Original
Family
Rail
Japan Family Holiday
12 days • 4.9
5
Excellent
36 reviews
12 days
Start
Tokyo, Japan
Finish
Kyoto, Japan
Trip Code
CJFP
Min Age
5
Trip Size
2 - 16
Physical Rating
Meals
11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
Transport
Bullet Train, Train, Cable car, Taxi, Tram
Accommodation
Hotels (9 nights), Ryokan (2 nights)
From £3,859(12 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
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.
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.
Itinerary
An action-packed family adventure from the Tokyo streets to Kyoto’s eats
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.
Inclusions
Meals
11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
Transport
Bullet Train, Train, Cable car, Taxi, Tram
Accommodation
Hotels (9 nights), Ryokan (2 nights)
Included activities
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
Optional activities
Tokyo - Karaoke - JPY2000
Tokyo Government Tower - Free
Hakone - Open-Air Museum - JPY2000
Hakone - Checkpoint Museum - JPY500
Hakone – Onsen theme park (from) - JPY2500
Hiroshima – Peace Museum - JPY200
Miyajima – Daishoin Temple - Free
Miyajima - Itsukushima Shrine - JPY300
Hiroshima – Hiroshima Castle - JPY370
Kyoto - Gion Corner cultural centre - JPY5500
Kyoto - Cooking class - JPY11000
Kyoto – Tea ceremony with maiko - JPY14300
Kyoto – Samurai Kembu Theatre - JPY5000
Kyoto – Arashiyama rickshaw ride ( From ) - JPY4000
Osaka - Universal Studios (one day pass) - JPY8600
Kyoto - Maiko/Geisha makeover ( From ) - JPY12650
Kyoto – Kyoto Railway Museum - JPY1500
Kyoto – Bike hire ( per day ) from - JPY1200
Kyoto – Ramen Factory Kyoto - JPY16500
Kyoto – Kyoto International Manga Museum - JPY1200
Dates and availability
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Important notes
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.
Reviews (34)
5 stars
32
4 stars
2
Simon
May 13, 2025
Japan was (is) fantastic. The tour was perfect for our family and we learnt and experienced so much that even before we left we knew we wanted to go back. Jane our guide was awesome and made it such a great experience!
Richard
Oct 21, 2024
Our tour leader Yutaka (Joe) was outstanding. He took all the stress out of travelling and looked after all of us. He connected sincerely with our families and our kids adored talking to him and learning so much about Japan.
Jason
Oct 19, 2024
Our Japan trip was fantastic, thanks to our excellent tour guide, Yutaka Kandori. His deep knowledge, engaging storytelling, and genuine care for our group made every moment memorable. We explored breathtaking sights, enjoyed delicious cuisine, and felt truly immersed in the culture. Highly recommend Yutaka for an unforgettable experience!
Michaela
Oct 12, 2024
Our family enjoyed a wonderful holiday to Japan, led by our amazing guide Seiji. We would highly recommend visiting Japan with Intrepid! There is a lot of public transport and walking (which IS the Japanese way, so should be expected), so take some good walking shoes. It was 100% worth the effort though!!!
Christy
Oct 11, 2024
An excellent trip with a very considerate guide. A jam-packed itinerary with well chosen activities. There was less free time than I expected from the online itinerary with morning activities often running until mid-late afternoon. It was great having another like-minded family along.
Skye
Oct 04, 2024
This is the perfect introduction to Japan with kids. It hits the biggest tourist spots, includes some awesome add ons and a wonderful guide who knows all the best local restaurants (which the kids will love too). I’m not going to lie, it was great to get help navigating the transport system too!
Rhona
Sep 09, 2024
Wonderful once-in-a-lifetime trip adapted by our tour guide to suit the needs of our group. Fabulous experience, amazing people and culture. Highly recommend.
Joanna
Aug 14, 2024
We had a wonderful time on our Japan family trip. Our guide was wonderful and we did so much in the 12 days. It was a wonderful insight into the amazing culture and sights that Japan has to offer, and completely stress-free!
Ceri
Aug 11, 2024
Fantastic tour with our guide Shingo, we saw so many wonderful sights and did so much in 12 days! The one piece of advice I wish I’d heeded was not to go in July and August, the impact of the extreme heat should not be underestimated.
Louise
Aug 05, 2024
The most amazing family holiday for my daughters (Age 11) first long haul holiday. She chose Japan and I am so glad she did. What an experience for her. If you go to Japan though, go in a cooler month as July was 39 degrees plus humidity! A little excessive when you live in Scotland and you still go out in it because you want to experience everything in a beautiful country.
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