Day 1 (7/22): Tokyo
No activities planned on this day.
Activities:
- n/a
Planner's Notes: Flight arrives at 2PM.
Day 2 (7/23): Tokyo
For this day, I would highly suggest to arrange a guide for at least your temple visit, and also to help you guys with trains from your hotel to Asakusa and back, as it can be very helpful to have a guide on your first real day of travel to ask questions to, and also get answers about anything that you guys may be worried about. Your guide could also help you with purchasing IC cards for smaller train trips, and I'd suggest to also use this day to print out all of the tickets that you guys will need for the rest of your trip. Since there'd be a lot happening on this day, the goal for the experiences is to keep them located all within the same neighborhood/vicinity.
Asakusa is very much Showa-era Japan. You will, no doubt, see a few different temples and shrines along the way and so this first stop (Sensouji Temple) is a good one, because it will help you and your children learn to differentiate between the two during your trip. On the temple grounds there is a small shrine that gives you a perfect picture of how different the two belief systems are, and yet how harmoniously the two coexist with each other. SkyTree was on your list and it is very close by, so this stop won't add a tremendous amount of time to your day. The candy-making lesson could also take place here in Asakusa.
The anime tour in Akihabara is also just a very short train ride away from this area, making it a perfectly "compact" day, so to speak. Please keep in mind that there are guides that can tailor the tour in Akihabara to the interests of everyone in your party.
Activities:
- Tokyo SkyTre
- Asakusa food tour
- Sensouji Temple
- Candy-making lesson
- Akihabara anime tour
Planner's Notes: I wanted to keep as much free time in the itinerary as possible. With the way that this version of the itinerary is arranged, there's now an extra day in Tokyo at the end of your trip, and my goal was to spread activities out in a way to where you'll have minimum planned activities on each day while in Tokyo. Visiting both locations doesn't take much time at all, and so you should have plenty of free time afterwards, and also don't have to rush to experience anything on this day.
Day 3 (7/24): Tokyo
I wanted this day to highlight some of the "futuristic" sides of Tokyo. As such, the focus is on Odaiba, which is a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. I've added a small stop to MIRAIKAN which isn't far from TeamLab Planets as I thought it would be a good stop for your kids. Below is a small video that is a bit older, and doesn't do the spot 100% justice, but kind of give you an idea of what the location is like:
Basically it's a places that houses tons of interesting concept tech, and also teaches kids about robots, the environment and science in an interactive fun way. It's a very cool stop while you are in Odaiba.
TeamLab needs no introduction, especially since it was already on your list of places to visit. It is such a nice place, I've personally been many times, and we take all of our school trip kids there while they're in Japan. The yakatabune is something that I would like to add to this day as it is also something that is nice to do in or around the Tokyo Bay area. Basically it is a small, very traditional boat (think tatami mats, and hourigotatsu), that looks like a small house floating on the water. It's a great way to see Tokyo at night, and the meals provided are very traditional Japanese meals (sashimi, tenpura, chawanmushi, etc.). There's also usually a karaoke machine on the boat if you are interested in singing with your family.
There are a couple of animal cafes in the Odaiba area. There's one called Animeal, which has cats, dogs, ducks, capybara, and all types of animals in one location. If you're looking specifically for a cat cafe, there are plenty that could be added to this day.
Activities:
- Cat Cafe
- TeamLab Borderless
- MIRAIKAN
- Dinner Suggestion: a yakatabune cruise
Planner's Notes: Again, with this day, I've tried my best to centralize all of the activities into a single area to save time on transit. Even the yakatabune dinner cruise is relatively close to Odaiba (eastern side of Tokyo).
Day 4 (7/25): Tokyo (and Kanagawa area)
Sanrio Puroland is famous for Hello Kitty. This will be the first of three theme park visits on the itinerary. This was included, as it is something you mentioned wanting to take your kids to when we spoke on the phone. I think that it is a worthwhile visit for the kids, especially if they are into Sanrio characters.
There are a few different types of Ramen museums in Japan. There is the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, and then there is a Cup Noodle Museum, which is also conveniently located in Yokohama. The main difference between the two is that the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, is more of a place that is dedicated to actual ramen. There are multiple stands there that serve different types of ramen, and there's even a place there where you can make real ramen from scratch (even making the noodles). The other is more of a place to learn about and enjoy the history of cup ramen. There are also activities here which are a lot of fun too, including the ability to make your very own cup ramen flavor, with all of the toppings you wish, and a special chicken ramen workshop too. You can't go wrong with either as they are both fun. If you want something more lighthearted, go with the Cup Noodle Museum. If you want something more "educational" go with the other option.
