Japan is one of the easiest and most rewarding countries to visit with kids, and also one of the easiest to over-plan. We’ve travelled there as a family more than ten times, usually in the fall and winter, and our trips follow a similar shape: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Hiroshima, plus theme parks, great food, and a few unexpected favourites along the way.
This is the itinerary we’d hand a friend: what we do, what our kids actually loved, and what we’d change next time. It’s based on real trips with two kids, not a list of places we’ve only read about.
Quick overview
- Route: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima
- Length: 10 days
- Best for: Families with young children ages 5-10
- Our usual season: fall and winter
- Pace: Fast. Honest note: this is a lot for 10 days, and our biggest regret every time is not having more time in each city.
- Longer trips: We sometimes add Fukuoka and Sapporo, but those need more than 10 days.
Day-by-day Itinerary for Japan with Kids
Days 1 to 4: Tokyo
Where we stay: Maihama, Chiba, close to the Disney parks. We’ve stayed at a couple of different hotels, but recently stayed at the Hotel Okura TokyoBay and were very satisfied.
Day 1: Arrival
Arrive, settle in, and keep it light. Have a good meal and head to bed in the evening if you can manage to stay awake.
Day 2: Tokyo DisneySea
We bought our tickets in advance and stayed in Maihama, so the park was close. If you’re choosing between the two parks, we recommend DisneySea because it’s unique to Japan. Don’t forget to head early to check out the new Fantasy Springs area. Our kids loved the Frozen and Tangled rides!
Note: You do need a timed entry to get into Fantasy Springs, so make sure you get it through the Tokyo Disney mobile app or online before you go!
Day 3: Skytree and Akihabara
We didn’t manage to head up Skytree on this trip as it was overcast. Our kids still loved walking around the area and taking in the cool shops. Then a quick trip to Akihabara, where we played some arcade games and checked out the latest gadgets at the giant Yodobashi Akihabara store.
Day 4: Shibuya and Shinjuku.
Shibuya Crossing, a brief look at Shibuya Sky, and the Pokémon Center in Shibuya. In Shinjuku, we love walking around the shopping districts and grabbing a bite at the Takashimaya Times Square building.
Kid favourite: Just try and keep our kids out of the Pokémon Centers. The Shibuya Pokémon Center is great for getting cards and meeting new trainers playing Pokémon Go!
Tip: If you want Pokémon cards from the Pokémon Center, head there early. Once they are sold out for the day, you’re out of luck!
Days 5 to 7: Osaka
Day 5: Head to Koshien
Shinkansen from Shinagawa to Osaka. We booked our tickets before going to Japan and sent most of our luggage ahead to our Osaka hotel. The ride takes about 2.5 hours, so stock up on snacks and ekiben for the trip. Then head to the Stadium-BE area outside Koshien Stadium, where our kids love the batting cages and arcade games.
We took the Hanshin train from Umeda (at the Hanshin department store), and the ride only takes about 10 to 15 minutes. If you want to catch a game, check the baseball calendar before you go, since the season doesn’t cover every month. When we visit in the fall, the season is usually over!
Day 6: Universal Studios Japan
USJ is always a hit with our kids. Their favourites are Super Nintendo World (including Donkey Kong Country) and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We bought our tickets ahead of time on the USJ website. We used a timed entry ticket for Super Nintendo World and bought the Universal Express Pass 4, which we used for Yoshi’s Adventure and the Minion ride.
We waited in line for the Mine Cart Madness ride in Donkey Kong Country. It wasn’t very crowded on a cold fall day. We arrived right after the park opened and stayed for the entire day, ending off at Super Nintendo World.
First-timer tips: Get your timed entry ticket for Super Nintendo World first, since it can fill up. If you want to eat at Toad Cafe, reserve a spot as soon as you enter Super Nintendo World.
Day 7: Kaiyukan Aquarium
It’s a giant aquarium and another big hit with our kids. Our kids loved the whale sharks, touching the little stingrays, and seeing the penguins. Kaiyukan is about a 30-minute ride from Osaka-Umeda station via the Midosuji subway line (red). Make sure to check out the giant Ferris Wheel while you are there for a wonderful view of Osaka.
Where we stay: Umeda and nearby Tenma are our preferred neighbourhoods. Both are central and offer amazing local food scenes.
When in Osaka, you have to try the Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki, especially during oyster season!
Days 8 to 9: Kyoto
Day 8: Kyoto Shrines
Fushimi Inari Shrine and Arashiyama. At Fushimi Inari, we took the JR train from Kyoto Station and walked about halfway up the mountain to a resting and viewing area with a coffee shop and a restaurant. We spent about half a day there and came down for lunch. Go early if you want photos with the torii gates without the crowds. Our kids loved running up the stairs and chasing each other through the torii, but only when no one else was around, around 9:00 AM.
