Sheppard Family Travel

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Planning Phase

Japan Family Adventure ๆ—ฅๆœฌๅฎถๆ—ใฎๅ†’้™บ

March 25 โ€“ April 1, 2026
Andrew, Marie & Zoe (6)
Tokyo โ†’ Kyoto

Trip Preparation

4 of 10 tasks complete

Advance Bookings

Day-by-Day Itinerary
Mar25

Arrival & Cherry Blossom Introduction

Day 1 ยท Tuesday
Tokyo
3:20 PM

Arrival at Narita (UA 32)

Immigration, customs, JR Pass activation

4:30 PM

Narita Express to Shibuya

JR Pass covered โ€ข ~75 minutes

6:00 PM

Check-in: Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya

Confirmation: 64255542

๐Ÿ“ Map ๐Ÿจ Website
7:00 PM

Apartment Setup

Kitchen orientation, unpack, settle in

8:00 PM

Evening Walk to Yoyogi Park ๐ŸŒธ

First hanami experience, minimal crowds

๐Ÿ“ Map
9:30 PM

Early Rest

Jetlag recovery โ€ข Light day planned

๐ŸŒธ Zoe's Corner
Today's Mission: Find 5 different cherry blossom petals and try eating with chopsticks at dinner!
Mar26

Cherry Blossoms + Japan Gaming

Day 2 ยท Wednesday
Tokyo
8:00 AM

Apartment Breakfast

Kitchen facilities, jetlag meal timing flexibility

9:30 AM

Yoyogi Park Hanami ๐ŸŒธ

700+ cherry trees, picnic, family photos

๐Ÿ“ Map
11:30 AM

Travel to Ikebukuro

Yamanote Line from Shibuya (~25 min)

12:30 PM

Lunch at Ikebukuro Station

Ramen street or food hall options

๐Ÿ“ Map
1:30 PM

Pokรฉmon Center Mega Tokyo ๐ŸŽฎ

Japan's flagship Pokรฉmon store - exclusive merch, photo ops!

Japan-unique: This store doesn't exist outside Japan!
๐Ÿ“ Map (Sunshine City) ๐ŸŽฎ Website
3:30 PM

REST at Apartment ๐Ÿ˜ด

Return to Shibuya, critical jetlag downtime

5:00 PM

Nintendo Tokyo ๐ŸŽฎ

Mario, Zelda, Animal Crossing themed - exclusive Japan items!

Why this works: Both stores "buy patience" for temple days ahead
๐Ÿ“ Map (Shibuya Parco 6F) ๐ŸŽฎ Website
6:00 PM

Shibuya Exploration

Shibuya Crossing, Sakura Stage Festival preview

๐Ÿ“ Map
7:00 PM

Dinner

Apartment or nearby (energy-dependent)

๐ŸŒธ Zoe's Corner
Today's Mission: Find a colorful Japanese manhole cover and count how many different mascot characters you see!
Mar27

Deep Cultural Immersion

Day 3 ยท Thursday
Tokyo
9:00 AM

Asakusa District

Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise shopping, origami workshop

๐Ÿ“ Map โ›ฉ๏ธ Website
12:00 PM

Traditional Lunch

Asakusa district โ€ข ยฅ2,000-3,000/person

2:30 PM
Choose One
Option A
๐ŸŒธ
Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival
800 lanterns, music, parades. Tokyo's most famous hanami spot.
~30min from Asakusa Free Outdoor
โœ… No booking needed
๐Ÿ“ Map
Option B
๐Ÿฑ
Animal Cafe Experience
Cat, dog, owl, or hedgehog cafes in Harajuku/Shibuya. Zoe will love it!
~40min from Asakusa ยฅ1,500-2,500/person Indoor ยท 1hr
โœ… Walk-in or same-day booking
๐Ÿ“ Map
5:30 PM

Return to Apartment

Brief rest before dinner

7:00 PM

Traditional Japanese Dinner

Cultural reflection

๐ŸŒธ Zoe's Corner
Today's Mission: Get a Goshuin stamp at Senso-ji Temple and find a koi fish pond!
Mar28

