1 Week in Japan - 4 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Fun-Filled Family Highlights of Japan: Tokyo & Kyoto

Perfect for first-time visitors to Japan, this Tokyo and Kyoto highlights tour combines cultural experiences and family-friendly activities. Highlights include a scenic ride and family photos on the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway, meeting cosplayers and shopping for anime-themed souvenirs in Tokyo's Electric Town, a stroll in the serene Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and a samurai experience at the Samurai & Ninja Museum. 

Give your kids their first taste of Tokyo on a guided tour of Tsukiji Fish Market, where they can sample fresh fish. Then let them grab an omikuji (fortune written on a strip of paper) at Senso-ji Asakusa temple before taking your little animé and tech enthusiasts to Akihabara (also called Electric Town) to meet cosplayers and find anime-themed souvenirs. You'll cruise on Lake Kawaguchi the following day, ride on the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway, and snap family photos from the observation deck. On your last day in Tokyo, delight the animé lovers with a visit to the Ghibli Museum and the Pokémon Center. 

Board a train to Kyoto on Day 4, where you'll marvel at the golden Kinkaku-ji temple, and take your young train aficionados to the Kyoto Railway Museum. Immerse the kids in traditional Japanese culture with a tea ceremony in Gion (children must be age seven or older) and a samurai experience at the Samurai & Ninja Museum. Take a family walk in the Sagano Bamboo Grove, then embark on a journey through time as your guide shares stories of Japanese mythology while you cruise the Hozugawa River. Finally, recount your favorite moments together on your train ride back to Tokyo for departure. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Family Travels in Japan: Tokyo, Fujiyoshida & Kyoto

This alternate classic family trip picks up the pace with an added two nights in Fujiyoshida. Your little food critics will enjoy street eats along Nakamise-dori and a tasting tour of Shinjuku, and curious kids and art lovers will appreciate immersive experiences at TeamLab Planets and Miraikan Museum in Tokyo. You'll also have a chance to satisfy the thrill seekers in the family with a full day of rollercoasters and other attractions at Fuji-Q Amusement Park and let the kids live a bit of the samurai life at the Samurai & Ninja Museum.

Dive into Tokyo's tech scene with a visit to TeamLab Planets, where the whole family can walk barefoot and interact with the art before meeting robots at the futuristic Miraikan Museum. Invite the kids to find their favorite Japanese dishes on a Shinjuku foodie tour, then let them select souvenirs from the vendors along the buzzing Nakamise-dori shopping street. Spend a full day enjoying the natural beauty around Mount Fuji with a boat ride on Lake Kawaguchi and a walk up to a viewpoint in Arakurayama Sengen Park before riding the rollercoasters on a family outing at Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park.

On Day 5, catch a train west to Kyoto, where you can take your older kids to a teahouse for a traditional tea ceremony or, if you've got little ones, opt for the Samurai & Ninja Museum, where they can don costumes and live out their ninja dreams. Capture the wonder on your children's faces as they stroll through thousands of red-colored torii gates at the Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine, then take a light hike up the mountain for views of the surrounding countryside. On your final day, surprise the kids with one last excursion: a visit to Arashiyama Monkey Park, where they can observe the mischievous macaque monkeys. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Adventurous Family Fun in Japan: Animé, Ninjas, Godzilla & Theme Parks

Families interested in animation and theme parks will appreciate this Tokyo and Osaka adventure, which combines a mix of historical and pop culture experiences. Family-friendly activities for kids of all ages include a visit to Osaka Castle and Japan's oldest temple, a sushi-making class, a full day at Universal Studios Japan, the chance to interact with animé and manga characters at Nijigen No Mori Park, and the option to spend some time at a SEGA-themed amusement park. 

Meet your driver at Narita International Airport and transfer to Tokyo, where you'll explore the city according to your family's interests, perhaps introducing the kids to Buddhist culture at Japan's oldest temple, Senso-ji Asakusa, or challenging each other to arcade games at a SEGA-themed amusement park, Joypolis. On Day 2, take your animé, tech, and fashion-focused kids to mingle with cosplay characters and shop in the boutiques on a guided tour of the Akihabara and Harajuku districts. Then, let your budding chefs try their hand at sushi-making during a workshop at the Tsukiji Fish Market.

Next, travel by train to Osaka, where you can check out the views from Osaka Castle, then fill rumbling tummies with kid-friendly taiyaki (fish-shaped pastries) and other street eats as you wander the lively Dotonbori district, "Osaka's Times Square." The following day, take your Harry Potter fans to Hogwarts Castle and get up close with beloved characters from Universal movies and shows at Universal Studios Japan. Cap off your adventure with a trip to Nijigen No Mori Park on Awaji Island, where the kids can engage with animé and manga characters and zipline through the trees. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Relaxed Family Tour of Japan: Tokyo & Kyoto

This nature and culture tour is ideal for outdoorsy families who prefer a leisurely pace. It offers easy yet entertaining activities for all ages, especially families with younger children, such as a day of family fun at DisneySea in Tokyo, a boat cruise on the Sumida River, a meeting with monkeys at Arashiyama Monkey Park, samurai play at Okochi Mountain Villa, and a ride on the Sagano Scenic Railway. 

Give your kids a bird's-eye view of Tokyo with a trip to the viewing deck of Tokyo Tower—if the visibility is good, you may spot Mount Fuji in the distance. Then, if you still have energy, head to Odaiba, a high-tech district that offers an exploration of new technology and art for all ages. After a guided tour of Tokyo on Day 2, escape the high energy of the city and take a family stroll on the Hamani Trail along the Sumida River before ending the evening with a relaxing Sumida River cruise. Let the kids splash around at DisneySea for a day, then let Fantasmic's music and fireworks show entertain them. 

Board a train to Kyoto and introduce the family to traditional culture with a tea ceremony and dance at a teahouse. Let the kids play samurai at Okochi Mountain Villa, once the residence of a samurai film star, then visit the peaceful gardens of Tenryu-ji temple before hopping on the Sagano Scenic Railway for a trip through the mountains and along the Hozugawa River. On your final day, stop by a local brewery to sample sake (there'll be fruit juice for the kids!), then stroll the Philosopher's Path along a cherry tree-lined canal. End your day with family photos at Ginkaku-ji and souvenir shopping near Nanzen-ji. Learn more

More Great 1-Week Japan Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Japan? Check out these other one-week Japan itineraries, with outdoor adventures, family-friendly trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.

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