Photo: David Kernan · CC BY 4.07 Days in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka with Kids
A family-friendly week on Japan's classic route: three days in Tokyo for pandas, dinosaurs and old-town snacks, two in Kyoto for bamboo groves, monkey parks and temples built for short attention spans, and two in Osaka for a full theme-park day and a world-class aquarium. Days run short on purpose, with snack stops and rest built in. Answer a few questions and the plan re-plans itself around how you travel: your pace, your budget, your family's style.
Pick a style, a budget and a pace — the route and days below re-plan themselves.
14 stops · 14 meals · 4 hotels · 2 transfersThis is the editor’s pick.
7 days, 3 cities
From Tokyo to Osaka, with 2 moves between cities. The map shows the whole route — pick a day to zoom in.
Tokyo
Ueno · Asakusa · Shibuya & Harajuku
- Day 1Ueno: Ueno Zoo & the Nature and Science Museum
- Day 2Asakusa: Sensō-ji Temple & Nakamise Street
- Day 3Shibuya & Harajuku: Shibuya Crossing & Yoyogi Park
- Train to Kyoto · 2h 50m
- Train to Osaka · 45 min
Osaka
Osaka Bay · Osaka Castle
- Day 6Osaka Bay: The Kaiyukan aquarium & Legoland Discovery Center
- Day 7Osaka Castle: The Gozabune cruise & Osaka Castle
Port-direct kaiten sushi. Fresh, fast and family-friendly — kids grab what they want.
Dinosaur skeletons and Japan's natural history under a landmark whale sculpture. A great rainy-day pick with kids.
- The real dinosaur skeletons are the highlight for kids.
Japan's oldest zoo, and the giant pandas are the stars. A monorail links the two sides of the park. Go at opening for the pandas before the lines build.
- The giant pandas draw the biggest crowds, so head there first at opening.
- Zoo morning, museum afternoon: see the pandas at opening, then walk to the dinosaur skeletons next door.
Duck-and-leek ramen local favorite near Ueno Station.
Spacious apartment hotel with kitchens. A family-friendly Ueno pick.
- Apartment-style hotel suited to families.
Tabelog top-100 soba shop three minutes from Ueno Station. Handmade buckwheat noodles.
- Open 11:30-21:00, closed Wednesdays.
One of Japan's oldest shopping streets, running from Kaminarimon to Sensō-ji. Let the kids graze: melon pan, ningyo-yaki cakes and rice crackers from stall to stall.
Legendary melon-pan bakery on the Nakamise approach. The classic Asakusa snack — buy two.
- Mid-Nakamise, stop for the legendary melon pan , buy two.
Tokyo's oldest temple, founded in 628. Enter through the Kaminarimon Thunder Gate and walk Nakamise's snack stalls to the main hall and five-storied pagoda. Go early: about 30 million people visit each year.
- Roughly 30 million people visit each year, so arrive before 9am to see the Thunder Gate without the crush.
- Temple first, snacks second: pass the Thunder Gate, then graze Nakamise back toward the station.
Cheap-and-cheerful unagi rice bowls three minutes from Ueno Station.
- Hitsumabushi from 800 yen — the cheapest eel in town.
Stay put: ~13 min by subway back from Sensō-ji Temple tonight, ~43 min by subway to Yoyogi Park in the morning.
Flat-rate conveyor-belt sushi: plates from 140 yen. A family-friendly Harajuku lunch.
- All plates 140 yen, open 11:00-23:00.
Sprawling park between Harajuku and Shibuya. Picnic on the grass and watch the weekend street performers.
The world's busiest pedestrian scramble. Cross with the crowd once, then watch it from above. Kids never forget it.
- Described as the world's busiest crossing — cross once, then watch from Shibuya Sky.
High-tech conveyor-belt sushi where dishes glide to your table. Fun and cheap.
- Open 11:00-23:00 daily.
Stay put: ~44 min by subway back from Shibuya Crossing tonight, ~43 min by subway to Yoyogi Park in the morning.
Tokyo to Kyoto
371 km, rated for speed and cost. For a family trip on a comfortable budget at a relaxed pace, take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi. It's the quickest way across, 2h 50m door to door.
Cheap, filling soba and udon on the Kiyomizuzaka slope. A practical lunch between temple visits.
