Japan Family Holiday
12 Days Starting in Tokyo and ending in Kyoto
Visiting: Tokyo, Hakone, Hiroshima, Kyoto
Tour operator:
Tour code:
CJFP
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 16
Age range:
5-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
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.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Tokyo
Location: Tokyo
Accommodation: Asakusa View Hotel or similar
Konnichiwa! Welcome to Tokyo – Japan's modern capital steeped in ancient tradition. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 5 pm in your hotel tonight, where you'll meet your local leader and the other families. If you arrive early, why not wander Tokyo at your own pace or take an Urban Adventures day tour? After your meeting, consider joining the group for an optional dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2: Tokyo
Location: Tokyo
Accommodation: Asakusa View Hotel or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
Kick things off with a visit to Sensoji in Asakusa – Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple (about 1300 years old) set on the banks of the Sumida River. Nearby, you’ll discover a great shopping street where you can find a quirky Japanese souvenir or sample some traditional snacks. You’ll then have a free afternoon to find some lunch or maybe visit a manga (Japanese comic and cartoon) market in Akihabara. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Tonight, head out for a dinner on a boat, cruising through the Tokyo Bay. Surrounded the sparkling lights of the city, you’ll enjoy monjayaki (a non-sweet pancake with a soft batter as base) cooked on a sizzling hot plate.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 3: Tokyo
Location: Tokyo
Accommodation: Asakusa View Hotel or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
This morning, head to Shinjuku and take part in a traditional calligraphy lesson. You and the kids will learn how to write your name in Japanese (and maybe learn to say a few words, too) with the help of a local teacher. After, grab some lunch at a local restaurant with your group then visit Harajuku – a neighbourhood simultaneously known for its eccentric tribes and teen pop culture. Sample one of Harajuku’s famous crepes or try some of its 3D latte art as you explore the iconic Takeshita Street. Finish the afternoon in Shibuya, where you’ll have some free time to grab dinner or head back to the hotel.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 4: Hakone
Location: Hakone
Accommodation: Fuji Hakone Guest House (Ryokan) or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Say goodbye to Tokyo and catch your first shinkansen bullet train of the trip to Hakone, travelling up to 285 km an hour! In Japan, trains operate with amazing precision and the sight of a white-gloved guard bowing to a carriage full of travellers is something the kids are sure to remember! Part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Hakone is a place of staggering natural beauty. Here, you can also soak in hot spring onsens, go on bush walks, chill out by the lakes, take in the views of Mt Fuji (if you’re blessed with good weather!), or explore an open-air modern art museum. Tonight, you’ll experience Japanese ryokan (traditional inn) hospitality – sleeping on futons in a tatami mat room, wearing yukata (a light kimono-style robe) and soaking up (literally) the onsen culture.
Optional Activities:
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Day 5: Hakone
Location: Hakone
Accommodation: Fuji Hakone Guest House (Ryokan) or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Today, you’ll take a ropeway (cable car) up to the top of Owakudani (Geothermal Valley) and hopefully catch views of Mt Fuji. Continue to Lake Ashinoko – a natural caldera formed after a major volcanic explosion some 3000 years ago – for a cruise aboard a pirate boat. Back on land, visit the Karakuri Secret Box Museum and try to open these beautifully hand-crafted boxes (or purchase a unique gift to take home). With your free afternoon, you might like to hike through the grasslands of Sengokuhara or pamper yourself at Hakone’s large hot spring theme park, which has an amazing variety of baths ranging from the traditional to cave baths and water slides!
