A 7-Day Family Trip to Kansai, Japan – Craft Your Own Itinerary
I love traveling with my child, experiencing different cultures with heart. Each time, I do extensive research and make detailed plans, which gives me a sense of accomplishment. And during the trip, occasional deviations from the plan bring little surprises and different feelings.
I don’t like rushing around; I prefer to linger in one place and take it slow. So this time, I chose the Kansai region of Japan: Kyoto—Nara—Osaka, moving at a leisurely pace.
1. Visa: I found an agent on Taobao, provided the required documents, and it went very smoothly with quick processing. For Japan visas, children don’t need to provide school enrollment certificates, which is quite convenient.
2. Flights: There are many direct flights from Tianjin to Kansai Airport with good timings. I booked round-trip tickets with Tianjin Airlines. Outbound: 8:20 departure, arriving at Kansai Airport at 12:05. Return: 5:55 PM departure, arriving in Tianjin at 7:55 PM. I recommend booking early – it helps with the visa and the price is very reasonable. I booked my tickets from July 7 to July 13 at the end of April, costing just over 2,000 RMB per person. Prices start to soar after May Day and by June they’ve gone up by over 1,000 RMB. Of course, that’s not a concern for those who are well-off!
3. Accommodation: I really wanted to try a Japanese minshuku, but I found that the ones in Kyoto are all a certain distance from Kyoto Station. Considering the comfort of sleeping with a child and not being cramped, as well as transportation and safety, I chose the New Hankyu Hotels in Osaka and Kyoto instead. It turned out to be a very wise decision. The Hankyu hotels offer triple rooms, and the transportation is incredibly convenient no matter where you go. For triple rooms priced at around 1,000 RMB, given such a great location, these are very cost-effective hotels in Japan. In Japan, hotel prices don’t vary much between early and late bookings, but triple rooms are in high demand and may sell out if booked too late. If you don’t have specific requirements for the number of beds, you don’t necessarily need to book very early.
4. Communication: For Japan, I recommend renting a pocket WiFi from Taobao. It can also serve as a translator. It costs about 10 RMB per day per device and can be shared by multiple people. There are counters at the airport for pickup and return, which is very convenient.
II. Itinerary
Day 1: Tianjin Airlines 8:20 → Kansai Airport 12:05 → Kyoto Station 3:00
Note: Pick up the WiFi before security.
After arriving at Kansai Airport, take the JR directly to Kyoto, and return to Osaka on the last day. This route is the most convenient and reasonable.
Kansai Airport → Kyoto
To go from Kansai Airport directly to Kyoto, take the JR Kansai Airport Express (Haruka). It runs every 30 minutes, and the journey takes 1 hour 15 minutes. You can buy tickets at the JR counter (green) at Kansai Airport, or purchase them online.
ICOCA & HARUKA: Print the confirmation email. After exiting customs at the airport, go up the escalator to the second floor, cross the sky bridge to the main hall, and go to the JR counter (there’s a small hall next to the green counter) to purchase. The hall has service counters in Japanese, English, and Chinese.
Note: Children aged 6–12 can only purchase the ICOCA child ticket + JR Kansai 1-Day Pass at the airport JR counter, not online.
After buying the ticket, the entrance gate is directly opposite the blue door of the ticket office. Once inside, you’ll see platforms 3-4, which go directly to Kyoto.
Across from Kyoto Station is the Kyoto New Hankyu Hotel. After checking in and a short rest, you can go out to explore the surroundings, find food, and shop. In short, everything you need is around Kyoto Station. The largest Uniqlo in Kyoto is nearby, and there are delicious options in Ramen Koji that I still think about.
Kyoto New Hankyu Hotel Triple Room:
Day 2: Kyoto Station → Fushimi Inari Taisha → Nara
Actually, according to my original plan and online guides, I wasn’t going to Nara today. But since we set out early to avoid crowds, we finished visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha by just after 9 AM. I realized we had plenty of time to go to Nara, and since many online guides suggest going to Nara on the last day (which would mean carrying luggage, which is inconvenient), I decided on the spot to go from Inari Station directly to Nara Station. This is one route, both on the JR Nara Line.
1. Fushimi Inari Taisha: From Kyoto Station, take the JR Nara Line from Platform 10 to Inari Station; the shrine is right outside. If you’re with a child, you won’t spend too long here because the countless red pillars can cause visual fatigue, and kids are not very interested – that’s why we didn’t stay long.
Fushimi Inari Taisha:
2. Nara: From Inari Station to Nara Station. After exiting, just follow the crowd and you’ll see more and more deer along the way. Near Nara Park, there’s a small bridge; after crossing it, there’s a shop selling deer crackers. The elderly shopkeeper is very lovely, communicating in broken English to ask how many crackers you want: “one or two?” If you want to have fun, buy more – the deer are very hungry! Some may even chase after you; it’s common to turn around and be startled by a deer.
3. Shopping in Nara: On the way back, there’s a street right next to Nara Station with various foods, souvenirs, and drugstores. If you love shopping, buy more here because I later found that the drugstores in Nara have the widest selection and are the cheapest. After eating, drinking, and shopping, take the same route back to Kyoto Station. After a rest at the hotel, explore Kyoto Station again in the evening. The day wasn’t rushed but very fulfilling.
