Gujju Diary

Japan · family plan

Japan in 20 Days

Tokyo’s theme parks and neighbourhoods, a night by Mount Fuji, temples in Kyoto and Nara, and Osaka’s food and Universal Studios: our plan for a family trip to Japan.

Planned trip

Duration
20 days
Best for
Families with kids
Getting around
Trains, Suica card, JR Pass for long hops
Bases
Tokyo, Kawaguchiko, Kyoto, Osaka
Avoid
Golden Week, Obon, Silver Week, New Year

The route

The plan starts with six days in Tokyo, moves to the Mount Fuji lakes for two days, then Kyoto with a day trip to Nara, and finishes in Osaka with a day trip to Kyoto by the Sea.

Tokyo

  1. Tokyo days 1–6

Train to the Fuji lakes

Mount Fuji

  1. Kawaguchiko days 7–8, ryokan with onsen

Shinkansen west

Kyoto and Nara

  1. Kyoto days 9–12
  2. Nara day trip

Osaka

  1. Osaka days 13–20
  2. Amanohashidate day trip to Kyoto by the Sea

How we plan to do it

This is a trip we have planned but not taken yet. Here is the thinking behind each part; the full day-by-day plan is below.

Days 1–3
Tokyo

Easing into Tokyo

Tokyo is for landing, getting your bearings and easing in, not rushing. Day one is just the hotel, a walk around the neighbourhood and the first of many convenience-store runs.

Day two is a full day at Tokyo DisneySea, which we picked over Disneyland because it is unique to Japan: Fantasy Springs, Toy Story Mania and the harbour show at night. Day three is teamLab Borderless, booked well in advance, then Odaiba’s waterfront, the giant Gundam and a walk by Tokyo Bay.

Draft note for Manan: why Japan, and what the kids are most excited about.

Days 4–6
Akihabara, Shibuya, Asakusa

Pokémon, crossings and kimonos

Day four is for the kids: the Pokémon Center, the Nintendo store and Akihabara’s arcades, then Shibuya Crossing and the view from Shibuya Sky.

Day five is old Tokyo in Asakusa: dressing up in kimonos, a rickshaw ride, a short tea ceremony, Sensō-ji temple and Tokyo Skytree at night. Day six picks one of the Ghibli Museum, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour or Sanrio Puroland, depending on which tickets we manage to get.

Days 7–8
Kawaguchiko, Hakone

A night by Mount Fuji

The move to the Fuji lakes breaks up the long journey west. We have planned a ryokan in Kawaguchiko with an onsen, so the kids can try futons and tatami floors.

Day eight is a scenic Fuji drive with a ropeway and lake viewpoints, with Fuji-Q Highland as an option for thrill-seekers.

Days 9–12
Kyoto, Nara

Slowing down in Kyoto

Kyoto works best when you plan it by area. Day nine is Kiyomizu-dera, Yasaka Pagoda and Gion, day ten Arashiyama’s bamboo grove and the Sagano Romantic Train, and day eleven the red gates of Fushimi Inari and the forest shrine at Kifune.

Day twelve is a day trip to Nara to meet the deer and see Tōdai-ji, back in time for Nishiki Market.

Draft note for Manan: which Kyoto sight you’re most looking forward to.

Days 13–16
Osaka

Universal, aquarium and food

Osaka starts with a full day at Universal Studios Japan for Super Nintendo World, Donkey Kong Country and the Harry Potter area. The Express Pass is worth it if Nintendo World is the priority.

Then the Kaiyukan aquarium and Tempozan Ferris Wheel, an evening in Dōtonbori, the Cup Noodles Museum, and sumo and ninja experiences for the kids.

Days 17–20
Kyoto by the Sea, Osaka

A coastal day and a soft landing

Day seventeen is a day trip to Amanohashidate, the sandbar on the Kyoto coast. The last days are deliberately empty: a buffer day to rest, a last round of shopping and the flight home.

Day-by-day plan

Times are estimates from our planning. Optional extras are highlighted like this.

Day Route and travel Sightseeing Stay Distance
Tokyo
Day 1 Arrive in Tokyo, airport bus or train to the hotel Evening walk nearby and a first convenience-store run Tokyo
Day 2 Tokyo DisneySea (full day) Fantasy Springs, Toy Story Mania, the Mediterranean Harbor evening show Tokyo
Day 3 Tokyo: Odaiba teamLab Borderless (3–4 h), Odaiba waterfront, the Gundam statue, Tokyo Bay evening walk Tokyo
Day 4 Tokyo: Akihabara and Shibuya Pokémon Center, Nintendo store, Akihabara arcades, Shibuya Crossing, Shibuya Sky Tokyo
Day 5 Tokyo: Asakusa Kimono experience, rickshaw ride, tea ceremony, Sensō-ji, Tokyo Skytree Tokyo
Day 6 Tokyo: museums and studios Ghibli Museum, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, or Sanrio Puroland Tokyo
Mount Fuji
Day 7 Tokyo to Kawaguchiko (3–4 h) Lake Kawaguchiko, ryokan stay with an onsen Kawaguchiko
Day 8 Fuji and Hakone Mount Fuji scenic drive, ropeway, lake viewpoints Fuji-Q Highland Kawaguchiko
Kyoto and Nara
Day 9 Shinkansen to Kyoto Kiyomizu-dera, Yasaka Pagoda, Gion walk, café hopping Kyoto
Day 10 Kyoto: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Sagano Romantic Train, Katsura River walk Hozugawa river boat ride Kyoto
Day 11 Kyoto: shrines Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kifune Shrine, a matcha café, a quiet hidden temple Kyoto
Day 12 Day trip to Nara Nara Deer Park, Tōdai-ji; Nishiki Market back in Kyoto Kyoto Train
Osaka
Day 13 Kyoto to Osaka, Universal Studios Japan (full day) Super Nintendo World, Donkey Kong Country, the Harry Potter area Osaka Train
Day 14 Osaka: the bay Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Tempozan Ferris Wheel, evening walk in Dōtonbori Osaka
Day 15 Osaka Cup Noodles Museum, shopping and café day Osaka
Day 16 Osaka Sumo experience, ninja experience Osaka
Day 17 Day trip to Kyoto by the Sea Amanohashidate Viewland, the coast Osaka Train
Day 18 Osaka Relaxation and buffer day Osaka
Day 19 Osaka Last-minute shopping Osaka
Day 20 Fly home from Osaka Flight

Tips we have collected

  • Avoid Japan’s holiday weeks. Golden Week, Obon in mid-August, Silver Week in September and New Year are the busiest times to travel.
  • Get an eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi. Maps, translation and train apps make everything easier.
  • Use a Suica card. It covers trains, buses and convenience stores; a JR Pass only makes sense for the long hops.
  • Skip the airport taxi. From Narita, the airport limousine bus or the Narita Express is far cheaper than a taxi.
  • Book the big ones early. Ghibli Museum tickets open a month ahead and sell out in minutes; teamLab and Shibuya Sky sunset slots need weeks.
  • Plan Universal Studios. Buy an Express Pass that includes Nintendo World, or download the app and book timed entry as soon as you are inside.
  • Sit on the right side for Fuji. On the train from Tokyo towards Kyoto or Osaka, book an E seat for the Mount Fuji view.
  • Carry your passport when shopping. Spend over ¥5,000 in one store for an instant tax refund.