ITINERARY
A day by day schedule overview
$TBD$
12
days
DESCRIPTION:
This is my way of helping you navigate the uneasiness of going across the world with all the unknowns, ill help you with understanding cultural changes, ease your travel stress, recommend itinerary excursions and have a base budget breakdown ready for you to go! All you need is your passport and the longing for adventure.
BUDGET INCLUDES:
International plane ticket
Train passes
Hotel/Housing fees
Resort fees
Bookings and Reservations
Excursion costs
Airport customs and check-ins help
Pre-made Packing lists
NOT INCLUDED:
SIM cards/phone plan changes
Personal spending money
Food and alcohol costs
September 2025
SCHEDULE:
The schedule can change depending on the availability of tickets and reservations. It will not be set in stone until everyone has secured their plane tickets and reservations can be made.
Hello Japan
September 15th
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8:30am- Meet at international terminal in SFO
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10:50am - Board flight to Japan
LOOSE DAY IN TRAVE / TIME ZONE CHANGE
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Approx: 12 hour flight, but trust me it goes by fast. two meals are served on the plane and there are personalized gaming sets and tv's for every seat.
Day
01
Day
02
September 16th
-
2:50pm- Arrive in KIX airport Osaka
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4:30pm- go thru customs and get baggage
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5pm- Check into AirBnB in Kyoto
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6pm- Walk around Gion shrine at sunset
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7pm- Grab dinner to have in House and unpack
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9pm- Kids in bed, adults unwind time
Helpful terms / Excursion descriptions: SFO - San Fransisco international airport KIX- Kansai international airport in osaka Gion- Old style Kyoto where the geishas roam, has a lovely old world feel but is in the midst of the city hustle and bustle.
KYOTO/osaka
Day
03
September 17th
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8am- Take scenic train to ARASHIYAMA
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Visit the bamboo park
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Tenryuji Temple/gardens
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Walk around city and have lunch by the river
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Back to air bnb for dinner and free roaming around Gion
PARENT DATE NIGHT SWAP
Day
04
-
9am take train to OSAKA
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10am Visit the largest aquarium in the world OSAKA Aquarium
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4pm- Walk around Dontonburi street, take a canal tour on the river in the city
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7pm- Dinner in osaka
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8pm- Take train back home
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9pm Kids in bed
September 18th
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9am- Wake up, check out of hotel and grab some convenient store breakfast
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10am- Activate JR passes and board shikansen
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11am- Arrive to hakone, check in and get settled.
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12:30pm- Head To the Volcano
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3pm- Get back into town and walk to the river to drink beer and swim
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6pm-Return to the resort for all included 7 course dinner
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9pm- Head to the hotsprings together for bonding and games
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7am- Wake up and eat the included breakfast
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9am- Last hot spring soak
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10am- check out of the hotel, they hold our bags.
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10:30am- Visit Lake Ashi
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1pm- Have a picnic lunch by the lake
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3pm- Pick up bags and head back to Tokyo.
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4:30pm- check into the hotel and freshen up.
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6pm- Head out for dinner and drinks.
Helpful terms / Excursion descriptions: Arashiyama- This is a mountain town on the edge of Kyoto covered in dense forests and a beautiful river, it's known for its bamboo grove pathway and scenic garden temples. Dontonburi street- this is a popular shopping area split by a canal. you can ride a boat down the canal and check out hundreds of stores and food stalls
Osaka/Nara
Day
05
September 19th
-
9:30am- Head to osaka go to kids plaza for a couple hours
(George goes Pokemon hunting on his own)
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11:30pm lunch
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1pm-7pm visit the World Expo
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Back to Airbnb for Late dinner
Day
06
September 20th
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8am- Take train to Nara deer park
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1pm- back to air bnb for relaxing and lunch
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5pm- Visit Fushimi inari shrine for sunset views (This is a small hike uphill be aware)
Take main luggage to the luggage forward center to be moved to tokyo ahead for us.
