# 11 — Pre-Trip Action Checklist

**Trip:** October 1–18, 2026  
**Family:** 2 adults, daughter (16), son (12)  
**Purpose:** one operational list for what to do, when to do it and where to do it.

> Check items here as the family completes them. Ticket dates and official booking links remain governed by the detailed guides; the [daily itinerary](./09-DAILY-ITINERARY.md) remains the route source of truth.

## This Week — July 24–31

| Done | What | When | Where / how | Who |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [ ] | **Buy new walking shoes for everyone** | **By July 31** | Local running/outdoor shop; fit late in the day with the socks each person will use in Japan | All 4 |
| [ ] | Start breaking in the new shoes | From the first week after purchase | Three short walks, then one 8–10 km family test; exchange immediately if there are hot spots | All 4 |
| [ ] | Enter Nintendo Museum lottery for Oct 15 | **By July 31, 23:59 JST** | [Official Nintendo Museum ticket calendar](https://museum-tickets.nintendo.com/en/calendar?lang=en) | Adult lead |
| [ ] | Complete Tokyo guest passport submission and confirm late self-check-in | Now | Airbnb chat only; obtain written acceptance and save it in the private lodging folder | Adult lead |
| [ ] | Complete Kyoto guest registration and save access guide | Now | Host form + Airbnb chat; keep door code out of the public itinerary | Adult lead |
| [ ] | Book Osaka Oct 13–15 and final Tokyo Oct 15–17 | Now | Chosen booking platform; refundable option preferred until the route is fully locked | Adults |
| [ ] | Buy/confirm family travel insurance | Now | Insurer site; include medical care, disruption and booked-ticket cancellation where available | Adults |
| [ ] | Check all four passports and names | Now | At home against airline and booking records; record expiry dates privately | Adults |
| [ ] | Complete the Ethiopian e-ticket record | Now | Save PNR/e-ticket numbers, terminals, purchased baggage, seats/meals, paid total and disruption contacts in the private flight folder | Adults |

## Bookings and Tickets

| Done | What | When | Where / how | Who |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [ ] | Buy teamLab Planets timed entry for Oct 4 morning | Now | [Official teamLab store](https://teamlabplanets.dmm.com/en) | Adult lead |
| [ ] | Buy Mundo Pixar for Oct 4, targeting a timed 11:45/12:00 slot | **Now** | [Official exhibition calendar/prices](https://t.pia.jp/en/pia/events/mundopixar); current family total about JPY 20,100 plus fees | Adult lead |
| [ ] | Buy KAWAII MONSTER LAND timed entry for Oct 6 | Now | [Official attraction page](https://contents.gendagigo.jp/kawaii-monster-land/en) | Adult lead |
| [ ] | Buy USJ Studio Pass + a current Express product that names the wanted Nintendo rides and guaranteed area entry | Now | [Official USJ tickets](https://www.usj.co.jp/web/en/us/tickets) | Adults + children choose rides |
| [ ] | Monitor only official PokéPark inventory for Oct 5 | Weekly; decide fallback by mid-September | [Official overseas store](https://ticket-en.pokepark-kanto.co.jp/); no Fiverr, broker or unofficial reseller | Adult lead |
| [ ] | If PokéPark fails, buy DisneySea for Oct 5 | At the fallback decision | [Official DisneySea calendar](https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/tds/daily/calendar/20261005/) | Adults |
| [ ] | Buy DRUM TAO HIBIKI for Oct 12 at 19:00 | When the two-month window opens; start checking Aug 12 | [Official HIBIKI tickets](https://drum-tao-kyoto.com/en/ticket/) | Adult lead |
| [ ] | Buy Mizuekai for Oct 11 at 13:00 | As soon as the official sales method is published | [Official Miyagawacho page](https://www.miyagawacho.jp/mizuekai/) | Adult lead |
| [ ] | Reserve Shiro-Hige Totoro cream-puff pickup for Oct 9 | When the October window opens | Official store contact listed in the food guide | Adult lead |
| [ ] | Buy Ghibli Museum entry for Oct 8 at 10:00 | **Sept 10 at 10:00 JST / 04:00 Israel time** | [Official Ghibli ticket page](https://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/tickets/) | One adult books; second adult ready as backup |
| [ ] | Reserve Pokémon Café for Oct 16 | When October booking rules are announced | [Official café news](https://www.pokemon-cafe.jp/en/cafe/news/); never pay a reservation reseller | Adult lead |
| [ ] | Reserve Cat Cafe Temari no Oshiro at Kichijōji Petit Mura for Oct 8 | 2–4 weeks before | [Official site](https://temarinooshiro.com/); ages 10+, about JPY 1,200 + tax per person on weekdays | Adult lead |
| [ ] | Optional: decide on the Oct 16 Sumida Aquarium finale | Final week, by energy | [Official tickets](https://en.sumida-aquarium.com/about/ticket/); no advance commitment needed — the animal side quests (otters/small animals/snakes) are walk-ins and need no booking | Family vote |
| [ ] | Record every ticket, entry name, cancellation rule and backup | Immediately after each purchase | Shared cloud folder + offline copy on both adults’ phones | Buyer |