Ghibli Magic & Festival Finale

Day 4 ยท Friday
Tokyo
9:00 AM

Inokashira Park ๐ŸŒธ

Cherry blossoms, optional boat rental

๐Ÿ“ Map
11:00 AM

Ghibli Museum โญ

Passport name must match ticket exactly

โš ๏ธ Critical Booking
๐Ÿ“ Map ๐ŸŽฌ Website
2:30 PM

Return for Rest

Pack for Kyoto

5:00 PM

Meguro River or Shibuya Sakura Stage ๐ŸŒธ

Nighttime illuminations โ€ข Tokyo farewell

๐Ÿ“ Meguro ๐Ÿ“ Sakura Stage
7:30 PM

Farewell Tokyo Dinner

Last night in the capital

๐ŸŒธ Zoe's Corner
Today's Mission: Find Totoro at the Ghibli Museum and look for the giant catbus! ๐Ÿฑ
Mar29

Tokyo โ†’ Kyoto Transition

Day 5 ยท Saturday
Tokyo โ†’ Kyoto
9:30 AM

Final Yoyogi Park Walk ๐ŸŒธ

Farewell ritual

๐Ÿ“ Map
11:00 AM

Check out Hyatt House

Head to Tokyo Station

๐Ÿ“ฆ
Takkyubin Luggage Forwarding

Send main suitcases via Takkyubin from Hyatt House concierge to Kyomachiya Suite Rikyu. Pack overnight bags only for Shinkansen. Luggage arrives next day. Cost: ~ยฅ2,000/bag.

12:03 PM

Shinkansen to Kyoto ๐Ÿš„

2h 15m โ€ข JR Pass covered โ€ข Mount Fuji viewing from window seats!

๐Ÿ“ Tokyo Station
3:00 PM

Check-in: Kyomachiya Suite Rikyu

Traditional machiya in Gion โ€ข Confirmation: 5908.369.267

๐Ÿ“ Map ๐Ÿก Website
5:00 PM

Maruyama Park Illuminations ๐ŸŒธ

80-year-old weeping cherry tree โ€ข Food stalls โ€ข 6-10 PM

๐Ÿ“ Map
7:30 PM

Traditional Kyoto Dinner

Welcome to the ancient capital

๐ŸŒธ Zoe's Corner
Today's Mission: Spot Mount Fuji from the Shinkansen window (sit on the right side!) and count how many trains you see! ๐Ÿš„
Mar30

Nara Day Trip

Day 6 ยท Sunday
Nara / Kyoto
9:00 AM

Train to Nara

45 min โ€ข JR Pass covered

10:00 AM

Todaiji Temple & Great Buddha

Cherry blossom setting โ€ข UNESCO World Heritage

๐Ÿ“ Map โ›ฉ๏ธ Website
11:30 AM

Nara Park Sacred Deer ๐ŸฆŒ

Gentle animal interaction โ€ข Cultural tradition

๐Ÿ“ Map
12:30 PM

Traditional Nara Lunch

Local specialties

5:00 PM

Machiya Rest

Critical downtime after full day

6:30 PM

Philosopher's Path ๐ŸŒธ

400+ cherry trees โ€ข 2km walk โ€ข Golden hour light!

๐Ÿ“ Map

๐Ÿ’ก Evening timing is intentional - midday sakura crowds are claustrophobic

๐ŸŒธ Zoe's Corner
Today's Mission: Feed a deer and give it a bow - they'll bow back! Take a photo with the friendliest deer you meet! ๐ŸฆŒ

โš ๏ธ Deer can be nippy - parents are "deer shields"!

Mar31

Kyoto Cultural Culmination

Day 7 ยท Monday
Kyoto
7:00 AM

Fushimi Inari Shrine โ›ฉ๏ธ

Early start = empty paths, magical light, no crowds!

