Mon Mar 20, 2028 is already a no-school PD day. Spring Break is Mar 27–31. School resumes Mon Apr 3. That makes this window unusually cheap in missed school:
| Window | Nights | School days |
|---|---|---|
| Sat Mar 25 – Sun Apr 2 | 8 | 0 |
| Fri Mar 24 – Sun Apr 2 | 9 | 1 |
| Fri Mar 24 – Mon Apr 3 ← this plan | 10 | 2 |
| Sat Mar 18 – Sun Apr 2 full two weeks | 15 | 4 |
| Sat Mar 25 – Sun Apr 9 aims at peak bloom | 15 | 5 |
| Wed Mar 22 – Wed Apr 5 | 14 | 6 worst ratio |
This plan costs only two school days — Fri Mar 24 and Mon Apr 3. To stretch to a full two weeks, shift to Mar 18 – Apr 2 for four. Either way: cherry-blossom hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka sell out 6–12 months ahead, so lodging gets held in spring 2027.
MCPASD Spring Break is ~Monday March 27 – Friday March 31, 2028 (estimated — confirm once the 2027–28 district calendar is published). This itinerary wraps around it: depart Friday evening March 24, arrive Saturday March 25 (crossing the date line), and fly home Monday April 3, arriving same day. That gives us 9 full days in Japan.
Cherry blossoms: Tokyo typically hits full bloom March 28–April 3. You'll catch early blooms in Tokyo and potentially peak blossoms in Kyoto/Osaka. Late March is the sweet spot.
Route: Fly into Tokyo Haneda (HND) → Tokyo (4 nights) → Shinkansen to Kyoto (2 nights) → Day trip to Nara → Osaka (3 nights) → Fly home from Osaka Kansai (KIX). Open-jaw routing saves a full day vs. backtracking to Tokyo.
Big-ticket highlights: Tokyo DisneySea, PokePark Kanto, Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo, TeamLab Planets, cherry blossoms, bullet train, bamboo forest, 10,000 torii gates, Nara deer, Super Nintendo World, horseback riding, Osaka street food, owl cafe, gachapon hunting, family ramen cooking class, and a hanami cherry blossom picnic under the trees.
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Family of 6 needs: 2 rooms with 2 queen beds each, or a large Airbnb. Here are your best options for each city.
Key: Japanese hotel rooms are small! Most cap at 3–4 guests. You'll almost always need 2 rooms or an apartment-style booking with enough beds. Occupancy limits in Japan are enforced, not a formality — it is earthquake-safety accounting, so never book for four and quietly add two. Declare six.
Three tiers: Budget (Airbnb + careful spending), Mid (mix of Airbnb + hotels), Comfort (Marriott hotels + full experience).
| Category | Budget | Comfort |
|---|---|---|
| Flights (6 x RT economy, MSN→HND / KIX→MSN) Book by Aug 2026 for best prices | $6,600 | $9,000 |
| Accommodation (9 nights) Budget = all Airbnb; Comfort = Marriott hotels, 2 rooms | $1,800 | $5,500 |
| Tokyo DisneySea (1 day, 6 tickets + Premier Access) Tickets + skip-the-line for 2–3 key rides | $400 | $700 |
| Universal Studios Japan (1 day, tickets + Express + Power-Up Bands) Studio Pass + Express Pass + 6 Power-Up Bands | $800 | $1,200 |
| PokePark Kanto (6 tickets) Trainer Pass vs. Ace Trainer Pass | $190 | $350 |
| TeamLab Planets (6 tickets) | $90 | $130 |
| Shinkansen + trains Tokyo→Kyoto, local trains, airport transfers | $900 | $1,200 |
| Food & dining (11 days, 6 people) Budget = convenience stores + noodle shops; Comfort = restaurants daily | $1,500 | $2,800 |
| Activities (temples, museums, horse riding, kimono, aquarium) Most temples are free or 500 yen; horse riding ~$50/person | $400 | $900 |
| Shopping & souvenirs Pokemon, Nintendo, anime goods, Kit-Kats, gifts | $400 | $1,000 |
| Misc (WiFi rental, travel insurance, IC cards, tourist tax) Pocket WiFi ~$50, insurance ~$300, IC cards ~$200, tax ~$120 | $650 | $850 |
| ESTIMATED TOTAL | $13,730 | $23,630 |
Check items off as you book them. Progress saves in your browser. Items are ordered roughly by when you should book them.
Get Welcome Suica cards at the airport for each person. Tap on/off for all trains and buses. Also works at convenience stores, vending machines, and restaurants. Load 3,000–5,000 yen each to start.
Japan is still cash-heavy outside Tokyo. Withdraw yen at 7-Eleven ATMs (they accept foreign cards with no fee). Budget 50,000–80,000 yen in cash for temples, street food, and small restaurants.
Use Yamato Transport (Takkyubin) to ship luggage between cities. Drop bags at hotel, they arrive next day at your next hotel. ~2,000 yen/bag. ESSENTIAL for traveling light on trains with 4 kids.
Kids under 6 free. Ages 6–11 half price. 12+ adult fare. On Shinkansen, book 2 rows of 3 seats together. Download the SmartEX app to reserve specific seats from your phone.
Safe bets everywhere: Ramen, curry rice (CoCo Ichibanya), gyoza (pot stickers), rice balls (onigiri, 120 yen at any convenience store), udon noodles, chicken katsu, fried rice. Conveyor belt sushi = fun even if kids only eat the tamago (egg) and chicken.
7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson have amazing food: onigiri (rice balls), hot steamed buns, sandwiches, pastries, puddings. Perfect for quick kid-friendly meals and snacks. Breakfast here saves a fortune.
Download Japanese offline. Point your phone camera at any sign, menu, or label and it translates in real-time on screen. Magic for navigating restaurants and train stations.
You'll remove shoes at temples, some restaurants, fitting rooms, and many Airbnbs. Wear easy slip-on shoes and make sure everyone has clean, hole-free socks!
Expect 50–65°F (10–18°C). Light jacket + hoodie works. Rain is possible — bring compact umbrellas. Some gorgeous cherry blossom days, some chilly overcast ones.
Japan is 15 hours ahead of CDT. On arrival day, stay awake until at least 8pm local. Use sunlight and walking to reset. By day 2–3, kids should adjust. Coming home is harder — plan a recovery day.
Almost NO public trash cans in Japan. Carry a small bag for garbage. Convenience stores and train stations are the exceptions. Teach the kids to pocket their wrappers.
Plastic food displays outside = point at what you want! Tipping is NOT customary (can be rude). Many places have ordering machines — put in coins, push button, hand ticket to chef. Fun for kids!