Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko
Adele Vlogs · family trip
日本 Nihon

Japan 2026

Aditya & Elena, with Adu & Afi

12 to 26 July 2026 in Japan · Adele is Aditya plus Elena

Delhi→Hong Kong→Tokyo · 6N→Mt Fuji · 1N→Osaka · 7N
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Our trip at a glance

Flights. Outbound (Cathay, Business): CX698 Delhi 22:45 Sat 11 Jul → Hong Kong 06:40, then CX526 HKG 08:15 → Narita 13:40 Sun 12 Jul.
Return: out of Osaka (KIX) on Sat 26 Jul (final visa day) — ticket to be confirmed.
Us
Aditya, Elena, and the boys Adu and Afi. One big family adventure.
Fly
Cathay Business: Delhi 11 Jul night, land Narita 13:40 on Sun 12 Jul (via Hong Kong).
In Japan
12 to 26 July (15 days, visa-bound from arrival). Out via Osaka, KIX.
Getting around
All Shinkansen and bus, no domestic flights. Two base changes only.
With the boys
Stroller plus carrier, two nap anchors a day, AC indoors at midday.
Work rhythm
Calls land mostly Mon and Tue nights JST, so those are kept as lighter days. See below.
Work rhythm. Your recurring calls convert to Japan time as mostly evening and late-night blocks (Tuesdays run 20:00 to about 01:00 JST). Tuesdays are therefore kept as light, indoor days, and the big theme-park day sits on a Wednesday with a clear night. The daily 14:30 JST standup is optional. Each day below shows its call holds in Japan time.

Day by day

Tap a day for the hour-by-hour plan with nap windows, a rain backup, and named trains and food. Each day shows its call holds in Japan time. Filter by city, vlog spots, or busy call nights.

Land Narita, transfer, settle
Day 1
Sun 12 Jul · Tokyo

Land Narita, transfer, settle

Hot, humid ~32C
Land NRT 13:40 (CX526) · private van to Tokyo
☀ No calls today
Hour by hour
13:40Land Narita (Terminal 2) after the Hong Kong connectionBusiness priority off first. Afi in the carrier, Adu in the stroller
14:00Immigration (visa), baggage, customsSet up mobile Suica; grab water
15:00Pre-booked private van, Narita to Tokyo (Ueno/Marunouchi)Door to door, the boys can nap in the van
16:30Check in, confirm the crib, unpack essentials
17:15Konbini run + an easy early dinner near the hotelStroller distance only
19:30Bath, bottles, boys down earlyYou have been travelling since last night, reset the clock

The boys: You land mid-afternoon after a red-eye and a connection. Do nothing but settle and sleep.

If it rains: No change, it is an arrival day.

teamLab Planets + Toyosu
Day 2
★ vlog spot
Mon 13 Jul · Tokyo

teamLab Planets + Toyosu

~33C
teamLab Planets AM slot (book ahead)
📞 Work (JST): 14:30 Team standup (optional)22:00 Client check-in call00:00 Late internal call (after midnight)
Hour by hour
09:00Yurikamome line to ToyosuRide during Afi's morning nap
09:30Park the stroller, carrier on Afi (strollers banned inside)Bare feet, bring spare clothes
10:00teamLab Planets: water room, crystal room, orchid greenhouseAdu will love the wade-through water
11:30Lunch at LaLaport Toyosu (AC, baby room)
13:00Nap block at the hotel
15:00Easy afternoon: drugstore run + nearby parkHeat peaks now, stay shaded
19:30Dinner, boys downTry Tokyo Ramen Street if near the station (see Eat)
22:00Client check-in call (JST)After the boys are down; a late internal call follows around midnight

The boys: Install Mamapapa Map to find nursing and changing rooms on the fly.

If it rains: Already indoor; LaLaport mall is a soft landing next door.

Akihabara tech + AI-laptop scouting
Day 3
★ vlog spot
Tue 14 Jul · Tokyo

Akihabara tech + AI-laptop scouting

~34C
Busy call night (20:00 to ~01:00 JST) — kept light
📞 Work (JST): 14:30 Team standup (optional)20:00 Client call22:00 Client check-in23:00 Vendor call01:00 Late client call (after midnight)
Hour by hour
09:30JR to Ueno; Ueno Zoo or Sumida Aquarium with the boysIndoor aquarium is the heat/calm option
12:00Lunch, then back for the nap
13:00Nap block
15:00Akihabara: Yodobashi Akiba, TSUKUMO eX, Sofmap, Bic CameraScout AI/gaming laptops + GPUs (see Shop). Tax-free over 5,000 yen, bring passports
18:00Early dinner, head backLight night ahead of the calls
20:00Client call (JST)First of the night
22:00Client check-in (JST)
23:00Vendor call (JST), then a late client call after midnightThis is the heavy night, do not plan a dawn start tomorrow

The boys: Keep today indoor and unambitious; you are up past midnight on calls.

