Anyone done a self-organised family holiday to Japan. All tips welcome!

[Saucisses]

We've finally bitten the bullet (train) and booked flights to Tokyo in April. I can't wait, we've wanted to visit for years. We have twelve nights in Japan.

It will be me, DH, DD16 and DS13. We are pretty well travelled and have never used an agent to organise a tour. Has anyone travelled independently in Japan?

Where would people recommend for a family to visit? Obviously, a few days in Tokyo, I'm keen to visit Kyoto, ride the bullet train, get into the countryside, would love to do a family stay and of course bask in cherry blossom. DS loves anime, especially One Piece and has been fascinated by masks since babyhood. They both love Japanese food.

One slight concern I have is that DS has severe dyspraxia. Despite being 13 he is only just able to use a fork (not a knife) and cannot use chopsticks. Is this likely to be a problem or attract unwanted attention?

Our budget is 15k (BA flights already sorted.) Any hints, tips and recommendations would be amazing.

@TheReturnofthePinkPanther The Tokyo Station area is also a quieter part of the city with the imperial palace gardens to wander round in. Nothing at all wrong with Ueno, but it’s not the only quiet, well connected area of Tokyo. I don’t think @HighlandsExpat was saying your recommendation was bad, just that there are other places that fulfil similar criteria.

I was replying mostly for the Narita Express. I wouldn't want folks to think the Keisei Skyliner is the only train to/from Narita airport. Skyliner seems to do a better job advertising itself compared to the Narita Express, which had almost no one one it when we used it. Ueno is a fabulous neighbourhood though!

I went this summer with my dcs aged 12 and 16 - self planned. There are lots of threads on here, and various facebook groups that are really helpful.

We stayed in Asakusa in Tokyo at the beginning and end of the holiday and really liked it as an area. (It's also very easy to get to from Narita on the Keisei skyliner train). It's a bit quieter than the other areas imo and more traditional. There's also the very amusing kitchen ware (Kappabashi) street there which kept my kids amused for quite some time.

The FB groups suggest that Kyoto is insanely busy in cherry blossom season.

We went to Tokyo-Hakone-Kyoto-Nara- Osaka (went to Universal Studios when there) - HIroshima /Mijajama and the Izu Pensinsula for some beach time.

In Tokyo my children liked both TeamLab Borderless and Borderless Planets and you probably need to book them before you go.

HIroshima was a real hit with both of them too - I did wonder about it being too much for my 12 yo but it was a highlight for both.

We sorted all our own trains, didn't use baggage transfer companies and I booked most of the hotels before I went on booking.com. Things I'd have liked to do but didn't - a poster on here recommended Koya-san - a monastery stay, but it was too expensive for me/I left it too late to book. That looked amazing. I would also have liked to have got closer to Mt Fuji than we did. We also missed the Cup Noodles museum in both Osaka and Yokahama which I would have liked to have gone to.

For some reason I didn't need fast track tickets at USJ. We got there early and got to go straight into Mario World and didn't really have to queue. It's not really my thing but my 12 year old was very pleased to go there.

Absolutely do TeamLab - one of the best things we did for sure (and if only time for 1 choose Planets)

I don't think not being able to use chopsticks is a problem. My ds isn't able to use them either, but he is not very culinarily adventurous anyway. I'd pack a fork, knife and spoon in your handbag and then just cut up your ds food if you want to eat in a restaurant. But especially in Tokyo and Osaka, there is no shortage of takeaway burgers and chicken nuggets, and sushi rolls, Korean fried chicken, donoughts etc are sold everywhere. Japan is finger food heaven so my ds loves it. The touristy bits are no different from the touristy bits of London, New York or Orlando food wise. Most hotels do breakfast buffets with all the easy to eat Western staples, like crossaints, toast, corn flakes, fruit salad etc.

It’s so easy to get around Japan! We did it with our 2 year old last year

Tokyo, Disneyland, Kyoto, Osaka, back to Tokyo

public transport easy to navigate

Good luck 😉

Joining as going to Japan as a first timer in June!

Going for 10 days - 4.5 days in Kyoto, 5.5 days in Tokyo. Planning on day trips to from Tokyo, also possible Disney.

Any advice or suggestions?