Japan Family Adventure 日本家族の冒険

Arrival at Narita (UA 32)

Immigration, customs (~1 hour)

Narita Express to Shibuya

~75 min • Buy ticket at JR counter

Check-in: Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya 🏨

Confirmation: 64255542 • 4 nights

Konbini Run + Apartment Setup 🏪

7-Eleven or Lawson for onigiri, egg sandwiches, fruit, snacks. Eat at apartment. Japanese convenience stores are a highlight!

Evening Walk to Shibuya Sakura-zaka 🌸

Cherry blossom-lined street, illuminated at night. 2 min from hotel — magical first hanami moment without overtaxing jetlagged family.

Early Rest

Jetlag recovery — minimal activities today by design

365 Nichi Breakfast 🍞

Tabelog 3.69 • Opens 7 AM — perfect for jet-lagged early risers. Yoyogi Hachiman, 10 min walk.

Yoyogi Park Hanami 🌸

700+ cherry trees, playground, family photos

Train to Ikebukuro

Yamanote Line from Shibuya (~25 min)

Tonkatsu Gyukatsu Aburaya Lunch 🍖

Tabelog 3.52 • Sendai Kanpo Sangen pork, renovated traditional house. 3 min from Ikebukuro Stn. 1-hr limit. May wait even with reservation. Tel: +81-70-9316-4681.

REST at Apartment 😴

Return to Shibuya, critical jetlag downtime

Shibuya Exploration → Harajuku

Shibuya Crossing, walk toward Harajuku

Harajuku Gyoza Ro Dinner 🥟

Tabelog 3.49 • Walk-in, cash only, ~¥1,000-2,000. Tabelog "Dumplings 100". Fast, casual — perfect for jetlag evening.

VIRON Boulangerie Breakfast 🥐

Tabelog 3.82 • Best croissants in Tokyo. 7 min walk. Arrive 7:45 to beat queue.

Meiji Shrine ⛩️

Peaceful forested shrine via Yoyogi Park cherry blossoms. Massive torii gates. 5 min walk from hotel.

Train to Kichijoji

Keio Inokashira Line from Shibuya, ~15 min direct

Inokashira Park 🌸

Swan boats on the lake under cherry blossoms — Zoe loves boats!

Ibuki Udon Lunch 🍜

Tabelog 3.51 • Kids welcome, under ¥999. Udon is Zoe-safe noodles.

Kichijoji Browse

Shops, snacks, stretch legs before Ghibli

Ghibli Museum ⭐

Booking #7797769255 • 4 PM entry • Passport name must match ticket exactly

Dokutsuya Ramen Dinner 🍜

Tabelog 3.69 • Kichijoji, 10 min walk from Ghibli

365 Nichi Breakfast 🍞

Tabelog 3.69 • Artisan bakery near Yoyogi Hachiman, 10 min walk

Asakusa District ⛩️

Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise-dori shopping, iconic red lantern gate

Sometaro Okonomiyaki Lunch 🥞

Tabelog 3.41 • DIY griddle at your table — Zoe cooks her own! No reservations — if wait >30 min, bail to Gonpachi Azumabashi (yakitori + tempura, takes reservations, 5 min walk).

Ueno Park Cherry Blossoms 🌸

800 lanterns, cherry blossom festival • Ginza Line from Asakusa → Ueno (3 stops, 5 min)

Return to Shibuya & Pack

Pack up for tomorrow's checkout. Carry-on rollers + backpacks on Shinkansen.

Shimokitazawa Explore 🎭

Bohemian neighborhood, vintage shops • One stop from Shibuya

Shirohige's Totoro Cream Puffs 🍰

Tabelog 3.64 • Totoro-shaped cream puffs — Ghibli souvenir snack. Setagaya Daita.

Gōtokuji Temple 🐱

1,000+ maneki neko (beckoning cat) statues — incredible photo op. Temple office/shop closes 4:30 PM. Free admission.

Yakiniku Horumon Arai Ya 🥩

Tabelog 3.67 • Manzoku Course (13 items, ¥11,000/person × 2) — Tokyo farewell dinner. Tel: +81-3-6277-5718.

Meguro River Illuminations 🌸

Cherry blossom tunnel over water — best after dark. Tokyo farewell moment.

VIRON Boulangerie Farewell Breakfast 🥐

Tabelog 3.82 • Last Tokyo morning — go out with the best croissants. Arrive 7:45 to beat queue.

Yoyogi Park Farewell Walk 🌸

Cherry blossoms, low-key energy for travel day

Check out Hyatt House

Carry-on rollers + backpacks. Green Car has luggage space behind seats.

Ekiben Shopping at Ekibenya Matsuri 🍱

Gransta 1F, inside ticket gates. 170+ varieties! Zoe picks a Shinkansen-shaped bento. ~¥1,000-1,600 each.

