Tokyo/Osaka with 2 young kids (6.5 & ~2)

[daft009]

Hi Guys,

So late Sept in the NSW school holidays we're off to Japan.
we have a week basically as a first trip.

27th Sept night we arrive into HND.
4th Oct early morning we depart HND.

Places on the must do list are:

1. Disneyland & Sea in Tokyo.
2. Mario World at Universal Studios in Osaka.
3. perhaps a half day each to explore each "city".

not a lot of time but we'll go again I'm sure.
Last night in Tokyo (3rd) we'll stay at an airport hotel as flight is early morning on the 4th

thinking of hotels near the Disney/Mario parks to keep it easy.
take the fast train from Tokyo to Osaka & back?
a full day at each fun park is enough?
anything else I should be aware of?

 

[Quickstatus]

@daft009

What time do you arrive into HND - Im assuming you are either NH or JL?

I would do this:
I think its too much. Stay in Tokyo or Osaka not both when you have very young childrem
Give one of the theme parks a miss.

Alternative:

27th SYD-HND
27th HND-ITM flight as you are already at airport

28th Universal studio
29th Universal studio

Saturday and Sunday avoid theme parks
30/9 see osaka, train to Tokyo
1/10 rest day in tokyo and maybe a half day if kids not tired.
2/10 Disney
3/10 Disney
(IMO pick one - Disney or sea, not both)

Re theme parks and small children
Full days are not a good idea.
Generally speaking - do a morning, afternoon nap, then back in evening
It often depends of the parades. If parades in the afternoon then morning and afternoon, if parades in evening morning and evening.
The rate limiting step will be the 2yr old

Cash- remember to bring cash.

 

[Matt_01]

For a week with young one's I would most likely stay in Tokyo. For the age of your kid's in both Disney's there is lots to look at and you may end up spending most of the time in the younger kids area. I would stay in the Disney area and all the hotels are serviced by the monorail so as @Quickstatus mentioned you can go back for a break and go back in the evening. We had 3 day tickets and visited both. Based in Tokyo you could also visit Ueno Park the zoo and many museums are in that area. Small trips from Tokyo could include the Ghibli Museum, you will have to plan for this as tickets must be pre booked are released 3 months in advance and limited to 50 tickets a day for AU and NZ. Hello Kitty world is another place that is interesting for kids. For your older child Kidzania is also worth a look, you have to pre book the sessions in advance. If you do want to go to Osaka I would personally give Universal Studios a miss. There are other things are other things for kids.

I wrote a trip report about Traveling to Japan. It was a belated as the trip was in Sep 2016 and in 2019 a wrote a few TR's about travelling with children as I could not really find any. This is a link to the TR if you are interested Japan with a child - Disney, robots, zoos, miniature cities, samurai parks and a festival (belated)

 

[daft009]

Thanks guys..
Will take everything into consideration..

We are flying SQ as I had points to burn.

Mario World in Osaka is a must do for the 6yo. Him being a huge Mario/Nintendo fan.

 

[Quickstatus]

@daft009
MrsQS said if 6yrr old is a Mario fanatic he should do the Abika Go Kart in Osaka - in the streets of Osaka, Mum or dad is the driver. Cosplay hire available

 

[Matt_01]

Mario World in Osaka is a must do for the 6yo. Him being a huge Mario/Nintendo fan.

Makes sense, had not considered the Mario/ Nintendo factor. For our daughter Sanrio Puroland (Kitty World) was one of those must haves. Arrival in HND is easy and depending on where you are staying the Limo Bus maybe a good transfer option if it fits in with your ARR/DEP times. The bus schedule is regular but you need to book the correct bus as the bus routes are for area specific areas covering several hotels and/or pickup dropoff locations within the route. Again depending on where you are staying the taxi prices are reasonable and maybe more convenient.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Hi Guys,

So late Sept in the NSW school holidays we're off to Japan.
we have a week basically as a first trip.

27th Sept night we arrive into HND.
4th Oct early morning we depart HND.

Places on the must do list are:

1. Disneyland & Sea in Tokyo.
2. Mario World at Universal Studios in Osaka.
3. perhaps a half day each to explore each "city".

not a lot of time but we'll go again I'm sure.
Last night in Tokyo (3rd) we'll stay at an airport hotel as flight is early morning on the 4th

thinking of hotels near the Disney/Mario parks to keep it easy.
take the fast train from Tokyo to Osaka & back?
a full day at each fun park is enough?
anything else I should be aware of?

My TR from 2018 might give you some ideas.

Miss H was around the same age as your eldest at that time.

A milestone birthday OW award

As some of you may know, Mrs H is celebrating a milestone birthday this year. She’s just turned 21 (+228 months).;) But not satisfied to celebrate on the day, Mrs H likes to spread the festivities out over an entire month. This year the celebration will last around seven weeks.:rolleyes: Among...

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