How to Spend 10 Days in Japan with Kids: Tokyo, Kawaguchiko, Nagoya Itinerary

Traveled in October 2025

Japan is full of quirky, one-of-a-kind experiences that will make your family trip unforgettable. While traveling to Japan with kids may seem daunting, it’s actually one of our favorite places to visit with little ones! It’s safe, clean, and packed with kid-friendly activities, so the only stress is managing your kid’s mood. Since we’ve done cultural sightseeing in our previous trip to Japan pre-kids, I tailored this trip to what our toddler would enjoy. Originally, we planned to stay in Tokyo for the whole trip for convenience. But I prefer the vibe of smaller cities and couldn’t resist escaping Tokyo. This trip to Tokyo, Kawaguchiko, and Nagoya has the perfect mix of theme parks and kid-friendly museums for kids, and nature and relaxation for adults. Copy this Japan with kids itinerary to make planning your family vacation to Japan a breeze!

Japan with Kids Itinerary

When to Go

I love traveling during shoulder season, especially when we’re visiting busy cities like those in Japan. Asian metropolises tend to be much more densely populated than most U.S. cities. So even if you’re used to city life at home, the sheer number of people in Japanese cities can feel overwhelming. That’s even more true if city living isn’t your norm, or if you’re traveling with kids. Visiting during less busy times means more breathing room, shorter lines, and a more relaxed experience.

Late spring and late fall are the sweet spots for visiting Japan. During that time, there is a balance of mild weather and lighter crowds. That’s because early spring is packed for cherry blossom season, summer is hot and humid, September brings a higher chance of heavy monsoon rains, and winter can be cold and snowy. Personally, I prefer visiting in mid-May, just after Golden Week, or October to November for the best mix of weather and crowd levels. We did this Japan with kids itinerary in mid October and had a mix of cloudy weather with hot days in the 80s.

How to Get There

There are two airports in Tokyo, Haneda airport (airport code HND) and Narita airport (airport code NRT). Use airport code TYO to search for both Tokyo airports at once. Haneda airport is much closer to the city center. Which makes it cheaper and faster to travel between Haneda airport and the city center. It’s more convenient to fly into Haneda airport, but there is often more availability and cheaper flights to Narita airport.

Booking tip: certain flight searches like Kayak, Skyscanner, or Google flights allow you to set price trackers that will alert you when the price of your flight changes. I never book a flight without tracking prices first because there is no better feeling than snagging a good deal! And if you book your flights with a travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire card, the card usually includes some travel insurance protections (like lost luggage reimbursements, trip delay reimbursements, or trip cancellation insurance) to save you the cost of buying extra travel insurance. Use my contact form if you’re looking for a credit card referral with bonus sign up points!

Bonus Booking tip: sign your kiddo up for frequent flyer accounts with airlines to start earning airline miles for them! Most airline miles do not expire for minors so your kiddo will thank you later.

Where to Stay

For this Japan with kids itinerary, we stayed 3 nights in Tokyo, 2 nights in Kawaguchiko, 2 nights in Nagoya, and 3 nights in Tokyo. Starting and ending our trip at the same hotel was nice because we could leave our large luggage at our Tokyo hotel while we were visiting Kawaguchiko and Nagoya.

When traveling with our kid, I always prioritize convenience to transportation so that we can spend less time in transit. I did a ton of research to find the best areas and hotels that were the perfect combination of convenient to transportation and family-friendly, and I was really happy with the options that we chose!

• Tokyo Station: Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi (book a room with train view!)
• Kawaguchiko: Fujikawaguchiko Onsen Konanso (amazing family-friendly onsen hotel)
• Nagoya: Nikko Style Nagoya (huge family rooms!)

Find all our recommendations for the best family-friendly hotels in Tokyo in this post!

How to Get Around

Japan Rail Pass – Yes or No?

There are many different rail companies that run throughout the different regions of Japan. If you don’t want to bother with buying separate tickets, get a Japan-wide Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass). The JR Pass is available for 7, 14, or 21 consecutive days.

• Get your Japan Rail Pass on Klook with extra bonus offers (like free eSIMs)!

The Japan Rail Pass includes:

• Unlimited rides on most train lines (including the shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto)
• Unlimited rides on local JR buses lines
• JR ferry in Miyajima
• Find the full list of travel covered by the JR Pass here

If you are traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto and doing some sightseeing in Hiroshima (including Miyajima), then the Japan Rail Pass is worth the cost. Use a Japan Rail Pass calculator (make sure to clear the default routes in this calculator first) to input your train routes to determine if the Japan Rail Pass is worth it.

We got the Japan Rail Pass for our previous trip to Japan because our itinerary made it worth it, but we did not get the pass for this Japan with kids itinerary since we were just staying around Tokyo. If you are only staying in one area of the country, then it would be more cost effective to buy a regional pass or just pay for individual train tickets. Use a Suica card to pay for local travel on the local trains and subways if buying individual train tickets (add it directly to your iPhone through the wallet app by hitting the plus sign, then Transit card, then search for Suica). There was no regional pass that covered all the regions we were visiting, so we bought separate train and bus tickets for each leg of this trip.