If it rains: Aquarium + Akihabara are both indoor, fully rain-proof.

Asakusa early, Shibuya Sky sunset
Day 4
★ vlog spot
Wed 15 Jul · Tokyo

Asakusa early, Shibuya Sky sunset

~34C
Shibuya Sky sunset slot (book up to 14 days ahead)
📞 Work (JST): 14:30 Team standup (optional)
Hour by hour
08:15Tokyo Metro Ginza line to AsakusaBeat heat and crowds
08:45Senso-ji: lantern, pagoda, Nakamise; Nakamise souvenirsCarry Afi up the temple steps
10:30Optional Kappabashi knife/kitchen street nearbyPlastic-food souvenirs; knives (see Shop)
12:00Lunch on a department-store floor
13:00Nap block
14:30Team standup (optional, JST)Join from the hotel if you want, or let it run without you
16:30Shibuya: 13F baby room at Shibuya Sky to feed and changeOutside food banned on the decks
17:45Shibuya Sky rooftop, golden hour over the ScrambleCarrier on the terrace, under-5 free
19:30Dinner near Shibuya (try Uobei), home

The boys: Clear night; bank rest after last night's calls.

If it rains: Swap Asakusa for Sumida Aquarium.

Ginza clothes, Harajuku toys, Apple Store
Day 5
★ vlog spot
Thu 16 Jul · Tokyo

Ginza clothes, Harajuku toys, Apple Store

~34C
Apple Store for a US-keyboard Mac (see Shop)
📞 Work (JST): 14:30 Team standup (optional)
Hour by hour
09:15Tokyo Metro to Ginza; Uniqlo flagship (F7 kids floor)Wide sidewalks, easiest shopping with a stroller
10:30Apple Store Ginza: MacBook Pro / Mac Studio, US keyboardThe clean buy for AI work (see Shop)
11:30Hakuhinkan Toy Park + GU
12:30Lunch at Ginza Six
13:30Nap block
14:30Team standup (optional, JST)
16:00Kiddy Land Harajuku + Pokemon Center ShibuyaSkip Takeshita St with the stroller
18:15Dinner Shibuya or Harajuku

The boys: Uniqlo Ginza F7 (childcare + cafe) is the easiest midday base.

If it rains: All indoor: Ginza underground, Kiddy Land, Pokemon Center.

Flex day + forward bags to Osaka
Day 6
Fri 17 Jul · Tokyo

Flex day + forward bags to Osaka

~33C
Hand bags to the front desk for forwarding to Osaka
📞 Work (JST): 14:30 Team standup (optional)
Hour by hour
08:00Forward big bags Tokyo to Osaka (Yamato)They arrive Osaka on day 8; keep one small bag for Fuji
09:30Shinjuku Gyoen (flat, pram-easy) or a missed sightLawns for Adu, shade for Afi
12:00Lunch, then nap block
14:30Team standup (optional, JST)
15:30Last Tokyo shopping / souvenirs (depachika, Don Quijote)
17:30Dinner, repack for Fuji (small bag only)

The boys: Light day; you change cities tomorrow.

If it rains: Fall back to indoor shopping (depachika, Donki).

Travel to Mt Fuji, lakeside, private onsen
Day 7
★ vlog spot
Sat 18 Jul · Kawaguchiko

Travel to Mt Fuji, lakeside, private onsen

~28C by the lake
Highway bus + private-onsen ryokan · no calls (weekend)
☀ No calls today
Hour by hour
10:00Highway bus Shinjuku (Busta) to Kawaguchiko (~1h45m)Bags under the bus, the boys nap onboard
12:00Drop bags, lunch by the lake (hoto noodles)
13:30Nap block (room or stroller by the lake)Cooler air, pleasant
15:00Oishi Park: flat lakeside, lavender + FujiThe easy stroller-friendly Fuji shot
18:00Private in-room onsen with the familyPublic baths bar diaper-age kids
19:00Kaiseki dinner at the ryokanNo hauling the boys out at night
21:00Set a 06:30 alarm for the morning Fuji shot

The boys: Weekend, no calls. The lightest, most restful night of the trip.

If it rains: Fuji is often cloud-covered in July; the ryokan and onsen are the point regardless.