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 6: Hiroshima
Location: Hiroshima
Accommodation: Hiroshima Washington Hotel or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
Back on the bullet-train, you make the journey to the city of Hiroshima. A visit to Hiroshima is sobering, but the tragedy that happened here is an important part of history to confront. In the afternoon, visit the Genbaku (A-Bomb) Dome and the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, both of which stand as an emotional testament to the fateful day in August 1945 when Hiroshima became the first target for nuclear attack. The dome was just metres from where the bomb detonated and managed to retain its shape, eerily standing exactly how it was prior to the attack. These days it stands as both a symbolic reminder and a monument to peace. Tonight, you might like to seek out the savoury pancake okonomiyaki – also a signature Hiroshima dish with its own particular twist.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 7: Hiroshima
Location: Hiroshima
Accommodation: Hiroshima Washington Hotel or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning, head for the island of Miyajima, just a short ferry ride across the Inland Sea. The island is home to the Shinto shrine of Itsukushima, famous for its huge bright orange gate (torii) which is a sight to see when the tide is high! Maybe take a stroll through Momiji Park (known as Maple Valley) or take the cable car up to the top of Mt Misen (keeping an eye out for the hungry deer that roam the island) for panoramic views of the Inland Sea and its many islands. Return to Hiroshima in the afternoon, and in your free time, maybe visit the five-storied Hiroshima Castle, which originally dates from the 1590s, though it was destroyed by the bomb and reconstructed after the war.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 8: Kyoto
Location: Kyoto
Accommodation: Karasuma Kyoto Hotel or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
Jump aboard the bullet train to Kyoto this morning. On the way, stop at Himeji Castle – Japan's most impressive samurai castle. The building, which has survived earthquakes and war since the mid-16th century, was restored to its full glory in 2015 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The moats, towers and walled alleyways were ingeniously designed to trick attackers! Explore the castle that was once home to over 10,000 samurai families and look out over the city below. Continue to Kyoto on the bullet train. While you're here, you'll see some of the finest temples, shrines, palaces and gardens in the country. In the afternoon, visit Nishiki-Koji Market in the heart of Kyoto’s downtown area to see what goes into Kyoto’s famed Kyo-ryori (Kyoto cuisine). Then, spend your evening wandering the Gion district, seeing if you can spot geiko (geisha) or maiko (apprentice geisha) dressed in elaborate kimonos and make-up on their way to events and functions.
Included Activities:
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Day 9: Kyoto
Location: Kyoto
Accommodation: Karasuma Kyoto Hotel or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today, you’ll head to Kyoto’s famed Fushimi Inari Shrine – known throughout the world as the ‘Path of the Red Gates.’ If you like, maybe walk further than most visitors and experience both the well-known part of the shrine and the quieter corners. After, your leader will take you to another one of Kyoto’s UNESCO-listed temples or shrines (there’s 17 and counting!) which will give you an insight into Kyoto’s history as the seat of imperial power for over 1000 years. In the afternoon, you have time to do your own exploring – you might like to catch a maiko cultural performance, participate in a tea ceremony demonstration or do an obanzai (Kyoto-style) cooking class.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 10: Kyoto
Location: Kyoto
Accommodation: Karasuma Kyoto Hotel or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning, take a boat cruise down the scenic Hozu River in the Arashiyama area, in the hills west of Kyoto. Look along the banks for Japanese maples in autumn or plum and cherry blossoms in spring. At the end of the ride, you’ll visit Tenryu-ji Temple near a bamboo grove. This bamboo forest is one of the most photographed sights in the city, and you'll see why! In your free time, you might like to take the family on a rickshaw ride (two-wheeled wagons pulled by fit young men in traditional garb) around the Arashiyama area. Or you may like to visit the nearby Toei Kyoto Studio Park – a theme park used for the shooting of period dramas (jidaigeki films) set in the Edo period. Back in central Kyoto, you could also experience a performance of traditional swordplay.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 11: Kyoto
Location: Kyoto
Accommodation: Karasuma Kyoto Hotel or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today is yours to enjoy Kyoto however you like. Perhaps head out with the family and explore on a bike. This is definitely one of the best ways to navigate the city, and one of the most popular routes is following the Kamo River from the northern outskirts of Kyoto down through the city’s heart, stopping for a bento box lunch along the way. Kyoto is regularly voted one of the best bicycle cities in Asia, and for good reason! The city is largely flat and the roads are well maintained. If cycling is not your thing, you could check out Kyoto’s Manga Museum or try your hand at making your own bowl of ramen. Alternatively, consider a complete kimono makeover and transform yourself into a maiko, samurai lord or ninja for the day!
Optional Activities:
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Day 12: Kyoto
Location: Kyoto
Meals Included: breaksfast
With no activities planned after breakfast, your family adventure comes to an end today. If you would like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotels (9 nights), Ryokan (2 nights) -
Tokyo - Japanese & Calligraphy lesson
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Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
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Tokyo - Yoyogi Park
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Tokyo - Seafood market & sushi lunch
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Tokyo – Harajuku walk
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Tokyo - Monjayaki Dinner on Boat
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Hakone - Lake Ashinoko boat cruise
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Hakone - Cable car/Ropeway
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Hakone – Karakuri Secret Box Museum
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Hiroshima – Peace Park and A-Bomb Dome
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Included Activities
- Tokyo - Japanese & Calligraphy lesson
- Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
- Tokyo - Okonomiyaki dinner on boat
- Tokyo - Yoyogi-koen
- Tokyo - Seafood market & sushi lunch
- Tokyo – Harajuku walk
- 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 ride
Transport
- Bullet Train , Train , Cable car , Taxi , Tram
Accommodation
- GENERAL ROOMING CONFIGURATIONS:
- Family of two - All family groupings of two will be put into a twin room.