• If you want to buy shinkansen tickets ahead of time from overseas, the easiest way is to book them through Klook.
• Another option is to book directly through the Smart-Ex website. However, note that it is a little picky about accepting foreign credit cards. I had to try a couple different cards before the transaction processed successfully.

Check out our Japan travel tips with kids for more details on how to navigate public transportation in Japan with kids!

What to Eat

Eating well in Japan with kids is totally possible! It just takes a little more planning, because you won’t be able to just stop into whatever tiny restaurant looks good. And even if you have picky eaters, there are plenty of restaurants in Japan where you’ll be able to find something your kid will eat.

Read our guide on what to eat in Japan with kids for ideas on kid-friendly Japanese foods and where to find them!

Show Me the Money

The currency in Japan is the Japanese Yen. Unlike many other countries, cash is still very widely used (and preferred) in Japan. While we usually rely mostly on our credit cards when traveling and only withdraw a small amount of cash, that was not the case in Japan. Many of the restaurants and smaller stores prefer cash and may not even accept credit cards.

The easiest way to withdraw cash in Japan is to look for a local 7-Eleven or the 7 Bank atm in train stations. The ATMs in the 7-Elevens accept international debit cards and are open all the time. (7-Elevens in Japan are magical and deserve a tribute post of their own. We went into one at least once a day – for breakfast, a snack, or cash, and it never disappoints.) Always choose to withdraw cash in Yen for the best exchange rate!

Saving tip: to avoid ATM fees (from the foreign bank and your bank), look for a checking account that offers ATM fee reimbursements. I can personally recommend the Schwab investors checking account and the Betterment checking account for this purpose.

How to Stay Connected

There are three main options for staying connected in Japan. You can use a pocket wifi, an e-sim, or a physical sim card.

Pocket Wifi

• Good For: groups that are traveling together who will not be splitting up.
• Pros:
  • Good for phones that are still locked because you can’t change sim cards.
  • If you’re planning on going to Tokyo Disney, then having a pocket wifi might come in handy to ensure you have fast internet to book the passes since cell service might be slow.
• Cons:
  • It is an extra device to keep charged and carry around during the day.
  • Must arrange for delivery to receive it and send it back at the end of the trip.

E-Sim

• Good For: people with unlocked phones who only need internet data
• Pros:
  • Easiest and cheapest option to have internet data available on the phone right after landing. You can install the e-sim while back at home, and just toggle it on once you get to Japan.
  • The data packages are surprisingly cheap, and it’s easy to top up more data as you go. Airalo is our favorite e-sim company and we have used it in Canada and Europe without problems. You can buy a Japan only e-sim or a regional Asia e-sim if traveling to multiple Asian countries.
    • Use my referral code ATEASP4988 for $3 off your first Airalo e-sim!
• Cons:
  • Must have an unlocked phone to install an e-sim.
  • The e-sim only provides data and has no cellular service for making or receiving calls.

Physical Sim Card

• Good For: Those who want data and the capability to make local phone calls while in Japan.
• Pros:
  • Will have calling capabilities.
• Cons:
  • Probably the most expensive.
  • Have to make an extra stop to pick one up. You can find physical sim cards at stores in the airport or order it online for pick up at the airport to start using it right away.

Japan with Kids Itinerary at a Glance

Day	Activity	Sleep In
1	Arrive in Tokyo	Tokyo
2	Tokyo Shinjuku Tokyo Fire Museum, Tokyo Toy Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory	Tokyo
3	Tokyo Disneyland	Tokyo
4	Travel to Kawaguchiko Chureito Pagoda	Kawaguchiko
5	Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway Thomas Land in Fuji-Q Highland Park Oishi Park	Kawaguchiko
6	Travel to Nagoya SCMAGLEV and Railway Park	Nagoya
7	Legoland Japan	Nagoya
8	Nagoya Castle Travel to Tokyo	Tokyo
9	Tokyo DisneySea	Tokyo
10	Tokyo TeamLab Borderless	Tokyo
11	Imperial Palace Gardens Fly Home

Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo

Our Pick: Airport Limousine Bus

We landed at Haneda Airport in the mid-afternoon. (Scroll all the way down to the last day for instructions for Narita airport.) There are a couple ways to get from Haneda to Tokyo Station, but when we’re traveling with our kiddo, convenience always wins over saving a few yen. Our pick is the Airport Limousine Bus because it’s the most direct option, has plenty of luggage space, and drops you right at Tokyo Station. Plus, kids under 6 ride free if they sit on your lap, or you can pay the discounted child fare for their own seat. Tickets can be booked in advance online or purchased easily at the airport.

We purchased at the airport just in case of flight delays. Beware that if using a credit card at the ticket machines at the airport, it requires a credit card pin (which typically need to be requested from your bank days ahead!). Luckily, I had the Suica already loaded into my iPhone so we used that to purchase. The trip to Tokyo Station takes about 40-60 minutes depending on which terminal you board the bus on.

