book the Hakone stuff eg doorway etc in advance?
soes anybody have any recommendations for guides in Tokyo/ Kyoto? We’ve booked everything ourselves but wondering whether a guide for the first day will be invaluable!
thanks

savvy7 · 06/07/2023 12:43

LondonMummer · 17/06/2023 15:57

Great to hear about Inside Japan. I'm about to get them to help plan a family trip next April (we already have flights).

I'm a relentless researcher/travel blogger and always plan trips myself but having someone advise us on how to get the best of Japan in a fortnight and booking things like Studio Ghibli for us feels like it would be worth it.

Any tips for the best of what they planned/organised for any of you?

Just bear in mind you will be paying a lot more than organising yourself. We were recently quoted £12k for a family of 3

Peachy2005 · 07/07/2023 10:06

We just booked it ourselves in the end…prices for any of the tour companies were ruinous. So far booked the flights next month from LHR and all our travel to and from Heathrow. We have to tackle all the Japan bookings now!!

Moomoola · 12/07/2023 00:24

Oh well done,!
following this as I’d love to do similar. Sounds amazing.

Nofixedabodewell · 12/07/2023 06:42

Peachy2005 · 07/07/2023 10:06

We just booked it ourselves in the end…prices for any of the tour companies were ruinous. So far booked the flights next month from LHR and all our travel to and from Heathrow. We have to tackle all the Japan bookings now!!

I just wouldn’t know where to start with booking myself. I haven’t been out of Europe apart from a trip to Canada at 21 so it seems very daunting.

burnoutbabe · 12/07/2023 08:02

I have got as far as booking flights.

Now need to book hotels -deciding how many days in each place in Japan.

Partner and I are going to read a few suggested "days in x" blogs at weekend and say yes/no to each idea. We are more "tall buildings and Pokémon cafe" than temples"

Plus need to avoid key places like Disney and universal at weekends!