From samurai castles to neon skylines, Japan blends centuries of tradition with inventive modern life. Tokyo—a tiny fishing village just 500 years ago—is now a mega-city of anime arcades, Michelin ramen, and serene Shinto shrines tucked between skyscrapers. Kyoto, spared much wartime damage, shelters Zen gardens, vermilion gates, and artisan alleyways where incense and matcha drift on the air.

For families, the country shines with efficient trains, spotless streets, and kind hospitality. Meals are a delight: slurp udon in cozy shops, try conveyor-belt sushi, or sample regional snacks at bustling markets. A soak in a natural hot spring in Hakone is the perfect way to slow down while gazing toward majestic Mt. Fuji.

Practical notes: Pack comfortable walking shoes and layers (temples and mountains can be breezy). Trains run like clockwork; tap an IC card or buy QR-code tickets. Many baths have tattoo rules; private family baths and Hakone ryokan options bypass this. Book popular attractions (teamLab, temples with timed slots) and food tours ahead—especially in peak seasons.

Tokyo

Tokyo dazzles with contrasting neighborhoods—historic Asakusa and thunderous Senso-ji, fashion-forward Harajuku, techy Akihabara, and cinematic Shibuya Crossing. It’s museum-rich (Edo-Tokyo Museum exhibits the city’s dramatic rebirth; Ueno Park packs in family-friendly museums and a zoo) and incredibly edible, from kid-approved curry rice and gyoza to refined tempura.

Getting there: Fly into HND or NRT. Compare fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Families arriving at NRT may prefer a prebooked ride: Narita Airport(NRT) Private Transfer.

Where to stay (family-friendly picks near transit):

• Mid-range favorite in Shinjuku with easy JR/metro connections: Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku.
• Spacious rooms and a rooftop pool vibe in high-rise towers: Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo.
• Fun for Disney days (quick to the parks): Hilton Tokyo Bay.

Browse more options: Hotels.com Tokyo or family apartments on VRBO Tokyo.

Great guided options to streamline Day 2–4:

• Tokyo Customized Private Tour: See Top Attractions in 1 Day

  

• Tokyo Shinjuku Sumo Show & Experience with Photo

  

• Tokyo: Shinjuku Food Tour (13 Dishes at 4 Local Eateries)

  

Day 1: Arrive Tokyo, settle in Shinjuku

Afternoon: Land and ride the Limousine Bus or JR train to Shinjuku. Check in and refresh. Stretch your legs at Shinjuku Gyoen’s broad lawns—kids can run, adults decompress under towering pines.

Evening: Dinner near the hotel: try Nabezo for all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu (broths from mild kombu to spicy) or Kura Sushi conveyor-belt for fun, affordable plates. Treats after: BAKE Cheese Tart in Lumine for creamy Hokkaido tarts.

Day 2: Old Tokyo, museums, and Skytree views

Morning: Asakusa’s Senso-ji Temple: walk Nakamise-dori for souvenirs (maneki-neko, fans) and warm melonpan from Kagetsudo. Kids love the omikuji fortunes. Coffee and anmitsu at a retro kissaten nearby.

Afternoon: Ueno Park museums: the National Museum of Nature and Science has hands-on science halls and dinosaur galleries. Ueno Zoo is compact and stroller-friendly. Lunch ideas: Tendon Tenya for affordable tempura bowls or hearty udon at Inaniwa-style shops.

Evening: Tokyo Skytree Town for shopping at Solamachi and panoramic views. Dinner upstairs (e.g., Rokurinsha tsukemen) before heading back. Alternatively, book the Tokyo Sumo Entertainment Show with Chicken Hot Pot and Photo

for a ringside cultural evening that kids remember.

Day 3: Harajuku, Meiji Shrine, and Shibuya Crossing

Morning: Step from towering cedar woods to pop culture in minutes: start at Meiji Jingu’s hushed pathways, then browse Takeshita Street for candy-colored crepes and character shops. Coffee break at a third-wave spot around Omotesando.

Afternoon: Shibuya Crossing and Hachiko statue photos, then up to Shibuya Sky for city views. Lunch ideas: Maisen Aoyama for tender tonkatsu or Genki Sushi for button-order fun. Shop at Shibuya Scramble Square’s family-friendly food halls.

Evening: Shinjuku night lights. Families can book the Shinjuku Food Tour (small-group grazing across four spots) or dine at Omoide Yokocho early for yakitori skewers. Cap with the free Tokyo Metropolitan Government observatory.

Day 4: teamLab, shopping, and a relaxing spa

Morning: teamLab Planets (Toyosu) for immersive digital art you can walk through—barefoot, mirror pools, and interactive light fields. Book early. Quick bite at Toyosu Market’s restaurants (fresh sushi, tempura) post-visit.

