Japan Family Holiday

12 Days | An action-packed family adventure from the Tokyo streets to Kyoto’s eats

4.9 out of 5 based on 30 reviews submitted.
Family
Rail
From
EUR €4,865
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Gather the kids and embark on an adventure through the Land of the Rising Sun on this 12-day family trip through Japan. From the houses of ancient emperors to technological gizmos, this journey packs in the best stuff to see and do as a family, plus plenty of time to kick back and soak it up in the onsen. Learn the art of calligraphy in Tokyo, ride the Hakone ropeway for views of Mt Fuji and immerse yourself in Japanese culture in Kyoto. With the local expertise of your leader to draw on at every step of the way, this is a family holiday that’s sure to leave lifelong memories.

Trip overview

Map of Japan Family Holiday including Japan
Start
Tokyo, Japan
Finish
Kyoto, Japan
Theme
Family, Rail
Destinations
Japan
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 5
Group size
Min 2 - Max 16
Trip code
CJFP
This trip generates 49 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Try your hand at traditional calligraphy in Shinjuku, then learn to cook your own okonomiyaki on a relaxing boat cruise around Tokyo Bay – Tokyo really is fun for the whole family!
  • Explore Hakone by cable-car, pirate ship and with a peaceful walk around the lake – maybe even catch a glimpse of the iconic Mt Fuji on a clear day, before relaxing in the soothing waters of an onsen.
  • Visit Himeji Castle – Japan's most impressive samurai castle – then dive into Kyoto culture with a walk around the famous Goin district.
  • Learn about an important chapter of Japan’s history at the Hiroshima Peace Park, followed by a visit to the relaxing island of Miyajima where deer roam the streets.
  • Take a daytrip from Kyoto to Arashiyama and cruise along the Hozu River on a boat ride – this route along the river is over 400 years old and surrounded by lush rolling mountains – then, visit the bamboo forest.

Is this trip right for you?
  • There is a lot of walking involved on this trip, so you'll need a good level of fitness and comfortable walking shoes are essential.
  • This trip includes a traditional inn (ryokan) stay in Hakone where you have the opportunity to experience sleeping on a futon on a tatami (mat floor). As part of this you'll get to experience a traditional Japanese onsen bath.

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2023 - 31 December 2024

Map of Japan Family Holiday including Japan

Inclusions

Meals

11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners

Transport

Bullet Train, Train, Cable car, Taxi, Tram

Accommodation

Hotels (9 nights), Ryokan (2 nights)

Activities
  • Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
  • Tokyo - Monjayaki Dinner on Boat
  • Tokyo – Harajuku walk
  • Tokyo - Japanese & Calligraphy lesson
  • Hakone - Lake Ashinoko boat cruise
  • Hakone - Cable car/Ropeway
  • Hakone – Karakuri Secret Box Museum
  • Hiroshima – Peace Park and A-Bomb Dome
  • Hiroshima - Miyajima Island
  • Himeji - Himeji Castle
  • Kyoto - Nishiki-Koji Market
  • Kyoto - Gion District walk
  • Kyoto - Fushimi Inari Shrine
  • Kyoto - Arashiyama sightseeing
  • Kyoto - Tenryuji Temple
  • Kyoto - Hozu River boat ride
Add on activities
  • Tokyo - Karaoke - JPY2000
  • Tokyo Government Tower - Free
  • Hakone - Open-Air Museum - JPY2000
  • Hakone - Checkpoint Museum - JPY500
  • Hakone – Onsen theme park (from) - JPY2500
  • Hiroshima – Peace Museum - JPY200
  • Miyajima – Daishoin Temple - Free
  • Miyajima - Itsukushima Shrine - JPY300
  • Hiroshima – Hiroshima Castle - JPY370
  • Kyoto - Gion Corner cultural centre - JPY5500
  • Kyoto - Cooking class - JPY7700
  • Kyoto – Tea ceremony with maiko - JPY14300
  • Kyoto – Samurai Kembu Theatre - JPY5000
  • Kyoto – Arashiyama rickshaw ride ( From ) - JPY4000
  • Nara - Day trip from Kyoto - JPY9000
  • Osaka - Universal Studios (one day pass) - JPY8600
  • Kyoto - Maiko/Geisha makeover ( From ) - JPY12650
  • Kyoto – Kyoto Railway Museum - JPY1500
  • Kyoto – Bike hire ( per day ) from - JPY1200
  • Kyoto – Ramen Factory Kyoto - JPY16500

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.

