Geishas, gardens and a Minnie for minors

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This was published 13 years ago

Geishas, gardens and a Minnie for minors

By Michael Gebicki

We are a family of two adults and two children (aged six and eight) travelling to Japan in April for nine days. We have accommodation in Osaka but would like some advice regarding interesting day trips. Also, advice regarding a possible two-day trip to Tokyo Disneyland would be valued. We have no Japanese language skills.

- K. Stewart, Mullumbimby.

Kyoto is a definite must-see and from Osaka, the former imperial capital is just a 30-minute train ride.

Kyoto is mostly about temples and gardens - not names that will set fire to the under-10 breast - but the temples include clouds of incense, the biggest bell in Japan and the "Nightingale floor" at Chion-in Temple, which squeaks like excited birds when you walk on the floorboards.

There are plenty of shops in the temple precincts and you can always distract them with green-tea ice cream. Kyoto is also the epicentre of the geisha world, which should be fascinating for children. Take an evening stroll through the old Gion district of the city and you just might catch a geisha walking from one appointment to another. In April, you may just be in time for the cherry blossom festival, which is a lovely time to be in Kyoto.

Visiting Tokyo Disneyland requires careful planning. Before you pass through the gates you should decide which rides are the priority, get a rough idea of the layout and find out about the FASTPASS, which allows you to cut through the queues. See the Tokyo Disney Resort website, tokyodisneyresort.co.jp.

Don't worry too much about lack of language skills. Signposting is excellent, most Japanese people will do their best to assist a foreigner with young children and Lonely Planet's Japanese Phrasebook will help open doors.

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