Japan itinerary with kids

Hi - we are travelling to Japan end June / beginning of July with our two kids (4 & 2). I was wondering if anyone has family friendly hotel/ryokan recommendations in the following places:
- kyoto
- hiroshima
- miyajimi
Also our planned tour is:
Tokyo (5 nights) - including day trip to Nikko
Ktoyo (6 nights) - including day trip Nara, daytrip Himeji
Hiroshima (1 or 2 nights)
Miyajimi (2 nights)
- this leaves us with 2 spare days/nights before we have to fly home. Any suggestions on another 'must see' destinations? I don't want to cart the kids around too much, so possibly worth staying in Hiroshima or Miyajimi longer?
Thanks for any suggestions!

Himeji Castle is undergoing restoration, so it may not be worth the visit in June/July. Some of the castle grounds will be closed.

In Kansai with kids, I'd suggest Iga Ueno:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4350.html

The ninja museum is great for kids, especially the performances and opportunity to throw shuriken.


If you want to extend your stay around Hiroshima, there are more sites in the area. There is a children's museum in the city:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Hiroshima

I have travelled to Japan with little kids. The first time they were 1, 3.5 and 8. The second time they were 2, 4 and 9 (and we intend to go back again at the end of this year). I found that the Toyoko Inn chain is fine for kids. There isnt much room in the hotel room but if you only want somewhere clean to stay and will be out all day sight seeing and only at the hotel to sleep, eat and shower then I find them fine. For the 4 of us we sleep comfortabley in the business twin.
http://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/


I also find the Welcome Inn Reservation Centre another really good resource when looking for accomadation. Many places in Japan also dont charge for kids or reduce the price for kids if they share bedding with their parents. We often book places that have traditional rooms with futons so put the 2 futons together and all for of us sleep together that way and we save $$$s that way as well.

Enjoy. I hope your kids love Japan as much as mine do.


Later this year we are booking into the Miyajima Coral Hotel. It is at the ferry for Miyajima and only a shortish ride back to hiroshima. I have never stayed there before but it looks nice on the website and you are able to book either mountain view rooms or Miyajima view rooms.

http://www.coral-hotel.co.jp/en/index.html

Hi...

Japan has plenty to offer small kids and you'll generally find no trouble with accommodation except at some of the very upmarket ryokan, which sometimes don't accept kids.

Here are a few suggestions for things to do with small children :

In Tokyo area -

Disneyland (http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/tdl/index_e.html)
Hello Kitty Land (http://www.puroland.co.jp/english/welcome.html)
The National Children's Castle (http://www.kodomono-shiro.or.jp/english/index.html)

In the Kyoto area -

Arashiyama Monkey Park (http://www.munky.net/travel/japan/japan06-monkeypark/)


Miyajima is a lovely place to stay with small kids and I'd recommend the Watanabe Auberge Ryokan there (http://www.auberge-watanabe.com/english/). There may be some times they won't accept small kids though because they're a very small family run place and it depends on the other bookings they currently have for the dates you want to go...

Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful time!