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Japan Family Holiday

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.

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.

Tour details Collapse
Tour Provider Intrepid Travel
Number Of Days
12
Price From
RRP: $9,094 Our price: $6,366
Start Location
Tokyo, Japan
End Location
Kyoto, Japan
Age Range
Avg. 30+
Group Size
2 to 16
Tour Style
Standard
Tour Themes
Family, Rail
Physical Rating
Easy to Moderate
Itinerary Expand all
Day 1: Tokyo
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
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.
Day 3: Tokyo
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.
Day 4: Hakone
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.
Day 5: Hakone
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!
Day 6: Hiroshima
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.
Day 7: Hiroshima
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.
Day 8: Kyoto
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 gs 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.
Day 9: Kyoto
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.
Day 10: Kyoto
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 Ti 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.
Day 11: Kyoto
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!
Day 12: Kyoto
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.
Inclusions Expand
Meals: 11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners.
Transport: Bullet Train, Train, Cable car, Taxi, Tram.
Accommodation: Hotels (9 nights), Ryokan (2 nights).
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 Gardens (additional JPY300 to visit the temple).
Kyoto - Hozu River boat ride.
Departure dates Expand
Start End Availability Price AUD
30 Jun 2025 11 Jul 2025 2 $9,295
02 Jul 2025 13 Jul 2025 10 $8,580
$6,864
22 Jul 2025 02 Aug 2025 12 $9,194
$6,436
26 Jul 2025 06 Aug 2025 6 $9,480
$8,532
28 Jul 2025 08 Aug 2025 6 $9,284
$8,356
02 Aug 2025 13 Aug 2025 12 $9,094
$6,366
09 Aug 2025 20 Aug 2025 6 $9,480
$8,532
18 Sep 2025 29 Sep 2025 9 $9,265
20 Sep 2025 01 Oct 2025 11 $8,905
22 Sep 2025 03 Oct 2025 9 $8,910
25 Sep 2025 06 Oct 2025 12 $8,810
27 Sep 2025 08 Oct 2025 12 $8,730
29 Sep 2025 10 Oct 2025 10 $8,730
01 Oct 2025 12 Oct 2025 12 $9,080
28 Mar 2026 08 Apr 2026 16 $9,525
30 Mar 2026 10 Apr 2026 11 $9,630
01 Apr 2026 12 Apr 2026 16 $9,525
03 Apr 2026 14 Apr 2026 16 $9,525
04 Apr 2026 15 Apr 2026 11 $9,525
06 Apr 2026 17 Apr 2026 16 $9,525
08 Apr 2026 19 Apr 2026 13 $8,795
10 Apr 2026 21 Apr 2026 16 $8,795
11 Apr 2026 22 Apr 2026 16 $8,795
27 Jun 2026 08 Jul 2026 14 $8,795
28 Jun 2026 09 Jul 2026 16 $8,395
30 Jun 2026 11 Jul 2026 16 $8,395
01 Jul 2026 12 Jul 2026 16 $8,795
02 Jul 2026 13 Jul 2026 16 $8,795
17 Jul 2026 28 Jul 2026 16 $9,095
21 Jul 2026 01 Aug 2026 10 $9,525
25 Jul 2026 05 Aug 2026 16 $9,525
27 Jul 2026 07 Aug 2026 16 $9,525
03 Aug 2026 14 Aug 2026 16 $9,525
06 Aug 2026 17 Aug 2026 16 $9,095
24 Sep 2026 05 Oct 2026 16 $9,145
25 Sep 2026 06 Oct 2026 13 $8,395
26 Sep 2026 07 Oct 2026 16 $9,145
28 Sep 2026 09 Oct 2026 16 $9,145
30 Sep 2026 11 Oct 2026 16 $9,145
01 Oct 2026 12 Oct 2026 16 $8,795
02 Oct 2026 13 Oct 2026 16 $8,395
03 Oct 2026 14 Oct 2026 16 $8,395
27 Mar 2027 07 Apr 2027 13 $8,395
29 Mar 2027 09 Apr 2027 16 $9,095
31 Mar 2027 11 Apr 2027 16 $9,095
02 Apr 2027 13 Apr 2027 16 $9,095
03 Apr 2027 14 Apr 2027 16 $9,095
05 Apr 2027 16 Apr 2027 16 $9,095
07 Apr 2027 18 Apr 2027 16 $8,395
09 Apr 2027 20 Apr 2027 16 $8,395
10 Apr 2027 21 Apr 2027 16 $8,395
26 Jun 2027 07 Jul 2027 16 $8,395
27 Jun 2027 08 Jul 2027 16 $8,395
29 Jun 2027 10 Jul 2027 16 $8,395
30 Jun 2027 11 Jul 2027 16 $8,395
01 Jul 2027 12 Jul 2027 16 $8,395
16 Jul 2027 27 Jul 2027 16 $9,095
20 Jul 2027 31 Jul 2027 16 $9,095
24 Jul 2027 04 Aug 2027 16 $9,095
26 Jul 2027 06 Aug 2027 16 $9,095
02 Aug 2027 13 Aug 2027 16 $9,095
05 Aug 2027 16 Aug 2027 16 $9,095
23 Sep 2027 04 Oct 2027 16 $8,395
24 Sep 2027 05 Oct 2027 16 $8,395
25 Sep 2027 06 Oct 2027 16 $8,395
27 Sep 2027 08 Oct 2027 16 $8,395
29 Sep 2027 10 Oct 2027 16 $8,395
30 Sep 2027 11 Oct 2027 16 $8,395
01 Oct 2027 12 Oct 2027 16 $8,395
02 Oct 2027 13 Oct 2027 16 $8,395

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