Dawn Fuji, Shinkansen to Osaka
Day 8
★ vlog spot
Sun 19 Jul · Osaka

Dawn Fuji, Shinkansen to Osaka

Fuji AM ~26C, Osaka PM ~34C
Shinkansen Mishima to Shin-Osaka · no calls (weekend)
☀ No calls today
Hour by hour
06:30Wake, Fuji check; clearest 08:00 to 10:30
08:00Morning Fuji photos at Oishi Park / reverse-Fuji reflectionSkip Chureito's 398 steps unless one adult solos it
10:00Kawaguchiko to Mishima
11:50Shinkansen Hikari, Mishima to Shin-Osaka (~1h10m)The boys nap onboard
13:00Midosuji line to Namba, check inTokyo bags are already here
17:30Dotonbori evening: Glico sign, takoyakiCarrier not stroller in the crush
19:30Home, boys down

The boys: Weekend, no calls. Restock water and the boys' ORS tonight (Osaka is hot).

If it rains: No clear Fuji: take an earlier train, more rest in Osaka.

Kaiyukan aquarium
Day 9
★ vlog spot
Mon 20 Jul · Osaka

Kaiyukan aquarium

~34C
Buy Kaiyukan tickets online
📞 Work (JST): 14:30 Team standup (optional)22:00 Client check-in call00:00 Late internal call (after midnight)
Hour by hour
10:00Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan (Chuo line to Osakako)Spiral ramp, stroller never folds, whale shark
12:30Lunch at Tempozan Marketplace (AC)
14:00Nap block
14:30Team standup (optional, JST)
16:00Easy afternoon / hotel poolRecharge before USJ on Wednesday
18:00Dinner; try an Osaka miso ramen (see Eat)
22:00Client check-in call (JST)Late internal call follows around midnight

The boys: Kaiyukan is indoor and rain-proof; a calm day before the calls.

If it rains: No change, indoor day.

Osaka Castle + Umeda (light day)
Day 10
★ vlog spot
Tue 21 Jul · Osaka

Osaka Castle + Umeda (light day)

~34C
Busy call night (20:00 to ~01:00 JST) — kept light
📞 Work (JST): 14:30 Team standup (optional)20:00 Client call22:00 Client check-in23:00 Vendor call01:00 Late client call (after midnight)
Hour by hour
09:15Osaka Castle park: moat photos, lawns for AduSkip the keep with the boys, enjoy the grounds
11:45Midosuji line to Umeda, lunch at Grand FrontAC, baby room
13:00Nap block
15:00Umeda indoor: Pokemon Center DX, Kiddy Land, Yodobashi UmedaAC and stroller-friendly; more tech scouting if you want
18:00Early dinner, head backLight night ahead of the calls
20:00Client call (JST), then check-in 22:00, vendor 23:00Heavy night; late client call after midnight

The boys: Deliberately easy and indoor; you are on calls 20:00 to ~01:00.

If it rains: Umeda is a giant indoor complex, fully rain-proof.

Universal Studios Japan
Day 11
★ vlog spot
Wed 22 Jul · Osaka

Universal Studios Japan

~34C, hydrate
USJ tickets + SNW area entry (clear night)
📞 Work (JST): 14:30 Team standup (optional)
Hour by hour
07:15JR to Universal City (~25 min from Namba)
07:50Arrive ~45 min before opening, grab SNW timed entry in the app
08:30Universal Wonderland first (toddler zone, no queue)Adu's energy out before the heat
10:30Super Nintendo World: Yoshi's Adventure; Child Switch for tall rides
13:00Stroller nap while adults do Child-Switch ridesNap in the park
14:30Team standup (optional, JST) if you take it from the parkOtherwise skip; clear night tonight
16:30Last rides and merch, leave before meltdown
19:30Dinner, boys down, free eveningUSJ deliberately put on a no-calls night

The boys: Rider heights are strictly checked; match the plan to Adu's height.

If it rains: Most attractions run in rain (ponchos); leave early if it is a washout.

Nara day-trip, the deer park
Day 12
★ vlog spot
Thu 23 Jul · Osaka

Nara day-trip, the deer park

~34C
Kintetsu Nara line (~45 min)
📞 Work (JST): 14:30 Team standup (optional)
Hour by hour
08:45Kintetsu Nara line, Osaka to Nara
09:30Nara Park: free-roaming bowing deerFeed crackers AWAY from Adu; deer mob for food
11:00Todai-ji Great Buddha hall, groundsStroller-OK on paths
11:45Lunch in Nara, out of the sun
13:30Train back, nap block
14:30Team standup (optional, JST)
18:00Dinner: kushikatsu or a family restaurant

The boys: Keep Afi's carrier high; do not let Adu hold crackers near a deer crowd.

