Tokyo visit

Hi all

I intend to visit Tokyo with my fam, Husband and I. 2 kids ,12 and 4. Big age gap, so the 12 wants to ski. Which resort would u recommend which is near Tokyo for ski? And how far from Tokyo? We intend to stay 1-2 nights at the resort too.
Then back to Tokyo for Disneyland for the 4 year old. My husband wants to visit Kyoto too. But is it too much traveling to go ski and Tokyo? Or what other things can we do in Tokyo which are family friendly?
Thank u in advance for ur time.

When/which month are you traveling to Japan? Also how long is your visit, and which airport(s) you fly in/out of?

Hi,
Sounds like you are off to planning a great trip. I am not sure how long you will be there but I do have a few suggestions that are fun and kid friendly in the areas you will be in.

1. Tokyo - Studio Ghibli in Mitaka
This would be fun for both the 4 and 12 year old
I know there can be a line but if you are there for lunch go to the Straw Hat , not the hot dog & Ice cream stand. The food it much better at the Straw Hat. Tickets for foreigners go on sale at JTB 3 months out. About $16 per person (Adult)

2. DisneySea
If you are going to Disneyland Tokyo and you live near DisneyWorld or DisneyLand, I would suggest you skip it and checkout DisneySea instead. If you have an extra day, do both parks. DisneySea has an underground playground for kids in Ariel's grotto that would be fun for the 4 year old.

3. Yokohama (just outside Tokyo)
Cup of Noodles Museum
Make sure you do the make your own cup of noodles workshop. You can reserve your spot the day you go
There is also a mall and theme park right outside the Noodle museum you can visit as well.

4. Kyoto
Nijo Castle would be fun to check out. The kids might enjoy the nightingale floors.

Have fun planning your trip

For skiing, Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort is pretty famous for being easily accessible from Tokyo!

I am copying most of a post that I did earlier. I hope this makes sense, but it involved day trips from Tokyo.

I am first going to recommend that you get the Tokyo Wide pass to pay for three days of travel, possibly including transportation either to or from Narita Airport, if you are flying in and out of there. This will get you to a ski resort.

So... you can either get three day trips, or, get two day trips, and a airport trip.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_06.html

If you go to the link, you will find the Shinkansen train lines marked in red. The map will also allow you to click on different outlying towns around Tokyo. I did this, and here are some suggestions.

(1) For Skiing, transportation to and from Gala Yuzawa is covered This is two hours away from Tokyo, so this could be a day trip..

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7690.html

(2) You can get to Nikko. Edo Wonderland or Tobu World Square work for children:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3879.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3878.html

Just north of Nikko is a hot springs resort town of Kinugawa. It is also possible to get one of the Tobu Nikko passes to see this area. So if you end up wanting to do several side trips, you could do this one without the Tokyo Wide Pass.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_002.html

(3) To see an active volcano, and to get out to the mountains, go to Karuizawa:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6030.html

(4) Trains always seem to interest kids. Go to the train museum in Saitama:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6527.html

And, you cannot go wrong going to a town that has a street called "Candy Alley":

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6500.html

Candy Alley in Kawagoe is very close to the Train Museum, so you can probably do both in one day.

(5) I believe that the five lakes area might also be a good choice for a day trip from Tokyo. There is Fuji Q theme park there.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6900.html

There are several passes to get here without the Tokyo Wide Pass, also. The link I gave you has a "getting there and around" that you can click on.

(6) Another recommendation that the Tokyo Wide Pass can help is to go to Hitachi Seaside park. Once again, this does not use a Shinkansen train, but I think a five year old will enjoy going here:

http://en.hitachikaihin.jp/guidemap.html

(7) The Izu Pennjinsula is interesting. Atami is a great Seaside Hot Springs Resort town, and it has fireworks many times each year. (I wanted to give you both a seaside, and a mountain hot springs choices)

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6310.html

(8) Finally, the Hakone area is also nearby.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5200.html

I would actually recommend the Hakone Free Pass, because it includes the transportation costs for the different parts of the "Round Course":

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5210.html

And yes... it is possible to spend an entire week at a hotel in Tokyo, and never actually see anything in Tokyo.

I hope this helps.

I am truly grateful to all the tips! Big thankful to ebaychunky311, Anne and Ruby.

This is my first time planning a family trip, in the past was my husband, but he has been v busy at work lately.

So once again. God bless all of u.