JJapan Trips

[Itinerary Check] August trip with wife and 3 boys (7, 9, 11)

  • January 19, 2026

Excited to go to Japan for the first time with my family of 5 (me, wife, 3 young boys). Really appreciate any feedback, especially on any red flags you see in things we should skip or make sure we hit. I recognize August will be hot, but we tolerate heat well, and this is the only time we can go. I have spoke to some friends who have been so hopefully I have a decent draft here, but we won't be booking anything until at least next week.

I also have a few questions at the end if anyone doesn't mind answering! Thanks so much.

  • Aug 13 (Thu): Arrive late afternoon, stay at Mimaru Ueno. Dinner in Ameyoko Market.

  • Aug 14 (Fri): Session with blacksmith to forge ninja stars / kunai. Afternoon at TeamLab Planets.

  • Aug 15 (Sat): Akihabara (we love games, toys, etc.). At night: Swallows baseball game (hire guide to accompany us).

  • Aug 16 (Sun): Meiji Shrine. Afternoon walking around – Harajuku, Shibuya.

  • Aug 17 (Mon): Leaving Tokyo for Kyoto… train to enjoy Ghibli Park first… then to Kyoto, check into another Mimaru.

  • Aug 18 (Tue): Nintendo Museum if we're successful in getting tickets. If not, sumo session with retired sumo wrestler. Check out Fushimi Inari Shrine.

  • Aug 19 (Wed): "Samurai Training" (learning sword moves etc.). Then walking around Gion, Old Kyoto etc.

  • Aug 20 (Thu): Universal Studios with line skipping pass.

  • Aug 21 (Fri): Nara (deer), Nijo Castle

  • Aug 22 (Sat): Leaving Kyoto for Hakone… stay in a Ryokan. Hike Old Tokaido Road, see tea house.

  • Aug 23 (Sun): Hakone Ropeway?

  • Aug 24 (Mon): Bus to airport

My questions:

  1. When traveling, we have most enjoyed personal and small experiences/tours hence the focus on stuff like weapon making and "samurai" training. Any other ideas like that are really appreciated!

  2. I am iffy on Hakone as I viewed it as a relaxing alternative (Ryokan, easy hike) to Tokyo and Kyoto. But threads I've seen here talk about how incredibly crowded it is. Any other ideas for a third leg (or middle leg) that would be a slower paced chance to breath a bit? Just want pretty and uniquely Japanese scenery and nice / bigger accommodations than we had in the cities.

  3. Is there an upgrade beyond Mimaru that people like for families of 5 (or more)? They look fine, but I would be ok to splurge if there was something meaningfully better! I would prefer not to Airbnb in Tokyo or Kyoto.

Thanks again!

by friendofanimals