Afternoon: Ginza window-shopping (Itoya for stationery heaven) or Akihabara arcades for retro and new games. Culture lovers can add a private guide: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

to tailor the day to your interests.

Evening: Soak at Spa LaQua (Tokyo Dome City; family-friendly with age rules) to rest legs before tomorrow’s mountain air. Dinner around Kanda for gyoza and curry rice or head back to Shinjuku for udon at Tsurutontan (huge bowls, kid-pleasing).

Hakone (Mt. Fuji Area)

Hakone has steamed up since Edo-era travelers rested their feet in onsen along the Tokaido Road. Today it’s a family haven: open-air sculpture gardens, ropeways over sulfuric Owakudani, Lake Ashi’s pirate ships, and ryokan dinners where seasonal kaiseki arrives like edible art. On clear days, Fuji rises like a painted screen.

Getting there from Tokyo (morning of Day 5):

• Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto: ~85 minutes, about ¥2,500 per adult. Check times/tickets via Trip.com trains.
• JR Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Odawara: ~35 minutes on Kodama/Hikari, about ¥3,500–¥4,000; transfer to Hakone Tozan Railway or bus.

Where to stay: Choose a ryokan with private family baths in Gora or Hakone-Yumoto. Browse Hotels.com Hakone or spacious villas via VRBO Hakone. Tip: the Hakone Freepass covers the ropeway/boats and saves money.

Prefer a guided Fuji/Hakone day (if basing in Tokyo):

• Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train

  

• Private Tour to Mt. Fuji and Hakone (Fully Licenced Operator)

  

Day 5: Tokyo → Hakone, open-air art and onsen night

Morning: Depart Tokyo after breakfast. Drop bags at your ryokan. Head to the Hakone Open-Air Museum where kids can clamber through the netted Woods of Net and adults admire Picasso ceramics.

Afternoon: Gora Park’s greenhouses and craft studios (try a quick pottery or glass-sandblasting class). Coffee and cheesecake at Bakery & Table Hakone or a soft-serve stop at a ropeway kiosk.

Evening: Onsen time before a ryokan kaiseki feast—look for local specialties like yuba (tofu skin) and mountain vegetables. Casual option: Tamura Ginkatsu-tei’s famed tofu katsu (go early to avoid queues).

Day 6: Lake Ashi cruise, Owakudani ropeway, Fuji views

Morning: Board the pirate ship across Lake Ashi to Hakone-machi. Visit Hakone Shrine’s lakeside torii for family photos. Snack on sesame dango from a lakeside stall.

Afternoon: Ropeway to Owakudani to see steaming vents and try kuro-tamago (black eggs said to add seven years to your life). On clear days, Fuji dominates the skyline—this is your postcard moment.

Evening: Return via cable car and Hakone Tozan train. Pick a casual dinner near Hakone-Yumoto—soba at Hatsuhana or curry rice at a kissaten—and enjoy a final soak. Note: ropeway can close for volcanic gases; staff will reroute you via buses covered by the Freepass.

Kyoto (with Nara & Osaka day trips)

Kyoto is Japan’s cultural heart—1,000+ temples, geiko districts, and wooden townhouses perfuming lanes with incense and grilled yakitori. Families love how compact sights cluster by area: vermilion gates at Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama’s bamboo grove, and Nishiki Market’s pickles and taiyaki.

Getting there from Hakone (morning of Day 7): JR Shinkansen from Odawara to Kyoto in about 2 hr 10 min on Hikari, roughly ¥11,000 per adult. Reserve seats and check schedules on Trip.com trains.

Where to stay:

• Excellent value and location for families: Hotel M's Est Shijo Karasuma.
• Polished, quiet base with shuttle—good for multi-night stays: Kyoto Tokyu Hotel.
• Budget-friendly, social vibe with private family rooms: Piece Hostel Sanjo.

See more: Hotels.com Kyoto or VRBO Kyoto.

Helpful guided tours:

• 10 Must-see Spots in Kyoto One Day Private Tour (up to 7 people)

  

• From Kyoto/Osaka: Kyoto Must-see Spots & Nara Park One Day Tour

  

• Osaka evening foodie add-on: Osaka Food Tour: 13 Dishes at 5 Local Eateries

  

Day 7: Hakone → Kyoto, Fushimi Inari and Gion glow

Morning: Shinkansen Odawara → Kyoto. Drop bags and grab lunch around Kyoto Station’s Ramen Koji (floor of regional ramen shops—fun for kids to pick a bowl).

Afternoon: Fushimi Inari’s torii tunnels—start at the base shrine and walk 15–30 minutes up for lighter crowds and views.

Evening: Gion and Yasaka Shrine at dusk; stroll Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka lanes. Dinner on Pontocho Alley—try yakitori, tofu hotpot, or Kyoto-style katsu. Dessert: matcha parfait at a tea salon.

