Japan - convince me!

[MaraScottie]

I've always loved Japan, spent a few days in Tokyo years ago and loved it. Would love to spend 2 weeks travelling around - the culture intrigues me, the food is the best in the world, and the tech is fascinating!

I also have 2 kids age 9 and 11 who are obsessed with sushi and are adventurous and would love the opportunity. So am tentatively thinking about last week in March to 1st week in April next year.

However ....the cost is holding me back! Its going to be astronomical. We can afford it in that we'd take money from savings but flights will be more than 5k euro, that's before we even get a meal in.

So tell me, was it worth it for you? Would you go for it? I'm more than happy to eat in local restaurants and stay in hostels too, but did you find you just haemorrhage money when you were there?

Part of me wonders what I'm waiting for, life is short, it'll be too late if one of us gets sick etc, and there are no pockets in a shroud ... but it seems so indulgent too whereas in other countries your pound/euro will go a lot further.

Thanks for your feedback.

We are planning to go - same time and with kids the same age too!

out plan is to hang out in Tokyo for a few days then do some intense bullet train around. That’s as far as we’ve got!

my husband has been before and loved it - this will be a joint 50th celebration because the cost will be eye watering.

We are hoping to stay at Ryokans when we’re out in the more remote areas. Also hoping to borrow a friends ski lodge.

Flights - 5k - yikes

Apparently you can eat well quite cheaply.

I read a great thread on this a few days ago, have a dig about for tips.

You’ve picked the most expensive time of year for accommodation!
Eating out doesn’t need to be expensive. Even just the supermarket sushi is phenomenal quality and there is often a place to sit nearby. Eg a roof terrace.

I think the time coincides with school holiday in Japan, so, it could be busy and expensive. other than that, i think it's lovely time to visit.

I am pleased to say that we found Japan cheaper than we expected! Especially to eat. It was fantastic - go for it!

Argh, I'm not sure we have another option unless we take the kids out of school for 2 weeks (not keen on that), go over the summer (which will be ridiculously hot) or hold off until the October mid-term!

You’d be going around cherry blossom season, hence why it’s so eye watering expensive. If that’s not a factor in going and you can hold off for October half term, I would wait until then and it will be considerably cheaper.

But either way, do it! If you can manage it financially, life is too short for putting off experiences like that!

We went this year end of March and loved it. Food wasn’t too bad price wise, and as others have said, there are convenience stores everywhere where you can buy food cheaper than in restaurant. It is cherry blossom season, but it is popular for a reason- absolutely stunning. Lots of street food available too near the main cherry blossom attractions. The flight was the most expensive thing and we could have got that cheaper had we booked earlier. Do it!

Amazing, thanks. How did you find the weather that time of year please?

My parents have just returned from a 15 day tour of Japan. They booked with Titan travel. My dad said it was one of the most amazing places he's ever visited, and he has traveled to quite a few places.

The weather was mixed but not cold. Spring like. Some rain at the beginning of our trip and lovely warm sunshine after that.

Have a look at videos on TikTok about what I eat in a day in Japan. Esp at 7/11 stores. Really good quality and quite cheap! Fun research for your kids too

Get a Japan rail pass (if they still do them). Phenomenally good value.

Japan rail passes are increasing g in cost massively this year.

Eating out is generally inexpensive. We don't drink but four of us could eat out for less then £20 - great food too

Things like coffees and pastries were lovely to buy as they seem so cheap compared to the Uk

Accommodations was cheap for us too but we weren't they in high season. Places are typically spotless so you can go to cheaper hotels without risk.

Rooms are small but who cares!

Ive been a few times and it's my favourite destination.

Join one of the - Japan travel planning Facebook group

And look at an app called Wanderlog do planning the trip. It's brilliant

Going off season is cheaper (avoiding cherry blossom, golden week, autumn leaves, obon). Tokyocheapo is a fantastic site for budgeting tips. Definitely possible to do it cheaply... However, have a contingency fund for eg. Taxis or impulsive spend.. Shame to spend so much and then nitpick over something that makes your precious time there easier, like an unexpected taxi or money spent to ease tired people!

It's totally worth it. You indeed cannot spend it when you're dead, and the cultural learning and experiences for your children will be second to none. (Plus Team Labs, Godzilla hotel, Tokyo Skytree, bullet train, izakaya, traditional tea ceremony wearing kimonos in Kyoto, gachapon machines, matsuri, the parks and gardens, weird vending machines, all the beautiful temples in Kyoto, lantern parades, the world heritage sites, the art galleries and museums, Osaka aquarium, Studio Ghibli park, traditional shops selling handmade artisan items, food tours and making sessions, conveyor belt sushi, the hip areas of Shinjuku, posh shopping in Ginza, Fuji five lakes, the FOOD...) there's actually too much to do there. It's impossible to make a plan 😅

@VWRabbit WRabbit, you've sold me - the kids are going to be so excited. And my son is obsessed with vending machines (for some reason), it will be gas. Riding the bullet train has been on my bucket list for decades too, this is going to be unreal.