Other Options:

• Private Transfer: If you have a larger family and don’t want to deal with public transportation, another good option is to book a private transfer. This is definitely the easiest and fastest option, and could be cost effective if you have a bigger group.
• By Rail: The fastest and cheapest options are to take the Tokyo Monorail or the Keikyu line. However, these options only take you to a station on the Yamanote Loop Line, and then you will have to make a train transfer to get to your final destination. Luggage space is also more limited on these options, so you will have to arrange for your luggage to be forwarded at the airport, which adds to the overall cost.

Once we got to Tokyo Station, we checked into our hotel and spent the rest of the evening wandering around Tokyo Station. There are plenty of food options in Tokyo Station! After eating, we browsed Character Street for a nice Tomica train as a souvenir and to keep our kiddo entertained during the trip (one of our tips for surviving toddler travel!).

Read our guide to Tokyo Station to find out how to navigate the station and more things to do!

Day 2: Tokyo Shinjuku

We were up bright and early thanks to jetlag. Our initial plan was to visit Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in the morning for more of a big green space for our kid to run around. But the drizzly weather changed our minds, so we decided to take advantage of the lack of crowds and explore Tokyo Station a bit more instead. It gave us a chance to get our bearings, find the entrances for the bus, train, and shinkansen so that we wouldn’t get lost in the next couple days, and let our kiddo burn off some energy before the day really started.

The plan for this day was to just visit the Fire Museum and Toy Museum to leave time for a nap. I’ll admit we did not do a very good job of this because we kept wanting to do “just one more thing” since we were in the area, and ended up skipping the nap altogether. Not the best move for adjusting to the time change or for our kiddo’s mood! If your child doesn’t nap though, you can easily hit all these spots since they’re all in Shinjuku.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

• Age Range: all ages!
• Cost: 500 yen
• How to Get There: from Tokyo Station, take the Marunouchi (red) subway line to Shinjuku-gyoemmae station (stop M10). Take exit 1 at the station. The Tokyo Toy Museum is a 10 minute walk from the Okido Gate of the Garden.
• Hours: 9am – 6pm (March 15 to June 30 and August 21 to September 30), 9am – 7pm (July 1 to August 20, 9am – 4:30pm (October 1 to March 14)

If you’re looking for a green escape from Tokyo’s concrete jungle, then the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. While there aren’t any play structures, the wide open lawns are perfect for kids to run and play. In spring, it’s also one of the best spots for cherry blossom viewing.

Tokyo Fire Museum

• Age Range: all ages!
• Cost: FREE!!
• How to Get There: from Tokyo Station, take the Marunouchi (red) subway line to Yotsuya-sanchome station (stop M11). Take exit 2 at Yotsuya-sanchome station, which is directly connected to the museum’s basement floor.
• Hours: Tues-Sun 9:30am – 5pm, closed Mondays and New Year’s Holidays (12/29-1/3)

If your little kid loves fire trucks (because of course they do), then they’ll have a great time at the Tokyo Fire Museum! This free museum has a collection of antique fire trucks and fire equipment for kids to admire, and a floor of interactive fireman-related activities and exhibits.

The 3rd floor is the highlight of this museum for kids. This floor is where all the interactive exhibits are. There is a cartoon movie with a moving diorama about fire fighters in action, a firefighter helicopter simulator, an interactive fire truck simulator game where you drive a fire truck to a fire and then put out a fire, and an arts and crafts area where you can color a fire truck and see it driving on screen. There are also fireman dress up stations, and videos about firefighting to watch. Not surprisingly, we spent the majority of our time on this floor. Since we visited on a weekday morning, there weren’t too many other kids and we did not have to wait for any of the simulators.

Tokyo Toy Museum

• Age Range: 0 – 8 years old
• Cost: Adults 1100 yen online/1300 yen on site, child (6 mo-elementary school) 800 yen online/1000 yen on site
  • Buy tickets online here. I bought our tickets online the same day before we walked into the museum!
• How to Get There: The Tokyo Toy Museum is a 6 minute walk from the Tokyo Fire Museum so it’s convenient to combine the two museums in one day.
• Hours: 10am – 4pm (last admission 3:30pm), closed Thursdays

The Tokyo Toy Museum is a hands-on museum housed inside a former elementary school. There are exhibits and play areas here for all ages, from infants to elementary school aged kids. Because it is a museum of historical toys, most of the toys are wood-based, so it has a very Montessori feel. The museum has three floors. The entrance is on the second floor.

• Second Floor: Good Toy Gallery (filled with popular wooden toys kids can play with), a Special Exhibition Room showcasing rare toys, and the Wood Toy Forest (an indoor play area with slides and a wooden ball pit that my kid loved).
• First Floor: designed for infants, featuring a Wooden Baby Room with toys for ages 0–2, a nursing room, and a cozy play space.
• Third Floor: caters to older children, with a Toy Factory for hands-on workshops and rooms full of traditional Japanese toys, instruments, and science games.

We spent most of our time on the second floor since the third-floor activities were a bit advanced for our 3-year-old, but older kids were having a blast playing the games together there.

Hungry? Bookmark our guide to yummy kid-friendly restaurants in Shinjuku and other areas of Tokyo to avoid a hangry kid!

