Japan / Family itinerary
Japan with children: a route from Osaka to Ishigaki
Our spring 2024 family route plan: Osaka, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Tokyo and Ishigaki, with a mountain detour and a visit to Himeji.
Cities, mountains and five nights on an island: that was the shape of our Japan plan for spring 2024. We travelled with our children, starting and finishing in Osaka. Between those two stays, the plan linked Kyoto, Kanazawa and Tokyo with Ishigaki.
This route plan includes several short stays and a hotel change on Ishigaki. Allow for packing and travel days when deciding whether it fits your family.
How we divided the nights
The plan covered 23 nights, from 19 April to 12 May 2024.
| Part of the route | Nights planned | Base |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival | 2 | Osaka |
| Kyoto, with Nara on the way | 3 | Kyoto |
| Kanazawa | 2 | Kanazawa |
| Mountain section | 2 | Japanese Alps |
| Tokyo and the airport overnight | 7 | Tokyo / Narita |
| Island stay | 5 | Ishigaki |
| Before the flight home | 2 | Osaka |
Nara between Osaka and Kyoto
We planned Nara as a stop on the way to Kyoto, with luggage storage before sightseeing. For a family, that puts a train journey, a day out and arrival at a new hotel together. If you prefer to settle in before exploring, consider giving Nara a separate day from one city base instead.
Adding the mountains
Our mountain option linked Kanazawa with Shirakawa-go, Takayama and the Shin-Hotaka or Kamikochi area, using a hire car before continuing to Tokyo. It adds a different kind of travel to the city stays, along with another change of transport.
If your priority is fewer moves, this is the section to compare with a simpler city-and-island route. The two nights could instead extend a base where you want more time.
Tokyo and a visit to Himeji
We visited Hama-rikyu in Tokyo on 29 April.
Later in the trip, we visited Himeji on 11 May. Our route plan kept Osaka as the final base, with Himeji as a visit rather than another hotel stop.
Five nights on Ishigaki
We planned three nights at Grandvrio Resort and two at ANA InterContinental. That split means a check-out and another check-in during a five-night island stay.
For your version, decide whether there is a particular reason to try two hotels. If you want to unpack once and stay put, keep all five nights together. If a particular room or property is part of the trip you want, allow time for the move between them.
You can find more of our family journeys in the journal.