After lunch, we took the train from Kyoto Station to Arashiyama. Our kids loved walking through the bamboo forest, and then we made our way to Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama. It was cute. The park is open from 9:00 to 16:00 (the summit closes at 16:30), but it can close early if the monkeys head back up the mountain, and it closes in severe weather. Admission is 800 yen for adults (age 16 and up) and 400 yen for children (ages 4 to 15), free for ages 3 and under, cash only.
These details come from the park’s official website as of October 2026, so check again before you go. We spent a few hours in the area, then went back to Kyoto Station for dinner, where we had a warming bowl of ramen in the Isetan department store.
Day 9: Gion Area
Gion and the surrounding area. We took a cab from Kyoto Station to Gion and then explored the area on foot. We shopped in the area and stopped by a small festival to try food from the stands. Our kids didn’t mind Gion, but it wasn’t their favourite part of the trip.
If you want to see temples while you’re in Kyoto, we recommend the gold and silver temples (Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji), which we visited on a previous trip.
Day 10: Hiroshima
We took the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Hiroshima using the JR West Kansai Hiroshima pass, which we bought before leaving Canada. The great thing about this 5-Day Pass is that the cost of it, about $150 CAD, is the cost of the trip from Osaka to Hiroshima. Everything else on top of that is a nice bonus! We walked around the Peace Memorial Park, and I explained its significance to our kids.
In the afternoon, we took the JR ferry from Hiroshima Port to Miyajima. The ride took about 20 minutes. It wasn’t long, and our kids enjoyed it. On Miyajima, we ate momiji manju and oysters and met the deer. If you can, we recommend visiting one of the local restaurants to enjoy a meal of anago, which is the saltwater conger eel famous in the area.
A Worthwhile Swap: Naoshima Art Island
If you have an extra day, Naoshima was one of our biggest surprises. Our kids loved it. We rented electric bikes right where the ferry docks, next to Yayoi Kusama’s red pumpkin, and rode all around the island. The yellow pumpkin had been taken down when we visited, unfortunately. The kids also played on the beaches and found lovely seashells. From Hiroshima, we took the Shinkansen to Okayama, a local train to Uno, and then the ferry to the island. The bike rentals were very reasonable, and they provided seats and helmets for the kids. It sits between Kyoto and Hiroshima, so it fits naturally into this route.
Getting around
We use the Shinkansen between cities and trains and subways within them. For the full breakdown of whether a rail pass makes sense for your route, see our guide: Is the Japan Rail Pass Still Worth It In 2026? Prices and passes change, so always check current fares on the official sites before you buy.
Luggage forwarding between hotels saved us on this route. We sent most of our luggage ahead to our Osaka hotel. You can actually do this from any hotel or most convenience stores. You can also find a Yamato Transport office and send it there as well. If you fly to Japan on ANA, you can make use of their Tebura Service, which we review for you here.
What surprised us
1. The weather changes a lot across the country. In fall and winter, Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and (when we’ve gone) Sapporo can feel like completely different trips. In Sapporo, you can feel the biting northern winds, and then in Hiroshima, it can be 25 degrees in December. Pack layers, and check the forecast for each city, not just Tokyo.
2. We never have enough time in each city. Every time, we leave wishing for another day somewhere. If you only have 10 days, consider skipping one city entirely instead of rushing through all four.
3. Kids are resilient! Don’t worry too much about them not being able to keep up on this trip. Just make sure you find some time to rest and keep them fuelled with plenty of onigiri and other snacks along the way.
Rough budget
We try to stay in decently priced hotels throughout our trips. We are members of the Seibu Prince Hotel chain, but also enjoy staying at other chains across the country. In Japan, we aim to spend between $150-250 CAD per night for hotels.
Tip: Many hotels will charge you a higher rate for two or more children, so factor that into your budget.
Overall, we expect to spend between $10,000 and $15,000 CAD for the entire trip. This covers food, accommodation, tickets, transportation, and shopping for a family of four for about 10-14 days.
What to pack
We made a free checklist from our own trips that you can find here. Because the weather varies by region, layers are the single most important thing.
FAQ
Is Japan good for kids?
In our opinion, Japan is one of the best countries for kids to travel to. It is safe, efficient, and relatively affordable. It seems like wherever we go, there is always something for kids to do and see.
How many days do you need for Japan with kids?
Ten days works, but it’s tight if you want to visit four cities. Our recommendation is to start with a 14-day trip if possible to truly experience several Japanese cities.
Do you need a stroller to travel in Japan?
No, but it helps. Our daughter turned 5 and still asks for the stroller, but we have managed to get by without it, and it can help a lot, especially on packed trains. Just be prepared to do a lot of piggybacking!
What’s the best time of year to go to Japan?
We usually go in the fall and winter because it is not too hot and not too cold, depending on where you go. But also, the food is delicious, and you get to enjoy the Christmas displays around the country.
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