## 6–8 Weeks Before — August

| Done | What | When | Where / how | Who |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [ ] | Choose eSIM/SIM/roaming plan for two independent adult phones | By Aug 20 | Provider site; confirm Japan coverage, hotspot allowance and activation steps | Adults |
| [ ] | Decide how to book the Tokyo–Kyoto and Kyoto–Tokyo Shinkansen legs | By Aug 20 | SmartEX or station purchase; use the transport guide’s luggage rules | Adults |
| [ ] | Confirm international payment setup | By Aug 20 | Bank/card apps: travel notice if required, PINs known, two separate cards, fee check | Adults |
| [ ] | Check regular medicines and obtain prescription copies | By Aug 31 | Family doctor/pharmacy; keep medicines in original packaging and carry-on | Each traveler |
| [ ] | Test the full walking kit | By Aug 31 | 8–10 km family day wearing new shoes, socks and daypacks | All 4 |
| [ ] | Decide luggage-forwarding plan and verify each apartment can receive bags | By Aug 31 | Ask hosts in writing; do not assume unstaffed lodging accepts takkyubin | Adults |

## 3–4 Weeks Before — Early September

| Done | What | When | Where / how | Who |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [ ] | Install/update essential apps | By Sept 10 | App Store / Google Play; list below | All phones as assigned |
| [ ] | Log in and test every attraction app | By Sept 10 | Home Wi-Fi; verify passwords and ticket/account visibility | Adults |
| [ ] | Download offline Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka maps | By Sept 10 | Google Maps | Both adults |
| [ ] | Download Japanese for offline translation | By Sept 10 | Google Translate | All family phones |
| [ ] | Make the private family ticket folder and naming scheme | By Sept 10 | Shared cloud drive; offline on both adult phones | Adult lead |
| [ ] | Save passport copies, insurance, prescriptions and emergency contacts offline | By Sept 10 | Encrypted/private folder, separate from originals | Adults |
| [ ] | Prepare cash and the agreed IC-card plan | By Sept 15 | Buy four TOURIST PASMO cards at Narita; prepare cash for small reloads and keep two independent payment cards | Adults |
| [ ] | Resolve Oct 15 luggage handling for Nintendo Museum day | By Sept 15 | Hotel/locker/forwarding confirmation in writing | Adults |
| [ ] | Decide PokéPark vs DisneySea and lock the Oct 5 ticket | By Sept 15 | Official channel only | Family |
| [ ] | Prepare exact Roman/katakana spellings for four Yūzen chopstick engravings | By Sept 15 | Shared family note; do not assume the unverified JPY 1,100 Instagram price | All 4 |

## Essential Apps

| Done | App / service | Why | Install on |
|---|---|---|---|
| [ ] | Airline app | Check-in, disruption alerts and boarding passes | Both adults |
| [ ] | Google Maps | Navigation and offline city maps | All family phones |
| [ ] | Google Translate | Camera/menu translation + offline Japanese | All family phones |
| [ ] | [Safety Tips](https://www.jnto.go.jp/safety-tips/eng/app.html) | Officially supervised English alerts for earthquakes, tsunami and severe weather | Both adults; notifications on |
| [ ] | Official USJ app | Park map, waits and timed-area handling | Both adults |
| [ ] | Official PokéPark app | Required trip-day functions if tickets succeed | Both adults |
| [ ] | SmartEX or chosen rail service | Shinkansen booking/changes | Booking adult + backup adult |
| [ ] | Shared family notes/list app | Next-day plan, meeting point and “cut first” item | All family phones |

Do not install a large bundle of speculative travel apps. Use the smallest set that supports this itinerary, review permissions and remove trip-only apps afterward.