2. Minimum age for children on this trip is 5 years old.

3. A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 years and under at time of travel.

4. A single supplement is bookable on this trip with exception of Day 4 & 5 (Hakone) and Days 6 & 7 (Hiroshima), subject to availability.

5. It is essential you pack light and compact for rail travel in Japan. Size restrictions for luggage on Shinkansen (bullet) trains apply. Luggage over 160–250 cm may require an additional USD 10 fee per train journey. Luggage over 251 cm will not be permitted on the Shinkansen trains at all. Please notify your tour leader at your welcome meeting if your luggage is over 160–250 cm so they can make the necessary arrangements! Failure to notify your tour leader of luggage over 160–250 cm will require the passenger to pay the oversize luggage fee.

6. Accommodation in Japan can be difficult to secure at short notice. If you are travelling in Japan before or after your trip, we recommend booking accommodation at least one month in advance of travel.
For families of 3 requiring a triple share room, we have access to these in each city, however, they are in limited supply and can not be guaranteed. Please advise your booking agent at time of reservation if you require this room type and we will do our best to accommodate you. 

7. March to May and September to November are both high seasons for tourism in Japan. While the weather is good during this period (and March to May is great for viewing cherry blossoms), you will find major sites are very crowded with both Japanese and international tourists during these months.

8. We know the idea of travelling overseas with picky eaters, particularly kids, can be daunting. However, most of our families find the diversity of Japanese food surprising. Trying different foods is great fun and an opportunity to understand a little about Japanese culture. Some of the different meals you can enjoy include sushi, soba noodles, ramen noodles, monjaki and okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes), takoyaki (ball-shaped fried snack – a bit like the Japanese equivalent of fish fingers) and yakitori (skewered chicken). There are also great treats to try including green tea Kit Kats and ice-creams, pounded-rice desserts such as mochi and dango and sweet red bean in a variety of forms. Yum! For anyone in search of food for a picnic the majority of department stores have food halls (depachika) with an eyepopping selection of different types of food. Also, convenience stores (combini) are around nearly every corner and have snacks to tempt the fussiest eater. If in doubt and needing a little taste from home, the Japanese chain Moss Burgers have great hamburgers and you can find western options like pasta, pizza and great bakeries in the major cities. If you have any concerns, chat to your leader at the start of the tour.

9. Some of our families are surprised by the traditional Japanese breakfast foods and the western variations that our accommodation provides. Rice or noodles with fish or meat are common breakfast foods in Japan. Typical western foods available generally include toast, eggs, tea and coffee and sometimes cereals.

10. We are not able to book airport shuttle service for Japan now. Japan has an extensive and efficient public transport system and the joining and finishing point instructions are listed in the Essential Trip Information.

11. Please note that there are generally less double rooms in Japanese hotels, even those in Western style. While every effort will be made to accommodate double room requests, this may not always be possible.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 based on 30 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Rhona · Traveled July 2024
Wonderful once-in-a-lifetime trip adapted by our tour guide to suit the needs of our group. Fabulous experience, amazing people and culture. Highly recommend.
Review submitted 09 Sep 2024

Joanna · Traveled July 2024
We had a wonderful time on our Japan family trip. Our guide was wonderful and we did so much in the 12 days. It was a wonderful insight into the amazing culture and sights that Japan has to offer, and completely stress-free!
Review submitted 14 Aug 2024

Ceri · Traveled July 2024
Fantastic tour with our guide Shingo, we saw so many wonderful sights and did so much in 12 days! The one piece of advice I wish I’d heeded was not to go in July and August, the impact of the extreme heat should not be underestimated.
Review submitted 11 Aug 2024

Louise · Traveled July 2024
The most amazing family holiday for my daughters (Age 11) first long haul holiday. She chose Japan and I am so glad she did. What an experience for her. If you go to Japan though, go in a cooler month as July was 39 degrees plus humidity! A little excessive when you live in Scotland and you still go out in it because you want to experience everything in a beautiful country.
Review submitted 05 Aug 2024

Samantha · Traveled July 2024
Fantastic family trip. Amazing places to visit. Thankful for our group leader Daisuke) who made navigating travel within Japan so easy. Highly recommend this family trip for families with children over 10yo.
Review submitted 16 Jul 2024
Japan Family Holiday
From
EUR €4,865