2 weeks Tokyo with 3 kids

[deljunks]

Hi guys
I am planning the itinerary for my family this coming Jul 2023.
My plane will touch down 615am narita airport and I plan to head straight to Disney land and stay nearby hotel for 2 nights.
Anyone been this route and is it manageable?
After 2 nights here will go over Tokyo for about 8 nights and then rent a car to Hakone and mt fuji.
As my flight back is in the morning 8.15am. Thus we decide on return the car in narita airport during out drive back from mt fuji.
Anyone have any advice for my planned itinerary?
Thanks and appreciated.

 

[Ronaldo88]

Beware of the heat wave

 

[Hisashiburi]

Will be very hot n humid.

I think there are direct buses from nrt to disneyland hotels.

Since return flight is 8am at nrt, recommend staying the night before at hotel in nrt town.

 

[Zeltos]

Have u been or drive in Japan before? Hakone is a mountain area and there are no lights on most of the roads at night, even on moutain side, very dangerous. Depend on your route, most likely, you will see valley on 1 side of your road on your car.

 

[dilphinus]

3 kids and summer sounds like a recipe for disaster.

 

[xtwis7]

Hi guys
I am planning the itinerary for my family this coming Jul 2023.
My plan will touch down 815am narita airport and I plan to head straight to Disney land and stay nearby hotel for 2 nights.
Anyone been this route and is it manageable?
After 2 nights here will go over Tokyo for about 8 nights and then rent a car to Hakone and mt fuji.
As my flight back is in the morning 8am. Thus we decide on return the car in narita airport during out drive back from mt fuji.
Anyone have any advice for my planned itinerary?
Thanks and appreciated.

Are you sure you want to do Disneyland on the day of touching down? Or do you mean you’re going to that area for your hotel and start Disneyland the next day for 2 days?

it depends if you’ve been to Japan before or is this your first trip. Besides the weather, just make sure that you’re not driving too far in one day especially if you’re the only driver.

 

[Ronaldo88]

Will be very hot n humid.

I think there are direct buses from nrt to disneyland hotels.

Since return flight is 8am at nrt, recommend staying the night before at hotel in nrt town.

Doable if take skyliner reached narita at 630am?

 

[Hisashiburi]

Doable if take skyliner reached narita at 630am?

Should be doable as japan train schedules are good.

But higher risk of something messing up n have to rush to the plane.

 

[Quasar]

Since you are bringing your kids outside of school holidays I assume they are still pre-schoolers, if they are older can ignore my next 2 paragraphs.

Japan is quite a stickler for rules, so all kids below 6 will need a car seat or booster seat before the rental company lets you set off. If you had a chance to get them used to a car or baby seat before the trip it will make the driving portion of your trip a lot smoother, however if my own children are any indication buckling them up in a row in the backseat will definitely invite screaming matches, so be prepared with distractions.

Many attractions at Disneyland and Disneysea have height restrictions so young kids won't be able to ride or you need to do swapping when it gets to your turn. It may make the experience less pleasant in July queues unless you constantly bribe them with churros and popcorn. You can consider the indoor theme parks instead. They usually cater to younger children and are more family friendly.

With regards to the car rental:

Your suggested driving itinerary would incur a one way fee (5000-7000 depending on car type) as Tokyo city is separate from Narita prefecture which is where Narita airport is located.

The other issue is the opening hours of the rental company you intend to return to. I don't believe any of them are open 24 hours and all returns are off-site, with shuttle bus to Narita airport on a best effort basis upon return. I would suggest checking in to one of the hotels near Narita airport then return the car the night before, and take the hotel shuttle bus to Narita airport to minimise hassle with regards to luggage and the children.

Personally that's why for my current trips I'd prefer Scoot out and Zipair back to min-max our time in Tokyo if the flight schedules remain the same.

 

[deljunks]

Beware of the heat wave

I see the weather and the temperature is 26+-, I guess should be OK compared to sg? Anything I should take note during the trip? Thanks

 

[deljunks]

Will be very hot n humid.

I think there are direct buses from nrt to disneyland hotels.

Since return flight is 8am at nrt, recommend staying the night before at hotel in nrt town.