- Soba and udon sets from 1,309 yen.
Kyoto's most famous temple, founded in 778, with a wooden stage jutting over the hillside. UNESCO-listed. Go at opening to beat the crowds.
- Main hall admission is 400 yen; part of a 1994 UNESCO listing.
The famous Kyoto latte with a view of Yasaka Pagoda on Ninen-zaka. Arrive at the 9:00 opening.
- Hours 9:00-18:00 daily; famous for the Kyoto Latte.
Stone-paved pedestrian lanes below Kiyomizu-dera, lined with wooden machiya teahouses and craft shops. Walk down slowly and snack.
- Descend from Kiyomizu's stage down the stone lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka.
- Latte with a pagoda view: stop at % Arabica on Ninen-zaka.
The classic Kiyomizu lunch: silky yudofu in a traditional house below the temple. Try the make-your-own tofu set.
- The make-your-own tofu set is 2,200 yen.
Casual ryokan-style inn two minutes from Yasaka Shrine: tatami rooms, shared kitchen and bicycle hire. A favorite value base.
Big, reliable Japanese restaurant between Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji. Open 11:00-23:00.
- Lunch 1,000-1,999 yen; dinner 2,000-2,999 yen.
Kyoto's postcard: the Golden Pavilion in pure gold leaf over the mirror pond. Go at opening or near closing on a weekday.
- Admission 500 yen adults, 300 yen students; open 9:00-17:00 daily.
The world's most famous Zen garden: 15 rocks on raked white gravel, arranged so you can never see all at once. Arrive at 8am to have it nearly to yourself.
- 15 rocks in five groups — one is always hidden from any vantage point.
Cozy noodle and coffee shop one minute from Omuro-Ninnaji Station. Udon and traditional cafe fare.
- About 1,000-1,999 yen; one minute from Omuro-Ninnaji Station.
Switch bases tonight. Family-run budget guesthouse with tatami family rooms, private bathrooms, full kitchens and a garden.
- Family rooms with tatami, private bathrooms and kitchens.
Kyoto to Osaka
44 km, rated for speed and cost. For a family trip on a comfortable budget at a relaxed pace, take the JR Special Rapid Service. It's only 10 min slower than the quickest option, at $ instead of $$.
One of the world's largest aquariums: a spiral journey through Pacific Rim habitats crowned by the whale-shark tank.
- Plan 2-3 hours; go early to avoid crowds and catch feeding times.
Japanese restaurant in Tempozan Marketplace by the aquarium. Handy for lunch around Kaiyukan.
Indoor LEGO play center with rides, a 4D cinema and a Miniland Osaka. Aimed at young kids.
Burgers and American fare at the USJ gate. An easy dinner after the park — picky eaters welcome.
Closer: Naniwa Kuishinbo Yokocho, right on your way
Reliable budget business hotel with breakfast included near Namba Station.
Long-running takoyaki and okonomiyaki shop in Hozenji Yokocho. One of Dotonbori's oldest takoyaki counters.
The city's defining landmark: a reconstructed 16th-century castle tower housing a museum of Toyotomi-era history.
- The current tower is a 1931 concrete reconstruction of Hideyoshi's castle.
A gold-trimmed pleasure boat cruise around the castle's inner moat with close-up views of the stone walls.
Late-night tonkotsu ramen under the floating dragon sign. Fast, cheap and open late.
Stay put: ~19 min by subway back from the Gozabune cruise tonight, ~19 min by subway to Osaka Castle in the morning.
Where to stay in Tokyo & Kyoto & Osaka
Ranked for family travelers on a comfortable budget. The places this plan sleeps in come first.
Tokyo
MONday Apart Premium Ueno
Spacious apartment hotel with kitchens. A family-friendly Ueno pick.
MIMARU Tokyo Asakusa Station
Apartment-style hotel with kitchenettes, built for families and groups staying together.
Asakusa View Hotel
Landmark high-rise by Sensō-ji with Skytree-view rooms and a rooftop. Ask for a Skytree view.
Kyoto
Gion Ryokan Q-beh
Casual ryokan-style inn two minutes from Yasaka Shrine: tatami rooms, shared kitchen and bicycle hire. A favorite value base.
Guesthouse Kyoto Arashiyama
Family-run budget guesthouse with tatami family rooms, private bathrooms, full kitchens and a garden.
