Japan: where to begin?

[chicago]

We're throwing around the idea of going to Japan next summer.  DD would be a little over a year.  I've done zero research because we just started talking about it, but I know I'd like to see Tokyo and Kyoto.  

Some questions I have:

- where did you go?
- how long were you there (how long in each place?)
- when did you go?
- how expensive did you find Japan to be?  How much would we need to budget?
- do you think this could be a kid-friendly trip or are we kidding ourselves? 

I think a lot of posters here have gone.  Does anyone have their trip blogged?

[GilliC]

I've been a few times. First trip was one month each in Tokyo and Kitakyushu during the summer. Second was 5 days flying in and out of Takamatsu, and we visited Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and a few places on Shikoku. It was just before cherry blossom season in that region, so probably March? Third was a day in Nagasaki on an East Asia cruise in late November. Most recent was this past April, and it was probably the most traditional: 5 days in Tokyo, 4 in Kyoto, 2 in Hiroshima, and then 1 more in Tokyo before flying out.

I actually find Japan to be less expensive than a lot of the major European cities. I tend to be a low-budget mid-range traveler (Not backpacking, but 2- to 3-star hotels, affordable restaurants with an occasional high-end splurge, and public transit). Aside from a few expensive meals we'd chosen in advance, we found that when we converted the meal prices, they were less than we would have spent in continental Europe. Shopping is definitely expensive, and in spite of finding a gorgeous rain trench that I loved, I couldn't bring myself to buy it. Hotel prices weren't terrible, though if you're looking at the lower range, it's worth booking well in advance for the best selection. And of course, expect rooms to be small. They were definitely bigger and cheaper than Scandinavia, though!

This most recent trip was my boyfriend's first visit to Japan, so I decided that we would hit a few of the highlights in Tokyo but focus more on contemporary Japanese culture, since we had the time in Kyoto to experience more of the traditional. The trip to Hiroshima was for me, because it was one of the places I've wanted to visit but had never been.

I will admit that the language barrier is kind of surprising, since I've gotten used to the ubiquitous of English in Europe, and I feel like Japan has hardly changed in the 20 years since my first visit. I think my boyfriend was struggling a bit, since he doesn't really know the language, and it was hard for him to understand the signs for things (e.g. different kinds of restaurants, etc).

[rupertpenny]

I haven't been to Japan, but I don't think you are crazy for considering bringing your daughter.

The one thing I might keep in mind when scheduling your trip is nap time. I think it would be much easier and more pleasant to go with a kid who was down to one nap a day. It's hard to know when exactly that will happen, but if she is in daycare it will probably be around a year.

[origami]

I'm taking my kids to tokyo in a few weeks but they're almost 4. I'm of the opinion that there are no true kid-friendly trips because kids' sleep goes to absolute shit on vacations and you just make it work the whole time. Hopefully your DD sleeps in a stroller or in an Ergo type carrier. I would not fly all the way to japan just to sit in a hotel room for naps twice a day plus an early bedtime. But I'd totally stuff my kids' faces with Cheerios until they pass out in a stroller while I see a Japanese shrine. And then switch off who gets early bedtime duty so the other can go nightseeing. Or use the babysitting services at hotels, if you're comfortable with that.

[iammalcolmx]

Aug 24, 2014 13:36:46 GMT -5 chicago said:

We're throwing around the idea of going to Japan next summer.  DD would be a little over a year.  I've done zero research because we just started talking about it, but I know I'd like to see Tokyo and Kyoto.  

Some questions I have:

- where did you go? Tokyo and Kyoto. Flew into Narita and spent the first night there at this hotel. Good clean cheap hotel narita.richmondhotel.jp/ 
- how long were you there (how long in each place?) A Week I think? 1 night Narita, 4 nights Kyoto, 2 night Tokyo
- when did you go? October
- how expensive did you find Japan to be? I didn't find it expensive however we didn't eat at expensive places.   How much would we need to budget? We spent 5k

[chicago]

@sfgal530, I can't remember, did you blog about your trip somewhere? I know you went recently.

[expatjen]

We are planning on taking our 4 yr old to japan for 10 days over Christmas. I have the itinerary a friend used last year with her 2 kids, so we'll probably follow a bit of what they've done. I think it'll be an awesome trip and we're looking forward to all the sushi and sake!

[mdgirl]

Here's my blog entry about our trip a couple years ago.

- where did you go? Tokyo, Takayama, Kyoto
- how long were you there (how long in each place?) Tokyo: 3 nights + 1 night before our return flight, Takayama: 2 nights, Kyoto: 4 nights. Takayama was OK but not really worth the long train ride. Although we did have the best steak on Earth there.
- when did you go? June 2012
- how expensive did you find Japan to be? How much would we need to budget? I didn't think anything was too bad except for cabs in Tokyo and the bar at the Hyatt, but we're not fussy about hotels. Budget like you would for any big city like Paris or New York.
- do you think this could be a kid-friendly trip or are we kidding ourselves? I'm kidless so take it with a grain of salt, but I think it'd be fine. It's incredibly clean and safe, and the public transportation is efficient and easy to use. Hotel rooms were a little on the small side, so unless you specifically book something bigger it could be a bit cramped with a crib.

[sakura]

I think it you could make it kid friendly. You'll want to be comfortable wearing your baby in a carrier for long periods of time. I almost never saw a stroller there because most places aren't very wheelchair, thus stroller, friendly. (Granted I didn't go to Tokyo Disney, I'm sure there are a lot of strollers there) Lots of stairs, steps and escalators. Bigger train/subway stations have elevators, but smaller ones only have escalators.

[chicago]

Aug 26, 2014 5:27:55 GMT -5 expatjen said:

We are planning on taking our 4 yr old to japan for 10 days over Christmas. I have the itinerary a friend used last year with her 2 kids, so we'll probably follow a bit of what they've done. I think it'll be an awesome trip and we're looking forward to all the sushi and sake!

Would you mind sharing the itinerary?

[sakura]

One more thought-are you set on going during summer? It's really hot and humid-the humidity is killer-and I wouldn't want to be wearing a warm little body on me. Fall would be a wonderful time to go. Especially Hakone and Kyoto would be beautiful. Spring is the rainy season and although it would be nice to see the cherry blossoms, that's hard to time.