7-Day Family Trip to Kansai, Japan — Make Your Own Itinerary
I don't like rushing through the journey; I prefer to stop at a place and slowly take it in. So this time, I chose Kansai, Japan, the route Kyoto—Nara—Osaka, to take it slow.
1. Visa: Found an agent on Taobao, provided the required documents, and it went very smoothly with quick processing. For Japanese visas, children don't need to provide a school enrollment certificate, which is convenient.
2. Flights: There are many direct flights from Tianjin to Kansai Airport, with decent timings. I directly booked round-trip tickets with Tianjin Airlines. First day: depart 8:20, arrive at Kansai Airport 12:05. Last day: depart 5:55 PM, arrive in Tianjin 7:55 PM. I recommend booking tickets early; early booking makes visa application easier and the price is very reasonable. My round-trip tickets were for July 7–13, and I booked them at the end of April for just over 2000 yuan per person. Ticket prices start soaring after May Day, and by June they can be over 1000 yuan more—of course, that doesn't matter to those who have plenty of money!
3. Accommodation: I really wanted to experience a Japanese minshuku, but I found that minshuku in Kyoto are all a certain distance from Kyoto Station. Considering the need for comfortable and non-cramped sleeping for the kids, along with transportation and safety issues, I chose the New Hankyu Hotels in Osaka and Kyoto instead. It turned out to be a very wise decision. The Hankyu Hotels have triple rooms, and the transportation is super convenient no matter where you go. For the price, triple rooms cost just over 1000 yuan, which is great value for such a good location in Japan. Meanwhile, the price difference between early and late booking for Japanese hotels is not significant, but triple rooms are in high demand and may be gone if booked late. If you don't have strict requirements on the number of beds, you don't necessarily need to book too early.
4. Communication: For Japan, I recommend renting a pocket Wi-Fi from Taobao. It can also serve as a translator. It costs about a dozen yuan per day 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 pocket Wi-Fi before security.
After arriving at Osaka Kansai Airport, take the JR directly from the airport to Kyoto, and return to Osaka at the last stop. This route is the most convenient and reasonable.
Kansai Airport — Kyoto
From Kansai Airport to Kyoto, take the JR Kanku Limited Express (HARUKA). It runs every 30 minutes, and the journey takes 1 hour 15 minutes. You can buy tickets on-site at the JR counter (green) at Kansai Airport, or purchase online.
ICOCA & HARUKA: Print the confirmation email. After clearing customs at the airport, take the escalator up to the second floor, cross the footbridge to the main hall, and go to the JR counter (there is a small hall next to the green counter) to purchase. There are service counters in Japanese, English, and Chinese in the hall.
For children aged 6–12, the ICOCA child ticket + JR Kansai 1-Day Pass can only be purchased at the airport JR counter, not on the official website.
After buying the ticket, go to the ticket gate. The blue door of the ticket office is directly opposite the gate. Entering the gate leads to Platforms 3–4, which go directly to Kyoto.
Kyoto Station is right across from the Kyoto New Hankyu Hotel. After checking in, take a little break and then go out to explore the surroundings, find food, and shop. In short, Kyoto Station has everything you need. The largest Uniqlo in Kyoto is nearby, and there's also the delicious food in Ramen Alley, which I still crave to this day.
Kyoto New Hankyu Hotel Triple Room:
Day 2: Kyoto Station — Fushimi Inari Taisha — Nara
Originally, according to the plan and online references, today was not supposed to include Nara. But to avoid crowds, we left early and finished visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha just after 9 AM. We realized there was plenty of time to go to Nara, and since some online guides suggested going to Nara on the last day, which would mean carrying luggage and be inconvenient, we decided on the spot to go directly from [Inari Station] to [Nara Station]. This is along the same line—both are on the [JR Nara Line].
1. Fushimi Inari Taisha: From Kyoto Station, take the [JR Nara Line] from Platform 10 to [Inari Station]. The exit is right at the shrine. If you are with children, you won't spend too much time here because it's all red pillars, which can cause aesthetic fatigue, and kids aren't very interested—that's why we didn't stay long.
Fushimi Inari Taisha:
2. Nara: From [Inari Station] to [Nara Station]. Exit the station and follow the crowd; you'll see more and more deer along the way. Near Nara Park, there is a small bridge. After crossing the bridge, there is a shop selling deer crackers. The owner, an elderly man, is very cute and communicates in broken English asking how many crackers you want: "One or two?" If you want to have fun, buy more; the deer are very good eaters! Some might even chase you, and it's common to turn around and be startled by a deer.
3. Shopping in Nara: On the way back, there is a street next to Nara Station with various foods, small items, and drugstores. For those who love shopping, buy more here because I later found that the drugstores in Nara have the most comprehensive selection and are the cheapest. After eating, drinking, and shopping, take the same route back to Kyoto Station. Rest at the hotel, then continue exploring around Kyoto Station in the evening. The day was not rushed and was very fulfilling.