If it rains: Washout: indoor Osaka day, move Nara later.

Kyoto day-trip, Arashiyama
Day 13
★ vlog spot
Fri 24 Jul · Osaka

Kyoto day-trip, Arashiyama

~34C
Hankyu or JR (~1h)
📞 Work (JST): 14:30 Team standup (optional)
Hour by hour
08:45Train to Arashiyama, early to beat crowds
09:50Bamboo grove + Togetsukyo bridgeThe flatter, more stroller-tolerant Kyoto choice
11:00Riverside and Tenryu-ji garden exterior
12:00Lunch in Arashiyama (riverside cafe)
13:00Train back, nap on the train
14:30Team standup (optional, JST)
17:30Dotonbori round 2 or a calm local dinner

The boys: Pick one Kyoto district; do not try Nara and Kyoto in one day.

If it rains: Bamboo grove is outdoor; if wet, swap for indoor Osaka.

Final tech buy, shopping, repack
Day 14
Sat 25 Jul · Osaka

Final tech buy, shopping, repack

~34C
Buy-late tech day · no calls (weekend)
☀ No calls today
Hour by hour
09:30Shinsaibashi-suji arcade (covered, AC): final clothes + souvenirs
11:00Den Den Town (Nipponbashi): last-chance tech / GPU buyBuy-late so you carry it less (see Shop)
13:30Nap block, adults start repackingKeep tax-free sealed bags unopened
15:00Last toys + omiyage: Pokemon Center, depachika gifts
16:30Finish packing, confirm tomorrow's KIX timingNankai Rapi:t Namba to KIX ~38 min
17:30Farewell dinner: Dotonbori takoyaki, okonomiyaki

The boys: Weekend, no calls. Carry-on all electronics (Cathay battery rules).

If it rains: Indoor already (covered arcades, department stores).

Osaka to KIX to home
Day 15
Sun 26 Jul · Fly home

Osaka to KIX to home

~34C
Return via KIX (final visa day) — ticket to confirm
☀ No calls today
Hour by hour
08:30Check outDiapers + one outfit per boy in the carry-on
09:30Nankai Rapi:t, Namba to KIX (~38 min)Reserved seats, stroller folds at the door
10:15KIX check-in + tax-free verificationSealed bags, receipts, passports ready
11:00Security and immigration (exit stamp), gate-check the stroller
12:00Airside: feed and change, last snacks, souvenirsCarry-on the laptops/cameras; pre-board

The boys: Open tax-free sealed bags only after you have left Japan.

If it rains: Travel day, no change.

The three bases

Every named spot per city, screened for what works with a stroller, Adu and Afi.

Tokyo

Tokyo 6 nights

Stay: Ueno or Tokyo Station / Marunouchi (apartment-hotel, MIMARU)

  • teamLab Planets, Shibuya Sky at sunset, Senso-ji, Shinjuku Gyoen.
  • Tech: Akihabara (Yodobashi, TSUKUMO, Sofmap) + Apple Ginza.
  • Clothes: Uniqlo Ginza F7 kids floor, GU, Harajuku, Omotesando.
  • Toys: Kiddy Land Harajuku, Pokemon Center, Hakuhinkan Ginza.
  • For the boys: Ueno Zoo, Sumida Aquarium, optional DisneySea.
Mt Fuji, Kawaguchiko

Mt Fuji, Kawaguchiko 1 night

Stay: Private-onsen ryokan: Kozantei Ubuya or FUFU Kawaguchiko

  • Base Kawaguchiko, not Hakone; the point is to see the mountain.
  • Easy shot: Oishi Park, flat lakeside, lavender in mid-July.
  • July visibility is poor; clearest 08:00 to 10:30.
  • Private or in-room onsen only (public baths bar diaper-age kids).
Osaka

Osaka 7 nights

Stay: Namba / Shinsaibashi (MIMARU), optional nights near USJ (Park Front)

  • Universal Studios Japan, Kaiyukan aquarium, Osaka Castle, Umeda Sky.
  • Day-trips: Nara deer (do this one), Kyoto Arashiyama.
  • Food: Dotonbori takoyaki/okonomiyaki, miso ramen near Umeda.
  • Shopping: Den Den Town (tech), Shinsaibashi arcade, Pokemon Center.