Activities:
- Sanrio Puroland
- Cup Ramen Museum (in Yokohama)
Planner's Notes: This day takes you guys outside of the city a bit, and into the neighboring prefecture, Kanagawa. As such, this day will be slightly longer in terms of the train times. You can use your JR passes to get around on this day to save money.
Day 5 (7/26): Nikko
Nikko is just north of Tokyo, and the best way to get there is by train. There is a train that actually has a private cabin (which is pretty rare for Japan), and it's the most enjoyable way to watch the landscape change from modern, to countryside. Nikko is the resting place for the shogun who unified Japan. There is a shrine there in his honor, and it by far the most ornate of any shrine I've seen in the country. The first half of this day is best spent with a knowledgeable guide who can give you all of the history of Nikko, and the shrines so that you can best appreciate it. The shrine itself is planted right in the middle of a large cedar forest, which only adds to its majesty. After that, the next stop is more lighthearted. The Edo-era theme park isn't located too far from the shrine. I love visiting here, and they usually have to kick us out, because we typically stay until closing hours. There is so much to do, see and learn while visiting. There are impromptu sword fights, hidden ninjas in the streets, areas that teach you about the crafting process of katanas (it is insanely complex), and even stations where you can try your hand at creating your own daruma dolls. It is a lot of light-hearted fun, but I can definitely understand if it isn't exactly what you're looking for with this itinerary. Please let me know what you think about it, and we can replace this with something else (Nikko has some onsen spots nearby that we could put into this day).
Activities (guided):
- Visit to Toshogu Shrine (guided)
- Visit to Edo open-air museum/theme park (or onsen)
- Private compartment train (based on availability)
- Dinner Suggestion: Zao (?)
Planner's Notes: Toshogu Shrine is indeed a shrine, but it isn't like any other shrine in Japan. I know that people can easily get tired of shrine/temple visits when visiting here (especially with kids), but if I could only plan a single shrine/temple visit, it would definitely be this one. In addition to that, we have Edo Wonderland planned, to kind of "counter-balance" the visit. If riding on the train isn't a big deal (there will be plenty of other trains on the trip), then I would suggest getting a private car on this day, as transportation in Nikko can be quite irregular.
Day 6 (7/27): Tokyo
This day will give you guys some time to explore Tokyo on your own, as there aren't many planned activities for it. I thought that it may be best to include a day in Tokyo where you guys would have some time to explore before leaving this region.
The activities are quite simple. I remember you mentioning on the phone how you wanted to experience the plastic food making, so I think that this would be a good day to do so. You also mentioned a "samurai" experience, and being able to see the Godzilla statue at least once. There just so happens to be a samurai "museum" right around the corner from the Godzilla statue. The museum includes armor, and weaponry from all across Japan, with an explanation on how each weapon was used, and some of the symbolism behind the designs of the armor. There's also something that takes place here called "tameshigiri". When a sword is created, it needs to be tested. Swordsmiths test it by cutting a piece of tatami in half using it. While here, you can watch other cut, or you can try cutting it yourself!
Activities:
- Plastic food making lesson
- Visit to Godzilla statue in Kabukicho
- Samurai museum
- Tameshigiri
Planner's Notes: Short-ish day to allow for exploration on your own or visits to places that haven't been included in the itinerary just yet. It may also be best to take the bullet train on this night to Nagoya, so that you can maximize the time that you have there, since it is a short two-day stop.
Day 7 (7/28): Nagoya
Nagoya is an area that is often overlooked when traveling in Japan. The Nagoya area is, however an amazing place, with rich culture and history. Also the food in Nagoya is quite good. So I'd like to arrange a visit to this area before moving onward to Kyoto. The main reason for visiting is the Ghibli theme park, but I do think that it would be beneficial to stay an extra day.
Nagoya, and the surrounding area is quite famous for its miso. They use miso in a lot of things here, but the first thing that comes to mind is the miso katsu (!). It is for sure a famous treat.
Activities:
- Nagoya / Mikawa-style food tour
- Ikebana flower arrangement lesson
Planner's Notes: I would very much like to arrange a tour on this day with the guide that we use in this area. She can arrange the ikebana flower arrangement lesson in her home, which would also give you guys an opportunity to visit a Japanese home. She's excellent. She can also arrange the food tour if you do decide that you'd like to spend the day with her.