We are actually open to rearranging Disney, Tokyo and Hakone sequence. Initially had wanted to do Disney, Hakone and then Tokyo, but as the flight back is early morning, thus we thought we can drive straight to airport from Hakone and camp over till the flight back. Thus Hakone is on our last. Any thoughts?

 

[deljunks]

Have u been or drive in Japan before? Hakone is a mountain area and there are no lights on most of the roads at night, even on moutain side, very dangerous. Depend on your route, most likely, you will see valley on 1 side of your road on your car.

Hi, yes have driven in hokkaido during winter season years back and perth and Melbourne Road trip. Can do train trip as well but I thought the luggages carry up and down will be a hassle.

 

[deljunks]

3 kids and summer sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Anything I can do to minimise this disaster?

 

[deljunks]

Are you sure you want to do Disneyland on the day of touching down? Or do you mean you’re going to that area for your hotel and start Disneyland the next day for 2 days?

it depends if you’ve been to Japan before or is this your first trip. Besides the weather, just make sure that you’re not driving too far in one day especially if you’re the only driver.

That's what I planned. I understand the first day will be quite siong. Plane touch down 630am. So I thought might as well do it on the first day.
Yes been to Tokyo, Osaka and hokkaido before and do trips to other cities as well.
Yes will be the only driver as usual.

 

[dilphinus]

I see the weather and the temperature is 26+-, I guess should be OK compared to sg? Anything I should take note during the trip? Thanks

i think you got your temperature check wrong. In July, the temperate range from 30°C to 33°C. It is also the rainy season. The temperature dips to 26°C when it's raining.

 

[deljunks]

Doable if take skyliner reached narita at 630am?

Hi, yes the plane touch down 630am.

 

[dilphinus]

We are actually open to rearranging Disney, Tokyo and Hakone sequence. Initially had wanted to do Disney, Hakone and then Tokyo, but as the flight back is early morning, thus we thought we can drive straight to airport from Hakone and camp over till the flight back. Thus Hakone is on our last. Any thoughts?

flight departs at 8am, check in at 5.30am. the drive from Hakone to Narita Airport takes 2 hours. so you are going to set off at 3am with 3 kids in tow?

 

[deljunks]

Should be doable as japan train schedules are good.

But higher risk of something messing up n have to rush to the plane.

Yes, that's the reason why I planned a drive during our last leg for the Hakone so can drive straight to airport.

 

[deljunks]

Since you are bringing your kids outside of school holidays I assume they are still pre-schoolers, if they are older can ignore my next 2 paragraphs.

Japan is quite a stickler for rules, so all kids below 6 will need a car seat or booster seat before the rental company lets you set off. If you had a chance to get them used to a car or baby seat before the trip it will make the driving portion of your trip a lot smoother, however if my own children are any indication buckling them up in a row in the backseat will definitely invite screaming matches, so be prepared with distractions.

Many attractions at Disneyland and Disneysea have height restrictions so young kids won't be able to ride or you need to do swapping when it gets to your turn. It may make the experience less pleasant in July queues unless you constantly bribe them with churros and popcorn. You can consider the indoor theme parks instead. They usually cater to younger children and are more family friendly.

With regards to the car rental:

Your suggested driving itinerary would incur a one way fee (5000-7000 depending on car type) as Tokyo city is separate from Narita prefecture which is where Narita airport is located.

The other issue is the opening hours of the rental company you intend to return to. I don't believe any of them are open 24 hours and all returns are off-site, with shuttle bus to Narita airport on a best effort basis upon return. I would suggest checking in to one of the hotels near Narita airport then return the car the night before, and take the hotel shuttle bus to Narita airport to minimise hassle with regards to luggage and the children.

Personally that's why for my current trips I'd prefer Scoot out and Zipair back to min-max our time in Tokyo if the flight schedules remain the same.

Hi,
They are older kids.
With regards to the car rental, I didn't take note of the timing for the return of the car. Thanks for the information and perhaps I may have to change the itinerary as I thought can return late night and camp overnight at airport till check in at 6am.

 

[deljunks]

i think you got your temperature check wrong. In July, the temperate range from 30°C to 33°C. It is also the rainy season. The temperature dips to 30°C when it's raining.

Oh. Perhaps I got it wrong when I checked and make the booking.