Japan Family Holiday

12 Days
From CAD 6864 Was CAD 7225
Best Rate
Guarantee
Trip Type
Small Group
Activity Level
Light

Rating


(10 reviews)

Experience 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

  • 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.

Trip Details

Product CodeProduct Code: 1708

Tour TypeTour Type: Small Group

AccommodationAccommodation: Moderate

TransportTransport: Bullet Train,Train,Cable car,Taxi,Tram

Guide LanguageGuide Language: English

Travel StylesTravel Styles: Family

Supplier CodeSupplier Code: CJFP

StartStarts: Tokyo, Japan

FinishFinishes: Kyoto, Japan

DurationDuration: 12 days

DeparturesDepartures: Guaranteed

Physical RatingPhysical rating: Light

Includes

Meals: Breakfasts (11), Lunch (1), Dinner (3)
Accommodation: Hotels (9 nights),Ryokan (2 nights)

Price

Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 6864 (CAD 572 /day)

Itinerary

1
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.

Accommodation:

  • Asakusa View Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

2
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.

Included Activities:

  • Tokyo - Sensoji Temple
  • Tokyo - Monjayaki Dinner on Boat

Optional Activities:

  • Tokyo - Karaoke (2000 JPY)

Accommodation:

  • Asakusa View Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

3
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.

Included Activities:

  • Tokyo – Harajuku walk
  • Tokyo - Japanese & Calligraphy lesson

Optional Activities:

  • Tokyo Government Tower - Free

Accommodation:

  • Asakusa View Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

4
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.

Optional Activities:

  • Hakone - Open-Air Museum (2000 JPY)

Accommodation:

  • Fuji Hakone Guest House (Ryokan) or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

5
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!

Included Activities:

  • Hakone - Lake Ashinoko boat cruise
  • Hakone - Cable car/Ropeway
  • Hakone – Karakuri Secret Box Museum

Optional Activities:

  • Hakone - Checkpoint Museum (500 JPY)
  • Hakone – Onsen theme park (from) (2500 JPY)

Accommodation:

  • Fuji Hakone Guest House (Ryokan) or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

6
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.

Included Activities:

  • Hiroshima – Peace Park and A-Bomb Dome

Optional Activities:

  • Hiroshima – Peace Museum (200 JPY)

Accommodation:

  • Hiroshima Washington Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

7
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.

Included Activities:

  • Hiroshima - Miyajima Island

Optional Activities:

  • Miyajima – Daishoin Temple - Free
  • Miyajima - Itsukushima Shrine (300 JPY)
  • Hiroshima – Hiroshima Castle (370 JPY)

Accommodation:

  • Hiroshima Washington Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

8
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 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:

  • Himeji - Himeji Castle
  • Kyoto - Nishiki-Koji Market
  • Kyoto - Gion District walk

Accommodation:

  • Karasuma Kyoto Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

9
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.

Included Activities:

  • Kyoto - Fushimi Inari Shrine

Optional Activities:

  • Kyoto - Gion Corner cultural centre (5500 JPY)
  • Kyoto - Cooking class (7700 JPY)
  • Kyoto – Tea ceremony with maiko (14300 JPY)

Accommodation:

  • Karasuma Kyoto Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

10
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 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:

  • Kyoto - Arashiyama sightseeing
  • Kyoto - Tenryuji Temple
  • Kyoto - Hozu River boat ride

Optional Activities:

  • Kyoto – Samurai Kembu Theatre (5000 JPY)
  • Kyoto – Arashiyama rickshaw ride ( From ) (4000 JPY)

Accommodation:

  • Karasuma Kyoto Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

11
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!

Optional Activities:

  • Nara - Day trip from Kyoto (9000 JPY)
  • Osaka - Universal Studios (one day pass) (8600 JPY)
  • Kyoto - Maiko/Geisha makeover ( From ) (12650 JPY)
  • Kyoto – Kyoto Railway Museum (1500 JPY)
  • Kyoto – Bike hire ( per day ) from (1200 JPY)
  • Kyoto – Ramen Factory Kyoto (16500 JPY)

Accommodation:

  • Karasuma Kyoto Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

12
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.

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

Reviews

 

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.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/22/2023

 

Sabrina   -  Traveled, September 2023

Naomi was amazing. This trip was perfect for our family. We had an amazing time. Thank you Naomi.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/08/2023

 

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.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/21/2023

 

Kim   -  Traveled, July 2023

Family tour provided a fantastic range of experiences, with flexibility and tools to choose some of our own adventures. Great for kids 9-16.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/05/2023

 

Allan   -  Traveled, July 2023

Just back from an amazing family holiday in Japan with Intrepid - perfect mix of loads to see and do combined with a bit of downtime to do our own thing - our guides Yuji and Shingo were excellent

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/10/2023

 

Carolyn   -  Traveled, July 2023

This trip was life changing. Taking my 13yr old Daughter to Japan was the goal, and ny booking with Intrepid it took the stress away from me having to manage an itinerary in a country where I didnt speak the language. We are both now wanting to return and see more of Japan! Our guide was awesome and made sure everyone was having a great time.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/05/2023

 

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.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/27/2023

 

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!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/03/2023

 

Ana   -  Traveled, August 2023

My 12 year old daughter and I loved this trip, we had fun, we learned about another culture, and we had an excellent tour leader: Toyoko.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/18/2023

 

Josef   -  Traveled, July 2023

We had an incredible trip and could not be more impressed with our guides and overall experience. Highly recommended for families!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/05/2023

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