Family Adventures in Japan

Day 2 : Tokyo

On arrival in Tokyo, you will be transferred by private vehicle to your hotel, check in for your 4-night stay.

Hotel for 4 nights: The Gate Hotel Tokyo

Day 3 : Tokyo

Enjoy a 4-hour private tour of Tokyo’s main highlights with an English-speaking guide. Begin your day with a visit to the Asakusa District once an entertainment district in the Edo era, but now home to charming shops and restaurants and the oldest temple in the city, Sensoji. You will also visit Meiji Shrine, one of the most famous Shinto shrines and then to Shibuya, one of the most famous shopping locations in Tokyo.

Day 4 : Tokyo

Experience Tokyo’s food and drink culture like a local with a guided visit to 3 authentic izakaya. Start in Ebisu, home of the iconic Yebisu beer, and enjoy favorites such as yakitori skewers, sashimi, fried noodles, and Japanese cocktails. Along the way, taste the dishes and drinks that locals enjoy every day, from refreshing beers and plum wine to savory comfort foods. End the evening on a sweet note with traditional Japanese desserts, leaving you full, satisfied, and immersed in Tokyo’s vibrant nightlife.

Day 5 : Tokyo

Free day at leisure.

Day 6 : Tokyo - Nagano

Board a bullet train to Nagoya and check in for a 2-night stay.

Hotel for 2 nights: Hotel Keihan Nagoya

Day 7 : Studio Ghibli Park

Tickets are included today for Studio Ghibli Park, a theme park, dedicated to the films of Studio Ghibli. Opened in November 2022, the park is built within the grounds of the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park.

Day 8 : Takayama

Board your next train to Takayama, enjoy a 2 night stay in this beautifully preserved rural old town.

Hotel for 2 nights: Asunaro

Day 9 : Takayama

Get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, with a cycling tour of Hida-Furukawa. Your friendly and knowledgeable guide will show you around in a way that only a local can. You will meet locals and learn about the culture and spirit of rural Japan. Hida-Furukawa is small mountain town well preserved, with charming canal-lined streets and traditional white-walled buildings. Japan is a nation of cyclists and this is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in local life.

Day 10 : Kanazawa

Get a glimpse of Japan’s traditional and rural side on a full-day tour. Depart from Takayama and travel to Inami by private car. Inami is Japan’s woodcarving capital, home to over 120 workshops and 300 craftsmen, a great destination to witness their traditional crafts. Visit Zuisenji Temple regarded as the birthplace of the Inami woodcarving tradition. Take in the intricately carved decorations before joining the guild and getting hands-on in a woodcarving workshop. Next visit Ainokura, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is a quaint village surrounded by a spectacular mountain scenery. Take a stroll through the charming countryside village, capturing the awe-inspiring views along the way, and stop by a folk museum to learn about the iconic architecture style.

Hotel for 2 nights: Hotel Nikko Kanazawa

Day 11 : Kanazawa

A half-day private tour will showcase Kanazawa’s longstanding connection to Japan’s iconic warriors, the samurai. Meet your guide and transfer on the loop bus to Kanazawa Castle Park, an architectural relic of the age of samurai. Continue your guided wander as you approach Nagamachi Samurai District. Preserved as the former residential area of the city’s illustrious samurai, it’s full of winding lanes, title topped roofs and several former homes of samurai that you can enter. Visit the Nomura Samurai House, a historic home and garden that’s perfectly preserved.

Day 12 : Kyoto

Your next train journey brings you to Kyoto for a 3-night stay. Free day in Kyoto at leisure.

Hotel for 3 nights: Dhawa Yura Kyoto

Day 13 : Kyoto

Discover a different side to Kyoto on a 3-hour bicycle adventure of the city. Starting at the cycling terminal near Kyoto, your local guide will showcase the captivating history and cultural heritage of the former Japanese capital. Cycle the hidden backstreets and winding alleyways of this atmospheric town and pedal through 2 renowned geisha districts, Miyagawacho and Gion. Cycle along the Shirakawa River past beautiful wooden houses and willow trees, before taking a trip through the spacious Kyoto Imperial Palace Park, home to two Imperial Palaces. End your tour back at the cycling terminal.

Day 14 : Kyoto and Nara

Enjoy a full day tour with a local guide today to Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Japan’s first capital. See the many sights including Todaiji Temple, the world’s largest wooden building and the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue enveloped in a golden halo. Visit Nara's most celebrated shrine, Kasuga Taisha. Before returning to Kyoto, take a wander through Nara Park, one of the oldest parks in Japan where over a 1,000 tamed yet wild deer freely roam its grounds.

Day 15 : Osaka

Board your final bullet train today for the short journey to Osaka. Late afternoon meet a local guide for a night tour of the best spots for local food. The tour is a mix of street food, standing bar, sit-down Izakaya, and delicious wagyu beef grill.

Hotel for 2 nights: Cross Hotel Osaka

Day 16 : Universal Studios

Included today are 1-day admission tickets to Universal Studios Japan.

Day 17-18 : Osaka - UK

Enjoy your final morning in Osaka before departing to the airport for your flight. Have a safe flight back home!