Godzilla & Shopping

The giant Godzilla peeking out from the top of Hotel Gracery in Kabukicho was one of the things we probably should have skipped to make time for a nap. It’s about a 15-20 minute walk from the Fire Museum and Toy Museum area, and it’s right in the heart of the busy area of Shinjuku by Shinjuku JR Station. We did get a little bit of shopping done at Muji and Don Quijote along the way. But the traffic, people, and general overstimulation prevented our kid from napping in the stroller even though he was very tired.

The flagship Tokyo Disney store is also in this area. You can create your own customized Disney merchandise here, which is a great souvenir for Disney fans!

For a mom-oriented curated list of things to buy in Japan, check out my Japan shopping guide for moms here!

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory

• Age Range: all ages!
• Cost: FREE!!
• How to Get There: from Tokyo Station, take the Marunouchi (red) subway line to Nishi-shinjuku Station and exit via E2. To access the observation deck, take the Observation Deck Elevator from the first floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government No. 1 Building.
• Hours:
  • South Observation Deck: 9:30am to 9:30pm. Closed the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month and New Year’s Holidays (12/29-31, 1/2-3).
  • North Observation Deck: 9:30am to 5pm. Closed the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month and New Year’s Holidays (12/29-31, 1/2-3).

There are a lot of observation decks in Tokyo, but the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory is one of the best free ones! On a clear day, you can even see Mount Fuji. From the observation deck, you pretty much have a 360 degree view all around Tokyo. There is usually a line to get in. So if it’s a cloudy day, then it may not be worth it to wait in line with a kid.

If your kiddo still has some energy to burn after all that sightseeing, there is a playground nearby to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building at the Shinjuku Chuo Park Children’s Square.

Want to avoid a hangry kid while sightseeing? I got you! Bookmark my post on kid-friendly restaurants in Tokyo for recommendations on where to eat near Shinjuku!

Day 3: Tokyo Disneyland

• Age Range: all ages!
• Cost: Dynamic pricing based on expected crowds ranging from 9400 yen – 10900 yen for adults. Kids 3 and under are free. Juniors (age 12-17) and child (age 4-11) are cheaper.
  • See my post on how to visit Tokyo Disney with kids for all of the details on buying tickets.
  • TL;DR: tickets on the official Tokyo Disney website go on sale at 2pm Japan time 2 months before. Buy tickets online as soon as possible, because they can sell out. Tickets are not sold at the gate. You must buy them ahead of time online!
• Location: Tokyo Bay
• How to Get There: from Tokyo Station, take the Keiyo Line (JE) train to Maihama Station (stop JE07). It is a looooong walk to the JE line, but there are helpful markings on the floor of Tokyo Station that you can follow to the train platform. Follow signs for Tokyo Disney (or just follow the crowd) after exiting the train. Turn right after exiting the station to walk across the walkway to the entrance.
• Hours: generally 9am – 9pm, but check the official Tokyo Disney website for daily operating hours as the park can close early on some days. Make sure to check the operating hours before booking your tickets!

Let me preface this by saying we are not a hardcore Disney family. So our visit to Tokyo Disneyland was more lowkey since we didn’t need to go on every ride. Plus, some rides have height restrictions, so little kids can’t go on them all anyway. Even if you’re not a Disney superfan, Tokyo Disneyland is absolutely worth visiting because it’s Disney with a distinct Japanese flair! You’ll find rides, snacks, and souvenirs you won’t see at any other Disney park. Fun fact: it’s unique because it’s not actually owned by Disney.

If you want the low stress, non-FOMO version of visiting Tokyo Disneyland with a toddler, check out our guide for toddler-approved rides, can’t-miss snacks, and all the logistical details.

Tokyo Disneyland is so much more affordable than visiting a Disney park in the US. Especially if visiting with kids under 4, since they’re free! Call it travel math, but I think the cost-effectiveness of visiting Tokyo Disney compared to a Disney resort in the US makes the whole Japan trip worth it.

Day 4: Travel to Kawaguchiko

Kawaguchiko is a pretty little lake resort town with views of Mount Fuji (when it’s not covered in clouds). We love leaving Tokyo to get away from the hustle and bustle. Spending a couple days in Kawaguchiko enjoying the nature and scenery was a perfect break in the middle of our vacation. There are so many other ways to enjoy nature in this area, and we can’t wait to go back!

Lunch at Hoto Fudo

We arrived in Kawaguchiko right at lunch time. Before heading to our hotel, we stopped for lunch at Hoto Fudo, which is right across from Kawaguchiko Station. Whenever we travel to a new area in Japan, I always like to try the local food specialties. Hoto noodles are a specialty of this region. It’s a hearty pot of thick cut noodles, simmered in a broth of seasonal vegetables and miso soup. This steaming noodle soup is so flavorful that you really don’t miss the meat, and it really warms your soul. Half of this restaurant is tatami mat style seating, which was a fun experience for our kid.

