Incredible first trip to Japan for our family--Tokyo, Mt Fuji, Kyoto, Arashiyama, Nara, Osaka

Japan | Apr 3 - Apr 11, 2026

Kimkim helped us pack in great sites, great bites, and eclectic shopping areas into this 8-night trip! Ben worked with me throughout the planning process, and together we were able to curate a trip that would be memorable for our family of four, including a 16 and 18-year old. We were even able to make some tweaks based on areas my son wanted to see.

Our first full day in Tokyo, we were greeted by our guide, Peter. After handing out our Pasmo cards and train tickets for the trip, we set off at a quick clip to see different areas of Tokyo and learn to navigate the transit system. Peter took time to talk with each of us as we set out, and our son particularly enjoyed talking with him. We checked out a food market, then went to a sushi-making class! We all enjoyed that. We went to a beautiful shrine, and then to Harajuku to visit Pokemon Center and explore secondhand stores. He even took us to Shimokitazawa, which we'd had scheduled for Day 3! We finished up in Shinjuku. By the end of that day, we all felt so tired, but confident we could navigate the transit system!

Peter met us on our second day as well, and we drove out to the Mt Fuji / Five Lakes region for a day trip. The private car was incredibly comfortable, and we enjoyed watching the city fade away and the hills dotted with blooming cherry trees roll in. We were incredibly lucky to see Mt Fuji! We climbed up many stairs at a park for iconic views of Mt Fuji and Chureito Pagoda and peak cherry blossoms! Peter was fantastic to snap photos of us often--I really appreciated that! He also managed to secure the last 4 seats for us for a short boat cruise on Lake Kawaguchi. We also went to a museum where we could learn more about the history of Mt Fuji and the Five Lakes region and how it has formed over the millennia. We then enjoyed a lunch from a spot Peter mentioned was more like "Japanese fast food." While we did receive it quickly, it reminded me in no way of American fast food! Delicious.

After bidding farewell to Peter, we explored other parts of Tokyo, including Akihabara. Our hotel was in Ginza, and it was quite easy to get anywhere from the train lines close to us.

We had no problem navigating to Tokyo Station to catch the Shinkansen to Kyoto, and our hotel was just a few minutes away. We enjoyed visiting the Fushimi Inari Shrine, and found a hiking trail to enjoy some time up there without the crowds. Amanda was our guide here . Though very quiet, she is very easy to talk with and is very informative. She took us to Arashiyama, where we went to the bamboo park and walked around the area. Our family rented bikes for a bit and enjoyed a bike ride by the river, then we met up for lunch. Amanda then took us to the Monkey Park where we could observe Japanese Macaques. Amanda was great at taking a manageable pace up the mountain, and offered breaks at regular intervals. It was very crowded, but we enjoyed seeing these animals up close. We headed back to Kyoto and Amanda guided us into Gion and explained geisha culture to us.

Amanda was also our guide for our second Kyoto day, which I called Temple day. We were able to visit Kinkaku-ji Temple and marvel at the gardens and the golden temple, then went to Ryoan-ji Temple to appreciate minimalist beauty. It was truly quite a contrast. We took a train to Nara, where we visited Todai-ji Temple. We were absolutely blown away by this temple, its construction, its massive size, and the stunning larger-than-life Buddha inside. I was so glad to have included this in our trip!

We got to Osaka, and Ursula met us to go explore Himeji Castle. We had the opportunity to tour the grounds with a volunteer who spoke English, and he told us so much more about the castle's history that we would not have gotten on our own. It was really quite a treat to explore this historic site. Ursula was a great guide, and helped us find a delicious food spot before touring the Kokoen Garden. We explored the area around our hotel on our last evening in Japan.

I cannot thank Kimkim enough for helping to make this such a memorable trip for our family!