Shinkansen to Kyoto 🚄

✅ Nozomi 159, Green Car 9 Seats 5B+5C+5D (Hayatoku-3, ¥41,890). Zoe in 5D window for Mt. Fuji view (~40 min in). Eat ekiben. 2h 15m.

Check-in: Kyomachiya Suite Rikyu 🏡

Traditional machiya in Gion • Confirmation: 5908.369.267

Gion District Walk (in Kimono) 👘🌸

Hanamikoji-dori, wooden machiya houses. Cherry blossom kimono photos on Hanamikoji. Maiko walk to evening appointments ~5 PM.

Maruyama Park Cherry Blossoms 🌸

Arrive before illumination at 6 PM. Famous weeping cherry in golden hour → lit up at dusk. Free, open 24/7.

Yoshikawa Tempura Kaiseki 🍤

Private tatami room, garden view, 3-hr limit. Most Popular course ¥27,500/person + 15% service. Zoe: kids menu 6-8yr (¥5,000) — Tendon, egg custard, dessert. Dietary confirmed with Tomoko. Tel: +81-75-221-5544. LINE: goa33116bloat.

MASH Kyoto Breakfast 🍞

Tabelog 3.70 • Opens 8 AM. 5 min walk from machiya in Gion.

Train to Nara

Gion-Shijo → Keihan to Tambabashi → Kintetsu to Nara. ~50 min, ¥760/person, Suica OK.

Todaiji Temple & Great Buddha ⛩️

World's largest wooden building. Cherry blossoms framing the approach.

Nara Park Sacred Deer 🦌

Buy shika senbei (deer crackers, ¥200). Parents = "deer shields" — they nip when they smell crackers!

Kasuga Taisha Shrine ⛩️

3,000 stone and bronze lanterns. Wisteria garden. 15 min walk through the park.

Kamaige Udon Suzuan Lunch 🍜

Tabelog 3.71 • Fresh kamaige udon + karaage (fried chicken). Curry udon option for Zoe. Off tourist path.

Return Train to Kyoto

Kintetsu from Nara, ~45 min

REST at Machiya 😴

Critical downtime after full Nara day. Zoe nap/quiet time.

Gion Evening Stroll

Low-key wander from machiya. Maiko spotting (they head to appointments ~5-6 PM). Hanamikoji window shopping.

Matsuba Hon Ten Soba Dinner 🍜

Tabelog 3.49 • Est. 1861 — invented nishin soba (1882). Walk-in, ¥1,000-2,000/person. 1 min from Gion-Shijo Stn. Closed Wed.

Konbini Breakfast 🏪

Tamago sando, onigiri, coffee from Lawson/FamilyMart. Both MASH Kyoto and Hofbäckerei closed Tuesdays.

Return to Machiya, Freshen Up

Buffer before temples

Kiyomizu-dera Temple 🌸

UNESCO Heritage. Cherry blossoms from the famous wooden stage. Walk down Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka streets — traditional shops, Kyoto sweets.

Smart Coffee Kissaten Lunch ☕

Est. 1932. Famous fluffy hotcakes, tamago sando, French toast. Showa-era wood paneling. Near Sanjo, ~15 min from Kiyomizu. ¥800-1,500.

Dominique Bouchet Kyoto "Le Teppanyaki" 🥩

Wagyu steak, shrimp, vegetables on griddle in front of you. Kids menu available. 2.5-hr limit. ~¥15,000-20,000/person + 15% service. ~10 min taxi from Gion. Tel: +81-75-771-7158. No cancellation fee.

SAGAN Breakfast 🍞

Tabelog 3.51 • Gion area. Call ahead to confirm open (irregular holidays): 075-561-0041. Konbini backup if closed.

Nishiki Market 🏮

"Kyoto's Kitchen" — 400m covered shopping street. Snack through: tamagoyaki, mochi, matcha sweets. Last Kyoto food experience.

Machiya Checkout

Head to Kyoto Station

Kyoto Station — Omiyage Shopping

Souvenir snacks at station shops. Last chance for regional specialties.

Shinkansen to Shinagawa 🚄

✅ Nozomi 16, Green Car 9 Seats 7B+7C+7D (Hayatoku-3, ¥41,890, Res #2003). Zoe in 7D window for Mt. Fuji view. 2h 07m.

Arrive Shinagawa

Keikyu Line to Haneda

Shinagawa → Haneda Terminal 3, 30 min, Suica

Lunch at Haneda 🍛

Airport food court — curry rice, ramen, udon. Last Japanese meal!

Shopping & Check-in

Duty-free Japanese snacks, Kit Kat flavors, last souvenirs

Flight UA 38 to LAX ✈️

Arrive 12:15 PM same day • Premium Plus • Seats 21D, 21A, 21C

Home to Santa Barbara 🏠

Retrieve Tesla from P7 Garage at LAX • 2 hour drive