Chureito Pagoda

• Hours: open 24 hours

Our room at our onsen hotel was not ready yet when we arrived, so we dropped off our luggage and headed out to Chureito Pagoda. This spot is famous for offering that iconic view of Mount Fuji behind the bright red pagoda, but unfortunately, it was super foggy the day we went, so Mount Fuji was completely hidden. Even without the Mount Fuji view, our kid had a blast climbing all the stairs to the pagoda. And we picked up some fresh fruit from local vendors along the way. A highlight for my kid was the Thomas the Train themed train that was on display at the station, which was open for families to explore.

Relax at the Onsen Hotel & Kaiseki Dinner

Staying at an onsen hotel is definitely a bucket-list experience when visiting Japan. It’s something we’ve done on every trip to Japan, and loved it every time! It’s especially great if you’re not comfortable with the public nudity at a public onsen, since many onsen hotels offer rooms with an in-room onsen or private onsens you can reserve. Our little one was still too small to safely enjoy very much time in a full-body onsen, so we rested our weary feet in the foot bath on the hotel’s rooftop and soaked in the beautiful lake views instead.

After a bit of relaxing it was time for our kaiseki dinner, served in our room. A kaiseki dinner is a must-eat experience in Japan. It’s not just delicious, but also beautifully presented and downright decadent. Our onsen hotel turned out to be surprisingly kid-friendly, even providing a generously portioned kids’ kaiseki meal every night, complete with dessert! I’m sure Japanese kids enjoy all the food in the kids’ meal, but our little one is still a bit picky, so we ended up eating a lot of it ourselves (and honestly, it was so tasty, even for “kid food”!).

We chose to stay in a traditional tatami mat room, where attendants set up futons for us to sleep on every night. We don’t usually co-sleep at home, so our kid loved the experience of having a giant slumber party with mom and dad on the floor. It definitely made the bedtime routine quicker and with less struggle.

Day 5: Thomas Land

Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway

• Hours: 8:30am – 5pm

We squeezed in a trip up the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway before heading to Thomas Land because we thought the clouds were starting to clear in the morning and we might get a peek of Mount Fuji. Sadly, we did not. I’m sure the views are spectacular from the top of the ropeway when Mount Fuji is visible, but it’s skippable if you’re pressed for time if it’s cloudy. We had some nice views of the lake, and at least our kid enjoyed the gondola ride up and down, but it was a pretty quick visit for us.

Thomas Land

• Age Range: best for 0-5 years old
• Hours: 9am – 7pm

Thomas Land is a small theme park within the bigger Fuji-Q Highland theme park. I think our kid loved Thomas Land more than Tokyo Disneyland. If you have a train lover, definitely bring them to Thomas Land! The rides are probably better for kids under 5. But that’s one of the reasons why our kid loved it here. Every ride was just his speed, there were no lines, and everything was Thomas the Train themed! There are also plenty of Thomas the Train photo ops throughout the theme park.

We went on Thomas’ Treasure Hunt, Harold’s Sky Patrol, Thomas and the Dancing Party, and Thomas and Percy’s Fun Ride. We also spent a lot of time in the gift shop, because they had a little interactive section with toy trains and tracks that kids could play with. Japanese kids have a well-deserved reputation for being extremely well-behaved, but after spending a lot of time in the gift shop, I can attest that they throw tantrums just like all our kids. Just goes to show that kids are kids everywhere, and big feelings are the norm, as exhausting as they are.

We had lunch at the restaurant in the theme park. Everything was Thomas the Train themed, as expected. We got one of the sets with a Thomas the Train souvenir plate that you can take home, and he’s still using that plate at home! The restaurant is super kid-friendly, with some tables even being kid-sized, which our little one absolutely loved. While we were eating, there were some kids celebrating a birthday, and the staff came around with a Thomas train and sang a few songs, adding some fun entertainment to our meal. The Thomas and Percy train ride goes right by the seating area of the restaurant, so it was super cute to see all the kids in the restaurant waving at the train every time it went by.

Read our complete guide to Thomas Land in Japan for even more details!

Oishi Park

• Hours: park open 24 hours, Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center 9am – 5pm
• Cost: Free!

When it’s clear, the north side of Lake Kawaguchi has some of the best views of Mount Fuji. Oishi Park, in particular, is a beautiful setting for enjoying views of Mount Fuji. The west side of the park features a “Flower Road,” a lakeside path lined with vibrant flowers that perfectly frame the iconic peak. When we visited, Mount Fuji was obscured by clouds. But it was still a serene and beautiful spot to relax and enjoy the lake’s tranquil scenery.

The Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center next to Oishi Park is a store and cafe selling a variety of local specialties that is worth a browse. I’m a big fan of food souvenirs, and Japan really excels at making delicious and beautifully packaged snacks perfect for gifts (or for treating ourselves!). The Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center has all kinds of local goodies, including cookies and candies made with the region’s famous grapes and blueberries. Plus, if you’re in the mood for a treat, they have some tempting soft-serve ice cream, perfect for enjoying by the lake.