I've managed to find budget hotels in Tokyo that look reasonable enough for my dates so that fills me with a bit of hope!

The planning is going to be overwhelming, how to figure out what to do and what to leave out. I don't even know where to start.

@MaraScottie yesss 💪🌟 you've made the right decision!

My advice is to read people's detailed itineraries on Reddit, there's a few Japan travel forums on there, and lots of seasoned people advise on how to manage time realistically and what to prioritise. And offer general invaluable tips, it's helped me massively.

I have a loose adaptable plan, which is one or two things each day and then a back-up list of things I'd like to do around those places, which will be good if we manage to fit in, but I'm not stressing about it if we just can't! Travel time between places can really add up even in the city.

I've managed to find hotel rooms for around £115 for five people per night and they are perfectly adequate if a little boring.. Ryokan for Kyoto though! It's very possible to spend heavy on the decent bits but economise on food/hotels where it doesnt matter so much.

Also, some things have to be booked far in advance (Studio Ghibli park/museum, team labs, sky tree) and you can order JR pass to come to you before the trip then exchange for the pass upon arrival. Although for me it actually doesn't work out cheaper than individual tickets (there's an online calculator to check).

I have friends living there, and their advice was what sealed the deal for me..they said "even if you come here and miss every train and only see 10% of what you planned to, it will still be the best holiday you ever had" 😅😁

(Seriously though, start planning now.. write it all down, use Google maps to group things together geographically, book hotels in advance etc)

Also, Haneda airport is quicker to get to Tokyo if you're starting there. We are staying in Asakusa to start, near Sensoji temple. Most places near a main station will be ok though. Look for hotels with laundry facilities if your kids are as messy as mine, to minimise wasted time in laundrettes :-) We are travelling with hand luggage only (for a month 🫠), and empty suitcases to bring souvenire home in lol, because anything you could possibly need will already be there at any price point.

You can forward your luggage using takkubin services so you don't have to drag it onto busy trains.

On days where I feel tired I'm going to book local tours with individual guides on TripAdvisor, who are just normal local people- with all their juicy knowledge! So I can be led about without having to think, and have a rest!

I'm sure there's a million more tips haha

Also forgot to add- my friends recommended hotels over airbnbs, because apparently airbnbs can be complicated to find and gain access to in some areas. Whereas hotels usually have 24 hour staff who can book tickets, fill in forms, assist you in any way etc

Spring/cherry blossom season is the peak of high season for travel to Japan, but it's the #1 place on DH's and my travel wish list, plus I'm very much a 'Carpe diem' sort of person, so I say 'Go for it!'.

When I look back at our happy family memories, our holidays come top of the list. It's really quality time, because it gets them away from screens and all the distractions of home. I can't wait to take my kids to Japan. It's pencilled into my long-term travel planner for 2026

The planning is going to be overwhelming, how to figure out what to do and what to leave out. I don't even know where to start.

If you get a Lonely Planet Japan (or other similar sort of guidebook), they have sample itineraries at the front based on length of trip, which I always find really helpful. There are also numerous blogs, vlogs, have a search on YouTube and you'll find lots of families who've done a 14-day trip with kids similar ages and posted their holiday video. It's really helpful, because you get to see what things are really like,

If you can afford it I'd say go for it, you only live once (some may disagree!) I'd love to go with my boys but (other than cost) I'm worried about food as I'm coeliac. Anyone know what gluten free eating is like there?

We loved it and can’t wait to go back! We picked hotels that had breakfast included and wouldn’t be that hungry til dinner. We found some great packages online. Join the Japan travel groups on Facebook or travelling with kids and just search Japan/ family and you’ll find plenty of suggestions.

See if you can fly into Osaka and out of Tokyo or vice versa. You’ll definitely want time in Osaka if you are into food.

If you are only travelling in one direction then it doesn’t make sense to get a rail pass. Also you can’t use the JR pass on the fastest Shinkansens so better to buy individual tickets if you are excited about the fast trains!

I second the recommendation to forward your luggage. It makes travelling around so much easier and the hotel will organise it all for you.

Placemarking for tips. Thanks for all the info/input from PPs