PERFECT FOR:
- Active Families & Couples
- Nature Lovers
- Those fascinated by everything Japan
- Those seeking off-the-tourist-path experiences
- Culture & History buffs
An unforgettable private Japan Family Tour – Tokyo, Kiso Valley, Kyoto & Lake Biwa
11 Days / 10 Nights – Tour Code (JPO) – Private Tour – Departs Daily
Attend a Baseball Game, bike and hike through undiscovered rural villages, stay in a ryokan, dress up like a Samurai, ride on a bullet train, spend a stay with local farmers, sample street food like the locals – in JAPAN. Sounds like a fun family trip? Read on…
Hands down, Japan is of one most intriguing family travel destinations in the world. It is a land of contrasts, steeped in timeless traditions all the while constantly setting new trends for the rest of the planet to follow. There is just so much to do in Japan and never enough time. But with years and years of experience working with discerning families, we’ve come up with some of the best-of-the-best this fascinating country to offer. This tantalizing 11-day Japan family holiday packs a ton of sights, sounds and tastes that guarantee memories of a lifetime.
With your private guide as your co-pilot, we explore Tokyo’s fantastic sights crafted specially for those die-hard Japanese culture super fans. We’ll introduce you to the colorful Tsukiji Market, the enchanting, Sensoji Temple, the ultra-cool Teamlab Planets Digital Art Museum, some anime action in Akihabara, and a night out for a baseball game to get you quickly and fully immersed (soaked!) into the Tokyoite culture!
Then, leave Tokyo’s hustle and bustle by the super fast Shinkansen (Bullet Train) for Kiso Valley in the Central Japan Alps. Travel back in time as we embark on an invigorating trek on the Nakasendo Trail along the ancient post road that connects the charming post towns of Magome and Tsumago where Samurais marched their way across the two capitals – Kyoto and Edo (present day Tokyo) back in the 1600s. You won’t see any colorful billboards, concrete structures or electric poles here. Nope, no McDonald’s either – just beautifully-preserved edo-era wooden homes, quaint shophouses, and stunning mountain sceneries. We’ll spend two enchanting nights at a traditional Japanese Inn (ryokan) too fully embrace the Japan of Old.
After a few days in the mountains, we head to Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan for more than a thousand years. Kyoto is forever known for its history and culture, casting an image of Old Japan where ancient Buddhist temples, traditional wooden houses, ornate palaces and beautiful classical gardens abound. We’ll tour the city on foot and by bicycle hitting a few the old capital’s famous sites including Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kinkaku-Ji (Golden Pavilion) and Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Take a trip outside Kyoto to beautiful Lake Biwa, yet another off-the-radar gem, where we’ll spend a day immersing in the region’s local culture, mingling and making lunch with a local family, and participating in various cultivation activities such as rice harvesting, fruit picking or mochi-making.
From Tokyo’s vibrant cityscape to Kiso Valley’s serene countryside. Kyoto’s dazzling temples to Lake Biwa’s heartwarming culture. This is a trip your family will never forget.
TOUR INCLUDES:
- 10 nights hotel accommodations per itinerary
- Hotel breakfasts daily
- Other meals as specified per itinerary
- Rail tickets between Tokyo / Kiso Valley / Kyoto
- Private sightseeing by private guide utilizing public transport
- Airport transfers upon arrival and departure
- Separate baggage transfer service between Tokyo and Kyoto
TOKYO (4 nights)
- 4 nights at Shibuya Excel Stream Hotel | Shibuya Excel in Tokyo
- Full-day tour featuring the city’s “cool spots” including Teamlab Planets & Akihabara
- Half-day city tour of Tokyo’s Must-Sees (Tsukiji Market, Sensoji Temple & Meiji Shrine)
- Yomiuri Giants or Yakult Swallows Baseball Game Tickets
KISO VALLEY (2 nights)
- 2 nights at Ryokan Fuki No Mori in Kiso Valley
- Half day hike of Nakasendo Trail
- Tour of Magome-juku and Tsumago-juku
- Hotel Kaiseki Dinner (2) Nightly
KYOTO (4 nights)
- 4 nights at Royal Park Hotel Sanjo | Dhawa Yura Hotel Kyoto
- Full day Tour of West Kyoto by Bicycle
- Half-day Countryside and Cultural Immersion tour in Lake Biwa
- Admissions to Ninja & Samurai Museum
- Departure transfers to Itami (ITM) or Kansai Airport (KIX) in Osaka by shared shuttle van
Day 1 Arrive Tokyo
Upon arrival and after clearing Customs and Immigration, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel in Tokyo by private car for your next 4 nights’ accommodations.