## Weather and What to Wear

October is usually comfortable for walking, but the route needs both warm-day and wet/cool-evening options. Japan Meteorological Agency 1991–2020 October normals are:

| City | Typical daytime high | Typical nighttime low | October rainfall |
|---|---:|---:|---:|
| Tokyo | 22.0°C | 14.8°C | 234.8 mm |
| Kyoto | 23.4°C | 14.4°C | 143.2 mm |
| Osaka | 23.7°C | 16.0°C | 136.0 mm |

These are monthly climate normals, **not the 2026 forecast**. October is generally fair, but rain and an occasional typhoon can still affect transport. Sources: [JMA Tokyo normals](https://www.data.jma.go.jp/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?prec_no=44&block_no=47662&year=&month=&day=&view=), [JMA Kyoto normals](https://www.data.jma.go.jp/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?block_no=47759&day=15&month=10&prec_no=61&view=&year=), [JMA Osaka normals](https://www.data.jma.go.jp/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?block_no=47772&prec_no=62), [JNTO October guide](https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/october/), [JMA typhoon normals](https://www.data.jma.go.jp/typhoon/statistics/average/average.html). Confidence: **HIGH**.

### Wear system per person

- one breathable T-shirt or light base;
- one light overshirt, cardigan or thin fleece that fits in the daypack;
- long trousers or comfortable travel bottoms;
- **broken-in walking shoes** plus moisture-managing socks;
- packable waterproof rain shell; compact umbrella is useful in cities;
- cap and sunscreen for exposed park/coast days;
- optional warmer layer for Enoshima sunset, Awata night procession and late theme-park hours.

Do not plan around a heavy winter coat. Pack layers that can be removed on trains and indoors. For teamLab, follow the attraction’s clothing guidance separately. For the Petit Mura cat café, carry clean socks.

## Final 7 Days — September 24–30

| Done | What | When | Where / how | Who |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [ ] | Check the real forecast for Tokyo, Kamakura/Enoshima, Kyoto and Osaka | Daily from Sept 24 | [JMA weather](https://www.jma.go.jp/bosai/map.html#contents=forecast) + Safety Tips alerts | Adult lead |
| [ ] | Adjust layers and rain gear from the real forecast | Sept 27–29 | At home; pack one modular system per person | All 4 |
| [ ] | Check typhoon, heavy-rain and transport notices | Daily from Sept 24 | JMA, airline, JR/SmartEX and attraction official notices | Adults |
| [ ] | Recheck attraction closures, maintenance, age/height rules and festival timing | Sept 24–28 | Official sites only | Adults |
| [ ] | Check whether the Oct 10 Tokyo Night & Light rotation includes the Pokémon work and record the earliest practical slot | Sept 24–Oct 9 | [Official timetable](https://tokyoprojectionmappingproject.jp/en/); ignore Instagram times | Adult lead |
| [ ] | Confirm Yūzen Fushimi is open Tue Oct 13 at 09:30 and that four engravings fit before checkout | Sept 24–Oct 9 | [Official shop account](https://page.line.me/xat.0000115429.mcu) / 075-641-5744 | Adult lead |
| [ ] | Complete Visit Japan Web if the family chooses to use it | Final week | [Official Visit Japan Web](https://www.vjw.digital.go.jp/) only; keep backup travel details available | Adults |
| [ ] | Download all QR codes and PDFs; screenshot timed entries | By Sept 28 | Offline ticket folder on both adult phones | Adults |
| [ ] | Verify names against passports where required | By Sept 28 | Ticket folder + physical passports | Adults |
| [ ] | Confirm Narita terminal, departure train and airport arrival time | Sept 29 | Airline + rail planner | Adults |
| [ ] | Pack medicines, chargers, power banks and one change of clothes in carry-on | Sept 29–30 | Home | Each traveler |
| [ ] | Photograph/scan the final luggage contents | Sept 30 | Family cloud folder | One adult |

## 48 Hours and Departure Day

- [ ] Check in with the airline when available and save boarding passes offline.
- [ ] Charge phones, power banks, earbuds and trackers; pack charging cables and plug adapters.
- [ ] Put passports, payment cards, medicines and all first-night essentials in carry-on.
- [ ] Confirm the Tokyo host has accepted the arrival window and that late entry instructions work offline.
- [ ] Set one family meeting point for each airport and make sure both children have both adults’ numbers.
- [ ] Wear the broken-in walking shoes on the flight or keep one proven pair in carry-on.
- [ ] Recheck JMA/airline notices before leaving home.

## Completion Rule

A purchase is not “done” until the confirmation is saved offline. An app is not “done” until it is installed, logged in and tested. A shoe is not “done” until it has passed a long walk without hot spots.

*Research refreshed July 25, 2026. Replace climate normals with the real JMA forecast during the final week.*