Alright, I need some help from people who actually know Japan.
I’m taking my kids to Japan for 10 days during spring break, and I want this to be one of those trips they talk about forever. Not a “we saw some stuff” trip — a wow, that was insane trip.
What I’m aiming for:
• Fun and exciting (they’re kids, not monks)
• Visually wild / futuristic
• Very “only in Japan”
• Some culture, but not temples all day
• Stuff that feels memorable, not just checkboxes
Here’s where my head is at so far, but I’m very open to being told I’m wrong.
Tokyo (4–5 days)
This feels like a must. Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akihabara, arcades, anime stuff, crazy crossings, food everywhere.
TeamLab seems like a no-brainer.
Observation decks like Shibuya Sky or Skytree.
Mt. Fuji / Hakone area (1–2 days)
Thinking of this as a change of pace. Ryokan stay, onsen (private if needed), Fuji views, ropeway, boat, etc.
Feels like a good contrast to Tokyo chaos.
Kyoto (2–3 days)
I don’t want to skip history completely. Fushimi Inari early, bamboo forest, maybe a samurai/ninja type experience.
Enough culture to feel it, not so much that everyone’s miserable.
Osaka (2 days)
Food, street life, Dotonbori at night.
Universal Studios Japan (Nintendo World looks insane).
Things I’m unsure about:
• Is this too much for 10 days?
• Is Osaka worth it if we’re already doing Tokyo + Kyoto?
• Are there experiences kids absolutely love that I’m missing?
• Would Hiroshima, Nara, or somewhere else be better than Osaka?
• Any surprises that totally exceeded expectations with kids?
If you were taking your kids to Japan and wanted them to leave saying
“that was the coolest trip we’ve ever taken”
what would you absolutely not skip?
Appreciate any advice, suggestions, or itinerary reality checks.
Update:
A few people asked about ages and interests, so adding that here.
One will be 10 and one will be 13 at the time of the trip, and they’re into very different things.
• the young is big on tech, video games, gadgets, robotics, and anything futuristic or interactive
• rhe eldest is more into anime, books, art, design, and fashion
They both enjoy theme parks, food, and experiences that feel immersive and fun rather than just walking around and looking at stuff.
That’s why I’m trying to balance the itinerary so it doesn’t skew too heavily in one direction and both of them feel like the trip was “for them.”
by Relevant-Key4610