Luxury Hotel in Tokyo & Kyoto with 2 kids
Aug 9, 2018, 12:20 am
#46
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 187
I too would very much appreciate kid-friendly restaurant recommendations in Tokyo/Kyoto. Our son will be 14 and sushi is his favorite food, but neither he nor I are adventurous eaters, so even though we splurge on food when on vacation, a lot of the higher end restaurants are off-limits for us as they seem to consist mostly of omakase offerings.
Note that it's not a la carte as you wanted, but there's a bunch of different set menus and you pick the one you want in advance (all are on the website). Our kids are pretty fussy and enjoyed everything that was presented which was quite varied.
For conventional restaurants, there's a huge number of small hole in the wall places in Kitchen Street at Tokyo Station, and plenty of kid friendly offerings at Odaiba. Plus pretty much anywhere in Shibuya and Shinjuku you'll find places offering great ala carte options.
There's a fantastic high end restaurant in the Palace Hotel (name escapes me) which has a number of kid friendly a la carte dishes.
Aug 10, 2018, 5:27 am
#47
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 676
For Kyoto, I think ryokans are better options for families as the hotel rooms are not particularly large. My kids are about the same age and we stayed at the Motonago Ryokan when we were there. It has private toilet and shared baths though. For something more luxurious, look into Hiiragiya or Tawaraya.
I would also also look into staying at the IC Osaka and commuting up. They have very nice 2 bedroom apartments that would fit a family. It takes about 45 mins to get to Gion or Arashiyama areas and it is not that much longer than staying in Kyoto.
For Disney, have you looked into hiring one of their VIP guides? That usually come with skip the line privileges
I would also also look into staying at the IC Osaka and commuting up. They have very nice 2 bedroom apartments that would fit a family. It takes about 45 mins to get to Gion or Arashiyama areas and it is not that much longer than staying in Kyoto.
For Disney, have you looked into hiring one of their VIP guides? That usually come with skip the line privileges
Last edited by HKTraveler; Aug 13, 2018 at 7:49 am
Aug 10, 2018, 6:15 am
#48
formerly known as deathscar
Join Date: Jul 2007
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For Kyoto, I think ryokans are better options for families as the hotel rooms are not particularly large. My kids are about the same age and we stayed at the Motonago Ryokan when we were there. It has private toilet and shared baths though. For something more luxurious, look into Hiiragiya or Tawaraya.
Ritz has some pretty good sized suites, mind.
Aug 10, 2018, 1:40 pm
#49
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 861
For Kyoto, I think ryokans are better options for families as the hotel rooms are not particularly large. My kids are about the same age and we stayed at the Motonago Ryokan when we were there. It has private toilet and shared baths though. For something more luxurious, look into Hiiragiya or Tawaraya.
I would also also look into staying at the IC Osaka and commuting up. They have very nice 2 bedroom apartments that would fit a family. It takes about 45 mins to get to Gion or Arashiyama areas and it is not that much longer than staying in Kyoto.
For Disney, have you looked into hiring one of their VIP guides? That usually come up skip the line privileges
I would also also look into staying at the IC Osaka and commuting up. They have very nice 2 bedroom apartments that would fit a family. It takes about 45 mins to get to Gion or Arashiyama areas and it is not that much longer than staying in Kyoto.
For Disney, have you looked into hiring one of their VIP guides? That usually come up skip the line privileges
imagine them making it through a kaiseki meal. The price of this property is eye popping so I'm sure a suite at a Kyoto hotel would cost less. As well, children might not be allowed to stay anyway.
If Tokyo Disney has VIP guided tours available (they didn't a few years ago), it would be a great way to make the day tolerable. These parks are supremely crowded on most days and a 6 hour (that is the minimum in Florida)
tour, even at the likely high prices, will allow you to easily take in the major rides. After that you can fill in on your own.
Aug 10, 2018, 3:55 pm
#50
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 119
You can opt out of the meal option while staying in Tawaraya and children is allowed as well. I have stayed over 6 times in Tawaraya , in fact I have opted out dinner every time I stay. You pay for the room only if you opt out of the meal.
.Every room/ suite is different and so far I have stayed in 10 out of the 18 room . The room irange from 30sqm to 120sqm. Tawaraya is my de facto Kyoto accommodation whenever I visit Kyoto unless it is fully booked. It’s amazingly tranquil and zen despite it is located in a major thoroughfare. It’s much better than hiragiya and Suiran which I have also stayed before. I highly recommended Tawaraya if you could afford it
.Every room/ suite is different and so far I have stayed in 10 out of the 18 room . The room irange from 30sqm to 120sqm. Tawaraya is my de facto Kyoto accommodation whenever I visit Kyoto unless it is fully booked. It’s amazingly tranquil and zen despite it is located in a major thoroughfare. It’s much better than hiragiya and Suiran which I have also stayed before. I highly recommended Tawaraya if you could afford it
Aug 10, 2018, 4:01 pm
#51
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 1,782
If you're not adventurous about eating, you should try Dons de la Nature. OMG, such a great steak. It is expensive but so worth it. All six of our party thought it was by far the best steak they ever had.
