Spring Break in Japan
Spring break 2025, we traveled to Japan and it felt like stepping into an entirely different universe. The experience was unforgettable. Japan has become one of my favorite places in the world—and it’s officially my daughter’s favorite too, she’s constantly asking when we can go back. Here is the breakdown of where we stayed, what we did, and what we ate.
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Spring break is coming up, and if you haven’t planned a family trip yet, consider Japan. It’s totally doable in one week with kids, and the culture is very family-friendly—from the famous Tokyo Disneyland to the Pokémon Café. Here’s how we did it.
The Weather
Tokyo in spring can be unpredictable, with cool mornings, warm afternoons, and occasional rain. We traveled to Tokyo in mid-March, during the transition from winter to spring, and got to see cherry blossoms, or “Sakura,” beginning to bloom. It is also the rainy season and we even got snow in Tokyo one of the days we were staying there. Pack water resistant/proof shoes, layers, and a light jacket, to stay comfortable while exploring the city.
Our Itinerary
Tokyo > Kyoto > Tokyo
We flew into Narita International Airport, which is about 45 miles from our hotel in Tokyo. In terms of logistics, the Tokyo metro system is easily accessible from the airport, but Uber is also available if you prefer private transportation. How you decide to take your adventure is entirely up to you.
The drive from the airport to our hotel gave us a first glimpse of Tokyo’s density—skyscrapers, neon lights, and crowded streets. Even though March is the shoulder season just before “Sakura” peak cherry blossom time, the city still felt busy. While in Tokyo, we stayed at The Tokyo Station Hotel, next to the Imperial Palace and the Tokyo Grand Station. This made the station easily accessible for our trip to Kyoto. The hotel was fantastic and very family-friendly, offering kid-sized slippers, robes, and toiletries like a toothbrush, toothpaste, and cup. I always appreciate these thoughtful touches.
After settling into our hotel, we walked around Tokyo and were immediately captivated by a group of Mario Kart drivers zipping through the streets! This was so fun to watch and no one, not even people in traffic seemed bothered by it.
The Shinkansen to Kyoto
The following morning, we took the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo Station to Kyoto. We booked our tickets in advance through the Klook app, and I highly recommend the app—it’s user-friendly and efficient, especially compared to navigating the Shinkansen booking system, which requires multiple steps. This is the train we booked from Tokyo to Kyoto on Klook. It even allows you to select your seats which is great if you want to see Mount Fuji. Tokyo Station is massive, it felt like an entire underground city. Despite its size, it was incredibly well organized and easy to navigate, with clear signage translated into English.
The Shinkansen was clean, comfortable, and incredibly fast. The journey to Kyoto took just over two hours, and since we left Tokyo early, the train was relatively quiet. Attendants periodically walked the aisles offering hand wipes and checking on passengers. The cushioned seats reclined enough to make it easy to relax—or even take a comfortable nap.
And yes, stops were only about 60 seconds at each station. However, the train announced (in Japanese and in English) the upcoming stop several minutes in advance, giving passengers plenty of time to gather their belongings and prepare to disembark.
Once we arrived in Kyoto, the city was buzzing with energy—crowds of people moving in every direction. As we exited the Kyoto train station, we quickly learned that the Taxi/Uber lines were separated by pick-up and drop-off stations. Be sure to pay close attention to this. We got in an Uber and took a ten-minute ride to our hotel. Given it was too early to check in, we dropped off our bags and headed to our first stop.
Strategizing Kyoto
When planning our time in Kyoto, I used local resources, such as Kyoto Travel, to help me learn about Kyoto’s historic sites. I learned that Kyoto was once Japan’s former imperial capital and is home to more than 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines. With only two days there, we had to carefully prioritize which temples and shrines to visit. So we elected to independently explore Kyoto our first day and selected a Viator tour for the second day to quickly cover as many temples as we could.
Kyoto Day 1
The first day we visited Ninna-ji Temple (Buddhist temple) and it was incredible. There were hardly any people there likely because it was raining. Luckily, we had all our rain gear on because I planned for the weather, so we were not bothered by the rain at all. We got to see our first Pagoda (temple tower) and Buddhist temple. It quickly became evident that harmony with nature was central to life in ancient Japan promoting peaceful energy.
After the temple, we found a cute restaurant called Soba Samon and it changed my kid’s life forever. This tiny restaurant was quiet, only one other person that appeared to be a local eating alone. We were greeted by a nice older lady who did not speak English, but kindly led us to our table by a window overlooking a small garden. The menus were translated into English, making it easy to order. As we waited, we were served tea. When our food arrived, we were pleasantly surprised—not only was it delicious, but the thoughtfulness toward our child stood out. They provided a kid-sized bowl and utensils, making it easy for her to enjoy the meal. If you plan to eat here, take cash because they do not accept any other form of payment.
Kyoto Hotel: Nazuna Kyoto Tsubaki St.
After our wonderful lunch, we returned to our hotel where we felt fully immersed into the Japanese culture. Hotel Nazuna Kyoto Tsubaki St. was spectacular! Even though this location is in central Kyoto, it felt like an exclusive home away from home. The hotel even has its own restaurant that serves great food.
See pictures below:
Wagyu Dinner in Kyoto
We had an amazing wagyu dinner in Kyoto at Wagyu Ryotei Bungo Gion. This spot is definitely on the pricier side, but it’s absolutely worth splurging on at least one memorable meal while traveling. They offer a kid’s menu that was perfect for our 8-year-old, which made the experience even better for our family.