Day 2 Tokyo
Today, enjoy a morning visit to Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo’s most famous Shinto Shrine dedicated to the late 19th-century emperor who opened Japan to the West, home to a 40-foot-high torii gate and a 200-acre park made of 1,500-year-old cypress. Next, head to the Old Tsukiji Fish Market, an enormous market lined with produce and seafood stalls, sushi eateries and street food stands. Last but not least, visit Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist Temple at Senso-ji in Asakusa, followed by a stroll through the colorful Nakamise Shopping Street. Afternoon free at leisure to relax and explore Tokyo on your own. (B)
Day 3 Tokyo
Today, enjoy a day of fun exploring Tokyo’s “cool” spots. Visit Akihabara, also known as Electric Town, this area was originally famous for its many electronics shops sporting the latest and greatest Japanese electronics. In addition, Akihabara has also become the center of Japan’s otaku (diehard fan) culture, where you’ll find many anime-themed shops and establishments. Next, visit Mirakan or The National Museum of Emerging Science & Innovation for some of the planet’s most advanced gadgets and technologies. Continue to the super cool Teamlab Planets, a fascinating digital art museum where visitors wade through mesmerizing light installations, interactive projections, and sensory experiences, blurring the boundaries between art and reality. (B)
Day 4 Tokyo
Full day free at leisure to further explore Tokyo on your own or enjoy a optional tour to nearby cities such as Kamakura/Enoshima (temples, shrines & aquarium), Kawaogoe Ancient Town or Yokohama (for food!). This evening, enjoy a Yomiuri Giants or Yakult Swallows baseball game (in season). (B)
*Note: today's program is without guide. Passengers are to make their on way to/from baseball stadium.
Day 5 Tokyo / Kiso Valley
This morning, board a bullet train for Nagaoya. From there, you will be met by your guide and continue onto Kiso Valley by express train. Transfer to your ryokan by hotel shuttle. After dropping your bags off, visit the charming post town of Magome, one of 69 post towns on the Ancient Post Road that connected Edo (now Tokyo) and Kyoto during the Edo period (1603-1868). Travel back in time with a stroll along the picturesque main street of Edo-era buildings, traditional houses, and cobblestone streets reminicent of Japan's yesteryears. Return to your ryokan where a Kaiseki Dinner will be served this evening. (B,D)
Day 6 Kiso Valley (Nakasendo Hike)
After a leisurely breakfast at the ryokan, head to Tsumago-juku, another one of 69 post towns on the Nakasendo Trail. We'll embark on a scenic 5-mile hike (approx. 3 hours) to Magome where an array of Edo-period gems like small shrines, hidden waterfalls, bamboo groves, terraced rice paddies, rural villages and a centuries-old teahouses. Return to your resort and enjoy the balance of the afternoon at leisure to relax and enjoy the onsen facilities. Dinner and overnight at the ryokan (B,D)
Day 7 Kiso Valley
After breakfast, make your way to Kyoto by rail (approx. 3 hours), connecting in Nagoya. Proceed to your hotel in Kyoto by taxi (approx. 10 minutes from Kyoto Station). Enjoy the balance of the afternoon at leisure to relax and explore Kyoto on your own. (B)
**Note: For the avid anime fan, it is possible to visit Ghibli Park located near Nagoya en-route to Kyoto. Please discuss this option with your travel advisor when booking your trip.
