Hello, travel fans! We’re finally back from our summer 2025 family trip to Japan, and let me tell you, it was a whirlwind of amazing food, thrilling adventures, and (you guessed it) a whole lot of travel. We hit up so many spots (mostly by driving!) I can barely list them all: Kanagawa, Chiba, Nagano, Aichi, Fukui, Osaka, Kobe, Yamaguchi, Oita, Hiroshima, and Shizuoka!
This wasn’t our first Japanese road trip, either—we did a similar one two years ago and even revisited many of the same places. This time, our grand driving Noah (Toyota) took us a whopping 1,518 miles! (And believe it or not, we drove even more last time.) Please read “Best time with my children: Trip to Japan” if you are interested in my previous Japan trip!
This blog post will focus on the highlights—the tours, the fun, and the lessons we learned along the way. Get ready for some great tips and a few laughs! Please check out my Instagram for more pictures!
The Journey Begins:
Our adventure started at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and for the second time, we used a car service from Centrycar in Seattle. We’ve used them twice and they’ve been incredibly reliable every time, even for an early 3 a.m. pickup. The drivers are consistently polite and friendly, making the start of our trips completely stress-free. For anyone leaving town for a few weeks or longer, I highly recommend their service over dealing with the hassle of airport parking.
We flew into Haneda Airport, which was a huge upgrade from our last trip’s landing at Narita. Haneda is just a quick 30-minute train ride to Yokohama (our next destination), while Narita takes about two hours. The convenience was a game-changer!
Speaking of Haneda, we stayed at the Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport, which was fantastic. The best part? It’s connected to the airport, so we just walked right over. And the hot spring on the roof? Oh my goodness! It was the perfect way to unwind after a long flight, with both indoor and outdoor options. Plus, there are so many restaurants and shops around there that we had endless food choices. We ended up indulging in the hotel’s buffet restaurant, “All Day Dining Grande Aile” for both dinner and breakfast, enjoying a mix of Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes.
Kanagawa (Yokohama): Pokémon Center
The next day, we were off to Yokohama city in Kanagawa! The boys had one goal in this trip: Visit the Pokémon Center Yokohama. Little did we know that on a Saturday, you need a timed-entry ticket! We got ours at 10:30 a.m. for a 12:45 p.m. entry—that’s a two-hour wait!
We decided to explore Yokohama Station while waiting for our entry time. We found an amazing sushi restaurant called Sushiman and had a fantastic lunch. It was so good, it made the wait for Pokémon feel totally worth it.
When we finally got into the Pokémon Center, the boys were ecstatic! They got the cards they wanted and a new card deck. The line to pay was another 30-minute-plus wait, but seeing the joy on their faces was the best reward.
While you can generally find Pokémon cards in convenience stores like Seven-Eleven or game shops, we had no luck. We stopped at countless places, and they were always sold out. Aside from the official Pokémon Center, we were only able to find a few cards at one or two other shops.
Chiba: Kamogawa Sea World
Our next stop was Kamogawa city in Chiba, and we rented a car from Toyota Rent a car for the road trip portion of our journey. We chose the Toyota Noah again because it was such a great car on our last trip. Our destination was Kamogawa Sea World. On the way, we stopped at a bakery, Bread & Coffee Mormors, where I found my first an-butter bread of the trip. If you read my last Japan blog, you know I’m obsessed with this delicious treat!
If you’ve never had it, an-butter is the perfect combination of anko (sweet bean paste) and butter. This bakery had my favorite kind: served on a perfect baguette. The bread was crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy inside—exactly how I like it. To top it all off, the butter was salted, which in my opinion is non-negotiable!
The Sea World was incredible, with the Orca show being the absolute highlight! Fair warning: you will get wet! Even with their raincoats on, the boys got completely soaked. But since it was so hot and humid, it was actually a welcome cool-down. Just be prepared to embrace the splash!
That night, we stayed at the Hotel Mark-1 CNT, a place we’d also stayed at two years ago. Our number one rule for choosing hotels in Japan is simple: it has to have a hot spring or a large soaking bath! This hotel, of course, checked that box and also offered a great breakfast buffet.
A Bug’s Life in Nagano
From Chiba, we headed to Saku city in Nagano. The boys had one goal here in Nagano: Find Japanese rhino beetles! We went to a place called Parada, which has a dome filled with these beetles. (There were a bunch of other activities you can enjoy there too!) The boys’ dreams came true! We were lucky because school hadn’t let out for the summer yet, so the dome was practically empty.
Pro-tip for summer travel in Japan: Try to go in July, not August. It’s less crowded and a little less hot and humid!
We stayed at the AQA Hotel Premium in Saku, and it was a design-lover’s dream. The architecture and décor were beautiful, and the breakfast buffet was a feast.
Nagano is well-known for its soba (buckwheat noodles), and we had an amazing meal at the place, Yashima in Suwa. We even tried horse sashimi with our soba, and my little boy was a huge fan! Although Suwa is also a famous spot for glassmaking, the museum happened to be closed on the day we were there.
Aichi, Fukui & Osaka: Visiting friends
After visiting a friend in Aichi, we headed to Fukui to see another. On the way, we made a stop at a knife shop, Hamonoya Sanshu in Gifu. My husband, a passionate cook, was thrilled to find some of the best knives in Japan there. The staff was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, making it a truly great experience for him.