Where to eat (and the ramen)

Miso ramen is really Hokkaido/Sapporo's dish, and you are not going north, so these are the best places to get genuine miso (and top bowls overall) in Tokyo and Osaka. Top shops are tiny and queue; mall and station branches are the realistic ones with a stroller.

Tokyo · miso

Oshima

The top genuine Sapporo-style miso in Tokyo (owner trained at Sumire). Order the miso ramen, add corn + butter. The LaLaport Toyosu mall branch is the stroller-friendly one; the Funabori original has a few tables.

Tokyo · miso

Santora (Ekoda)

Many call it the best Sumire-style miso in Tokyo. Tiny, counter-only, long queues; an adult relay, not a stroller stop.

Tokyo · easy

Tokyo Ramen Street

A row of famous shops under one roof at Tokyo Station. The easiest great ramen with two kids.

Osaka · miso

Mitsuka Bose Kamoshi

Often the best miso in Osaka, near Umeda: veg-heavy, Kyoto white-miso blend, lighter than Sapporo. Counter seating, go off-peak or relay.

Osaka · best overall

Chuka Soba Mugen

Osaka's No.1 additive-free shoyu (not miso), Michelin Bib. Only 8 seats, long line, closed Tuesday. Adult relay only.

Both cities

Sushiro / Uobei / depachika

For everyday meals with the boys: conveyor sushi and department-store food floors win on stroller space, high chairs and baby rooms.

Shopping: souvenirs, clothes, tech & more

What to buy and where, including AI-capable laptops and GPUs, with the gotchas (keyboards, warranty, customs).

Souvenirs & omiyage

  • Depachika (department-store basements): Isetan/Takashimaya/Daimaru Tokyo; Hankyu Umeda + Takashimaya Namba in Osaka. Best packaged sweets and tea gifts.
  • Tokyo Station Ichibangai: Character Street (Pokemon, Chiikawa, Ghibli) + Gift Palette for station-exclusive sweets. All under one roof, stroller-easy.
  • Don Quijote (Donki): cheap everything, KitKats, cosmetics, character goods; Dotonbori Donki (with the Ferris wheel) is the Osaka landmark.
  • Daiso/Standard Products + Kappabashi Kitchen Town (plastic food, ceramics). Classics: Tokyo Banana, KitKat flavours, Royce, matcha sweets.

Clothes

  • Uniqlo Ginza (12-floor flagship, F7 kids) + UNIQLO TOKYO Marunouchi; GU Ginza. Shinsaibashi flagship in Osaka.
  • Harajuku/Omotesando and Shibuya (Parco) for trend; Shinsaibashi arcade (covered) in Osaka.
  • Vintage: Shimokitazawa (Tokyo), Amerimura (Osaka) - tight lanes, babywear.
  • Kids/baby: Akachan Honpo + Babies R Us (diapers, formula, nursing rooms, stroller aisles).

Tech & AI (the laptops/GPUs)

  • Buy AI/gaming laptops + GPUs in Akihabara: Yodobashi Akiba (one-stop), TSUKUMO eX (high-end), Sofmap (used), Ark/PC Koubou (boxed desktop GPUs). Osaka backup: Den Den Town + Yodobashi Umeda.
  • For local AI, memory is everything: a desktop RTX 5090 (32GB) or a high-RAM Mac Studio / MacBook Pro M-Max (64-128GB unified) beat any laptop. A mobile 5090 laptop is the all-in-one compromise.
  • Caveats: Japanese laptops have JIS keyboards (not swappable) + Japan-only warranty. Apple is the clean exception (US keyboard + international warranty) and the clearest price win vs India.
  • Customs: one new laptop is duty-free into India (plus the ~75,000 rupee allowance); a boxed high-value GPU is dutiable, declare it. Tax-free (10% off) at the register on your July trip; carry electronics + power banks in the cabin (Cathay rules).

What else is worth buying

  • Kitchen knives: Kappabashi (Kama-Asa, Tsubaya) in Tokyo; Tower Knives (English) in Osaka.
  • Stationery: Itoya Ginza, Loft, Tokyu Hands. Skincare: drugstores (Hada Labo, Anessa/Biore UV, Senka).
  • Japanese whisky (Suntory Toki, Nikka), Muji flagship Ginza, ceramics (Kappabashi/depachika).
  • Secondhand luxury watches + bags: Komehyo (Shinjuku/Ginza/Osaka), authenticated, about half retail.

Booking checklist

Tick these off as you book; progress saves on this device.

Lock first (sell-out risk)

Next

Before you fly

Two things first: USJ tickets release about 60 days ahead and sell out fast, and peak-July family rooms are limited. Lock those and the Mt Fuji ryokan before anything else.