- Family of three - Wherever possible we will put you in a triple room. Please be aware that in a handful of places triple rooms are in short supply. This means that, in practice, a triple room will often simply be a twin room with a mattress on the floor or a further bed squashed in. Where it is impossible to provide a triple room, you will have to decide which of your party takes the single room.
- Family of four or more - You will most likely stay in two twin rooms. If and wherever possible we will aim put you in a quadruple room. Whilst we will do our very best to ensure that families are roomed close together (in some cases, we can arrange adjoining rooms), we can’t guarantee this. Most family holidays occur during peak season and we sometimes have little to no control over where you will be put. You need to come prepared for this.
- RYOKANS & MINSHUKUS
- Japanese-style accommodation - ryokans or minshukus (traditional inn/guesthouse) involve sleeping on futons or matresses on tatami mat floors, with bedding often packed away during the day. Attached bathrooms/toilets will usually be very small and many will only have shared bathing facilities with certain hours, or times available for booking at reception. Your leader will explain etiquette involved in using the shared facilities. As this style of accommodation will often not have furniture (ie. chairs or beds) in the rooms, please consider choosing a different trip style in Japan if you have difficulty getting up from the floor or have knee, hip or back issues. Some establishments may have a curfew when travellers need to be back in the accommodation - this is usually around midnight. Please also be aware that you would normally be required to change to slippers when entering into your room in such properties. Extra fees will be charged if dirty marks are left on their beddings or towels that require professional cleaning.
Important Information
- 1. 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 available to book for adults who would like a room to themselves. The single supplement excludes Days 4 and 5 (ryokan) and Days 6 and 7 (hotel) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
- 5. We recommend packing light and compact for rail travel in Japan or using luggage transfer services, which are available at an additional cost. Please review the Packing section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
- 6. We are currently unable to offer airport transfers in Japan. Please refer to the Joining Point Instructions of the Essential Trip Information for our recommendations on arrival. Your leader will be able to advise the best way to reach the airport at the end of your trip.
Mode of Transport
- Bullet Train , Train , Cable car , Taxi , Tram
Accommodation
- GENERAL ROOMING CONFIGURATIONS:
- Family of two - All family groupings of two will be put into a twin room.
- Family of three - Wherever possible we will put you in a triple room. Please be aware that in a handful of places triple rooms are in short supply. This means that, in practice, a triple room will often simply be a twin room with a mattress on the floor or a further bed squashed in. Where it is impossible to provide a triple room, you will have to decide which of your party takes the single room.
- Family of four or more - You will most likely stay in two twin rooms. If and wherever possible we will aim put you in a quadruple room. Whilst we will do our very best to ensure that families are roomed close together (in some cases, we can arrange adjoining rooms), we can’t guarantee this. Most family holidays occur during peak season and we sometimes have little to no control over where you will be put. You need to come prepared for this.
- RYOKANS/MINSHUKUS
- Japanese-style accommodation - ryokans or minshukus (traditional inn/guesthouse) involve sleeping on futons or matresses on tatami mat floors, with bedding often packed away during the day. Attached bathrooms/toilets will usually be very small and many ryokans will only have shared bathing facilities with certain hours, or times available for booking at reception. Your leader will explain etiquette involved in using the shared facilities. As this style of accommodation will often not have furniture (ie. chairs or beds) in the rooms, please consider choosing a different trip style in Japan if you have difficulty getting up from the floor or have knee, hip or back issues. Some ryokans may have a curfew when travellers need to be back in the accommodation - this is usually around midnight. Please also be aware that you would normally be required to change to slippers when entering into your room in a ryokan. Hotels and ryokans will charge extra fees if dirty marks are left on their beddings or towels that require professional cleaning.
- Read more about ryokans here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/traditional-japanese-ryokan/
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
Japan is best explored on foot and by public transport. You’ll need to be fit enough to spend most of each day on your feet and able to handle your luggage as you navigate busy train stations. We recommend comfortable shoes and packing light.
This trip includes staying at a ryokan (traditional inn) in Hakone, where you have the option to sleep on a futon on a tatami (mat floor) and take a traditional onsen bath. Western beds and bathrooms are also available.
Room sizes in Japan may be smaller than you’re used to, and larger families may be provided two rooms due to limited availability of triple or quad share rooms. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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