I don't know how old your kids are, but they might like doing the Ninja training. You can google it.
Have a great trip!
I don't know how old your kids are, but they might like doing the Ninja training. You can google it.
Have a great trip!
Aug 10, 2018, 4:16 pm
#52
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Tawaraya is my de facto Kyoto accommodation whenever I visit Kyoto unless it is fully booked. It’s amazingly tranquil and zen despite it is located in a major thoroughfare. It’s much better than hiragiya and Suiran which I have also stayed before. I highly recommended Tawaraya if you could afford it
That makes me all the more curious as to what hotels/ryokans you recommend beyond Tawaraya?
Aug 10, 2018, 4:27 pm
#53
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Join Date: Oct 2001
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You can opt out of the meal option while staying in Tawaraya and children is allowed as well. I have stayed over 6 times in Tawaraya , in fact I have opted out dinner every time I stay. You pay for the room only if you opt out of the meal.
.Every room/ suite is different and so far I have stayed in 10 out of the 18 room . The room irange from 30sqm to 120sqm. Tawaraya is my de facto Kyoto accommodation whenever I visit Kyoto unless it is fully booked. It’s amazingly tranquil and zen despite it is located in a major thoroughfare. It’s much better than hiragiya and Suiran which I have also stayed before. I highly recommended Tawaraya if you could afford it
.Every room/ suite is different and so far I have stayed in 10 out of the 18 room . The room irange from 30sqm to 120sqm. Tawaraya is my de facto Kyoto accommodation whenever I visit Kyoto unless it is fully booked. It’s amazingly tranquil and zen despite it is located in a major thoroughfare. It’s much better than hiragiya and Suiran which I have also stayed before. I highly recommended Tawaraya if you could afford it
Aug 11, 2018, 4:55 am
#54
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 119
Below is a few recommended onsen ryokan that comes to my mind
1) Kyushu--Takefue and Murata
2) Nigata--Satoyama Jujo
3) Hokaido--Zaborin
4) izu--Asaba and Yagu no Sho
5) Gunma-Bettei Senjuan
Aug 11, 2018, 1:42 pm
#55
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If I may hijack the thread since this has now partly moved to non-Tokyo/Kyoto questions and offers of help, we want to take a couple of nights by the sea away from but close to Tokyo at the start of our next trip there in the Spring and ideally stay in a Ryokan or other Japanese style accommodation. We'd go there at the start of our trip so straight from NRT, so I was thinking of either in the Enoshima/Kamakura area or somewhere on the Chiba peninsula as I know neither area. Any great recommendation coming to mind? Thanks! 
Aug 11, 2018, 2:45 pm
#56
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
If I may hijack the thread since this has now partly moved to non-Tokyo/Kyoto questions and offers of help, we want to take a couple of nights by the sea away from but close to Tokyo at the start of our next trip there in the Spring and ideally stay in a Ryokan or other Japanese style accommodation. We'd go there at the start of our trip so straight from NRT, so I was thinking of either in the Enoshima/Kamakura area or somewhere on the Chiba peninsula as I know neither area. Any great recommendation coming to mind? Thanks!
Aug 12, 2018, 5:54 am
#59
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Thanks! I'd love to go to Izu at some points (family members loved Shimoda and the area) but I think that for this one that might be just a tad too ambitious for us at it means 3 1/2-4 hr train from Narita with two changes as opposed to Enoshima or Chiba peninsula being about 2h and 1 change. As we'll have travelled for about 16 hours, I feel that my partner will prefer to keep it a minimal post-flights. The two Ryokan mentioned do look gorgeous though so if the plan change and I start with work and have the couple of days off later, that certainly could become an option.
Aug 12, 2018, 6:32 am
#60
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 119
Below are the ways that one could book Tawaraya that I know off
1) Booking in person
2) Booking via phone
3) Booking via fax
4) Booking via 3rd party engine such as JTB, Japanican...etc
5) Booking via luxury hotel concierge , in fact my very first stay is booked through MO tokyo concierge
6) Booking via friend
They are usually fully booked in advance as they have only 18 rooms/suites especially in peak season, such as year end, sakura season, momiji season
Hope it helps
1) Booking in person
2) Booking via phone
3) Booking via fax
4) Booking via 3rd party engine such as JTB, Japanican...etc
5) Booking via luxury hotel concierge , in fact my very first stay is booked through MO tokyo concierge
6) Booking via friend
They are usually fully booked in advance as they have only 18 rooms/suites especially in peak season, such as year end, sakura season, momiji season
Hope it helps