Plan a Trip to Japan - The Family Voyage

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Planning a Trip to Japan With Kids: Common Questions

Is it difficult to plan a family trip to Japan?

Japan can feel intimidating when you first start planning.

There are a lot of decisions. Which cities? Do you need a rail pass? How far apart are things really? Are the hotel rooms going to fit four people? It’s not the kind of trip you throw together in a weekend.

But once you choose your cities and understand the transportation piece, it starts to feel much more manageable. Japan is incredibly organized; the trains run on time, stations are clean and (mostly) clearly labeled. Even when you hit a language barrier, the systems themselves are logical and we found plenty of people willing to help.

But Japan travel planning requires intention. The actual travel was the easier part for our family, in part because we had really prepared for all of the logistics.

How many days should we spend in Japan with kids?

If this is your first trip, I would try very hard to give yourself at least ten days.

Seven days can work, but it usually means moving quickly and not building in much margin. You’ll also probably need at least two days to feel human again after the long travel and time changes if you’re coming from North America. Ten days lets you combine Tokyo and Kyoto (and maybe even a third destination) without feeling like you’re constantly packing up and catching the next train.

If you want to add Hiroshima or Osaka, or you just prefer a slower pace, two weeks is ideal.

Giving yourself extra days makes the trip feel enjoyable instead of just like you’re going through a checklist.

Do we need a Japan Rail Pass for a family trip?

It depends. Sorry, I know that’s a frustrating answer.

Especially with the price increase, the Japan Rail pass makes sense for some itineraries and not for others. If you’re traveling the long distances between Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima, it can often be worth it. But if you’re mostly staying in one region or only taking one long-distance train, individual tickets are usually cheaper.

Before buying anything, map out your exact Japan itinerary and run the numbers. It can take some time to nail down, but matching your train plan to your itinerary can save your family a lot of money. The right answer depends entirely on how you build your trip.