After a full day of exploring, we were very happy to unwind with another delicious kaiseki dinner in our hotel room. The best part was being able to enjoy our meal while it was still hot! Our little one could go back to playing in the room after he finished eating, so we had some peace to actually savor our meal. With a kiddo along, we didn’t get to indulge in many nice dinners during this trip, so these meals were definitely our splurge dinners.

Day 6: Travel to Nagoya

SCMaglev and Railway Park

• Age Range: all ages!
• Cost: 1200 yen for adults, 200 yen for kids 3 and older, 500 yen for school age children.
• How to Get There: from Nagoya Station, take the Aonami Line 10 stops to Kinjofuto Station. After exiting the station, turn left for the Railway Museum.
• Hours: 10am – 5:30pm, closed Tuesdays

If your kid is a train enthusiast like ours, then they will love the SCMaglev and Railway Park. This interactive museum has a bunch of different trains and shinkansens on display that you can go inside. They also have a large train room for kids that like to watch electric train dioramas and a room with a Maglev train simulator. A highlight for older kids (and adults!) is a shinkansen and train simulator where you can experience what it’s like to be a shinkansen or train conductor. Another highlight of the museum is a kids playroom, where kids can play with plarail train tracks. Unfortunately, you have to make reservations for both the train simulator and the kids playroom. Reservations are first come first serve, and both were booked up by the time we arrived to the museum in the late afternoon.

For more kid-friendly things to do in Nagoya, check out our Nagoya with kids itinerary!

Day 7: Legoland Japan

• Age Range: all ages!
• Cost: Dynamic pricing based on expected crowds ranging from 4700 – 6900 yen for adults and 3500 – 4500 yen for kids 3-18 years old when purchased online (500 yen more expensive when purchased at the gate). Kids 2 and under are free.
• How to Get There: from Nagoya Station, take the Aonami Line 10 stops to Kinjofuto Station. After exiting the station, turn right for Legoland Nagoya.
• Hours: 10am – 6pm

Visiting Legoland Nagoya was the main reason we included Nagoya on our itinerary and it did not disappoint! I have not been to any other Legolands, so I don’t have a point of comparison to know if Legoland in Japan is any different. But the rides, photo ops, and playground were such a blast for our kiddo. He enjoyed Legoland more than Disney!

One of the main reasons I think Legoland was such a hit with our kid was the shorter lines. We visited on a Sunday before a school holiday, so it was more crowded than usual, but we still never waited more than 20 minutes for any ride. While there are height restrictions for some attractions, many rides allow smaller kids as long as they’re with an adult. For toddlers, the Duplo Valley, Adventure, and Lego City areas have the most ride options and was where we spent the most time. Our little one especially loved the Lego City area, which has a large play structure. We walked through Knight’s Kingdom, Ninjago World, and Pirate Shores but our kid wasn’t tall enough for most of those rides and the lines were longer, so we just checked out the Lego displays there.

I did notice that there were many more locals at Legoland compared to Tokyo Disney, and there were fewer staff who spoke English. That seems to be the case once you get outside the bigger tourist cities, which was actually more what we expected. We got by just fine using a mix of Google Translate and a bit of pantomiming.

Day 8: Nagoya Castle then Travel to Tokyo

Nagoya Castle

• Age Range: all ages!
• Cost: 500 yen for adults, kids junior high school and younger are free.
• How to Get There: take the Tsurumai (blue) subway line to Sengen-cho Station
• Hours: 9am – 4:30pm, closed New Year’s Holidays (12/29-1/1)

Nagoya Castle is a beautifully reconstructed example of a historic Japanese castle. While you can’t currently go into the main tower keep because of earthquake safety concerns, you can go into the restored Hommaru Palace and enjoy the grounds. There are actors dressed up as samurais and ninjas roaming around the grounds that you can take photos with, which was random but interesting for our kiddo.

Behind the main tower keep, there is an area with a bunch of large stepping stones. There is a great view of the main tower keep from here. But more importantly, all the kids were having great fun jumping from rock to rock.

Meijo Park

Meijo Park is only a 15 minute walk from Nagoya Castle and has some fantastic play structures for kids! This is the largest playground we have seen on this trip, and our kid had a blast here. There are swings, a big kid structure, a little kid structure, and a sand pit, all next to a pretty lakeside path. We spent a good amount of time here, and needless to say, our kiddo was sufficiently tired for our shinkansen trip back to Tokyo.

Day 9: Tokyo DisneySea

• Age Range: all ages!
• Cost: Dynamic pricing based on expected crowds ranging from 9400 yen – 10900 yen for adults. Kids 3 and under are free. Juniors (age 12-17) and child (age 4-11) are cheaper.
  • See my post on how to visit Tokyo Disney with kids for all of the details on buying tickets.
  • TL;DR: tickets on the official Tokyo Disney website go on sale at 2pm Japan time 2 months before. Buy tickets online as soon as possible, because they can sell out. Tickets are not sold at the gate. You must buy them ahead of time online!
• How to Get There: from Tokyo Station, take the Keiyo Line (JE) train to Maihama Station (stop JE07). It is a looooong walk to the JE line, but there are helpful markings on the floor of Tokyo Station that you can follow to the train platform. Follow signs for Tokyo Disney (or just follow the crowds) after exiting the station. Turn left after exiting the station and head towards the Disney Resort Line station. Ride the Disney Resort line to the Tokyo DisneySea stop.
• Hours: generally 9am – 9pm, but check the official Tokyo Disney website for daily operating hours as the park can close early on some days. Make sure to check the operating hours before booking your tickets!