Fukui is famous for its dinosaurs, and we really wanted to visit the museum that was closed for renovation two years ago. Unfortunately, the museum was closed on the day we visited (I should have checked!). Since we were only there for a day, we missed it again! We will absolutely go back and see it, especially since the boys love dinosaurs so much.
My friend in Fukui ordered us a meal box from a restaurant called Kaika-tei. It was a true work of art! Each dish was beautifully arranged and had a gentle, delicious flavor that was absolutely amazing.
The next pictures show the breakfast spread at the Fukui Manten Hotel Ekimae, where you can choose between a fantastic Western-style or Japanese-style meal. Both options were delicious!
Between Fukui and Osaka that we had a small crisis: we realized we had forgotten all our bottles of sake at the hotel in Fukui! We called the hotel the next day, and they were amazing. They shipped all the sake to our next destination, and since it was all cold sake, they even chose a cool delivery service without us asking! We, of course, paid for the delivery, but their kindness and attention to detail were so impressive.
On our way from Fukui to Osaka, we stopped in Shiga to see the famous Metasequoia tree-lined road. It was incredibly green and beautiful. I can only imagine how stunning it would be in the fall when the leaves change color!
In Osaka, our friend treated us to an amazing yakiniku (BBQ) feast with so many delicious meats. It was a huge and wonderful meal that we won’t forget—thank you again for your incredible hospitality!
Yamaguchi & Oita: Relaxing, relaxing and relaxing!
As you can see, our trip was a whirlwind of movement! We were constantly on the go, staying in each place for just one night before moving on. That’s why our time in Yamaguchi was so precious—it was the longest we stayed in one spot. This was our chance to finally rest, relax, and do a little shopping.
One of the highlights for me in Yamaguchi was my great experience at a beauty salon called Elua by Y’s hair. The humidity and a past bleach job had turned my hair into a chaotic mess. I went to the same salon on our last trip and loved it, so I went back. I had a straight perm and a cut, and my hair felt so much better! (You can see it, right!?)
We drove all the way to Kujyu in Oita for more nature, relaxation, and hot springs! On the way, we had one of the best meals of our trip at a restaurant called Hiyorian in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi. It was an incredible mix of Japanese and French cuisine, and every dish was delicate, delicious, and beautifully presented. We enjoyed the perfect balance of flavors while taking in a stunning ocean view. The journey to get there was memorable too—the road was so narrow that I was literally screaming, thinking our car would hit the wall! Thankfully, we made it without a scratch.
In Oita, we went to Kujyu, where the weather was so much cooler than everywhere else. We stayed at Resonate Kujyu, and their food was out of this world—even the kids’ menu was gourmet!
We had two full days, so we drove to Daikanbo in Kumamoto Prefecture. It’s known as the best spot to see the vast Aso Caldera, one of the largest in the world. Perched on the northern rim, the viewpoint offers a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view. The weather was cooler up there, which was perfect for some hiking. It was a beautiful and super nice way to spend the day.
We also visited a farm next to our hotel, Guernsey farm where we had the best soft-serve ice cream and fed ducks and donkeys. I also got a butter for souvenirs and it was one of the best butter I had ever had!
Hiroshima: More animal fun and nature exploration
Our boys’ favorite part of Hiroshima was a surprise find at the Alpark shopping mall (Shininokuchi station). After watching a Japanese animated movie, we stumbled upon an amazing animal-touching center called Ikimono Fureai Gakkou on the fourth floor. For just 800 yen per person, we could stay all day, petting everything from hamsters and rabbits to crabs and and lizards, lots of birds and even flying squirrel and hedgehog! We ended up spending a few hours there and could have stayed for many more, but our stomachs eventually convinced us to leave.
We also found one of the most beautiful rivers we’ve ever seen, where we spent some time just chilling and enjoying nature.
If you have a sweet tooth, be sure to try Hiroshima’s famous Momiji Manju. This traditional, maple leaf-shaped confection has a moist, tender cake exterior. While the classic filling is sweet red bean paste (anko), you can also find a variety of modern flavors like chocolate, custard, and seasonal favorites. We went to Yamadaya Ohno factory, where you can watch the sweets being made, and even get to try making them yourself! You can also eat your manju after purchase.
A Last Soaking in Shizuoka
For our final stop, we went to Atami in Shizuoka for one last hot spring soak. We stayed at the Ohnoya Hotel, famous for its grand “Rome hot spring,” which was apparently featured in a Studio Ghibli movie! The hotel was perfect for families, with a buffet that offered a variety of food and drinks (including lots of sake and beer for those who enjoy a drink!). The boys loved the ping pong, karaoke, and game rooms. After checking out, we explored Momoyama-kan, a retro-themed building with festival games that were a huge hit with the kids.
We experienced the incredible hospitality of Japan, a respectful culture I truly admire. To preserve this beautiful experience for everyone, I hope all visitors will appreciate it and keep their manners in check. That way, both the people of Japan and future visitors can continue to have an amazing time!
Talk about a trip for the books! We had a blast, hitting that sweet spot between wild adventure and pure relaxation. Our family ate its way across Japan, traveled farther than ever, and stacked up some truly incredible memories. Watching the boys’ faces lighted up for Pokémon, rhino beetles, delicious eats, and hot springs made every mile on the road feel like nothing. You can bet we’ll be heading back to Japan soon to revisit our favorite places and make even more new memories!