Day 8 Kyoto
Today, we'll explore this ancient capital of Japan by foot and by bike. Your morning tour begins with a visit to Kiyomizu-dera, one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. Founded in 780, Kiyomizu is located in the wooded hills best known for its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside below boasting panoramic views of Kyoto City. Next, visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates straddling a network of trails behind its main buildings leading into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari. After a lunch break, enjoy a bicycle around Western Kyoto with visits to Kinkaku-Ji (a.k.a. Golden Pavilion), Ryoan Temple famed for its Rock Garden, Hirosawa Pond, Arasiyama Bamboo Forest and Togetsu Bridge. Return to your hotel on your own afterwards. (B)
Day 9 Kyoto (Lake Biwa)
This morning, enjoy an invigorating cultural and scenic tour of Lake Biwa. Enjoy a leisurely bike ride along a beautiful lakeside road up to the stunning rice terraces where you’ll spend a relaxing and culturally-inspiring day in a traditional farm village. The tour showcases a slow-paced, off-the-beaten-path experience of the countryside to see a different side of Japan. Here, get a chance to visit a local family’s residence where a simple Japanese lunch is prepared (with your help). Depending on the season, you may participate in various cultivation activities such as rice harvesting, fruit picking or mochi-making. Return to Kyoto from Shiga Station on your own and enjoy the balance of the afternoon at leisure. (B,L)
Day 10 Kyoto
Today, enjoy a visit to the Ninja and Samurai Museum on your own followed by free time explore the many interesting in and around Kyoto. (B)
Day 11 Return Home
Transfer to Itami or Kansai Airport in Osaka by shared shuttle van for your departure flight onward. (B)
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2024 Price Chart (Prices valid through December 20, 2024) |
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| Departs Daily | Twin Sharing | Single Supplement |
| Jan. – Feb. | 5,585 | 1,825 |
| Mar. – Apr. | 6,175* | 2,345* |
| May | 5,975 | 2,145 |
| June | 5,585 | 1,825 |
| Jul. – Aug. | 5,585 | 1,825 |
| September | 5,775 | 2,025 |
| October | 5,975 | 1,995 |
| November | 6,075 | 2,095 |
| December | 5,775* | 2,025 |
| Tour requires minimum of 2 passengers to operate | ||
- Prices are per person, based on double occupancy
- Price includes entrance fees, hotel taxes & service charges
- For 3 and 4 passengers traveling together, deduct $350 and $550 from above tour prices, respectively.
- Price excludes all airfares, personal expenses, meals not specified, beverages during included lunches & dinners
- Tour commences in Tokyo and ends in Kyoto.
- Peak Season Surcharges or blackout dates apply during Sakura season (Cherry Blossoms in late March – mid April), Golden Week Holiday (April 29-May 6) & December Holiday period (Dec. 24- Jan. 03). Please contact us for details and restrictions.
- All hotels, tours and land services are subject to availability at time of reservation
Japan Gallery
HIGHLIGHTS
- Teamlab Planets Digital Museum
- Tokyo Giants or Swallows Baseball Game (in season)
- Sensoji, Tsukiji & Akihabara
- Magome, Tsumago and Nakasendo Hike
- Ryokan Stay with Onsen & Kaiseki Dinner
- Walking tour of Kiyomizu Temple & Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Bicycle Tour od Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Golden Pavilion
- Lake Biwa Countryside Tour
Price Starting From:
$5,585
RELATED TOURS
ACCOMMODATIONS
Tokyo – Shibuya Excel Stream Hotel
Kyoto – Dhawa Yura Hotel
Kyoto – Royal Park Sanjo Hotel
WHAT PRIVATE TOUR MEANS
