Japan With Teenagers: What Worked for Our Family

I spent three weeks in Japan with my two teenagers, travelling through Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo.

Planning a trip for three people with different interests wasn’t always straightforward. There were places we all wanted to visit, others that appealed more to one of us, and a few experiences that turned out differently from what we expected.

Here’s what worked for us, what mattered less than I thought, and what I’d keep in mind if we planned another trip together.

Everyone Had a Say

I did most of the planning, but I didn’t want to spend three weeks dragging two teenagers through my itinerary.

We each had things we wanted to do, and sometimes we did something mainly because one person wanted to do it. Nobody had to be equally excited about every stop.

Kid 2 could spend time looking at manga or Chiikawa while I was much more likely to notice Sumikko Gurashi. Kid 1 had her own interests too. Even in the same store, we didn’t necessarily look at the same things.

That worked well for us. Everyone knew there would be things on the trip they had chosen too.

Not Everything Had to Be a Hit

Even when you know your teenagers’ interests, it’s difficult to predict which experiences will become favourites.

Universal Studios Japan was one of our favourite experiences, especially the rides. The Samurai and Ninja Museum in Kyoto was another success, with kid 2 even winning the shuriken throwing contest.

Sanrio Puroland was different. We liked it, but it wasn’t extraordinary for us. Considering how much cute character stuff we enjoyed throughout the trip, it might seem like the kind of place that would automatically become a highlight. It didn’t.

And that’s fine.

That’s one reason I wouldn’t build a Japan itinerary entirely around lists of “best things to do with teenagers.” Teenagers don’t all like the same things, any more than adults do.

Knowing what your own kids enjoy is much more useful.

I Planned a Lot, but We Could Change the Plan

I did a lot of planning before we left. Reservations, transportation, attractions and the general structure of the trip were all figured out in advance.

But the itinerary wasn’t a contract.

If we were tired, we could slow down. If something took longer than expected, something else could wait. If we discovered something interesting, we could spend time there.

With teenagers, it’s easy to assume that because they can keep going, they should. But three weeks of constantly pushing through an itinerary wouldn’t have been fun for any of us.

Sometimes we had simply done enough for the day.

They Could Take Care of Their Own Things

This was one of the big differences compared with travelling with younger children.

I wasn’t carrying everyone’s belongings, choosing everything for them or constantly checking whether they needed something. They could carry their own bags, keep track of what they bought and tell me what they needed.

Of course, that didn’t mean nothing went wrong.

Kid 2 lost a phone at Sanrio Puroland, and we had to go back the following day to retrieve it.

But even dealing with a problem like that is different with teenagers. They understand what’s happening and why plans suddenly have to change.

Three Weeks Together Was Actually Fine

Before the trip, three weeks with the same three people together almost all the time might have sounded like a lot.

And yes, we occasionally got annoyed with each other.

But overall, it worked.

We didn’t need to talk to each other constantly or be enthusiastic about exactly the same things. There was room for someone to read, look at their phone or just relax without needing another planned activity.

That probably helped more than trying to make every moment of the trip into “family time.”

Would I Travel to Japan With Teenagers Again?

Absolutely!

Three weeks gave us enough time to experience quite a bit of Japan, although there are still plenty of places we’d like to explore.

If we return, I’d love to spend more time in Kyoto and Osaka, and I’m sure the kids will have new places they want to visit too.

Their interests will probably change as they get older, and so will mine. That just gives us new reasons to discover Japan again.