Hotel Granvia Kyoto
541 rooms directly above Kyoto Station. Zero-transfer base for Shinkansen days.
Osaka
Toyoko Inn Osaka Namba
Reliable budget business hotel with breakfast included near Namba Station.
Hotel the Lutheran
Quiet affordable hotel in the Tanimachi area near the castle, family-friendly.
Hotel Trusty Osaka Abeno
Mid-range hotel by Tennoji/Abeno, close to the zoo and Harukas.
Flights to Tokyo & Kyoto & Osaka
Fly into Narita International Airport (NRT)
Flight results via Travelpayouts — we may earn a commission on bookings.
Getting around Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka
How to actually move around each city — transit, rideshare, bikes, and taxis.
Tokyo
Public transit
Trains and subways run the city — JR lines including the Yamanote loop plus the Tokyo Metro and Toei subway networks. A rechargeable IC card (Suica or Pasmo) works on all of them; paper day passes help only if you ride the subway a lot.
- Tokyo Subway Ticket (24/48/72h)
Unlimited rides on all Tokyo Metro and Toei subway lines; buy at airports and major stations.
Tip: For most visitors, a rechargeable IC card plus phone maps is simpler than juggling paper passes.
Rideshare
Uber operates in Tokyo, but only through licensed taxi companies — the app summons a regular taxi, not a private car. Expect taxi-meter pricing.
Bikes
Docked share bikes all over the city, handy for short hops between stations.
- Docomo Bike Share
Tokyo's big docked bike-share network — pick up and drop off at hundreds of ports around central Tokyo.
Tip: Register in the app before you need it; ports near stations fill up at rush hour.
Taxis
Flag licensed taxis at station ranks or hail one from your phone. Fares are metered and doors open automatically — don't grab the handle.
- GO taxi app
Japan's main taxi-hailing app — summons a licensed taxi with in-app payment; set destinations without speaking Japanese.
Tip: Works in Kyoto and Osaka too, so keep it for the whole trip.
Kyoto
Public transit
Kyoto's sights are spread out — buses are the workhorse, with two subway lines for the longer hops. Board buses at the back and pay when you get off; IC cards work everywhere.
- Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass
Unlimited city subway and bus rides for a full day — pays for itself quickly when temple-hopping.
Tip: Buses get crowded around Kiyomizu and Arashiyama; start early.
Rideshare
Uber partners with licensed taxi companies in Kyoto — the app summons a regular taxi, not a private car.
- Uber
Uber works in Kyoto through licensed taxi companies — same app as home, metered taxi pricing.
Bikes
Kyoto is famously flat and bike-friendly — rental shops cluster around Kyoto Station and downtown, a great way to reach temples the buses skip.
Taxis
Licensed taxis wait at station ranks and major sights. Late at night or for sights far from stations, the app is easier than the street.
- GO taxi app
Hail licensed taxis from your phone with in-app payment — handy late at night or for the northern temples.
Tip: Works in Tokyo and Osaka too, so keep it for the whole trip.
Osaka
Public transit
The Osaka Metro (Midosuji, Chuo, and six other lines) plus JR and private railways cover the city. IC cards work on everything.
- Osaka Metro day passes
Unlimited Osaka Metro and city bus rides — the Enjoy Eco Card covers weekdays, the weekend/holiday version is cheaper.
Tip: The Midosuji Line connects Umeda, Shinsaibashi, and Namba — most visitors live on it.
Rideshare
Uber operates in Osaka through licensed taxi companies — the app summons a regular taxi.
- Uber
Uber works in Osaka via licensed taxis — same app as home, metered pricing.
Bikes
Osaka is flat, so bikes are a genuinely fast option for the central districts.
- Osaka Bike Share (Docomo)
Docomo's docked share bikes across the city center — unlock with the app and drop off at any port.
Tip: Check the app for e-bike availability before a long ride along the bay.
Taxis
Licensed taxis are easy to find at stations and in Namba/Umeda. For late nights or rain, the app beats the curb.
- GO taxi app
Hail licensed taxis from your phone with in-app payment.
Tip: Works in Tokyo and Kyoto too, so keep it for the whole trip.
Keep exploring
More itineraries for this trip.
- Photo: David Kernan · CC BY 4.03 days
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