Day 8 (7/29): Nagoya
This day would be completely dedicated to Studio Ghibli theme park.
Activities:
- Studio Ghibli Theme Park
Planner's Notes: Again, I think that the train at night would be a great way to save time on the next day. The bullet train to Kyoto from Nagoya is less than an hour, so it would be a very short journey.
Day 9 (7/30): Kyoto
On this day, I wanted to focus on some of Kyoto's famous sites and experiences. I would recommend starting the day off with the temple and shrine highlights. I've included Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizudera, and Sanjusangendou as three stops, however as we move along, I can continue to further refine this list of stops based on what you and your kids would find interesting.
I know you had a "samurai" experience in Tokyo, but here I wanted to arrange a kendo lesson. This, I think is a much more authentic experience for everyone. Kendo is kind of like Japan's fencing, based on the art of kenjutsu. I think that this would be a very fun experience as not only would the instructor teach you the basics of kendo, but they would also host a small tournament with you guys after the lesson to see who has learned the most.
After that, I would suggest a calligraphy lesson. Calligraphy is so much more than people realize upon first glance. There's so much history tied into a single character, how its meaning evolved, also a visual language coded within it that most people never discover. It's also very calming to write kanji characters at times. I think that ending the day with this would be great.
Activities:
- Calligraphy lesson
- Kendo fencing lesson
- Traditional Temple visits
- Fushimi Inari
- Kiyomizudera
- Sanju Sangendo
- Dinner suggestion: Kichi Kichi Omurice
Planner's Notes: This day is packed, but in a good way, and again, most of the locations and experiences are within the same central location. I think that this could be one of the best and most memorable days of the trip. Kichi Kichi Omurice is something I think that the kids would really enjoy.
Day 10 (7/31): Kyoto
When we spoke on the phone Elizabeth, the geisha experience was one of the experiences that you rated really, really highly (you gave it a "10"), so I wanted to make sure there was time for a decent experience for you and your kids while visiting Kyoto. The tour that we normally book for our guests also includes an introduction to the neighborhood that the geisha/geiko/maiko-san usually operate in. The guide gives guests a brief history of the neighborhood, and should also show you guys where some famous teahouses are located before you guys have your private dinner with the maiko-san.
The tea ceremony can be had at many places, but we try to arrange this experience with monks at a temple where at least one of the monks is fluent in English. The significance of the ceremony is much better received when you can ask questions, and get competent answers. There are many great places however all across the city.
Activities:
- Tea Ceremony
- Kodaji Temple
- Pokemon Center
- Geisha Experience / Gion Tour
- Yasaka Shrine
Planner's Notes: The pace for this day is semi-relaxed. The Pokemon Center can be visited at anytime, and the Geisha Experience and tour of the Gion area will be at night, so if you arranged the tea ceremony during the day, that would give you guys a significant amount of free time on this day. Also, I put Kodaji Temple on to this day, but it is easily transferred to another day if necessary. This is the temple that you were mentioning wanting to go to when we spoke on the phone.
Day 11 (8/1): Kyoto + Nara
For this day, in the morning I'd like for you guys to head to Kameoka, which is just outside of Tokyo, to forge kogatana with a Japanese swordsmith. A kogatana is a small version of a katana. The smith will walk you through the process, and you will need a translator if you use this smith as he does not speak English at all. There is another forge that is a quick bullet train ride away where you can also forge a small knife. The guy here speaks fluent English, and I think he's a prefectural treasure. The knife that you're crafting here is more of a knife than a kogatana though. The forge master at this one probably has more stories though, since he's traveled the world. Either choice is great.
After that, my suggestion is to visit Nara. This one is guaranteed to be a hit with the kids, as this is the area where the deer roam freely on the temple grounds. I highly suggest having a good guide for the day trip to Nara in order to get the most out of the experience.
Activities:
- Kogatana Workshop
- Nara day trip
Planner's Notes: Nara can be removed from this day, and really it can also be removed from the itinerary altogether if you want more free time in this region. I say this, because Miyajima in Hiroshima is also an area that has free-roaming wild deer that intermingle with the island locals and visitors. Your kids will definitely have that experience, and when we spoke I remember you telling me about how excited you were to do a short hike. Mt. Misen (on Miyajima Island), is one of the best places for a short hike, so you'll get the experience with the deer while there. This suggestion is *only* if you intend to go to Nara exclusively for the deer. If not, then please go as Nara has so much more to offer than just its deer.
