Family itinerary question

Need Itinerary Help for Family Trip

My wife and 2 young kids (1 & 6) will be traveling to Japan mid-Feb to mid-March. I am having a hard time filling in two or three days after our Hakone destination in the middle of our itinerary. Originally I had us going Yokohama>Hakone>Kyoto>Osaka>Tokyo>Narita. It feels rushed and too much movement with kids and luggage with 3 nights each.

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I decided to stay closer to Tokyo with this itinerary Yokohama>Hakone>Izu Peninsula>???>Tokyo. We will visit many children's museums and Disneyland/Sea, while in Yokohama & Tokyo. I've always wanted to explore the Izu peninsula and dedicated 2 days to the area with a rental car. Alternatively, I am OK with removing the Hakone stay and spend 3 nights instead in Izu, and 3 nights somewhere else, just don't know where. Looking for a family friendly place that things to do with kids. Or should I stick to the original itinerary. Thanks.

Once you board the Shinkansen, it matters very little whether it's an hour ride or 3-hour ride. However, you do want to minimize transfers with little kids in tow. In that sense, it does not matter whether you go to Izu or Kyoto. It is too much hassle to move hotels, so staying in both Kyoto and Osaka does not sense. Stay somewhere close and within easy walking distance from a station.

Ito is nice (the town, not the person who just posted although I am sure that they are very nice too).

I would base myself there and poke around if you are getting a car, the zoo is fantastic. I'd still go to Hakone for a night or two.

Use Kyoto as your base. Then do day trips to Osaka and Nara or even Kobe. All easily accessible from Kyoto.

Stay near Kyoto station or around the station to minimise travelling & you can walk to the station to do yr day trips. Best to get on with yr hotel booking in Kyoto ASAP as yr dates are fast approaching & rates can go up considerably.

Yr kids might enjoy the deer in Nara tho be careful as the deer loves paper products!

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2165.html

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2156.html

Lots of things to do in Yokohama such as the Ramen museum, Cup Noodles - see Japan guide for other attractions.

This is easily accessible from Tokyo. Use the Guide for visiting re access.

https://www.nihonminkaen.jp/index_english.html

Kamakura is near Yokohama & can be done as a day trip.

After or before Hakone, it might be nice to spend some time around Gotemba.
I went to Fuji Safari Park in my twenties, but I really enjoyed it.
But it can be a little cold.
https://www.fujisafari.co.jp/
Also, small children may be afraid of large animals.
My nephew cried when he saw his costume when he was little.
I used an ordinary bus to see them, but it seems that you can feed them if you use a bus with wire mesh on the side.
Although access is inconvenient, there is also a ski resort called Snow Park Yeti. (If you have never driven on a snowy road, please go by bus.)
https://www.yeti-resort.com/
I think it would be nice to stay at Toki no Sumika.
http://tokinosumika.com/
Alternatively, it may be good to go to Kamakura and Enoshima, which are the classics.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2166.html
In Hakone, I think boys will especially enjoy the museums where I worked part-time.
https://nh.kanagawa-museum.jp/
There is also a kamaboko village at the next station.
http://kamaboko.com/sato/shisetsu/
Access from Mt. Takao is more convenient, but Sagamiko Pleasure Forest may also be good.
https://www.sagamiko-resort.jp/illumillion/

for I year child, a stroller might be useful. it can carry small bags (probably necessary for emergency foods and drinks, diapers and clothes for kids). you can buy it in Japan at stores for baby, like 西松屋, with a cheap price.

How about Going to Nagoya, which is between Hakone and Kyoto. Possible places for children:

Ghibli Park
Legoland
Railway Museum
Nagoya Castle
Science Museum
Nagashima Resort (maybe Nabana No Sato ?)
Port Aquarium
Zoo

Maybe look at the following:
https://www.nagoya-info.jp/en/feature/detail/64/

https://www.kankomie.or.jp/en/report/detail_36.html

https://ghibli-park.jp/en/about/

I hope this helps.
Good Luck, in planning your trip.

Keep it simple. You are travelling with very small xhildren.

Stick to Tokyo and Kyoto and do side trips. Maybe add one more if you must.

Izu etc are slow to get to and require multiple transfers. Stick to location you know you can get to easily.

Yokohama is 25 minutes to Tokyo. Osaka is 25 minutes from Kyoto.

Thank you all for your generous answers. I wrote out a long response but the site kept asking me to input my name and I lost the post so I’ll just summarize.

With kids in tow, going to see cultural places will probably not hold their attention too long, it would be better to stay in a city with more family friendly activities and places to eat. Chose not to go to Nagoya over big city for same reason, even though we love that city. I have decided to stay in Kyoto or Osaka after Hakone for 4 nights then head back to Tokyo. We will visit Izu on day 2 of our Hakone trip with a rental car. I am bringing a trike stroller with bag that folds up smaller than a trace stroller. I decided against cold places so we wouldn’t have to pack so much winter clothes. We will visit the Boso no Mira historic town near Narita.

Strollers no matter the size are a pain. Get a chest/back carrier. Much easier everywhere.