Day 3: Arashiyama
Arashiyama is a very distinctive place in Kyoto. Compared to landscapes in China, it's not breathtaking, but it's rustic and delicate, and the scent of grass in the air is refreshing. If you are not in a hurry, it's worth a visit. Our entire route in Arashiyama was:
JR Kyoto Station → JR Umahori Station → 10-minute walk to Arashiyama Sagano Romantic Train (Torokko) Kameoka Station → depart → Torokko Arashiyama Station arrival → Nonomiya Shrine → Bamboo 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, and the incense is very prosperous.
Day 4: Kiyomizu-dera — Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka — Yasaka Shrine — Gion
1. From Kyoto Station, take bus No. 206 towards Higashiyama-dori Kitaoji Bus Terminal, get off at "Gojozaka" or "Kiyomizu-michi" stop, then walk 10 minutes.
2. Bus No. 100 towards Kiyomizu-dera, Gion, Ginkaku-ji, get off at Gojozaka and walk. Both buses are convenient and have seats.
Since the kids aren't very interested in temples, our focus was on eating, drinking, and shopping in the small 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 very meaningful.
3. Kyoto — Osaka
In the afternoon, returning from Kiyomizu-dera, take the JR directly from Kyoto Station to Osaka Station. Exit Osaka Station, cross the footbridge, and you'll be at the New Hankyu Hotel. The area around Osaka Station is indescribably bustling. When night falls, the nightlife just begins, with everything for eating, drinking, and fun.
Day 5: Universal Studios Japan
Actually, you don't really need a guide for Universal Studios Japan. It's convenient to get there from Osaka Station, and all online guides are the same.
Osaka Station → [JR Osaka Loop Line, inner loop, towards Nishikujo, Bentencho, Sakurajima, 5 stops] → Universal City (Universal Studios Japan) — just over ten minutes.
Universal Studios is not very big. If you've been to Shanghai Disneyland, you'll feel that the crowds here are much smaller! Of course, that's relative. During summer vacation, each ride typically has a 30–40 minute wait, which is acceptable. The most distinctive attraction is the Harry Potter Castle. When night falls, the queue times decrease significantly, and you can even ride Harry Potter multiple times. So if you are 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] → Hommachi → [Osaka Metro Chuo Line, 5 stops] → Osakako (Osaka Port) — about 20 minutes (since Umeda Station and Osaka Station are together, it's convenient).
Osaka Aquarium, Legoland, and the Ferris wheel are all in the same area. You can buy a combination ticket on-site according to your preferences. There are many ticket windows, and ticketing is fast. The Osaka Aquarium is worth a visit—it has a unique building structure and a very user-friendly tour route. Bring a small notebook for the kids to collect stamps of marine animals along the way; it's both a souvenir and something they enjoy doing. As for Legoland, if you are very interested in Lego, it's worth a look; but if you're not particularly into Lego, it's not very interesting—it feels more suited for younger children.
Note: I did not buy the Osaka 1-day or 2-day pass. In fact, it's better to adapt your plans flexibly based on your own situation rather than being constrained by these passes.
Day 7: Yodobashi Camera, Drugstores, Airport Shopping, Return to Tianjin
Originally, I planned to go to Osaka Castle today. But the previous night, we shopped at the malls near Osaka Station, especially Yodobashi Camera, which is like a huge supermarket. Each floor has different types of products, from small bottle caps to large appliances—everything you could want. We found so many things we liked and wanted to buy that we could spend an entire day in Yodobashi. Plus, the weather was hot, so we decisively gave up Osaka Castle and bought all kinds of characteristic Japanese items at Yodobashi. And you don't have to worry about the kids getting impatient there—the electric fitness equipment and various electric massagers in the fitness area fully arouse children's curiosity. They can stay in one area for half a day without any problem.
After shopping, there is a direct bus to the airport right at the entrance of the Osaka New Hankyu Hotel, running every 15 minutes—very convenient. This is another important reason for choosing this hotel. Be sure to allow plenty of time for airport shopping. At the airport, you can sample various types of Shiroi Koibito chocolate before deciding which to buy. I recommend a strawberry-flavored one; it's tastier than the traditional kind. Also, bring some dark chocolate. Now I regret not bringing back more!
Seven full days, with six and a half days of activities—the itinerary was full but not rushed. The kids' interests and the adults' shopping didn't conflict too much. Throughout the whole trip, I rarely mentioned food because I felt that we ate well everywhere we went, and each place had its own character. You don't have to go to trendy spots; Japanese food is all fresh. For example, we had eel rice and sushi many times, and every restaurant was good—even the sandwiches from the supermarket were delicious.
I hope my notes can help you create an itinerary based on your own preferences.