If you can only visit one of the Tokyo Disney parks, make it Tokyo DisneySea. I purposely put Tokyo DisneySea at the end of the itinerary to make sure we were adjusted to the time so we could spend more time in this park. It’s completely unique to Japan, with rides and attractions you won’t find at any other Disney park in the world. It’s also amazing for families with young kids, since it has more kid-friendly rides than Tokyo Disneyland. Our little one absolutely loved Mermaid Lagoon. And the Fantasy Springs rides were so enchanting that even I was completely spellbound as an adult. The Frozen ride really lives up to the hype, and was so worth the DPA pass.

For more details on how to plan your day at Tokyo DisneySea, read our guide on Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea with Toddlers for all the details on which rides are toddler-friendly, how to minimize lines, and can’t miss snacks!

Day 10: Tokyo TeamLab Borderless

• Age Range: all ages!
• Cost: Dynamic pricing based on expected crowds, ranging from 3600 yen – 5600 yen for adults. Kids 3 and under are free. Juniors (age 13-17) and child (age 4-12) are cheaper. Buy tickets at least a month in advance because they usually sell out!
  Buy tickets online on the official website here.
  Buy tickets through Klook here if the official website does not accept your credit card. Some Japanese websites have trouble processing foreign credit cards.
• Location: Azabudai Hills
• How to Get There: from Tokyo Station, take the Marunouchi (red) subway line to Kasumigaseki station (stop M15). Follow signs to transfer to the Hibiya (grey) subway line. Take the Hibiya line to Kamiyacho station (stop H05). Take exit 5 and take the underground passage to the B1 level of Garden Plaza B building (do not go up to ground level).
• Hours: varies depending on the month, but generally from 8/8:30am – 9pm.

I’m sure that you have seen the stunning photos of floating lights and digital art from Tokyo’s teamLab Borderless. But experiencing it in person is something else entirely! I had read that it is an art museum kids will actually enjoy since the exhibits are dynamic and constantly changing. After visiting with our child, I’d say that’s true – unless your kid is afraid of the dark like ours is right now. It was just bad timing for us since he just reached this developmental stage.

The museum is almost completely dark to enhance the light-based exhibits, and some rooms go entirely dark for a bit during transitions. There’s also no set route, so exploring feels like wandering through a dark maze. Our kid’s favorite rooms were the one where you can color a sea creature and watch it swim across the walls, and the big room with a hill that kids were sliding down. Overall though, he found it more spooky than mesmerizing because of the dark. But we found it captivating!

Visiting Borderless vs Planets?

Borderless is located in Azabudai Hills while Planets is located in Odaiba. From where we were staying near Tokyo Station, it was more direct and faster to get to Azabudai Hills than Odaiba.

Borderless is more of a visual experience where you watch the art flowing across the walls, while Planets is more of a sensory experience, with more interactive exhibits that you experience with your entire body. For kids, these interactive exhibits can be incredibly fun. For parents trying to keep track of little kids in the dark, it sounds nerve-wracking. Between the darkness, water, and excitement, it’s easy to imagine little ones running off in all directions in Planets. We opted to save Planets for when our kid is a little older. But if your kids love hands-on, high-energy experiences, Planets is amazing.

For older kids, one pro of choosing TeamLab Planets is that there are many other fun kid-friendly museums and activities in the area, so you can make a whole day of it. The Gas Science Museum, Kidzania, and the Water Science Museum are all in that area.

Day 11: Imperial Palace Gardens and Leave Tokyo

Imperial Palace Gardens

• Age Range: all ages!
• Cost: Free!
• Hours: 9am – 4/5/6pm, depending on the time of year. Closed Mondays and Fridays and New Year’s Holidays (12/28 – 1/3)

We had some time in the morning before leaving for the airport, so we walked around the Imperial Palace Gardens since it was right next to our hotel. The palace itself is not open to the public because the imperial family still live in it. But the east gardens are open for exploring, and are a large area where kids can walk around and burn some energy. We saw people waiting in line for guided tours of the palace grounds, but we preferred to wander around on our own and let our kiddo explore as he pleased to tire him out before the flight.

For our flight home, we departed from Narita Airport, which is located farther from central Tokyo. Just like when we arrived, we prioritized the most direct and easiest way to get there. While there is an Airport Limousine Bus that runs directly from Tokyo Station to Narita, we chose the Narita Express instead. It’s only slightly more expensive, but it’s faster, still direct, and much more comfortable. Another big plus is that the Narita Express train has dedicated luggage racks. The ride from Tokyo Station to Narita Airport takes about 50–60 minutes on the Narita Express, compared to 75–120 minutes on the bus. We bought tickets from the JR East Travel Service Center in Tokyo Station the day before.