Day 8: Arashiyama bamboo, river breezes, and golden pavilions

Morning: Early to Arashiyama’s bamboo grove before crowds. Visit Tenryu-ji’s Zen garden; kids enjoy Iwatayama Monkey Park if you’re up for a short uphill hike.

Afternoon: Lunch at Arashiyama Yoshimura (soba with river views) or Tenryu-ji’s Shigetsu for shojin ryori (vegan temple cuisine). Then bus or taxi to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion).

Evening: Relax in a historic public bath like Funaoka Onsen (not a hot spring but beautifully atmospheric; check family/tattoo rules). Alternatively, unwind at the hotel and snack through Nishiki Market—tamago-yaki sticks, sesame croquettes, pickled cucumbers.

Day 9: Nara deer, Great Buddha, and Osaka option

Morning: Train to Nara (Kintetsu Limited Express ~35–45 minutes). Feed the bowing deer in Nara Park (mind the snack paper wrappers) and step into Todai-ji to see the Great Buddha—staggering in scale.

Afternoon: Kasuga Taisha’s lantern-lined paths; lunch on kakinoha-zushi (mackerel wrapped in persimmon leaves) at Hiraso. Catch mochi-pounding at Nakatanidou if timing aligns. Return to Kyoto for souvenir runs along Teramachi-dori.

Evening: Optional hop to Osaka (JR or Hankyu ~45–60 minutes) for neon Dotonbori and the Osaka Food Tour or dine in Kyoto: izakaya skewers, Kyoto-style grilled eel, or a cozy curry house.

Day 10: Kyoto slow morning and departure

Morning: Quiet finale at Sanjusangendo (1,001 serene Kannon statues) or a tea ceremony near Gion to anchor the trip in ritual calm. Last-minute gifts: wagashi sweets and beautifully packaged senbei.

Afternoon: Depart from KIX or ITM (Osaka) or return to Tokyo by Shinkansen if your flight leaves from there (~2 hr 15 min, about ¥14,000). Compare routes and times on Trip.com trains and long-haul flights on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com.

Tokyo food and coffee ideas by area (quick-reference)

• Asakusa: street melonpan, sweet potato chips, tempura lunch at Tendon Tenya.
• Ueno: buttery katsu sandos and café puddings in old-school kissaten.
• Harajuku/Omotesando: crepes (strawberry custard), fluffy pancakes, and third-wave coffee.
• Shibuya: Genki Sushi or Uobei for fast, fun sushi; ramen at Afuri (refreshing yuzu broth).
• Shinjuku: Nabezo shabu-shabu, gyoza specialists, depachika (department-store food halls) for bento picnics.

Estimated intercity travel times and costs (family budgeting)

• Tokyo → Hakone (Romancecar): ~85 min, ~¥2,500 adult; JR + local: ~60–90 min total, ~¥3,500–¥4,500.
• Hakone (Odawara) → Kyoto: ~2 hr 10 min, ~¥11,000 adult reserved seat on Hikari.
• Kyoto → Osaka (day trip): 30–60 min each way, ~¥420–¥1,200 depending on line.
• Kyoto → KIX: ~75–90 min by Limited Express Haruka, ~¥2,900.

Note on passes: After recent price changes, point-to-point Shinkansen tickets often beat a JR Pass for this 10-day plan. Use IC cards for city travel and the Hakone Freepass in Hakone.

Alternative Fuji day tours from Tokyo (if you skip sleeping in Hakone)

• Mount Fuji Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Tokyo

  

• Tokyo: Mt.Fuji & Lake Kawaguchiko 1-Day Bus Tour w/Optional Lunch

  

• Mt Fuji Private Day Trip from Tokyo with English speaking driver

  

Dining highlights in Kyoto for families: Musashi Sushi (conveyor-belt fun), Ippudo for approachable tonkotsu ramen, Omen for thick udon and vegetable sides, and Nishiki Market bites (baby octopus, fresh tofu doughnuts). In Nara, don’t miss warm mochi at Nakatanidou. For Osaka nights, takoyaki stands and okonomiyaki griddles steal the show.

Accommodations quick-links for all cities:

• Tokyo: Hotels.com | VRBO
• Hakone: Hotels.com | VRBO
• Kyoto: Hotels.com | VRBO

Final packing tip: bring a small towel and lightweight slippers for onsen/sento days, and a coin purse for vending machines—kids love choosing seasonal drinks after temple walks.

Trip summary: Ten days carry you from Tokyo’s energy to Hakone’s hot-spring calm and Kyoto’s quiet beauty, with Mt. Fuji a constant muse. The plan balances family-friendly museums, street snacks, and restful onsen time—so everyone goes home smiling and well-fed.