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 15 reviews submitted.
Family
From
USD $5,468
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Gather up the brood and embark on an adventure through the Land of the Rising Sun on this 12-day family tour of Japan. From the houses of ancient emperors to technological gizmos, this tour 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, feast on sushi at the famous Tsukiji Fish Market, 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 yield lifelong memories.

Trip overview

Map of Japan Family Holiday including Japan
Start
Tokyo, Japan
Finish
Kyoto, Japan
Theme
Family
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 33.74 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
  • Japan is an exhilarating and unique destination that also happens to be incredibly safe, which makes it a great fit for families travelling with kids of any age.
  • Let Tokyo dazzle the whole family. Feast on market-fresh sushi, try your hand at calligraphy and cook your own okonomiyaki on a cruise around Tokyo Bay.
  • Ride the Hakone ropeway then relax in the soothing waters of an onsen. These hot-spring baths are the perfect antidote to a couple of days of walking around Tokyo.
  • From the tiny stalls in the back streets of Tokyo to the Nishiki-Koji Market, your leader will help you and your family navigate Japan’s dizzying cuisine and find something for everyone.
  • 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.

Is this trip right for you?
  • There is still quite a bit of walking involved, so you'll need a good level of fitness. Comfortable walking shoes are essential.
  • Sleeping on a futon on a tatami (mat floor) in a traditional ryokan is great fun, but keep in mind that in some places the facilities are shared. As part of this you'll get to experience a traditional Japanese onsen bath, such as the hot springs in Hakone!

Itinerary

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 - Japanese & Calligraphy lesson
  • Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
  • Tokyo - Yoyogi Park
  • Tokyo - Seafood market & sushi lunch
  • Tokyo – Harajuku walk
  • Tokyo - Monjayaki Dinner on Boat
  • 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
Add on activities
  • Tokyo - Karaoke - JPY2000
  • Tokyo Government Tower - Free
  • Hakone - Open-Air Museum - JPY1600
  • Hakone - Checkpoint Museum - JPY500
  • Hakone – Onsen theme park - JPY1900
  • Hakone – Sengokura Grasslands - Free
  • Hiroshima – Peace Museum - JPY200
  • Miyajima – Dishoin 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 - JPY6600
  • Kyoto – Samurai Kembu Theatre - JPY7000
  • Kyoto – Toei Kyoto Studio Park - JPY2400
  • Kyoto – Arashiyama rickshaw ride - JPY4000
  • Nara - Day trip from Kyoto - JPY9000
  • Osaka - Universal Studios (one day pass) - JPY8400
  • Kyoto - Maiko/Samurai makeover - JPY14000
  • Kyoto – Kyoto Railway Museum - JPY1500
  • Kyoto – Bike hire - JPY1500
  • Kyoto – Ramen Factory Kyoto - JPY15000
  • Kyoto – Kyoto Manga Museum - JPY900

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 15 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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Maria · Traveled September 2023
Naomi was a considerate and knowledgeable leader who showed us her beautiful country, culture and food. As this trip was classed as 'Family' I recommend Intrepid add activity-based inclusions to keep kids engaged and break up the continual sightseeing.
Review submitted 22 Oct 2023

Sabrina · Traveled September 2023
Naomi was amazing. This trip was perfect for our family. We had an amazing time. Thank you Naomi.
Review submitted 08 Oct 2023

Chalani · Traveled September 2023
We weren't given airport tranfers. Some attractions were not done due to bad weather. But Our guide in japan was great.
Review submitted 27 Oct 2023

Kerry · Traveled September 2023
We had a fantastic family trip to Japan. It was great to travel with other families and our kids (9, 7) enjoyed being with other kids. Our itinerary was jam packed with interesting activities - we felt that we did ten times what we would have been able to do on our own, so great value! We really appreciated having a reliable and generous guide to help us navigate transport and the sights - that made it a real holiday for us. Overall, it was a really fun family adventure!
Review submitted 03 Oct 2023

Joshua · Traveled September 2023
I feel a better human for our Intrepid experience - they allowed us to immerse ourselves in the culture without feeling we were on an organised holiday.
Review submitted 21 Oct 2023
Japan Family Holiday
From
USD $5,468