Hello all,
After reading through the different threads over the last few months, I've assembled the following itinerary and would love any other suggestions/feedback. It is my husband and I who have both been to Japan for work over the years. We have 3 children ages 14,12 and 10 who are good travelers. We have purchased the JR Pass, so train travel will be easy. We are traveling light, so will avoid snow/northern areas because we don't want to pack bulky gear. Please weigh in on any suggested day trips from Tokyo, Kyoto, Fukuoka or must see in Okinawa for all of us. Thanks in advance!

12/13 - Arrive Tokyo (get in late)
12/14 - Tokyo (thinking either a guided tour, cooking class or day trips on the few days we are there)
12/15 - Tokyo
12/16 - Tokyo
12/17 - Kyoto (guided tours or day trips)
12/18 - Kyoto
12/19 - Kyoto (Osaka to Universal Studios for the kids)
12/20 - Kyoto
12/21 - Kyoto (day trip to Hiroshima)
12/22 - Fukuoka
12/23 - Fukuoka
12/24 - fly to Okinawa (car rental booked)
12/25 - Okinawa
12/26 - Okinawa
12/27 - Okinawa
12/28 - Okinawa
12/29 - fly to Tokyo
12/30 - Depart for home 10:35 am

You do not need JR Passes.

Unless you are thinking that the 21st is a day-trip where you return to Kyoto. You should spend that night in Fukuoka.

We were planning on using them for day trips and also to take the shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto. When we plugged it into Hyperdia it looked like the right route to go. The days we have listed as Tokyo or Kyoto are also days where we were thinking we may end up taking a day trip using the JR Pass to other locations. Therefore, we thought the JR Pass allows us to use the train without paying for each and every leg. Does that make sense?

You can find information about day trips on japan-guide.com.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html

From Tokyo, Nikko and Kamakura are common choices.
From Kyoto, Nara, Himeji, Uji, and Osaka are common choices.

There is no need for you to hire a guide, or join a day tour unless that is your preference. You might, however, consider taking advantage of an occasional local “goodwill guide” – The Japanese National Tourism Organization coordinates free volunteer guides – “Goodwill guides” – who are generally knowledgeable and happy to guide you in return for practicing their English – which can be excellent, but it is a bit of a luck-of-the-draw.
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/tr...deservice.html
You pay any entrance fees and his/her meal if your time with the guide includes one. Do NOT tip these guides, or anyone else in Japan.

I almost never disagree with mrwunrfl's comments on passes....however this time I think he is in error. It seems to me that if you travel from Tokyo to Kyoto to Fukuoka within seven days the pass is worthwhile...close but then a couple of day trips will definitely do it. Fare from Tokyo to Kyoto is �14,000, from Kyoto to Fukuoka (Hakata) �16,000. Seven day JR pass is �29,000. These are all approximate and not down to the exact yen....can be checked on hyperdia.com....

ykammerer, yes it makes sense if you add in some day trips. For the intr ercity trips tickets might cost more than a pass but they have more value for a group of 5 because you can take any shinkansen.

Your 12/21 is not a day trip from Kyoto to Hiroshima and returning to Kyoto, is it? You are ending the day in Fukuoka?

Maybe you are aware of this but the seats on the shinkansen can be turned around. You could have two of you facing two others with the fifth across the aisle.

Thank you for the insight on the seats on the shinkansen. That will work great with our children!

Yes, we were thinking 12/21 to Hiroshima would be a day trip from Kyoto. We were planning to catch a train from Kyoto to Fukuoka on 12/22. Is Hiroshima too long for a day trip from Kyoto?

Appreciate your help!

You can certainly visit Hiroshima as a day trip from Kyoto - take the 7.20 am Shinkansen and you�ll be there by 9.05. Coming back, you may need to change at Shin-Osaka. However, there�s not much point in returning to Kyoto if the following day you�re leaving Kyoto and taking the Shinkansen to Fukuoka. I would stay overnight in Hiroshima or carry on to Fukuoka (Hakata) that evening. From Hiroshima, you can take a Sakura or Kodama Shinkansen to Hakata (no Nozomi if you�re using a JR Pass) - though I�d avoid the Kodama as it�s slower because it makes a lot more stops.