Day 12 (8/2): Osaka
This day will be completely left open for USJ, and also for exploring the Osaka area.
Activities:
- Universal Studios Japan
Planner's Notes: If you end up booking this on your own, please be aware that some attractions in the park (like the Super Mario World one), may require an additional ticket for timed entry in order to guarantee that you have the chance to visit them. It's not necessary unless the day you're visiting is a busy day. Also, if you download the USJ app on your phone, you can monitor how busy each attraction is and time your visit based on when the crowds have died down. Also, I would recommend leaving the Kansai area on this night and staying at the hotel in Onomichi.
Day 13 (8/3): Onomichi
This day would be mostly dedicated to biking the Shimanami Kaido Route in the Seto Inland Sea. I've positioned the map for this day to give you an idea of where the route is (it mostly follows the major roadways in yellow). There are multiple options that could be planned for you guys, depending on how intense or relaxed you wish for the journey to be. There are routes between the distances of 17km - 80km. We could handle the bike rentals, and I do believe that we could also secure an e-bike to assist with the inclines if you are not comfortable with going uphill.
This would be a guided experience. I think that it would be best to do it that way so you don't have to worry about directions, maps, getting lost, etc. Also the guide will stop at nice places along the way for food, and also points of interest that are spread throughout the islands. The longer the journey you choose, the more places you'll be able to explore. I think that the longest route on an e-bike would probably be somewhere around 6+ hours. There are a lot of nice temples, shrines, cafes, and restaurants along the way.
Activities:
- Shimanami Kaido Cycling route
Planner's Notes: If memory serves me correctly, this was the highest rated activity on your list! So I've dedicated an entire day to it. The hotel that we've chosen for this area is also really cool.
Day 14 (8/4): Hiroshima
This day will be completely dedicated to the classic sites of Hiroshima. Your guide will take you to the locations below. Be prepared to be surrounded by middle school kids when you are visiting the Peace Memorial Park, as it is required for all children in the northern parts of Japan to visit the park before attending high school.
So far, there haven't been any castle visits in the itinerary, so I really wanted to make sure that there was at least one visit on here. Hiroshima Castle will be a good way to see what life was like in feudal Japan.
After a day of historically significant locations, I think it would be nice to relax with a nice meal. Hiroshima is often overlooked for its food offerings, which is a shame because there are a lot of good places to eat here! Okonomiyaki is done in a very unique way here in Hiroshima. It's prepared on a teppanyaki grill, and is a local staple. It think that the kids will also enjoy not only the meal, but watching the meal be prepared as well.
Activities (guided):
- Peace Memorial Park
- A-Bomb Dome
- Peace Memorial Museum
- Hiroshima Castle
- Dinner suggestion: Okonomimurua
Planner's Notes: A guide on this day is really important. A lot of the older guides in the area were affected by the bomb in some way. Either they lost parents or family members during the event, or they themselves were just children when it happened. Visiting the museum and park is changed drastically when you hear personal accounts of what took place on this day. The dinner suggestion is to try okonomiyaki while in the area. Hiroshima has a very particular way of cooking the famous dish. There is a place that has around 40 or so restaurants that all have their own take on the dish in Hiroshima, but there are also other great restaurants in the area that do an amazing job at making the dish.
Day 15 (8/5): Hiroshima
Today will be completely dedicated to the island of Miyajima, its shrines, its temples, its history (which is extremely fascinating), and its sacred mountain Mt. Misen. Miyajima, the island itself, was once considered a god. Most people could not step foot on the island. Women weren't allowed to give birth on the island. There's a temple here where a flame has been kept burning for hundreds of years, there's another place dedicated to tengu on the island as well. The island is so much more than the famous floating torii gates at the base of the mountain. It's a very culturally rich place to visit.
Something I would like you guys to consider is an early morning kayaking session around the island to get a feel for it before your hike. I think it's a great way to orient yourself.
Activities:
- Miyajima Island visit
- Sea Kayaking
Planner's Notes: Will have to travel back to Tokyo on this night. A guide for Miyajima is almost a necessity, especially for the hike.
Day 16 (8/6): Tokyo
No activities planned for this day.
Activities:
- n/a
Planner's Notes: Return flight is at 4:45PM from HND.