Day 3: Arashiyama
Arashiyama is a very distinctive place in Kyoto. Compared to the mountains and rivers in China, it’s not breathtaking, but it’s quaint and delicate, and the fresh grass scent in the air is refreshing. If you’re not in a hurry, it’s worth a visit. Our route in Arashiyama:
JR Kyoto Station → JR Umahori Station → 10-minute walk to Sagano Romantic Train Kameoka Station → ride the train → Arashiyama Station → Nonomiya Shrine → Bamboo Grove Path → Tenryu-ji Temple → Arashiyama Main Street → Arashiyama Park → Togetsukyo Bridge → Saga-Arashiyama Station → JR return.
At Nonomiya Shrine, many Japanese students come to pray for academic success; it’s very popular.
Day 4: Kiyomizu-dera – Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka – Yasaka Shrine – Gion
1. From Kyoto Station, take bus 206 toward Higashiyama-dori Kitaoji Bus Terminal, get off at Gojozaka or Kiyomizumichi stop, then walk 10 minutes.
2. Take bus 100 toward Kiyomizu-dera, Gion, or Ginkaku-ji, get off at Gojozaka and walk.
Both buses are convenient and have seats.
Since my child isn’t very interested in temples, we focused on eating, drinking, and shopping at the little shops along Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka. The items here are common but exquisitely made; if you see something you like, you can buy it as a souvenir – it’s meaningful.
3. Kyoto → Osaka
In the afternoon, return from Kiyomizu-dera, take the JR from Kyoto Station to Osaka Station. Exit Osaka Station, cross the sky bridge, and you’ll reach the New Hankyu Hotel. The bustle around Osaka Station is indescribable; as night falls, the nightlife just begins, with everything for eating, drinking, and having fun.
Day 5: Universal Studios Japan
Actually, you don’t need a guide for Universal Studios. It’s very convenient from Osaka Station, and all online guides are the same.
Osaka Station → [JR Osaka Loop Line (inner track) toward Nishikujo/Bentencho/Sakurajima, 5 stops] → Universal City station, about 10 minutes.
Universal Studios is not that big. If you’ve been to Shanghai Disney, you’ll feel that the crowds here are much smaller! Of course, it’s relative. During summer vacation, each ride has a wait time of about 30–40 minutes, which is acceptable. The most distinctive attraction is the Harry Potter Castle. When night falls, wait times drop significantly, and you can even ride Harry Potter multiple times. So if you’re on a budget and not in a hurry, there’s no need to buy an Express Pass.
Day 6: Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan + Legoland Discovery Center
Umeda Station → [Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, 2 stops] → Honmachi → [Osaka Metro Chuo Line, 5 stops] → Osaka Port, about 20 minutes (Umeda Station is combined with Osaka Station, so it’s convenient).
The Osaka Aquarium, Legoland, and the Ferris wheel are all in the same area. You can buy a combination ticket on-site according to your preference; there are many counters and tickets are processed quickly. The Osaka Aquarium is worth visiting – its unique architecture and user-friendly route make it enjoyable. Bring a small notebook for your child to collect stamps of marine animals along the way; it’s both a souvenir and something kids love. Legoland is worth a visit if you’re very interested in Lego; otherwise, it may not be very interesting, and it feels more geared toward younger children.
Note: I didn’t buy the Osaka 1-Day or 2-Day Pass. I think it’s better to arrange your itinerary flexibly based on your own situation rather than letting the passes restrict your plans.
Day 7: Yodobashi Camera, Drugstores, Airport Shopping, Return to Tianjin
Originally I planned to go to Osaka Castle today, but the night before we explored the shopping malls near Osaka Station, especially Yodobashi Camera, which is like a giant supermarket with different types of goods on every floor – from bottle caps to large appliances, everything is available. I found so many things I liked and wanted to buy that I could spend the whole day in Yodobashi Camera. Plus, the weather was hot, so I decisively gave up Osaka Castle and bought all sorts of distinctive Japanese items there. And you don’t have to worry about your child getting impatient – the exercise equipment and various electric massagers in the fitness area can fully arouse a child’s curiosity; they can easily spend half a day in one area.
After shopping, there is a direct bus to the airport right outside Osaka New Hankyu Hotel, running every 15 minutes – very convenient. This is another important reason for choosing this hotel. Be sure to leave plenty of time for shopping at the airport. You can try different flavors of Shiroi Koibito chocolate and decide which to buy. I recommend the strawberry flavor – it’s tastier than the traditional one. Also, bring some dark chocolate. I regret not bringing more back!
In total, 7 days, 6.5 days of play – the itinerary was full but not rushed. The children’s interests and the adults’ shopping didn’t conflict much. I rarely mentioned food because I felt the food everywhere was excellent and distinctive – you don’t have to go to trendy places. Japanese food is very fresh; for example, I ate unagi don and sushi many times, and every place was good – even the sandwiches from the supermarket were delicious.
I hope my rambling helps you create your own itinerary based on your preferences.
