Any tips or suggestions on first trip for 3 weeks to Japan

Got 3 weeks booked for October 2026 for me wife and two kids 7&4.

Was just hoping if anyone had any tips of places I must visit or eat at.

Couple days in Osaka, Tokyo and Kanazawa still haven’t got days planned as I’m trying to keep it structured but somewhat fluid as travelling with kids never goes to plan.

Would like to watch a baseball game and maybe a game of golf in Kanazawa.

Kept the start easy as will be jet lagged first couple days

Tokyo

5th – staying in Via Inn Prime Akasaka arrive late at night

6th – Visit Hie shrine is near
Toyokawa inari. Hinokichi park is on route to
Teamlab borderless

7th – Shibuya Sky, Yoyogi Park, Meiji Jingu Shrine

8th day in Tokyo travel to Kanazawa in evening

Kanazawa staying at Onyada Nono Kanazawa

9th day – kenokuren Garden, Higashi chaya district to Omicho district

10th day blank Kanazawa

Buy JR Kansai Hiroshima pass

Osaka Hearton Hotel Umeda

11th – blank Osaka

12th – Castle, nishinomaru garden- Donbori district

13th – Aquarium travel to Hiroshima

Hiroshima – Hotel Granvia Hiroshima

14th – day in Hiroshima

15th – Miyjama island

Kyoto staying in Gion

16th travel to Kyoto Kodaiji temple, kenniji temple, Shirakawa Canal – Nishiki market

17th – kinkakuju temple, Ryoanji temple

18th – Samurai Ninja musuem, philosophers path in evening

19th – Fushimi Inari shrine early

Hakone – Mizunoto

20th – travel to Open air museum

21 – Hakone Loop

Tokyo Odabia – Sotetsu Grand Fresa Bay Ariake

22nd – train to Tokyo. Decks Tokyo beach, Gundam stature and Legoland discovery centre

23rd – Disneyland

24th – Kamakura

25th – Leave free so can visit places we want to return to etc.

by Noodlearms98

2 comments
  1. If you haven’t booked lodging, switch your cities around. Go to Kyoto while jetlagged, much less tourists and the main attractions are open early. You’ll be able to enjoy the trip more that way. Hit Kanazawa on the way back.

  2. What are the kids into? Is it a boy and a girl? I would research some more kid related actvities and places to visit like pokemon cafes, snoopy cafes, hello kitty sanrio puroland theme park, harry potter studios, allocate time at arcades like taito station and theres a few big ones in Dotonbori.

    I think you might be visiting too many temples and shrines. Kids will get so bored? Try to visit only x2 per day. Some have huge gardens and nice halls to visit.. some take 2hrs to really enjoy depending on the crowds and queues at the popular photo spots. I didnt get to visit all the ones I noted in my itinerary.

    Research the festivals and events happening during the time your visiting. Like this link is good for starters.. https://japancheapo.com/events/

    Theres some very cool markets, second hand and handmade types with food stalls like at Toji Temple in Kyoto = went to this one and really enjoyed it but with your dates, I think you might miss out? Theres others that you might be able to visit.. check out this link / pdf below.. i bought a few used but great condition kimonos for 1000 yen each. Theres teaware, plants, home decor stuff, art.. interesting to see what is being sold at a market in a different country..

    https://global.kyoto.travel/resource/global/download/41-pdf.pdf

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