There is also a cheaper direct train option – the JR Sobu Line. This route takes around 90 minutes, but since it doesn’t have space for large luggage, you’ll likely need to forward your bags to the airport in advance, which can add extra cost and hassle. For us, the Narita Express felt like the best balance of speed, convenience, and peace of mind.

Packing Essentials for Kids in Japan

• Layers of clothing:
  • Light rain jacket: it’s helpful to keep a packable rain jacket that doesn’t take up too much space in your everyday bag. We didn’t want to bother with carrying multiple umbrellas so a rain jacket was clutch on the sprinkly days.
  • Comfortable walking shoes: everyone does a lot more walking in Japan than usual. Make sure kids have comfortable shoes that are easy on off!
  • Sun hat
  • Socks: part of Japanese culture is taking shoes off indoors, so you will find yourself removing your shoes much more than usual. Make sure to pack the good socks without holes!
  • Japan is a shopping mecca (narrow down your purchases with my curated Japan shopping guide for moms!). If you forget to pack anything, you can probably find what you need at Muji or Uniqlo at a good price!
• Snacks and hydration:
  • Favorite snacks: Japan is a snack paradise, so I’m sure your kiddo will eventually find something that they like at the convenience stores. But bring some favorite snacks from home to tide you over until you figure out which Japanese snacks your kids love.
  • Water bottle: tap water is generally safe to drink in Japan, though we still prefer bottled water to avoid stomach upset as a result of the difference in mineral content.

• Entertainment options for downtime:
  • Screens will usually keep kids occupied, and while our kiddo gets a lot more screen time than usual when traveling, we don’t like to rely solely on screens for entertainment because there are usually more massive meltdowns when we try to turn it off.
  • We bring one new book (search and find books or lift the flap books are great!), Water Wow coloring books, sticker books, and drawing pads for travel days.
  • We usually make a toy store one of our first stops and get a small toy for our kid to play with during the trip. This also doubles as a souvenir, because whenever he plays with the toy at home he remembers where he got it. In Japan, he picked out some Tomica Thomas Trains that he loved.

• Kids supplies for daily living:
  • Sleep essentials: bring anything that your kid needs to sleep well to encourage good sleep while traveling. For us, that is a sound machine.
  • Medications: it goes without saying to pack any prescription medications your kid is taking. I also bring over-the-counter kids medications like Children’s Tylenol, just in case. I’m okay with buying Japanese OTC meds for myself and winging it with the translation, but I prefer using the kids’ OTC meds we’re familiar with because I am sure about the dosing and ingredients.
  • If you forgot anything, look for these stores in Japan that sell all kinds of kids goods: Nishimatsuya, Babies “R” Us, Akachan Honpo
• Travel Stroller: If your kid is not used to walking a lot at home it can be helpful to bring a stroller. But keep in mind that Japan is not as stroller friendly as the US. There are many stairs in train stations and elevators are small and require a longer walk to find. Many restaurants and stores are small and can’t always accommodate a stroller. While we did use our stroller, we folded it up and carried it quite a bit during train transfers to avoid having to take the long way around. If you do bring a stroller, bringing a smaller travel stroller is key. We love our Babyzen Yoyo. The Gb Pockit strollers also pack up amazingly small.
• Hip Seat Carrier: A better alternative to a stroller if your kid is still small enough to carry is a hip seat carrier. We loved using ours during our trip to Switzerland because it’s one less thing to carry through train stations. The hip seat is clutch because it’s more comfortable to sit in for longer periods. We loved our version that had straps and could be worn in the front or back. It’s especially helpful for crowded places like Japan where maneuvering a stroller can be tricky.
• Power plug adapters: Japan uses two pronged plugs similar to the US, except the prongs are the same length. Most 2 pronged chargers will work fine without adapters. If you have any chargers that have 3 prongs, then you’ll need an adapter.

Reality Check of Visiting Japan with Kids

While I loved visiting Japan again and truly think it’s an amazing place with so many fun and unique things to do with kids, I have mixed feelings about this trip. And it’s not because of Japan, it’s just because I set my expectations too high. Because we were visiting all of these theme parks for the first time, I thought our kiddo would be a lot more excited and happy at the theme parks. You know that saying, “disappointment happens when expectations don’t match reality”? That pretty much sums up this trip. I think the jetlag got the best of us and being overtired and overstimulated is not a good combination for braving long theme park lines and big crowds. Conversely, my husband went into the trip with very low expectations, assuming our kid would be tired and cranky, so he actually ended up enjoying it quite a bit.

This was the first trip we’d taken with our kid where most of the places we visited were new to us. So we slipped back into our pre-kid mindset of trying to do everything and fit more into each day. Unfortunately, that came at the cost of our kid’s naptime. In hindsight, that was definitely a mistake. Traveling is so much more enjoyable with a well-rested child. Instead, we ended up with a tired, whiny, and cranky preschooler clinging to us for most of the trip. I need to remind myself that we’ll likely visit these places again, and it’s far better to let our kid rest so we can actually enjoy what we do manage to see, even if that means skipping a few things. We’re already brainstorming our next trip to Japan!