Keep in mind, this is a leisurely dining experience—plan to spend at least two hours savoring course after course of incredible food. Come hungry and ready to enjoy every bite.
Kyoto Day 2: Viator Tour
As I mentioned earlier, there are far too many temples and shrines in Kyoto to see in just two days. To make the most of our time, we decided to divide and conquer—spending our first day exploring independently and our second day with a guided tour.
We chose our Viator tour strategically, based on the temples and shrines we wanted to see. I started by reviewing the Kyoto Universal Sightseeing Guide, which offers comprehensive insights for visitors. From there, I compared different Viator options that included as many of our must-see spots as possible and selected the best fit: PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour.
Full disclosure—it’s a long day (about 8–9 hours of walking), but even our 8-year-old loved it, especially with Aoi (Instagram: food_comao). The tour includes admission to all sites, plus a generous lunch with multiple food options, drinks, and dessert.
We visited the following:
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple
- Sanjusangendo Temple
- The Bamboo Forest Trail
- Tenryu-ji Temple
- Kinkakuji Temple
- Nijo Castle (Pass By)
- Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
Here are some pictures from our day tour:
Nishiki Market
Before our departure to Tokyo, we made a stop at Nishiki Market. This is “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” a lively, narrow street lined with more than 100 stalls and small shops. It’s the perfect place to sample local specialties and experience Kyoto’s food culture in one walkable stretch. It’s an easy, fun stop to add between temple visits—and a great way to let kids try small bites without committing to a full restaurant meal.
Before you go, be prepared to walk/stand in crowds of people in a small space, if you want to avoid the crowds, go early in the day. While most vendors take card payment, cash is king here for smaller shops, so be sure to have some just in case.
Here’s what we saw:
Back to Tokyo
After two days in Kyoto, we returned to Tokyo via Shinkansen. We left in the afternoon which seemed busier than our initial trip to Kyoto. We spent the last few days exploring Tokyo and enjoying Tokyo Disney as well as the Pokémon Café.
Senso-ji
We visited this beautiful Buddhist temple in Tokyo and loved exploring the surrounding shops along Nakamise Street. It’s a great place to browse for souvenirs—we picked up trinkets, t-shirts, and even kimonos. The entire area is vibrant and full of character.
That said, it was very crowded when we went. It was also raining, which made navigating umbrellas through tight crowds a bit tricky. Thankfully, we had rain jackets (highly recommend bringing them –see Our Travel Essentials for links!), which made it much easier to move around without juggling umbrellas in packed walkways. Despite the crowds, it’s absolutely worth a visit—just go prepared and expect a lively atmosphere.
On the walk back to the hotel, we saw a street full of anime characters as well as Godzilla, so we had to get some pictures:
Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo Disney was so much fun—even though it was crowded. Here’s the thing: everyone was genuinely happy to be there, and the respectful Japanese culture made a huge difference. No one was rude or rowdy, and we never felt uncomfortable. The atmosphere felt joyful and calm despite the large crowds.
Once inside, it runs like most Disney parks—you wait in line for rides and food. I highly recommend strategizing in advance using the Tokyo Disney Resort App. You can make dining reservations ahead of time (which I did!) and purchase paid “skip-the-line” access for select attractions.
We prioritized rides we don’t have in the U.S., especially Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast, which had a four-hour standby wait. By purchasing access, we only waited about 30–45 minutes—and it was absolutely worth it. The ride is next-level in terms of detail, decor, and overall immersion.
My biggest takeaway? The incredible level of detail—not just on the rides themselves, but even throughout the queue areas. The storytelling starts long before you board, and that immersive quality is what really sets Tokyo Disney apart.
Some Pictures, and yes, it is crowded like any other Disney park:
Pokémon Café
If you’re traveling with kids—or just love Pokémon—this themed café in Tokyo is a fun, immersive experience (for adults too!). This café is very difficult to book, but we did it through Reserve Japan which helped us make reservations for the café because it books within minutes. My husband and I initially tried to book a table directly on the Pokémon Café website but had no chance. We even set alarms to wake up at 3 AM to try to get a table upon release, but we could not reserve. So we booked through the Reserve Japan Pokémon Cafe website which got us in! This is an independent website which means it is not associated with the café and requires a booking payment fee in advance. We paid the fee and selected our desired date/time. This was totally worth it because our 8-year-old loves Pokémon.
NOTE: get there early so you can find the cafe as it is inside the Nihombashi Takashimaya Shopping Center – East Building
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Japan exceeded every expectation. From the peaceful temples of Kyoto to the bright lights of Tokyo, every stop felt intentional, organized, and deeply rooted in tradition. The culture is respectful, the cities are incredibly clean, the transportation system is seamless, and even in the busiest places, there’s a sense of calm.
What stood out most to us was the balance—ancient shrines next to modern skyscrapers, vibrant food markets, serene gardens just minutes from buzzing shopping streets. Traveling with an 8-year-old, we found Japan to be welcoming, safe, and surprisingly easy to navigate with a little planning.
Yes, it can be crowded. Yes, it takes strategy for popular attractions. But the kindness of the people, the attention to detail in experiences (from temples to theme parks), and the unforgettable food make it completely worth it.
Japan isn’t just a trip—it’s an experience that stays with you long after you return home.
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Thanks for reading and I hope this has been helpful. If you have any questions or need help planning, please contact me at wander@thewanderfullspirit.com. Also, if you have any suggestions, reach out, I am always looking for insights from experienced travelers to collaborate.
Wishing you a WanderFull adventure!✨