๐Ÿ“ Map โ›ฉ๏ธ Website
9:00 AM

Slow Machiya Breakfast

Reward for early start โ€ข Traditional setting

10:30 AM

Kiyomizu-dera Temple ๐ŸŒธ

UNESCO Heritage โ€ข Cherry blossoms

๐Ÿ“ Map โ›ฉ๏ธ Website
2:00 PM

๐Ÿ˜ด REST at Machiya

Critical downtime after active morning

4:00 PM

Final Gion & Maruyama Park ๐ŸŒธ

Peak bloom farewell โ€ข Seasonal shopping

๐Ÿ“ Gion ๐Ÿ“ Maruyama
6:00 PM

Traditional Farewell Dinner

Sayonara, Kyoto

๐ŸŒธ Zoe's Corner
Today's Mission: Find a lucky charm (omamori) at a temple and see if you can spot a geisha in Gion! ๐Ÿ‘˜
Apr1

Departure

Day 8 ยท Tuesday
Kyoto โ†’ Home
9:00 AM

Nishiki Market

Spring ingredients, cherry blossom themed foods

๐Ÿ“ Map
10:30 AM

Machiya Checkout

Head to Kyoto Station

11:30 AM

Shinkansen to Shinagawa ๐Ÿš„

2h 15m โ€ข JR Pass

๐Ÿ“ Kyoto Station
2:15 PM

Arrive Haneda Airport

4+ hours before flight โ€ข Lunch & duty-free shopping

๐Ÿ“ Map
6:25 PM

Flight UA 38 to LAX โœˆ๏ธ

Arrive 12:30 PM same day โ€ข Premium Plus โ€ข Seats 21D, 21A, 21C

~3:30 PM

Home to Santa Barbara ๐Ÿ 

Retrieve Tesla from LAX parking โ€ข 2 hour drive

๐ŸŒธ Zoe's Corner
Today's Mission: Pick out one special souvenir to remember Japan and say "arigatou gozaimasu" (thank you) 10 times today! โœจ
Accommodations

Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya

Mar 25-29 โ€ข 4 nights
Confirmation 64255542
Location 750m from Shibuya Crossing
Features Full kitchen, washer/dryer, pool
Cost $3,378

Kyomachiya Suite Rikyu

Mar 29-Apr 1 โ€ข 3 nights
Confirmation 5908.369.267
Location Gion District โ€ข 8 min to Maruyama Park
Style Traditional machiya townhouse
Cost $2,662
Essential Information

๐Ÿšจ Emergency Contacts

  • Police: 110
  • Fire/Ambulance: 119
  • US Embassy Tokyo: +81-3-3224-5000
  • Japan Helpline (24/7 English): 0570-000-911
  • Hyatt House Shibuya: +81-3-6712-6560

๐Ÿ’ด Money & Tipping

  • Tipping: Not customary; can be offensive
  • Cash: Still kingโ€”many places don't accept cards
  • 7-Eleven ATMs: Best for foreign cards
  • Budget: ~ยฅ15,000/day for family activities + meals

๐Ÿšƒ Transit Tips

  • JR Pass: Activate at Narita JR counter (voucher + passport)
  • IC Card: Add Suica to Apple Wallet before trip
  • Last Trains: ~midnight; plan evening activities accordingly
  • Luggage: Use Yamato Transport (Takkyubin) for hotel-to-hotel delivery

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ง Family Travel Tips

  • Stroller: Compact umbrella style recommended
  • Kid meals: Most restaurants accommodate; conveyor sushi is a hit!
  • Rest stops: Family Mart and Lawson everywhere
  • Bathrooms: Clean everywhere; bring hand towel (no paper towels)

๐ŸŒค๏ธ Late March Weather

  • Temperature: 10-18ยฐC (50-64ยฐF)
  • Pack: Layers, light rain jacket, comfortable walking shoes
  • Cherry Blossoms: Peak typically Mar 25 - Apr 5
  • Tip: Mornings can be cool; afternoons warm

๐Ÿ“ฑ Connectivity

  • eSIM: Ubigi or Airalo work well
  • Pocket WiFi: Rent at airport or pre-order
  • Voltage: 100V (US plugs work; chargers are fine)
  • Google Translate: Download Japanese offline pack

Helpful Resources

๐ŸŽซ Tickets & Bookings

๐Ÿš† Transportation

๐ŸŒธ Cherry Blossoms

๐Ÿ“ฑ Essential Apps

๐Ÿœ Food & Dining

โ„น๏ธ General Info