I FULLY agree with tt7�s point about not backtracking to Kyoto from Hiroshima if you are heading on that next morning to Fukuoka (where I have not yet been).

I think overall your itinerary pretty dang good. I would give as many nights to Kyoto itself as you can. 4 nights, meaning 3+ days bring the absolute minimum. Kyoto is old Japan on every level. I�ve been there on both my trips (total of 10 nights) and I have every intention of going back again whenever my 3rd Trip to Japan happens.

Sometimes it's good to look at an actual map.
Hiroshima is right in between Kyoto and Fukuoka, on the same train line.
Kyoto to Hiroshima is 2.5 hours and from Hiroshima to Fukuoka is about 2 hours. Doesn't make any sense to go all the way back to Kyoto, then go through Hiroshima again the next day.

Also, (unless I'm misreading) when comparing the price of individual tickets vs JR Pass, shouldn't you be comparing them with a 14 day JR pass (46,390 Yen)? I can't see any other logical way to get better use with a 7 day pass. If you are buying the passes simply to make things easier, you will still want to reserve seats ahead of time for the long trips, so having passes won't really save you a lot of time in the stations.

It would be a 7-day pass starting on the 15th (if going to Fukuoka on the 21st) or the 16th or as late as the 17th.

Thank you all for the feedback! It's making me rethink Hiroshima and either moving it up or skipping it. Kyoto seems like the place where we will want to be free to explore. Plus, we hate rushing.

Why? I hope you won't skip Hiroshima. My highlight in Hiroshima was visiting the Miyajima island, I did not go to the Atomic museum.
You may check out your Kyoto hotel in the morning of 12/21, send your big luggage ahead to Fukuoka, and spend the night of 12/21 either in a hotel in Hiroshima by the train station, or stay the night in Miyajima.

Moving it up doesn't make any difference. Hiroshima as a day-trip from Kyoto when your next stop is Fukuoka is a bad idea. If you don't stop in Hiroshima on the way to Fukuoka, or spend the night in Hiroshima, then a day-trip from Fukuoka (63 min each way with no change of trains) is better than from Kyoto (108 min with a change of trains each way).

We travelled with our three kids (15, 13 and 9) from Kyoto by train to Hiroshima, visited the Dome and Peace Park Museum, and then got back on the train to Fukuoka as we had to catch a ferry to South Korea. The youngest is still mad we couldn�t spend longer at the Museum.

It was certainly a worthwhile visit for us. Not a place to be forgotten.

I would not skip Hiroshima. It was a highlight for my kids who were between the ages of 8-13 at the time we traveled. We also stayed the night on Miyajima which was a nice add-on staying in a traditional Ryokan. But even if you cannot make it to Miyajima, Hiroshima is more than worth a visit. Posters above give great advice on how to make your whole itinerary work. Good luck and have a great time!

Just back from our Japan trip. Thank you all for the feedback! We took the advice and kept Hiroshima, but moved directly on to Fukuoka. Loved Hiroshima and Peace Park -- it felt perfect to visit as this is why we love to travel as a family during the holidays. A couple of highlights from us.

• We stayed in Asakusa in Tokyo, near Kappabashi Street. It was a perfect family location -- quiet, restaurants, easy access t to JR train routes, parks for the kids.
• Took a wonderful cooking class with Musubi Cooking School...highly recommend for those considering.
• In Kyoto we ventured out took the bus system too. So convenient. Loved Kyoto and could have easily spent a lot more time there.
• If in northern Okinawa - visit Yachimun Kissa...aka Shisa Garden Cafe. Hard to find in the jungle, but fantastic Okinawan crepes and the ambience of being with all the shisas in the jungle was beautiful.

Thanks again and happy new year!

Thanks for reporting back! Sounds like you had a great trip.

Hi vkammerer, would you mind sharing where did you stay in Asakusa? Thanks