Japan late March/early April 2027

Fly in and out of Haneda if possible. If not, NRT is fine.
Do you have a general itinerary in mind?

I imagine the key for sakura season is wherever you're going get there early.

I went about a week after sakura, so I'd otherwise say the weather is great. Go watch some baseball. The Japanese league basketball game was fun too.

Depending on how late in March the sumo basho will be in Osaka.

I skipped through Tokyo on arrival as well. You can land at Haneda, train to Shinagawa, and board the bullet towards Osaka/Kyoto within an hour.

My last trip to TYO Disneyland was in 1984, so I won't be much help there.

Shinagawa was always my home base when I was in Tokyo, the Prince Sakura Hotel (Marriott) was great. Pro tip: go out of the North/East entrance but do not cross the street. Turn to your left, and take the escalators into the grocery store under the station. I ate of out that place for dinner nearly every night.

I know you want to spend the majority of your time outside of Tokyo, but take in the experience if you can. Shinjuku crossing, the eight story toy stores with a different theme each floor, etc.

Use and abuse the concierge at any place you stay at (or the mama-san if it's not a hotel.) The concierges are desperate to better their English skills, and can direct you to great places to eat. A tactic I've used all over the world, don't tell me where you think tourists should go, tell me where YOU would get breakfast, etc. They will also write your destination address on business cards to give to taxi drivers (expensive, but worth it for the A/C sometimes.)

Number 1: pay attention to what the Japanese do, and do that. Which side of the escalator to stand on (if you're not walking,) that nobody eats or drinks while walking, when they say no talking into a cell phone on the bus or train, they mean it, etc.

Number 2: learn good morning/good evening, and thank you. They're super appreciative of gaijin that do this.

Number 3: If you hear the word gaijin, that means they're talking about you (it is not pejorative, it means foreigner/outsider.) Be curious.

Number 4: Get a Suica card. You can put it in your Apple/Google wallet, but I always just used a physical card I got at the magical places that are Lawson's, Family Mart, or 7-11. I don't think I ever held physical Yen the last five times I was in Tokyo (experiences may differ in smaller areas.)

Number 5: You, and your kids, can hike Mount Fujiyama. Maybe not summit it, but you can hike it. I think I was 8 when I got to station 9. If you do it, get the walking stick, and get it branded at each station (IIRC, you typically start at station 5, and 10 is the summit.) Salarymen climbed it in dress shoes, sometimes with oxygen. Going down is more tiring than going up.

That is the busiest time of the year for tourist in Japan

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That is the busiest time of the year for tourist in Japan

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The cherry blossoms bring them out :)

Wonderful country. Get out into the neighborhoods and explore. .

Following this for the tips. Planning on late May next year and have no clue where to even start.

Kudos to those that plan these trips so far ahead. My wife and I have never planned anything more than 3 months in advance . Just got back from a 10 day Africa trip that we somehow threw together in 2 months notice

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See the Great Buddha at Kamakura

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Kamakura in general is amazing. But to see the quality of craftmanship that went into that bronze statue, and how it was created in assembled layers almost 800 years ago.. was intended to be in a great hall but the hall(s) kept getting blown away in typhoons & tsunamis so it has been in the open air for 500+ years.. and it still stands in all its glory.. pretty crazy.

In fact, ALL of Japan's history is crazy. And very fascinating.

Two days in Hakone is a worthwhile retreat.

Research Pocket WiFi

Street Kart in Tokyo

Kyoto was my favorite part of Japan. Nishiki Food Market was incredible