7pm- Nice Dinner Out
PARENT DATE NIGHT SWAP
Helpful terms / Excursion descriptions: luggage forward- in Japan you can take your luggage and have it shipped to your next hotel destination a day in advance so you don't have to lug it around in train stations during your travels. makes things with kids especially easy! Nara deer park - an area of Japan with hundreds of wild deer that try to coax you into feeding them by bowing. you can pet them and they will come right up to you and are generally friendly. Fushimi inari shrine- this is a temple that is a small hike up a mountain using stairs that go through hundreds of bright orange tori gates. its very scenic and is a moderately light hike on the difficulty level. world expo- this is a giant expo with countries from around the world that have built pavilions to showcase their innovations in design towards a more sustainable forward future. kids plaza- a huge indoor play place for kids
Tokyo
Day
07
-
8am- Girls Take train to osaka, boys sleep in with babies and tidy up the air bnb for check-out
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8:30am- Attend Kansai's largest flea market for thrifted goods
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11am- Dads and babies meet up with us with daybags and peruse the market for another hour together
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12:30pm- Grab lunch to eat on the train
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3pm- Arrive in tokyo, check into Air bnb
George checks out some Pokemon card shops
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6:00pm- Dinner at air bnb, let kids run wild
September 21st
Day
08
September 22nd
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10am Visit Teamlabs exhibit
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12pm- Rest at air bnb for Lunch time at home
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2pm- Tokyo Skytree for shopping and observation tower views
George looks at Pokémon Center tokyo
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6pm- Dinner at the skytree market
PARENT DATE NIGHT SWAP
Helpful terms / Excursion descriptions: Flea market - a giant outdoor antique market, like farmers market for old stuff at cheap prices generally. Teamlabs- this is a viral digital museum where it has interactive art displays Sky tree - This is a large lookout point tower with a beautiful shopping mall and aquarium attached to it. its like mall of America meets Eiffel Tower.
Day Trip - Hakone
Day
09
September 23rd
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10am- Eat breakfast at the air bnb
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11am: Board train to Hakone onsen town
(1.5 hr train ride)
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1pm check into Hakone Ryokan to drop off bags
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and walk around the town for lunch
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5pm- Enjoy included kaiseki meal at resort and spend night enjoying the onsen and scenery.
Day
10
September 24th
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8am- Fancy included breakfast
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10am- check out of resort
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10:30am- take train/bus to Hakone open air museum
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12:30pm- grab lunch
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1:30pm- Board train back to tokyo
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3pm- arrive back at air bnb
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4pm- Check out any wanted sights in tokyo. aka Harujuku, Meiji shrine, Asakusa shrine, Shibuya crossing, Imperial palace etc.
-
PARENT DATE NIGHT SWAP
Helpful terms / Excursion descriptions: Hakone- A mountainous resort town famous for its hot springs and scenery. onsen- Just means communal hot springs. Ryokan- a traditional style Japanese inn with yukatas and exceptional service Hakone open air museum - a large outdoor park with interactive exhibits and art sculptures
Send off
Day
1 1
September 25th
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7am- Wake up and head to Tokyo DISNEY SEA
(all day affair)
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1pm- Lunch in the park.
boys and babies head back to air bnb for nap time and relaxation? Girls stay and go hard at Disney last couple hours.? OR Everyone just keeps going!
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5:00pm- Head back to air bnb
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6pm- Dinner at air bnb
Finish packing everything up for departure
Day
1 2
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8am- Wake up grab breakfast and check out
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9am- Walk around the Shinjuku botanical gardens
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12:30pm- Get to airport for baggage check in
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3:50pm- Board plane to SFO
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Arrive in SFO 9:30am same day
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GAIN DAY IN TRAVEL / TIME ZONE
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Go separate ways back home Tucson vs Phoenix
September 26th
Helpful terms / Excursion descriptions: Tokyo Disney SEA- This is a special Disney park to Tokyo with lots of mermaid and pirate decor. Shinjuku gyoen- this is the large Japanese botanical garden in the middle of the city